‘New milestone in Pak-Saudi ties’: Air Sial makes inaugural flight to Jeddah

Crew members of Pakistan's private airlines, Air Sial, pose for a picture after its inaugural flight from Sialkot to Jeddah in the Saudi port city of Jeddah on March 29, 2023. (Air Sial)
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Updated 30 March 2023
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‘New milestone in Pak-Saudi ties’: Air Sial makes inaugural flight to Jeddah

  • Pakistan’s diplomatic mission in the kingdom describes the development as a new milestone Pak-Saudi relations
  • Air Sial was launched by the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industries in 2017 and started operating in 2020

ISLAMABAD: A Sialkot-based private airline on Wednesday flew its inaugural flight to the Saudi port city of Jeddah, said an official statement released by the country’s diplomatic mission in the kingdom that described the development as another milestone in the bilateral relations between the two countries.

Air Sial was launched by the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industries in 2017 and started operating in December 2020. The airline operates both domestic and international flights, connecting major cities in Pakistan with destinations in the Middle East and Europe.

Its first flight was received by Pakistan’s consul general Khalid Majid and other officials in Jeddah.

“Hailing it as a significant achievement in further strengthening the [Pak-Saudi] bilateral relations, Majid conveyed gratitude to the Saudi government for providing support and hospitality to Air Sial and expressed optimism that the new airline would enhance connectivity between the two brotherly countries, paving the way for greater collaboration and increased trade,” said the statement.

Air Sial was launched as a collective effort of Sialkot’s business community. Located in the country’s most populous Punjab province, the city is the hub of cottage industries in the country and is internationally known for making high quality sports goods and surgical instruments.

The airline has also chosen a strategic destination in the kingdom since Jeddah is not only a major commercial hub but also serves as the gateway for pilgrims intending to visit the Islamic holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.


At Dubai exhibition, Pakistan’s envoy says art can shape global perception of his country

Updated 20 April 2025
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At Dubai exhibition, Pakistan’s envoy says art can shape global perception of his country

  • Ambassador Faisal Niaz Tirmizi visits Imran Qureshi’s exhibition during Alserkal Art Week in Dubai
  • He says art can build cross-cultural understanding, pledges support for future collaborations in UAE

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, said on Sunday art could serve as a powerful tool of soft power for his country, helping project its positive image on the world stage, as he visited an exhibition by a leading Pakistani artist in Dubai on its concluding day.
Titled “Vanishing Points,” the event ran from April 13 to 20 as part of Alserkal Art Week and was held at Concrete, a prominent contemporary art space at Dubai’s Alserkal Avenue.
Curated by Nada Raza, Director of the Alserkal Arts Foundation, the show featured Imran Qureshi’s latest body of work, spanning photography, video, painting and a site-specific installation, offering a vivid meditation on urban life and the visual chaos of South Asian cityscapes.
Known for pioneering a contemporary revival of Indo-Persian miniature painting, Qureshi’s practice blends traditional techniques with modern perspectives.
“Imran Qureshi’s art vividly transforms Pakistan’s day-to-day life into breathtaking visual narratives,” Tirmizi said after touring the exhibition.
“Through his lens, the bustling streets, Sufi shrines and architectural heritage come alive, arising a deep sense of connection,” he continued. “His depiction of a Sufi tomb with Qawwali resonating in the background is particularly mesmerizing and emotionally powerful.”
The ambassador emphasized the importance of art as a form of diplomacy, saying it could promote cross-cultural understanding and enhance Pakistan’s global standing.
He also pledged support for future cultural collaborations in the UAE, particularly with platforms like Alserkal Avenue that promote diverse artistic voices.
A recipient of Pakistan’s Sitara-i-Imtiaz, one of the country’s highest civilian honors, and France’s Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, a prestigious distinction recognizing significant contributions to the arts and literature, Qureshi is among the internationally celebrated artists.
His works are housed in prominent collections, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
Qureshi’s works are also featured in Art Dubai, another major international art fair running in the city.
This year’s Art Dubai edition includes work by 10 Pakistani artists, reflecting the country’s growing presence on the global contemporary art scene.


