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Saudi men’s football team arrive in Pakistan for World Cup qualifier clash

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Updated 05 June 2024
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Saudi men’s football team arrive in Pakistan for World Cup qualifier clash

Saudi men’s football team arrive in Pakistan for World Cup qualifier clash
  • Both teams will lock horns for World Cup qualifying round 2 match on June 6
  • This is the first time Saudi Arabia’s football team have arrived in Pakistan
Updated 05 June 2024
SAIMA SHABBIR
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ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia’s football team arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday, the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) confirmed, a day before the two sides meet each other for a round two clash of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers. 

Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki received the team at the Islamabad airport. Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) officials, the secretary of Pakistan’s Inter-Provincial Coordination ministry and Rana Mashhood, chairman of the PM’s Youth Program, were also present on the occasion. 

“Saudi Arabian football team reached Islamabad from Riyadh by chartered flight,” the PSB said. “Saudi Arabian football team is visiting Pakistan for the first time.”

The visiting team was shifted from the airport to the hotel where they are staying under tight security, the board said. 

The match between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is scheduled to take place on June 6 at the Jinnah Football Stadium in Islamabad. 

It takes place months after Saudi Arabia thumped Pakistan 4-0 in the first leg of the qualifying matches when the Group G sides faced off at Al Ahsa city in November 2023.
Pakistan suffered another setback in round one of the qualifiers when they lost 6-1 to Tajikistan in Islamabad days after losing to Saudi Arabia. The green shirts will face Tajikistan on June 11 in Dushanbe in what will be their final round 2 away fixture. 
Pakistan are in Group G of the World Cup qualifiers with Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Tajikistan. In the second round of the qualifiers, a total of 36 football squads have been split into nine groups with four teams each. The winners and runners-up from each group would go through to the third round.
Pakistan are already eliminated after four consecutive losses and a -19 goal differential. 
Pakistan squad:

Goalkeepers: Yousuf Butt (D), Saqib Hanif and Hassan Ali
Defenders: Abdullah Iqbal (D), Mohammad Fazal (D), Haseeb Khan, Rao Omer Hayat, Mamoon Moosa, Mohammad Saddam, Waqar Ihtisham, Moin Ahmed and Abdul Rehman
Midfielders: Rahis Nabi (D), Otis Khan (D), Ali Uzair, Umair Ali, Toqeer ul Hassan, Alamgir Ghazi and Ali Zafar
Forwards: Imran Kayani (D), McKeal Abdulah, Fareedulah, Adeel Younas and Shayak Dost

Topics: Saudi football FIFA World Cup qualifiers

Pakistan honors female polio workers ahead of International Women’s Day

Pakistan honors female polio workers ahead of International Women’s Day
Updated 07 March 2025
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Pakistan honors female polio workers ahead of International Women’s Day

Pakistan honors female polio workers ahead of International Women’s Day
  • Female health workers play a leading role in the door-to-door inoculation drives in high-risk areas
  • The country’s polio eradication program calls them the “backbone” of efforts to eliminate the disease
Updated 07 March 2025
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: The Pakistan Polio Eradication Program paid tribute to female polio workers on Friday, said an officials statement, recognizing their dedication in high-risk areas during a ceremony in Islamabad ahead of International Women’s Day.
Pakistan remains one of the few countries where polio persists, with eradication efforts often hindered by militant attacks, misinformation and parental refusals from targeted communities.
Female health workers play a leading role in the door-to-door inoculation drives, constituting more than 58.4 percent of the polio workforce, despite operating in some of the most challenging environments.
“Today, as we commemorate International Women’s Day, I want to reaffirm our collective commitment to ensuring a safe, dignified and enabling environment for every female frontline worker,” the polio eradication program’s statement quoted Ayesha Raza Farooq, the Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio, saying during the ceremony.
She highlighted the Pakistan Polio Programme’s implementation of an anti-harassment policy to ensure a secure and professional environment for female workers.
The event brought together national and provincial coordinators of the polio program alongside senior officials, where frontline female workers shared their experiences through video messages.
Many spoke about the challenges of convincing hesitant families while also expressing pride in their contributions to a polio-free future.
Anwarul Haq, the top official at the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC), praised their dedication, calling them the “backbone” of Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts.
“This year’s theme resonates deeply with us at the National Emergency Operations Center as we honor female polio workers who are considered as the backbone of Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts,” he said. “These women work tirelessly, often in difficult and high-risk areas, to ensure every child receives the life-saving polio vaccine.”
“Their courage and unwavering commitment reflect the incredible strength of Pakistani women,” he continued. “Empowering them is not just about recognizing their contributions: it is about strengthening our communities and ensuring a healthier, polio-free Pakistan.”
Haq stressed the importance of gender sensitivity in public health, saying that supporting women in frontline health roles helps build a more inclusive, resilient and prosperous society.
Pakistan concluded its first nationwide anti-polio campaign of 2025 last month.
So far, the country has reported six polio cases since the start of the year, with authorities planning additional vaccination rounds in April and May.

