Search form

You are here

  • Home
  • Next year Inshallah: Grief and hope for Pakistani expats over missed Hajj


Next year Inshallah: Grief and hope for Pakistani expats over missed Hajj

A Muslim pilgrim prays atop Mount Mercy on the plains of Arafat during the peak of the annual haj pilgrimage, near the holy city of Makkah early morning October 14, 2013. (REUTERS/ File)
Short Url

https://arab.news/gdkhm

Updated 30 July 2020
Follow

Next year Inshallah: Grief and hope for Pakistani expats over missed Hajj

  • UK-based Faraz Ahmed Kamlani saved up for two years to go on the pilgrimage
  • Naima Salman in Indonesia had planned to leave her kids with relatives in Pakistan en route to Makkah 
Updated 30 July 2020
Sabah Bano Malik

RAWALPINDI: Faraz Ahmed Kamlani, a management consultant from Karachi who lives in the United Kingdom, booked the fastest 11-day Hajj package so he and his wife would not be away from their young children for too long. 
The couple had been saving for two years (even the cheapest Hajj packages cost around £7,000-8,000 per person in the UK) and Kamlani’s mother-in-law promised to come over from Pakistan and look after the kids. 
Then the coronavirus hit. 




A Muslim girl touches the holy Kaaba at the Grand Mosque on the first day of Eid al-Adha during the annual haj pilgrimage in Makkah September 24, 2015. (REUTERS/ File)

Pakistan closed its airspace in March to curb the spread of the virus, making it impossible for Kamlani’s mother in law to travel.

“Around April when all the lockdowns started and news was coming out of Saudi [Arabia] and the UAE that they were closing off of all the mosques there, and then Saudi had closed off all Umrah [pilgrimage] visas as well, that was probably the time when we thought ‘yeah, this is looking unlikely, but let’s see what happens’,” Kamlani told Arab News in a phone interview last week. 

Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia announced it would completely bar arrivals from abroad this year due to the coronavirus, allowing only a limited number of Saudi citizens and residents to make the pilgrimage with social distancing measures enforced.
The Kamlanis are now waiting for their travel agency to refund them. 
“The agency has been really good, they’ve been very open,” Kamlani said. “I think it’s just everyone is strapped for cash right now so refunds are taking a bit long, but I am hoping to get through in the next couple of weeks.” 
When asked if he would try to go for Hajj next year he said: “There it is a bit of concern because we don’t know yet when would be a good time for us to go again. There is definitely grief, definitely sort of disappointment in that sense because we were looking forward to it, but I think, fingers crossed, Inshallah it will happen soon.” 

Another family of Pakistani expats, living on the other side of the globe, in Indonesia’s capital of Jakarta, is also hopeful next year will be better.
Naima Salman, a homemaker and mother of two, said she had been discussing the pilgrimage with her husband for the past two years but it was in December last year that the couple began to lay down concrete plans.

“It’s funny and strange at the same time because we were in conversation about this for two or three years, with two or three different Hajj travel operators,” Salman said. “But by January they all became very transparent and upfront that it may not happen.”

The couple still continued to get their own logistics in order. Salman’s husband requested leave from work and they planned a stopover in Pakistan so they could leave their children with relatives while they went on to perform the pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. 

But as time went on, it became clear that Hajj would not be on the cards for the couple this year.

“It just seemed so odd,” Salman said. “Hajj is not going to happen!? Is this for real? That can’t be!“
“It was disappointing but then again you keep telling yourself that it’s for the better and it’s okay,” Salman said. “As Muslims we have this belief that man proposes and God disposes, so if God is willing it to be this way, then there has to be some good in it.”

She paused and added: “If I am here and I am alive then, then next year, Inshallah!”

Topics: Hajj2020

Pakistani port authorities under scrutiny over likely award of dredging contract to Chinese firm

Updated 20 December 2024
Follow

Pakistani port authorities under scrutiny over likely award of dredging contract to Chinese firm

