ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Railways said on Monday it has rescued and reunited 626 children with their families from Jan. 1 to Aug.31 and returned lost luggage amounting to $67000 to various passengers in the same period.
According to the figures released by Railways Police, 149 of the 626 children who were rescued hailed from the eastern city of Lahore, 146 were from Rawalpindi, 128 from Karachi, 66 from Sukkur, 57 from Multan and 13 from Quetta.
It said that while some were sent home, others were handed over to welfare institutions such as the Edhi Foundation.
“Pakistan Railways Police in an unparalleled professionalism and unwavering devotion to duty have rescued and reunited around 626 vulnerable children including girls, boys and women with their heirs in the last 8 months over the period of Jan 1 to Aug 31,” Pakistan Railways public relations officer said in a statement.
“Most of the children were found unaccompanied and loitering at railway stations after they left their house following a fight or getting scolded or in search of glamor or a better life.”
Around 2,000 pieces of lost luggage valued at approximately $69,000 were also retrieved and returned to passengers, said. Many valuables, including laptops, smartphones, gold and artificial jewelry, handbags and currencies were also returned to their rightful owners.
At least 13,360 passengers were provided with first aid, wheelchair, and stretcher facilities for the handicapped and injured passengers, the spokesperson added.
ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party will hold nationwide protests on Friday to demand his release from prison and press for the independence of judiciary, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, a key aide of the former premier, said.
Khan, who has been in jail since August on charges of corruption, treason and attempting to incite a mutiny in the military, has waged an unprecedented campaign of defiance against Pakistan’s military since his ouster in a parliamentary no-trust vote in April 2022. He has accused the then army leadership of orchestrating his ouster together with his political rivals as part of a United States-backed “foreign conspiracy.” The military, Khan’s rivals and Washington have repeatedly denied this.
His PTI party, which had struggled to organize rallies in the country since last year to build public pressure for his release, held public gatherings in Islamabad and Lahore this month.
“Remember, Pakistanis, Imran Khan will only be released when the judiciary is free,” Gandapur said in a video message on Sunday. “So we will come out this Friday in every city and village across Pakistan and peacefully demand protection of the constitution, independence of the judiciary and Imran Khan’s release.”
The PTI has vowed not to accept any of the government’s proposed 53 constitutional amendments that experts and political opponents say are aimed at asserting the executive’s authority over key judicial appointments. The proposed amendments are expected to establish a federal constitutional court, raise the retirement age of superior judges by three years and modify the process for the appointment of chief justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
The amendments have also invited protests and anger from Pakistan’s legal fraternity, who have vowed to take to the streets in protest if the government manages to pass them with a two-thirds majority. The government, on the other hand, has vowed to build a “wider consensus” on the constitutional amendments.
Gandapur said the party will also hold a large public gathering in Mianwali city this Sunday, vowing he would partake in it. He also said the PTI would then hold a rally in the garrison city of Rawalpindi but did not share the exact date of the event.
“I am telling the entire nation that now you have to lead this movement,” the KP chief minister said. “With every passing moment, you have to become a part of this movement.”
The PTI’s rally in Lahore on Saturday ended rather abruptly after authorities cut the electricity supply shortly after a 6pm deadline provided by the administration. The Lahore administration had allowed the PTI to hold the rally from 3-6pm in the Kahna area of the city, subject to compliance with 43 conditions. One of the conditions was that the party’s supporters would not cause unrest or chant anti-state slogans.
While the government called the public gathering a “flop show,” the party alleged their rally had been marred by underhanded tactics which included blocking roads and preventing the PTI from holding the rally for an extended time.
The PTI says it has been facing a state-backed crackdown and the mass arrest of its members and supporters for standing by Khan. Pakistani authorities deny the allegations.
The crackdown against the opposition party began after people carrying its party flags attacked and damaged government and military installations on May 9, 2023, after Khan’s brief arrest that day in a graft case.
Hundreds of PTI workers and leaders were arrested following the May 9 riots and many remain behind bars as they await trial. The military has also initiated trials of at least 103 people accused of involvement in the violence.
KARACHI: Under the guidance of a professional chef, Asad Javed, an apprentice at Karachi’s Café Khudee, skillfully prepares breakfast platters, while Fatima Irtiza, a trainee guest relations officer, welcomes and serves customers with a practiced smile.
