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Dessert plates and deserted food streets: Karachi feels bite of lockdown in Ramadan 

An older man is seen offering a prayer at a mosque in Karachi, on April 25, 2020 (AN Photo/S.A. Babar)
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Updated 27 April 2020
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Dessert plates and deserted food streets: Karachi feels bite of lockdown in Ramadan 

  • Stalls serving piping hot jalebis, other delights line Karachi’s old food street, but there are no takers
  • With residents confined to their homes, majority are spending Ramadan indoors
Updated 27 April 2020
Naimat Khan

KARACHI: Ever since he can remember Shabir Ahmed has spent every single Ramadan tucking into special treats at the food stalls along the Fresco Chowk in Karachi’s downtown Saddar.

However, with the coronavirus outbreak and ensuing lockdown, Ahmed says its the first Ramadan when he’s breaking his fasts at home.

“I would drive by to pick up crispy samosas and kachoris, chicken rolls, Arabian parathas and sweet jalebis made in desi ghee. However, this year I opened my first fast on Saturday with all homemade food,” Ahmed, 54, a real estate agent and a resident of the PECHS area in Karachi told Arab News.

Often referred to as one of Karachi’s old food streets, earlier the Fresco Chowk – which is part of the Burns Road – would be teeming with people, with thousands thronging the area from the afternoon to evening during Ramadan.

However, since the lockdown was imposed in Pakistan’s financial capital, a majority are spending Ramadan indoors.

Here, Arab News takes you through some of the hotspots in Karachi that have been impacted by the lockdown:




Once jam-packed during Ramadan, this food street along Burns Road, wears a deserted look on April 25, 2020. Several shopkeepers said provincial authorities had forced them to close shop as part of the country’s anti-virus measures. (AN Photo/S.A. Babar)




Traffic police personnel break their fast along the main road near Karachi’s Clifton Bridge on April 25, 2020. Law enforcement agencies have to remain on the road for 24 hours to ensure residents adhere to the lockdown in Karachi where the cases of local transmission are increasingly on the rise. (AN Photo/S.A. Babar)




This before and after collage shows the Khaliq Dina Hall along the MA Jinnah Road where thousands had gathered to offer Taraweeh prayers on May 10, 2019; and which was devoid of worshippers on April 25, 2020. It follows the government’s move to ban mass prayers on the roads completely. (AN photo/S.A. Babar)




With the closure of restaurants and food streets, women say their workload has increased. “Although we prepare homemade food, having an option to buy ready to eat iftar items would have been a great help,” Nuzhat Ahmed told Arab News. (AN Photo/S.A. Babar) 




A family residing in the downtown Saddar area of Karachi is seen praying Maghrib, the evening prayer which marks the end of the day’s fast, on April 25, 2020. (AN Photo/S.A. Babar)




Hameedullah Khan, a cobbler in his 70s and hailing from the Bajaur tribal district of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, breaks his fast with a piece of watermelon along the roadside on April 25, 2020. (AN photo/SA Babar)




Thousands break their fast as during the grand iftar which is a 70-year-old tradition of Karachi’s New Memon Masjid on May 15, 2019. The same mosque wears a deserted look due to the lockdown in this before and after collage. (AN Photo/S.A. Babar) 




A man distributes biryani among poor people in the Lighthouse area of Karachi on April 25, 2020. Despite the restrictions, several residents make arrangements for the provision of food to the neediest during Ramadan. (AN Photo/S.A. Babar)




Local authorities are seen here disinfecting the Kharadar neighborhood of Karachi on the eve of the first fast on April 25, 2020. (AN Photo/S.A. Babar)




A banner posted on a wall of Jamia Masjid Arambagh, Karachi on April 10, 2020, asks the sick and elderly not to enter the mosques. The Sindh government, however, has placed a complete ban on communal prayers during Ramadan. (AN Photo/S.A. Babar)




Worshipers offer Taraweeh prayers while observing the rules of social distancing at a mosque in Karachi, on April 25, 2020. (AN Photo/S.A. Babar) 




A worker is disinfecting a mosque in Karachi on April 10, 2020 (AN Photo/S.A. Babar)

 

Topics: CORONAVIRUS PAKISTAN Iftar desserts

Pakistan PM assures Beijing of taking all possible steps to ensure Chinese nationals’ safety

Updated 5 sec ago
ARAB NEWS PAKISTAN 
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Pakistan PM assures Beijing of taking all possible steps to ensure Chinese nationals’ safety

  • Shehbaz Sharif meets Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang at sidelines of COP29 summit in Baku 
  • Beijing has grown anxious over increasing number of attacks in Pakistan targeting Chinese nationals 
Updated 5 sec ago
ARAB NEWS PAKISTAN 

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday assured China’s vice premier that Pakistan was determined to root out “terrorism” from its country, saying that Islamabad was taking all possible steps to ensure the safety of Chinese nationals. 