Peshawar Zalmi reignite media partnership with Arab News Pakistan for PSL 2025

Updated 20 April 2025
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Peshawar Zalmi reignite media partnership with Arab News Pakistan for PSL 2025

  • Zalmi clinched the 2017 title and have remained strong contenders in subsequent seasons
  • After a challenging tournament start, they have bounced back with 120-run win against Multan

ISLAMABAD: A popular franchise of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Peshawar Zalmi, announced on Sunday a renewed media partnership with Arab News Pakistan, continuing a collaboration that began in 2020.
The PSL, launched in 2016, is Pakistan’s premier T20 cricket league featuring six city-based teams.
Peshawar Zalmi, representing the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, clinched the PSL title in 2017 and have consistently been strong contenders in subsequent seasons.​
“Proud to go global with @arabnewspk as our International Newspaper Partner for #HBLPSLX,” Zalmi announced on their social media account on X, exclaiming, “Where cricket meets the world.”​


Arab News Pakistan was launched in February 2018 and has since provided in-depth coverage of Pakistan, including sports.
Its parent organization, Arab News, was founded in 1975 and is part of the Saudi Research and Media Group (SRMG), one of the largest media conglomerates in the region.
Peshawar Zalmi had a challenging start to this year’s PSL but bounced back with a commanding 120-run victory over Multan Sultans on Saturday, marking their first win of the season. 
They are now set to face Karachi Kings in the next match on Monday at the National Stadium in Karachi.​

 


Punjab minister urges clerics to denounce Gaza-linked fast-food chain attacks in Pakistan

Updated 20 April 2025
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Punjab minister urges clerics to denounce Gaza-linked fast-food chain attacks in Pakistan

  • Azma Bokhari says attacks are not helping the oppressed people of Palestine but hurting Pakistan
  • The government has arrested over 150 attackers and promised strict action against others involved

ISLAMABAD: A senior minister in Pakistan’s Punjab province on Sunday urged religious scholars to publicly condemn recent attacks on an international fast-food chain, warning that such actions were damaging the country’s image and hurting its own citizens.
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari’s remarks came a day after the federal government said over 150 people had been arrested for attacking the Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) outlets amid rising anti-American and anti-Israel sentiment in the country over the war in Gaza.
Protesters have vandalized KFC branches in multiple cities, with at least one employee killed during the unrest, asking people to show solidarity with their Muslim brethren in the Palestinian territory who have been killed in great numbers since the beginning of the war in October 2023.
“I believe that all our forums where respected religious scholars are present should come forward more strongly on this issue and speak up,” the provincial minister said at a news conference in Lahore.
“Attacking these food chains is not helping the oppressed people of Gaza,” she continued. “It is hurting Pakistan.”
Bokhari noted that international franchises like KFC provided jobs to thousands of locals in Punjab and other parts of the country.
“Now tell me this: if the 25,000 Pakistanis working here lose their jobs, will that benefit the people of Gaza?” she asked. “Or have these incidents helped the oppressed people of Gaza in any way? No, it’s causing harm — harm to Pakistan’s image.”
She also referenced the killing of a KFC employee in Sheikhupura, questioning what his fault was.
Bokhari accused “an extremist group” of organizing the attacks and said the government would take strict action against those involved.
On Saturday, Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudry said 12 police cases had been registered against the attackers in Punjab alone, with 142 arrests made. Another 15 suspects had been detained in Islamabad, he added.
“It cannot happen that someone brings investment into Pakistan, gives its people employment, pays 100 percent tax, and also spends on welfare, education and health activities, and then someone attacks it,” he said.
He maintained such incidents would be treated with the same seriousness as militant attacks, adding the government and interior ministry were “available 24 hours” to respond.
Pakistan does not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel but has consistently voiced support for the Palestinian cause.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for an immediate end to Israel’s military campaign, while Pakistan’s permanent mission to the United Nations has repeatedly urged accountability for Israeli “war crimes.”


