TANK, Pakistan: It began with a tiny lesion on Muhammad Hamza’s cheek last month. Soon, most of the 12-year-old boy’s body was covered in sores the size of large coins and speckled with blood. He complained that he had difficulty breathing and eating.
A doctor in Pakistan’s South Waziristan tribal district diagnosed Hamza with leishmaniasis, a disease caused by a parasite injected by the bite of bloodsucking sandflies that can lead to deep ulcers that take months to heal and cause severe scarring, often on the face.
In the last six months, 28,000 cases of the disease have been reported in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to figures from the ministry of health. At least 5,000 of these cases have emerged in the erstwhile semi-autonomous tribal regions that were merged into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa last year after a parliamentary vote.
Previously, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, as they used to be called, were governed for over 150 years by colonial era tribal laws and provided a haven for militants, gun runners and drug smugglers. Without provincial status, the area also suffered from a lack of national investment in education, telecommunication and, above all, health care.
Doctors from the area said health authorities were ill-prepared to control the outbreak of leishmaniasis and a shortage of medicines had driven the number of cases further up in the last few weeks. Health Secretary Jamil Farooq said the World Health Organization had donated 10,000 glucantime injections, but the shortage persisted. WHO officials could not be reached for comment.
Farooq said the provincial government had adopted a two-pronged policy to tackle the disease: preemptive measures such as fumigation and curative treatment with a course of injections, or by cauterizing sores to kill the parasites.
“The dilemma is that signs of leishmaniasis appear after three months,” Farooq said, adding that the government was also planning to launch an awareness campaign about the spread of the disease and the effective use of insecticides.
The sandflies that spread the parasites are carried by animals as well as people. They often breed on waste land and in rubbish and infest cracks and crevices in people’s homes. From there, they emerge during night hours from late spring to autumn and bite exposed parts of the body like ears, noses, cheeks and hands while people sleep, Dr. Rahim Dawar, the top health official of the South Waziristan tribal district, explained.
Nasib Shah Shinwari, a tribesman from Khyber tribal district where the largest number of leishmaniasis cased have been reported, said his nine year old daughter contracted the disease six months ago but was now recovering after starting a course of injections.
“Yes, we are getting injections from the District Headquarters Hospital in Landikotal,” he said, referring to the main town in Khyber tribal district. “Sometimes the hospital staff complain of medicine shortage. But she is recovering.”
Hamza’s father Ghulam Rasool said he was unable to find the required leishmaniasis medicines at the District Headquarters Hospital in Tank, the gateway district to the volatile South Waziristan, and had to purchase them at a higher price from a private medical store.
Tribal elder Malik Qabil Khan said locals were planning to convene a jirga, or village assembly, next week to chalk out a strategy on how to tackle the outbreak and build pressure on the administration.
Parasitic skin disease leaves thousands scarred in Pakistan's northwest
Parasitic skin disease leaves thousands scarred in Pakistan's northwest
- 28,000 cases of leishmaniasis reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the last six months
- Doctors say shortage of medicines has driven number of cases further up in the last few weeks
PM Sharif says Pakistan-India wars only brought suffering, urges talks to address outstanding issues
PM Sharif says Pakistan-India wars only brought suffering, urges talks to address outstanding issues
- The prime minister says Pakistan and India are neighbors and must choose between being peaceful or unruly
- He thanks Donald Trump, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries for helping de-escalate the recent conflict
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday called for renewed dialogue with India, saying the two nuclear-armed neighbors had fought three wars since independence without resolving their disputes while emphasizing the need to engage in talks to address outstanding issues.
Sharif made these remarks during a ceremony in Islamabad commemorating the “Day of Gratitude,” held to honor Pakistan’s military response to Indian strikes inside its territory last week. The event was attended by the chiefs of the armed forces, senior officials and dignitaries. The event featured a flypast and national songs.
The recent India-Pakistan standoff was triggered by an attack in Pahalgam, a tourist hotspot in Indian-administered Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 people. India accused Pakistan of involvement, an allegation Islamabad denied while seeking an impartial international probe. The situation escalated into missile and drone exchanges before a ceasefire was announced on May 10.
“Whether we like it or not, we are there forever as neighbors,” the prime minister said, referring to India and Pakistan. “It’s up to us whether we want to be unruly neighbors or peaceful ones.”