Topics: Pakistan Polio Service international womens day womens day

Pakistan PM to hold sector-wise meetings with business leaders to strengthen economy

Pakistan PM to hold sector-wise meetings with business leaders to strengthen economy
Updated 07 March 2025
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Pakistan PM to hold sector-wise meetings with business leaders to strengthen economy

Pakistan PM to hold sector-wise meetings with business leaders to strengthen economy
  • Shehbaz Sharif says he will hold these meeting twice a week, starting with the agriculture sector
  • He says economy has improved, adding the private sector should help consolidate the gains
Updated 07 March 2025
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Friday he would hold sector-wise meetings with local business leaders from next week, as he assured them the government would address their concerns while asking them to increase investment in the economy.
Pakistan has undertaken stringent economic reforms following a prolonged financial crisis that forced it to seek loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Since then, macroeconomic indicators have improved significantly, though the government acknowledges the need for further consolidation through policies aimed at boosting exports and attracting investment.
Sharif met with local business leaders in the same context, saying his administration would seek input from the private sector and work to resolve economic concerns to strengthen the country’s financial outlook.
“Next Thursday, we will have the first sector-wise meeting in my office,” he said during his interaction with the top business leaders.
“I want decisions,” he added. “This meeting will be held twice a week. The sector will be led by four people. From our side, there will be the concerned ministry and secretaries. We will sit and take decisions. There will be no chit chat.”
Sharif said the first meeting would focus on the agriculture sector and directed relevant officials to engage with top businesses across various industries to prepare for future discussions.
Earlier, he noted that Pakistan’s economy was gradually improving while emphasizing his administration now planned to focus on employment, production, exports, industry and commerce, where private sector support was crucial.
“We are just going to act as a catalyst to support your efforts [and figure out] how to further ease your business conditions and create an environment,” he said.
Sharif urged Pakistani industrialists to invest locally and encourage foreign investors to do the same.
“Share the success stories,” he continued, adding that he had always believed domestic investment was key before attracting foreign entrepreneurs.
“Together we will turn it into a partnership to keep the economy going,” he added.

Topics: Pakistan economy

Telecom authority chief meets Starlink team amid push to launch Pakistan operations

Telecom authority chief meets Starlink team amid push to launch Pakistan operations
Updated 07 March 2025
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Telecom authority chief meets Starlink team amid push to launch Pakistan operations

Telecom authority chief meets Starlink team amid push to launch Pakistan operations
  • Starlink owner Elon Musk has said company is awaiting government approval to launch services in Pakistan
  • PTA says Starlink is yet to obtain security clearance, a prerequisite for obtaining a license and launching services 
Updated 07 March 2025
Hasaan Ali Khan

