More than 1000 Pakistani pilgrims benefiting from ‘Road to Makkah’ program every day

In this September 23, 2015 file photo, a Muslim pilgrim prays on Mount Mercy on the plains of Arafat during the annual Hajj pilgrimage, outside the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia. (Reuters)
Updated 15 July 2019
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More than 1000 Pakistani pilgrims benefiting from ‘Road to Makkah’ program every day

  • Pilgrims praise Saudi officials for giving personal attention, running a smooth immigration process in Islamabad
  • Nearly 40,000 Hajj pilgrims from Pakistan reached Saudi Arabia by Monday

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Hajj pilgrims widely appreciated the Kingdom’s ‘Road to Makkah’ project, with several lauding the pre-departure and immigration facilities made available at the Islamabad airport, as the country flies five to six Hajj flights to Saudi Arabia every day, officials told Arab News.
According to the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MRA), a total of 39,853 Hajj pilgrims from across the country reached Saudi Arabia by Monday.
“More than thousand Hajj pilgrims are getting their pre-departure immigration clearance daily at Islamabad airport under Road to Makkah project,” said Imran Siddique, spokesperson for the MRA.
“The most beautiful part of my journey to Saudi Arabia is that all officials [at the Islamabad airport] provided us great help under the Road to Makkah project,” Brig. (r) Nasir Zia, one of the pilgrims who reached Madinah last week, said in a video message.
“The Saudi officials also gave us personal attention [at the Islamabad airport], immigration process was smooth and we reached here [in Madinah] without any hassle,” he said.
Pakistan began Hajj flights for its 200,000 nationals on July 4.
Under the Road to Makkah project – an initiative aimed at facilitating Hajj pilgrims from across the Muslim world – around 22,000 Pakistani pilgrims can avail the pre-departure immigration clearance at the Islamabad airport.
Saudi immigration team is working round the clock at the Islamabad airport to facilitate Hajj pilgrims. “We are getting positive feedback from our pilgrims [about the Road to Makkah initiative],” said Siddique, adding that he hoped “this facility will also be extended to other airports of Pakistan in coming years.”
Providing details of other facilities available under the project, he said that a make-shift hospital and two field units have been set up in Madinah – as part of the Pakistan Hajj Medical Mission – wherein 19 doctors and 34 paramedical staff have been deputed to provide timely medical facilities to the pilgrims.
Siddique added that a total of 13 catering companies have been providing quality food to all the pilgrims at their residences while 115 government officials are deployed to help in case of any emergency.
A team of Saudi officials had earlier set up special immigration counters at the Islamabad airport to help pilgrims save on 10 to 12 hours of waiting time at Saudi airports. Pakistan was included in the project after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman concluded his visit to the country in February this year.
Lauding the quality of food and accommodation provided by the Kingdom, Muhammad Akmal Khan who reached Madinah on July 5 for the pilgrimage said in a video message: “We are staying here in a five-star hotel … being kept like princes and kings. We are feeling like home here.”
“We have no complaints. The staff is very cooperative here,” Shaukat Ali, another pilgrim said.
All pre-Hajj flight operations in Pakistan will conclude on August 5, while post-Hajj flights will operate from August 17 to September 14 this year.


Beloved strongman: Support for Pakistan army chief surges after India conflict

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Beloved strongman: Support for Pakistan army chief surges after India conflict

  • Government has promoted Gen Asim Munir to Field Marshal “in recognition of strategic brilliance and courageous leadership” in latest standoff with India
  • Survey conducted after the India conflict by Gallup Pakistan, a local pollster, found that 93 percent of respondents felt their opinion of the military had improved 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s army chief General Asim Munir is the most powerful man in the country, but his popular support has surged after the worst conflict in decades with arch-rival India, shattering criticism of interference in politics and harshly cracking down on opponents.

A grateful government on Tuesday gave him a rare promotion to Field Marshal “in recognition of the strategic brilliance and courageous leadership that ensured national security and decisively defeated the enemy.”

The military has ruled Pakistan for at least three decades since independence in 1947 and wielded extraordinary influence even with a civilian government in office. But it, and its hard-line chief, have rarely received the widespread outpouring of affection seen this month that analysts say has reinforced the military’s dominance in the nuclear-armed nation.

“Long live General Asim Munir!” read placards held aloft in rallies in recent days in towns across Pakistan. His picture was put up on lamp posts and bridges, with some banners saying: “You are our savior!“

A survey conducted after the conflict by Gallup Pakistan, a local pollster, found that 93 percent of respondents felt their opinion of the military had improved.

