SIKSA, Pakistan: When a pipeline was installed last year to bring spring water and snowmelt to this village of 500 households in northern Pakistan, it brought something else as well: peace.
Previously, neighbors argued over the limited water that coursed through channels to the town. The community strictly regulated water use, with each household allowed half an hour of supply a week to irrigate their fields. Cheating brought arguments.
To wash their clothes or to bathe, villagers had to clamber down to the river at the bottom of the valley. Fetching drinking water meant climbing up the steep mountainside to a spring.
But not any more.
“I would say 90 percent of our issues have now been resolved,” said Shereen Akhtar, a resident and the locally elected representative to the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly. “Now there is peace in Siksa.”
The pipeline, sunk three feet into the ground, uses gravity to carry water six kilometers (3.7 miles) from the heights of the Karakoram Mountains in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan’s northern-most region.
It feeds into a 30,000-liter (8,000-gallon) storage tank, which directs the water through irrigation channels that supply 4,000 people, said Aisha Khan, who heads the Mountain and Glacier Protection Organization (MGPO), a non-profit that works in the region.
She estimates the system now channels over 5 billion liters of water a year — and ensures a water supply year-round.
The project was constructed in response to the effects of climate change, she said, which has led to more erratic water supplies in mountain areas, putting lives and incomes at risk.
“Winters are becoming milder and shorter with less snowfall, and summers are getting longer and warmer,” she said.
And with changes in rainfall patterns affecting farming, she said, ensuring food security is seen as the first step in building resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate change impacts.
“That can only be achieved by providing mountain communities with a reliable source of water in the right quantity and at the right time,” Khan said.
A TIME OF PLENTY
World Health Organization figures show just 36 percent of Pakistan’s population has access to safe drinking water.
Siksa’s water supply project took a year to put in place, and cost about 15.5 million Pakistani rupees ($126,000). The community provided the labor and about one-fifth of the money, with most of the rest coming from the Coca-Cola Foundation.
Sakina, who like most villagers uses just one name, said that until a few years ago water was abundant, with heavy winter snow meaning plenty of water flowed even in summer.
“But for several years now the winters are not so cold anymore and there is less snowfall. That meant less water for irrigation and less crops and income,” she said.
But since the water storage tank was installed, “all these fields have become green again,” she said, pointing to terraced fields where tomatoes, aubergine, okra and pumpkin grow against a backdrop of towering, bare-sloped mountains.
“We can now cook vegetables like okra and aubergines which was unheard of before. Earlier our vegetables would just dry up after we planted them,” the mother-of-three said.
The steady supply of water even means Siksa’s homes are decorated with pots and baskets of flowers.
“Our homes are now scrupulously clean, and we can plant flowers too as we now have plenty of water,” said Husniat, a teacher at one of the village’s two schools.
In recent years, Husniat said, the lack of water meant it was hard to ensure children stayed clean.
“We would have to go fetch water in plastic containers from springs higher up in the mountains, which would take hours, then use it sparingly to wash clothes and for cooking and drinking. It was exhausting,” she said.
WATER SURPLUS
A reliable supply of water also has allowed villagers for the first time in year to sell a surplus of vegetables grown in the nearby market towns of Khaplu and Skardu, Khan said.
They are predicting an even bigger harvest next year, after discovering the water supply is sufficient to irrigate additional farmland, she said.
Villagers also have planted fruit trees — meaning better nutrition and higher incomes, Khan said.
In an effort to help combat global warming, they have planted 10,000 poplar trees as well in the past two years, on formerly barren ground.
“We took the rocks out of the barren ground with our bare hands and planted each tree and watered it. The plantation area has become so green now we all go there in the summers for picnics,” Sakina said.
Khan said the previous government had pushed for more tree planting and provided villagers with free popular saplings, which will also become a new source of income as they grow.
Residents can cut them down and replant “as they grow quite fast,” Khan said, adding that the timber from a mature poplar would fetch about $325.
Sakina said Siksa residents know they should not fell trees for fuel but the government’s supply of electricity to the village is erratic, leaving them little choice.
“Without a proper supply of electricity to run our heaters, what can we do?” she asked.
She said the community now wants to build a small hydropower plant if they can find the needed $80,000 in funding.
In Pakistan, a high mountain water pipe brings a bonus: peace
In Pakistan, a high mountain water pipe brings a bonus: peace
Pakistani naval ships visit Kuwait and Iraq, conduct joint exercises in Arabian Gulf
- Pakistan regularly holds joint exercises with allies to increase synergy and deter piracy, drug trafficking and other illicit activities
- The visit of Pakistan Navy flotilla to Kuwait and Iraq will further enhance the existing diplomatic and naval relations, the military says
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani naval ships have visited Kuwaiti and Iraqi ports to conduct joint exercises with both navies in the Arabian Gulf, the Pakistani military said on Sunday, adding the visits would enhance existing relations.
Pakistan Navy Ships (PNS) Rasadgar and Azmat visited the Kuwaiti port of Al-Shuwaikh, while Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) ship Dasht visited the Iraqi port of Umm Qasr, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing.
