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Pakistani communication satellite successfully enters earth’s orbit — national space agency

Pakistani communication satellite successfully enters earth’s orbit — national space agency
The screengrab taken from China News Service via Reuters shows Pakistani communication satellite PAKSAT MM1 being launched into space in Xichang, China on May 30, 2024. (China News Service/Reuters)
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Updated 07 June 2024
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Pakistani communication satellite successfully enters earth’s orbit — national space agency

Pakistani communication satellite successfully enters earth’s orbit — national space agency
  • PAKSAT MM1 is equipped with latest communication equipment to help provide high-speed Internet across Pakistan
  • On May 3, Pakistan also launched its first satellite, ICUBE-Q, into space aboard China’s Chang’e-6 lunar mission
Updated 07 June 2024
SAIMA SHABBIR
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s latest modern communication satellite, PAKSAT MM1, has successfully entered the earth’s orbit, the country’s national space agency confirmed on Friday, more than a week after its launch with China’s assistance.
The launch of PAKSAT MM1 from China’s Xichang Satellite Launch Center was broadcast live by Islamabad and Karachi offices of the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) on May 30.
Suparco spokesperson Maria Tariq said the satellite successfully entered its intended orbit on June 5.
“PAKSAT MM1 was positioned at an altitude of 38,786 kilometers with its location 38.2 degrees east of the earth’s orbit,” Tariq said in a statement.
“Following its arrival in the orbit, the satellite’s solar panels have been activated.”
Tariq noted that the five-ton PAKSAT MM1 satellite was equipped with latest communication equipment, which would help provide high-speed Internet across Pakistan.
Various tests would be conducted on the satellite to ensure its functionality and health in the orbit, she added.
The launch of PAKSAT MM1 came weeks after Pakistan launched its first satellite, ICUBE-Qamar or ICUBE-Q, into the space aboard China’s Chang’e-6 lunar mission from Hainan, China on May 3.
A major milestone in Pakistan’s space exploration efforts, the satellite successfully entered the moon’s orbit on May 8, and began transmitting the first images shortly afterwards.

Topics: PAKSAT MM1

Pakistan’s rice exports surged to $4 billion in FY24 compared to $2.15 billion last year

Pakistan’s rice exports surged to $4 billion in FY24 compared to $2.15 billion last year
Updated 13 sec ago
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Pakistan’s rice exports surged to $4 billion in FY24 compared to $2.15 billion last year

Pakistan’s rice exports surged to $4 billion in FY24 compared to $2.15 billion last year
  • State media says favorable weather, “abundant” resources helped Pakistan export six million tons of rice 
  • Pakistan’s commerce minister said country aims to increase revenue from rice exports to $7 billion this year
Updated 13 sec ago
Hasaan Ali Khan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan generated $4 billion in revenue during financial year 2024 by exporting six million tons of different types of rice, state media reported on Monday, citing favorable weather conditions and “abundant” agricultural resources as the main reasons for the surge in exports. 

Pakistan exported rice worth $4 billion this year compared to $2.15 billion last year, benefiting largely from India’s more-than-a-year-long ban on rice exports to fulfill its domestic needs. India announced in September it was lifting the ban, prompting Pakistan to lift the minimum export price for all rice varieties in the country. 

India and Pakistan are the only two countries that produce basmati rice which is famous for its unique flavor and aroma. India has been the largest exporter of rice worldwide, followed by Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam.

“With the support of the Special Investment Facilitation Council, Pakistan has earned revenue of four billion dollars from rice exports,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported, referring to Pakistan’s top hybrid civil-military body formed last year to attract foreign investment in the country’s vital economic sectors. 

“During the fiscal year 2024, Pakistan exported more than 6 million tons of different varieties of rice due to favorable weather conditions and abundant availability of agricultural resources.”

Shahjahan Malik, former chairman of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan, said exporters have set a fresh target of $5 billion for rice exports for the next financial year. He added that a comprehensive strategy based on “modern seed research and quality agricultural practices” would be developed to enhance exports further. 

Earlier this month, Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal had said the country aimed to boost its rice exports to as much as $7 billion to support its dwindling economy. 

