ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s diaspora community and medical professionals in Saudi Arabia have paid rich tribute to a Pakistani general surgeon, Dr. Naeem Khalid Chaudhry, who became the first medic in the kingdom to have lost his life to the coronavirus disease, COVID-19, two days ago in Makkah where he worked in the General Surgery Department at the Hira General Hospital.
Chaudhry was 46 years old and belonged to the northeastern district of Narowal in Pakistan’s Punjab province. He moved to Saudi Arabia in 2014 with his family to work as a surgeon in Islam’s holiest city. He is survived by his wife and three daughters who also live in Makkah.
Tooba Chaudhry, the wife of the deceased doctor who also works at the Hira General Hospital as a Radiologist, said that her husband kept on performing his duties throughout the pandemic and showed mild symptoms of the disease on May 14.
“He had mild fever and complained of fatigue on May 14, and it was established that he was suffering from COVID-19 after a medical test that was performed the same day. We started treating him and he showed signs of improvement until the beginning of this month. Then suddenly his condition deteriorated which also proved fatal,” she told Arab News on Friday.
“My three daughters and I have also tested positive for COVID-19, but we are now stable. Our symptoms have disappeared, but the hospital has not called us for a second test,” she added.
“Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia and officials at the consulate general in Jeddah called me and assured full support to my family,” she continued. “The Saudi officials also allowed me to bid farewell to my husband in a fully protective outfit.”
Consul General of Pakistan in Jeddah Khalid Majid said the deceased doctor would be remembered as an indefatigable philanthropist for his illustrious contributions to the fields of medicine and social work.
“He was an important member of the medical team fighting against COVID-19 in the Makkah region. Pakistani community in Saudi Arabia has indeed lost a sincere compatriot who served humanity with zeal and sincerity,” he told Arab News on Friday.
Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki also prayed for the Pakistani surgeon while recognizing his services to the kingdom.
“I offer my condolences and prayers for the family of the Pakistani surgeon Naeem Khalid Chaudhry, who moved to the mercy of Allah Almighty due to his infection with the virus COVID-19, while performing his duty on the frontline against pandemic at Hira General Hospital in Makkah,” he said in a Twitter post.
Dr. Muhammad Irfan, Chaudhry’s colleague and close friend, told Arab News that his coworker performed his duties tirelessly and with utmost dedication.
“I was with him in the surgical department for the last six years. He was a close friend and very good surgeon. He never showed a sign of hesitation while treating the COVID-19 patients,” he said while requesting the Pakistani diplomatic mission and the Saudi authorities to look after his family.
“The whole hospital is in a state of shock since Dr. Chaudhry was very popular due to his professionalism,” Dr. Muhammad Saleem, ICU (Intensive Care Unit) specialist, at the Hira hospital told Arab News while confirming that his late colleague had contracted the virus during the course of his work.
“He [Chaudhry] got COVID-19 infection two weeks back while performing hospital duties. We used best possible hospital resources for his recovery but unfortunately he could not survive,” he added.
Dr. Asad Ullah Roomi, president of the Pakistan Doctors’ Group (PDG) in the kingdom, said all Pakistani medical professionals were in the forefront of this fight against the coronavirus pandemic along with their Saudi colleagues.
“Dr. Chaudhry was a very hardworking and skillful surgeon. He was also academically involved in the training of his juniors,” he told Arab News, adding: “He was also an active contributor to a Pakistani doctors’ charity initiative and provided free medical services to the underprivileged individuals in the Makkah region.”
Dr. Zia Ullah Dawar, a public health specialist at the Saudi ministry of health in Jeddah, remembered Chaudhry in these words: “He was a thorough professional who had never hesitated from his duty despite all its dangers.”
He also revealed that the Pakistani surgeon served about five times in the southwestern border city of Jazan on the request of the Saudi health ministry.
“Chaudhry used to help the Pakistani community in Makkah and provided free services to the deserving people,” Dawar continued. “He was about to be promoted in about a month from a surgical specialist to a consultant.”
Pakistani doctor who died of COVID-19 applauded as hero in Saudi Arabia
https://arab.news/m2spk
Pakistani doctor who died of COVID-19 applauded as hero in Saudi Arabia
- Dr. Naeem Khalid Chaudhry will be remembered for his illustrious contributions to the fields of medicine and social work — Pakistan’s Consul General
- Colleagues say he never hesitated while treating COVID-19 patients
Pakistan nearing $4.4 billion loan to ease power sector debt
- Pakistan’s government is negotiating 1.25 trillion Pakistani rupee loan with commercial banks
- Plugging unresolved power sector debt is top priority under ongoing IMF bailout program
KARACHI: Pakistan’s government is negotiating a 1.25 trillion Pakistani rupee ($4.47 billion) loan with commercial banks to reduce its bulging energy sector debt, the power minister and banking association said.
