ISLAMABAD: Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed is still counting on Sri Lanka turning up for a limited-overs series this month despite alleged terrorist threats.
Sri Lanka Cricket said on Wednesday it was warned of a possible terrorist threat during the scheduled tour of Pakistan, and sought a reassessment of the security situation before the first of three one-day internationals on Sept. 27 in Karachi. There’s also three Twenty20s scheduled in Lahore from Oct. 5-9.
“Inshallah (God willing) they will come, we should hope for the best,” said on Friday in Karachi.
“The Pakistan Cricket Board is trying its best and we should all pray that international cricket should come back to Pakistan.”
Sarfaraz added the International Cricket Council and other national boards should come forward and support Pakistan more in its bid to revive international cricket back home.
“The way PCB has worked over the last 10 years, it’s a tremendous effort,” he said.
He also noted how quick Pakistan supported Sri Lanka after the Easter Sunday bombings there by sending a junior team to tour.
Major teams have avoided Pakistan since the Sri Lanka team bus was attacked by terrorists in 2009. Over the past three years, Pakistan has successfully hosted Zimbabwe, the West Indies, Sri Lanka, and a World XI in limited-overs matches amid intense.
Pakistan captain Sarfaraz still counting on Sri Lanka coming
Pakistan captain Sarfaraz still counting on Sri Lanka coming
- Sri Lanka Cricket warned of a possible terrorist threat during tour of Pakistan
- In 2009 Sri Lanka team bus was attacked by terrorists in Lahore
First international flight takes off for Muscat from Pakistan’s Gwadar airport
- China-funded airport opened for commercial operations on Monday after months-long delay
- Opening in August of $246 million airport postponed due to security fears after separatist attacks
KARACHI: The first international flight took off for Muscat from the China-funded Gwadar airport on Friday with 39 passengers aboard, just days after the facility in southwestern Pakistan began commercial operations after a months-long delay.
A security review, prompted by a string of deadly attacks by separatist militants in the southwestern Balochistan province in August last year, had delayed the airport’s opening to the end of 2024 from Aug. 14. The airport was then due to begin operations on Jan. 10 but finally opened this Monday as a Pakistan International Airlines flight arrived from the southern port city of Karachi.
Pakistan hopes the $246-million Chinese-backed project, which will handle both domestic and international flights, will become one of the country’s largest airports.
“First international flight departs from New Gwadar International Airport to Muscat,” national carrier PIA, which operated the flight, said in a statement, adding that it would initially run one weekly flight to Muscat.
“PIA is committed to activating air operations across the country in line with national aspirations and public needs.”
Last month, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office said the Gwadar airport would be able to handle A-380 aircraft and accommodate four million passengers annually.
The airport will eventually feature facilities like a cold storage, cargo sheds, hotels and shopping malls, with banking services arranged through the State Bank of Pakistan, according to the PM’s office. PIA has also planned to increase flights between Karachi and Gwadar to three times a week, while discussions are ongoing with private airlines and carriers from China, Oman and the United Arab Emirates to launch both domestic and international services.
China has pledged over $65 billion in infrastructure, energy and other projects in Pakistan under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Part of President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative, the program in Pakistan is also developing a deep-water port close to the new Gwadar airport, a joint venture between Pakistan, Oman and China that is close to completion.
Although no Chinese projects were targeted in the militant attacks in August that delayed the airport’s launch, they have been frequently attacked in the past by separatists who view China as a foreign invader trying to gain control of impoverished but mineral-rich Balochistan, the site of a decades-long insurgency.
Recent attacks, including one in October 2024 in which two Chinese workers were killed in a suicide bombing in Karachi, have forced Beijing to publicly criticize Pakistan over security lapses and media has widely reported in recent months that China wants its own security forces on the ground to protect its nationals and projects, a demand Islamabad has long resisted.