Topics: Pakistan Rice Export

Three Pakistani policemen killed in attack at police headquarters

Three Pakistani policemen killed in attack at police headquarters
Updated 55 min 36 sec ago
AP
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Three Pakistani policemen killed in attack at police headquarters

Three Pakistani policemen killed in attack at police headquarters
  • Militants storm police headquarters in district Bannu, say police 
  • Militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban claims responsibility for attack
Updated 55 min 36 sec ago
AP

PESHAWAR: At least three policemen were killed in northwest Pakistan when militants stormed a district police headquarters in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Monday, a police source told Reuters.

The attack on the complex, which houses both the district police headquarters and a residential complex, was ongoing, the high-ranking police source said, adding that the assailants, who included suicide bombers, had been “pinned down” in the area.

Three assailants were killed by police, he added.

The source, requesting anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said three policemen were killed while resisting the assault on the Police Lines of District Bannu, which borders the restive North Waziristan tribal district on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

Militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack, a spokesperson for the group said.

The roads around the complex have been closed to traffic as security forces moved to neutralize the remaining attackers, the police source added.

Bannu is about 350 kilometers from Pakistan’s capital Islamabad, which is under strict security lockdown due to the arrival of Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Monday ahead of a regional leaders’ meeting this week. 
 

Topics: Pakistan police Bannu Attack on police station Arab News Pakistan

Second batch of 61 Palestinian medical students leave for Pakistan to continue studies

Second batch of 61 Palestinian medical students leave for Pakistan to continue studies
Updated 14 October 2024
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Second batch of 61 Palestinian medical students leave for Pakistan to continue studies

Second batch of 61 Palestinian medical students leave for Pakistan to continue studies
  • A total of 192 Palestinian medical students from war-torn Gaza will continue fully funded studies in Pakistani institutions
  • Initiative launched through collaboration between Doctors of Rehman, Global Relief Trust and Al-Khidmat Foundation
Updated 14 October 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: A second batch of 61 Palestinian medical students from Gaza out of 192 left Cairo on Monday to travel to Pakistan where they plan to continue their studies, the Pakistani embassy in Egypt said. 

The second batch of Palestinian students left for Islamabad hours after the first batch arrived in Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore from Cairo. The embassy said the Palestinian students will continue their studies in Pakistani medical universities on fully funded programs under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s directions. 

Pakistan’s foreign ministry announced in July that the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) will provide scholarships to over 100 Palestinian students so that they are able to continue their medical studies in Pakistan as Israel’s war wreaks havoc in the Middle East. The initiative is a collaboration between Doctors of Rehman, Global Relief Trust and leading Pakistani non-governmental organization, the Al-Khidmat Foundation. 

“Under the directions of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, and special efforts of Global Relief Trust, Doctors of Rahman, and Al-Khidmat Foundation, the second batch of 61 Palestinian students from Gaza left Cairo for Islamabad today,” Pakistan’s Embassy in Cairo said. 

It said Pakistan embassy officials and the Al-Khidmat Foundation representatives facilitated the Palestinian students’ departure at the Cairo International Airport.

Since Oct. 7, 2023, Israel has killed over 42,000 people in Gaza through relentless bombardment despite ceasefire calls and angry protests in several countries around the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that cases of meningitis, jaundice, impetigo, chickenpox and other upper respiratory tract infections have been recorded in Gaza. Almost 600,000 cases of acute watery diarrhea have been recorded due to lack of clean water and other causes, as well as other waste-borne diseases. 

Several international media outlets have reported significant destruction of hospitals and universities in Gaza since October last year.

The WHO and other sources have documented severe damage to the area’s health care facilities, including the largest hospital Al-Shifa, which has been rendered non-functional due to extensive damage in the ongoing conflict.

There have also been widespread reports of substantial damage to educational institutions along with reports of deliberate targeting of Palestinian academics.

Topics: Pakistan Palestine Palestinian medical students

Pakistan steps up security ahead of regional leaders’ meeting

Pakistan steps up security ahead of regional leaders’ meeting
Updated 14 October 2024
Reuters
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Pakistan steps up security ahead of regional leaders’ meeting

Pakistan steps up security ahead of regional leaders’ meeting
  • Pakistan announces three-day holiday in Islamabad with schools, businesses shut 
  • Threat alert in country has been high especially after suicide attack targeting Chinese nationals 
Updated 14 October 2024
Reuters

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s capital was under strict security lockdown starting Monday ahead of the arrival of Chinese Premier Li Qiang for a four-day bilateral visit and a heads-of-government gathering of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) this week.

