At Pakistan Pavilion at Expo Dubai, a night to promote tolerance, inclusivity

Singer and actor Meesha Shafi performs at an event organized by Pakistan Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on November 28, 2021. (AN Photo courtesy Pakistan Pavilion)
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Updated 30 November 2021
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At Pakistan Pavilion at Expo Dubai, a night to promote tolerance, inclusivity

  • Acclaimed motivational speaker Muniba Mazari shares Jubilee Stage with singer and actor Meesha Shafi
  • Speakers urge people to cherish individuals who are differently-abled, unique in their own way

DUBAI: The Pakistan Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai on Sunday organized an evening of music and inspiration where speakers and musicians highlighted and celebrated tolerance, inclusivity and equality.
Exhibitors from almost 200 countries, including Pakistan, are participating, with many countries and companies looking to the expo — the first major global event open to visitors since the coronavirus pandemic — to boost trade and investment.
The Pakistan pavilion was officially inaugurated by President Dr. Arif Alvi on October 9. The Expo itself commenced on October 1 and will last till March 31, 2022. 
On Sunday, acclaimed motivational speaker Muniba Mazari shared the Jubilee Stage, one of the main event platforms at the exhibition, with singer and actor Meesha Shafi at an evening themed ‘Pakistan — Connected through Diversity.’ 
Speaking to the audience, Mazari said the world celebrated sameness and labelled those who were ‘different,’ which needed to change. 
“What about the people who don’t look alike? Those who look different, unique and want to see the world as they want to see it, people who think out of the box, those people are labelled crippled, handicapped, disabled,” she said. “Tonight, let us change this narrative and replace these negative labels with positive words like courageous and resilient.” 




Muniba Mazari, an acclaimed motivational speaker, speaks on inclusivity and equality at an event organized by the Pakistan Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on November 28, 2021. (AN Photo courtesy Pakistan Pavilion)

Mazari, who is wheelchair bound since an accident crushed her backbone 13 years ago, said while recuperating in hospital for over two months, she made life-changing decisions to give back to society, started painting and adopted her son, Neil, who is now 10. 
“I decided to accept myself as I was and move on and move forward in life,” said Mazari, who delivers motivational talks around the country and beyond, and showcases her paintings globally. She was Pakistan’s first UN goodwill ambassador and named in Forbes 30 under 30, BBC’s Top 100 Women and many other global lists.
“Tonight, I am going to dedicate all these titles to all those people in the world who are unique and who are differently-abled,” she said. 
The event was also attended by young upcoming singer Maria Unera, who rocked the stage with her powerful voice while paying tribute to her mother whom she lost to cancer. 
Meesha Shafi delivered a surprise performance with Mazari and Unera as a closing to the event.
“Pakistan has a lot of reasons to be proud of at the Expo because the pavilion is very impressive,” Shafi said. “It was not just a show but there was an intention behind it and I was really glad to be part of it.” 




Singer and actor Meesha Shafi performs at an event organized by Pakistan Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on November 28, 2021. (AN Photo courtesy Pakistan Pavilion)

 


Pakistan’s Dar meets Afghan top leaders during Kabul visit to sign railway pact

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Pakistan’s Dar meets Afghan top leaders during Kabul visit to sign railway pact

  • Railway project aims to establish a vital trade and transit corridor linking Uzbekistan with Pakistan via Afghanistan
  • Dar, PM Hassan Akhund discuss peace, trade, transit cooperation and connectivity, says Pakistan’s foreign office

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar met Afghanistan’s prime minister and foreign minister on Thursday to discuss bilateral trade, peace and security, as he arrived in Kabul to sign a framework agreement to conduct a joint feasibility study for the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Project.

Dar, who is also Pakistan’s foreign minister, met huis Afghan counterpart Amir Khan Muttaqi earlier on Thursday to discuss bilateral relations and trade cooperation, Pakistan’s foreign office said.

Talks between the two countries’ officials took place amid a tentative thaw in Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, which have been strained in recent years due to a surge in militancy in Pakistan that Islamabad blames on Afghan-based insurgent groups. Kabul denies the allegations.

“On the sidelines of the signing ceremony for the Framework Agreement on Joint Feasibility Study of the UAP Railway Corridor, DPM/FM, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar called on the Afghan Prime Minister, Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund,” the foreign office said.

