KARACHI: Pakistan’s Afghan refugees on Saturday said the pandemic had pushed them to the brink of starvation as economic activities and mobility grinds to a snail’s pace during the coronavirus outbreak sweeping the country.
June 20, internationally observed every year as World Refugee Day, is a tribute to the millions of people uprooted from their countries as a result of conflict, war and natural disasters.
Pakistan is the third largest refugee-hosting country in the world after Turkey and Colombia and hosts 1.4 million registered refugees from neighboring war-torn Afghanistan. The actual number of Afghan refugees in Pakistan is considered to be much higher, around the 2.5 million mark.
“We are deprived of basic necessities like gas, clean drinking water, health and education facilities, but this year we are also facing starvation due to closure of economic activities,” Rahimullah Khan, an Afghan refugee at a camp along the outskirts of Karachi, told Arab News.
Pakistan is in the throes of a health care crisis, with roughly 175,000 cases of coronavirus confirmed by Saturday and nearly 3,400 reportedly dead from the disease. The figures are mounting daily, leading the government to enforce partial lockdowns and restrictions on movement and assembly.
According to spokesperson for UNHCR Pakistan, Qaiser Afridi, his organization is collaborating with federal and provincial governments, the WHO, NGOs and other UN agencies to ensure Afghan refugees are included in Pakistan’s COVID-19 national preparedness and response plans-- including cash support programs.
But refugees in the country tell stories of destitution and poverty, unable to get access to even the most basic facilities. These days, hunger is their most urgent concern.
“We need immediate food support,” Syed Mustafa, a teacher at Jamaliddin Afghani school at Karachi’s Sohrab Goth, told Arab News.
Most refugees at Jalala and Karachi camps across the length of the country, said they had yet to receive any help.
Additionally, the refugee repatriation process was put on hold following the coronavirus outbreak, UNHCR’s Afridi said.
“We are negotiating a long term stay for refugees as the conditions in Afghanistan are not conducive for their return,” he said.
There are other challenges, Afridi added, of law, order and livelihood.
“As long as the refugees remain here, the world community should support both Pakistan and the refugees as well as concentrate on targeted development assistance in Afghanistan which may pave the way for their sustainable return.”
He added the UNHCR had distributed medical supplies, personal protective equipment, sanitation products and other relief items to rural health facilities in support of refugees.
These included a one time Rs12,000 cash assistance program for the most vulnerable refugee families impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak, he said.
“In 2020, we are using wood for cooking meals in the outskirts of the one of the world’s largest cities,” refugee Rahimullah Khan said.
”We have no underground drainage system, no drinking water, no schools and health centers, which are the basic needs of every human being,” he said.
After a pause, he added: “Good things have happened too. Pakistan has allowed us to open bank accounts.”
“My children don’t know the Independence Day of Afghanistan, but every year on August 14, they purchase Pakistani flags,” Khan continued.
“As we demand basic rights, we also appreciate the hospitality of this country.”
In 2018, then newly elected Prime Minister Imran Khan vowed he would grant citizenship to Afghan refugees who were born and had lived in the country for several decades. But in Pakistan’s refugee camps, the pipe dream of citizenship rights remains a distant promise.
On Saturday, the UNHCR representative in Pakistan, Ms. Noriko Yoshida, said the mounting figures of refugee populations were increasingly worrying.
“Behind every statistic are people and their personal journeys. Now, 1 in every 97 people in this world are displaced, representing more than 1 percent of humanity,” she added.
“Another fact is that 85 percent of refugees are in developing countries, despite their own challenges,” she said, and lauded the people and government of Pakistan for hosting refugees for over four decades.
“Pakistan’s hospitality and generosity are exemplary,” she said.
On World Refugee Day, displaced Afghans in Pakistan fear starvation amid pandemic
https://arab.news/nwjv7
On World Refugee Day, displaced Afghans in Pakistan fear starvation amid pandemic
- COVID-19 has made Afghan refugees’ concerns much more immediate, like hunger and the threat of starvation
- Pakistan is the world’s third largest refugee host
No indication from Pakistan on trying Imran Khan in military court — UK foreign secretary
- UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy says Khan, like other Pakistani prisoners, has right to fair trial and due process
- Pakistan’s military has initiated trials of at least 103 Khan supporters accused of attacking military installations last year
ISLAMABAD: UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy recently assured a fellow parliamentarian that there have been “no recent indications” from Pakistani authorities that they intend to try former prime minister Imran Khan in a military court, reiterating that he had the right to a fair trial and due process.
Protesters linked to Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party attacked and damaged government and military buildings on May 9, 2023, after his brief arrest that day in a land graft case. Hundreds of PTI followers and leaders were arrested following the riots. The military has also initiated trials of at least 103 people accused of involvement in the violence.