Pakistan, Azerbaijan finalize agreement on arms trade, defense infrastructure, intelligence sharing
- There have been a series of visits by Azerbaijani officials to Pakistan in recent months
- Islamabad is seeking closer trade and investment ties with former Soviet republics
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said on Friday Islamabad and Baku were in the process of finalizing a memorandum of agreement to enhance security ties through cooperation in arms trade, defense infrastructure and intelligence sharing.
Asif was addressing the eighth session of the Pakistan-Azerbaijan joint commission alongside Azerbaijani Defense Industry Minister Vugar Mustafayev who is visiting Islamabad.
There have been a series of visits by Azerbaijani officials to Pakistan in recent months, as Islamabad seeks closer ties, especially in trade and investment, with former Soviet republics and Central Asian states.
Last July, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev visited Pakistan and announced that the two nations were working to increase bilateral trade to $2 billion.
“I’m hopeful that once we finalize our memorandums of understanding on cooperation in the field of the defense industry, we will be able to further our security ties through arms trade, defense infrastructure and sharing of intelligence,” Asif said.
He invited Azerbaijan to join Pakistan’s Strategic Underground Gas Storage (SUGS), a critical component of energy infrastructure, and the White Oil Pipeline project that transports oil from ports to refineries and other distribution points.
Asif also suggested organizing regular trade exhibitions between the two countries to showcase local products in each other’s markets.
Last December, Pakistan waived customs and regulatory duties on imports from Azerbaijan under the Pakistan-Azerbaijan Preferential Trade Agreement. The agreement aimed to boost economic cooperation by reducing tariffs on goods like Pakistan’s sports equipment, leather, and pharmaceuticals and Azerbaijan’s oil and gas products.
On International Day of Education, Pakistan vows to embrace ‘promise of AI’
- Theme of this year’s International Day of Education is “AI and Education: Preserving Human Agency in a World of Automation”
- Around the world, AI is being increasingly used in education to improve the learning experience for both students and teachers
KARACHI: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday, the International Day of Education, reaffirmed his government’s commitment to advancing an education system that embraced the “promise of AI” and supported the country’s youth in thriving in an evolving technological landscape.
The theme of this year’s International Day of Education is “AI and Education: Preserving Human Agency in a World of Automation.” Around the world, AI is being increasingly used in education to improve the learning experience for students and teachers. AI can automate tasks, provide real-time feedback, and create personalized learning experiences.
“As AI-driven systems become increasingly integrated into our lives, the boundaries between human intervention and machine-driven actions continue to blur,” Sharif said in a statement.
“This presents both opportunities and challenges, raising the critical question of how we can uphold and enhance human agency amidst the growing tide of automation.”
He said his government recognized the transformative power of education in preparing Pakistan’s youth to thrive in the evolving technological landscape.
“By fostering critical thinking, innovation, and ethical responsibility, we aim to equip our citizens with the tools not only to adapt to technological changes but to shape them in ways that uphold our values, protect our freedoms, and advance our society,” the PM said.
He highlighted steps taken in Pakistan to prepare its educational institutions to embrace technological advancements. These initiatives include the establishment of High-Impact IT Labs in ICT degree colleges, Digital Hubs in rural ICT schools, the Google Center of Excellence, SMART Classrooms, and the E-Taleem Portal for blended learning.
“Additionally, we have introduced E-Rozgar Centers, Software Technology Parks, Robotics and Mind Games programs, and STEAM Labs to foster innovation. It is imperative that our schools are equipped with the latest technologies to equip our children with the requisite skills,” the PM said.
“On this day, while we reaffirm our resolve to advancing an education system that embraces the promise of AI while safeguarding the essence of human creativity, compassion, and purpose.”
Pakistan rejects Afghanistan’s allegations it hosts Daesh militant camps
- Foreign Office says Afghanistan is a source of “support and logistics” for militant operations against Pakistan
- Ties between neighbors are strained over surge in militant attacks in Pakistan it blames on Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan on Thursday rejected Afghanistan’s allegations Pakistan was hosting and facilitating Daesh militant camps, calling it “weird propaganda.”