“We have fought three wars that solved nothing,” he continued. “Rather, they brought more poverty, unemployment and other problems on both sides. So the lesson is that we have to sit down at the table like peaceful neighbors and settle our outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir.”
Sharif reiterated that Pakistan had no involvement in the Pahalgam incident and expressed gratitude to countries that assisted in de-escalating the conflict.
“I’m extremely grateful to all those friendly countries who have been very helpful in promoting peace and ceasefire in this part of the world... particularly Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Iran, Türkiye, China and others,” he added.
Sharif extended special thanks to US President Donald Trump for his role in mediating the ceasefire.
“Above all, I would like to mention and thank President Trump for his very brave leadership and his vision that peace must be restored in South Asia sooner rather than later,” he said. “His path-breaking and strategic leadership... averted a very lethal looming war in this part of the world,” he said.
The prime minister emphasized the importance of resolving key issues to ensure lasting peace in the region.
“Without resolving these issues, I don’t think we will have peace in this part of the world on a long-term basis,” he said. “If we want permanent peace, then we need permanent solutions of Jammu and Kashmir and water distribution.”
Pakistan rejects Indian media reports of radiation leak, warns against regional arms buildup
- Foreign office says India is following ‘hegemonic policy’ by procuring ‘advanced weaponry’
- It says Pakistan is mindful of the threat and remains ready to deal with any military challenge
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s foreign office on Friday dismissed Indian media reports alleging radiation leaks during last week’s conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbors as “preposterous,” while voicing concern over India’s acquisition of advanced weaponry, calling it a threat to regional stability.
The remarks came amid heightened tensions following a brief but intense military exchange that included missile and drone strikes.
Some Indian media outlets speculated that Pakistani nuclear facilities were compromised during the hostilities, leading to potential radiation leaks.
“What I can say about radiation leakage in Pakistan is that these reports are absurd and preposterous,” foreign office spokesperson Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan said during his weekly news briefing. “This is part of disinformation and fake news peddled by Indian media, which has distinguished itself recently with blatant lies and fabrication.”
“As a responsible nuclear weapon state,” he added, “Pakistan categorically rejects this irresponsible reporting with the contempt it deserves. India will be well advised to check such manufactured falsehoods and stop the fall of its media to new low.”
Some recent reports have also quoted the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as saying “no radiation leak or release from any nuclear facility in Pakistan” had occurred, dismissing the Indian media claims as unfounded.
Ambassador Khan also criticized India’s military posture during the news briefing, saying New Delhi’s ambitions were destabilizing the region.
“India is pursuing aggressive, or rather hegemonic policy in the region, and its defense budget reflects that,” he said. “We remain concerned about the acquisition and procurement of advanced weaponry by India which creates security imbalance in the region.”
“At the same time, we remain mindful of the threat,” he added. “We are prepared and we are ready, and our forces remain ready to deal with the challenges.”
The recent India-Pakistan standoff, which lasted several days, saw both nations engage in conventional military operations, including missile and drone strikes.
A ceasefire was brokered and announced on May 10, though the potential for escalation between the two nuclear-armed nations persists.
Pakistan’s financial regulator alerts firms to cyber risks after conflict with India
- SECP highlights potential risks including operational disruptions and data loss in its advisory
- Recent India-Pakistan hostilities featured coordinated cyberattacks for the first time in history
KARACHI: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) on Friday cautioned local companies about heightened cybersecurity risks, days after a brief but intense conflict with India that, for the first time, saw both nations engage in cyber warfare alongside traditional military exchanges.
The recent hostilities, which included missile and artillery fire, also featured the deployment of drones and coordinated cyberattacks, an unprecedented escalation in the long-standing rivalry between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
A ceasefire was brokered and announced on May 10, though the digital threat persists.
“The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has issued an advisory to all the companies, in light of the recent geopolitical situation and resultant heightened cybersecurity threat alerts, urging companies to adopt cybersecurity best practices,” the regulator said in a statement.
The advisory outlined potential risks such as operational disruptions, data loss and reputational damage, recommending measures including stricter access controls, vulnerability assessments, incident response planning and user awareness training.
During the conflict with India, Pakistan’s economic affairs ministry and the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) reported that their official X accounts had been compromised.
The KPT account briefly posted claims of significant damage from an Indian naval strike before the post was deleted and the agency stated its account had been hacked.