Separatist outfits in Pakistan have previously attacked Chinese nationals in the country, with Islamabad saying the attacks are aimed at disrupting its ties with Beijing and destabilizing a multi-billion-dollar Chinese infrastructure project in Pakistan. A deadly suicide blast near the airport in the southern city of Karachi last month targeted Chinese engineers, killing two and injuring 21 others. In March this year, a suicide bombing killed five Chinese engineers and a Pakistani driver in northwestern Pakistan as they headed to the Dasu Dam, the largest hydropower project in the country.

China, breaking with tradition, recently spoke out publicly against security threats to its workers and nationals in Pakistan. 

Sharif, who was in Baku to attend the global COP29 climate summit conference, met Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang at the sidelines of the summit to speak about bilateral ties between the two allies. 

“While highlighting the government’s steps for the security of Chinese citizens in Pakistan, the prime minister said the government is taking all possible steps to ensure the security of Chinese nationals,” Sharif’s office said. 

“The prime minister mentioned the government’s steps to completely eliminate the menace of terrorism from Pakistan and said that the government is determined to uproot terrorism from the country,” it added. 

Sharif said China was Pakistan’s longstanding friend, adding that a new era of strengthening relations between the two countries had begun.

Separately, Sharif met Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev at the sidelines of the conference to congratulate him on successfully holding the World Leaders Climate Action Summit in Baku, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.

Sharif assured Aliyev that Islamabad was committed to work with Azerbaijan and the international community on challenges related to climate change. 

“The two leaders reviewed the entire range of bilateral relations,” the PMO said. “They expressed their commitment to further strengthen the strategic partnership between Pakistan and Azerbaijan, particularly in the areas of economic and defense cooperation; as well as people to people and cultural ties.”

Sharif expressed optimism about enhancing bilateral cooperation in various fields including technology sharing and joint ventures in renewable energy, his office said. 

In recent months, Pakistan has increasingly sought to attract investment and trade with regional countries, especially the Central Asian states, as it suffers from a prolonged macroeconomic crisis. It seeks to enhance its role as a pivotal trade and transit hub connecting the Central Asian republics with the rest of the world, leveraging its strategic geographical position.
 

Topics: Pakistan China Ties Shehbaz Sharif

Pakistan says light rains forecast from Nov. 14-16 likely to reduce Punjab smog 

Updated 13 November 2024
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Pakistan says light rains forecast from Nov. 14-16 likely to reduce Punjab smog 

  • Toxic smog has shrouded Pakistan’s cultural capital Lahore and 17 other districts in Punjab since last month
  • Rain expected to occur in Rawalpindi, Murree, Attock, Chakwal, Rawalpindi and other districts on Nov. 14
Updated 13 November 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Light rains from Nov. 14-16 in most districts of Punjab are likely to reduce smog in the eastern province, the Pakistan Meteorological (Met) Department said on Wednesday, as the deteriorating air quality continues to put the health of millions of people at risk. 

Toxic smog has shrouded Lahore and 17 other districts in Punjab since last month. Health officials say more than 40,000 people have been treated for respiratory ailments forcing Punjab to close schools until Nov. 17 to protect children’s health. The UN children’s agency has warned that the health of 11 million children in Punjab is in danger due to air pollution. 

South Asia, particularly India and Pakistan, is shrouded in intense pollution every winter as cold air traps emissions, dust, and smoke from farm fires. Pollution could cut more than five years from people’s life expectancy in the region, a study found last year.

“According to the Meteorological Department, rains are likely in Punjab from November 14 to 16,” PDMA Punjab said. “Director General PDMA Irfan Ali Kathia said that the possible rains are likely to reduce smog.”

