Pakistani man, deported after boarding wrong flight to Jeddah, accuses airline of ‘criminal negligence’

Pakistani man, deported after boarding wrong flight to Jeddah, accuses airline of ‘criminal negligence’
Passengers wait at Jinnah International airport after all domestic and international flights were cancelled in Karachi on May 7, 2025. (AFP/File)
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Updated 18 July 2025
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Pakistani man, deported after boarding wrong flight to Jeddah, accuses airline of ‘criminal negligence’

Pakistani man, deported after boarding wrong flight to Jeddah, accuses airline of ‘criminal negligence’
  • Malik Shahzain Ahmed had ‘mistakenly’ boarded a Jeddah-bound flight instead of Lahore–Karachi flight on July 8
  • The passenger has requested court to suspend airline license until an investigation into the matter is completed

KARACHI: A Pakistani man, who was “mistakenly” flown to Saudi Arabia last week, has moved a high court against the private airline, Air Sial, according to the court petition, which accuses the airline of demonstrating “criminal negligence” in a matter of national security.

Malik Shahzain Ahmed, a resident of Karachi, was scheduled to fly from Lahore to Karachi on July 8 on the private airline’s flight PF-146. However, he boarded an international flight to Jeddah without any visa or passport and was subsequently detained and deported by Saudi immigration authorities.

In a petition filed in the Sindh High Court on Friday, the passenger requested the court for an early hearing which the court accepted and fixed his plea for July 21. The complainant made the private airline and the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) parties in his petition.

“This is a matter of national security. A JIT (joint investigation team) should be formed on this matter,” Ahmed said in his petition filed through his lawyer, Muhammad Nawaz Dahri.

“How did a person go abroad without a ticket, without a passport and other documents? This is criminal negligence of the private airline.”

Ahmed also accused the airline management of harassing him.

“The license of the private airline should be suspended until the investigation is completed,” he requested.

In a legal notice previously served to the airline, Ahmed said he was denied assistance by the airline and subjected to humiliation, distress. He said he faced “severe mental trauma” and had to purchase another ticket to return to Karachi.

The notice had accused the airline of violating the Sindh Consumer Protection Act, 2014, citing “defective” service, lack of identity verification and “misleading representations regarding safety and professionalism.” It also alleged breaches of Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Rules, 1994, the Pakistan Immigration Ordinance, 1979, and international air travel conventions, including the Montreal Convention of 1999.

In a statement after the incident was first reported by news channels, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) said it had taken notice of the lapse and written letters to the civil aviation regulator and the station manager.

“In the letter, the civil aviation regulator has been requested to impose a heavy fine on the airline that is guilty of negligence,” PAA spokesman Saifullah, who goes by a single name, told Arab News.

Ahmed’s legal notice demanded a written response within two days alongside compensatory damages.

Air Sial has not publicly commented on the matter.


Pakistan PM calls for roadmap to boost IT exports to $30 billion

Pakistan PM calls for roadmap to boost IT exports to $30 billion
Updated 08 August 2025
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Pakistan PM calls for roadmap to boost IT exports to $30 billion

Pakistan PM calls for roadmap to boost IT exports to $30 billion
  • IT exports grew 19 percent to $3.8 billion in FY2024–25 as Pakistan seeks new global markets
  • Over 315,000 students received IT training last year, including 115,000 women nationwide

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday directed authorities to draw up a roadmap to gradually raise Pakistan’s information technology (IT) exports to $30 billion, urging concrete annual targets and reforms to accelerate digital growth.

IT is a priority sector for Pakistan, which has been seeking new markets, particularly in the Gulf region, for tech firms and startups, and looking to attract greater foreign investment.

The sector generated $3.8 billion in export revenue during the last fiscal year, marking a 19 percent year-on-year increase, according to the IT ministry.

“A complete digital ecosystem and infrastructure is being introduced to take Pakistan’s IT exports to $30 billion,” the prime minister said at a meeting in Islamabad, according to a statement from his office. “We are taking priority measures to align the economy with modern requirements through digitization.”

Sharif praised the growth in freelancing, women’s participation and professional training under federal IT programs, noting the establishment of e-employment centers, digital youth hubs and expanded 4G access across the country.

