KARACHI: Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies have confiscated over 10,000 containers to block thoroughfares in different parts of the country, said transporters on Wednesday, as Jamiat-e-Ulama-e-Islam (JUI-F), a religio-political party, prepares to hold a massive rally in Islamabad against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) administration on Thursday.
“The container with vehicles impounded are loaded with food stuff, medicines and chemicals,” President of Karachi Goods Carrier Rana Aslam told Arab News. “More than 10,000 containers have been confiscated to block roads, causing a substantial decline in the shipping activities at the country’s ports.”
Transporters complained that the authorities were putting millions of dollars of export orders at stake by impounding containers carrying goods that were to be sent abroad.
“The ongoing political situation has completely broken the import-export cycle. No containers from Punjab is coming to Sindh. Likewise, transporters are not taking goods to Punjab, fearing seizure of vehicles for road blocks,” Senior Vice President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Dr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig said.
“It is causing huge losses of billions of rupees as exports are being delayed,” he added.
Textile exporters say they are assessing the extent of losses suffered by them due to delays in shipments. “Exporters are contacting us and we will assess the situation and losses to our members,” Chairman Pakistan Apparel Forum Muhammad Jawed Bilwani told Arab News.
“The government was repeatedly advised to get old containers to deal with anti-government agitations but no action was taken, except in Karachi where few containers were acquired by the police to deal with such demonstrations,” he added. “This sends a negative signal to the world community and importers of Pakistani products.”
Transporters say they are suffering huge losses due to delay in moving containers to their destinations.
“We are paying $100 per day rent to the shipping lines for the containers,” Chairman Punjab Goods Transport Association Maqbool Hussain told Arab News.
“Apart from that, the transporters are also suffering losses of around Rs15,000-20,000 per vehicle on account of salaries to the staff and other expenses,” he added.
“The government announced a compensation, but so far no payments have been received as transporters are facing losses in millions of rupees,” Spokesman of All Pakistan Oil Tankers Association Israr Ahmed Shinwari told Arab News.
He said that transporters had gone on strike against the confiscation of their containers without any compensation.
Some transporters informed their containers had been released from the areas where the JUI-F Azadi (freedom) March caravan had passed. Still they said they were reluctant to carry goods upcountry.
Pakistani transporters say police seize thousands of containers ahead of protests
Pakistani transporters say police seize thousands of containers ahead of protests
- Many impounded containers carry food, medicines and chemicals, causing millions of rupees of losses to business community
- Transporters complain the ongoing political situation is causing logical problems, putting huge export orders at stake
Family calls off weeks-long protest in Balochistan over kidnapping of schoolboy
- Muhammad Musawir Khan, who comes from a family of gold traders, was kidnapped by armed men in Quetta on Nov. 15
- The protest was called off after the Balochistan chief minister met Khan’s relatives and assured them of his safe recovery
QUETTA: The family of an 11-year-old schoolboy, who was kidnapped in Pakistan’s Balochistan province earlier this month, has called off their weeks-long protest in the provincial capital of Quetta, it said on Thursday, following assurances from the provincial administration for a safe recovery of the child.
Muhammad Musawir Khan, a third-grade student, was kidnapped from a school van by unknown armed men while on his way to school in Quetta on November 15. His family says they have not received any ransom call from the kidnappers since his abduction.
Khan’s relatives and other protesters had been staging a sit-in at Quetta’s Unity Square for the last 14 days. On Thursday, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti met the protesters and assured them of setting up a team to recover the kidnapped boy.
“Bugti told us that ‘a joint investigation team has been formed comprising all Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) for the safe recovery of the kidnapped boy’,” Khan’s father, Raz Muhammad, told Arab News, adding that they had called off the protest for ten days.
The kidnapped boy belongs to a prominent tribal family that has been involved in the gold trading business in Balochistan for decades. According to the family, he was abducted from the busy Patel Bagh neighborhood in Quetta.
On Monday, a wheel-jam strike over the kidnapping paralyzed highways in Balochistan, with political and religious party leaders, traders, transporters, lawyers and civil society members visiting the protest camp to express solidarity with the family.
