DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Seventy-year-old Gulzar Ahmad was walking past a park near his home in the city of D.I. Khan, in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, when he heard roars of laughter. A group of men of all ages were laughing as though they had just heard a really good joke. But, Ahmad noticed, no one was telling jokes or even really talking.
“In the beginning I thought they were some crazy people — now I am one of them,” he said.
What Ahmad was witnessing was people indulging in laughter therapy, which aims to reduce stress. It was part of a yoga session, which until recently was something that not many people in the district were familiar with.
If anywhere needs its share of laughs, it is D.I. Khan. Dera Ismail Khan, to give it its full name, is the adjoining district to South Waziristan, which is one of seven tribal districts in Pakistan and shares a border with Afghanistan. Following the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, there was a huge influx of refugees in South Waziristan, which spilled over into D.I.Khan.
Subsequent military operations in the region added to the upheaval for residents of the underdeveloped district.
The first yoga group in the city was established at Haq Nawaz Park in 2015 by Mohammed Khalid Ali Zai, a retired military colonel.
“I wanted to do something for my native region, where I was born,” he said. “The people of the city have faced the brunt of terrorism, which spoils their lives.
That’s why I wanted to serve the population and help them keep physically fit.
“The city no longer belongs only to the people of D.I. Khan but also to the adjacent Waziristani people as well. They have been targeted by a plague of militancy for many years, which has destroyed them financially, mentally and psychologically. My dream is to see the public parks full of people and the hospitals empty.”
With people of all ages increasingly falling victim to a variety of skin, eye, stress and anxiety-related diseases, a new yoga and fitness club has opened in the heart of the city to help people stay healthy and overcome any problems. The Town Hall Yoga Club, which is for women only, provides basic fitness training and classes free of charge in the afternoons and evenings.
“Here, the majority of women are housewives and busy with domestic activities,” said Ghazala Shaheen, a yoga instructor at the club. “This is the perfect place where they can come and exercise, which ultimately helps them relieve their stress. Staying at home has made these women the victims of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and other diseases.”
She said that that the popularity of the club has grown quickly: “We started with just few ladies but now, after only two weeks, we have about 60. I am hopeful that soon the numbers will rise and we will have to open new centers.”
It’s not only older women who are showing interest in the sessions, but also college and university students.
“D.I. Khan is a small city,” said Sana, a student at Gomal University. “It has few options for going out. We are feeling much better, mentally and physically, since the opening of this yoga center. Its not just a place to practice yoga but a good way to mingle with other people.”
She has also noticed improvements to her health and wellbeing, too. “Before we used to breath through our mouths. Yoga has taught us to close our mouths and inhale through our noses, which is the first step of yoga,” she said, adding that the trainers have shown her how to improve the condition of her body and respiratory system.
Nizamuddin Mehsud, a welfare officer in the city who hails from the Makin subdivision of South Waziristan, said that Yoga sessions had helped him improve his digestive system and lose weight.
“I can feel huge difference in my health,” he said, “I would recommend yoga, especially for elderly people. It’s a very good activity and helps in reducing the pain that our people have been carrying in their heads for more than a decade.”
Shoaib Alizai is a lawyer in D.I. Khan and also works as an instructor at the yoga center.
“I am happy to see more and more people joining the sessions,” he said. “Now we are conducting our sessions twice a day, morning and afternoon. There is no age restriction. Now even kids are joining us, which is very encouraging. We are seeing good results among people with diabetes, obesity and orthopedic problems.”
Doctor Muhammad Waseem Akbar, chairman of the department of media studies at Gomal University, teamed up with Khalid Ali Zai to raise awareness of the benefits of yoga among the people of the city. It was not easy at first to convince people to attend the sessions. Initially, they started practicing yoga in public parks, where they could reach people easily. As the movement gained momentum, at least six yoga centers were established in the city.
“This region had faced a lot of hardships in many ways, be it economic, psychological or financial,” said Akbar. “I felt a lot of stress among the students and that was the triggering point to launch something new for the local community that could eventually help them find peace.
“Our basic aim was attract people who had been suffering from psychiatric and psychological diseases, as those people can contract other diseases in hospitals. Such patients need an alternative place with a good environment where they can exchange their views.”
The war on terror has had a huge impact on the lives of people in the region and it will take time to heal, he added.
“Now the people are coming to us after seeing the effects that Yoga can have on their lives and bodies,” said Akbar.
