ISLAMABAD: In his second address to the nation since taking office, Prime Minister Imran Khan warned the nation that if dams are not built, Pakistan will face a drought by 2025. He urged overseas Pakistanis to contribute funds toward building dams in the country.
The prime minister said he has been receiving presentations for the last two weeks on the issues of the nation. “I made a promise to my Pakistani citizens that I would bring to light the problems being faced in our country. The biggest problem we are facing today is that of water scarcity,” explain PM Khan in his address.
Narrating facts from his meetings, the PM said that in post-partition, 5,600 cubic meters of water were available to every Pakistani but today that number has decreased to 1,000 cubic meters. “Globally, 120 days worth of water being stored is considered safe, we only have the capacity to store water for 30 days,” warned PM Khan.
Stressing on the importance of building dams in the country and the failure of doing so being detrimental to our future generations, Khan warned, “We are left with no option but to build dams. Experts have warned that if we don’t start building dams now, seven years from now (by 2025) Pakistan will face a drought.”
Warning the country, and overseas Pakistanis, of the outcome of having no water Khan said, “If we don’t have water we will not be able to grow crops, if we are unable to grow crops we will not have food, there will be a calamity. This is why we have to start making dams from today.”
Khan also lauded Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Saqib Nisar for his efforts in raising funds for the construction of dams.
“I am appealing to Pakistanis all over the world today, start contributing fund from today for the construction of dams in the country, especially overseas Pakistanis. If each of our 9million overseas citizens contributes $1,000, we will accumulate enough money to construct both the dams and our reserves will also improve.”
“No one will give us loans; we are so deep in debt that we cannot even afford to take loans any longer. We have to construct these dams ourselves. I assure you that I will protect your money.”
PM Khan warns of drought, urges overseas Pakistanis to contribute to fund
PM Khan warns of drought, urges overseas Pakistanis to contribute to fund
- PM explained that Pakistan only has the capacity to store water for 30 days
- Experts have warned that if we don’t start building dams now, Pakistan will face a drought by 2025
How Saudi Arabia is using innovation, research, and regulation to turn waste into a circular economy success
- Engineering, AI and cross-sector partnerships are driving sustainable solutions to manage 110 million tons of waste annually
- New laws, financial incentives and rising investor interest are reshaping the Kingdom’s waste management and recycling landscape
RIYADH: As Saudi Arabia accelerates toward a circular economy under Vision 2030, experts say universities, research institutions, and business leaders are playing a crucial role in developing innovative waste management solutions that align with national sustainability goals.
In early 2024, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture announced a waste management plan aiming to recycle up to 95 percent of waste and add SR120 billion ($31.99 billion) to the Kingdom’s gross domestic product.
Saudi Arabia generates more than 110 million tons of waste each year, much of it originating from cities like Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam. Its waste management market is projected to grow from $5.97 billion in 2025 to $8.72 billion by 2030, according to Mordor Intelligence.
To meet this challenge, academic partnerships, regulatory reforms and emerging technologies are coming together to reshape the sector, Sultan Al-Muaythir, chairman of the civil engineering department at Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, told Arab News.
Forming knowledge-sharing agreements with leading countries in waste management, he said, is a strategic step toward building a sustainable, locally adapted system that draws on global best practices and aligns with Saudi Arabia’s circular economy ambitions.
To drive innovation in the sector, Al-Muaythir emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary support. Fields like civil engineering, landfill and waste management, geotechnical engineering, and soil sciences all contribute to the design and development of critical infrastructure.
Mechanical engineering plays a key role in advancing collection and treatment equipment, while chemical, agricultural and biotechnology engineering disciplines help analyze waste composition and develop transformation processes.
Electrical engineering, he added, is essential for operating smart systems and managing energy generated through treatment.
Al-Muaythir also pointed to the Kingdom’s updated regulatory landscape, particularly the introduction of the Waste Management Law and its executive regulations, as a strong foundation for encouraging innovation and investment in sustainable practices.
He explained that the next phase calls for faster plan implementation, broader international research collaboration and direct incentives for advanced processing technologies — steps that would speed up the Kingdom’s progress toward its environmental and development goals.