Rains are expected to lash Rawalpindi, Murree, Attock, Chakwal, Talagang, Jhelum, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Lahore, Mianwali, Khushab and Sargodha districts of Punjab, with thunderstorms predicted for Bhakkar, Layyah, and Dera Ghazi Khan districts on Nov. 15.

The Met Department urged people to wear face masks as a precautionary measure against smog and not to venture out unnecessarily. 

Seasonal crop burn-off by farmers on the outskirts of Lahore also contributed to toxic air, which the World Health Organization says can cause strokes, heart disease, lung cancer and respiratory diseases.

Pakistan’s top disaster management body has urged people to avoid stepping outdoors during smog peak hours in the morning, wear masks during outdoor activities, stay hydrated and use dehumidifiers. 

Last Friday, Pakistani authorities ordered the closure of all parks and museums for 10 days, urging people to avoid unnecessary travel.

In October, Punjab identified four hotspots in the city where it imposed restrictions. These included banning auto rickshaws with polluting two-stroke engines, along with restaurants that operate barbecues without filters.
 

Topics: Rain in Pakistan Met office Arab News Pakistan

UK announces program to improve education access for over 250,000 Pakistani children

Updated 13 November 2024
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UK announces program to improve education access for over 250,000 Pakistani children

  • With $25.2 million contribution over three years, program aims to support children in English, Math and Urdu
  • Program to primarily focus on children from South Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, says British Council
Updated 13 November 2024
Hasaan Ali Khan

ISLAMABAD: With a contribution of $25.2 million (Rs 7.2 billion) over three years, the United Kingdom hopes to provide over 250,000 Pakistani children better access to education, focusing primarily on the country’s eastern Punjab and northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, the British Council said on Wednesday.

Pakistan has an estimated 22.8 million out-of-school children, the second highest in the world, according to UNICEF. A majority of them, about 12.2 million, are girls who face cultural and social barriers preventing them from seeking formal education especially in rural areas.

Funded by the British High Commission in Pakistan and delivered by the British Council, the service delivery component of Girls and Out of School Children’s Action for Learning (GOAL) program, “Khilo aur Barho” will see children receive support with their Urdu, Math and English subjects. The five-year program, from January 2023 to December 2027, aims to build more inclusive provincial education systems delivering quality education in KP and Punjab. 

“The UK is set to help over 250,000 children in Pakistan access better education,” the British High Commission said in a statement. “Through the service delivery component of Girls and Out of School Children’s Action for Learning (GOAL) program, Khilo aur Barho, the UK’s £20 million contribution will help break down barriers to education, enhance literacy and numeracy skills, and strengthen a resilient and effective education system in Pakistan over the next three years.”

It added that 10 percent of the participants would be children with disabilities while 20 percent will comprise from marginalized groups. 

“This support will focus on their ability, rather than their age, helping them to catch up on these subjects quicker,” the statement said. 

British High Commissioner Jane Marriott said Pakistan was facing an “education emergency” with $26.2 million children out of school.

“This targeted support will make sure some of the most vulnerable children in the country don’t fall behind,” she said. “The UK is already a significant supporter of education in Pakistan, supporting over 4.5 million children across Pakistan to access a decent education over the past 10 years.”

Pakistan’s Education Secretary Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani said his ministry is focused on facilitating each of the provinces to connect with international and local partners to fight learning poverty in every district, with a special focus on lagging districts. 

 “I am hoping that GOAL will show how you deliver that successfully in 14 most challenging districts. We will stand ready to help in every way to make it a success,” he said. 

In 2022, the UK had donated $160 million (Rs45.76 billion) to support women’s education in Pakistan. 

According to WorldMetrics, Pakistan’s literacy rate stood at 59 percent, while the country grapples with the challenge of 23 million out-of-school children.

The government’s spending on education remains low, at just 2.8 percent of GDP, contributing to poor infrastructure, limited access to quality education and a shortage of trained teachers, particularly in rural areas.
 

Topics: British Council Pakistani students

Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi reclaims number 1 spot in ODI bowler rankings

Updated 13 November 2024
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Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi reclaims number 1 spot in ODI bowler rankings

  • Shaheen Afridi took eight wickets in three matches against Australia at 12.62 average this month
  • Pacer Haris Rauf rises to career-best number 13 as ex-captain Babar Azam remains top ODI-ranked batter
Updated 13 November 2024
Shahjahan Khurram

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s left arm fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi reclaimed his number one spot in the ICC ODI Bowler Rankings, the cricket governing body announced on Wednesday, after a successful tour against world champions Australia this year. 

