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Pakistan’s first multi-mission communication satellite becomes operational

Pakistan’s first multi-mission communication satellite becomes operational
This screengrab, taken from a handout video released by Pakistan’s Special Investment Facilitation Council on October 17, 2024, shows country’s first multi-mission communication satellite, PAKSAT MM1. (Photo courtesy: SIFC)
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Updated 18 October 2024
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Pakistan’s first multi-mission communication satellite becomes operational

Pakistan’s first multi-mission communication satellite becomes operational
  • PAKSAT MM1 to aid in South Asian nation’s space and digital development
  • The satellite will usher in digital era by providing Internet to remote areas
Updated 18 October 2024
Arab News Pakistan
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s first multi-mission communication satellite, PAKSAT MM1, is now fully operational, state media reported on Thursday, describing the move as a significant milestone in the country’s space and digital development.
In May, Pakistan launched the PAKSAT MM1 with Chinese assistance into space from China’s Xichang Satellite Launch Center, in a ceremony broadcast live by the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), the country’s national space agency.
The satellite has been conceived keeping in view the growing needs of the South Asian country in the broad spectrum of communication and connectivity.
“The success of PAKSAT-MM1 will transform Pakistan’s communication infrastructure, which will benefit various IT sectors,” the Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.
“The satellite will provide services such as television broadcasting, community Internet, and tele-education to promote local industries.”
Pakistan’s ranking has improved by 14 points in the United Nations E-Governance Development Index — a comprehensive assessment tool that evaluates the digital government landscape across all UN member states — according to the state broadcaster.
The country now stands at 136 in overall ranking which was at 150 in 2022.
“This satellite will also increase Internet connectivity in remote areas which will further the government’s vision of Digital Pakistan,” the report read.

Topics: PAKSAT MM1

Punjab CM lays foundation stone of 300-bed Saudi-German Hospital in Lahore

Punjab CM lays foundation stone of 300-bed Saudi-German Hospital in Lahore
Updated 6 sec ago
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Punjab CM lays foundation stone of 300-bed Saudi-German Hospital in Lahore

Punjab CM lays foundation stone of 300-bed Saudi-German Hospital in Lahore
  • $250 million hospital will be equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment along international standards
  • The Saudi-German Hospital Network is a leading health care provider in UAE, Egypt, Yemen and Morocco
Updated 6 sec ago
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Chief Minister of Pakistan’s most populous Punjab province, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, has laid the foundation stone for a 300-bed Saudi-German Hospital in Smart City, Lahore, which will cost $250 million, state television reported on Tuesday.
The Saudi-German Hospital Network, founded in 1988, is a leading private health care provider in the Middle East and North Africa region. It is operated by the Middle East Healthcare Company and spans Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Yemen, Morocco and Pakistan.
Known for advanced medical care in specialties like cardiology, neurology and oncology, the Saudi-German Hospital collaborates with top German institutions and integrates AI-driven solutions. The network continues to expand and meet growing health care demands with a reputation for cutting-edge technology and skilled professionals.
“Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif has laid the foundation stone of Saudi-German Hospital in Smart City Lahore,” Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) reported. “The hospital will be a 300-bed medical facility and will be completed at a cost of $250 million.”
The hospital will be equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment and provide international standard medical facilities, it said, adding that the project would be a “huge source of employment for the people.”
PTV quoted Sharif as saying that the government values the private sector’s commitment to bringing positive changes to the country’s health care system.
She called improving the health care system her “priority,” with the Saudi-German Hospital marking a key milestone in enhancing public health and establishing a welfare society, according to state media.
Earlier in February, the Saudi Fund for Development approved a $40 million grant to build the King Salman Hospital in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Last August, the Saudi-German Hospital signed a partnership deal with the Capital Smart City in Islamabad.
Saudi Arabia has been a key ally of Pakistan, providing financial aid, oil subsidies and investments in sectors like energy and health care. The two nations share strong religious and cultural ties, with millions of Pakistani expatriates contributing to both economies. Their partnership is further strengthened through trade, defense cooperation and diplomatic support.

Topics: Pakistan Saudi Arabia ties Saudi German hospital chief minister maryam nawaz sharif caretaker government punjab

Skipper Rizwan urges Pakistan to enjoy ICC Champions Trophy

Skipper Rizwan urges Pakistan to enjoy ICC Champions Trophy
Updated 18 February 2025
AFP
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Skipper Rizwan urges Pakistan to enjoy ICC Champions Trophy

Skipper Rizwan urges Pakistan to enjoy ICC Champions Trophy
  • Pakistan had been due to host the tournament in 2008 but was thrown into cricketing isolation by a security crisis
  • Major teams have toured Pakistan as security improved, opening way for cricket-mad nation to stage the tournament.
Updated 18 February 2025
AFP

