Pakistan launches post-Hajj flight operation, plans to bring back 1,200 pilgrims today
Pakistan launches post-Hajj flight operation, plans to bring back 1,200 pilgrims today/node/2534016/pakistan
Pakistan launches post-Hajj flight operation, plans to bring back 1,200 pilgrims today
In this handout photograph, taken and released by the Saudi Press Agency on June 19, 2024, Hajj pilgrims offer prayers at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah as pilgrims start departing to their respective countries after performing annual pilgrimage in Makkah. (SPA)
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan launched the post-Hajj flight operation on Thursday, bringing back the first batch of 150 pilgrims from Saudi Arabia, with the religious affairs ministry saying that nearly 1,200 devotees would return via seven special flights to four different cities by the end of the day.
Transporting large numbers of pilgrims to and from Saudi Arabia during the Hajj season presents a significant logistical challenge, prompting the government to launch special flights, ensuring safe and timely travel for pilgrims.
The first post-Hajj flight operated between Jeddah and Multan, with six additional flights scheduled to return pilgrims to Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad later in the day.
The religious affairs ministry announced that 720 Pakistani pilgrims in Saudi Arabia will also travel to Madinah today. These pilgrims arrived in the kingdom shortly before Hajj began and were taken directly to Makkah, not having enough time to visit the Prophet’s Mosque before.
“The Hajj flight operation from Jeddah for the return of pilgrims will continue until July 9,” the ministry said in a statement. “The last Hajj flight from Madinah will arrive back in the homeland on July 21. The return of 70,000 government Hajj pilgrims will also be completed on July 21.”
In a separate statement, the ministry also announced the arrangements for distributing Zamzam water among pilgrims availing the government scheme.
“The ministry has made all airlines responsible through an agreement to facilitate pilgrims at designated points to collect Zamzam water,” it said.
The statement urged the pilgrims to collect the water from relevant airports and book it with their luggage.
Pilgrims often bring Zamzam water back from Hajj because it is considered sacred within Islam. The water comes from the Zamzam well located within the Grand Mosque in Makkah.
It is also believed to have unique properties and blessings, ensuring spiritual benefits and healing.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Railways (PR) has started production of new train coaches in the country, Pakistani state media reported on Tuesday, following the transfer of technology from China.
The South Asian country has been able to locally produce high-speed passenger coaches and goods wagons using technology transferred by China, according to media reports.
China has also helped build capacity of PR engineers and technicians who have succeeded in manufacturing new coaches and wagons at workshops in Lahore and Islamabad.
"As many as 184 new passenger coaches would also be assembled at Pakistan Railways Carriage Factory, Islamabad during the next three years," the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) state news agency reported, citing a railways official.
PR Executive Officer Amir Ali Baloch said that a new Green Line-styled train will be run between Lahore and Karachi soon, according to the Radio Pakistan broadcaster.
He said he had issued orders to further improve the quality of food and drink in trains, and requested public to take special care of cleanliness.
Last month, China and Pakistan discussed advancement of rail, road and economic zone projects under the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a part of China's Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to connect China to the Arabian Sea through a network of roads, railways, pipelines and ports in Pakistan and help Islamabad expand and modernize its economy.
The discussions on key projects were held during Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong's meeting with Pakistani Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, according to Pakistan's Press Information Department (PID).
China is also helping Pakistan upgrade and dualize an existing Main Line- 1 (ML-1) railway track, built in the late 19th century. The $6.8 billion, 1,872-kilometer-long ML-1 line connects the southern Pakistani port city of Karachi to Peshawar in the country's northwest.
ISLAMABAD: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday unveiled the schedule for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which will take place from February 19 to March 9, with matches hosted across Pakistan and Dubai in a hybrid model.
The tournament’s structure follows a compromise decision after India refused to play in Pakistan, citing security concerns. Exercising its rights as the host nation, Pakistan designated Dubai as the neutral venue for India’s matches, ensuring all teams’ participation.
“The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 fixtures and groupings have been announced by the ICC ... with the tournament set to begin on 19 February in Karachi with the final on 9 March,” the global governing body of cricket announced in a statement on its website.
“The eight-team tournament will feature 15 matches, and will be played across Pakistan and in Dubai,” it added. “Lahore will also host the final on 9 March, unless India qualify, in which case it will be played in Dubai. Both the semifinals and the final will have reserve days.”
In Pakistan, Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi will host three group-stage games each. Lahore is also set to host the second semifinal.
Meanwhile, Dubai will host all three of India’s group matches and the first semifinal, should India qualify.