Plugging unresolved debt across the sector is a top priority under an ongoing $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout, which has helped Pakistan dig its way out of an economic crisis.
“The loan will be repaid over a period of 5 to 7 years,” Power Minister, Awais Leghari told Reuters, adding that the term sheets are yet to be signed.
Pakistan’s government, the largest shareholder or owner of most power companies, faces a challenge in resolving debt due to fiscal constraints. To address this, Islamabad has raised energy prices, as recommended by the IMF, but still needs to settle the accumulated debt.
“We’ve approached many banks, let’s see how many participate. It’s a commercial transaction and they have the choice of participating, however, we think there is liquidity in the system for it and banks have the appetite,” Leghari said.
The government plans to reduce “circular debt” — public liabilities that build up in the power sector due to subsidies and unpaid bills — this year by eliminating government-guaranteed debt and moving to a revenue-based system.
This approach is expected to lower financing costs, enabling the government to pay off interest and service debt obligations, he added.
“Such repricing of liabilities induces more efficiency, and reduces cost for consumers,” said Ammar Habib Khan, adviser to the power minister.
Zafar Masud, Chairman of the Pakistan Banks Association, told Reuters that the interest rate would be a floating exchange rate and the country’s top banks would participate, in addition to those who are already part of the outstanding loan.
“This will help in clearing up all the debt in the next 4 to 6 years which has been sitting on banks’ balance sheets,” he said.
Masud added that more than half of the 1.25 trillion debt is already on the banks’ books and is undergoing restructuring through self-liquidating facilities, which currently lack identifiable cash flows to support them.
($1 = 279.9000 Pakistani rupees)
Pakistan names new petroleum, privatization chiefs in cabinet reshuffle
- New privatization minister’s appointment follows Pakistan's failed attempt at offloading 60% PIA stakes
- A new railway chief has also been appointed, with talks underway with China to upgrade the railway network
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appointed new heads for the key petroleum and privatization portfolios on Friday, both departments seen as central to the country's recovery from an economic crisis.
Former junior finance minister Ali Pervaiz Malik was appointed as petroleum minister in a broader cabinet reshuffle.
His key task will be spearheading a major transaction in the Reko Diq copper and gold project.
Barrick Gold, which owns 50% of the project, is also in talks with railway authorities to revamp Port Qasim's coal terminal for copper transport, CEO Mark Bristow told Pakistan's Dawn News in January.
Muhammad Ali, formerly the special assistant to the prime minister on the power sector, has taken over as adviser for privatization. This follows Pakistan's failed attempt at offloading a 60% stake in debt-ridden airline PIA, which only received a single offer, well below the asking price.
Privatizing PIA and other state-owned enterprises is crucial for raising funds and reforming these entities under the ongoing $7 billion International Monetary Fund bailout program, set up to address an economic crisis stoked by surging inflation and a trade deficit caused by ballooning energy imports.
Bilal Azhar Kayani will take over as Pakistan's Minister for Railways.
The ministry is in talks with China to upgrade and reconstruct Pakistan's railway network, and develop the Gwadar port, under China's $65 billion investment in Pakistan, part of Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative.
Pakistan honors female polio workers ahead of International Women’s Day
- Female health workers play a leading role in the door-to-door inoculation drives in high-risk areas
- The country’s polio eradication program calls them the “backbone” of efforts to eliminate the disease
KARACHI: The Pakistan Polio Eradication Program paid tribute to female polio workers on Friday, said an officials statement, recognizing their dedication in high-risk areas during a ceremony in Islamabad ahead of International Women’s Day.
Pakistan remains one of the few countries where polio persists, with eradication efforts often hindered by militant attacks, misinformation and parental refusals from targeted communities.
Female health workers play a leading role in the door-to-door inoculation drives, constituting more than 58.4 percent of the polio workforce, despite operating in some of the most challenging environments.
“Today, as we commemorate International Women’s Day, I want to reaffirm our collective commitment to ensuring a safe, dignified and enabling environment for every female frontline worker,” the polio eradication program’s statement quoted Ayesha Raza Farooq, the Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio, saying during the ceremony.
She highlighted the Pakistan Polio Programme’s implementation of an anti-harassment policy to ensure a secure and professional environment for female workers.
The event brought together national and provincial coordinators of the polio program alongside senior officials, where frontline female workers shared their experiences through video messages.
Many spoke about the challenges of convincing hesitant families while also expressing pride in their contributions to a polio-free future.
Anwarul Haq, the top official at the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC), praised their dedication, calling them the “backbone” of Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts.