The development raised fears among Khan supporters of his possible trial by a military court, prompting the former prime minister to file a petition in the Islamabad High Court against it. The petition was dismissed by the court in September after the government said it had not decided whether or not it wanted to try the former premier.
Pakistan’s military spokesperson in September hinted at Khan’s possible military trial, saying that though the matter was sub judice, using military personnel for personal or political gains invites legal action.
In response to an Oct. 16 letter penned by Labour legislator Kim Johnson, Lammy assured him that the UK government engages regularly “at a senior level” with Pakistan on the country’s political situation.
“We have no recent indications from the Pakistani authorities that they intend to try Imran Khan in a military court, but my officials continue to monitor the situation closely,” Lammy wrote in a letter to Johnson dated Nov. 11.
The UK official said he has raised concerns about the potential use of military courts to try civilians, including Khan. Lammy added that such courts can lack transparency and independent scrutiny, making it difficult to assess their compliance with international standards.
“While Pakistan’s judicial processes are a domestic matter, we have been very clear that the Pakistani authorities need to act in line with their international obligations and with respect for fundamental freedoms, including the right to a fair trial, due process and humane detention,” he wrote.
“This applies to Imran Khan as it does to all Pakistan’s citizens.”
Lammy said he remains concerned by restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly in Pakistan, including those in relation to political opposition.
“In our engagements with the authorities, we continue to underline that the freedom to hold and express views without censorship, intimidation or unnecessary restriction is a cornerstone of democracy,” he said.
Khan’s close aide, Sayed Zulfikar Bukhari shared Lammy’s letter on social media platform X.
“Respect for free and fair elections, and the rule of law, underpinned by an independent judiciary, are the bedrock of a democracy,” Bukhari wrote. “Pakistanis continue to struggle for theirs.”
Khan, arguably Pakistan’s most popular politician, was ousted from office after a parliamentary no-trust vote in April 2022 and has since waged an unprecedented campaign of defiance against the country’s powerful military and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led government.
Khan’s party says the military and his political rivals rigged the Feb. 8 general election to form the Sharif-led government. Both deny the charge.
Pakistan says over 20,000 companies and freelancers have registered for VPNs
- Pakistan’s interior ministry this week ordered a ban on VPNs, citing their use by militant groups
- Pakistan Telecommunication Authority says VPN registration can be completed on its website
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) this week disclosed that over 20,000 companies and freelancers have so far registered for Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) through its official website, days after it announced banning illegal ones.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior sent a letter to the PTA on Friday asking it to block illegal VPNs across the country, citing their use by militant groups for financial transactions and violent activities.
This directive follows international criticism of Pakistan’s Internet restrictions, notably after the February general elections, where allegations of electoral manipulation led to the blocking of social media platform X. Media reports also suggested the government was setting up a national firewall, which had led to the slowdown of Internet speed across Pakistan.
“To date, more than 20,000 companies and freelancers have successfully registered their VPNs through this efficient process,” the PTA said in a statement on Saturday.
The PTA said it had streamlined the VPN registration process for organizations and freelancers, saying that entities such as software houses, call centers, banks, embassies, and freelancers can now easily register their VPNs online through the PTA’s official website: www.pta.gov.pk.
It said the registration process involves completing an online form and providing basic details, including the national identity card number, company registration details and taxpayer status.
Meanwhile, it said freelancers must submit documentation, such as a letter or email, verifying their project or company association. Additionally, it said applicants must provide the IP address for VPN connectivity. If a fixed IP address is required, it can be acquired from an Internet Service Provider (ISP).
“The registration process is free, and approvals are typically granted within 8–10 hours of submission,” the PTA said.
After the interior ministry circulated its letter calling for a ban on VPNs on Friday, the Council of Islamic Ideology, a constitutional advisory body that reviews laws to ensure they align with Islamic principles, also declared VPNs usage “un-Islamic” in a statement the same day.
“The government and the state have the authority, from an Islamic perspective, to prevent all actions that lead to wrongdoing or facilitate it,” the council’s chairman, Raghib Hussain Naeemi, was quoted as saying in the statement.
“Therefore, measures to block or restrict access to immoral and offensive content, including the banning of VPNs, are in accordance with Shariah.”
VPN users in Pakistan have already reported significant disruptions to services since last weekend, with issues relating to connectivity and restricted access.
Pakistan’s decision to impose online restrictions have been questioned by free speech activists and businesses alike.
PREDA, Pakistan’s first membership-based organization dedicated to promoting and protecting the interests of professionals, also wrote a letter to the government earlier in the day, appealing for the adoption of stable digital policies to support growth and build an eco system for global competitiveness.