Yoga trends in D.I. Khan — once a Taliban gateway
Yoga trends in D.I. Khan — once a Taliban gateway
Warring factions in violence-hit Pakistan district Kurram sign peace agreement
- Rival tribes agree to surrender weapons, dismantle bunkers and not use weapons against each other
- Clashes involving tribes over land and sectarian disputes have claimed over 130 lives in Kurram since Nov.21
PESHAWAR: Warring tribes in Pakistan’s northwestern Kurram district, where tribal and sectarian clashes since November have claimed over 130 lives, signed a peace agreement on Wednesday agreeing to surrender their weapons to the provincial government and dismantle bunkers in the area, a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government official confirmed.
Kurram, a northwestern district of around 600,000 people in KP, has been rocked by tribal and sectarian clashes since Nov. 21 when gunmen attacked a convoy of Shia passengers, killing 52. The attack sparked further violence and road closures in the district and its capital Parachinar, restricting access to medicine, food and fuel in the area as casualties surged to 136.
A grand jirga, or council of political and tribal elders formed by the provincial government this month, has been attempting since weeks to mediate between the rival Sunni and Shia factions and broker a peace agreement.
“Both sides have agreed on the demolition of bunkers and the handover of heavy weapons,” KP government spokesperson Muhammad Ali Saif said in a statement. “We congratulate the people of Kurram on the signing of the peace agreement, which will usher in a new era of peace and prosperity in Kurram.”
Saif said the signing of the agreement will ensure that normal life will be “fully restored” in the district.
According to a copy of the agreement seen by Arab News, members of the jirga and elders of both warring tribes, in the presence of district officials, agreed that all parties would abide by the agreement.
“After the signing of this agreement, the parties will not use weapons against each other,” the agreement reads. “In case of violation, the government will take action with the cooperation of the peace committee against the village or area [that violates the agreement.]”
The agreement said that people will not be allowed to display light and heavy weapons in the district, adding that there will also be a ban on collecting donations to buy weapons. A timeframe for collecting weapons from the armed factions would be announced within 15 days, it said.
Another point of the agreement said that fine of Rs10 million [$35,933] would be imposed on those who violate the terms of the deal by using weapons against each other.
It also said that all bunkers dug by the warring tribes would be dismantled within one month, while there will be a ban on digging new bunkers. It said that families who had been displaced due to the clashes in recent weeks would be rehabilitated.
The agreement said that land disputes in the volatile district would be settled on a priority basis with the cooperation of the local tribes and the district administration. Opening banned outfits’ offices would be prohibited in the district while social media accounts spreading hate would be discouraged via collective efforts backed by the government.
‘SOURCE OF CONSOLATION’
Munir Bangash, a tribal elder who is part of the jirga, told Arab News the peace agreement has been welcomed widely. However, its implementation was a challenging job, he said.
“The agreement is a source of consolation for all parties involved,” Bangash said. “Now, it is up to the government to establish its writ and ensure its implementation in letter and spirit.”
Niaz Muhammad, a member of the Shia group “Anjuman-e-Hussain Parachinar,” was also part of the jirga. He said his group was satisfied with the agreement amid hopes that peace would return to Kurram as people were fed up of constant fighting.
“We’re happy with the signing of the agreement,” Muhammad told Arab News. “Both the tribes want peace that’s why the peace agreement was reached. If there is a will there is a way.”
Saif said to ensure implementation of the agreement, people will leave in convoys on Saturday via land routes in the district.
Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur lauded the provincial government’s efforts, saying they yielded fruit after convincing both parties to sign the peace deal.
“I welcome this important development and congratulate all parties,” Gandapur said in a statement. “The signing of the agreement is a significant step toward a sustainable solution to the Kurram issue.”
He lauded the efforts of local administration, cabinet members, civil and security officials and specifically members of the jirga for playing a vibrant role in tackling the issue amicably.
The agreement was a clear message to elements spreading hatred between the parties, he said, adding that fighting and violence were not solutions to problems.
“If there is peace in the region, there will be development and positive changes,” Gandapur said.
Pakistan Navy seizes drugs worth $1 million at Arabian Sea in counter-narcotics operation
- “Large cache of narcotics” were being transported via sea to international destinations, says Pakistan Navy
- Pakistan’s navy frequently carries out anti-narcotics seizure operations in the country’s territorial waters
ISLAMABAD: A Pakistan Navy ship seized drugs worth $1 million during a counter-narcotics operation at the Arabian Sea, the navy’s media wing said on Wednesday, vowing to disrupt illegal marine activities to maintain law and order.
Pakistan Navy, in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, frequently carries out such narcotics seizure operations in the country’s territorial waters.
PNS MOAWIN, supported by Pakistan Navy’s air assets, successfully intercepted a Dhow during an operation at the North Arabian sea, the navy said. It conducted boarding operations and seized the narcotics, adding that the contraband was stowed in a hidden compartment of the vessel.