Islamabad locked down as Pakistani party stages mass rally in solidarity with Gaza

Updated 20 April 2025
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Islamabad locked down as Pakistani party stages mass rally in solidarity with Gaza

  • Jamaat-e-Islami’s top leader urges government to recognize Hamas, open its office in Pakistan
  • Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman calls on the people of Pakistan to boycott all products linked to Israel

ISLAMABAD: The chief of Pakistan’s influential religio-political party Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) on Sunday announced a nationwide strike for April 26 in solidarity with Palestine, urging citizens to boycott brands allegedly supporting Israel amid its ongoing military offensive in Gaza.
The call came during a large Gaza Solidarity March held on the Expressway connecting Islamabad and Rawalpindi, after authorities blocked access to Islamabad’s Red Zone, where JI had originally planned to rally near the US embassy.
The party has held similar protests in Karachi, Lahore and other cities in recent weeks, criticizing Washington’s support for Israel’s military campaign against the Palestinian territory.
“There will be a complete nationwide strike on April 26,” JI chief Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman said in his address to the crowd. “We will go from shop to shop, urging people to suspend business activities ... as we will wage a jihad through boycotts, strikes and social media campaigns.”
Rehman called on Pakistanis to boycott all products linked to Israel, vowing to keep the movement peaceful but persistent.
He also urged the government to formally recognize Hamas and allow it to open an office in Pakistan, calling the group “a legitimate power” that won democratic elections in 2006.
Participants at the march echoed Rehman’s demands, saying Pakistanis should take a more active role in supporting Palestinians by avoiding Israeli-linked brands and pushing the government to take diplomatic initiatives.
“We should boycott brands that support Israel in order to inflict financial damage and send a strong, clear message,” said a woman attending the march with her family, who identified herself as Mrs. Majid.
Dr. Liaqat Ali Meher, who traveled from District Gujrat in Punjab, said Muslim countries should go beyond verbal condemnations and coordinate political pressure on Israel and the US.
“The government should send parliamentary delegations to various countries to build political pressure on Israel and the United States to stop the killing of innocent people, including women and children,” he said.
Others at the march described their participation as a gesture of unity with Palestinians.
“The aim of our participation in this rally is to raise our voice for all the Palestinians martyred by Israel and to show that we stand with them and share in their pain,” Yasir Khan, an Islamabad-based government employee, said.
Pakistan does not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel and has repeatedly condemned its military actions in Gaza, particularly the killing of thousands of unarmed civilians.
Islamabad has also called for the resumption of humanitarian aid to the besieged enclave and renewed negotiations toward a two-state solution.
It has long supported the creation of an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Since October 7, 2023, more than 51,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 116,000 wounded in Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.


Pakistan PM launches second nationwide polio vaccination drive of 2025

Updated 20 April 2025
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Pakistan PM launches second nationwide polio vaccination drive of 2025

  • Pakistan plans to vaccinate 45 million children against poliovirus nationwide from Apr. 21-27
  • Shehbaz Sharif urges Pakistani parents to help vaccination teams administer polio drops 

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday launched Pakistan’s second nationwide vaccination campaign against poliovirus, scheduled to be held from Apr. 21-27, as Islamabad struggles to eradicate the disease. 

Polio is a paralyzing disease with no cure and multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine — along with completing the routine immunization schedule for children under five — are crucial to building immunity against the virus.

Pakistan, which has reported six polio cases so far in 2025, has planned three major vaccination campaigns in the first half of the year, with additional rounds scheduled for April and May. The seven-day campaign is going to be the second anti-polio drive to be held this year, and aims to vaccinate over 45 million children against the disease. 

“It is my request to parents all over Pakistan that they help us out in administering polio drops to their children,” Sharif said during a ceremony in Islamabad. 

“Help our teams in the field so that this virus can be eliminated for good.”

Sharif said the government has undertaken stringent security measures in sensitive areas for polio volunteers. He called on authorities to mobilize the public so that they become “soldiers” in the fight against poliovirus. 

Earlier, the prime minister kicked off the anti-polio campaign by administering polio drops to a few children. 

Pakistan’s polio program, launched in 1994, has faced persistent challenges including vaccine misinformation and resistance from some religious hard-liners who claim immunization is a foreign conspiracy to sterilize Muslim children or a guise for Western espionage. 

Militant groups have also repeatedly targeted and killed polio vaccination workers.

In 2024, Pakistan reported an alarming 74 polio cases. Along with Afghanistan, it remains one of the only two countries where polio is still endemic.