He also ordered the restructuring of the National Information Technology Board (NITB), including the recruitment of top-tier professionals from the market, and called for timely completion of all IT initiatives.

During the meeting, officials said that over 315,000 students had received IT training in the past year, including 115,000 women, while 386 startups were supported under the National Incubation Center, and nearly $700 million in investment agreements and MoUs were signed.

Pakistan also saw a 91 percent increase in the number of freelancers.


Pakistani students win three medals at economics Olympiad in Azerbaijan

Pakistani students win three medals at economics Olympiad in Azerbaijan
Updated 08 August 2025
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Pakistani students win three medals at economics Olympiad in Azerbaijan

Pakistani students win three medals at economics Olympiad in Azerbaijan
  • Lahore student Ameena Babar won silver while Sarim Haseeb and Zarar Tariq secured bronze medals
  • China will host the 2026 edition of the competition, which featured participants from 68 countries

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has secured three medals, including one silver and two bronze, at the International Economics Olympiad (IEO) in Baku, according to a statement by the Pakistan Embassy in Azerbaijan.

The 2025 IEO edition, a global competition that brings together high school students from around the world to test their knowledge in economics, business and finance, was held from July 20 to 29.

Ameena Babar won a silver medal while Sarim Haseeb and Zarar Tariq secured bronze medals as part of the five-member team representing Pakistan at the competition, featuring participants from 68 countries. All three students belong to the eastern city of Lahore.

“The Ambassador welcomed the Pakistan national team which participated in the 2025 International Economics Olympiad held in Baku,” the Pakistan Embassy in Azerbaijan said in a post on X last week.

“The team won 03 medals – 01 silver and 02 bronze,” it continued. “This remarkable achievement highlights the growing potential of young Pakistani economists.”

The IEO comprises open-ended and multiple-choice alongside a business case study.

The cost of participation for the Pakistani team was borne by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.

The 2026 edition of the IEO will be held in China.


14 militant facilitators arrested, three hideouts destroyed in joint operation in Pakistan’s Bannu

14 militant facilitators arrested, three hideouts destroyed in joint operation in Pakistan’s Bannu
Updated 08 August 2025
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14 militant facilitators arrested, three hideouts destroyed in joint operation in Pakistan’s Bannu

14 militant facilitators arrested, three hideouts destroyed in joint operation in Pakistan’s Bannu
  • Police say militants’ vehicles seized, curfew imposed as security forces conducted door-to-door searches
  • The intelligence-based operation followed rising attacks by TTP militants on security and police personnel

KARACHI: Security forces and police in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province arrested 14 suspected militant facilitators and destroyed three hideouts during a joint search and targeted operation in the Hovid and Wazirabad areas of Bannu district, a senior official said on Friday.

The operation, launched by the counterterrorism department of Bannu police and the security forces, was based on intelligence reports indicating the presence of facilitators linked to a banned militant group.

The crackdown follows a spike in violence in the region, which borders North Waziristan and has seen repeated attacks on security personnel in recent months.

“Bannu police, in a successful joint operation in the Hovid and Wazirabad areas, arrested 14 facilitators linked to a banned militant outfit and destroyed three terrorist hideouts,” Saleem Abbas, District Police Officer Bannu, told Arab News over the phone.

Abbas did not specify the name of the militant group, though the Pakistani Taliban, also known as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), have primarily generated violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since their founding in the early 2000s.

Police said security personnel also seized a vehicle and two motorcycles during the operation.

A curfew was imposed in parts of the area, and cordon-and-search activities were carried out to prevent suspects from fleeing.

Authorities said door-to-door searches were conducted, and any suspicious activity was being dealt with immediately.

Police also informed in a statement that joint patrolling in Hovid Bazaar and nearby areas would continue to ensure security and reassure local residents. The operation was carried out on the instructions of the regional and district police leadership.

Police warned that aiding or sheltering militants would result in strict legal action and urged the public to report any suspicious activity to law enforcement agencies.

Bannu has witnessed a surge in militant activity in recent months, including quadcopter attacks on security personnel and civilians.

Authorities said operations would continue until the complete elimination of militant violence and lasting peace in the region.

“The latest operation is part of our continued crackdown on terrorists,” Deputy Inspector General of Police in Bannu Sajjad Khan told Arab News. “There have also been attacks on various police stations in recent weeks, which tend to escalate in response to our actions. But our forces are actively pursuing the militants.”