While government action is essential, Al-Muaythir said innovation in waste management is not a luxury, but a necessity for building a clean environment and a functioning circular economy.
He added that individual responsibility plays an equally important role. “Adopting conscious behaviors towards waste and committing to sorting and reuse/recycling constitute the first building blocks in creating a more sustainable future,” he said.
Expanding on this vision, Abdullah Alakel, chairman of the Saudi Scientific Research and Innovation Association, said waste management innovation is a cornerstone of Vision 2030’s broader goal to build a circular and sustainable economy.
He told Arab News that scientific research is a key driver in tackling environmental challenges — from recycling and waste-to-energy technologies to the use of artificial intelligence to improve sorting and collection processes — ultimately boosting operational efficiency and reducing environmental harm.
To support this ecosystem, the association provides business incubators and innovation accelerators, offering technical and financial assistance. It also facilitates connections between researchers, donors and investors to help turn ideas into market-ready solutions.
Alakel noted that several joint initiatives with academic and industrial partners are already underway, including efforts to convert organic waste into economic products such as fertilizers and biofuels.
DID YOU KNOW?
• Saudi Arabia aims to recycle up to 95 percent of its waste by 2040. Waste management sector is projected to contribute $32bn to GDP by 2040.
• Half of the Kingdom’s waste comes from Riyadh (21 percent), Jeddah (14 percent) and Dammam (8 percent).
(Sources: Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture and the National Center for Waste Management)
Other projects aim to develop scalable recycling technologies and improve overall waste management efficiency.
Beyond research, the association works to foster a culture of sustainability across society. Alakel said it organizes public awareness campaigns, educational workshops in schools and universities, and national competitions that encourage creative, environmentally responsible solutions.
He added that the association plays a critical role in bridging academia and implementation by hosting scientific conferences, building strategic partnerships and supporting national innovation deployment in alignment with Vision 2030’s environmental goals.
Farah Al-Gharib, CEO of Precision & Choice Environmental Solutions, echoed those views, underscoring the opportunity to enhance coordination between stakeholders as Saudi Arabia moves toward a circular economy.
To accelerate progress, Al-Gharib called for a more integrated and flexible system that encourages public-private partnerships. Activating source-level sorting and offering financial incentives to investors, she said, would help drive growth in the sector.
Clear metrics, such as waste reduction, cost savings and job creation, should be used to measure success.
Looking ahead, she expects more companies to invest in smart technologies and expand their collection and treatment networks. Seamless integration across the entire waste value chain — from source to processing and redistribution — is essential, she said, to avoid bottlenecks and uphold the core principles of the circular economy.
“Based on our experience in the sector, we believe that unifying and updating regulations under a single, clear, and transparent regulatory framework would directly contribute to attracting investors, reducing the complexity of procedures and the classification of recyclable products, thereby accelerating regulatory processes and stimulating production,” said Al-Gharib.
She concluded that clear legislation and coordinated responsibilities across authorities are key to scaling up circular economy initiatives effectively and sustainably.
Fluminense stun Al-Hilal to reach Club World Cup semifinal
Brazil’s Fluminense continued their fairy-tale run at the Club World Cup with a 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal on Friday in Orlando, Florida, to book their place in the semifinals.
The tournament underdogs struck first through Matheus Martinelli in the opening half before Al-Hilal hit back after the break when Marcus Leonardo found the net.
But Fluminense refused to be denied and regained their lead in the 70th minute through Hercules to secure a memorable win over Al-Hilal in the first meeting between the two clubs.
The Brazilian side, who entered the tournament as one of the biggest long shots, will now face the winners of Friday’s other quarter-final clash between Palmeiras and Chelsea.
US judge briefly pauses deportation of 8 migrants to South Sudan
- US District Judge Randolph Moss in Washington made the ruling at an emergency hearing on July 4
- The administration has detained the men for six weeks on a military base in Djibouti
WASHINGTON: A federal judge briefly halted the Trump administration on Friday from placing eight migrants on a plane destined for conflict-ridden South Sudan, to give lawyers for the men time to make their argument to a court in Massachusetts.