Afridi regained his place as the top bowler in the 50-over cricket format after he took eight wickets across three matches against Australia in the ODI series that concluded last week. Afridi, who recorded an impressive average of 12.62 during the three matches, helped Pakistan secure a 2-1 series win against the 2023 world champions. This was Pakistan’s first series win against Australia since 2002. 

The achievement helped Afridi move up three places and take the premier position from South Africa spinner Keshav Maharaj, who was pushed down two spots to number three while Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan remains in second place. 

“Pakistan have received a boost just months out from the start of next year’s ICC Champions Trophy with news that pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi has re-claimed the No.1 ranking on the latest ICC Men’s ODI Bowler Rankings,” the ICC said in a report. 

Afridi has previously first held the number one bowler ranking midway through last year’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India.

Meanwhile, fellow Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf improved 14 places to secure the number 13 spot, reaching a new career-high rating. Rauf was awarded Player of the Series against Australia after taking 10 wickets against the 2023 champions. 

“Afridi’s rise to the top means Pakistan now have the top-ranked player in both batting and bowling in ODI cricket, with former skipper Babar Azam increasing his lead at the top of the batter charts following 80 runs against Australia when dismissed just once,” the ICC said.

Pakistan will play their first of three T20I matches against Australia in Brisbane on Thursday. 
 

Topics: shaheen afridi Shaheen Shah Afridi Pakistan cricket team Pakistan cricket

Pakistan’s northwestern province approaches center again to acquire national airline PIA

Updated 13 November 2024
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Pakistan’s northwestern province approaches center again to acquire national airline PIA

  • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa this month formally expressed intent to buy PIA to keep it under government control 
  • Pakistan last month kickstarted flag carrier’s privatization process, attracting a sole bid of Rs10 billion [$36 million]
Updated 13 November 2024
WASIM SAJJAD

PESHAWAR: The northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has recently sought an update from the federal government over its earlier intent to acquire the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), reiterating its resolve to “revitalize” the national airline as Islamabad looks to privatize the state-owned asset. 

KP’s Board of Investment and Trade (KP-BOIT) wrote a letter to federal officials on Nov. 1, expressing its intent to top the sole bid of Rs10 billion ($36 million) it received last month to acquire the PIA. The provincial government said it wanted the national flag carrier to remain under government control to preserve its status as an asset that symbolizes Pakistan’s pride. 

Cash-strapped Pakistan is looking to offload a 51-100 percent stake in debt-ridden PIA to raise funds and reform state-owned enterprises as envisaged under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund program. The process, however, hit a snag last month when the final bidding round attracted just one bid of Rs10 billion ($36 million) for a 60 percent stake in the national flag carrier.

In a letter dated Nov. 11, the KP-BOIT demanded an update on its Nov. 1 expression of interest in acquiring the airline. 

“Given the strategic importance of this process and the strong support for this initiative from the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Board of Investment & Trade, we kindly seek an update on the status of KP-BOIT’s proposal,” the letter said. 

“KP-BOIT is fully committed to preserving and revitalizing PIA, ensuring its legacy as the National Flag Carrier.”

The board said that the KP chief minister and its team were fully committed to ensuring the national airline “return to prominence” and secure its future under the KP-BOIT, supported by its investors. 

“The leadership of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is prepared to offer substantial backing and resources to accomplish these objectives,” the letter added. “KP-BOIT would appreciate any indication of when KP-BOIT might expect to discuss this matter further.”

KP-BOIT said its team is ready to share its strategic vision and present a “competitive and compelling bid” for the national airline. 

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, chief of the ruling party in Pakistan’s Punjab, said this month that the province was also considering acquiring the national flag carrier. A business group in Canada led by a Pakistani expat also threw its hat in the ring to acquire the airline this month, offering the Pakistan government around Rs100 billion ($358 million) to acquire the debt-ridden national carrier. 

The disposal of PIA is a step former governments have steered away from, as it has been highly unpopular given the number of layoffs that would likely result from it.

Other concerns raised by potential bidders for the PIA stake included inconsistent government communication, unattractive terms and taxes on the sector, and the flag carrier’s legacy issues and reputation.
 

Topics: Pakistan International Airlines Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) KPK PIA privatization

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