Speaking to the protesters on Thursday, CM Bugti said the kidnapped boy’s family was being regularly updated about the details of investigation.
“The entire province is standing with the family and a safe recovery of Muhammad Musawir Khan is our duty,” he said. “We will not commit any negligence in our duty.”
Pakistan’s 21st consignment of relief items for Gaza, Lebanon and Syria arrives in Damascus
- Pakistan dispatched 17 tons of relief items such as blankets, food and medicines on Wednesday
- Islamabad has repeatedly demanded an unconditional ceasefire in Gaza amid Israel’s aggression
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s 21st consignment of relief items for the war-affected people of Lebanon, Gaza and Syria landed in Damascus on Thursday, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said.
Pakistan dispatched the consignment from the eastern city of Rawalpindi to Damascus on Wednesday. The relief items, sent with the help of the Pakistan Air Force, comprised 17 tons of supplies which included blankets, food and medicines.
Israel has been attacking what it calls Iran-linked targets in Syria for years but has ramped up such raids since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israel, leading Israel to launch a military campaign in which more than 44,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and more than 3,500 people in Lebanon.
“The 21st consignment of humanitarian aid for war affected/displaced people of Palestine Gaza and Lebanon has successfully landed in Damascus, which flew yesterday from the Nur Khan Base via a chartered flight, carrying 17 tons of relief items by GoP/Pak NDMA,” the authority said in a statement.
It said the consignment was received by Air Marshal (retired) Shahid Akhtar, Pakistan’s ambassador in Damascus.
“The Government of Pakistan remains steadfast in its commitment to providing humanitarian assistance to the war-affected people of Palestine (Gaza) and Lebanon,” the NDMA said.
Since the beginning of Israel’s war on Gaza, Pakistan has repeatedly raised the issue at the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and other multilateral platforms and demanded international powers and bodies stop Israeli military actions in Gaza.
Balochistan Assembly passes resolution seeking ban on Imran Khan’s party after violent protests
- Tabled by PPP and PML-N parties’ lawmakers, resolution accuses Khan’s party of spreading chaos in the country
- Government says clashes between Khan supporters and law enforcers led to the killing of three troops and one cop
QUETTA: Provincial lawmakers in the Balochistan Assembly on Thursday approved a resolution seeking an “immediate” ban on former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party following its violent clashes with law enforcers in the capital this week.
Pakistan’s government said three Rangers personnel and a police officer were killed during clashes between thousands of Khan supporters and law enforcers this week when the PTI led a “long march” to the capital to demand Khan’s release, among other things.
The protesters were dispersed after a late-night raid on Wednesday, after which the PTI said at least 20 of its supporters had been killed after being shot by law enforcers. The government denies this while police says it has arrested over 1,151 protesters.
Lawmakers of the PTI’s political rivals Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) tabled a joint resolution, calling on the federal government to ban Khan’s party. These lawmakers included Meer Saleem Khosa, Muhammad Sadiq Umrani, Asim Kurd Gelo, Raheela Hameed Durrani, Bakht Muhammad Kakar, Hajji Wali Noorzai and Barkat Ali Rind.
“This august house of the Balochistan Assembly calls upon the federal government to impose an immediate ban on the PTI for spreading chaos in the country, and for attempting to make the armed forces of Pakistan and security forces fight with the people,” a copy of the resolution seen by Arab News said.
The resolution accused the PTI of being involved in violent activities in the country, saying it has adversely affected the country’s economy.
“Attacking the capital with provincial machinery and resources was a clear proof of the non-political agenda of a political party,” Khosa said while presenting the motion.
Opposition parties such as the National Party (NP), Jamat-e-Islami (JI) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan Fazl (JUI-F) opposed the resolution and its lawmakers walked out in protest during the session.
Alam Kakar, a leader of the PTI’s Balochistan chapter, rejected the resolution.
“Let them (center) enjoy this decision but Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is Imran Khan’s party and whatever name Khan would give to this party, the Pakistani nation would stand by him,” Kakar told Arab News.