The tournament opener on February 19 will feature Pakistan taking on New Zealand in Karachi, while India will face Bangladesh in Dubai on February 20.
This will be the ninth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy and its return after an eight-year hiatus, the last tournament having taken place in England in 2017. The event will feature the top eight teams in world cricket competing for one of the sport’s most prestigious titles.
The hybrid model, while a logistical challenge, aims to strike a balance between accommodating geopolitical realities and ensuring the integrity of the tournament, which cricket fans worldwide await.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is set to enhance its internet speeds and connectivity by linking up with the 2Africa submarine cable next year, state media reported on Tuesday.
2Africa, one of the world's largest submarine cable systems, spans 45,000 kilometers and connects 46 locations across Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, utilizing SDM1 technology to offer speeds of up to 180 Tbps.
Millions of Pakistanis have experienced a mysterious, months-long internet slowdown, sparking backlash from activists and business leaders who believe the government is testing a firewall to control online spaces.
The Pakistani government has attributed the slowdown to a surge in Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) usage and damaged underwater cables, while also acknowledging that the country is "undergoing a transition."
"The project, according to Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), will improve Pakistan’s international telecommunications infrastructure and enhance connectivity," the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency reported.
"PTA has made significant strides in enhancing international connectivity through the facilitation of Transworld Associate, the landing partner of the 2Africa submarine cable for Pakistan."
The first phase of 2Africa cable project began on Dec. 1, with the Pre-Lay Shore End (PLSE) installation. This key step in deploying submarine cables involves the initial setup and preparation at the shore end before the deep-sea cable laying begins, according to the PTA.
The installation of the deep-sea section of the submarine cable will begin on April 1, 2025 in the second phase of the project, which will involve laying the cable across the ocean floor to connect various regions.
In August, the Pakistan Business Council (PBC) warned that frequent Internet disruptions and low speeds caused by poor implementation of the national firewall had led many multinational companies to consider relocating their offices out of Pakistan, with some having “already done so.”
The Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) had also warned that internet slowdowns and the restriction of VPN services could lead to financial losses and closures, and an increase in operational costs for the industry by up to $150 million annually.
Pakistan’s IT exports have been growing at an average of 30 percent per year and are on way to achieving over $15 billion in the next 5 years, according to industry data. But it depends upon the government's ability to ensure continuity of export, fiscal, financial, infrastructure and IT policies, P@SHA said.
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday extended his condolences to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Turkish people over the loss of lives in a blast at an armament factory, which killed 12 people.
The blast occurred in the capsule production facility of the factory located in the province of Balikesir, according to the state-run Anadolu Agency.
Balikesir Governor Ismail Ustaoglu said the explosion collapsed the capsule production building and that the surrounding buildings sustained minor damage.
"Deeply saddened to learn about the accident at the explosive production facility in Balıkesir province, resulting in the loss of 12 precious lives," Sharif said on X.
"While expressing our solidarity with the people of Turkiye, we pray for the bereaved families & swift recovery of the injured."
Pakistan and Turkiye share strong bilateral religious, cultural, trade and defence relations. In May this year, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan visited Islamabad on a two-day official visit.
During the visit, both countries decided to increase bilateral trade volume to $5 billion, amid Pakistan's efforts to boost foreign investments and better manage its $350 billion economy.
KARACHI: Over a century ago, Khaliqdina Hall, a stately colonial-era building on Karachi’s M.A. Jinnah Road, became the stage for a pivotal moment in the history of the Indian subcontinent.
Originally established in 1906 as a library and community center, the iconic building served as a hub for political and literary gatherings, hosting leaders, thinkers and activists who shaped the region’s destiny.
On July 9, 1921, the hall witnessed the trial of Muhammad Ali Jauhar, a renowned journalist, activist and leader of the Khilafat Movement, who stood accused of sedition alongside other prominent figures such as his brother Shaukat Ali, Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew, Maulana Husain Madani, and Sri Shankaracharya.
While not a traditional courtroom, Khaliqdina Hall became a platform for debates that shaped history and a sanctuary for intellectuals seeking knowledge and inspiration since it first opened to the public.
But in recent decades, the hall fell into disuse as Karachi’s cultural and political life waned amid conflict and urban challenges. Now, following a meticulous restoration this year, the 118-year-old building is poised to reclaim its former glory, offering hope for a revival of the city’s lost vibrancy.