The two reaffirmed their commitment to continue bilateral engagement and agreed to maintain high-level contacts to promote bilateral relations, the statement said.

“The two leaders exchanged views on issues of mutual interest, including peace and security, trade and transit cooperation and regional connectivity,” Pakistan’s foreign office said.

The UAP Railway Project aims to establish a vital trade and transit corridor linking Uzbekistan with Pakistan via Afghanistan, offering the Central Asian republics direct access to Pakistani seaports.

The rail link is expected to significantly boost regional connectivity, facilitate trade and contribute to long-term economic integration and political stability in the broader region.

For Pakistan, which seeks to position itself as a regional connectivity hub, the UAP railway is also strategically important in strengthening economic ties with Central Asia and securing stable transit through Afghanistan, a country whose internal security dynamics continue to impact broader regional development goals.

“The signing of the Framework Agreement on Joint Feasibility Study between the three participating countries in Kabul will be an important step toward its implementation,” the foreign office said in an earlier statement.

Uzbekistan and Afghanistan signed an agreement in 2017 to extend a railroad connecting the two countries that would eventually give Uzbekistan a direct link to seaports.

Landlocked Uzbekistan’s access to marine shipping is very limited.

Efforts to repair the fractured ties between Islamabad and Kabul gained momentum during a China-hosted trilateral dialogue in Beijing in May between the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Afghanistan and China.

Islamabad and Kabul agreed in principle to send ambassadors to each other’s countries as soon as possible, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had announced after the summit.

The upcoming signing of the UAP railway pact, a long-discussed infrastructure project championed by all three governments, is also being seen as one of the first tangible outcomes of renewed engagement between Islamabad and Kabul.


Pakistan, EU renew GSP+ commitment, discuss counterterror cooperation, Middle East peace efforts

Updated 17 July 2025
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Pakistan, EU renew GSP+ commitment, discuss counterterror cooperation, Middle East peace efforts

  • Pakistan, EU officials hold 10th Political Dialogue in Brussels to discuss bilateral, regional issues
  • Both sides call for resumption of ceasefire in Gaza, improvement in humanitarian situation there 

ISLAMABAD: Senior officials from Islamabad and the European Union on Thursday resolved to continue their engagement under the Generalized Scheme of Preference Plus (GSP+) framework, discussing counterterror collaboration and peace efforts in Gaza, Pakistan’s foreign office said. 

Europe’s GSP+ scheme grants beneficiary countries’ exports duty-free access to the European market in exchange for voluntarily agreeing to implement 27 international core conventions, including those on human and civil rights. In October 2023, the EU unanimously voted to extend GSP+ status until 2027 for developing countries, including Pakistan.

Olof Skoog, the deputy secretary general of the European External Action Service and Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch led the delegations from both sides, as they held the 10th Political Dialogue in Brussels on Thursday. 

“The two sides reiterated their resolve to continue close engagement under the GSP+ framework,” Pakistan’s foreign office said.

“They acknowledged the meaningful cooperation on various aspects of migration, aiming to hold the third Comprehensive Migration and Mobility Dialogue later in 2025.”

The statement said both sides also discussed views on regional and global issues, stressing the importance of multifaceted cooperation on security matters, including counterterrorism and counter-narcotics.

Both delegations condemned all forms of “terrorism,” the foreign office said. 

Brussels and Islamabad discussed the Ukraine conflict and the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan as well, pushing for dialogue. 

“Both sides agreed on the need for efforts based on dialogue and diplomacy in order to solve contentious issues and underscored the importance of upholding international law and the sanctity of international agreements/treaties,” it added. 

The two sides also exchanged views on the evolving situation in the Middle East, where Israel has killed over 57,000 Palestinians in Gaza in military operations since October 2023. 

“They agreed on the urgent need to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza,” the statement said.

“Both sides called for the resumption of a ceasefire, and expressed support for initiatives that contribute to a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace in Palestine in accordance with the two-state solution.”

Islamabad considers EU a vital trading partner. Pakistan has become the largest beneficiary of the GSP+ trade scheme in recent years, with its businesses increasing their exports to the EU market by 108 percent since the trade scheme was launched in 2014.