  • Karachi Port Trust declared China Harbor Engineering Company lowest bidder, likely to award contract to it
  • A final evaluation report reveals the Chinese firm scored lower than Dutch bidder Van Oord in two categories
Updated 20 December 2024
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: The Karachi Port Trust (KPT) has been under scrutiny for suspected foul play in the award of a dredging contract, which is likely to go to a Chinese firm that did not comply with the Pakistan’s procurement rules, according to documents and media reports.
The contract, which was advertised in July, will require the successful bidder to clear mud, weeds and rubbish from 4 million cubic meters of the Karachi port’s navigation channel. The port, one of the largest in South Asia, handles about 60 percent of Pakistan’s seaborne cargo, making the dredging project crucial to its operations.
Three of the four bidders offered dredging equipment with a capacity exceeding 15,000 cubic meters, according to the documents. Reports published in Pakistani media said the Chinese firm, China Harbor Engineering Company (CHEC), submitted a bid with underpowered equipment that failed to meet the required timelines and quality standards, making it non-compliant with the specifications outlined in the tender.
In November, Pakistan’s Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) sought an explanation from the Karachi port authorities as to why they had not issued a full technical evaluation report of the bids.
“The procuring agency is hereby required to explain as to why complete technical evaluation report containing justification for acceptance or rejection of technical proposals could not be issued,” it said, highlighting the breach of a mandatory seven-day standstill period following the announcement of technical evaluation results as stipulated in Public Procurement Rules.
Van Oord, a leading Dutch dredging, land reclamation and island construction company, filed a formal complaint with the PPRA on November 15 with regard to the tender. The Dutch company alleged that the KPT announced technical evaluation results on the same day as the opening of financial proposals, which was in violation of Section 35 of the Public Procurement Rules that mandates the announcement of a complete technical evaluation report prior to the financial evaluation.
Van Oord said this procedural oversight deprived the bidders of the opportunity to appeal the results before the Grievance Redressal Committee, a process also mandated by Section 48 (3) the Public Procurement Rules. The complaint highlighted that any breach of procurement rules could be considered “mis-procurement” under Section 50 of the Public Procurement Rules and called for a “thorough investigation.”
On Friday, Arab News approached KPT spokesperson Naheed Tariq, but she declined to comment on the matter.
The “final evaluation report” posted on the KPT’s official website indicated that CHEC-Al Fajr International (AFI) Joint Venture (JV) was declared the lowest bidder. CHEC-AFI offered a bid of Rs6.49 billion, while Van Oord’s bid was Rs7.51 billion, according to the document.
The report revealed that two bidders received almost equal score in six of eight technical categories. However, the Chinese consortium scored significantly lower in the category of “Method of Performing Work,” receiving 14 out of 20 points, while it scored 47 out of 50 for “Availability of Major/Critical Equipment,” compared to Van Oord’s 100 percent scores in both categories.

Topics: Karachi port karachi port trust

Pakistani oncologists debunk ‘misleading’ claims about chemotherapy aired on state TV

Updated 20 December 2024
Follow

Pakistani oncologists debunk ‘misleading’ claims about chemotherapy aired on state TV

  • Panelists on a PTV show last week said doctors in Pakistan recommended excessive chemotherapy sessions to treat cancer patients
  • Society of Medical Oncology Pakistan criticizes the panelists for sharing ‘misleading’ information, says they follow global standards
Updated 20 December 2024
NAIMAT KHAN

ISLAMABAD: An association of Pakistani oncologists on Friday described as “misleading” the claims of some analysts about chemotherapy and its use in treatment of cancer patients, which were aired by Pakistan’s state television last week.
Rizwani Razi, a political commentator, on Dec. 13 declared chemotherapy in Pakistan a “fraud” and said on a Pakistan Television (PTV) show it was used to swindle patients of billions of rupees. Without naming the doctor, Razi said he was informed by an Australian oncologist that they feared going beyond three chemotherapy sessions of a patient and in Pakistan, the treatment usually involved eight sessions, calling oncologists suggesting excessive sessions a “fraud.”
He said Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was going to bring a “Chinese technology” to Pakistan to successfully treat cancer patients in the country. Ameen Hafeez, another panelist, hailed Nawaz for offering free treatment to all cancer patients at Nawaz Sharif Cancer Care Hospital. Shumaila Chaudhry, the host of show ‘Siyasat Tonight,’ said those who were scared of the disease should stop being afraid of it, as its “solution” was soon going to be introduced in the country.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Society of Medical Oncology Pakistan (SMOP) criticized the panelists for sharing “misleading” information about cancer treatment and said “such statements could endanger people’s lives.”
“Authentic institutes such as National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), European Society for Medical Oncology (ESO), and American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASMO) stress the important role of chemotherapy in cancer treatment,” the SMOP said. “In Pakistan, cancer is treated according to international standards.”
Nawaz announced in October the establishment of 920-bed Nawaz Sharif Cancer Care Hospital in Lahore, saying the “expertise to treat cancer are quite rare in Pakistan, for which people spend all their savings.”
This week, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari said that Nawaz, during her recent visit to China, had signed an agreement with a Chinese firm for the transfer of ‘HYGEA’ innovative therapy, which uses extreme cold to destroy cancer cells and is minimally invasive.
The SMOP said airing misleading information regarding such topics was not only dangerous for patients, but it impacted public confidence in medical procedures and treatment.
It requested the PTV to issue a “clear statement” distancing itself from the views of aforementioned program host and panelists.
“It must be ensured in the future that discussions on sensitive topics like medical treatment should be based on expert opinions of information from authentic, professional individuals,” the SMOP added.