Pakistan says ‘fully prepared’ to host Champions Trophy tournament amid India row
- PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi meets English counterpart in London to discuss Champions Trophy tournament
- India has refused to travel to Pakistan for Feb. 9-Mar. 19 tournament next year due to political tensions
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi this week reiterated that the country was “fully prepared” to host the Champions Trophy cricket tournament next year, despite India’s refusal to send its cricket team to the neighboring country.
Pakistan is scheduled to host the Feb. 19-Mar. 9 Champions Trophy 2025 tournament. However, the International Cricket Council (ICC) last week informed Pakistan that India had declined to play any games in Pakistan. The PCB has sought clarification from the ICC on the refusal.
India has not sent its cricket team to Pakistan since 2008 due to political tensions between the two countries. Pakistan was forced to agree to a “hybrid” model for the 2023 Asia Cup through which all of India’s matches were shifted to Sri Lanka. Pakistan has said it will not agree to a similar model for the Champions Trophy.
“Mohsin Naqvi said Pakistan is fully prepared for the ICC Champions Trophy tournament,” state-run Radio Pakistan reported on Friday.
Naqvi said this in London after meeting England and Wales Cricket Board Chairman Richard Thompson on Saturday.
Thompson expressed his best wishes to the PCB chairman for the upcoming tournament, the state broadcaster said.
“He said England’s recent visit to Pakistan was a wonderful experience,” Radio Pakistan reported.
Speaking about Pakistan renovating its stadiums ahead of the multi-nation tournament next year, Naqvi said the venues are being upgraded with modern facilities.
While India’s presence is crucial to the commercial success of the ICC event, Pakistan might pull out of the tournament should it be shifted out of the country, the Dawn newspaper reported on Tuesday citing sources.
The ICC is in talks with the PCB and the participating boards before finalizing the schedule of the eight-team tournament.
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 tour kicked off on Saturday after the trophy was displayed at Islamabad’s Pakistan Monument and Faisal Mosque landmarks.
Pakistani environmentalist turns barren wasteland into urban forest in Karachi
- Masood Lohar says the forest on Clifton beach is home to over 700,000 trees and 140 bird species
- Karachi’s urbanization has put pressure on open spaces, as developers eye every inch for construction
KARACHI: Over three years ago, Masood Lohar, a passionate Pakistani environmentalist, embarked on a mission to breathe new life into a desolate 220-acre landfill on Karachi’s Clifton beach.
Today, the barren wasteland is a thriving urban forest, home to over 700,000 trees and a vibrant community of over 140 bird species that find sanctuary in its lush greenery and an adjacent lagoon.
“This particular place was a dump site,” Lohar said as he pointed to the trees around him, the first of which he planted exactly 46 months ago.
“We cleaned the whole mess and then we started bringing soil from outside and started this plantation.”
Lohar said the Sindh administration supported his venture by granting official permission to work on the forest and allocating Rs50 million ($179,540), which made its development possible.
The site, called the Clifton Urban Forest, is now a flourishing marine ecosystem, home to over 100 plant species, including native mangroves, fruit trees like pomegranates and guavas, and hardy, drought-resistant grass varieties that thrive in Karachi’s harsh climate.
The aim of Lohar’s project is not just beautifying the port city of over 20 million, which often ranks in the world’s top ten most polluted places. The main goal is to restore Karachi’s dwindling marine ecosystem.
The city, home to the Malir and Lyari rivers, once boasted a network of creeks, lagoons, and estuaries, many of them destroyed or severely degraded over the decades by industrial development and unchecked urban sprawl. The Obhayo Lagoon, once the largest in the area, has all but vanished, while other water bodies have been cut off from the sea, reducing biodiversity and making the city more vulnerable to environmental hazards.
Lohar’s initiative has helped restore a fragment of this ecosystem by reviving a small portion of the Obhayo Lagoon.
“Now you can see that it is providing the services of a lagoon,” said the environmentalist, who has documented the sightings of 140 bird species, including lesser and greater flamingos and Siberian ducks, at the Lagoon since he launched the restoration project.
The forest is now also teeming with insects, honey bees, and native beetles, with the small creatures playing an essential role in pollination and supporting the growth of various plants and trees in the area.
Lohar’s commitment to the environment is deeply personal. A former UN program professional, he witnessed and studied firsthand worsening air quality and environmental degradation in Pakistan’s urban centers.
“I knew at that time that the time will come,” he said, referring to now record-high air pollution levels in Pakistan, particularly in cities like Lahore and Karachi.
“You see, the Pakistani cities at this moment are fighting for their breath because the air quality is getting worse and worse. And the other thing is the [seasonal] heatwaves because concrete is the dominant outlook of our cities.”
Urban forests, like the one Lohar has created, are part of the solution, he said.