Munir’s most bitter domestic foe, jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, also congratulated the military after this month’s clashes with India, claimed by both nations as a victory.

“It’s my country, it’s my army,” Khan said in a post on X last week. “I pay tribute to the Pakistan Air Force and all our military personnel for their professionalism and outstanding performance.”

Yousuf Nazar, a political commentator, said of Munir: . “He has emerged as Pakistan’s strongman with his military’s reputation restored as a formidable force.”

Six months after he took charge in November 2022, Munir was faced with the most serious challenge to the military’s hegemony when Khan’s supporters attacked and ransacked military installations.

Munir later faced sharp domestic criticism for the jailing of Khan and cracking down on supporters of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, as well as what critics alleged was rigging the general election last year to favor a rival party.

But the conflict with India has turned that around, said Ayesha Siddiqa, author of Military Inc, a book on the Pakistan military.

“It has made the general stronger than any other previous generals. He is a hero now,” she said, adding that the contest between the neighbors will be headed by two hard-liners, India’s Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan’s Munir, a devout Muslim.

“It’s an Islamist general versus a religious strongman,” she said.

The military did not respond to questions sent by Reuters.

FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE

The spark for the latest fighting between the neighbors was an April 22 attack in Indian Kashmir that killed 26 people, most of them tourists. New Delhi blamed the incident on “terrorists” backed by Pakistan, a charge denied by Islamabad.

On May 7, the Indian military carried out air strikes on what it called “terrorist infrastructure” in Pakistan, in response to the attack in Kashmir.

Pakistan claimed to have downed at least 5-6 Indian fighter jets and carried out air strikes on Indian military bases. India has indicated that it suffered some losses and inflicted major damage on key Pakistani air bases and air defiance systems.

Munir, who has memorized the Muslim holy book, the Qur’an, has publicly underlined what he has said are fundamental differences between Islamic Pakistan and predominantly Hindu India.

“Our religion is different. Our customs are different. Our traditions are different,” he said in a speech in Islamabad a week before the attack in Indian Kashmir.

The Indian army “with all their wherewithal” cannot “intimidate” Pakistan, he said, peppering his comments with verses from the Qur’an.

“Pakistan needs to be a hard state.”

Pakistan’s counterstrike against India was named by him as “Bunyan Marsoos,” after a Qur’anic verse, which means Iron Wall, according to the military. It was launched on May 10 to coincide with dawn prayers, considered an auspicious time for Muslims.

Munir, the son of a schoolteacher, is an infantry officer and a former head of both the powerful Inter-Services Intelligence and Military Intelligence. He remains army chief until November 2027 and could be appointed for another five-year term at that point.

Husain Haqqani, a former Pakistani ambassador to the United States, said that even before the latest conflict, Munir was more hawkish on India than his predecessor General Qamar Javed bajwa as army chief, who had taken a more pragmatic and less ideological approach, seeking to improve relations.

“Conflicts with India remind Pakistanis of the fragility of their country and they rally to their army as the entity that will save the country,” said Haqqani.

“The recent show of strength and standing up to India has helped General Munir solidify his position within the country.”


Jumbo task: 400 pills a day for elephants with TB in Pakistan

Updated 21 May 2025
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Jumbo task: 400 pills a day for elephants with TB in Pakistan

  • Vets hide medicines inside food ranging from apples, bananas and Pakistani sweets
  • Sisters Madhubala and Malika were diagnosed with tuberculosis earlier this month 

KARACHI: A team of doctors and vets in Pakistan has developed a novel treatment for a pair of elephants suffering from tuberculosis that involves feeding them at least 400 pills a day. 

The jumbo effort by staff at the Karachi Safari Park involves cunningly administering the tablets, the same as those used to treat TB in humans, hidden inside food ranging from apples and bananas to Pakistani sweets. 

Dr. Buddhika Bandara, a Sri Lankan veterinary surgeon who is treating elephants Madhubala and Malika, said they did not have a “rare disease” as tuberculosis was common in elephants in Asia.

“Giving treatment of TB to elephants is always challenging whenever, whatever and wherever, is always challenging not only in our country Sri Lanka, or in Pakistan, it is challenging everywhere actually,” the vet said.

“Every day we have to think about new methods of giving medicine.”

Bandara said the elephants showed some stress when the treatment was first started but gradually adapted to the procedure and were now getting better.

Under the treatment plan, the elephants will receive medication and monitoring for ten months after the initial phase. They are being kept under round-the-clock supervision, and park officials have restricted access to the enclosure for one year to minimize stress and prevent any risk of disease transmission.