US District Judge Randolph Moss in Washington made the ruling at an emergency hearing on July 4, when courts are otherwise closed for the Independence Day holiday.
The group of migrants had filed new claims on Thursday after the Supreme Court clarified that a federal judge in Boston could no longer require US Department of Homeland Security to hold them.
The administration has detained the men for six weeks on a military base in Djibouti rather than bring back to the United States.
The order stops the US government from moving the men until 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. They were scheduled to be removed to South Sudan on a 7 p.m. flight.
The case is the latest development over the legality of the Trump administration’s campaign to deter immigration by shipping migrants to locations other than their countries of origin pursuant to deals with other countries.
A lawyer for the US said during the hearing that court orders halting agreed-upon deportations pose a serious problem for US diplomatic relations and would make foreign countries less likely to accept transfers of migrants in the future. The group of men have been convicted of various crimes, with four of them convicted of murder, the US Department of Homeland Security has said.
South Sudan has long been dangerous even for locals. The US State Department advises citizens not to travel there due to violent crime and armed conflict. The United Nations has said the African country’s political crisis could reignite a brutal civil war that ended in 2018. The eight men, who their lawyers said are from Cuba, Laos, Mexico, Burma, Sudan and Vietnam, argue their deportations to South Sudan would violate the US constitution, which prohibits “cruel and unusual” punishment.
Moss said that he would transfer the case to Massachusetts rather than hear it himself, but remarked that if they proved their allegations about the motives of US authorities, they would likely have a valid claim.
“It seems to me almost self-evident that the United States government cannot take human beings and send them to circumstances in which their physical well-being is at risk simply either to punish them or send a signal to others,” Moss said during the hearing.
What We Are Buying Today: Manamah Saudi Sleepwear
- Manamah offers pajamas adorned with incense symbols — an emblem of goodness and hospitality in every Saudi home
For those seeking soft, lightweight pajamas crafted from non-polyester fabrics made in Saudi Arabia, Manamah is the perfect choice.
The brand offers a variety of designs that are not only stylish but also deeply rooted in Saudi culture.
You will love their musk design, which combines cotton and nylon. This fabric blend ensures a soft touch against the skin while providing the breathability needed for warm summer nights. The heritage-inspired style adds a unique flair, making these pajamas more than just sleepwear.
The Saudi coffee cups pajama set, meanwhile, features a comfortable wide elastic waistband, ensuring a snug yet relaxed fit. The playful design not only looks great but also serves as a nod to the rich coffee culture in the Kingdom.
Manamah also offers pajamas adorned with incense symbols — an emblem of goodness and hospitality in every Saudi home. This design resonates deeply with the welcoming spirit of local culture, allowing wearers to feel a connection to their roots. Another favorite design features the iconic Saudi coffee pot, a symbol of hospitality that reflects the brand’s commitment to honoring tradition.
The name Manamah translates as “from a dream” or “deep state of sleep.” It encapsulates the essence of what sleepwear should provide: a cozy and restful experience that allows you to drift into a peaceful slumber.
The pajamas are priced at SR279 ($74). The price feels justified considering the quality of the materials and the cultural significance embedded in each design. Manamah’s commitment to using high-quality, non-polyester fabrics is a significant plus, especially for those who are conscious about the materials we wear.
Visit manamah-sa.com for more details.
Hayy Cinema hosting classic movie program for children in Jeddah
- The program includes twice daily screenings of classic Arab cartoons that have left a lasting impression on viewers and a complementary range of artistic activities inspired by the films
JEDDAH: Hayy Cinema in Jeddah is running an entertainment program that provides an interactive experience to evoke childhood memories and strengthen cultural bonds between generations.
The program includes twice daily screenings of classic Arab cartoons that have left a lasting impression on viewers and a complementary range of artistic activities inspired by the films.
Hayy Cinema, which is an Art Jameel initiative, provides a unique approach to film presentation. Its facilities include a 168-seat theater, private screening room, multimedia library and an educational exhibition, all designed with architectural inspiration drawn from the history of Gulf cinema.
The children’s program runs until Sunday.
