‘Rooh Afza diplomacy’: Pakistan offers to quench India’s thirst during Ramadan

Rooh Afza bottles seen at a stall in the Indian capital of New Delhi, featured in Taste Magazine on April 30, 2018. Pakistan said on Thursday that it was willing to send Rooh Afza to neighboring India to help make up for a shortage of the beverage in the Indian market. (Credit Taste Magazine)
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Updated 25 July 2020
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‘Rooh Afza diplomacy’: Pakistan offers to quench India’s thirst during Ramadan

  • Indian media reported the preferred drink of fasting Muslims had been unavailable for months
  • Pakistan foreign office says “absolutely” willing to send Rooh Afza to India to help overcome shortage

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is “absolutely” willing to send the popular Rooh Afza drink to neighboring India to make up for a shortage of the beverage in the Indian market, the foreign office said on Thursday, after Indian media reported that the preferred drink of Muslims in Ramadan had been unavailable for months.
Rooh Afza, a rose-flavored concentrate of herbs, fruits, and flowers, is popular throughout South Asia and is a staple of Ramadan in both Pakistan and India, particularly in summer when it is mixed in cold water or milk and served at sunrise Sehri and sunset Iftar meals.
This week, Indian news website The Print reported that Rooh Afza had been off the shelves for at least four months in India, calling it a “major Ramzan crisis for Indian Muslims.”
“Absolutely. [We] will send Rooh Afza if it helps quench thirst in India,” Foreign Office spokesman Dr. Muhammed Faisal said during a weekly press briefing in response to a question about whether Pakistan was willing to help out neighbor overcome the Rooh Afza shortage.


Rooh Afza, a rose-flavored concentrate of herbs, fruits, and flowers, is a staple of Ramadan in both Pakistan and India. In this photo taken on May 9, 2019, a bottle of Pakistani-produced Rooh Afza is seen on a table next to a notebook with a Pakistan flag cover. (AN Photo)

Rooh Afza, a rose-flavored concentrate of herbs, fruits, and flowers, is a staple of Ramadan in both Pakistan and India. In this photo taken on May 9, 2019, a bottle of Pakistani-produced Rooh Afza is seen on a table next to a notebook with a Pakistan flag cover. (AN Photo)

This ‘Rooh Afza diplomacy’ could inject much needed levity in relations between Pakistan and India who have fought three wars and have suspended all bilateral talks over a range of issues, including cross-border proxy wars that both sides deny. Firing also continues intermittently along the Line of Control (LoC) that divides the disputed Kashmir region between the two countries.
Rooh Afza is produced in Pakistan and India by Hamdard Laboratories which was founded in 1906 by physician Hakim Mohammed Kabiruddin in India. At the time of the partition of Indian in 1947, the business was split between two brothers who now operate separate ventures in the two countries.
Mansoor Ali, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at Hamdard India, told Arab News that production of Rooh Afza had been affected by “supply constraints of certain herbal ingredients.”
“Now production is in full swing at our factories and Rooh Afza is available across markets,” he said. “The situation is getting better every day with distribution reaching far and wide. There has been unprecedented demand due to Ramadan and peak summer season coinciding. Full capacity production and a well-planned distribution infrastructure are ensuring it reaches all corners.”
However, a source at Hamdard who declined to be named said the product was still unavailable at 450,000 retail stories across India.
“We have been unable to cater to influx of customers demanding Rooh Afza,” Praveen Kumar at ELT, a retail outlet in a suburb of Delhi, told Arab News. “We have not received the supply of the drink for the last four months.”
Customers are not happy.
“Not to have a glass of Rooh Afza at the end of the day-long fast is pinching,” Ovais Sultan Khan, a Delhi-based social activist, told Arab News. “No other clone of the brand gives you the feel that Rooh Afza gives you.”
Neyaz Khan from Gaya, a town in the eastern Indian state of Bihar said he was “very disappointed” when his favorite Rooh Afza was not available in the market when he went to buy it two days ago.
Across the border, some Pakistanis have suggested the country help India overcome its shortage by sending Rooh Afza over the Wagah border crossing.
Hamdard Laboratories Pakistan could not be reached for official comment on whether they were willing to supply to India but Usama Qureshi, a former CEO of the company, made the offer in a Twitter post that went viral.
“Pakistan could easily provide Rooh Afza [to India],” he posted. “We can easily send trucks through Wagah border if permitted by Indian Government.”
When questioned about his tweet, which Qureshi has since deleted, he told Arab News he had written it in response to Indian media reports and not in any official capacity.
“We have Rooh Afza everywhere and I thought we could let India know that if need be we could help them out there,” Qureshi said. “If that happens then it would be a great diplomatic move.”