Ali Baloch, a 22-year-old mahout, said though he looked after the elephants, he was unaware that they had TB. 

“The team is saying now that they have the disease. That’s why we must wear mask, and boots, do not go without them. It can infect me and my children as well.”

The two elephants Malika and Madhubala took their medication differently, he added. 

“Malika takes medicine by her trunk while Madhubala can take it directly by her mouth,” Baloch said. “They eat in this way. Malaika smells medicine so she takes by its trunk. To change the taste, we give medicine in sweet potatoes, bananas and other sweet items.”

The novel methods had to be used to ensure the elephants did not reject the treatment.

“They will not eat these [pills] so easily, they are bitter in taste.”

Visitors to the Safari Park are currently only allowed to view the elephants from designated buses or a safe distance, as part of efforts to ensure a stress-free environment during their recovery.

The cautious approach follows years of concern raised by international animal welfare organizations over the treatment of elephants in Karachi.

In 2021, the global group Four Paws assessed the city’s elephants and called for urgent medical care, improved nutrition and enriched environments to support their wellbeing.

The issue gained further attention after the deaths of two elephants — Noor Jehan in 2023 at the Karachi Zoo and Sonu in late 2024 at the Safari Park — both of which highlighted systemic gaps in animal care.

Since then, local authorities have taken steps to improve conditions, including the formation of a technical committee and increased collaboration with foreign veterinary experts.

Madhubala, Noor Jehan, Malika and Sonu were caught in the wild at a young age and brought to Pakistan together in 2009 but were soon separated, with Noor Jehan and Madhubala moved to the Karachi Zoo and Malika and Sonu to the city’s Safari Park. 

Noor Jehan died in April 2023 at age 17, following a prolonged illness caused by neglect, leaving Madhubala alone.

In November last year, she was reunited with Malika and Sonu at the Safari Park. Sonu has since also passed away due to illness. 


A look at recent deadly attacks in Pakistan as it battles rising militancy

Updated 21 May 2025
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A look at recent deadly attacks in Pakistan as it battles rising militancy

  • Government facing insurgencies in northwest and growing separatist insurgency in southwest
  • Pakistan is also currently at loggerheads with both its neighbors India and Afghanistan 

Following are some recent deadly attacks in Pakistan, where the government is facing insurgencies on two fronts — militant attacks in the northwest and a growing separatist insurgency in the south.

MAY 21, 2025 
At least three children were among five people killed when a suicide bomber targeted an army school bus in the restive Pakistani southwestern province of Balochistan, in an attack the military blamed on Indian proxies.
The Indian government did not respond to a request for comment on the accusation.

MARCH 11, 2025
A total of 31 people, including soldiers, staff, and civilians, were killed by militants who hijacked a train as it traveled through a remote mountain pass in Balochistan. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), the biggest of several ethnic armed groups fighting the government, claimed responsibility.

MARCH 4, 2025
Suicide bombers drove two vehicles packed with explosives into a military base in the town of Bannu in the northwest, killing 18 people, including six children.
No group claimed responsibility for the violence.

NOVEMBER 1, 2024 
A blast targeting a police van in Mastung town in Balochistan killed seven people, including five school students, and injured 23 others.
No group claimed responsibility.

AUGUST 26, 2024 
At least 38 civilians and 14 soldiers were killed as separatist militants attacked police stations, railway lines and highways in Balochistan, and security forces launched retaliatory operations.
The BLA claimed responsibility for the attacks, the most widespread in the country in years.

DECEMBER 12, 2023 
At least 57 people, including seven children, died as suicide bombings ripped through two mosques in Mastung while believers marked the birthday of the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh).
No group claimed responsibility.

JULY 31, 2023 
A suicide bombing targeting a hard-line religious group’s political rally in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province’s Bajaur region killed 56 people. The Daesh militant group claimed responsibility for the blast, which took place in northwestern Pakistan.


Pakistan approves authority to regulate, accelerate growth of virtual assets economy

Updated 21 May 2025
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Pakistan approves authority to regulate, accelerate growth of virtual assets economy

  • Pakistan set up national crypto council in March to create legal framework for cryptocurrency trading, luring foreign investment 
  • Last month, government introduced first policy framework to set rules for how digital money, service providers should operate in Pakistan

KARACHI: The government has approved setting up the Pakistan Digital Assets Authority (PDAA) to regulate blockchain-based financial infrastructure, the finance ministry said on Wednesday, as the country moves to adopt a strategy to regulate and accelerate the growth of its virtual assets economy.

