ISLAMABAD: President of Pakistan Dr. Arif Alvi, on Sunday, urged the nation’s to buy products 'made in Pakistan' to reduce the pressure on Pakistani rupee.
“Considering the pressure on the Pak rupee” the president wrote in a tweet, “I urge Pakistanis to buy ‘Made in Pakistan’.”
On November 30, Pakistan's currency plunged to an all-time low hitting PKR 143.5 against the USD in the inter-bank market before closing at PKR 138.5 -- losing 3.4 per cent against the back-drop of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Pakistan sought a financial bailout package from the IMF to stabilize its cash-strapped economy which is marred by high fiscal and current account deficits and an enormously huge import-export gap.
Analysts believe that Pakistan urgently needed to curtail its import bill until it finds a way to enhance its exports.
“In this time of crisis, we must try to avoid luxury goods and avoidable imported purchases,” urged President Alvi.
He further added that, “If you put your mind to it, there is a long list of daily use [avoidable] imported products. This is what we must do together.”
QUETTA: At least five paramilitary soldiers of the Frontier Corps (FC) were killed and over two dozen others injured in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device targeted a bus carrying security personnel near Turbat city on Saturday.
The attack was initially confirmed by Rashid Zehri, the area’s district police officer, who said it occurred when a convoy of paramilitary soldiers escorted by FC vehicles was moving from an area about 10 kilometers from Turbat in Kech district.
Zehri said the bus carrying FC personnel caught fire after the attack, adding that the explosion also destroyed two civilian vehicles and two motorbikes without confirming the number of casualties in the attack.
“Civilians injured in the attack have been shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital, Turbat, while the paramilitary force has taken its soldiers to the FC camp for medical treatment,” he told Arab News over the phone.
However, a senior provincial administration official, who requested anonymity since he was not authorized to speak to the media, said five paramilitary soldiers were killed in the attack, which also injured nearly 40 others, including civilians.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, saying “terrorists will not be allowed to succeed in their nefarious objectives.”
Chief Minister Balochistan Sarfaraz Bugti also called the perpetrators of the attack “unworthy of being called humans.”
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), an armed separatist group, claimed responsibility for the attack.
Balochistan, a mineral-rich province sharing borders with Iran and Afghanistan, has faced an insurgency for decades, which has intensified in recent years. The Baloch separatists accuse the Pakistani state of exploiting the region’s resources without adequately benefiting its population. However, Pakistani governments deny the allegations, saying they have launched several development projects to promote prosperity and improve the lives of residents in the province.
The BLA, with a strong presence in Balochistan, has emerged as a major threat to the state, carrying out deadly attacks, including suicide bombings, to target Pakistani security forces. According to provincial administration data, Balochistan witnessed a dramatic surge in militant violence in 2024, resulting in about 300 deaths in over 550 attacks.
Dr. Amjad Baloch, Medical Superintendent of the DHQ Hospital in Turbat, said his staff treated 11 civilians injured in the blast.
“All the injured were brought in stable condition and discharged after their initial medical treatment,” he told Arab News.
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday described Pakistan’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as the backbone of national economy, issuing directives to take necessary measures to integrate them into the global supply chain, according to a statement from his office.
Pakistan has been striving to attract foreign investment as it recovers from a prolonged economic crisis characterized by a tough balance of payments situation, dwindling foreign currency reserves and a depreciating national currency.
While the government has signed various agreements with close allies and sought to promote business-to-business partnerships to drive growth, Sharif recently noted that foreign investment would remain elusive without first strengthening domestic investment.
“Small and medium enterprises are the backbone of the economy,” he said while presiding over a meeting in Lahore to evaluate the SME sector, according to the statement. “Comprehensive steps are needed to make Pakistani industries a part of the global supply chain.”
The prime minister received a detailed briefing on the operations of the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (SMEDA) and was told its board of directors had been constituted and had started holding regular meetings.
“The process of hiring international-standard experts for the development of the SME sector has been initiated,” the official statement said.
“The State Bank of Pakistan has also instructed banks to simplify and streamline the loan application forms for SMEs,” it added.
The meeting was also informed that authorities were in the process of gathering data on SMEs across Pakistan to enable informed decision-making for the sector.
Ryan Rickelton hits 259 as South Africa take control against Pakistan
Rickelton batted for 607 minutes before being caught at mid-on attempting a big hit
Pakistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan took six catches in the South African innings
Updated 04 January 2025
AFP
CAPE TOWN: Ryan Rickelton made 259 as South Africa took their first innings total to 615 all out on the second day of the second Test against Pakistan at Newlands on Saturday.
Resuming on 176, Rickelton was content to feed the strike to Kyle Verreynne (100) and Marco Jansen (62) in quick-scoring partnerships of 148 for the sixth wicket and 86 for the seventh wicket.
The left-handed opening batsman reached his double century off 266 balls and was finally seventh out, caught at mid-on going for a big hit. He batted for 607 minutes, facing 343 balls and hitting 29 fours and three sixes.