The remarks come in response to allegations by Afghan officials that Pakistan was operating training camps for Daesh fighters and facilitating their movement through the Islamabad and Karachi airports for training in its southwestern Balochistan and northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces with the aim of carrying out militant activities in Afghanistan.
Islamabad also frequently accuses neighboring Afghanistan of sheltering and supporting militant groups that launch cross-border attacks amid a surge in militancy in its KP and Balochistan provinces. The Taliban government in Kabul says it does not allow Afghan soil to be used by militants, insisting Pakistan’s security issues are an internal matter for Islamabad.
“Frankly, we completely reject these allegations. They are not grounded in reality,” Khan said during a weekly press briefing when asked about the Afghan allegations on Daesh camps. “It’s just some kind of weird propaganda.”
He reiterated Pakistan’s concern over sanctuaries of the Pakistani Taliban or Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) in Afghanistan, accusing the country of being a source of “support and logistics” for TTP militant operations against Pakistan.
“It couldn’t do without the sanctuaries it’s enjoying in Afghanistan,” Khan added. “And we continue to impress upon the Afghan authorities to address this genuine and serious concern so that our bilateral relations can achieve full potential as good neighbors.”
Islamabad says it has consistently taken up the issue of cross-border attacks with the Taliban administration. The issue has also led to clashes between the border forces of the two countries on multiple occasions in recent months.
In December, the Afghan Taliban said bombardment by Pakistani military aircraft in Afghanistan’s eastern Paktika province had killed at least 46 people, most of whom were children and women. Just days later, the Afghan defense ministry said Taliban forces targeted “several points” in neighboring Pakistan, further straining tense ties.
Relations between the two countries have also soured since Pakistan launched a deportation drive in November 2023 against illegal aliens residing in the country. Though Pakistan insists the campaign does not only target Afghans but all those residing in Pakistan unlawfully, it has disproportionately hit Afghans, with at least 800,000 repatriated so far.
Pakistan says Hong Kong conglomerate discussing $1 billion investment in maritime sector
- Pakistan maritime affairs minister holds meeting with Hutchison Ports officials
- Proposal includes upfront $200 million in foreign direct investment for Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: A Hong Kong-based multinational conglomerate has expressed interest in investing $1 billion in Pakistan’s maritime sector to improve the South Asian nation’s port infrastructure, the maritime ministry said on Thursday.
Hutchison Ports, a subsidiary of CK Hutchison Holdings, is a leading global port operator and logistics company, operating in 52 ports across 26 countries in Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Australia. It provides container terminal operations, cargo handling, logistics, port management, transportation, and distribution services.
Pakistan’s seaports in Karachi, located along the Arabian Sea, are essential for global trade and provide job opportunities for thousands of citizens. The country has been actively working on restructuring and enhancing its port infrastructure.
On Thursday, Maritime Affairs Minister Qaiser Ahmed Shaikh held a meeting with a high-level delegation from Hutchison Ports, led by the company’s Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa, Andy Tsoi, to discuss the $1 billion investment plan, the maritime affairs ministry said.
“This groundbreaking proposal includes an upfront $200 million Foreign Direct Investment,” the ministry said, adding that the investment would focus on modernizing the Karachi International Container Terminal and South Asia Pakistan Terminals Limited “with advanced automation technologies, enhancing operational efficiency and adopting eco-friendly solutions.”
The plan includes introducing “electrified and remote-control equipment” to reduce carbon emissions and establishing a state-of-the-art warehousing depot for Pakistan’s growing trade sector as well as funding to improve roads around the south wharf to ensure “smooth container traffic flow and boost supply chain efficiency.”
The development comes amid Pakistan’s efforts to boost trade and seek international partnerships to expand maritime activities.
In August 2024, state media reported that Danish shipping firm Maersk was in discussions with local authorities to invest $2 billion in Pakistan’s port and transport infrastructure over the next two years.
In October last year, the maritime minister signed an agreement with Denmark’s Minister Morten Bodskov to restructure Pakistan’s maritime sector and provide technical training at its ports.
