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International Maritime Organization launches major ship recycling project in Pakistan

International Maritime Organization launches major ship recycling project in Pakistan
The photograph taken on November 8, 2016, shows the wreckage of a burnt out ship which was hit by a gas cylinder explosion on November 1, at the Gadani Shipbreaking Yard, some 50 kilometres west of Karachi. (AFP/File)
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Updated 01 October 2024
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International Maritime Organization launches major ship recycling project in Pakistan

International Maritime Organization launches major ship recycling project in Pakistan
  • Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships and Decent Work Project holds first workshop in Karachi
  • Pakistan is among top five ship recycling nations in the world, new project builds on ongoing project in Bangladesh
Updated 01 October 2024
Arab News Pakistan
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ISLAMABAD: The International Maritime Organization has launched a new project to promote sustainable ship recycling in Pakistan, one of the top five ship recycling nations in the world. 

The Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships and Decent Work (SENSREC-DW) Project held its first workshop in Karachi last month, following IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez’s first official visit to the South Asian country. 

“The new project is a collaboration between the IMO and the International Labour Organization (ILO), aimed at enhancing safety and environmental responsibility in the ship recycling industry, while upholding global labor rights standards,” the IMO said in a statement. 

The primary focus of the workshop, which gathered approximately 150 people representing stakeholders from various sectors, was how to ensure compliance with international standards outlined in the Hong Kong Convention, the Basel Convention and ILO treaties, and strategies for improving working conditions, especially in developing countries, given the high risks associated with shipbreaking activities. 

Participants outlined specific objectives and activities for the project, emphasizing the need for capacity building and training programs tailored to local contexts. They took part in a technical visit to ship recycling yards in Gadani, Baluchistan, to learn from the field and observe some of the key challenges faced by the industry. 

“The outcomes of their discussions will guide the implementation of initiatives designed to promote decent work and sustainable practices in ship recycling facilities across Pakistan,” the IMO said. 

The Hong Kong Convention, adopted in 2009, is designed to ensure that ships are recycled without posing risks to human health or the environment. It mandates that ships carry an Inventory of Hazardous Materials and that recycling facilities develop a specific Ship Recycling Plan for each vessel. The Convention is set to enter into force on June 26, 2025 and aims to enhance safety standards across the global ship recycling industry. 

SENSREC-DW builds on the ongoing SENSEREC project in Bangladesh, first launched in 2015. 

Topics: International Maritime Organization Imo SENSREC-DW ILO Ship recycling Arab News Pakistan

Pakistan sees uptick in economic activity as consumer spending surges in Ramadan 

Pakistan sees uptick in economic activity as consumer spending surges in Ramadan 
Updated 14 sec ago
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Pakistan sees uptick in economic activity as consumer spending surges in Ramadan 

Pakistan sees uptick in economic activity as consumer spending surges in Ramadan 
  • Consumers flock to markets throughout Ramadan to buy fruits and vegetables in large quantities for evening iftar meals
  • Financial analyst says increased remittances, distribution of Zakat among masses in Ramadan also spurs economic activity 
Updated 14 sec ago
Ismail Dilawar

 

 

 

Ismail Dilawar 
 
Karachi: Khadeeja Manzoor haggled with a vendor at a busy market in Pakistan’s Karachi over the price of vegetables. The sight is not an unusual one in Pakistan, especially during the holy month of Ramadan, where people flock to fruit and vegetable markets in thousands daily to buy food items. 

Muslims break their fast with the evening iftar meal during the holy month of Ramadan, consuming dishes prepared with fruits and vegetables in large amounts. This triggers a surge in consumer spending significantly during the holy month, one that increases sales at grocery stores and marketplaces.

“Our spending increases during Ramadan,” Manzoor, 45, told Arab News. “They (actually) double because though the prices of vegetables have declined a bit, other things have become costlier,” she added. 

Pakistan has long grappled with an economic crisis that saw inflation surge to a historic 38 percent in May 2023. However, the government has since then achieved some economic gains, with the country’s monthly inflation rate dropping to 1.5 percent in February on a year-on-year basis.

Dry fruit seller Wasib Abbasi noted that people spent more on items such as Rooh Afza, a sugary drink considered a staple Ramadan diet, and dates during the holy month. This causes a surge in sales during Ramadan, he added. 

“Our sales remain normal during the first 15 days of Ramadan but significantly increase during the second half,” Abbasi, who runs a store selling dry fruits at the busy Empress Market, told Arab News. 

Financial analyst Muhammad Waqas Ghani agrees the increased demand for food items and the increased inflow of remittances to Pakistan during Ramadan supplements the country’s economic growth. He said Pakistan usually sees a rise of 20 percent in remittances during the holy month every year. 

Remittances are a lifeline for Pakistan’s cash-strapped economy, playing a critical role in stabilizing foreign exchange reserves and supporting its balance of payments. Overseas Pakistanis remitted $3.1 billion in February.