On arrival at both ports, Pakistani diplomatic and host naval officials warmly welcomed the Pakistan Navy ships and the mission commander, along with commanding officers of the ships, held meetings with the naval leadership of both countries.
“Later, naval exercises were also conducted together with Kuwaiti and Iraqi navy ships,” the ISPR said in a statement. “The exercises were aimed at improving mutual cooperation between the navies and developing the capacity for joint operations.”
During the meetings, naval officials discussed matters of mutual interest, cooperation in maritime security and communication, according to the statement.
“The visit of Pakistan Navy flotilla to Kuwait and Iraq will further enhance the existing diplomatic and naval relations with friendly countries,” it read.
Pakistan Navy regularly collaborates and holds joint military exercises with allies to increase synergy, promote regional peace and stability and deter piracy, drug trafficking and other illicit maritime activities.
This month, Pakistan Navy conducted joint naval exercises and drills with Royal Oman ship ‘Alseeb.’ The bilateral naval exercise, “Samar Al-Tayeb,” is conducted regularly between the navies of the two nations.
In July, Pakistan Navy also assumed command of a multinational task force responsible for ensuring maritime security in the southeastern waters of the Middle East, operating in the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman and Gulf of Aden.
Pakistan’s army vows to hunt down militants a day after attack kills 16 soldiers
- Pakistan has struggled to contain militancy in its northwest since a fragile truce with Pakistani Taliban broke down in 2022
- Islamabad has frequently blamed the surge in militancy on militants operating out of Afghanistan, Kabul denies the allegation
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s army chief, General Asim Munir, on Sunday vowed to hunt down militants waging attacks against security forces and their facilitators, the Pakistani military said, a day after the killing of 16 soldiers in an ambush in the country’s northwest.
Gen. Munir said this during his visit to the South Waziristan district in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, which has been battling a surge in militancy.
The visit came a day after the killing of 16 soldiers and eight militants during a gunfight in South Waziristan after a group of militants ambushed an army outpost in Makeen area.
Interacting with officers and troops, the army chief commended their resilience and steadfastness in the face of militancy, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing.
“The army chief highlighted that the courage, resilience, and unyielding determination of Pakistan’s armed forces are the cornerstone of the nation’s sovereignty,” the ISPR said in a statement
“COAS reaffirmed Pakistan Army’s commitment to pursuing Fitna Al Khwarij [militants] which shall continue to be hunted down till its elimination along with the facilitator, abettors and financier who will be made to pay the price for their nefarious activities against the state.”
The brazen raid on the outpost near the border with Afghanistan was claimed by the Pakistani Taliban, who said it was staged “in retaliation for the martyrdom of our senior commanders.”
The development came days after the Pakistani military said it had killed 11 militants in separate operations in KP’s Tank, North Waziristan and Mohmand districts.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militancy in KP since November 2022, when a fragile truce between the Pakistani Taliban and the government in Islamabad broke down.
Islamabad has frequently accused neighboring Afghanistan of sheltering and supporting militant groups that launch cross-border attacks. Afghan officials deny involvement, insisting Pakistan’s security issues are an internal matter of Islamabad.
On Saturday, the Pakistani military also urged the Taliban administration in Kabul to ensure robust border management after a group of militants tried to infiltrate from Afghanistan, leading to a skirmish that left four militants and a soldier dead a day earlier.
Pakistan national airline aims to expand its fleet to improve flight operations
- PIA has 23% of Pakistan’s domestic aviation market, but its 34-plane fleet has failed to compete globally
- The airline has faced a lack of direct flights, despite having agreements with 87 countries and key landing slots
KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is aiming to expand its fleet to improve flight operations, the national flag carrier said on Sunday, following the addition of another Airbus 320.
PIA has 23 percent of Pakistan’s domestic aviation market, but its 34-plane fleet has failed to compete with carriers internationally.
The Pakistani airline has been facing a lack of direct flights, despite having agreements with 87 countries and key landing slots.
“The 11th Airbus 320 AP-BOM has been inducted into the operational fleet with new engines. The aircraft was rolled out from the hangar with new paint and cabin decoration,” PIA said in a statement.
“PIA’s operational fleet will also include long-grounded Boeing 777 and ATR aircraft in the next few days.”
The fleet revival will greatly improve the expansion of PIA’s network and product quality, according to the statement. From this week, PIA has also introduced an in-flight Internet system in domestic flights, which is gaining popularity among passengers.
The airline said strict adherence to flight schedules, providing safe and high-quality products to passengers was its top priority.
“PIA’s flight schedule has achieved 90 percent regularity,” PIA Chief Executive Officer Khurram Mushtaq said. “Measures for operational fleet expansion and product improvement are part of our commitment.”
Earlier this month, PIA said it would resume flights to Europe in January, starting with Paris, after the EU aviation regulator lifted a ban on the national flag carrier.
PIA’s authorization to operate in the EU was suspended in June 2020 over concerns about the ability of Pakistani authorities and its Civil Aviation Authority to ensure compliance with international aviation standards.