Pakistan’s top revenue-generating Sindh province unveils $12.4 billion budget with major tax cuts

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Pakistan’s top revenue-generating Sindh province unveils $12.4 billion budget with major tax cuts

  • Sindh, home to commercial hub Karachi, wants to abolish five taxes to ease pressure on individuals, businesses
  • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, governed by jailed ex-PM Khan’s PTI, presents $7.63 billion budget for FY2025-26

KARACHI: Pakistan’s southern Sindh province on Friday proposed abolishing five taxes as it presented a Rs3.45 trillion ($12.41 billion) new budget for fiscal year 2025-26 to simplify taxation and alleviate financial pressure on people and small businesses.

Friday also saw Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province announcing a surplus budget of Rs2,119 billion ($7.63 billion) for next year, without proposing any new taxes. The province allocated significant financial resources for the militancy-hit tribal districts and social welfare programs, according to the budget document.

SINDH

Sindh’s budget, which carries a deficit of Rs38.46 billion ($138.35 million), includes plans to eliminate professional tax, cotton fee and entertainment duty among other levies as part of broader reforms to support salaried individuals, small businesses, and cultural industries.

“I would like to share some important changes being planned to make our tax system simpler and to reduce the financial burden on both individuals and businesses,” Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said while presenting the budget in the provincial assembly.

Sindh generates most of Pakistan’s revenues, more than 60 percent, and is the second most populous province ruled by Pakistan People’s Party of President Asif Ali Zardari, a coalition partner of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party which leads the federal government.

Pakistan remains under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan program approved last year and the Washington-based lender wants Islamabad to broaden its tax base by taxing incomes from agriculture, retail and real estate sectors at the provincial level.

The two provinces announced their new fiscal plans days after Pakistan’s federal government announced its FY26 budget targeting 4.2 percent economic growth, while aiming to arrest fiscal deficit at 3.9 percent of the GDP.

In Sindh, the province’s total revenue receipts are projected at Rs3.41 trillion ($12.27 billion) for FY2025-26, up 11.6 percent from the current fiscal year ending June. Transfers from the federal divisible pool, which account for 75 percent of revenue, are expected to rise 10.2 percent to Rs1.93 trillion ($6.94 billion). With additional grants and straight transfers, total federal receipts are estimated at Rs2.10 trillion ($7.55 billion).

Current Revenue Expenditure (CRE) has been set at Rs2.15 trillion ($7.73 billion), a 12.4 percent increase from the prior year, driven by higher salaries, pensions, and grants to non-financial institutions.

Allocations for key sectors have seen marked increases. The education budget has risen to Rs523.73 billion ($1.88 billion) – a 12.4 percent hike – with major investments in primary and secondary education. New initiatives include hiring 4,400 staff, opening four community colleges, and funding for 34,100 primary schools through cost centers.

The health sector will receive Rs326.5 billion ($1.17 billion), up 8 percent, including Rs19 billion ($68.35 million) for the Sindh Institute of Urology & Transplantation (SIUT) and Rs10 billion ($35.97 million) for a new hospital in Larkana.

Enhanced ambulance and mobile diagnostic services are also planned.

Grants-in-aid total Rs702 billion ($2.53 billion), reflecting allocations for hospitals, universities, and development bodies. A Rs520 billion ($1.87 billion) Annual Development Program (ADP) focuses on 475 new schemes targeting flood recovery, renewable energy, and underserved regions.

Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh, will see major upgrades in transport and infrastructure. Fifty electric buses will launch this year, with 100 more expected by August. Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Yellow Line is nearing completion, and the Red Line has passed the halfway mark.

The Karachi Safe City initiative will expand CCTV coverage using artificial intelligence, while blockchain-based land records, a KPI monitoring dashboard, and digital birth registration aim to enhance governance.

In rural areas, Rs20 billion ($71.95 million) has been allocated for pro-poor initiatives, while the new Benazir Hari Card will support 200,000 farmers. The Sindh Cooperative Bank is being explored to provide interest-free loans to progressive farmers.

KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA

Presenting the new budget, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Finance Minister Aftab Alam said the province achieved a Rs100 billion ($359.71 million) surplus in the outgoing fiscal year despite receiving Rs90 billion ($323.74 million) less in funds from the federal government.

The province is ruled by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, which is in opposition at the federal level.

“Against all odds and skepticism, we not only met our budget targets but also ensured timely debt repayments of Rs49 billion [$176.26 million],” Alam said.

He added that KP’s own non-tax revenues rose by 74 percent this year, while the KP Revenue Authority collected Rs41.37 billion ($148.79 million) in the first 10 months of the outgoing fiscal year.

The province has set a tax revenue target of Rs83.5 billion ($300 million) and a non-tax revenue target of Rs45.5 billion ($163.71 million) for the next fiscal year, aiming to widen the tax net rather than impose new levies.

Federal transfers, including Rs1,147.91 billion ($4.13 billion) from tax revenues and Rs58.15 billion ($209.17 million) in oil windfall levy, are expected to form the bulk of receipts.

The tribal districts are set to receive Rs292.34 billion ($1.05 billion), including Rs50 billion ($179.85 million) under an accelerated implementation program and Rs39 billion ($140.28 million) for development.

Key initiatives include the expansion of the Sehat Card Plus with life insurance coverage, recruitment of 16,000 teachers, and establishment of new degree colleges.

The province’s police force will receive Rs693.7 million ($2.49 million) for modern arms and Rs1.22 billion ($4.39 million) for vehicles.
 


IFC to provide $400 million loan for Pakistan’s copper-gold Reko Diq mine

Updated 41 min 32 sec ago
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IFC to provide $400 million loan for Pakistan’s copper-gold Reko Diq mine

  • The loan adds to a $300 million commitment announced in April, bringing the total to $700 million
  • Reko Diq, one of the largest undeveloped copper-gold deposits, is being developed by Barrick Gold

ISLAMABAD: The International Finance Corporation will provide a $400 million subordinated loan for Pakistan’s Reko Diq copper-gold mine, according to an IFC disclosure on Friday.

The loan adds to a $300 million commitment announced in April, bringing IFC’s total financing for the project to $700 million. The estimated cost of the mine is $6.6 billion, to be funded through a mix of debt and equity from a consortium of lenders.

“The estimated total Project cost is $6.6bn, and it will be financed using a combination of debt and equity,” the disclosure said, adding that other parallel lenders will provide the remaining debt financing.

This type of loan, known as subordinated debt, is typically repaid after other senior loans and helps absorb more risk, making it easier for other lenders to invest.

Other financiers, including the US EXIM Bank, Asian Development Bank, Export Development Canada, and Japan’s JBIC, are also expected to join the financing package, project director Tim Cribb told Reuters in April.

Term sheets are expected to close by early in the third quarter. IFC chief Makhtar Diop said earlier this year that the institution was “doubling down” on Pakistan, with a focus on infrastructure, energy and natural resources.

Reko Diq, located in Balochistan, is one of the world’s largest undeveloped copper-gold deposits. It is being developed by Barrick Gold, which holds 50 percent, with the remainder split between Pakistan’s federal and provincial governments.

Production is expected to begin in 2028. Barrick has projected the mine will generate up to $74 billion in free cash flow over its estimated 37-year life.


Pakistan stocks drop over 1,900 points amid Israel-Iran tensions

Updated 13 June 2025
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Pakistan stocks drop over 1,900 points amid Israel-Iran tensions

  • Analysts cite fears of broader regional escalation following Israeli strikes on Iran
  • Israel struck Iran, claiming Tehran was “close” to developing a nuclear weapon

KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) plunged more than 1,900 points on Friday, as investor sentiment soured following Israel’s strikes on Iran, triggering fears of wider regional escalation.

The benchmark KSE-100 index fell 1,949.56 points, or 1.57 percent, closing at 122,143.56, down from the previous close of 124,093.12.

Shares traded largely in the red, mirroring losses across regional and global markets after the Israeli attacks shook investor confidence, according to a market review by Pakistani brokerage Topline Securities.

