RIYADH: Hundreds of Saudi passport control students are being given special language training as part of efforts to improve communication with pilgrims traveling to the Kingdom.
The Saudi General Directorate of Passports currently has 500 trainees on learning schemes covering more than 10 languages, said Brig. Gen. Dr. Saleh bin Saad Al-Merbaa, director of general administration for training in the passport department.
“This program is not the first, it began two years ago, but each year it is developing, updating and setting more precise criteria for selecting the best applicants from the students and subjecting them to the required training programs in order to contribute to the development of their skills,” he added.
The students who are well versed in English, Spanish, Indonesian, Japanese, Persian, Urdu, Turkish and other languages, have been appointed at Hajj terminals in Jeddah and in Madinah to assist international pilgrims.
Saudi authorities have also taken other steps to help pilgrims perform Hajj rituals with maximum comfort and ease.
If pilgrims are lost, in need of help, have a medical emergency or faced with any other issue during Hajj this
year, they can just dial 911 and a team of competent young Saudis will be ready to help.
The National Center for Security Operations at the Saudi Interior Ministry launched its 911 call center five years ago in Makkah, with three additional centers in Riyadh, Shargiyah and Madinah.
Workers at the centers also speak various languages, including Urdu, English, French, German and Indonesian, in addition to being adept at English, Spanish, Japanese, Persian, Turkish and other tongues.
Besides, a 24-hour, seven days a week call center has also been set up, which sends out SMS-es with the following message: “Dear pilgrims, your service is an honor and your security is our duty. Policemen are ready to fulfill your urgent needs on 911.”
The center is also active on Twitter, updating pilgrims with the latest news on weather, and other information pertaining to their travel.
Saudi Arabia trains 500 officers to greet pilgrims
Saudi Arabia trains 500 officers to greet pilgrims
- Trainees on learning schemes cover more than 10 languages including Urdu
- Special language training is part of efforts to improve communication with pilgrims traveling to the Kingdom
New Zealand thrash Pakistan to reach Women’s T20 World Cup semis
- New Zealand, who posted 110-6 off 20 overs, became second team from Group A to make it to semis
- Defeat marked the end of Pakistan’s hopes of qualifying and meant that India were also eliminated
DUBAI: Some fine bowling from Amelia Kerr and Eden Carson propelled New Zealand into the semifinals of the Women’s T20 World Cup with a 54-run thrashing of Pakistan in their last group match on Monday.
Off-spinner Carson, who was named player of the match, took 2-7 from her three overs while Kerr ended with 3-14 as New Zealand bowled out Pakistan for just 56 in 11.4 overs.
New Zealand, who posted 110-6 off their 20 overs, became the second team from Group A to make it to the last-four after holders Australia who finish on top.
Defeat marked the end of Pakistan’s hopes of qualifying and meant that India were also eliminated, paying the price for their opening 58-run defeat by New Zealand.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” said New Zealand captain Sophie Devine.
“We will certainly celebrate tonight but this is just the next stage of a tournament we are looking forward to.”
Pakistan needed to reach the target in just 10.4 overs if they were to improve their net run rate enough to overhaul the White Ferns in the table.
But they started their chase on a shaky note, losing openers Aliya Riaz, promoted up to opener, for nought and Muneeba Ali (15) inside the first five overs.
It was downhill thereafter, with Sadaf Shamas (two) being clean bowled by Fran Jonas and Iram Javed (three) being run out by a direct throw from Lea Tahuhu.
Reduced to 28-5 at the end of powerplay, Pakistan never recovered.
Skipper Fatima Sana, who was back with the team after flying home briefly to Pakistan following the death of her father, played a lone hand, making 21 in a lost cause.
“We were good with the ball but we have to improve our batting and fielding,” said Sana reflecting on the eight catches that Pakistan put down.
“We were not up to the mark. I think our seniors should step up in these kinds of matches.”
New Zealand were off to a steady start after electing to bat first, with Suzie Bates (28) and Georgia Plimmer (17) sharing 41 runs for the opening wicket.
But Pakistan struck soon after the powerplay, dismissing both openers and Kerr (nine) in quick succession.
Pakistan paid the price for their sloppy fielding with Sidra Amin dropping a sitter off Nida Dar when Sophie Devine was on 14.
Devine, though, failed to capitalize and was scooped up by Sana at long on off Sadia Iqbal for 19.
Left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu was the most successful bowler, picking up 3-18, including the wicket of Brooke Halliday for 22.