The government has announced a three-day public holiday in Islamabad, with schools and businesses shut, and large contingents of police and paramilitary forces deployed.

Pakistan army troops will be responsible for the security of the capital’s Red Zone, which will house most of the meetings and is also home to parliament and a diplomatic enclave, according to interior ministry.

The threat alert has been high in the South Asian nation ahead of the SCO summit meeting, especially after the killing of two Chinese engineers and shooting to death of 21 miners.

Tensions have mounted after jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan called for a protest on Oct. 15 to press for his release and agitate against the coalition government, following violent clashes between his party loyalists and security forces.

Islamabad has sought to curb all movement of Chinese nationals in the city, citing fears of violence from separatist militants.

The SCO’s 23rd meeting, which comprises nine full members including China, India, Iran and Russia, is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday in Islamabad.

Prime Minister Li is undertaking a bilateral visit to Pakistan from Monday to Thursday, accompanied by senior officials, Pakistan’s foreign office said.

Li and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will lead their respective delegations to discuss economic and trade ties and cooperation under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a $65 billion investment in the South Asian country under Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative.

Li is also likely to inaugurate the CPEC funded Gwadar International Airport in restive southwestern Balochistan province, which borders Afghanistan and Iran.

The SCO participants will be represented by the prime ministers of China, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan as well as the first vice president of Iran and external affairs minister of India, the foreign office said. 

Topics: Pakistan SCO summit 2024 SCO India China Russia Arab News Pakistan Islamabad

First batch of 27 Palestinian medical students arrive in Pakistan to continue studies

First batch of 27 Palestinian medical students arrive in Pakistan to continue studies
Updated 14 October 2024
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First batch of 27 Palestinian medical students arrive in Pakistan to continue studies

First batch of 27 Palestinian medical students arrive in Pakistan to continue studies
  • Batch is part of 192 Palestinian students who will continue fully funded studies in Pakistani universities
  • Initiative is a collaborative effort by Al-Khidmat Foundation, Doctors of Rahman and Global Relief Trust
Updated 14 October 2024
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: The first batch of 27 Palestinian medical students out of a total of 192 arrived in Lahore from Cairo on Monday to continue their studies in the country, a leading charitable organization involved in the initiative said. 

Pakistan’s foreign ministry announced in July that Islamabad will provide scholarships to over 100 Palestinian students enabling them to continue their medical studies in Pakistan, as Israel’s war wreaks havoc in the Middle East. Since Oct. 7, 2023, Israel has killed over 42,000 people in Gaza through relentless bombardment despite ceasefire calls and angry protests in several countries. 

The Palestinian students will continue their medical and dental studies in Pakistani institutions through fully funded programs. The initiative is a collaborative effort by the Global Relief Trust, Doctors of Rahman, and leading Pakistani charity organization, the Al-Khidmat Foundation. 

“Twenty-seven more Palestinian students from Gaza arrived in Pakistan to continue their education,” Al-Khidmat Foundation said in a press release. Pictures showed Palestinian students poising with airport officials after their arrival. 

“Welcome Palestine students,” read a large banner carried by the airport officials. 

The first batch of 27 Palestinian medical students arrive at Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore, Pakistan, on October 14, 2024. (Al-Khidmat Foundation)

Al-Khidmat Foundation representatives and the Pakistani embassy in Cairo facilitated the students’ departure from Cairo International Airport on Sunday, Al-Khidmat Foundation said. 

“During the first phase, a total of 192 Palestinian students will arrive in Pakistan through various flights and continue their medical and dental studies in Pakistan through the collaboration of Al-Khidmat Foundation, Doctors of Rahman and the Global Relief Trust,” the statement added.

Several international media outlets have reported significant destruction of hospitals and universities in Gaza since October last year. 

The World Health Organization and other sources have documented severe damage to the area’s health care facilities, including the largest hospital Al-Shifa, which has been rendered non-functional due to extensive damage in the ongoing conflict.

There have also been widespread reports of substantial damage to educational institutions along with reports of deliberate targeting of Palestinian academics.

Topics: Palestinian students in Pakistan Palestine Al-Khidmat Foundation

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