“Geopolitical tensions after Israel’s attack in Iran weighed down on world equities, including the KSE100,” Raza Jafri, Head of Intermarket Securities, told Arab News. “In particular, if a geopolitical risk premium gets added to international oil prices on a prolonged basis, it could negatively affect the outlook for the current account deficit and inflation, given more than 25 percent of Pakistan’s import bill comprises of petroleum products.”

He noted that Pakistan was now “much more disciplined” economically, having avoided fuel subsidies and refrained from using foreign exchange reserves to support the currency. This, he said, would help the country better withstand a potential oil price shock than in the past.

Ahsan Mehanti, Chief Executive of Arif Habib Commodities Ltd, said stocks declined across the board in response to the strikes.

“Slump in global equities on geopolitical risks and weakening rupee played catalyst role in panic selling at PSX,” he said.

Israel launched strikes on Iran earlier on Friday, claiming Tehran was “very close” to developing a nuclear weapon. The attacks reportedly targeted nuclear facilities, scientists, and senior military commanders.
 


Pakistan stocks drop over 1,900 points amid Israel-Iran tensions

Updated 13 June 2025
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Pakistan stocks drop over 1,900 points amid Israel-Iran tensions

  • Analysts cite fears of broader regional escalation following Israeli strikes on Iran
  • Israel struck Iran, claiming Tehran was “close” to developing a nuclear weapon

KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) plunged more than 1,900 points on Friday, as investor sentiment soured following Israel’s strikes on Iran, triggering fears of wider regional escalation.

The benchmark KSE-100 index fell 1,949.56 points, or 1.57 percent, closing at 122,143.56, down from the previous close of 124,093.12.

Shares traded largely in the red, mirroring losses across regional and global markets after the Israeli attacks shook investor confidence, according to a market review by Pakistani brokerage Topline Securities.

“Geopolitical tensions after Israel’s attack in Iran weighed down on world equities, including the KSE100,” Raza Jafri, Head of Intermarket Securities, told Arab News. “In particular, if a geopolitical risk premium gets added to international oil prices on a prolonged basis, it could negatively affect the outlook for the current account deficit and inflation, given more than 25 percent of Pakistan’s import bill comprises of petroleum products.”

He noted that Pakistan was now “much more disciplined” economically, having avoided fuel subsidies and refrained from using foreign exchange reserves to support the currency. This, he said, would help the country better withstand a potential oil price shock than in the past.

Ahsan Mehanti, Chief Executive of Arif Habib Commodities Ltd, said stocks declined across the board in response to the strikes.

“Slump in global equities on geopolitical risks and weakening rupee played catalyst role in panic selling at PSX,” he said.

Israel launched strikes on Iran earlier on Friday, claiming Tehran was “very close” to developing a nuclear weapon. The attacks reportedly targeted nuclear facilities, scientists, and senior military commanders.
 


Pakistan urges religious devotees to postpone travel to Iran, Iraq amid regional tensions

Updated 13 June 2025
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Pakistan urges religious devotees to postpone travel to Iran, Iraq amid regional tensions

  • A senior government official says currently there are an estimated 5,000 Zaireen in Iran
  • Israel launched strikes against Iranian military and nuclear facilities earlier in the day

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday advised its citizens planning religious travel to Iran and Iraq to reconsider their plans, citing security concerns after Israeli strikes on Iranian military and nuclear facilities earlier in the day.

The advisory mentions Pakistani “Zaireen,” or Shi’ite Muslim pilgrims who travel to Iran and Iraq to visit sacred religious sites, particularly in Mashhad, Qom, Najaf and Karbala.

The region has seen heightened tensions following Israeli attacks on key installations in Iran, prompting fears of broader instability.

“In view of the evolving security situation in the region, the Zaireen from Pakistan are advised to reconsider their travel plans to Iran and Iraq,” the foreign office said in a brief statement issued in Islamabad.

According to a senior government official who spoke on condition of anonymity, the number of Zaireen traveling to Iran fluctuates, and most do not contact the Pakistani diplomatic missions.

“Currently, there are an estimated 5,000 Zaireen in Iran,” he said, adding that Pakistan’s embassy in Tehran and its consulates remain available to assist citizens.

“Any Pakistani requiring guidance or support is encouraged to contact our relevant diplomatic missions, which will, as always, provide necessary assistance and facilitate their return to Pakistan,” the official added.

While no evacuation plans have been announced, the authorities say they are closely monitoring the regional situation.