But this café is more than just about food and warm service – it’s part of a mission to empower individuals with cognitive disabilities through vocational training in the hospitality industry. Opened last week, the facility, whose name “Khudee” translates to “selfhood” in Urdu, aims to equip its trainees with the skills needed to build careers in cafés, restaurants and hotels.
According to a recent report by The Borgen Project, a US-based non-profit, over six percent of children in Pakistan are diagnosed with developmental disorders, including cognitive disabilities.
These individuals often face social stigma, exclusion from the workforce and limited economic opportunities – challenges this café aims to address by fostering independence and professional skills.
“This is the training ground for differently abled,” Maria Khan, the project manager at the café, which is part of the Karachi Vocational Training Center (KVTC), working to help people with cognitive disabilities for 35 years, told Arab News.
“We are making them learn how they can be in the service industry so that we can find jobs for them and make them into independent individuals for society,” she added.
A waiter (right) takes an order from a customer at Café Khudee in Karachi, Pakistan, on September 21, 2024. (AN photo)
Unlike the developed world, Pakistan has lagged behind in integrating persons with disabilities into the mainstream due to weak implementation of disability policies and insufficient public awareness.
The situation can be particularly tough for individuals with cognitive disabilities, which affect mental processes such as memory, problem-solving and attention, often leading to significant social barriers that limit employment opportunities.
The café offers a diverse menu, catering to a wide range of tastes. From delectable pastries and cakes to savory breakfast platters along with local and international cuisines, there’s something for everyone.
For the trainees at Café Khudee, the opportunity to work in a professional environment is invaluable.
“I’m enjoying here,” Umair Ali Khan, a 37-year-old trainee cashier, said while expressing his enthusiasm. “After finishing my training here, I will go to another café or restaurant in the food industry to work.”
“We’ll do what we’ve learned, of course,” he continued while pointing out that everyone around him was very helpful.
Irtiza, 34, echoed the same sentiment, highlighting the importance of the practical experience offered by the café.
“I’m doing an internship here,” she said. “After it’s finished, I will get a job at a café, make new friends and try many new things.”
Fatima Irtiza (left), trainee guest relationship officer at Café Khudee, is assisting customers at Café Khudee in Karachi, Pakistan, on September 21, 2024. (AN photo)
According to Javed, his work at the training facility has earned him appreciation from his family.
“They were really happy with this work and said that I was learning well,” the 37-year-old trainee chef said. “I will continue to work hard and show them even more.”
Javed believes that if people with disabilities are given a little support, they can accomplish a great deal on their own.
Café Khudee has attracted many customers since its inauguration just a few days ago, with many describing it as a great experience.
“It was a very good experience,” Umar Khalid, an IT professional and customer, said.
“The engagement they’ve created for differently abled people, the restaurant, the café they have opened for their future – it’s a very good effort in my view,” he added.
Asked about the food, he said he ordered a sandwich, which was great.
“Everything was fantastic,” he continued.
Khan, the project manager, said the café has received a good response from the outset.
“We are mostly full here, and I’ve seen people who come today and they’re coming again tomorrow with different groups,” she said.
She noted that many customers who initially came out of sympathy were now returning for the quality of the food, saying many of them had told her they were back because they found the food to be quite amazing.
“They are coming back for the kids [with disabilities] and the food both,” she added.
ISLAMABAD: Chinese President Xi Jinping wished Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the occasion of his 73rd birthday, expressing his desire to promote cooperation with Pakistan in various fields and saying that strengthening ties between the two nations is of “utmost importance” to him.
This was said by the Chinese president in a letter that he addressed to the Pakistani prime minister, Sharif’s office said in a statement. It described the Chinese president’s letter as an “unusual progress” in Pakistan’s diplomatic relations with its neighboring country.
China is a major ally and investor in Pakistan that has pledged over $65 billion in investment in road, infrastructure and development projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. CPEC is a part of the Belt and Road Initiative, a massive China-led infrastructure project that aims to stretch around the globe.
Chinese investment and financial support since 2013 have been key for Pakistan’s struggling economy, including the rolling over of loans so that Islamabad is able to meet external financing needs at a time its foreign reserves are low.
“Strengthening of China-Pakistan ties are of the utmost importance to me,” Jinping wrote, according to the PMO. “I want to work with you to promote China-Pakistan strategic cooperation and construction of CPEC.”
He described Pakistan and China as strategic partners of good and challenging times, adding that history was a witness that the two nations have always trusted and supported each other.
“Such a strong relationship has been established between the two countries that it has never been affected by the changing international scenario,” he wrote.