ISLAMABAD: The chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Maj Gen (retd) Hafeez ur Rehman, met Starlink officials in Spain this week as the international telecommunications provider seeks approvals to launch operations in Pakistan.
US businessman Elon Musk, who owns Starlink, has said the company is awaiting government approval to launch services in Pakistan. Starlink has completed registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), according to Musk. The PTA, however, has said Starlink is yet to obtain security clearance, a prerequisite for obtaining a license and launching services in Pakistan.
Starlink users access the Internet for data or voice communication by using a small dish antenna to bounce signals off a constellation of satellites overhead.
“The discussion focused on improving affordable broadband access, particularly in underserved areas, to bridge the digital divide and accelerate digital transformation,” the PTA said in a statement after the meeting between the authority’s chairman and Starlink officials on the sidelines of the GSMA Mobile World Congress 2025 in Barcelona.
The PTA chairman confirmed that Starlink’s registration was in process with the national satellite regulatory body, a legal prerequisite for getting a PTA license for satellite-based Internet services.
“The Starlink team shared insights on satellite-based Internet solutions in competitive World of Cellular Mobile services and its potential impact on remote regions. Both sides discussed regulatory frameworks and operational strategies for seamless service integration,” the statement added.
Pakistan’s telecom sector has evolved significantly over the past two decades, but still faces challenges in terms of infrastructure development, especially in rural and remote areas, gaps that the possible entry of Starlink could address, its proponents say.
Pakistan, with a population of over 240 million, has experienced a 40 percent drop in Internet speeds in recent months, due to what is widely believed to be the government’s implementation of a nationwide firewall that it says is aimed at blocking malicious content and protecting networks.
The South Asian nation incurred $1.62 billion in losses due to Internet outages and social media shutdowns in 2024, surpassing losses in war-torn Sudan and Myanmar, according to a Top10VPN.com report. Rights activists say the disruptions are part of a state-led digital crackdown aimed at censoring critical voices. The government denies this.

Topics: Starlink Starlink satellites Pakistan internet Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Elon Musk

Palestinian embassy honors young Pakistani siblings for steadfast advocacy on Gaza

Palestinian embassy honors young Pakistani siblings for steadfast advocacy on Gaza
Updated 07 March 2025
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Palestinian embassy honors young Pakistani siblings for steadfast advocacy on Gaza

Palestinian embassy honors young Pakistani siblings for steadfast advocacy on Gaza
  • Hafiah, Hafi have campaigned for the children amputated in Gaza, which has featured blood-written notes and open letters to global authorities
  • Palestine’s envoy commends the young brother and sister for turning ‘pain into power, grief into hope, and silence into a voice that echoes across borders’
Updated 07 March 2025
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The Palestinian embassy has hosted a reception to honor two young Pakistani siblings, Ubaydah Al Fiddhah Hafiah (11) and Ghulam Bishar Hafi (13), for their steadfast support and advocacy for the children of Gaza, Pakistani state media reported on Friday.
While the development comes amid a ceasefire that has brought a measure of relief to the people of Gaza, it cannot undo the irreversible damage done, particularly the thousands of limbs lost by Palestinian children during the prolonged attacks, which some have described as an act of infanticide.
Hafiah and Hafi have rigorously campaigned for the children amputated in Gaza, which featured blood-written notes and open letters to global authorities. Their campaign, “Voice for the Voiceless,” is considered one of the most impactful advocacy efforts and has earned official recognition from Palestinian authorities.
Palestinian Ambassador to Pakistan Dr. Zuhair Zaid has expressed profound gratitude to the siblings for their unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian cause, and has praised their courageous efforts in an official letter of appreciation, the APP news agency reported.
“I find myself at a loss for words, overwhelmed by the depth of your courage, the purity of your love, and the boundless compassion you have shown,” Dr. Zaid wrote, emphasizing that their message was a powerful reminder that “humanity is still alive in its purest form.”
He described their advocacy as an “unbreakable bond that transcends distance and time” between the people of Pakistan and Palestine.
The Pakistani brother-sister duo has called for urgent global intervention to provide care and rehabilitation to thousands of orphaned and permanently disabled children in Gaza.
Their campaign began in 2024, coinciding with the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression on June 4, and their first blood-written protest notes were presented to international platforms, including the United Nations, urging the world to listen to the “Voice of the Voiceless.”
Their advocacy continues to inspire a global movement, proving that even the youngest voices can resonate across borders in the fight for justice and humanity.
The ambassador commended the ability of the young brother and sister to turn “pain into power, grief into hope, and silence into a voice that echoes across borders,” according to the report. He acknowledged the depth of their advocacy, stating that their words, “written with hands so young yet hearts so vast” held profound significance.
Prof. Dr. Aurangzeb Hafi, the father and mentor of the siblings, quoted the ambassador as saying that Palestine “owned” these two children, their petitions, resolutions, and protest notes issued as part of their campaign against the atrocities committed against Gazan children.
The Palestinian ambassador discussed with Prof. Hafi the pressing need to protect and resettle orphaned children from Gaza, particularly those left amputees due to the ongoing violence, according to the report. The ambassador assured the siblings that their message of sacrifice would never fade.
“From the depths of my heart, I thank you. I honor you. And I promise that your message will continue to inspire millions,” he stated.
Israel’s war on Gaza, which began after the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas, has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, and displaced almost all of Gaza’s 2 million population by laying waste to swathes of neighborhoods, schools and hospitals.
Palestinian territory – encompassing the Gaza Strip and West Bank, including East Jerusalem – has been occupied by Israel since 1967. Pakistan does not recognize Israel and has consistently called for an independent Palestinian state based on “internationally agreed parameters.