Pakistan set up a national crypto council (PCC) in March to create a legal framework for cryptocurrency trading in a bid to lure international investment. One of the world’s most powerful people in crypto, co-founder and former CEO of Binance Changpeng Zhao, was subsequently appointed as a strategic adviser to the PCC. 

Cryptocurrencies including bitcoin are not officially regulated in Pakistan but are also not illegal or banned. As of Jan. 16, 2021, the State Bank of Pakistan has not authorized any individuals or organizations to carry out the sale, purchase, exchange, and investment of virtual currencies, coins, and tokens.

Last month, Pakistan introduced its first-ever policy framework, created by a special government group under the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter Terrorism Financing (CTF) authority, to set rules for how digital money like cryptocurrencies and the companies that deal in it should operate in Pakistan. The policy has been formulated to align with compliance and financial integrity guidelines of the global Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

“The aim is to ensure FATF-compliant innovation, economic inclusion, and responsible adoption of digital assets,” the finance ministry said, announcing the approval of the Pakistan Digital Assets Authority.

Pakistan is experiencing a surge in the adoption of digital assets, driven by a growing tech-savvy population and increasing government support for blockchain technology.

“Pakistan must regulate not just to catch up but to lead. With the PDAA, we are creating a future-ready framework that protects consumers, invites global investment, and puts Pakistan at the forefront of financial innovation,” the finance ministry statement said, quoting finance minister, Muhammad Aurangzeb, who is also the chairman of the Pakistan Crypto Council. 

The PDAA will serve as a specialized regulatory body with a mandate to oversee licensing, compliance, and innovation within the digital asset ecosystem. It will regulate exchanges, custodians, wallets, tokenized platforms, stablecoins, and DeFi applications, all under a single framework.

“This strategic decision aligns Pakistan with other forward-thinking economies such as the UAE, Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong, all of which have established digital asset regulators to foster innovation while ensuring compliance with global financial norms,” the finance ministry said.

The PDAA is expected to regulate an over $25 billion informal crypto market, enable tokenization of national assets and government debt, provide legal clarity to global and local investors, facilitate monetization of Pakistan’s surplus electricity through regulated bitcoin mining and empower young people and startups to build blockchain-based solutions at scale.

“This is not just about crypto,” Bin Saqib, CEO of Pakistan Crypto Council, said. 

“It’s about rewriting our financial future, expanding access, and creating new export channels through tokenization, digital finance, and Web3 innovation.”

According to Statista, a German online platform that specializes in data gathering and visualization, the projected revenue in the digital assets market in Pakistan is estimated to reach $1.6 billion by 2025 while the number of users is expected to reach 27.10 million users.
 


Pakistan drop stars Shaheen, Azam and Rizwan for Bangladesh T20s

Updated 21 May 2025
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Pakistan drop stars Shaheen, Azam and Rizwan for Bangladesh T20s

  • Batsmen Azam and Rizwan were omitted for the second consecutive T20 series after being criticized for slow scoring
  • Salman Ali Agha will captain Pakistan as they look to next year’s Twenty20 World Cup hosted by India and Sri Lanka

KARACHI: Pakistan dropped stars Shaheen Shah Afridi, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan on Wednesday as they named a new-look squad for three home Twenty20 internationals against Bangladesh.

Former New Zealand coach Mike Hesson will take charge for the first time after being appointed last week, replacing Aaqib Javed.

Salman Ali Agha will captain Pakistan as they look toward next year’s Twenty20 World Cup, to be hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

Fast bowler Shaheen had played in Pakistan’s last T20 series in New Zealand in March, but batsmen Azam and Rizwan were omitted for the second consecutive T20 series after being criticized for slow scoring.

“The squad has been selected based on players’ performances in the ongoing Pakistan Super League, which concludes on May 25,” the Pakistan Cricket Board said in a statement.

Shaheen has taken 12 wickets for Lahore Qalandars in 10 PSL matches at an economy rate of 8.20.

Opener Sahibzada Farhan earned a recall after topping the PSL batting charts with 394 runs.

Batsmen Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman return after missing the New Zealand tour with injuries.

Fast bowler Hasan Ali is back after being sidelined with multiple injuries since May last year.

The PCB said that the series match schedule, which has been affected by a 10-day delay to the PSL caused by the deadly India-Pakistan conflict, will be announced soon with all three matches to be held in Lahore.

Pakistan squad: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Shadab Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Wasim, Mohammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub.