ISLAMABAD: Fairy lights sparkle on trees at a sharp bend in a corner of Islamabad’s upscale Jinnah Market. A stretch of road that was just unattended brush not too long ago now has lines of cars parked along it. A wooden cutout of a teapot announces a new addition to Islamabad’s chai scene: ‘Tea O’ Clock.’ Beyond this is a humble little shack where young people sit snugly on colorful chairs around small tables sipping steaming cups of tea.
The scene looks like a still from an early 90’s film centered on a group of teens sharing the simple joys of living and forming life-long friendships around a milky elixir of black tea laced with cinnamon, cardamom and cloves. Coal-filled grills provide the necessary relief from Islamabad’s biting chill. On one table, three girls sing old Bollywood songs; on another, a game of Monopoly is in its final moments; on yet another, a group of young boys and girls discuss the semantic features of Urdu poetry.
Tea O’ Clock is one of five back-to-basics chai shops that have opened up in the upmarket F7 neighborhood recently, all steeped in nostalgia, with simple and unfussy menus aimed at giving the capital’s youth an option other than pricey restaurants and cafes.
“The response has been overwhelming, we are always crowded and it was surprising,” Tea O’ Clock owner Imran Khan told Arab News. “Even in the cold where I find it so difficult to sit out, it’s always full.”
“It sort of proves people needed a place like this.”
Khan opened up the chai shop on the unassuming strip of land about a year ago so he could have a place to sit, work and relax which wasn’t an upscale cafe or restaurant.
“I made something for myself which was not very fancy,” Khan said. “And it turned out to be very successful.”
“The youth here, the young crowd, they don’t have much today to do, honestly. All we have is restaurants where you go eat and have to leave,” Khan said as he warmed his hands on a coal heater. “There’s nothing, no place where you can sit for an hour for something social and casual to do.”
He said people came to his chai shop to do office work, play cards, just chat with friends “all over a simple cup of tea.”
Last year, Chik-a-Chinos started a revolution in Islamabad’s restaurant world as an outdoor cafe with (comparatively) low prices, street eats and, yes, chai.
Quetta Tea ‘n Teas in F10, and it’s sister restaurant, an outdoor dhaba style cafe called #TAG, also opened in F7, both focusing on chais from Quetta and eats to match. Previously home to cellphone stores, an entire strip of the F7 market now boosts of chai vendors that sell a simple cup of tea in a single-serving sized matka, or clay pot.
The largest of these is Tandoor Junction, sitting on the sidewalk of the corner of Jinnah Market. The menu is simple: six different variations of chai.
“We come and sit here because it’s just easy,” said Javaid Malik, 30, who was at Tandoor Junction with a larger group of friends. “You don’t always want to be in a restaurant, paying a ton of money. This feels more free.”
Another patron, Nida Aziz, said at Quetta Tea ‘n Teas: “I like that I can leave work, come here, easily meet up with other friends and finally have a place outside of home and restaurants to have a conversation. That’s what’s really been lacking here: a place you can go and talk like when we were kids in school.”
In Pakistan’s upscale capital, a new tea culture blossoms
In Pakistan’s upscale capital, a new tea culture blossoms
- ‘Tea O’ Clock’ is the newest entrant in Islamabad’s growing chai scene
- Authentic chai cafes replace pricey restaurants as options for the city’s youth
Pakistan issues 94 visas to Indian pilgrims for Hindu saint’s birth anniversary in Sindh
- Shiv Avtari Sant Shadaram Sahib was born in 1708 in Lahore, which is now part of Pakistan
- Pakistani charge d’affaires in India says his country is committed to facilitating devotees
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s High Commission in New Delhi announced on Friday the issuance of 94 visas to Indian pilgrims to attend the birth anniversary of a revered 18th-century Hindu spiritual leader in the southern province of Sindh.
Shiv Avtari Sant Shadaram Sahib was born in 1708 in Lahore, now part of Pakistan. Known for his spiritual teachings and emphasis on universal love, he is believed to be an incarnation of Shiva, one of the principal deities in Hinduism, by his followers.
His most notable legacy is the founding of Shadani Darbar, a prominent Hindu temple and spiritual center located in Hayat Pitafi, situated in Ghotki District, which became a pilgrimage destination.
“@PakinIndia has issued 94 visas to Indian pilgrims for their visit to Pakistan to participate in the 316th Birth Anniversary Celebrations of Shiv Avtari Stguru Sant Shadaram Sahib, at Shadani Darbar Hayat Pitafi, Sindh from 05-15 January 2025,” the high commission posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
It mentioned that the Charge d’Affaires Saad Ahmad Warraich wished the pilgrims a “rewarding and fulfilling journey,” emphasizing Pakistan’s commitment to preserving sacred religious sites and facilitating pilgrimages.
Religious tourism remains a key aspect of cultural exchanges between India and Pakistan, governed by the 1974 Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines. This agreement allows devotees from both countries to visit sacred sites, including Hindu temples in Pakistan and Islamic shrines in India. However, political tensions between the two nations have at times disrupted these exchanges, with instances where visas were denied to religious pilgrims.
In recent years, Pakistan has actively promoted religious tourism, welcoming Buddhist monks as well as Hindu and Sikh pilgrims from India and across the globe. The inauguration of the Kartarpur Corridor in 2019, which allows visa-free travel for Indian Sikhs to the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, is a significant milestone in these efforts.
Each year, a large number of Indian Sikhs also travel to Pakistan to pay homage at sacred sites, including Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s Samadhi in Lahore, the last resting place of the founder of the Sikh Empire, and Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal, revered for its connection to Guru Nanak.
Pakistan launches IT training portal with Huawei to build digital skills among youth
- Shaza Fatima Khawaja says it is vital to equip Pakistani youth with necessary skills to bolster the economy
- The training program will use Huawei’s resources and global expertise to deliver comprehensive education
ISLAMABAD: State Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja on Friday stressed the importance of equipping youth with digital skills as the IT ministry, in collaboration with Huawei, launched a training portal to develop a more technologically skilled workforce, the state media reported.
The government views information technology as a driver of economic change, seeking to transform the sector into a cornerstone of its strategy for financial stability. Pakistan has earmarked IT as a priority sector, courting foreign investment from countries like China and the Gulf states.
“The main objective of this program is to impart training to our youth, making them eligible for jobs and enabling them to contribute to the country’s development,” Khawaja was quoted by the Associated Press of Pakistan as saying at the launch of the portal.
“To bolster the economy, it is essential to equip our young population with the necessary training and skills,” she added.
The minister emphasized the importance of IT in the modern age, pointing out that the government was also setting up e-employment centers and e-libraries.
Highlighting the country’s potential in the field, Khawaja noted that over 150 million young people in Pakistan were under 30, adding that they could play a critical role in driving economic progress.
The minister announced the formation of a National IT Skills Committee, comprising representatives from IT boards and provincial ministries, to strengthen governance and coordination in the sector.
Huawei’s Deputy CEO Ahmed Bilal Masud highlighted the company’s commitment to fostering digital literacy and bridging the gap between academic knowledge and industry needs.
“By investing in the future of our youth, we are paving the way for a skilled workforce that will drive Pakistan’s economic growth and technological advancement,” he said.
He informed that the training program would utilize Huawei’s extensive resources and global expertise to deliver comprehensive education for students and trainers, aiming to enhance ICT education nationwide and promote digital transformation in Pakistan.
Pakistan naval chief lauds fleet readiness, highlights role in securing vital maritime zones
- Admiral Naveed Ashraf witnesses Pakistan Navy’s annual efficiency competition parade in Karachi
- Ashraf praises officers and sailors for achieving the operational objectives and milestones in 2024
ISLAMABAD: Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf on Friday expressed satisfaction with the operational readiness of Pakistan’s fleet, highlighting its critical role in safeguarding strategic maritime zones, including Gwadar Port developed under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), to boost trade and regional connectivity.
The Gwadar Port, a vital link in Pakistan’s efforts to enhance regional trade, has been at the center of the country’s push to convince landlocked Central Asian states to utilize its ports for international trade via sea lanes.
The navy has also been instrumental in fostering the development of Pakistan’s blue water economy, ensuring maritime security and facilitating economic growth.
“Chief of the Naval Staff expressed complete satisfaction and confidence in the operational readiness of Pakistan Navy Fleet,” the navy said in a statement after holding fleet annual efficiency competition parade. “He lauded the dedication and professionalism of officers and sailors in safely and efficiently achieving the operational objectives and milestones for the year 2024.”
“He highlighted Pakistan Navy’s efforts to ensure the security of strategic maritime zones, particularly Gwadar Port and maritime projects under CPEC,” it added.
The parade was held at the dockyard in Karachi. The naval chief attended the event as the chief guest and elaborated on the evolving maritime security challenges in the region.