Pakistan expresses solidarity as fire at Iraq shopping center kills over 60

Updated 17 July 2025
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Pakistan expresses solidarity as fire at Iraq shopping center kills over 60

  • Iraqi officials say several remain missing after huge fire broke out at Iraq’s Kut city on Wednesday night
  • Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif prays for speedy recovery of injured, offers condolences to victims’ families

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday expressed solidarity with the people and government of Iraq after a fire erupted at a shopping center in Kut city, killing more than 60 people while others remained missing.

Iraqi officials say at least 61 people have been killed and several remain missing after a huge fire broke out at a hypermarket in eastern Iraq’s Kut city on Wednesday night.

Videos on social media showed flames engulfing a five-story building in Kut overnight, where firefighters were trying to contain the fire. The mall, which had opened only a week earlier, also contained a restaurant and supermarket.

“Deeply saddened by the tragic fire in Al-Kut, Iraq, that has caused tragic loss of lives of innocent people,” the Pakistani premier wrote on social media platform X.

“My heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in this tragedy. May the injured recover swiftly. Pakistan stands in solidarity with the people of Iraq in this hour of grief.”

Iraq’s federal cabinet on Thursday announced three days of mourning over the loss of lives. The government has also launched an investigation into the incident, saying that results will be released within 48 hours.

Unregulated buildings have caused tragic fires in Iraq in the past. In July 2021, a blaze at a hospital in Nasiriyah killed over 60.

Subsequent investigations showed the building was fueled by a highly flammable, low-cost type of “sandwich panel” cladding illegal in Iraq.


Punjab imposes ban on public gatherings as Pakistan’s monsoon toll nears 190

Updated 17 July 2025
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Punjab imposes ban on public gatherings as Pakistan’s monsoon toll nears 190

  • 63 killed in 24 hours in Punjab alone, emergency declared in Rawalpindi as 230mm of rain falls in 15 hours
  • Punjab imposes ban till August 30 to deter people from swimming in dams, rivers, canals, ponds and lakes

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s largest province Punjab has imposed a ban on public gatherings till August 30 to deter people from bathing in rivers, ponds, canals and other places, an official notification said on Thursday, as relentless monsoon rains battered large swathes of the country to push the death toll close to 190. 

Pakistan’s disaster management authorities has warned of rising water levels and flood alerts, especially in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, as intense monsoon activity swept across northeastern and central Pakistan. This prompted emergency declarations, evacuation adviseries and a heightened state of alert across provincial administrations.

In Punjab, the country’s most populous province, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said 103 people had died and 393 had been injured in rain-related incidents since the start of the monsoon season in late June. Of these, 63 were killed in the last 24 hours and 290 were injured, while 128 houses were damaged in total, the PDMA said. 

“The Punjab Home Secretary has imposed Section 144 across the province in light of monsoon rains, rising water levels, and prevailing weather conditions,” a statement from the Punjab Home Department’s director of public relations said. 

Section 144 empowers authorities to impose a ban on public gatherings of four or more persons for a limited amount of time.

The statement said all forms of swimming and boating have been completely banned in dams, rivers, canals, ponds, and lakes across the province. The statement added bathing in rainwater collected on streets, roads, open areas or public spaces has also been banned.

 Most of the casualties in Punjab over the last 24 hours occurred in densely populated districts such as Lahore, Faisalabad, Okara, Sahiwal and Pakpattan, largely due to roof collapses in structurally vulnerable homes.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said the nationwide death toll stood at 124 on Wednesday. With the latest fatalities in Punjab, it has risen to at least 187.

“Over the next 24 hours, intense rainfall could trigger flash floods in cities and cause surging water levels in streams and rivers,” the NDMA said Thursday. “Heavy downpours are expected to continue in Rawalpindi and Islamabad for the next 24 to 48 hours, raising the risk of flooding in low-lying areas and along Nullah Lai.”

“Residents near the stream are advised to prepare for possible evacuation if warning sirens are sounded and cooperate fully with local authorities,” the statement added.

Authorities have urged people to vacate unsafe structures, avoid flood-prone zones and keep children indoors as flash floods, collapsing roofs and overflowing drains pose acute threats to life in several regions.