Woman leader of Baloch rights movement says nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

Woman leader of Baloch rights movement says nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
Updated 07 March 2025
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Woman leader of Baloch rights movement says nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

Woman leader of Baloch rights movement says nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
  • Dr. Mahrang Baloch is a leading rights activist for the ethnic Baloch minority in Pakistan
  • She leads the Baloch Yakjehti Committee human rights movement based in Balochistan
Updated 07 March 2025
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Dr. Mahrang Baloch, a leading rights activist for the ethnic Baloch minority in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, has said she has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, the most prestigious prize in the world that recognizes peace efforts.

Baloch leads the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), a human rights movement based in Balochistan that has led protests and sit-ins in the province, and organized marches to the federal capital, Islamabad, against alleged enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and other human rights abuses. The government and military, which has a huge presence in the rugged, impoverished region bordering Afghanistan and Iran, deny involvement. 

Baloch became an activist after her father’s abduction and eventual death in 2011 at the hands of what she says were state authorities, who deny the allegations. 

“Media personnel have been reaching out to me about this news, and I can confirm that it is true,’ Baloch wrote on X in response to a tweet about her being nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. 

“I am deeply honored by this nomination, but it is not about me. It is about the thousands of Baloch who have been forcibly disappeared and the families demanding justice. The fight for human rights in Balochistan must not be ignored by global civil society and civilized nations.”

 

 

Nobel prize nominations are strictly kept a secret but several Norwegian parliamentarians and other academics are privileged to publicly announce their preferred candidates each year to raise publicity both for the nominee and the nominator.

Baloch insurgent groups have been fighting for a separate homeland for decades to win a larger share of benefits for the resource-rich Balochistan province. The military has long run intelligence-based operations against insurgent groups, who have escalated attacks in recent months on the military and nationals from longtime ally China, which is building key projects in the region, including a port at Gwadar.

Balochistan has also been plagued by enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings for decades. Families say men are picked up by security forces, disappear often for years, and are sometimes found dead, with no official explanation. Government and security officials deny involvement and say they are working for the uplift of the province through development projects. 

International rights bodies like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch as well as opposition political parties have also long highlighted enforced disappearances targeting students, activists, journalists and human rights defenders in Balochistan. The army says many of Balochistan’s so-called disappeared have links to separatists. Military spokesmen have also variously accused rights movements like the BYC of being “terrorist proxies.”

Last year, Baloch was stopped at the airport and barred from traveling to New York to attend an event in New York City in honor of her and 99 others recognized on the 2024 TIME100 Next list.

In July last year, she was part of the Baloch Raji Muchi sit-in in Gwadar, an event aimed at uniting the Baloch against rights abuses. 

In 2023, Baloch led the Baloch Long March, journeying by foot with hundreds of others from the city of Turbat in Balochistan to Islamabad to protest human rights violations and enforced disappearances. 

Topics: Baloch Yakjehti Committee Mahrang Baloch Nobel Peace Prize

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