ISLAMABAD: A five-member delegation of the Saudi Customs Authority visited the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) in Islamabad on Tuesday to discuss the importance of customs cooperation between two countries, the FBR said in a statement released late yesterday.
The Saudi delegation was headed by Muhammad AlNuaim, Deputy Governor of Security Affairs while FBR Chairman Shabbar Raza Zaidi led the Pakistani side in the talks.
Both groups shared their experiences in the law enforcement domain and further explored avenues of future cooperation for the “exchange of information on a real-time basis,” in addition to discussing measures for the exchange of “intelligence-based information to effectively control illicit flow of currency.”
“Profiling of advance passenger information. Cooperation between Saudi Customs and Pakistani Customs in order to arrest the senders and recipients of drugs and [matters related] exchange of post seizure and arrest investigations [were also in the meeting],” the statement said.
It was mutually agreed that “no country can cope with these cross border challenges without ensuring international cooperation,” in addition to the fact that there was a dire need for both countries to support each other through international forums, customs cooperation and Mutual Assistance Agreements.
“AlNuaim said that the Saudi government gives great value to its brotherly relations with the government of Pakistan,” the statement said, adding that the Kingdom had recently introduced new monetary limits on currencies which so far are not well-known to visitors from Pakistan, urging for the launch of a public awareness campaign to share this information.
Pakistani representatives, for their part, informed the visiting delegation that limiting currency smuggling was one of the prime priorities of the current government.
“Declaration of currency has now been made mandatory and the FBR has taken various legal and administrative actions to improve interdictory regime against currency smuggling,” the statement said.
Saudi delegation discusses customs cooperation with Pakistan
Saudi delegation discusses customs cooperation with Pakistan
- Pakistan seeks to control illicit flow of currency in an effective manner
- The two sides emphasized exchange of information on real-time basis
Pakistan Cricket Board announces full ticket refunds for rain-washed Champions Trophy matches
- The matches were due to be played between Australia and South Africa, Bangladesh and Pakistan
- Ticket holders are eligible for a full refund if a Champion Trophy match is abandoned before toss
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a full ticket refund for Champions Trophy matches that were abandoned without a ball being bowled at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium last month, Pakistani state media reported on Sunday.
The matches were due to be played between Australia and South Africa on Feb. 25, and Bangladesh and Pakistan on Feb. 27, but rain washed out both games in Rawalpindi.
According to the PCB Ticket Refund Policy for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, ticket holders are eligible for a full refund if a match is abandoned before the toss.
“Ticket holders can claim their refund between 10th to 14th of this month [March],” the state-run Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.
“The purchaser will have to visit a designated outlet along with the original ticket.”
Hosts Pakistan crashed out of the tournament after a humiliating six-wicket loss to archrivals India.
The winner of Sunday’s match between India and New Zealand will play Australia in the semifinal, with the loser taking on South Africa.
Irrespective of the placing and opponent, India will play the first semifinal in Dubai on Tuesday after they refused to travel to Pakistan because of political tensions.
New Zealand will leave for Lahore after Sunday’s match, with the second semifinal to be played at Qaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.
Pakistan saw 175 percent rise in civilian deaths from militant attacks in February— report
- Pakistan suffered 79 militant attacks in February, with Balochistan reporting 32 attacks and 56 casualties
- Militant fatalities dropped by 25 percent in February, with 208 killed in January compared to 156 in February
KARACHI: Pakistan saw a 175 percent increase in civilian casualties from militant attacks in February compared to January, an Islamabad-based think tank said on Sunday, with the country’s southwestern Balochistan province suffering the most number of attacks last month.
According to a report by Islamabad-based think tank Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), the country witnessed 79 militant attacks in February. This resulted in the deaths of 55 civilians and 47 security personnel, while 81 security forces personnel and 45 civilians sustained injuries.
The report also said that security forces intensified their counter-militancy operations last month, eliminating 156 militants, injuring 20, and arresting 66.
“February 2025 marked the first month since August 2024 in which civilian fatalities surpassed those of security forces,” the report said. “Civilian deaths rose by 175 percent compared to January 2025, when 20 civilians were killed, while security forces’ casualties declined by 18 percent, down from 57 in January.”