Topics: Cancer treatment ptv news

Pakistan prepares to terminate take-or-pay contracts with independent power producers

Updated 20 December 2024
Follow

Pakistan prepares to terminate take-or-pay contracts with independent power producers

  • Pakistan approved a decade ago dozens of mostly foreign-financed private projects by IPPs to tackle chronic power shortages
  • PM Sharif’s cabinet this month approved settlement agreements with eight IPPs with the aim to reduce power tariff, expenses
Updated 20 December 2024
KASHIF IMRAN

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is making preparations to stop capacity payments to independent power producers (IPPs) by dissolving the mechanism of take-or-pay, Pakistani state media reported on Friday.
Take-or-pay is referred to as capacity payments in Pakistan where the government has to pay private companies irrespective of how much of the power they generate is transferred to its grid.
Pakistan approved dozens of private projects by IPPs, financed mostly by foreign lenders, a decade ago to tackle chronic power shortages. But the deals, featuring incentives such as high guaranteed returns and commitments to pay even for unused power, ultimately resulted in excess capacity after a sustained economic crisis slashed consumption.
This month, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s cabinet approved settlement agreements with eight bagasse-based IPPs with the aim to reduce electricity prices and save the national exchequer billions of rupees, the Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.
“The agreement between IPPs and the government’s Energy Task Force is a significant milestone, which can result in saving of 300 billion rupees ($1.07 billion) of the national exchequer,” the broadcaster said.
Short of funds, successive Pakistani governments have built those fixed costs and capacity payments into consumer bills, sparking protests by domestic users and industry bodies.
In October, PM Sharif said his government was terminating purchase agreements with five IPPs to rein in electricity tariffs as households and businesses buckled under soaring energy costs, according to state media. Pakistan’s Central Power Purchasing Agency was due to approach the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) for a reduction in the electricity tariff generated from these power plants.
There is a possibility of Rs3.50-6.50 decrease in the electricity tariff as a result of government reforms as the government has pledged to pay outstanding dues within 90 days as prescribed in the agreements, Radio Pakistan reported on Friday.
“The government has also expressed resolve to promote private partnership for development of energy sector,” the report read.
The need to revisit power deals was a key issue in talks for a critical staff-level pact in July with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a $7-billion bailout. The program was approved in September.
Pakistan has also been holding talks on reprofiling power sector debt owed to China and structural reforms, but progress has been slow. It has also vowed to stop power sector subsidies.

Topics: Independent Power Producers (IPPs) IPPs Arab News Pakistan

Pakistan stocks bounce back strongly a day after ‘massacre’ at bourse

Updated 20 December 2024
Follow

Pakistan stocks bounce back strongly a day after ‘massacre’ at bourse

  • The KSE-100 index gained 3238 points to close the weekend trading session at 109,513 points
  • Stock analysts attribute strong recovery of the market to easing pressure at local mutual funds
Updated 20 December 2024
KASHIF IMRAN

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Stock Market on Friday bounced back strongly and gained more than 3,000 points, stock analysts said, a day after it witnessed a “massacre” on the back of significant redemptions from local mutual funds and year-end profit-taking.
The benchmark KSE-100 index gained 3238.17 points to close the weekend trading session at 109,513.14 points. On Thursday, the index plummeted by 5,132 points, or 4.32 percent, to close at 106,274.97 points, compared to Wednesday’s close of 111,070.29 points.
Stock analysts attributed the strong recovery to easing pressure at local mutual funds.
“Likely easing redemption pressure at local mutual funds together with the opening up of attractive valuations encouraged value buyers to reenter the market,” Raza Jafri, head of equities at Intermarket Securities, told Arab News.
Thursday’s slump was led by Hub Power Company Limited, United Bank Limited, Oil and Gas Development Company, and ENGRO, cumulatively contributing a staggering 1,556 points to the index’s overall decline, according to Topline Securities.
The sharp sell-off was triggered by significant redemptions from local mutual funds, compounded by year-end profit-taking by institutions, that dragged the market into a “turmoil,” it added.
The decline came days after Pakistan’s central bank cut its key interest rate by 200 basis points to 13 percent, marking the fifth straight reduction since June.
Yousuf M. Farooq, head of research at Chase Securities, said the market had entered a corrective phase, following a significant rally over the past year.
“We believe that earnings will now drive market performance rather than valuation rerating,” he added.

