RAWALPINDI: A Sri Lankan elephant who has lived in Pakistan since 1985 will soon be released to a highly revered animal sanctuary in Cambodia, confirmed a senior official of the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) on Saturday.
Kaavan the elephant’s retirement plan was finalized in an emergency meeting called by the board on July 13 after animal rights activists appealed to the federal government to provide relief to the long-suffering animal.
Once official, the decision was tweeted by Free the Wild (FTW), a non-profit established to fight animal captivity worldwide, on Friday, announcing that Kaavan would finally be released to the Elephant Nature Park in Cambodia.
Kaavan was gifted by the Sri Lankan government to Pakistan shortly after his birth. While he became an icon in Pakistan and was well-loved by the public, the conditions he was kept in increasingly deteriorated, making him look visibly distressed.
Petitions for his rescue began circulating in 2015 with accusations of gruesome neglect being lodged against the Islamabad Zoo. In 2016, music icon Cher got involved in the fight to free Kaavan, initiating multiple twitter hashtags and even performing songs for him while touring the world.
Cher joined forces with UK businessman Mark Cowne and wildlife photographer Gina Nelthorpe-Cowne to find FTW and begin fighting the fight for Kaavan, joined by a number of local Pakistani fighters ranging from lawyers to animal rights activists, zookeepers and veterinarians.
Chairman of the IWMB Dr. Anis ur Rahman spoke to Arab News over the phone about the joint effort to reach a decision to release Kaavan to Cambodia.
He pointed out the importance of the involvement of Pakistan’s federal government, saying it was “completely behind the move and fully supportive.”
Rahman also stated that “nothing could have moved forward without the explicit interest of the Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court who slowly, slowly over the last one year worked hard to make this happen.”
Going forward, the government will be instrumental in the planning and carrying out of the safe transport of Kaavan to Cambodia in a few months.
Rahman told Arab News that a technical team under the IWMB had been put in place for “the relocation of the elephant to the Cambodian wildlife sanctuary.”
“We want to ensure a totally safe relocation without any harm to Kaavan,” he added.
Rahman informed that two experts, including a veterinarian from the Elephant Nature Park, would arrive in Islamabad next week to check on Kaavan and run some tests, estimating that the animal would be moved away from Pakistan in two months’ time.
In addition to health checks between now and then, Kaavan, who will travel to Cambodia by plane, will be introduced to and made comfortable with the transport crate he will travel in.
“It’s quite small so we want him to get accustomed to it and understand that he is safe in it,” Rahman said.
For Pakistan’s lonely elephant Kaavan, freedom awaits in a Cambodia sanctuary
https://arab.news/py8nx
For Pakistan’s lonely elephant Kaavan, freedom awaits in a Cambodia sanctuary
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- Efforts from animal rights activists, Pakistani government and music icon Cher led to Kaavan’s retirement
- For 35 years, Kaavan was kept in increasingly deteriorating conditions in the Islamabad Zoo
Pakistan’s finmin calls for technical support in meeting with World Bank delegation
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- World Bank delegation arrived in Pakistan this week to discuss country’s economic projects and investments
- Muhammad Aurangzeb informs delegation of Pakistan’s economic gains and reforms agenda, says Finance Division
KARACHI: Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Wednesday told a World Bank delegation that the country has enough financial assistance, stressing that it requires technical support and expertise to make the most of it.
A delegation of nine executive directors of the World Bank arrived in Pakistan this week to discuss the country’s economic projects and investments, meeting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday.
The World Bank last month announced it would provide Pakistan with $20 billion in loans over the next decade. These loans are expected to be invested in nutrition, education and renewable energies in the hope of stimulating private-sector growth in the country.
“We have enough financial support and assistance; what we truly need now is the expertise and technical support to make the most of them,” Aurangzeb was quoted by Pakistan’s Finance Division as saying in a statement.
Aurangzeb appreciated the international institution’s support for Pakistan’s economic growth and development agenda. He outlined the government’s structural reforms, focusing on revenue mobilization, energy sector reforms, restructuring of state-owned enterprises and privatization efforts.
“He emphasized the government’s focus on fiscal discipline through expenditure control and broadening the tax base, highlighting ongoing rightsizing efforts and projected revenue growth,” the Finance Division said.
The minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to privatize loss-making public assets, saying that Islamabad was committed to ensuring a business-friendly environment where the private sector takes the lead in driving economic growth.
The Finance Division said that the delegation appreciated Pakistan’s reform agenda, noting that key economic measures were already yielding visible results.
“Your government has been successful in touching every important aspect of the economy, and things seem to be achievable now if you stay the course,” the delegation said, as per the Finance Division.
The World Bank officials also reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to continuing its collaboration with Pakistan, supporting priority sectors and providing the necessary technical expertise to help the country navigate economic challenges, the Finance Division said.
Cash-strapped Pakistan has long suffered from a macroeconomic crisis, which caused it to come to the brink of a sovereign default in 2023. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) rescued Islamabad by agreeing to a last-gasp $3 billion bailout in 2023.
Last year, Islamabad secured a new $7 billion loan deal from the IMF. Since then, the country’s economy has started improving with weekly inflation coming down from 27 percent in 2023 to 1.8 percent in January year-on-year.
Pakistan PM assures top judge of expediting effective measures on ‘missing persons’
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- Hundreds of political workers, rights activists have gone missing in Pakistan over the years
- Pakistan’s security forces deny allegations they abduct, torture these “missing persons”
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday assured Chief Justice Yahya Afridi of expediting effective measures related to “missing persons,” a statement from Sharif’s office said, as the two met to discuss the country’s justice system.
Hundreds of political workers, rights activists and professionals have gone missing in Pakistan over the years, particularly in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and the southwestern Balochistan provinces, where militants have waged a war against the state for long.
Families and rights activists say people picked up by security forces often disappear for years and are sometimes found dead, with no official explanation. Pakistani security agencies have been blamed in many cases, though they have always denied involvement in such disappearances.
Sharif met Justice Afridi at the Chief Justice House in Islamabad, where he congratulated him on assuming his responsibilities. Justice Afridi was sworn in as Pakistan’s 30th chief justice in October 2024.
“The prime minister also assured the chief justice of expediting effective measures regarding missing persons,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement, without elaborating what these measures were.
The PMO said Sharif informed the chief justice about pending tax disputes in Pakistani courts, requesting Justice Afridi to decide these cases on merit at the earliest.
Sharif’s office said he discussed Pakistan’s economic situation and security challenges with the top judge.
Justice Afridi sought suggestions from Sharif on improving the country’s justice system, the statement said.
“Chief Justice Yahya Afridi welcomed the Prime Minister’s discussion on improving the justice system,” the PMO said.
Pakistan’s Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan and the Supreme Court’s registrar were also present during the meeting.
Pakistan’s government set up a Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances (COIOED) in 2011 to trace missing persons in the country and hold those responsible for abducting them.
In a report released last year, the commission said around 10,285 cases had been registered with the body since January 2018, of which 4,514 individuals had returned home.
It said around 1,002 persons were in internment centers, 671 in prisons and the bodies of 277 had been recovered. Additionally, the report said 1,551 cases were closed for various reasons.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia to form joint committee to produce films, songs and documentaries
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- Pakistan’s information attends fourth edition of Saudi Media Forum in Riyadh
- Islamabad, Riyadh stress on collaborating to combat misinformation, propaganda
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have agreed to form a joint committee to produce songs, films and documentaries, Pakistan’s information ministry said on Wednesday, as the two countries aim to foster stronger ties in the media industry.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Ataullah Tarar met Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary in Riyadh as he attended the fourth edition of the Saudi Media Forum.
The event brings together over 200 leading media professionals, innovators and thought leaders from across the world. This year’s edition is taking place under the “Media in an Evolving World” theme and will run from Wednesday to Friday.
“Pakistan and Saudi Arabia agree to form a joint committee for joint productions, songs, films and documentaries,” Pakistan’s information ministry said.
“The meeting also focused on enhancing cooperation in various sectors including the exchange of journalists and training programs.”
The ministry said discussions between the two ministers focused on strengthening media relations and enhancing cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in promoting regional peace and stability.
Tarar and Al-Dossary also emphasized the importance of collaborating to combat misinformation and propaganda, the statement said, adding that Tarar reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
The Pakistani minister said Islamabad’s brotherly ties with Riyadh were transforming into an economic partnership. He said relations between the two countries were growing stronger with each passing day.