“The provincial government should focus on maintaining the law and order situation in Balochistan rather than bringing such an absurd resolution,” he added.
Younus Aziz Zehri, an opposition leader in the Balochistan Assembly, told Arab News that the opposition parties strongly opposed the resolution.
“If today we ban the PTI, tomorrow it could be us or the PML-N or the PPP any political party in power would ban its opponents,” he said.
“We strongly condemn the killings of civilians and security personnel during the violence by the state and protesters in Islamabad, but that doesn’t justify that you should ban that political party led the protests in Islamabad,” Zehri added.
Pakistan’s government has said that the protests caused economic losses worth $684 million per day, describing them as deliberate attempts by the PTI to harm the country’s economy.
Pakistan welcomes ceasefire announcement between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah
- Israel approved ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah on Tuesday after nearly 14 months of fighting
- Pakistan’s premier hopes ceasefire leads to permanent cessation of hostilities between two sides
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday welcomed the ceasefire announcement between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group, hoping it would culminate in a permanent cessation of hostilities between the two sides.
Israel approved a ceasefire agreement with Lebanon’s Hezbollah group on Tuesday that halts nearly 14 months of fighting linked to the war in Gaza.
The ceasefire, which came into effect on Wednesday, marked the first major step toward ending the regionwide unrest triggered after Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. However, it does not address the devastating war in Gaza, where Hamas is still holding dozens of Israeli hostages and the conflict is more intractable.
“We welcome the announcement of ceasefire between Israel and Lebanese group Hezbollah,” Sharif wrote on social media platform X.
“And hope that the announcement leads to a permanent cessation of hostilities in Lebanon.”
Sharif wished peace and security for the people of Lebanon.
Since the beginning of Israel’s war on Gaza, Pakistan has repeatedly raised the issue at the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and other multilateral platforms and demanded international powers and bodies stop Israeli military actions in Gaza.
Since October last year, Pakistan has dispatched 21 consignments of relief items such as food and blankets for the war-affected people of Gaza, Lebanon and Syria.
Islamabad does not have diplomatic relations with Israel and has consistently accused it of committing genocide in Gaza. Pakistan calls for an independent Palestinian state with Al-Quds Al Sharif as its capital.
Pakistani banks to remain open on Saturday, Sunday to receive Hajj applications
- Designated Pakistani banks to remain open from 09:00 am to 02:30pm on Saturdays and Sundays
- Deadline to file Hajj applications is Dec. 3 while draw for government scheme will be held on Dec. 6.
ISLAMABAD: Designated Pakistani banks will remain open on Saturday and Sunday to receive Hajj 2025 applications, state-owned media said on Thursday, as thousands apply for the annual Islamic pilgrimage.
Pakistani state media said this week that over 24,000 Hajj applications by Pakistani pilgrims have been received by designated banks.
Saudi Arabia has allotted Pakistan a total quota of 179,210 pilgrims for the upcoming Hajj pilgrimage, to be divided equally between the government and private schemes. Around 15 designated Pakistani banks started receiving applications for Hajj 2025 from intending pilgrims on Monday this week.
“Designated banks will remain open to receive Hajj applications on Saturday and Sunday,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
It said that the banks will remain open from 09:00 am to 02:30pm on Saturday and Sunday to receive the Hajj applications.
The deadline to file Hajj applications is Dec. 3 while the draw for the government scheme will be held on Dec. 6.
The religious affairs ministry announced the country’s Hajj 2025 policy earlier this month, according to which pilgrims can pay fees for the annual pilgrimage in installments for the first time.
Under the government scheme, the first installment of Hajj dues, amounting to Rs200,000 ($717), has to be deposited along with the Hajj application, while a second installment of Rs400,000 ($1,435) must be deposited within ten days of the balloting. The remaining amount has to be deposited by Feb. 10 next year.
On Sunday, Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry said it had launched the “Pak Hajj 2025” mobile application to guide and facilitate pilgrims. The app is available for both Android and iPhone users.