The NDMA said it had instructed local agencies to remain on high alert, ensure the availability of rescue and drainage equipment and coordinate early warning efforts. People were advised to make advance arrangements for food, drinking water and emergency supplies.

EMERGENCY IN RAWALPINDI

In Rawalpindi, a city of more than 2 million, over 230 millimeters of rainfall was recorded in just 15 hours, prompting local authorities to declare a state of emergency.

Water levels in the Nullah Lai stream surged to 20 feet at Katarian and 19 feet at Gawalmandi, according to the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA). A local holiday was declared to minimize public movement in flooded areas.

“Rescue and relief equipment was distributed in advance to district authorities ahead of the monsoon,” the PDMA said.

“In view of the emergency in Rawalpindi, Rescue 1122 currently has 16 OBM [outboard motor] boats, 205 life jackets, 31 ambulances, 19 fire brigades and 4 rescue vehicles on standby.”

Evacuation announcements were being made from mosques in high-risk areas. Authorities called on residents living near Nullah Lai to cooperate with relocation efforts if needed.

In the federal capital Islamabad, rain continued intermittently for several hours. Sanitation workers were deployed to clear clogged drains, assistant commissioners inspected stormwater infrastructure and traffic police were dispatched to manage congestion on waterlogged roads.

FLASH FLOODS IN PUNJAB

In other parts of Punjab, including Chakwal, heavy rainfall caused significant disruption. A cloudburst in Chakwal dropped 423 millimeters of rain, flooding low-lying areas and inundating homes, according to local TV channel Geo News. Rescue operations were launched and evacuations were underway.

In Jhelum, the Pakistan Army conducted an emergency airlift operation after flash floods stranded 40 people in the Deras of Mouza Dhok Biddar and Nakkan Kalan. Due to heavy rainfall, boat rescues were not possible, and helicopters were used to evacuate all individuals safely.

Pakistan contributes less than one percent to global greenhouse gas emissions but is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change. Shifting monsoon patterns, accelerated glacial melt and extreme weather events have increased the frequency and severity of climate-linked disasters.

In 2022, record-breaking monsoon rains combined with glacial melt submerged nearly a third of Pakistan, killing more than 1,700 people and displacing over 8 million. 
 


Fertilizer sector fuels Pakistan stock market rally as benchmark index hits record high

Updated 17 July 2025
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Fertilizer sector fuels Pakistan stock market rally as benchmark index hits record high

  • Fauji and Engro fertilizer stocks contribute nearly 600 points to KSE-100 gain
  • Surging investor sentiment, dividend expectations, possible Moody’s upgrade drive momentum

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s main stock index surged to a new record on Thursday, closing above the 138,000 mark for the first time, driven by strong institutional inflows and a sharp rally in fertilizer and blue-chip stocks, according to analysts and market data.

The benchmark KSE-100 index closed at 138,665.49 points, gaining 2,285.53 points or 1.68 percent from the previous close of 136,379.96, a bullish move that traders said reflected investor optimism ahead of earnings season and growing expectations of a credit rating upgrade.

Fertilizer companies led the rally, with Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited (FFC) and Engro Fertilizers Limited (EFERT) together adding 563 points to the index. Other top contributors included United Bank Limited (UBL), Systems Limited (SYS), Engro Holdings (ENGROH), and Hub Power Company Limited (HUBC), which added another 763 points collectively, brokerage firm Topline Securities said in its daily report.

“This rally was driven by heavy institutional flows, with local investors stepping in to scoop up value,” Topline said. “With sentiment back in high gear, today’s bullish close sets an upbeat tone heading into the heart of earnings season.”

Investor activity remained high with 778 million shares traded, while the total value of trades stood at Rs39.95 billion ($140.2 million). Pakistan International Bulk Terminal (PIBTL) led volumes, with 82.6 million shares exchanged during the session.

Ahsan Mehanti, CEO of Arif Habib Commodities, said investor confidence was boosted by anticipated strong corporate earnings, attractive dividend expectations and government engagement with Moody’s over a potential rating upgrade.

“Government affirmation over talks with industrials on budgetary measures, and the finance minister’s presentation to Moody’s of compelling evidence for a ratings improvement played a catalytic role in today’s close,” Mehanti said.