“Ramadan does have a significant economic angle. Demand rises in food, lifestyle, and other areas like footwear,” Ghani, the head of research at JS Global Capital Ltd., a commodities brokerage company, told Arab News. 

During Ramadan, commercial banks also deduct billions of rupees from people’s accounts on account of the annual Islamic charity, Zakat. 

Ghani said the circulation of Zakat funds among the masses also increases their purchasing power, which leads to more consumer spending. 

Atiq Mir, chairman of the All Karachi Tajir Ittehad (AKTI), a body of over 400 trade groups in the southern port city, described Ramadan as the “spring month” for traders and citizens alike in terms of both divine blessings and material gains.

“The way people come to bazaars with their children gives a good look,” Mir said, adding that trade “runs above normal” during the holy month.

“Given the size of its population, Karachi alone is a Rs100 billion market if people came out proportionately for Eid shopping only.”
 

Topics: Ramadan 2025 Pakistan economy

Russian naval ships visit Pakistan’s Karachi port to conduct joint exercises

Russian naval ships visit Pakistan’s Karachi port to conduct joint exercises
Updated 16 March 2025
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Russian naval ships visit Pakistan’s Karachi port to conduct joint exercises

Russian naval ships visit Pakistan’s Karachi port to conduct joint exercises
  • Pakistan and Russia, once Cold War rivals, have strengthened ties in recent years through increased cooperation in various sectors
  • The visit of the Russian flotilla marks a ‘significant milestone’ in maritime diplomacy and defense cooperation, Pakistan Navy says
Updated 16 March 2025
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: A Russian navy flotilla has arrived in the southern Pakistani port city of Karachi to conduct joint exercises with Pakistan Navy, the Directorate General Public Relations (DGPR) of Pakistan Navy said.
Pakistan and Russia, once Cold War rivals, have strengthened their relations in recent years through increased dialogue as well as trade, energy and defense cooperation.
Regular port visits and joint exercises between Pakistan Navy and Russian Navy continue to strengthen bilateral ties, deepen naval collaboration, and foster mutual trust.
Upon arrival in Karachi, the Russian warships were accorded a warm welcome by officials of the Pakistan Navy and the Russian consulate, according to the DGPR.
“During the port call, the crew of the visiting ships will engage in professional discussions with Pakistan Navy personnel,” the DGPR said in a statement.
“Russian and Pakistani naval ships will conduct joint exercises aimed at enhancing interoperability and maritime cooperation.”
The Russian flotilla comprising RFS REZKIY and RFS ALDAR TSYDENZHAPOV frigates and medium-sized sea tanker RFS PECHENGA will be in Pakistan till March 18, according to the DGPR.
“The visit of Russian Flotilla marks a significant milestone in maritime diplomacy, reinforcing security and defense cooperation between the two nations,” it said.
Pakistan Navy regularly collaborates and holds joint military exercises with allies and friendly nations to increase synergy, promote regional peace and stability and deter piracy, drug trafficking and other illicit maritime activities.

Topics: Pakistan Navy Pakistan Russia Ties Russian Navy

Bangladesh court upholds death sentence of 20 students in 2019 murder case

Bangladesh court upholds death sentence of 20 students in 2019 murder case
Updated 16 March 2025
AFP
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Bangladesh court upholds death sentence of 20 students in 2019 murder case

Bangladesh court upholds death sentence of 20 students in 2019 murder case
  • Abrar Fahad, a student at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, was killed after criticizing then government of Sheikh Hasina on Facebook
  • Fahad, 21, was beaten for nearly six hours with cricket bats by a group of 25 students, all members of the student wing of Hasina’s Awami League political party
Updated 16 March 2025
AFP

DHAKA: A court in Bangladesh upheld on Sunday death sentences of 20 former university students convicted of murdering a fellow student in 2019 who had criticized the country’s former government on social media.
Abrar Fahad, 21, a student at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), was killed hours after publishing a Facebook post that criticized the then government of Sheikh Hasina for signing a water-sharing treaty with India.
Fahad was beaten for nearly six hours with cricket bats by a group of 25 students, all members of the Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student wing of former prime minister’s political party, the Awami League.
The student wing was accused of creating a reign of terror on university campuses before Hasina was ousted last year following a student-led uprising.
“I am satisfied. I hope the legal procedures will be completed soon, and justice will be served,” Fahad’s father, Barkat Ullah, told reporters after the verdict was announced by the court on Sunday.
“I don’t want to blame the parents who sent their sons to the top university, but they got involved in bad politics. I would urge others to stay away from harmful activities,” he added.
Fahad’s killing sparked nationwide protests, forcing Hasina to pledge the highest punishment for the perpetrators.
Due legal process will be followed to implement the verdict, Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman told reporters.
“The High Court upheld the lower court verdict that handed down death sentences to 20 and life imprisonment to five,” Asaduzzaman said.
“The convicts will be allowed to appeal against the verdict and will have all the rights ensured by the court.”
Syed Mizanur Rahman, one of the group’s defense lawyers, said, “We will appeal against the verdict.”
Of the 20 sentenced to death, four are still on the run.
One of them, Muntasir Al Jamie, who was convicted in Faha’s murder, broke through the prison wall of a high security jail on August 6.
Death sentences are common in Bangladesh, with hundreds of people currently on death row.
All executions are carried out by hanging, a legacy of British colonial rule.

