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UAE’s AD Ports delegation discusses investment opportunities with Pakistan’s deputy PM

UAE’s AD Ports delegation discusses investment opportunities with Pakistan’s deputy PM
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar (R) speaks during a meeting with Abu Dhabi Ports CEO Amir Maghami (2L) in Islamabad on September 19, 2024. (Photo courtesy: X/ @DPM_PK)
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Updated 20 September 2024
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UAE’s AD Ports delegation discusses investment opportunities with Pakistan’s deputy PM

UAE’s AD Ports delegation discusses investment opportunities with Pakistan’s deputy PM
  • High-ranking AD Ports delegation meets Ishaq Dar to discuss investment opportunities particularly in aviation sector
  • To ward off its prolonged economic crisis, Pakistan has intensified its efforts in recent months to attract international investments
Updated 20 September 2024
Arab News Pakistan
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ISLAMABAD: A delegation of the UAE’s Abu Dhabi (AD) Ports group discussed investment opportunities with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar this week, his office said, amid Islamabad’s push to secure investments to bolster its fragile economy. 
Pakistan has intensified its efforts in recent months to attract international investments, particularly from Gulf countries, as it looks to evade a prolonged macroeconomic crisis. The South Asian country has been struggling with a chronic balance of payments crisis, a weak currency and low foreign reserves that have crippled its $350 billion economy. 
AD Ports Group, a leading maritime and logistics provider in the Middle East, signed an agreement in July this year to invest $250 million in Pakistan in 10 years as it plans to build an advanced port facility in the country’s seaside metropolis of Karachi.
“A high-ranking UAE delegation led by CEO of Shipping and Transhipment, Abu Dhabi Ports Amir Maghami, today called on DPM/FM @MIshaqDar50 to discuss investment opportunities in Pakistan, particularly in the aviation sector,” Dar’s office said. 
The UAE is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner after China and the United States. It is also an ideal export destination for the South Asian nation as the short distance between the two countries limits transportation costs and facilitates commercial exchanges.
The Middle Eastern country is also home to over a million and a half Pakistani expatriates. After Saudi Arabia, the UAE is Pakistan’s largest source of workers’ remittances and the preferred choice of thousands of laborers who live and work in the country.

Topics: Pakistan UAE ties

Father and stepmother jailed for 10-year-old Sara Sharif’s murder after UK trial

Father and stepmother jailed for 10-year-old Sara Sharif’s murder after UK trial
Updated 1 min 28 sec ago
Reuters
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Father and stepmother jailed for 10-year-old Sara Sharif’s murder after UK trial

Father and stepmother jailed for 10-year-old Sara Sharif’s murder after UK trial
  • Sharif was found dead in August 2023 at her home in Woking after ‘serious and repeated violence’
  • The family fled to Pakistan after Sharif was killed, before they were arrested last year in September
Updated 1 min 28 sec ago
Reuters

LONDON: The father and stepmother of Sara Sharif, a 10-year-old girl who was found dead in her home in Britain, were on Tuesday jailed for 40 and 33 years respectively for her murder after a trial which heard harrowing details of Sara’s treatment.
Sharif was found dead in August 2023 at her home in Woking, a town southwest of London, after what prosecutors said was a campaign of “serious and repeated violence.”
The family fled to Pakistan immediately after Sara Sharif was killed, before they were arrested in September 2023 at London’s Gatwick airport after flying from Dubai.
Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones told jurors at the start of the trial that Sara had suffered injuries including burns, multiple broken bones and bite marks.
Sara’s father Urfan Sharif, 43, and his wife Beinash Batool, 30, stood trial at London’s Old Bailey court charged with her murder, which they denied.
Last week, the jury convicted Urfan Sharif and Batool of Sara’s murder. Sara’s uncle Faisal Malik, 29, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of causing or allowing Sara’s death.
Sharif and Batool appeared in the dock at the Old Bailey, where they heard a statement read on behalf of Sara’s mother Olga Domin who called them “executioners.”
“You are sadists, although even this word is not enough for you,” her statement read. “I would say you are executioners.”
Judge John Cavanagh sentenced Sharif to a minimum of 40 years in prison and Batool to a minimum of 33 years. Malik was sentenced to 16 years.
“The courts at the Old Bailey have been witness to many accounts of awful crimes, but few can have been more terrible than the account of the despicable treatment of this poor child that the jury in this case have had to endure,” Cavanagh said.
“It is no exaggeration to describe the campaign of abuse against Sara as torture.”