The ban cost the loss-making airline 40 billion rupees ($144 million) annually in revenue. Pakistan’s attempts to privatize PIA fell flat this year, when it received only a single offer, well below its asking price.
Pakistani province launches helicopter service to evacuate people, dispatch aid to clashes-hit district
- Clashes between Sunni, Shia tribes have killed over 100 people in Kurram since last month
- On Friday, authorities set a deadline of Feb. 1 for the warring tribes to surrender weapons
PESHAWAR: Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province has launched a helicopter service to evacuate people and transport aid to Kurram district that has been hit by sectarian clashes in recent weeks, officials said on Sunday.
Kurram, a tribal district of around 600,000 near Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan where federal and provincial authorities have traditionally exerted limited control, has been a flashpoint for sectarian tensions between Shia and Sunni tribes for decades.
Fresh clashes that erupted last month have killed more than a hundred people, triggering a humanitarian crisis with reports of starvation, lack of medicine and oxygen shortages following the blocking of the main highway connecting Kurram’s main city of Parachinar to the provincial capital of Peshawar.
In response to the problems being faced by residents, the KP administration has been facilitating travel between Parachinar and Peshawar. On Sunday, two flights evacuated 27 individuals as well as carried 16 government staffers and members of a tribal council, which has been striving to achieve peace, to Kurram.
“There is no fare involved in transportation of people or medicines via the helicopter, rather it is a voluntary service by the KP government to meet the emergency situation,” Nisar Muhammad Khan, a KP government official, told Arab News.
The helicopter service was also being used to dispatch medicines to Parachinar. A day ago, 53 individuals, including 14 patients, were shifted to Peshawar from Kurram via helicopter, according to the provincial authorities.
A third flight was scheduled to bring people stranded in the Tal area back to Parachinar, while five more flights were expected to relocate over a hundred people on Sunday, according to the provincial government.
Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s office said the government had so far dispatched 1,850 kilograms of medical supplies to Kurram, assuring that it would mobilize all resources to ease problems of the people and ensure durable peace in the region.
The development comes days after the KP authorities set a deadline of Feb. 1 for warring Sunni and Shia tribes in the district to surrender all weapons and dismantle their bunkers to stem sectarian clashes in the region.
The decision was made at a meeting of the KP apex committee, which comprises civilian and military officials, to discuss a sustainable solution to the issue. It allowed the launch of a special air service for temporary evacuation from some parts of Kurram to protect people’s lives, according to the apex committee declaration.
“The agreement outlines that both sides will submit a detailed action plan within 15 days for voluntary submission of weapons,” read a declaration issued after the apex committee meeting.
“All weapons are to be deposited with the local administration by February 1. Additionally, it was decided that all bunkers in the area will be dismantled by the same deadline.”
In the meantime, land routes to the area would be opened intermittently on humanitarian grounds and a mechanism was put in place for secure transportation, according to the statement.
“Personnel of police and Frontier Corps will jointly provide security to the convoys,” it read.
Last month’s clashes erupted after rival tribes attacked convoys of passengers on the Parachinar-Peshawar road, which were followed by attacks on each other’s villages.
The apex committee asked both sides to avoid any violent action in the future to keep the land route safe and open at all times, hoping that the parties would fully cooperate with the government for a lasting solution to the issue.
Champions Trophy preparations in full swing as Karachi stadium upgradation nears completion
- PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi says the National Stadium will be ready well before the ICC tournament
- He says the PCB is improving facilities for Pakistani cricket fans to ensure they have a better experience
ISLAMABAD: Preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 are progressing rapidly, with the upgradation of Karachi’s National Stadium nearing completion, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said on Sunday during a visit to the venue.
The tournament, scheduled for February 2025, has been at the center of controversy following India's reluctance to play in Pakistan due to strained political ties.
The International Cricket Council resolved the impasse by approving a hybrid model, allowing India’s matches to be held at neutral venues while other teams play in Pakistan. The decision ensured India’s participation while retaining Pakistan as the official host.
“Remarkable progress has been made in a very short time,” Naqvi was quoted in a PCB statement. “The upgradation of the National Stadium will be completed well before the Champions Trophy tournament.”
During the visit, Naqvi reviewed ongoing projects, including the installation of new seats in enclosures, enhanced parking facilities for 2,700 vehicles and finishing work on the stadium building.
He also instructed officials to expedite the installation of LED lights and scoreboards.
“We are improving facilities for cricket fans to ensure they have a better experience,” he added.
The PCB is under pressure to ensure the country is ready to host the major ICC tournament.
Security concerns and political tensions had previously kept high-profile international cricket events away, but recent improvements in safety and infrastructure have bolstered Pakistan’s case as a venue.
Praising the rapid progress at the National Stadium, Naqvi lauded the project team for their dedication.
“I congratulate the entire team for their outstanding and swift work,” he said.
The Champions Trophy is seen as a pivotal moment for Pakistan cricket, with the PCB aiming to deliver a world-class tournament to reaffirm the country’s ability to host international events successfully.