“Pakistan Navy Ship MOAWIN seized a large cache of narcotics during a counter-narcotics operation in North Arabian Sea,” it said. “The seized narcotics are estimated to be worth approximately USD 1 million in international market.”
Without mentioning the quantity of the drugs seized, the navy said that the narcotics were being transported via sea to international destinations.
“The successful execution of this anti-narcotics operation demonstrates Pakistan Navy’s vigilance, professionalism and resolve to deter and disrupt all illegal activities, ensuring good order at sea,” the navy said.
In October, Pakistan’s navy seized 1.3 tons of narcotics valued at approximately $26 million during a targeted operation. In June, it seized 389 kilograms of highly valuable drugs during an anti-narcotics operation in the Arabian Sea.
Last year in May, the navy also seized over 4,000 kilograms of hashish worth over $65 million with the help of the country’s Anti-Narcotics Force.
Pakistan’s stock market gained 87% during 2024 with transport, pharmaceuticals top-performing sectors — report
- Analysts attribute stock market’s strong performance to sharp rate cuts, strengthening rupee and disbursement of IMF loan
- Pakistan’s central bank slashed key policy rate by 200 basis points to 13% on Dec. 16, making it fifth straight reduction since June
ISLAMABAD: The KSE-100 index of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) recorded an impressive 85% gain in Pakistani rupees and 87% in US dollars during 2024, a report by the country’s top brokerage house said this week, listing pharmaceuticals, jute and transport among the top-performing sectors of the market.
Pakistan’s stock market has enjoyed gains and bullish trends since the past two months. Financial analysts have attributed the stock market’s bullish trend to drastic cuts in key policy rate, strengthening of the rupee and economic gains triggered by Islamabad signing a $7 billion loan with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) this year.
Pakistan’s central bank cut its key policy rate by 200 basis points to 13% on Dec. 16, making it the fifth straight reduction since June, as the country keeps up efforts to revive a sluggish economy with inflation on the decline as per official figures.
According to a yearly market review by Topline Securities on Tuesday, the market capitalization of companies listed at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) increased by 61% to reach Rs14.6 trillion this year.
“Benchmark KSE 100 Index jumped 85% in PKR (87% in USD) in 2024, with only one trading session left,” the report said. “Market value (market capitalization) of listed companies at PSX also increased by 61% to reach Rs14.6trn.”
The report pointed out that pharmaceuticals, jute and transport were the best performing sectors in 2024 as their market cap increased by 198%, 182% and 130% respectively. On the other hand, chemicals, modarabas, and textile weaving sectors remained the worst performing sectors that posted declines of 54%, 33% and 2%, respectively in 2024.
Raza Jafri, the head of equity at Intermarket Securities, told Arab News that the gains enjoyed by the PSX made it one of the “best-performing equity markets in the world.”
He highlighted that the Pakistan stock market’s gains outpaced those of the Morgan Stanley Capital International Emerging Markets Index and the Morgan Stanley Capital International Frontier Markets Index, which gained only around five percent in 2024.
“Macro stabilization, which reflected in sharp interest rate cuts and a stable Pakistani rupee, enabled equity market valuations in Pakistan to bounce back from record lows,” Jafri told Arab News on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Arif Habib Commodities CEO Ahsan Mehanti said the PSX outperformed other stock markets due to the central bank’s key policy rate, robust economic indicators and the successful disbursement of the new IMF program.
“Government bond yields fell by over an unprecedented 1100bps during the year inviting institutional interest in equities,” he said. “Fall in global crude oil prices reduced import bill by up to $5 billion and helped CPI inflation to fall below five percent resulting in current account surplus and rupee stability.”
According to Topline Securities, the best-performing stocks in Pakistan were GlaxoSmithKline Pakistan (GLAXO), which recorded a 385% increase; Air Link Communication (AIRLINK), which gained 268%; Sazgar Engineering (SAZEW), which gained 252 percent; Fauji Fertilizer Company (FFC), which rose 246 percent; and Mari Petroleum Company (MARI), which gained 220 percent.
It added that the top performers among all listed stocks in 2024 were Ali Asghar Textile Mills (AATM), which gained 2,774%; Khalid Siraj Textile Mills (KSTM), which rose by 1,156%, Thatta Cement Company (THCCL), whose share price soared by 1,027%; and Dewan Automotive Engineering (DWAE), which surged by 1,073%.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also expressed his happiness over the Pakistani stock market’s performance in a post on social media platform X.
“Alhamdolilah! What great news to end the year on!” he wrote on Wednesday.