KARACHI: Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan said on Tuesday the Champions Trophy would be a “historic occasion” for the country, a day before the hosts kick the tournament off against New Zealand.
The Champions Trophy is the first major cricket event hosted by Pakistan in nearly three decades and is regarded as second only to the World Cup in the one-day game.
“A global event has come to Pakistan after 29 years so I think the whole nation should enjoy this historic occasion,” Rizwan told a news conference on the eve of the tournament, which runs until March 9.
Pakistan had been due to host the tournament in 2008 but was thrown into cricketing isolation by a security crisis as violence spilled over from the long-running war in neighboring Afghanistan.
Gunmen then attacked a bus carrying Sri Lanka’s team in Lahore the following year, wounding several players and killing eight policemen and civilians.
However, major teams have toured Pakistan in the past five years as security improved, opening the way for the cricket-mad nation to stage the tournament.
“Pakistan has suffered enough and for a long time, but we have also won during this phase like the 2017 Champions Trophy and the 2009 Twenty20 World Cup,” Rizwan said.
Still, the build-up has not been without problems after neighbors and arch-rivals India refused to play in Pakistan over long-standing political tensions. India will instead play their matches in Dubai.
Pakistan’s opponents in the tournament opener in Karachi beat them twice this month during a tri-series event that included South Africa.
“There shouldn’t be any doubts on our performance,” Rizwan said. “We may not have played on our abilities but we all want to win the event for the country and people.”
Rizwan hoped to have pace bowler Haris Rauf on the pitch after he suffered chest muscle strain in the match against New Zealand in Lahore last week.
“Haris bowled 80 percent yesterday and today he is bowling at his full rhythm and told us that he is not feeling any discomfort, so I hope he is fully fit,” Rizwan said.

Topics: Mohammad Rizwan ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Pakistan eyes Gulf market as it aims to double exports in five years — finance minister

Pakistan eyes Gulf market as it aims to double exports in five years — finance minister
Updated 18 February 2025
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Pakistan eyes Gulf market as it aims to double exports in five years — finance minister

Pakistan eyes Gulf market as it aims to double exports in five years — finance minister
  • Pakistan has signed MoUs to ensure business-to-business collaborations with Gulf countries
  • Muhammad Aurangzeb Pakistan wants trade, investment to be the engines of economic growth
Updated 18 February 2025
Ismail Dilawar

KARACHI: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb has said Pakistan sees huge potential in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) market, as the country plans to double its exports in the next three to five years, according to details of his media interviews shared on Tuesday officially.
The minister and the governor of Pakistan’s central bank, Jameel Ahmad, traveled to Saudi Arabia last Saturday to attend the two-day Alula Conference for Emerging Market Economies 2025, which brought together global financial leaders, including the managing director of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva.
Pakistan has already taken several steps to benefit from the Middle Eastern and Chinese markets, signing memorandums of understanding to ensure business-to-business collaborations and setting up special economic zones to attract foreign investment for greater employment and industrial development.
“Our ambition is that we are roughly about $30 billion plus in terms of exports, and we want to double in the next sort of three to five years,” Aurangzeb said in interviews with Asharq Business and Bloomberg on the sidelines of the Alula Conference in Saudi Arabia.
According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the country sold $30.7 billion worth of goods in the international market by the end of the last fiscal year in June 2024, showing an 11 percent growth over the $27.7 billion in exports made in 2023.
In the first seven months of the current fiscal year until January, Pakistan’s exports rose 10 percent to $19.6 billion compared with $17.8 billion in the corresponding period a year ago.
The finance minister said his country had progressed in terms of macroeconomic stability in the past 12 to 14 months, pointing out that it was now trying to turn trade and investment into the engines of its economic growth.
“Going forward, I see GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council], where we are sitting right now, we see huge export potential in these markets,” he continued.
The GCC is a regional organization comprising Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman.
Pakistan’s fragile economy has shown signs of stability in the past year, with inflation easing to 2.41 percent in January, creating room for the central bank to reduce borrowing rates by a cumulative 1,000 basis points since June to 12 percent to spur growth.
The State Bank of Pakistan expects 2.5 to 3.5 percent growth in the current fiscal year ending in June.
“We want to now consolidate and use this and the fiscal space which is available to prioritize expenditures that can then help our trajectory as we move forward,” said the minister.

Topics: Pakistan economy Pakistan trade

Boy fishmonger in Karachi becomes internet sensation

Boy fishmonger in Karachi becomes internet sensation
Updated 18 February 2025
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Boy fishmonger in Karachi becomes internet sensation

Boy fishmonger in Karachi becomes internet sensation
  • Huzaifa Khan’s vlogs feature conversations with father on daily runs buying and selling fish
  • Speech impediment for which Khan is seeking therapy has not deterred him from making videos
Updated 18 February 2025
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: On a Sunday morning earlier this month, twelve-year-old Huzaifa Khan walked through the narrow alleys of Karachi’s Frontier Colony, a portable microphone in his hand as his father pushed a wooden cart laden with fish.

