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Peshawar-bound PIA flight from Muscat diverted to Karachi after technical problem

Peshawar-bound PIA flight from Muscat diverted to Karachi after technical problem
Pakistan International Airline (PIA) planes are positioned on the tarmac at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport in Islamabad on October 10, 2012. (AFP/File)
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Updated 7 min 58 sec ago
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Peshawar-bound PIA flight from Muscat diverted to Karachi after technical problem

Peshawar-bound PIA flight from Muscat diverted to Karachi after technical problem
  • PK-260 flight landed safely at Karachi airport, says Pakistan International Airlines spokesperson 
  • Planes with technical problems are brought to Karachi as it has repair and engineering facilities
Updated 7 min 58 sec ago
NAIMAT KHAN
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KARACHI: A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight headed toward the northwestern city of Peshawar from Muscat, Oman, was diverted to Karachi on Sunday after it experienced a technical problem, the airline’s spokesperson said. 

The national flag carrier’s spokesperson said PIA’s PK-260 flight had departed from Muscat and was on its way to Peshawar when it experienced a technical problem, prompting the pilot to divert it to the southern port city of Karachi. 

“Planes are brought to the Karachi base as it has repair and engineering facilities,” the spokesperson explained. 

He said the flight landed safely in Karachi and all measures to ensure air safety were adopted. 

“Passengers were taken care of at the Karachi airport and they are being dispatched [to Peshawar] via the PK-368 flight,” the spokesperson said. 

Pakistan plans to sell more than 51 percent of its stake in the loss-making airline as part of the economic reforms suggested by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which approved a long-awaited 37-month $7 billion bailout deal on Wednesday for the South Asian country. 

Topics: Pakistan International Airlines

Pakistan PM condemns Israel’s attacks in Lebanon, demands ceasefire in Gaza

Pakistan PM condemns Israel’s attacks in Lebanon, demands ceasefire in Gaza
Updated 37 sec ago
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Pakistan PM condemns Israel’s attacks in Lebanon, demands ceasefire in Gaza

Pakistan PM condemns Israel’s attacks in Lebanon, demands ceasefire in Gaza
  • Israeli airstrikes killed 32 people across Lebanon on Saturday, including Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah 
  • Shehbaz Sharif hails improvement in macroeconomic indicators, says country heading toward progress
Updated 37 sec ago
Shahjahan Khurram

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned Israel’s recent air strikes in Lebanon, calling on global powers to intervene and put an end to the Jewish state’s war in Gaza that has killed over 41,000 people. 

The Pakistani premier’s condemnation came hours after Israel’s airstrikes in Lebanon killed Hezbollah’s longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah in a Beirut suburb. The bombardment triggered condemnation worldwide and alarmed several countries as fears of a wider war in the Middle East continue to loom. 

Israel’s airstrikes in Lebanon killed 33 people on Saturday, the country’s health ministry said in a statement. 

Sharif told reporters at a press conference in London, where he had arrived after attending the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, that he had presented Pakistan’s stance at the summit on key global issues, including the Palestine crisis. 

“I made a humble effort to carry the voice of the people of Pakistan in front of the world, about the injustice and barbarity in Palestine,” Sharif said.

“Over 40,000 Palestinians have been martyred, thousands of children have been martyred. In the same way, we have also strongly condemned the attacks in Lebanon.”

The Pakistani prime minister said he had demanded an immediate ceasefire in Gaza at the 79th UNGA session, calling on the “global conscience” to awaken. 

Speaking on the country’s economic situation, Sharif said Pakistan is now moving toward stability and progress, adding that the same has been acknowledged by international institutions. 

The premier expressed his satisfaction over the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) approval of a $7 billion loan for Pakistan this week. 

He said the country’s inflation rate stood at 9.6 percent currently compared to 32 percent in September last year, noting that the rates of daily commodities were showing stability as well. 

“Everything is not hunky-dory,” he cautioned. “We have to sweat hard and broaden the tax net without burdening those already paying it.”

Topics: PM Shehbaz Sharif Lebanon Hezbollah

Pakistani designer Faraz Manan earns coveted spot on Business of Fashion 500 list 

Pakistani designer Faraz Manan earns coveted spot on Business of Fashion 500 list 
Updated 33 min 47 sec ago
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Pakistani designer Faraz Manan earns coveted spot on Business of Fashion 500 list 

Pakistani designer Faraz Manan earns coveted spot on Business of Fashion 500 list 
  • Business of Fashion magazine list acknowledges most influential people in global fashion industry
  • Manan has styled Bollywood A-listers such as Kareena Kapoor, Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt
Updated 33 min 47 sec ago
Kashaf Rehman

ISLAMABAD: Prominent Pakistani designer Faraz Manan was included in the prestigious annual Business of Fashion (BoF) 500 list this week that acknowledges the most influential people in the global fashion industry. 

The BoF 500, compiled by The Business of Fashion magazine, acknowledges the works of a wide range of professionals from across various sectors of the fashion ecosystem such as luxury brands, high street fashion, media, technology and sustainability.