The report said militant fatalities also dropped by 25 percent in February, with 208 killed in January compared to 156 in February. It said Balochistan remained the most volatile province, recording 32 militant attacks that claimed 56 lives, including 35 civilians, 10 security personnel and 11 militants. The attacks also left 44 people injured, including 32 security forces personnel and 12 civilians.
“In erstwhile FATA [Federally Administered Tribal Areas], 21 militant attacks were reported, leading to the deaths of 22 security personnel and eight civilians,” the think tank said.
It added that 26 security forces personnel and 11 civilians were injured while security forces killed at least 98 militants, injured 15, and arrested 50 suspected militants in FATA.
Meanwhile, mainland Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recorded 23 militant attacks, resulting in 14 security forces personnel and 12 civilian deaths in February. Twenty-two civilians and an equal number of security personnel were injured during the month while security forces killed 47 militants in KP during February, the report added.
Sindh witnessed three minor militant attacks, resulting in the death of one security official and injury to another.
“No militant attack was reported in Punjab, but security forces arrested 16 suspected militants from various locations,” the report said. “No incidents of militant violence were reported from Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, or Islamabad.”
Pakistan has suffered a rise in militant attacks in its western provinces bordering Afghanistan, KP and Balochistan, since a fragile truce with the Pakistani Taliban and the state fell apart.
In its bid to impose its strict brand of Islam across the country, the TTP has carried out suicide attacks against Pakistani security agencies and killed civilians as well.
In the southwestern Balochistan province, separatist ethnic Baloch militants have waged an insurgency for decades against the state whom it accuses of exploiting the mineral-and-gas rich province while depriving its locals of a share in the resources. Pakistan’s state rejects these allegations.
Pakistan warns citizens against heavy rains, snowfall in northern regions till Mar. 3
- Westerly wave likely to bring heavy rains, snowfall in Pakistan’s northern areas in 24-48 hours, says forecast
- Pakistan warns against possibility of landslides/avalanches in hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, GB and Kashmir
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Weather Forecasting Center on Sunday warned against heavy rains and snowfall in the country’s northern regions till Mar. 3, advising citizens to exercise caution while traveling.
In its daily weather outlook, the NWFC said that a westerly wave is likely to affect western parts of the country on Sunday and may persist in upper parts during the next 36 to 48 hours.
“Mainly cold and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country,” the NWFC said in its outlook. “However, cloudy weather with rain-wind/thunderstorm (snowfall over hills) is likely in north/northwestern Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir and Upper/Central Punjab during evening/night.”
The forecast warned that moderate to heavy snowfalls may cause road closures and slippery conditions in Murree, Galliyat, Naran, Kaghan, Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Manshera, Abbottabad, Shangla, Astore, Hunza, Skardu, Neelum valley, Bagh, Poonch and Haveli from Sunday till Monday.
“Possibility of landslides/avalanches in hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir,” it added.
The center warned tourists and travelers visiting mountainous areas “to remain cautious” during the period.
Parts of Pakistan last month received rains after a months-long drought severely impacted crops like wheat, a staple food, as well as vital cash crops like potatoes in several regions, according to the Pakistani climate change ministry.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said rainfall from Sept. 1 to Jan. 15 was 40 percent below normal across Pakistan, with Sindh, Balochistan, and Punjab being the most affected provinces with deficits of 52 percent, 45 percent, and 42 percent, respectively.
Torrential rains during the monsoon season of 2022 triggered flash floods across the country, with scientists attributing it to climate change impacts. The floods killed over 1,700 people and inflicted damages worth $33 billion on Pakistan, as per official estimates.
Australia or South Africa will return to Pakistan from Dubai for semifinal
- India and New Zealand’s Sunday group match to decide semifinal line-up
- Irrespective of outcome, India will play the first semifinal in Dubai on Mar. 4
DUBAI: Australia and South Africa have been forced to travel to Dubai from Pakistan, the International Cricket Council confirmed Sunday, due to a tangled schedule at the Champions Trophy.
India and New Zealand play the final group match on Sunday in Dubai and the result of the game will decide the semifinal line-up.