“This building is not just heritage but also history,” said Bashir Sadozai, President of the Students Welfare Organization, which occupies a room in the hall. “To many people, the history of this place starts in 1906 with the construction of the building, but it actually started long before, when the British, after occupying the Indian subcontinent, began reforms.”
This photo, taken on December 22, 2024, shows a general view of Khaliqdina Hall, a stately colonial-era building, located at the M.A. Jinnah Road in Karachi. Established in 1906, Khaliqdina Hall was a library and community center that become a hub of political activities and is now a revived heritage site. (AN Photo)
Sadozai explained that in 1851, the British set up a one-room library named the Native Library in the nearby Ranchore Line area. It soon became overcrowded, leading to the formation of a trust comprising local philanthropists. One such individual, Ghulam Hussain Khaliqdina, donated Rs18,000 out of the total Rs33,000, enabling the construction of the building in 1906.
The restoration, initiated in August and completed on November 15, 2024, addressed decades of neglect.
Saima Zaidi, director of Numaish, the organization tasked with the renovation by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), said the building was structurally sound but in a derelict condition.
She informed electrical work, seepage in the walls, paint and woodwork all required attention.
This photo, taken on December 22, 2024, shows a general view of Khaliqdina Hall, a stately colonial-era building, located at the M.A. Jinnah Road in Karachi. Established in 1906, Khaliqdina Hall was a library and community center that become a hub of political activities and is now a revived heritage site. (AN Photo)
“Doors, windows and grills were stripped of layers of paint, cleaned, polished and repaired across the building,” she told Arab News. “The library, with its rare collection of books, was in complete disarray, exposed to the elements in broken cupboards and panes.”
Additional touchups were made to the dock where Jauhar stood during his trial in 1921.
“Around 100 years ago, Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar stood exactly in this place where he was sentenced to two years imprisonment,” Mehdi Maloof, senior director of the KMC, said.
This photo, taken on December 22, 2024, shows a general view of Khaliqdina Hall, a stately colonial-era building, located at the M.A. Jinnah Road in Karachi. Established in 1906, Khaliqdina Hall was a library and community center that become a hub of political activities and is now a revived heritage site. (AN Photo)
Jauhar famously declared his desire for martyrdom, urging the court to deliver its verdict, as he had never denied opposing British colonial rule. Less than a decade later, he died in London and was buried in Jerusalem according to his will.
After partition, the hall hosted the All-India Muslim League’s conference, where it was decided to remove “All India” from its name. The country’s founding father, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, also delivered a speech here to civil servants of the newly independent Pakistan.
This photo, taken on December 22, 2024, shows the dock where freedom fighter Muhammad Ali Jauhar stood during his trial in 1921, at the Khaliqdina Hall, a stately colonial-era building, in Karachi. Established in 1906, Khaliqdina Hall was a library and community center that become a hub of political activities and is now a revived heritage site. (AN Photo)
Asked about the decline in the hall’s relevance to the city’s cultural life in recent years, Zaidi explained that Karachi’s turbulent history— marked by decades of ethnic, militant and sectarian conflict— had also impacted Khaliqdina Hall, as public spaces fell silent amid the violence.
“M.A. Jinnah Road itself witnessed a lot of conflict, violent protests and deadly bomb blasts,” she said. “A whole generation grew up in fear.”
Despite these challenges, she said, the restoration marked a turning point.
In this photo, taken on December 22, 2024, a visitor takes picture at the Khaliqdina Hall, a stately colonial-era building, in Karachi. Established in 1906, Khaliqdina Hall was a library and community center that become a hub of political activities and is now a revived heritage site. (AN Photo)
“In these politically and economically unstable times, this space offers an opportunity for the younger generation to connect with each other and the city, reclaiming their role in shaping its future,” she continued.
Zaidi also highlighted plans to restore the library with 2,000 books, including 500 rare editions from the 18th and 19th centuries, soon to be accessible to the public.
Designed by renowned architect Moses Somake, the hall features Ionic columns and intricate woodwork that have been carefully preserved.
“It’s a really precious gem of a building,” she said.
This photo, taken on December 22, 2024, shows a general view of Khaliqdina Hall, a stately colonial-era building, located at the M.A. Jinnah Road in Karachi. Established in 1906, Khaliqdina Hall was a library and community center that become a hub of political activities and is now a revived heritage site. (AN Photo)
For visitors like Mehwish Rafi, the restoration has brought Khaliqdina Hall back to life.
“Somebody who’s an average citizen, when I walk into this place, I feel overwhelmed,” Rafi said. “And that’s the beauty of this.”