“This year’s theme resonates deeply with us at the National Emergency Operations Center as we honor female polio workers who are considered as the backbone of Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts,” he said. “These women work tirelessly, often in difficult and high-risk areas, to ensure every child receives the life-saving polio vaccine.”
“Their courage and unwavering commitment reflect the incredible strength of Pakistani women,” he continued. “Empowering them is not just about recognizing their contributions: it is about strengthening our communities and ensuring a healthier, polio-free Pakistan.”
Haq stressed the importance of gender sensitivity in public health, saying that supporting women in frontline health roles helps build a more inclusive, resilient and prosperous society.
Pakistan concluded its first nationwide anti-polio campaign of 2025 last month.
So far, the country has reported six polio cases since the start of the year, with authorities planning additional vaccination rounds in April and May.
Pakistan PM to hold sector-wise meetings with business leaders to strengthen economy
- Shehbaz Sharif says he will hold these meeting twice a week, starting with the agriculture sector
- He says economy has improved, adding the private sector should help consolidate the gains
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Friday he would hold sector-wise meetings with local business leaders from next week, as he assured them the government would address their concerns while asking them to increase investment in the economy.
Pakistan has undertaken stringent economic reforms following a prolonged financial crisis that forced it to seek loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Since then, macroeconomic indicators have improved significantly, though the government acknowledges the need for further consolidation through policies aimed at boosting exports and attracting investment.
Sharif met with local business leaders in the same context, saying his administration would seek input from the private sector and work to resolve economic concerns to strengthen the country’s financial outlook.
“Next Thursday, we will have the first sector-wise meeting in my office,” he said during his interaction with the top business leaders.
“I want decisions,” he added. “This meeting will be held twice a week. The sector will be led by four people. From our side, there will be the concerned ministry and secretaries. We will sit and take decisions. There will be no chit chat.”
Sharif said the first meeting would focus on the agriculture sector and directed relevant officials to engage with top businesses across various industries to prepare for future discussions.
Earlier, he noted that Pakistan’s economy was gradually improving while emphasizing his administration now planned to focus on employment, production, exports, industry and commerce, where private sector support was crucial.
“We are just going to act as a catalyst to support your efforts [and figure out] how to further ease your business conditions and create an environment,” he said.
Sharif urged Pakistani industrialists to invest locally and encourage foreign investors to do the same.
“Share the success stories,” he continued, adding that he had always believed domestic investment was key before attracting foreign entrepreneurs.
“Together we will turn it into a partnership to keep the economy going,” he added.
Telecom authority chief meets Starlink team amid push to launch Pakistan operations
- Starlink owner Elon Musk has said company is awaiting government approval to launch services in Pakistan
- PTA says Starlink is yet to obtain security clearance, a prerequisite for obtaining a license and launching services
ISLAMABAD: The chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Maj Gen (retd) Hafeez ur Rehman, met Starlink officials in Spain this week as the international telecommunications provider seeks approvals to launch operations in Pakistan.
US businessman Elon Musk, who owns Starlink, has said the company is awaiting government approval to launch services in Pakistan. Starlink has completed registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), according to Musk. The PTA, however, has said Starlink is yet to obtain security clearance, a prerequisite for obtaining a license and launching services in Pakistan.
Starlink users access the Internet for data or voice communication by using a small dish antenna to bounce signals off a constellation of satellites overhead.
“The discussion focused on improving affordable broadband access, particularly in underserved areas, to bridge the digital divide and accelerate digital transformation,” the PTA said in a statement after the meeting between the authority’s chairman and Starlink officials on the sidelines of the GSMA Mobile World Congress 2025 in Barcelona.
The PTA chairman confirmed that Starlink’s registration was in process with the national satellite regulatory body, a legal prerequisite for getting a PTA license for satellite-based Internet services.
“The Starlink team shared insights on satellite-based Internet solutions in competitive World of Cellular Mobile services and its potential impact on remote regions. Both sides discussed regulatory frameworks and operational strategies for seamless service integration,” the statement added.
Pakistan’s telecom sector has evolved significantly over the past two decades, but still faces challenges in terms of infrastructure development, especially in rural and remote areas, gaps that the possible entry of Starlink could address, its proponents say.
Pakistan, with a population of over 240 million, has experienced a 40 percent drop in Internet speeds in recent months, due to what is widely believed to be the government’s implementation of a nationwide firewall that it says is aimed at blocking malicious content and protecting networks.
The South Asian nation incurred $1.62 billion in losses due to Internet outages and social media shutdowns in 2024, surpassing losses in war-torn Sudan and Myanmar, according to a Top10VPN.com report. Rights activists say the disruptions are part of a state-led digital crackdown aimed at censoring critical voices. The government denies this.