It was the joint seventh highest score by a South African batsman in Test cricket.
South Africa’s innings ended 40 minutes after tea when new cap Kwena Maphaka was bowled second ball for nought to become the 100th Test wicket for Mohammad Abbas.
At 18 years 270 days, Maphaka became South Africa’s youngest Test player when the match started on Friday.
Pakistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan held six catches in the South African innings.
Brief scores:
South Africa 615 in 141.3 overs (R. Rickelton 259, T. Bavuma 106, K. Verreynne 100, M. Jansen 62, K. Maharaj 40; Mohammad Abbas 3-94, Mir Hamza 2-127, Khurram Shahzad 2-123, Salman Agha 3-148).
Match situation: South Africa are 615 all out in the first innings.
Toss: South Africa.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s telecom regulator said on Saturday it had arranged temporary bandwidth to address degraded Internet services caused by a fault in the Asia-Africa-Europe-1 (AAE-1) submarine cable, ensuring Internet stability across the country.
The AAE-1 cable is one of seven international undersea cables connecting Pakistan to the global Internet. Disruptions in these cables can significantly impact Internet performance, affecting individual users and businesses reliant on stable connectivity for daily operations.
“The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) announces that to address the issue of degradation of Internet services due to fault in AAE1 submarine cable on January 2, 2025, ad hoc bandwidth has been arranged and added in the system,” the PTA said in a statement. “Now there is no degradation of Internet services across the country.”
The telecom regulator added it was actively monitoring restoration efforts for the AAE-1 cable and remained committed to ensuring stable services throughout the process.
The fault comes amid growing scrutiny of the Pakistan government’s handling of Internet and social media policies.
Following the February 2024 general elections, marred by allegations of irregularities, the government faced severe backlash over a ban on X, formerly known as Twitter. Local media also reported the government’s decision to establish an Internet firewall aimed at controlling “anti-state propaganda” and content deemed blasphemous, stirring further controversy.
Freelancers and businesses were also instructed later in the year to register VPNs to access online platforms, prompting public outrage, though the government extended the compliance deadline indefinitely since only a fraction of users had adhered to the directive.
Digital rights activists and political rivals accused the government of using these measures to suppress dissent, with a coalition partner, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), also voicing concerns.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari criticized the government for Internet slowdown, questioning why submarine cable faults always disproportionately affected Pakistan.
KARACHI: The Pakistan Naval Academy held a commissioning parade on Saturday to mark the graduation of 49 midshipmen and 29 short-service commissioning cadets, including officers from Iraq, Sri Lanka and other countries, according to a statement from the Pakistan Navy.
The Pakistan military regularly trains officers and cadets of allied nations, particularly from the Gulf region. The parade’s chief guest, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, was invited to the received by Pakistan’s top naval official Admiral Naveed Ashraf before witnessing the ceremony.
He extended congratulations to the newly commissioned officers and their parents, while specifically addressing foreign cadets and officials.
“He [the air chief] commended Pakistan Naval Academy for imparting high-quality training to cadets, including those from friendly countries,” the official statement said. “He expressed the hope that these cadets from friendly nations will serve as ambassadors, strengthening bonds of friendship and mutual respect.”
In this handout photo, released by Pakistan Navy on January 4, 2025, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, reviews parade during the 122 Midshipmen and 30th SSC Commissioning Parade at the Pakistan Naval Academy in Karachi. (Photo courtesy: Pakistan Navy)
The air chief emphasized the need for future leaders to stay updated with modern technologies and the evolving geo-strategic landscape.
“In today’s high-tech and information-driven era, only knowledgeable leaders can effectively address emerging challenges,” he told the commissioning term.
Awards were presented to distinction holders, highlighting the diverse achievements of the graduates.
In this handout photo, released by Pakistan Navy on January 4, 2025, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, awards Sword of Honor to the best midshipman, Sri Lanka’s Tennakoon M. L. Vimutkhi, during the 122 Midshipmen and 30th SSC Commissioning Parade at the Pakistan Naval Academy in Karachi. (Photo courtesy: Pakistan Navy)
The prestigious Sword of Honor went to Midshipman Tennakoon M.L. Vimukthi from Sri Lanka for his exceptional performance. Officer Cadet Ali Jalil Ibrahim Sharif Shuhaib Al Shabani from Iraq was awarded the Chief of the Naval Staff Gold Medal, while the Quaid-i-Azam Gold Medal was awarded to Lt. Muhammad Imad Ud Din for being the best all-round officer.
The Pakistan Naval Academy has long served as a hub for professional and academic training, equipping cadets with skills to meet modern maritime challenges.
In this handout photo, released by Pakistan Navy on January 4, 2025, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, gestures for a group photograph with graduating cadets during the 122 Midshipmen and 30th SSC Commissioning Parade at the Pakistan Naval Academy in Karachi. (Photo courtesy: Pakistan Navy)
Its programs also help foster international cooperation, as displayed by the diverse nationalities of its graduates this year.