Pakistani province vows to enforce writ in Karachi after police’s clash with sit-in protesters
- Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen party is leading sit-in protests in Karachi to protest violence in northwestern Kurram district
- Karachi police say eight cops wounded during Tuesday’s clashes, out of which three were injured due to protesters’ firing
KARACHI: The home minister of Pakistan’s southern Sindh province on Wednesday warned members of a religio-political party of stern action if they did not move their sit-in protests from Karachi’s busy locations to designated spots, a day after law enforcers clashed with the demonstrators in the port city.
Karachi police and the paramilitary Rangers force cracked down on protesters belonging to the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) party on Tuesday morning, using tear gas to disperse them from the city’s busy Numaish Chowrangi, Malir and other locations. Demonstrators pelted the law enforcers with stones in response and chanted slogans against them.
The MWM has been leading sit-in protests at over 10 locations in Karachi since last week to protest violence in the northwestern Kurram district. With a population of around 600,000, Kurram has been plagued by tribal and sectarian violence for decades. A devastating ambush on a convoy of Shias on Nov. 21 in which gunmen killed 52 people, gave rise to sectarian clashes in the area that have since then claimed the lives of at least 136 people.
Karachi police has charged protesters under the country’s anti-terror law, saying that over 150 protesters fired directly at police officers with the intention to kill during Tuesday’s clashes in the city’s Malir district. Two police constables, Zaeem Abbas and Ayaz Gul, were injured in the gunfire, as per the police complaint. All in all, police said eight cops were injured during the clashes out of which three were injured due to firing by protesters.
“It is not possible for us to let the city fall victim to violence,” Sindh Home Minister Zia Ul Hassan Lanjar told reporters at a news conference. “It’s not possible for us to not protect the lives and property of citizens while sitting idle,” he added.
He said the government was ready for talks with protesters but also warned that it would enforce its writ in the city.
“Against any illegal actions, the government will stand firm, the police will do its job, the Rangers will do their job and law enforcement agencies will carry out their responsibilities,” the minister said.
He said the Sindh government had extended protesters the offer to move their protests to designated spots across the city.
“We will stand with you, but this is not the way for our main Saddar area to be closed, for Shahra-e-Faisal to be closed, for the Ancholi area to be closed, for the Malir area to be closed, and to turn the city into a battlefield,” he said, referring to Karachi’s areas where the MWM is holding protests.
“You cannot do this. We will not compromise on this under any circumstances.”
Reiterating his offer of negotiations, Lanjar said Karachi’s additional Inspector-general of police and the city’s commissioner will hold talks with MWM since Sindh’s senior ministers had already met representatives of the party.
Meanwhile, senior MWM leader Allama Baqir Hussain Zaidi announced that the party’s protests in Karachi will continue.
“The ongoing sit-ins will continue wherever they are being held and alternative routes will remain open,” Zaidi said in a video message. “The community is urged to participate in the sit-ins in an organized manner and to consider it both a personal and religious obligation to join tomorrow evening’s protest gathering.”
He announced that the group will hold a protest rally on Thursday at 4:00 p.m. at Numaish Chowrangi, stressing that it will be a peaceful one.
A grand jirga — a traditional council of political and tribal elders — has been attempting to mediate between the rival factions in Kurram to enforce peace.
Pakistan, India exchange list of nuclear facilities
- India and Pakistan are signatories to an agreement that bars them from attacking each other’s nuclear facilities
- Pakistan hands over list of nuclear facilities to Indian High Commission representative in Islamabad, says state media
ISLAMABAD: India and Pakistan exchanged lists of their nuclear assets on Wednesday as part of a bilateral pact that prohibits them from attacking each other’s nuclear facilities, state-run media reported.
The ‘Agreement on Prohibition of Attacks against Nuclear Installations and Facilities’ between the two countries was signed in December 1988. It requires that both sides inform each other of their nuclear installations and facilities on Jan. 1 each year. The two countries have been exchanging the lists since 1992.
“Accordingly, the list of nuclear installations and facilities in Pakistan was officially handed over to a representative of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
Accordingly, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs handed over the list of India’s nuclear installations and facilities to a representative of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.
Nuclear-armed India and Pakistan have fought two of three wars after independence from British rule in 1947 over the disputed former princely state of Kashmir. The first war was fought in 1947, the second in 1965, and a third, largely over what became Bangladesh, in 1971.
Both countries claim the disputed territory in full but control only parts of it. Tensions between the two countries escalated last month when India’s top court upheld a 2019 decision by New Delhi to scrap Indian-administered Kashmir’s special status.
India conducted its first nuclear test in 1974, with Pakistan carrying out its first test in 1988.