Topics: Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) Pakistan Stock Market

Pakistan province sets deadline to surrender weapons, dismantle bunkers to stem sectarian clashes

Updated 20 December 2024
Follow

Pakistan province sets deadline to surrender weapons, dismantle bunkers to stem sectarian clashes

  • Kurram, a tribal district near Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan, has been a flashpoint for sectarian tensions for decades
  • Last month’s clashes between Sunni, Shia tribes killed over 100, triggered a humanitarian crisis with reports of starvation
Updated 20 December 2024
REHMAT MEHSUD

PESHAWAR: Authorities in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province on Friday set a deadline of Feb. 1 for warring Sunni and Shia tribes in the Kurram district to surrender all weapons and dismantle their bunkers to stem sectarian clashes in the region.
Kurram, a tribal district of around 600,000 near Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan where federal and provincial authorities have traditionally exerted limited control, has been a flashpoint for sectarian tensions for decades.
Fresh clashes last month killed more than a hundred people, triggering a humanitarian crisis with reports of starvation, lack of medicine and oxygen shortages following the blocking of the main highway connecting Kurram’s main city of Parachinar to the provincial capital Peshawar.
On Friday, the KP apex committee, which comprises civilian and military officials, met to discuss a sustainable solution to the issue and decided that both sides would have to surrender their weapons and sign a peace agreement facilitated by the government.
“The agreement outlines that both sides will submit a detailed action plan within 15 days for voluntary submission of weapons,” read a declaration issued after the apex committee meeting.
“All weapons are to be deposited with the local administration by February 1. Additionally, it was decided that all bunkers in the area will be dismantled by the same deadline.”
The decision is aimed at reinforcing the government’s writ and establishing peace in the region, according to the statement. In the meantime, land routes to the area would be opened intermittently on humanitarian grounds and a mechanism had been put in place for secure transportation.
“Personnel of police and Frontier Corps will jointly provide security to the convoys,” the statement read.
Last month’s clashes erupted after rival tribes attacked convoys of passengers on the Parachinar-Peshawar road, which were followed by attacks on each other’s villages.
On Thursday, KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi criticized the provincial government’s handling of the Kurram issue, accusing it of adopting an “indifferent approach.”
“The provincial government has maintained a criminal silence on the Kurram issue,” he said. “This matter should have been addressed in the provincial assembly.”
Talimand Khan, a senior analyst on tribal affairs, told Arab News on Friday that Pakistan’s tribal districts, including Kurram, had remained a “launching pad for proxy wars, especially the Soviet-Afghan war and the so-called War on Terror.”
“The issue is not merely a law-and-order situation,” he said. “It is deeply rooted in the state’s foreign and security policies, domestic political dynamics.”
A special air service would be launched on an emergency basis, for which the federal and provincial governments would provide helicopters. Temporary evacuation may be carried out from some areas to protect people’s lives, according to the apex committee declaration.
Both sides must avoid any violent action in the future to keep the land route safe and open at all times, otherwise the administration would be forced to close the route again.
“All social media accounts spreading sectarian hatred in the region will be closed,” it read. “No one will be allowed to play politics on this issue.”
The apex committee hoped that the parties would fully cooperate with the government for a lasting solution to the issue.

Topics: kurram kurram district parachinar Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur Kurram tribal district sectarian clashes

Latest updates

Nearly half of taxpayers worldwide don’t see their money being spent for public good — survey
14 injured after Israel hit by Yemen-launched 'projectile'
Italian deputy PM Salvini acquitted of migrant kidnapping charges
Amnesty slams Hezbollah for unguided rocket fire at Israeli towns
Senate approves 235th judge of Biden’s term, beating Trump’s tally

Search form

Print Edition
Read pdf version Subscribe now
© 2024 SAUDI RESEARCH & PUBLISHING COMPANY, All Rights Reserved And subject to Terms of Use Agreement.