The Chinese president also expressed his desire to promote cooperation with Pakistan in various fields and enhance people-to-people contacts, the PMO said.
Though time-tested allies, recent security challenges have put a slight strain on Pakistan’s ties with China. Separatist and religiously motivated militants have attacked Chinese projects in Pakistan over recent years, killing Chinese personnel. In the most high-profile recent attack, five Chinese workers were killed in a suicide bombing in March, which was the third major attack on Chinese interests in Pakistan in a week.
China has called on Islamabad to ensure security for its citizens in Pakistan. The South Asian nation has in turn sought to ease Chinese fears, vowing to provide fool-proof security to its citizens living and working in the country.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi will lead a strategic “Connection Camp” today, Monday, featuring prominent cricketers and coaching staff in a bid to restore the country’s cricket to its past glory after a string of humiliating losses at home, the PCB said.
Pakistani cricket commentators and experts have raised alarm at the quality of cricket demonstrated by the national team after its first-round exits from the 50-over World Cup in India last year and T20 World Cup in the United States this year.
Since 2022, Pakistan has lost to Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Ireland, the United States and Bangladesh in all three formats of cricket. The green shirts lost to Bangladesh 0-2 in a home Test series this month, marking the first time they were whitewashed by the South Asian country.
A PCB media release said the Connection Camp will be led by Naqvi and will feature nine cricketers, including Babar Azam (Pakistan’s white-ball captain), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Shan Masood (Pakistan’s red-ball captain). Joining them will be national team head coaches Jason Gillespie and Gary Kirsten, assistant coach Azhar Mahmood and high performance specialist David Reid.
“The primary objective of the camp is to define a shared vision and mission, along with setting a roadmap to reignite the pride and excellence that has characterized Pakistan cricket since achieving Test status in 1952,” the PCB said on Sunday.
It said the session will focus on fostering “stronger collaboration between players and the PCB,” adding that the board will reaffirm its commitment to supporting players in meeting strategic goals.
“The ultimate aim is for players to take a leading role in inspiring the next generation of cricketers through outstanding performances,” the cricket board said.
Masood said the outcomes of the session will include performance benchmarks, player development programs and strategies to enhance grassroots cricket in Pakistan.
“We’re fully committed to working with the PCB to reignite the pride and passion that Pakistan cricket is known for,” he said.
Kirsten said the players and support staff would do their best to ensure Pakistanis are proud of their national team.
“We will focus on refining our approach in white-ball cricket to meet the standards of the highest levels of international competition,” he said.
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will present Pakistan’s stance on key global issues, including Israel’s war on Gaza, the Kashmir dispute and the adverse effects of climate change, as he takes part in the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly this week, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported on Monday.
New York has once again taken center stage as world leaders, policymakers, and international stakeholders arrive in the city to attend this year’s UNGA from Sept. 10-28. Policymakers and global leaders are arriving in the city for a series of high-level discussions and summits aimed at addressing the world’s most urgent challenges.
The Pakistani prime minister will address the UNGA on Friday, Radio Pakistan said. According to local media reports, the Pakistani prime minister is in the United Kingdom from where he will depart for New York today, Monday, to attend the UNGA session.
“In his address, the Prime Minister will highlight Pakistan’s perspective on a range of international and regional issues of concern, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and Palestine issue,” state media reported. “The Prime Minister will reaffirm Pakistan’s steadfast commitment to multilateralism and support for the role of the United Nations in fostering global peace, security and prosperity.”
Sharif is scheduled to attend several high-level meetings, including discussions on existential threats posed by sea level rise and the UN Security Council’s open “Debate on Leadership for Peace” session, Radio Pakistan said.
He will also hold several bilateral meetings with world leaders and meet UN Secretary-General António Guterres during his visit to New York.
Israel launched its war on Gaza on Oct. 7 after Hamas fighters stormed into southern Israel, killing 1,200 and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Israeli military campaign has since demolished swathes of the besieged territory killed more than 41,000 people, displaced nearly all of its 2.3 million people multiple times, and given rise to deadly hunger and disease in the area.
Pakistan does not recognize nor have diplomatic relations with Israel and calls for an independent Palestinian state based on “internationally agreed parameters” and the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
Since the beginning of Israel’s war on Gaza, Pakistan has repeatedly raised the issue at the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and other multilateral platforms. The South Asian country has also dispatched several aid consignments for the Palestinians.