England ready for Pakistan’s spin assault in second Test
- Desperate to level the three-match series after an innings and 47-run defeat on Friday, Pakistan named three spinners in four changes
- England left out seamers Gus Atkinson and Chris Woakes to bring in Matthew Potts and Stokes, but retained Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir
MULTAN: Returning England captain Ben Stokes said on Monday he hopes a reused pitch for the second Test against Pakistan in Multan will play into the tourists’ hands rather than the spin-heavy hosts.
Desperate to level the three-match series after an innings and 47-run defeat on Friday, Pakistan named three spinners in four changes from the first Test.
In a rare move, Pakistan — who have now gone winless in 11 home Tests since February 2021 — decided to use the same flat surface on which England piled up 823-7 declared in reply to their 556 all out.
“If you look at the way that the first Test played out, if another wicket like that was produced, maybe that gives us more of an advantage,” said Stokes, back in the side after missing the first Test with a hamstring injury.
Despite the first-innings run-fest — with Harry Brook smashing 317 and Joe Root making 262 — England bowled out Pakistan for 220 in their second innings to secure a remarkable victory.
England left out seamers Gus Atkinson and Chris Woakes to bring in Matthew Potts and Stokes, but kept the same spinners in Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir.
“You’d like to think it might be a bit more in favor of the spin, so if it does spin more, or if it does reverse more, there’s more options there for both teams,” added Stokes.
The all-rounder, who may not yet be fit to bowl, said he has never seen such a strategy before.
“It could be a tactic but I’ve never seen a pitch before used in back-to-back games. And I’ve never seen fans that big standing as umpires,” he said, referring to two big industrial fans at both ends being used to dry the pitch.
Since Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum took over in May 2022, England have played aggressive cricket, with only one draw.
“I think if we went 1-0 down at home, we would probably be going to our groundsman at the second Test saying ‘can we have a bit more of this, bit more of that’ to use our home advantage in our favor.
“With me being captain and Baz being coach, that’s how we both view cricket, that there should be a winner.”
Pakistan’s assistant coach Azhar Mahmood believes the pitch will help his team.
“The strategy behind the used pitch is to take 20 wickets,” said Mahmood.
“We want to get 20 England wickets and going with spinners will help us dominate.”
Zahid Mahmood, Sajid Khan and Noman Ali make up Pakistan’s spin trio, with Aamer Jamal the only frontline pace bowler.
Mahmood defended the decision to leave out struggling star batter Babar Azam.
“There is no question that Babar Azam is our best batter,” said Mahmood of Azam, who is without a half-century in 18 innings.
“He is not dropped, we have given him rest considering the coming hectic cricket schedule and we thought it would be best for him to come refreshed for the three away tours coming.”
Pakistani students force closure of Lahore college campus amid protests over rape reports
- Police said no victim had come forward to file a complaint and the college dismissed the allegations as ‘false’
- Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari urges people to share if they had confirmed information about incident
ISLAMABAD: Hundreds of students on Monday staged protests over a reported rape of a student at a college in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore and forced closure of one of the campuses, with police and provincial government officials denying the incident.
The incident was first reported on social media over the weekend, with varying accounts stating the rape took place on Thursday or Friday evening in the basement of a Punjab College for Women campus.
However, the police on Monday said no victim had come forward to file a complaint and the college dismissed the allegations as “false.”
“The records of all the CCTV cameras in the campus have been checked,” Faisal Kamran, a senior Lahore police official, said at a press conference. “Till now, we are unable to verify the incident.”
“The alleged victim has not been identified as yet,” he said, adding the police had also checked hospital records.
The Punjab College for Women said in a post on Instagram that no such incident had been reported to police and false information was being spread online.
The police, however, took a security guard into custody who was identified online.
“The accused guard has been in custody since yesterday, but no girl or incident has been reported yet,” Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari said on X.
“If anyone has any confirmed information about this incident, please share.”
— With additional input from AFP
Pakistan seizes US-made weapons worth Rs35 million at border with Afghanistan — security sources
- The weapons were seized at the Torkham border crossing in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that has witnessed a surge in militant attacks
- Pakistan blames the surge in attacks on Pakistani Taliban and other militants operating out of neighboring Afghanistan, Kabul denies the allegation
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s custom authorities have seized a large cache of US-made weapons and ammunition worth approximately Rs35 million ($125,000) at a border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan, Pakistani security sources said on Monday.