Pakistani officials also acknowledged launching retaliatory cyber operations targeting Indian government and financial websites.
Indian authorities reported over 1.5 million attempted cyber intrusions during the conflict, primarily attributed to Pakistan-based hacker groups.
The SECP’s advisory highlighted the ongoing digital risks in the aftermath of the ceasefire, urging companies to bolster their cybersecurity defenses to protect critical infrastructure and sensitive data.
Pakistan condemns India’s ‘unprovoked’ military action during talks with UK foreign secretary
- David Lammy is on his first official visit to Islamabad amid tensions following India-Pakistan standoff
- Pakistan and UK express satisfaction over bilateral economic cooperation, development partnership
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday condemned what it called India’s “unprovoked and belligerent” military action during talks with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, saying Islamabad had only exercised its right to self-defense with a limited response aimed at avoiding civilian casualties.
The meeting between Lammy and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar took place in Islamabad during Lammy’s first official visit to the country. It came just days after one of the most serious military confrontations between the South Asian nuclear-armed rivals in decades.
Fighting erupted last week when India launched strikes on what it said were “terrorist camps” in Pakistan following a deadly April attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 people. New Delhi accused Islamabad of backing the militants behind the assault, an allegation Pakistan denies.
Four days of drone, missile and artillery exchanges followed, killing around 70 people, including dozens of civilians, on both sides of the border. The conflict raised fears of a broader war before a ceasefire was announced by US President Donald Trump.
“The two leaders held detailed discussions on recent developments in South Asia, particularly the situation following the ceasefire understanding between Pakistan and India,” said a statement released by the foreign office in Islamabad.
“Dar briefed the UK Foreign Secretary on India’s unprovoked and belligerent actions, which constituted a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty, international law, the UN Charter, and established norms of interstate relations,” it continued.
“He underlined that Pakistan exercised its right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter, and that Pakistan’s response remained limited, precise, and proportionate, with utmost care taken to avoid civilian casualties,” the statement added.
Dar also thanked the United Kingdom for its constructive engagement in urging de-escalation during the conflict.
Britain was among several countries that called for restraint, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer saying at the time that the UK was “urgently engaging” with both sides.
The two officials also discussed Pakistan-UK bilateral ties, expressing satisfaction with the progress in trade, economic cooperation and development partnerships.
Dar acknowledged British support in key areas such as education, health and climate resilience, and both sides pledged to deepen collaboration on global challenges including climate action and sustainable development.
Lammy’s visit, the foreign ministry said, underscored the “robust and multifaceted partnership” between the two nations and their commitment to regional and international peace.
-With input from AFP
Pakistan moves to cut import tariffs in bid to boost exports, attract investment
- Pakistani exports rely heavily on imported inputs, making import duties important for export competitiveness
- Government plans to phase out additional customs and regulatory duties in Pakistan in the next five years
KARACHI: Pakistan on Friday approved a major reduction in import tariffs as part of its broader effort to revive the economy, boost exports and attract foreign investment, an official statement circulated by the Prime Minister’s office said.
The move comes as Pakistan emerges from a prolonged economic crisis and shifts from restrictive import controls, previously used to protect dwindling foreign currency reserves, toward policies aimed at sustaining growth and attracting investment. With inflation easing and macroeconomic indicators improving, the government is working on tariff reforms to boost industrial productivity.
Pakistani exports, especially in textiles, engineering and pharmaceuticals, rely heavily on imported inputs, making import duties a key factor in export competitiveness. The issue came up for decision during a high-level meeting on the National Tariff Policy, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad.
“In line with the government’s economic recovery plan, the prime minister has taken a historic step by approving a gradual but significant reduction in import tariffs,” the statement said, calling it “a key milestone” in achieving economic stability and enabling export-led growth.
Under the approved changes, Pakistan will phase out additional customs duties, currently ranging from two to seven percent, along with regulatory duties, between five and 90 percent, over the next four to five years.
The government will also cap general customs duties at 15 percent, compared to current rates that sometimes exceed 100 percent, and limit tariff slabs to four categories to reduce complexity and ensure a level playing field across industries.
The policy shift is expected to support the government’s goals of curbing unemployment, containing inflation further and providing dignified employment opportunities, particularly for educated youth.
Sharif also ordered the formation of an implementation committee to oversee the rollout of the tariff reforms and reiterated that economic revival remained his administration’s top priority.