Topics: Sara Sharif Sara Sharif murder

Pakistan calls for just solutions to global conflicts like Palestine for Asia’s enduring prosperity

Pakistan calls for just solutions to global conflicts like Palestine for Asia’s enduring prosperity
Updated 50 min 9 sec ago
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Pakistan calls for just solutions to global conflicts like Palestine for Asia’s enduring prosperity

Pakistan calls for just solutions to global conflicts like Palestine for Asia’s enduring prosperity
  • Ishaq Dar virtually addresses CICA’s ministerial meeting, asks member states to address root causes of conflicts
  • The deputy PM also seeks strengthening regional connectivity for economic integration, sustainable development
Updated 50 min 9 sec ago
Hasaan Ali Khan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday called for just and inclusive political solutions to long-standing global disputes, such as Palestine and Kashmir, at the 7th Ministerial Meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA).
CICA, a 28-member forum established in 1992 and headquartered in Kazakhstan, began as a Central Asian initiative, though it now includes members from other region like the Middle East and Southeast Asia. As a founding member, Pakistan sees the platform as vital for addressing issues related to economic development and regional integration in its neighborhood.
The meeting, hosted by Azerbaijan, was addressed virtually by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, who participated from Egypt, where he is attending a summit of D-8 developing nations focused on Gaza and Lebanon.
Dar highlighted Pakistan was working to promote corporation and advance peace, stability and security in Asia, though he also noted the challenges hindering the shared economic and political objectives of the member states.
“Lasting progress cannot be achieved in isolation,” he told the gathering. “Persistent challenges, including political disputes, conflicts, foreign occupations and the denial of self-determination, along with poverty and illiteracy, undermine the collective development of Asia.”
He emphasized that sustainable peace and security depended on addressing the root causes of conflicts.
“A just resolution of the Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir issues and guaranteeing their right to self-determination is key to fostering lasting peace in the region,” Dar added.
The Pakistani deputy prime minister also highlighted the importance of strengthening regional connectivity to drive economic integration and sustainable development.
He noted that initiatives like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) could serve as “catalysts for regional economic cooperation and prosperity.”
“As the global economic center of gravity shifts, it is essential that we seize the moment of opportunity to ensure inclusive regional transformation,” he said, underscoring CICA’s role in fostering collaboration across Asia.
He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to CICA’s vision of advancing dialogue, mutual respect and adherence to international law to resolve disputes.
Dar urged member states to continue utilizing the platform for regional cooperation and collective progress.

Topics: Foreign minister Ishaq Dar

Pakistan proposes cybersecurity center of excellence to bolster digital security for OIC nations

Pakistan proposes cybersecurity center of excellence to bolster digital security for OIC nations
Updated 17 December 2024
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Pakistan proposes cybersecurity center of excellence to bolster digital security for OIC nations

Pakistan proposes cybersecurity center of excellence to bolster digital security for OIC nations
  • Two-day workshop on cybersecurity challenges and opportunities for OIC nations is being hosted in Islamabad
  • PTA chief informs the gathering Pakistan ranks among the top 40 nations in the Global Cybersecurity Index 2024
Updated 17 December 2024
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s telecom regulator on Tuesday proposed the establishment of a center of excellence at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to address cybersecurity challenges and ensure a secure digital future for its members.
The OIC is an intergovernmental organization comprising 57 Muslim countries. Established in 1969, it aims to promote unity, solidarity and cooperation among member states on political, economic, cultural and scientific issues.
The proposal to set up the center of excellence on cybersecurity was presented by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Major General (R) Hafeez Ur Rehman as he addressed the inaugural session of a two-day international workshop focusing on the issue that started earlier in the day.
The workshop, jointly organized by the OIC Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) and Huawei Technologies in Pakistan, has attracted over 300 participants from various countries, both in person and online.
Discussions focus on critical cybersecurity challenges and opportunities for OIC member countries.
“Cybersecurity is a subject which cannot be handled alone by an organization or a country,” Rehman said at the workshop. “We need collaborations by joining hands with each other, and we should establish a center of excellence at the OIC level to ensure a safe digital future for our people.”
The PTA chairman said that in an era where technology was pervasive, digitization had increased vulnerabilities, making it essential to adopt and deploy technologies that ensure safety, security and the protection of critical networks.
“In this collaboration, we can focus on research, training, sharing frameworks with each other and documenting our collective experiences,” he added.
Rehman highlighted that the PTA had developed vital regulations to guide the country’s telecom sector in protecting critical data infrastructure. He also pointed out that Pakistan currently ranks among the top 40 countries, according to the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2024 issued by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
“Previously, we were ranked 79th in the world,” he informed. “Now, we are 40th globally. This means we have advanced by nearly 30 positions in the cybersecurity domain.”
In his address, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General of COMSTECH, proposed an OIC ministerial conference on cybersecurity to facilitate experience sharing and the development of robust cyber defense systems across the Muslim world.
“To take this initiative forward, COMSTECH will organize two global cybersecurity forums in Central Asia and Africa in collaboration with Huawei and OIC-CERT [[Computer Emergency Response Team], focusing on capacity building and fostering linkages,” he added.
Sun Xiaofei, Chief Executive Officer of Huawei Technologies Pakistan, underscored the critical role played by tech firms in advancing cybersecurity initiatives and enhancing digital resilience.
“Huawei is committed to supporting OIC countries as they work to tackle cybersecurity challenges and protect their digital economies,” he said. “Being a technological leader in ICT, Huawei not only invests in cutting-edge technologies but also prioritizes securing the ecosystem, keeping cybersecurity at the top of its agenda.”
“Working with COMSTECH and OIC-CERT, we aim to help OIC countries formulate policies and frameworks to implement cybersecurity initiatives using our global experience and advanced technology,” he added.