He also stressed the need for the navy to remain vigilant and prepared to counter any threats to Pakistan’s maritime boundaries.
Earlier, Commander Pakistan Fleet Rear Admiral Abdul Munib, in his welcome address, highlighted the fleet’s operational achievements over the past year.
Awards and trophies were presented to the best-performing squadrons and units during the ceremony, recognizing their exemplary contributions to the navy’s operational success in 2024.
Pakistan pledges support for occupied peoples as it joins Security Council as non-permanent member
- Senior Pakistani diplomat at the UN highlights the significance of multilateralism in tacking global challenges
- Pakistan plans to actively pursue just solutions to issues on the council’s agenda, help with conflict prevention
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to being a strong voice for people under foreign occupation as it raised its flag at the United Nations on Thursday, marking the beginning of its two-year term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.
This is the eighth time Pakistan has secured a seat as a non-permanent UNSC member since joining the world body in 1947. The 15-member council comprises five permanent members — the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom and France — along with 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.
Non-permanent members play a crucial role in shaping global discussions on peace and security and in influencing the drafting of resolutions.
“Pakistan will continue to be guided by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, including maintenance of international peace and security and development of friendly relations among nations based on the principle of equal rights and self-determination,” Ambassador Asim Iftikhar, Pakistan’s Alternate Permanent Representative to the UN, said during the flag-raising ceremony.
“Pakistan will always remain a strong voice for peoples under foreign occupation and oppression for the realization of their right to self-determination,” he added.
Iftikhar said the flag ceremony symbolized democratic renewal through the periodic rotation of the UNSC membership, reinforcing the global aspiration for a Security Council that “is more effective, open and transparent, and accountable to the UN membership.”
He also highlighted the importance of multilateralism in tackling global challenges.
“We are convinced that cooperative multilateralism – with the UN at its core – is the best way of tackling the multifaceted challenges of today,” he said.
The Pakistani diplomat called for addressing the root causes of conflicts, prioritizing dialogue and diplomacy and supporting confidence-building measures at regional and global levels to foster peace and stability.
He also pledged that his country will actively pursue just solutions to issues on the council’s agenda and to contribute to conflict prevention and peacekeeping efforts.
“Never forgetting our solemn duty toward the millions of men, women, and children suffering in conflicts, Pakistan is assuming this responsibility, fully resolved to our collective endeavor for a more peaceful and secure world,” he said.
Pakistan PM blames ‘external hand’ for militant violence, urges coordinated action on security
- Shehbaz Sharif asks federation, provinces and army to formulate a security strategy at the earliest
- Military says security forces have killed 925 militants last year in 59,775 operations across Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday blamed external forces for the surge in militant violence in Pakistan, urging a unified approach involving federal and provincial authorities along with the military to tackle the crisis.
Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and southwestern Balochistan provinces witnessed a spike in deadly militant attacks last year. Groups such as the Pakistani Taliban and other militant and separatist factions have targeted security convoys, checkpoints and carrying out daily killings and kidnappings of law enforcement personnel and government functionaries.
Officials in Islamabad have frequently accused Afghanistan of enabling “cross-border attacks,” a claim rejected by Kabul, which insists Pakistan’s security challenges are an internal matter.
Pakistan has also pointed fingers at India for stoking unrest in Balochistan, an allegation dismissed by New Delhi.
“In certain areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, the conspiracies being woven against Pakistan involve an external hand,” Sharif said while addressing the apex committee meeting of the National Action Plan in the federal capital. “We are well aware of the countries providing assistance [to militant groups].”
The prime minister emphasized closer cooperation among the Pakistani authorities to defeat militancy.
“I would only request that if the provinces, along with the federation and the Pakistan Army, could make a plan,” he said. “I feel we have to discuss how to eliminate this [militant violence].”
Sharif stressed that Pakistan’s success in different domains depended on improved law and order and the complete elimination of militants.
“Unity of thought and action” among stakeholders, he noted, was essential to thwarting militant schemes aimed at destabilizing the country.
The meeting was attended by Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir, DG Inter-Services Intelligence Lt. Gen. Asim Malik, federal ministers and all provincial chief ministers.
Last month on December 27, military spokesman Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry reported that 925 militants were killed in 59,775 operations across the country in 2024, with the majority in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
Militant attacks have surged in Pakistan since November 2022, following the collapse of a fragile truce between Islamabad and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Ethnic Baloch separatists are also engaged in a decades-long struggle for independence, accusing the central government of exploiting the province’s natural resources.