Topics: Awami League Party Bangladesh Chhatra League Bangladesh student murder

PCB serves legal notice to South Africa’s Corbin Bosch for ‘breaching’ Pakistan T20 league contract

PCB serves legal notice to South Africa’s Corbin Bosch for ‘breaching’ Pakistan T20 league contract
Updated 16 March 2025
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PCB serves legal notice to South Africa’s Corbin Bosch for ‘breaching’ Pakistan T20 league contract

PCB serves legal notice to South Africa’s Corbin Bosch for ‘breaching’ Pakistan T20 league contract
  • Bosch was picked by Peshawar Zalmi in the Diamond category during player draft for the 10th edition of Pakistan Super League
  • The Pakistan Cricket Board says its management has outlined repercussions of Bosch’s departure from the league in the notice
Updated 16 March 2025
Shahjahan Khurram

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has served a legal notice to South African all-rounder Corbin Bosch for “breaching” his contract for the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) Twenty20 tournament, the PCB said on Sunday.
The 30-year-old Bosch was picked by Peshawar Zalmi in the Diamond category during player draft for the 10th edition of PSL in Lahore on Jan. 13, according to the PCB.
The legal notice was served through his agent, and the player has been asked to justify his actions of withdrawing from his professional and contractual commitments.
“The PCB management has also outlined the repercussions of his departure from the league and expects his response within the stipulated time frame,” the board said.
“The PCB will not make any further comments on the matter.”
PSL, which officially began in February 2016, features city-based franchise teams and has become a major event in Pakistan’s cricket calendar, symbolizing the country’s love for the sport. The league brings together both local and international talent, and has grown substantially in value and popularity since its inception.
Pakistan will host the 10th edition of PSL from April 11, with defending champions Islamabad United taking on two times champions Lahore Qalandars at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in the opening match.
The six-team tournament will see 34 matches between April 11 and May 18. Lahore’s Qaddafi Stadium will host 13 matches, including two eliminators and the final, according to the PCB.
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium will host 11 matches, including the first qualifier on May 13. National Bank Stadium in Karachi and Multan Cricket Stadium will host five PSL matches each.

Topics: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Pakistan Super League (PSL) Corbin Bosch

Pakistan PM asks officials to intensify crackdown on human traffickers, smugglers

Pakistan PM asks officials to intensify crackdown on human traffickers, smugglers
Updated 16 March 2025
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Pakistan PM asks officials to intensify crackdown on human traffickers, smugglers

Pakistan PM asks officials to intensify crackdown on human traffickers, smugglers
  • Several Pakistanis attempt the dangerous and illegal journey via sea each year in search of greener pastures abroad
  • These journeys have claimed lives of several dozen Pakistanis in recent years, prompting action against human smugglers
Updated 16 March 2025
NAIMAT KHAN

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has asked officials of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to intensify their crackdown on human traffickers and smugglers, the FIA said on Sunday.
The statement came after a meeting of senior FIA officials with the prime minister following the arrest of Usman Jajja, ringleader of a notorious gang involved in human trafficking.
Sharif said the individuals involved in the heinous crime of human trafficking not just cause a loss of precious human lives but also damage the country’s global repute.   
“The prime minister called for intensifying operations to bring those involved in human trafficking to justice,” the FIA said in a statement.
Sharif awarded a cash prize Rs1 million to each official who was part of the operation against the Jajja gang involved in the Greece boat accident, in which four Pakistanis died after a migrant boat they were on sank near the Greek island of Crete in Dec. 2024.
The boat tragedies put the spotlight on perilous journeys many migrants undertake, often driven by economic hardship as young individuals seek better financial prospects by attempting dangerous crossings to Europe.
Several Pakistanis attempt the dangerous and illegal journey each year in a bid to escape surging inflation and opt for a better life as the cash-strapped country navigates a tricky path to economic recovery from a macroeconomic crisis.
Pakistan has intensified its crackdown on human smugglers after multiple boat tragedies resulted in its citizens getting killed in recent years. In 2023, an overcrowded vessel carrying over 250 Pakistanis capsized near Greece, in what was one of the deadliest migrant boat disasters in recent history.

Topics: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Federal Investigation Agency human smugglers anti-human trafficking

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