The duo had just brought the catch fresh from the port city’s bustling seafood market and were now on their way to sell it in neighborhood markets and also make home deliveries. 

Along the way, as the father-son make their daily journey, Khan records conversations between them, talking about their lives as fishmongers and small businessmen trying to seek a living on Karachi’s mean streets. The videos, which Khan began posting in February last year, have made him an instant Internet hit. Vlogs uploaded to the ‘Khanvlogs240’ Instagram page have thousands and sometimes millions of views, with the comments full of people praising him and his father for working to make an honest living. 

Innocent questions from the bespectacled Khan, and a speech impediment that causes a minor stutter, has endeared him to a sizable online audience, which has in turn been a boon for fish sales.

“Earlier, my father used to buy fish from here [fish market] and sell it on a cart only but since online orders started coming in, we now also take fish and deliver it to people’s homes,” Khan told Arab News. 

“People call and ask us to bring some specific fish, so we provide them with the fish they want.”

Selling fish isn’t an easy task, especially when one is also a student and a vlogger. 

Khan says he wakes up every day at the crack of dawn, offers his prayers, attends school and then joins his father in the afternoon to sell fish. On the weekends, when there’s no school, he accompanies his father and elder brother Talha Ubaid on early morning runs to the fish market 14 kilometers away from their home to make purchases. 

In the evenings, he also helps his father and brother run a cart selling French fries. 

“I WILL BECOME AN ENGINEER”

Khan’s journey to social media success began in October 2023 after the family arrived in the southern port city of Karachi from a remote village in the northwestern city of Swat. His first video, called “Chhoti Si Dukan,” or small shop, was posted in February 2024. 

Since then, he has posted hundreds of videos on different social media platforms.

“Now that I’m making videos, I feel good,” the boy said, as he shushed flies away from the fish on top of his father’s cart. 

In the evenings, fans arrive to meet him at the fries stall and Khan rarely disappoints them.

“When my fans come and take selfies with me, I feel very good,” he said with a smile. 

But despite his newfound online fame, the young fishmonger said education was his priority.

“I help my father and also study,” he said. “I will go to school and become an engineer.”

His father, Nadir Khan, who has two other children, said he always pushed Khan to never neglect his education.

“First of all, there are studies. Studies first and hard work later,” he told Arab News, expressing his gratitude for the recognition his son had received. 

“I am very happy that God has given him so much respect. He comes on screens all over the world,” Nadir said. “When he makes videos with me and conducts my interview, I feel very good.”

Khan hopes to pay it back someday. 

“When I grow up, I won’t let my father work, I’ll only give him rest,” he said. 

“I will earn money and give it to him and ask him and my mother to sit back and relax.”

Topics: boy fishmonger Huzaifa Khan vlogs Karachi Fishermen

New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson to miss the Champions Trophy with a foot injury

New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson to miss the Champions Trophy with a foot injury
Updated 18 February 2025
AP
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New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson to miss the Champions Trophy with a foot injury

New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson to miss the Champions Trophy with a foot injury
  • Coach Gary Stead calls Ferguson key part of the bowling group who was excited about the tournament
  • His place will be taken by Kyle Jamieson, who played his most-recent ODI match in September, 2023
Updated 18 February 2025
AP

WELLINGTON, New Zealand: New Zealand has had another setback ahead of the International Cricket Council’s Champions Trophy in Pakistan, losing fast bowler Lockie Ferguson to a foot injury.
Ferguson was injured in a warm-up match against Afghanistan on Sunday. He will return home immediately and his place in the New Zealand squad will be taken by Kyle Jamieson, who played his most-recent one-day international in September, 2023.
The injury to Ferguson follows the loss of another fast bowler, Ben Sears, to a hamstring injury.
“We’re really disappointed for Lockie,” New Zealand coach Gary Stead said. “Lockie is a key part of the bowling group and brings a lot of major tournament experience and we know how much he was looking forward to representing New Zealand at another major event.
“We wish him well for his recovery and hope he is back firing soon.”

Stead said Jamieson has a skill set which makes him an effective replacement for Ferguson.
“Kyle brings plenty of pace and extra bounce which will suit the conditions here in Pakistan,” Stead said. “He’s shown since returning in the (New Zealand domestic cricket) how effective he can be in the shorter forms of the game and he’s bowled with real pace and energy, which is what you’re looking for.”
New Zealand plays its first match in the Champions Trophy against host Pakistan on Wednesday.

 

Topics: ICC Champions Trophy 2025 ICC Champions Trophy  Champions Trophy 2025 Lockie Ferguson

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