Al-Dossary said several Pakistanis were playing an important role in Saudi Arabia’s development, the information ministry said.
“Promoting cooperation with Pakistan in all sectors, including information, is our priority,” Al-Dossary was quoted as saying by Pakistan’s information ministry.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are close regional partners and economic allies. Both countries signed 34 agreements worth $2.8 billion in October last year.
The Kingdom is also home to over 2.7 million Pakistani expatriates, serving as the top destination for remittances for the cash-strapped South Asian country.
New Zealand thump hosts Pakistan by 60 runs in Champions Trophy opener
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- Tom Latham bags Player of the Match for stellar knock of 118 runs from 104 balls
- Pakistan next face Group A opponents and arch-rivals India in Dubai on Feb. 23
KARACHI: New Zealand defeated Pakistan by 60 runs in the tournament opener of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 tournament on Wednesday, defeating the hosts and defending champions by 60 runs in Karachi.
Pakistan won the toss and elected to field first. However, the decision did not bode well for the green shirts as driven by centuries from Will Young and Tom Latham, New Zealand finished on 320-5 at the end of their 50 overs.
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In turn, Pakistani batters were not good enough to chase the impressive total. Former captain Babar Azam scored 64 runs from 90 balls while left-handed all-rounder Khushdil Shah top-scored with 69 runs from 49 deliveries. Salman Ali Agha scored 42 while Fakhar Zaman scored 24 runs from 40 balls. Pakistan were bowled out for 260 runs in 47.2 overs.
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“Clinical New Zealand down Pakistan in #ChampionsTrophy 2025 opener,” the International Cricket Council (ICC) wrote on social media platform X.
The Kiwis contained Pakistani batters from chasing the total, with impressive performances from Will O’Rourke who returned figures of 3-47 from nine overs while Mitchell Santner finished with 3-66 from 10 overs.
Matt Henry took 2-25 from 7.2 overs Michael Bracewell and Nathan Smith each took once wicket.
Latham was awarded the Player of the Match for his stellar knock of 118 runs from 104 balls.
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Pakistan will next face New Zealand on Feb. 23 in Dubai before facing Bangladesh on Feb. 27. India will take on Group A opponents Bangladesh in Dubai on Thursday.
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Gunmen shoot dead policeman guarding Pakistan polio team
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- Two motorcycle riders open fire on police officer in northwestern Bajaur district, say police
- Militants have attacked vaccination teams, police guarding them over the years in Pakistan
PESHAWAR: Gunmen shot dead a Pakistan police officer guarding a polio vaccination team on Wednesday in a remote area close to the Afghan border, police said.
Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan are the only countries where polio is endemic and militants have for decades targeted vaccination teams and their security escorts.
Polio has resurged in Pakistan, with two cases reported so far this year, and at least 73 polio infections last year, compared to six in 2023.
“Two motorcycle riders opened fire... as a result, the police officer died on the spot, but the polio team remained unharmed,” Niaz Muhammad, a police officer in Bajaur district, told AFP.
Bajaur district in northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province shares a 52-kilometer (32-mile) border with Afghanistan.
The start of the polio campaign had been delayed in the district for security reasons, after a rise in militant attacks in the area, said Waqas Rafiq, a senior police official.
“Despite the attack, the campaign continues in all areas (of the district) except the site of the incident,” he said.
Polio mostly affects children under five and sometimes causes lifelong paralysis but can easily be prevented by the oral administration of a few drops of vaccine.
Over the past decade, hundreds of police officers and health workers have been killed by militants waging an offensive against the Pakistani state.
In the past, firebrand clerics falsely claimed the vaccine contained pork or alcohol, forbidding it for consumption by Muslims.
A fake vaccination campaign organized by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in Pakistan in 2011 to track Osama bin Laden compounded the mistrust.
Pakistan has witnessed a dramatic uptick in attacks in its remote border regions since the return of the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2021, with Islamabad claiming hostile groups plan their attacks from Afghan soil.
The Taliban government denies the claim.
It comes as the Champions Trophy cricket tournament kicked off in Pakistan on Wednesday, with the hosts and seven international teams visiting Rawalpindi, Karachi and Lahore under improved security.