Topics: COMSTECH Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA)

Pakistan gets $9.91 million from Japan for flood-hit areas, strengthens climate cooperation with China

Pakistan gets $9.91 million from Japan for flood-hit areas, strengthens climate cooperation with China
Updated 15 min 59 sec ago
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Pakistan gets $9.91 million from Japan for flood-hit areas, strengthens climate cooperation with China

Pakistan gets $9.91 million from Japan for flood-hit areas, strengthens climate cooperation with China
  • Japanese grant will be used for child and maternal health care in flood-affected areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
  • Pakistan’s planning minister discusses climate change, installation of early warning system with Chinese official
Updated 15 min 59 sec ago
Hasaan Ali Khan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday secured international backing to bolster its resilience against climate disasters, with Japan committing $9.91 million in aid for health care in flood-hit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Islamabad signing a climate cooperation agreement with China.
According to the Global Climate Risk Index, Pakistan is the fifth most vulnerable country to climate change, facing annual extreme weather events like floods, droughts and heatwaves that devastate agriculture, infrastructure and livelihoods.
In 2022, record monsoon rains caused catastrophic floods, killing over 1,700 people, inflicting $30 billion in economic losses and affecting 30 million citizens.
The country’s economic affairs secretary, Kazim Niaz, signed a grant to improve maternal and child health services in the flood-affected areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with Japanese Charge d’Affaires Takano Shuichi in the federal capital.
“The Government of Japan has approved grant amounting to $9.91 million for the said Grant-in-Aid project through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA),” a statement released by the Ministry of Economic Affairs said. “The project aims to strengthen the diagnostic and treatment systems in the flood affected areas of the Province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.”
The grant will provide essential medical equipment for maternal and child health care, particularly benefiting high-risk pregnant women and newborns in the province.
Separately, Pakistan’s Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal signed a climate cooperation agreement with China during his visit to Kunming to attend the 3rd China-Indian Ocean Region Forum on Blue Economy Cooperation.
During a meeting with the director of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), Luo Zhaohui, Iqbal discussed Pakistan’s ongoing climate challenges, including its Climate Information and Early Warning System Project.
The initiative, launched in 2023, aims to install early warning systems and improve community resilience, particularly in northern regions vulnerable to Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs).
“CIDCA is committed to supporting Pakistan’s post-flood reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts, solidifying the enduring partnership between the two nations,” Luo said, as quoted by the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency.

Topics: Pakistan China Ties Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal

Aid reaches remote Pakistan valley hit by sectarian clashes

Aid reaches remote Pakistan valley hit by sectarian clashes
Updated 17 December 2024
AFP
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Aid reaches remote Pakistan valley hit by sectarian clashes

Aid reaches remote Pakistan valley hit by sectarian clashes
  • Residents have reported food, medicine shortages in parts of northwestern Kurram district
  • Government is struggling to end a reignited decades-old feud between rival communities
Updated 17 December 2024
AFP

PESHAWAR: Aid flights landed in a remote Pakistan valley on Tuesday where thousands of people are stranded because of sectarian clashes that have killed more than 200 people since July.

Residents have reported food and medicine shortages in parts of Kurram district, which borders Afghanistan, as the government struggles to end a reignited feud between Sunni and Shiite Muslims stemming from decades-old tensions over farmland.

Sher Gul, the head of private welfare organization Edhi, said they would make several flights a day from the city of Peshawar to the valley for the rest of the week, depending on weather.

“We plan to bring around three wounded back on each flight... and deliver medicines for the injured,” he told AFP.

Various truces have been announced since the latest round of fighting began, as elders from the two sides negotiate a lasting agreement.

In the meantime, the government has shut down key roads in and out of the district in an attempt to quell the violence, after a security convoy escorting residents was attacked in November, leaving more than 40 dead.

Mobile and Internet services are also disrupted in the area.

Members of the Shiite community are also particularly vulnerable as they must pass through Sunni-majority neighborhoods to reach essential services. 

At least 133 people have been killed and 177 wounded in sporadic clashes since November 21.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said 79 people had been killed in the region between July and October.

Police have regularly struggled to control violence in Kurram, which was part of the semi-autonomous Federally Administered Tribal Areas until it was merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2018. The feuding is generally rekindled by disputes over land in the rugged mountainous region, and fueled by underlying tensions between the communities adhering to different sects of Islam.

Topics: kurram district

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