Pakistan has received over 58,000 Hajj 2026 applications – religious affairs ministry

Pakistan has received over 58,000 Hajj 2026 applications – religious affairs ministry
Updated 08 August 2025
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Pakistan has received over 58,000 Hajj 2026 applications – religious affairs ministry

Pakistan has received over 58,000 Hajj 2026 applications – religious affairs ministry
  • Designated banks will remain open on Saturday, Aug. 9, to receive Hajj applications
  • Pakistan’s Hajj quota for 2026 pilgrimage remains unchanged at 179,210 people

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has received over 58,000 applications from intending pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj, the religious affairs ministry said on Friday, adding that designated banks will remain open on Saturday, Aug. 9, to continue accepting Hajj forms.

The country has been allotted a Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims, of which 129,210 seats are reserved under the government scheme, while the remaining are allocated to private tour operators.

Under the government scheme, pilgrims can choose between a long Hajj package (38–42 days) and a short package (20–25 days). The estimated cost of the government Hajj package ranges between Rs1,150,000 and Rs1,250,000 (approximately $4,050 to $4,236).

"So far, more than 58,000 Hajj applications have been received," the Ministry of Religious Affairs said in a statement.

"The designated banks will remain open tomorrow, Saturday, for receiving Hajj applications," it added. "The receipt of applications from registered Hajj pilgrims will continue on Saturday, Aug. 9."

The statement highlighted the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has issued instructions to the 14 designated banks in this regard, following a request from the ministry.

Hajj applications can also be submitted online or through designated banks, it added, depending on the applicant’s convenience.

Individuals, registered on a first-come, first-served basis, can deposit the first installment of their Hajj dues by tomorrow, according to the ministry.

The second installment of Hajj dues will be collected starting in November this year, it said.

Saudi Arabia had approved the same quota of pilgrims for Pakistan for 2025 as well.

However, a significant portion of the private Hajj quota remained unutilized due to delays by tour operators in meeting payment and registration deadlines, while the government successfully fulfilled its full allocation of over 88,000 pilgrims.

Private operators cited technical issues including payment processing problems and communication breakdowns as the main reasons for the shortfall.


UAE-based tech firm makes debut investment in Pakistan’s startup ecosystem

UAE-based tech firm makes debut investment in Pakistan’s startup ecosystem
Updated 08 August 2025
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UAE-based tech firm makes debut investment in Pakistan’s startup ecosystem

UAE-based tech firm makes debut investment in Pakistan’s startup ecosystem
  • Yango Ventures acquired a stake in Pakistani fintech Trukkr, which digitizes logistics services for over 20,000 drivers
  • The investment will help expand Trukkr’s credit tools and support unbanked trucking businesses across Pakistan

KARACHI: A UAE-based technology company has made its first investment in Pakistan, backing a local fintech that provides digital financial services to the logistics sector, the company said on Friday.

Yango Group, through its $20 million corporate venture arm Yango Ventures, acquired a stake in Trukkr, a platform that serves Pakistan’s $35 billion logistics market.

The investment will support Trukkr’s expansion, improve its credit-scoring technology and help increase financial access for thousands of unbanked trucking businesses.

“Pakistan’s logistics sector is full of potential, and Trukkr is helping move it forward — by giving operators the financial tools they need to scale and succeed,” said Daniil Shuleyko, CEO of Yango Group.

“This is the kind of local innovation we want to help grow, and it’s just the start of our work in Pakistan,” he added.

Founded in 2019, Trukkr digitizes operations for more than 20,000 drivers and over 100 enterprise clients.

Following its acquisition of a non-banking finance company (NBFC) license from Pakistan’s Securities and Exchange Commission, Trukkr now offers working capital and fleet financing powered by its proprietary credit engine, Prism.

Yango Group operates across over 30 global markets and brings experience in ride-hailing, e-commerce, fintech and AI. Its investment in Trukkr is part of a broader strategy to drive digital transformation in emerging markets, particularly in Middle East, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America.

“In addition to their strategic equity investment, we find that their experience in building state-of-the-art logistics tech will allow us to strengthen our offerings in Pakistan and beyond,” said Sheryar Bawany, CEO of Trukkr.