Mangroves, in particular, have proven highly effective in sequestering carbon and Lohar estimates that his urban forest, a combination of mangroves and terrestrial trees, captures 6,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually, equivalent to the emissions of nearly 1,300 cars.
Yasir Husain, an environmentalist and founder of the Climate Action Center, said that projects like the Clifton Urban Forest were vital, though such initiatives were insufficient to address the broader environmental challenges faced by Pakistan.
“These are just [pilot projects], and the city’s challenge is enormous,” he told Arab News, adding that finding a bird sanctuary in such a stressed environment was a gratifying experience.
“These are tiny projects, if you look at it from a macro perspective of the whole city, but they’re experiments,” he continued, appreciating that urban forests were maintained despite such challenging circumstances.
Yet despite its success, Lohar’s project faces significant challenges, particularly from real estate development.
Karachi’s rapid urbanization has increased pressure on open spaces, with developers eyeing every available inch for construction.
The urban forest itself is at risk from a development project being carried out by the Karachi Development Authority (KDA), which Lohar is worried could destroy over 300,000 of the forest’s mangroves.
KDA’s director general did not respond to a request for a comment.
“I’m not sure how that will unfold in the course of time and impact this marine ecosystem project, but I’m sure that it will definitely stress this project,” Lohar said, gesturing toward a marine wall under construction.
“I have gone through a lot of difficulties and resources-wise and the indifference of the corporate sector and the government brings us on the verge of giving up.
Experts call for action as NASA imagery shows ominous smog cloud over Lahore, New Delhi
- Met Office expects smog to persist until mid-December and extend to areas in southern Punjab
- Pakistani official, experts dismiss the claim that smog affecting Lahore is originating from India
KARACHI: Climate experts on Saturday raised alarms over NASA’s latest satellite imagery, which revealed a dense layer of smog stretching between Pakistan’s Lahore and India’s New Delhi, underscoring the severity of an environmental crisis that Pakistan’s meteorological department expects to persist until mid-December and extend to southern Punjab.
Toxic smog has enveloped several cities in the country’s most populous province, particularly Lahore, for over a month, driven by cold air trapping dust, diesel fumes and smoke from illegal stubble burning. In response, the provincial administration has closed schools, restricted heavy transport on specific days and banned access to public spaces such as parks and playgrounds.
The International Air Quality Index classifies values over 300 as hazardous, yet Lahore has consistently recorded alarmingly high levels, reaching up to 1,900 in certain areas in November.
On Saturday, the Punjab government conducted an artificial rain trial using local technology to combat the deteriorating air quality. The development followed days after NASA’s satellite imagery showed a massive gray cloud of smog blanketing Punjab and extending into neighboring India, including New Delhi.
Speaking to Arab News, Pakistan’s Chief Meteorologist, Dr. Sardar Sarfaraz, said the visibility of smog from space highlighted its severity.
“This heavy smog in Lahore, which has now extended to south Punjab, is expected to persist until mid-December as no significant rainfall is predicted in the coming weeks,” he said while predicting its movement to southern parts of the province.
“According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 43 percent of pollution is attributed to transportation, while 25 percent is due to industry,” he continued. “However, the Punjab government’s Urban Unit report suggests that transportation, which has seen a substantial increase, contributes 83 percent of pollution.”
Sarfaraz noted until concrete measures were taken to curb these two major sources of emissions, the situation was likely to continue.
He also dismissed the claim that smog affecting Pakistan was mostly originating from India, blaming the local factors for the situation.
“With no rainfall, the moisture generated under these conditions will condense, leading to smog formation, no matter if it stops coming from anywhere,” he explained.
Yasir Hussain, a climate expert and founder of the Climate Action Center, said that NASA’s image and ground-level observations painted a “dangerous” picture.
“This is extremely dangerous for all inhabitants of this area,” he said, adding that air quality was deteriorating year after year.
“Urgent measures are needed to address the primary source of pollution: vehicles burning petrol and diesel,” he added.
Nadeem Mirbahar, a climate expert, emphasized to deal with the local factors causing the problem.
“There was an opinion that smog from India combines with local pollutants to intensify the problem,” he said. “However, a recent study by the Punjab government has identified local sources, primarily transportation, as major contributors.”
“If there’s an Indian or external factor, a specific strategy can be devised for it in long run,” he added. “But the immediate priority lies in addressing local issues.”
Mirbahar maintained air quality exceeding 350 was “catastrophic” and posed serious health risks to vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly, pregnant women, patients and the working classes.
“Transportation should be regulated by minimizing its use along with long-term solutions like transitioning to electric vehicles,” he continued. “Increased plantation can also help reduce smog levels over time.”
“The air quality will not improve if pollution-related activities linger,” he added. “Only sustained and significant rainfall can alleviate the situation.”