Australia are in Dubai and will train in the afternoon, when South Africa are expected to fly in from Karachi where they hammered England to get top spot in Group B.
The winners of the India-New Zealand clash will play Australia, who finished second to South Africa in their group.
But irrespective of the placing and opponent, India will play the first semifinal in Dubai on March 4 after they refused to travel to hosts Pakistan for political reasons.
That will leave New Zealand and either Australia or South Africa, hours after landing in Dubai, to head back to Pakistan for the second semifinal scheduled on March 5 in Lahore.
Pundits and ex-cricketers had called out the one-venue “farce” at the 50-over tournament after India were allowed to play all their matches at the Dubai International Stadium.
The rest of the seven teams in the eight-nation competition had to shuttle between three Pakistan venues — Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore — and the United Arab Emirates.
New Zealand all-rounder Glenn Phillips said his team were not thinking about India staying at one venue for the course of the tournament.
“No, for us there’s no focus on anything like that,” he said on Saturday.
“We have a ‘no-excuses’ mindset.”
The final on March 9 will be in Dubai if India go the distance.
Lahore’s Qaddafi Stadium will be the venue if India miss out.
Pakistan province asks Islamabad to approve ToRs for Afghanistan talks after suicide blast
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa said last month it wanted to send two delegations to Afghanistan to engage in peace talks
- Suicide blast in a seminary in northwestern Pakistan on Friday killed a top cleric, four other worshippers
PESHAWAR: Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government on Sunday asked the federal government to approve the Terms of Reference (ToRs) for its talks with Afghanistan on surging militancy “as soon as possible,” following a blast in the province that killed a top cleric days ago.
KP government said in February that it had decided to send two delegations, comprising tribal elders, religious scholars, and political leaders, to Kabul to engage in direct talks with the Afghan Taliban rulers for peace and stability in the province. It followed a statement by KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, in which he said the security situation in the region was directly linked to “developments in neighboring Afghanistan,” following a consultative meeting of various religious and political parties in the province.
KP government spokesperson Muhammad Ali Saif had said the delegation would be sent after the center approved the ToRs for talks with Afghanistan. Pakistan’s foreign office had said last month it was not informed of KP’s decision to engage in talks with Kabul, adding that external ties with another country fell under the federal government’s jurisdiction.
Saif demanded the center approve the ToRs without further delay after a suicide blast within a pro-Taliban seminary in northwestern Pakistan on Friday killed a top cleric and four other worshippers, wounding dozens of others.
“The federation should approve the ToRs of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for talks with Afghanistan as soon as possible,” Saif said, adding that the provincial government wanted to send the delegation to Afghanistan “on an emergency basis.”
He urged the center to avoid politicizing the issue, saying that the responsibility of protecting the lives of the people of KP was the provincial government’s responsibility.
Pakistan has struggled to contain a surge in militancy in the country, particularly in KP that borders Afghanistan, since a fragile truce between the Pakistani Taliban, or the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and Islamabad broke down in November 2022.
The TTP and other militant groups have frequently targeted security forces convoys and check-posts, besides targeted killings and kidnappings of law enforcers and government officials in recent months.
Pakistan’s top military and political leadership has blamed the surge in violence on TTP militants launching cross-border attacks from Afghanistan, accusing Kabul of harboring and facilitating them. Afghanistan denies the allegation and says Pakistan’s security is an internal matter of Islamabad.
TERMS OF REFERENCE
As per the ToR document seen by Arab News last month, the KP government has proposed sending a delegation of tribal elders, religious scholars, and political leaders to engage with their Afghan counterparts and address mutual concerns, particularly peace, security, cross-border trade and economic cooperation, through “tribal diplomacy.”
The KP delegation’s objectives include strengthening cross-border tribal diplomacy, confidence-building measures between tribal communities and authorities in both countries and facilitating dialogue on regional peace and stability, the document said.
The ToRs state that the delegations would seek to curtail cross-border militancy by engaging tribal elders to “dissuade terrorist organizations from using Afghan territory for launching attacks in Pakistan and seek cooperation in monitoring and preventing TTP and other militant groups’ movement across the border.”
