ISLAMABAD: Diplomat, artist, and astronaut, Pakistan’s Namira Salim is all set to become the first Pakistani to travel to space.
“I feel honored. Being the ‘First Pakistani Astronaut’ is the most precious title a Pakistani can have,” Salim, 44, told Arab News on Thursday.
In 2005, she was one of the founding members of Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic commercial space liner and was announced as one of the shortlisted space tourists from over 44,000 candidates. Subsequently, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting called her the country’s “first astronaut” in 2006.
It is with the Virgin Galactic that Salim is likely to fly to space next year.
Salim launched Space Trust, a non-profit, in 2015 to promote peace through space travel. She believes that “space tourism” can be a game-changer in terms of spreading peace among nations and helping more people achieve their dream of flying among the stars.
“Space Tourism will create an opportunity for the masses to go to space,” she said. “This is quite the opposite of government space programs which, at least at the outset, were known for sending a privileged few, typically military pilots, to space. It was always a male candidate for them!”
Salim started preparing for her upcoming flight in 2007 when she completed training for her suborbital spaceflight at the National Aerospace Training and Research (NASTAR) Center in the United States.
“Suborbital flights are easier on the body because our’s is not going to be a ground-up launch,” she said. “For such flights, even a 90-year-old, who can climb a few flights of stairs comfortably, is considered fit. I trained in the world’s most advanced suborbital spaceflight training center. The training process assessed my ability to tolerate and adapt to increasing gravitational forces and motion sickness. It prepared me for all the profiles I will experience during my potential space flight. The experience was a paradox: At first, it felt like I was being crushed down by a baby elephant; but soon after that, I was floating in the space – as light as a feather!”
Born and raised in Karachi, Salim completed her studies in international business and international affairs from Hofstra University and Columbia University, respectively. She returned to Pakistan to become the founding president of the nation’s first International Association of Students in Economics and Business Management, a cultural exchange program that works with the United Nations.
Salim now splits her time between Dubai and Monaco. She has lived in latter, a tiny city-state along France’s Mediterranean coastline, since 1997 and served Pakistan as an honorary ambassador since 2011 when Prince Albert II, the Sovereign Prince of Monaco, authorized her to practice her function as the first honorary consul of Pakistan to the Principality of Monaco.
Salim has a few other headline-making firsts under her belt, such as being the first Pakistani to visit the North and South poles.
“I wanted to raise the national flag, the flags of my adopted countries, Monaco and the UAE, and my peace flag at all three poles of the world. I wanted to go as far as possible on Earth before breaking orbits,” said Salim.
“Being the first Pakistani at the North and South Poles, as well as the first Asian to skydive [tandem] over Mount Everest in 2008, appears quite mind-blowing to most people, especially in the West where people have an image of Pakistani women as a somewhat timid individual. I never knew that I would one day touch the same pole star which my beloved father first sparked my imagination with.”
Salim had known from a young age that space was the frontier she wanted to cross.
“I was born with the inner knowing that I was going to space one day, as if someone was calling out to me. I’ve always said that space makes my DNA. So it was a childhood dream and it was my beloved father who first introduced me to stars,” said Salim. “One evening, he pointed toward the pole star and navigated me through the northern sky. I instantly took to stars and it is the stars that I made best friends with. Since then, there’s been no looking back.”
Pakistan's Namira Salim hopes to fly to space next year
Pakistan's Namira Salim hopes to fly to space next year
- Arab News talks to “Pakistan’s first astronaut” about her lifelong love of space
- Salim is among a handful of astronauts selected for billionaire Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic flight to space
Vehicle-borne bomb in Balochistan kills five paramilitary soldiers, injures over two dozen
- The attack occurred when a convoy of Frontier Corps personnel was moving near Turbat city
- A Baloch separatist group claimed responsibility for the attack that also injured 11 civilians
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.
Pakistan PM calls SMEs ‘backbone’ of national economy, seeks steps for their global integration
- The government has initiated the process of hiring experts for the development of the SME sector
- State Bank of Pakistan has also directed banks to simplify the loan application process for SMEs
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.
Pakistan in trouble after Ryan Rickelton leads South African run feast
- Pakistan were 64-3 at the close after double centurion Rickelton led his team to 615 in the first innings
- Kyle Verreynne says Saim Ayub’s absence due to a broken ankle has made South Africa’s task easier
CAPE TOWN: South African wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne said his side “need nine more big wickets” after the Proteas dominated Pakistan on the second day of the second Test against Pakistan at Newlands on Saturday.
Pakistan were 64-3 at the close after double centurion Ryan Rickelton led South Africa to a first innings total of 615.
Verreynne, who hit 100 in a 148-run partnership with Rickelton, said the absence of Pakistan opening batsman Saim Ayub, out for up to six weeks with a broken ankle, made South Africa’s task easier.
“We are focusing on taking nine more wickets, then it will be their tailenders to come,” said Verreynne of the task of bowling out Pakistan twice.
South Africa, already assured of a place in the World Test championship final in England in June, are seeking a seventh successive Test win.
“We have three days to go,” said Verreynne. “We have to stay nice and patient, stay in the channel and the loose shots will come.”
Kagiso Rabada struck twice and Marco Jansen once when Pakistan started their innings.
Babar Azam, forced to open the batting in Ayub’s absence, was 31 not out at the close with his side still 551 runs behind.
Left-handed opening batsman Rickelton made a chanceless 259, South Africa’s joint seventh highest Test score, before he was seventh man out with the total on 557.
South African captain Temba Bavuma opted to keep Pakistan in the field until the last man, 18-year-old debutant Kwena Maphaka, was out 40 minutes after tea.
By then, South Africa had added 299 runs to their overnight 316-4, scoring at almost five runs an over.
Resuming on 176, Rickelton was content to play the anchor role while Verreynne hit 100 off 147 balls in a sixth-wicket partnership of 148 off 222 deliveries.
“It was so nice batting with him,” Verreynne said of his partnership with Rickelton. “I thought he would be really tired after batting the whole day yesterday but he was so calm, it just felt like he could do this for ages. It put me at ease and I could just bat normally.”
A rapid seventh-wicket stand of 86 was ended when Rickelton was caught at mid-on going for a big hit after batting for 607 minutes. He faced 343 balls and hit 29 fours and three sixes.
Jansen made 62 off 54 balls and Keshav Maharaj hit 40 off 35 deliveries as the bowlers continued to take a pounding.
South Africa’s innings ended when 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.
Abbas took three for 94, while wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan held six catches in the South African innings.
With ten wickets, Abbas is the leading wicket-taker in the series after being recalled to the team after a three-year absence.
“I am glad to be back,” 34-year-old Abbas said. “I would enjoy it more when my team was winning but I am satisfied with my effort.”
Pakistan arranges temporary bandwidth to counter Internet slowdown amid submarine cable fault
- The country’s telecom regulator says there is no Internet service degradation is in the country currently
- Digital rights activists say government trying to suppress dissenting voices by minimizing online access
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.
Pakistan Naval Academy graduates cadets, including officers from Iraq and Sri Lanka
- Pakistan’s air chief witnessed the parade, asking future leaders to stay updated with modern technologies
- The Pakistan military regularly trains officers and cadets of allied nations, particularly from the Gulf region
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.”
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.
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.
Its programs also help foster international cooperation, as displayed by the diverse nationalities of its graduates this year.