The weapons seized at the Torkham border crossing in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province included M4 rifles and magazines, according to the security sources.
The smuggling of US leftover weapons from Afghanistan into Pakistan exposes the Afghan Taliban’s struggle with weak governance and poses a “threat to regional stability.”
“The recent seizure of US-made weapons raises concerns about potential Taliban support for TTP [Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan], either directly or indirectly, as a strategic move to pressure Pakistan or assert influence in the region,” the sources said.
“The rising activity of terrorist groups in Afghanistan risks destabilizing the entire region, potentially leading to increased violence, displacement, and economic hardship.”
Pakistan has seen a rise in militant attacks, mostly in KP, by the outlawed TTP and other militant groups, which have targeted security forces convoys and check posts, and carried out targeted killings and kidnappings of law enforcers and government officials in recent months.
Islamabad blames Kabul for facilitating anti-Pakistan militants and says it has consistently taken up the issue of cross-border attacks with the Taliban administration. The Taliban deny allowing the use of Afghan soil for attacks against any country.
“Afghanistan’s situation has far-reaching implications for international security,” the Pakistani security sources said. “The presence of terrorist groups and IAG’s [interim Afghan government] persistent denial of the reality could fuel global terrorism and threaten regional stability.”
Chinese PM virtually inaugurates Beijing-funded airport in Pakistan’s restive southwest
- Premier Li Qiang said the start of operations at the Gwadar airport will help boost investment and trade in Pakistan’s western regions
- The inauguration of the airport had been delayed amid deadly attacks by separatist militants in the Balochistan province in recent months
ISLAMABAD: Chinese Premier Li Qiang virtually inaugurated on Monday a Chinese-funded airport in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, saying it would bring more investment and trade opportunities to the South Asian country.
The start of operations at the $200-million Gwadar International Airport had been delayed amid deadly attacks by separatist militants in the southwestern Pakistani province in recent months.
Li inaugurated the airport alongside Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during his visit to Islamabad to attend a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on Oct 15-16.
This marks the first visit by a Chinese prime minister to Pakistan in 11 years. Li is leading a high-level delegation of ministers and officials on the visit that runs from October 14 till October 17.
“I believe that the inauguration of the new airport will significantly enhance the security of the Gwadar region, capitalize integration of port shipping and bring more investment and trade opportunities to Pakistan’s western regions,” the Chinese premier said, while addressing the inauguration ceremony.
China, a key regional ally and investor, has invested billions in Pakistan through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a network of transport, energy and infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing regional trade and connectivity.
Li said through the concerted efforts of both sides, CPEC had produced significant outcomes and played a positive role in Pakistan’s economic and social development as well as regional integration.
“China will continue to work with Pakistan to uphold the principle of planning together, building together and benefiting together, engaging in open, green and clean cooperation and pursue the goal of high standard people sustainability in order to make the model project of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation,” he said.
Speaking at the ceremony, Sharif said the new international airport would not only transform the economy of Gwadar, a port city in Balochistan that lies at the heart of CPEC, but also positively impact Pakistan’s overall economy.
“I want to assure you that I will work with you very closely, not only to promote CPEC’s second phase, but also to promote peace and security for the people of China and Pakistan,” he added.
MoU signing
In a televised ceremony, the two prime ministers witnessed the signing of several memorandums of understanding (MoUs), agreements and protocols aimed at enhancing cooperation between Pakistan and China in various fields.
The agreements were aimed at promoting cooperation within the CPEC Livelihood Working Group, strengthening collaboration in information and communication technology, advancing cooperation on water conservancy facilities, flood control and disaster reduction, enhancing security cooperation, and supporting the construction of joint laboratories.
Additionally, agreements on a currency swap between the People’s Bank of China and the State Bank of Pakistan as well as co-production of television programs were also reached between the two countries.
“Exchange of MoUs between Pakistan and China in agriculture, commerce and other fields will shape into agreements very soon through joint efforts of both the countries,” Sharif said, after the signing ceremony.
The Pakistan prime minister’s office said Sharif and his Chinese counterpart also held a delegation-level meeting and discussed all aspects of bilateral relations as well as regional and global issues of mutual interest.
“The two leaders reiterated their support for each other on all core issues and expressed their commitment for high-quality development of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Phase 2,” Sharif’s office said, adding that both leaders emphasized on the need for timely completion of all ongoing projects.
Sharif also assured Premier Li of Pakistan’s commitment to ensure the safety of Chinese residents and projects in Pakistan, it added.