Manan started his career in 2003 as a fashion designer and since then has established himself as one of the country’s leading designers under his eponymous label, Faraz Manan. Several leading Bollywood actresses such as Kareena Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Sridevi, Alia Bhatt and Kiara Advani have worn his dresses in the past. 

“Honored and delighted to be a part of The BoF 500: people shaping the global fashion industry,” Manan wrote on his Instagram profile on Friday. 

The BoF 500 said in a post on its website that the designer is one of the leading figures in Pakistan’s fashion industry and a “go-to for buyers of couture bridal and formal wear in the wider South Asia region.”

“Manan quickly rose to prominence, distinguishing himself with a signature style that combines intricate embellishments, lavish fabrics and a contemporary sensibility,” the BoF 500 said.

In 2015, he became one of the first South Asian designers to open a boutique in Dubai and by 2024, his business had amassed over a million global followers on its Instagram account.

Admiration for Manan’s work from the Bollywood elite has turned his brand into a cultural bridge between India and Pakistan, the two neighboring countries where cultural exchanges are rare due to political hostilities. 

Topics: Faraz Manan Business of Fashion 500

Gunmen kill 7 laborers from Punjab in southwestern Pakistan 

Gunmen kill 7 laborers from Punjab in southwestern Pakistan 
Updated 29 September 2024
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Gunmen kill 7 laborers from Punjab in southwestern Pakistan 

Gunmen kill 7 laborers from Punjab in southwestern Pakistan 
  • Unidentified gunmen storm residential compound in remote Panjgur district to kill laborers, say police
  • No group has claimed responsibility for attack but separatist outfits have killed Punjab-based laborers in past
Updated 29 September 2024
SAADULLAH AKHTER

QUETTA: Unidentified gunmen stormed a residential compound in southwestern Pakistan late Saturday night and shot dead seven laborers who all hailed from Punjab, police said, in the latest ethnic attack to take place in the country’s restive province. 

Pakistan’s Balochistan province, which shares porous borders with Afghanistan and Iran, has been the scene of a low-lying insurgency for decades. Ethnic Baloch nationalists have long accused the central government and Punjab of monopolizing profits from Balochistan’s natural resources. The state denies these allegations. 

The overnight attack took place in Khudabadan area near the remote Panjgur city, Panjgur District Police Officer Syed Fazil Bukhari told Arab News. He said the laborers were sleeping in their residential compound when the attackers shot them. 

“Seven laborers and residents of Shujabad village in Multan district were killed in the attack and one received severe bullet wounds and was shifted to District Headquarters Hospital,” Bukhari said. 

He added that the gunmen had managed to flee after carrying out the attack. 

“Security forces have launched a search operation in the area to hunt down the attackers involved in the recent killing of laborers from Punjab province,” Bukhari said. 

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, the separatist militant outfit Balochistan Liberation Army has claimed responsibility for killing Punjab-based laborers in the past. 

BLA militants claimed responsibility for killing at least 23 residents of Punjab in Balochistan’s Musakhel district last month. The victims were forced out of their vehicles by the militants, who shot them after checking their identity. 

Simultaneous attacks were also launched on the same day that killed over 50 in one of the deadliest attacks in Balochistan in recent years. Militants also destroyed a key railway bridge that connects the southwestern province to other parts of the country. 

Topics: Balochistan laborers Punjabi laborers

Gilgit authorities cull over 1,000 stray dogs after fatal attacks, sparking activist outcry

Gilgit authorities cull over 1,000 stray dogs after fatal attacks, sparking activist outcry
Updated 29 September 2024
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Gilgit authorities cull over 1,000 stray dogs after fatal attacks, sparking activist outcry

Gilgit authorities cull over 1,000 stray dogs after fatal attacks, sparking activist outcry
  • Officials say over 10 people have lost their lives, several others have been injured due to dog bites
  • Animal rights activists argue no matter how many dogs are killed, others will soon move in to fill the void
Updated 29 September 2024
Nisar Ali

KHAPLU, Gilgit-Baltistan: In response to recent canine attacks that claimed over 10 lives, authorities in Pakistan’s northern Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region have launched an operation, killing more than 1,000 stray dogs, sparking a debate as animal rights activists denounce the culling as inhumane, officials confirmed on Saturday.
Stray dog culling has long been a contentious issue across Pakistan, particularly in major cities like Karachi and Islamabad, where authorities routinely target stray animals to prevent rabies outbreaks and dog attacks. However, animal rights groups argue that these efforts are cruel and advocate for alternative methods such as mass vaccination and sterilization.
The authorities in GB have intensified the dog culling exercise in Gilgit city after its residents complained of being attacked by them.
“Due to a surge in dog attacks, we have launched the operation and more than 1,000 dogs have been shot,” Iman Shah, special assistant to the chief minister, told Arab News over the phone.
“So far, more than 10 people have lost their live due to dog bites in Gilgit municipal area and over 20 were injured this month,” he added. “According to an estimate, the stray dog population in Gilgit is over 15,000. In all three hospitals of Gilgit, vaccine is available.”
The spokesperson for Municipal Committee of Gilgit, Mazhar Moghul, also confirmed the development.
“In Gilgit, women, school children, senior citizens and young people have come under attack by stray dogs,” he said. “To protect and save the lives of the citizens, we have launched the operation against stray dogs.
Moghul told Arab News over the phone that 10 teams had been constituted to kill the dogs and added that the shooting teams had been instructed not to target female animals.
When asked about the argument that it was cruel to kill these dogs, he said the authorities planned to introduce the “TNVR program,” which would trap, neuter, vaccinate and return the animals with the help of the government and private NGOs.
He acknowledged that the dog culling campaign had been ongoing throughout the year, but said it was intensified this month due to written public complaints about dog bites.
Speaking to Arab News, Dr. Hussain Ali, who works with the Snow Leopard Foundation, said stray dogs play a vital role in the ecosystem.
“They contribute to the ecosystem as scavengers by feeding on dead animals, often found in garbage dumps,” he said. “They also act as predators, preying on mice and other animals that can be harmful to humans and crops. Additionally, dogs assist in the dispersion of seeds through their feces, promoting plant diversity.”
Mahera Omar of the Pakistan Animal Welfare Society also criticized the GB authorities for the dog culling campaign.
“Killing dogs in Gilgit is an inhumane and ineffective way to deal with rabies, dog bites or the stray population,” she told Arab News. “No matter how many dogs are killed, others soon move into the area to fill the void, and the cycle of cruelty continues.”
She said Pakistan needed to add rabies awareness to its public health priorities.
“Globally, the strategic goal of nations is to shift focus to mass vaccination of dogs and increased access to post-exposure prophylaxis for humans in order to eliminate dog-mediated rabies by 2030,” she added. “Such an effort requires political will, resources and, of course, good management.”
Omar urged Pakistanis to lobby the government to implement a humane and effective national rabies program to join the ranks of progressive and compassionate nations.

Topics: stray dogs dog bites

Pakistani diplomat at UN accuses India of sponsoring militants, mistreating minorities

Pakistani diplomat at UN accuses India of sponsoring militants, mistreating minorities
Updated 28 September 2024
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Pakistani diplomat at UN accuses India of sponsoring militants, mistreating minorities

Pakistani diplomat at UN accuses India of sponsoring militants, mistreating minorities
  • Pakistan says India’s ‘terrorist franchise has gone global,’ targeting political dissidents in North America
  • Pakistani diplomat issued the statement after India accused his country of hosting Al Qaeda founder
Updated 28 September 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani diplomat at the United Nations responded to India’s assertions against his country on Saturday, accusing New Delhi of sponsoring armed factions targeting Pakistani civilians and mistreating religious minorities.
The riposte came after an Indian diplomat exercised the Right of Reply following Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s United Nations General Assembly speech, which was critical of New Delhi.
The Indian diplomat said Pakistan was “run by the military, with a global reputation for terrorism,” yet it had “the audacity to attack the world’s largest democracy.”
She also maintained that Islamabad had pursued a policy of “cross-border terrorism” against her country and had “hosted Osama bin Laden” for a long time.
“India continues to sponsor [terrorist] activities not only against Pakistan but also in other countries,” Muhammad Faheem, Third Secretary at the Pakistan Mission, told the world body.
“For decades, India has been the primary perpetrator, supporter and financer of terrorism,” he continued. “India’s sponsorship of terrorist organizations, such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and the Balochistan Liberation Army, has led to the loss of thousands of innocent Pakistani lives.”

Muhammad Faheem, Third Secretary Pakistan UN Mission, speaks during a UNGA meeting at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on September 28, 2024. (Photo courtesy: Screengrab/UN)

Faheem said his country had shared evidence of Indian activities with the international community.
“Now, the Indian terrorist franchise has gone global, with assassinations and attempted murders of political dissidents on North American soil,” he added.
Pakistan has long accused India of sponsoring the anti-Pakistan militant factions which New Delhi has dismissed in the past.
India also faced diplomatic pressure due to its suspected involvement in the murder of a Sikh dissident in North America, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was based in Canada and was a prominent leader of the separatist Khalistan movement.
Nijjar was killed last year in June, and Canada publicly accused India of being involved in his assassination, sparking a diplomatic row between the two countries.
The United States also urged India to cooperate with Canada’s investigation into the murder.
The situation further complicated for New Delhi after an attempted assassination was of another Sikh dissident was reported, this time in the US.
The Pakistani diplomat also highlighted Indian “occupation” of Kashmir and said it had unleashed a “reign of terror” against its minorities.
Prime Minister Sharif had also criticized India for running a “settler-colonial project” in the disputed Himalayan territory by seizing Kashmiri lands and properties and trying to change the demographics of the Muslim-majority region.
So far, India has not responded to the Pakistani diplomat’s statement.

Topics: Pakistan at UN Pakistan India

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