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UAE rugby team to arrive in Pakistan next month to play two matches 

Israel's Uri Gail(C) in action during a friendly rugby match against the United Arab Emirates' national team in Dubai on March 19, 2021. (AFP/File)
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Updated 06 June 2023
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UAE rugby team to arrive in Pakistan next month to play two matches 

  • Pakistan and UAE share regular cultural exchanges, including sports events 
  • UAE team will play two matches in Lahore on July 4 and July 8, respectively 
Updated 06 June 2023
Sarah B. Haider

ISLAMABAD: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) rugby team will be arriving in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore next month to take part in two matches of the Asia Rugby Championship Division 1 that will be hosted by Pakistan this year, Pakistan’s Rugby Union confirmed on Tuesday. 

Pakistan and the UAE regularly have cultural, educational and business exchanges as well as sports events, which provide a platform for people of both countries to know more about each other and strengthen bilateral ties. 

“Pakistan has received the hosting rights for the Asia Rugby Championship Division 1, 2023, this year and will be hosting the UAE team in Lahore to play two matches on July 4 and July 8, respectively,” Salman Sheikh, secretary of the Pakistan Rugby Union, told Arab News on Tuesday. 

The Pakistani team is currently busy training for the tournament under the guidance of South African coach Gert Mulder, according to the Pakistan Rugby Union. 

“Mulder also coached the Pakistan team for the Asia Rugby Division 2 in May 2022, in which the ‘Men in Green’ defeated Thailand,” Sheikh said. 

He said the venue for the two matches with the UAE had not been decided yet, but they would most likely be played at Lahore’s Punjab Stadium. 

Rugby is a close-contact team sport in which players have to run with the ball in their hands. In its most common form, a game is played between two teams of 15 players each, using an oval-shaped ball on a rectangular field called a pitch. The field has H-shaped goalposts at both ends. 

Pakistan’s national rugby team made its international debut in a match against Sri Lanka in 2003, while the UAE, which had been part of the Arabian Gulf Rugby Football Union since 1974, became a full member of Asia Rugby in 2012. 

Topics: UAE rugby team Asia Rugby Championship

Pakistan reports two new cases of polio, taking 2024 tally to 28

Updated 14 min 17 sec ago
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Pakistan reports two new cases of polio, taking 2024 tally to 28

  • New cases reported in Zhob district in Balochistan province and Tank district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 
  • Pakistan, along with neighboring Afghanistan, remains last polio-endemic country in the world
Updated 14 min 17 sec ago
Aamir Saeed

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s polio program said on Wednesday two new cases of the poliovirus had been detected in the Zhob district of Balochistan and Tank district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), taking the number of total cases in 2024 to 28. 

Pakistan, along with neighboring Afghanistan, remains the last polio-endemic country in the world. Starting from late 2018, Pakistan saw a resurgence of cases and increased spread of polio, highlighting the fragility of gains achieved in the preceding three years.

“Two more children have been paralyzed by wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in Pakistan, underscoring the expanding public health threat of polio and the urgency for all parents and caregivers to ensure vaccination for their children,” the national polio program said in a statement. 

According to the Regional Reference Laboratory at the National Institute of Health, a female child from Zhob district and a male child from Tank district had been affected. This is the second case from Zhob, where a child was affected by polio earlier in July, and the first case from Tank. 

“The virus has been found in sewage samples from both districts previously, indicating continued polio transmission and risk to children’s health,” the statement added. 

The Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication, Ayesha Raza Farooq, appealed to parents, caregivers and families across Pakistan to get their children vaccinated immediately to protect them from the paralyzing effects of a poliovirus infection.

“The government brings the polio vaccine directly to your doorsteps multiple times a year,” she said. 

“Every knock on your door by the polio workers brings hope for a healthier future for your children. Please cooperate with them and bring your children forward for vaccination.”

Farooq said the next nationwide polio campaign would begin from Oct. 28.

Coordinator of the National Emergency Operations Center for Polio Eradication, Muhammad Anwarul Haq, said consistent polio campaign implementation in Balochistan and southern KP had been challenging for the program since last year due to factors such as lack of access to vulnerable children, security issues, vaccine hesitancy and community boycotts. 

“Access challenges leave a cohort of unvaccinated children who have low immunity to fight off a polio infection,” he said. 

“The Polio Program is working closely with both provincial governments to increase vaccination coverage rates, build trust in communities and provide integrated health service delivery for better health outcomes.”

Pakistan’s polio eradication program began in 1994 and the number of cases has declined dramatically since then but the country continues to face challenges in its fight against polio, including militancy, with polio workers targeted by attacks, particularly in the KP province.

The polio program has adapted to respond to climate disasters such as floods but continues to face disruptions. There are also gaps in supplementary immunization activities, especially in areas where the virus is still present.

Topics: Pakistan Polio Khyber Pakhtunkhwa polio virus

ICC Women’s T20 World Cup begins in UAE today as Pakistan face Sri Lanka

Updated 57 min 42 sec ago
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ICC Women’s T20 World Cup begins in UAE today as Pakistan face Sri Lanka

  • Pakistan to feature against arch-rivals India at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Oct. 6 
  • Semi-finals set to take place on Oct. 17 and 18 while winner of series to be decided on Oct 20
Updated 57 min 42 sec ago
Shahjahan Khurram

ISLAMABAD: The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 will begin today, Thursday, in the UAE with the Pakistan women’s team under the leadership of Fatima Sana taking on Sri Lanka in their opening match at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Ten teams are featured in the 18-day tournament, with the Pakistan women’s team slotted in Group ‘A’ alongside Australia, India, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. Bangladesh, England, Scotland, South Africa and the West Indies are in Group ‘B’.

“We have prepared well for the mega event,” Captain Fatima Sana said in a statement released by the Pakistan Cricket Board. “The series against South Africa at home before coming to the UAE helped us know our strengths and allowed our batters to show their form.

“The two practice games have also helped us in assessing the conditions here and now has provided us with clarity regarding the right combination of players in the tournament.” 

The PCB said Pakistan would feature against arch-rivals India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS) on Oct. 6 and then be in action against defending champions Australia on Oct. 11 at the same venue. Their last group match will be against New Zealand on Oct. 14.

As per the format of the tournament, the top two sides from each group will qualify for the semifinals set to take place on Oct. 17 and 18 while the winner of the tournament will be decided on Oct 20. 

Pakistan have featured in two warm-up games against Scotland and Bangladesh prior to the start of the tournament and also took part in various practice sessions to acclimatize to the conditions.

15-member squad for the tournament:

Fatima Sana (captain), Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Gull Feroza, Iram Javed, Muneeba Ali (wicket-keeper), Nashra Sundhu, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tasmia Rubab and Tuba Hassan

Traveling reserve: Najiha Alvi (wicket-keeper)

Non-traveling reserves: Rameen Shamim and Umm-e-Hani

Topics: ICC T20 World Cup Pakistan T20 World Cup Sri Lanka Cricket Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 Dubai

Expat rewarded in UAE for flawless driving record urges Pakistanis to follow the rules

Updated 03 October 2024
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Expat rewarded in UAE for flawless driving record urges Pakistanis to follow the rules

  • In widely reported development, Dubai Police last month commended Muhammad Siddique Baksh, 84, for record of zero driving violations in 55 years
  • Baksh’s recognition comes after widely reported comments by a Pakistani official in July that 50 percent of UAE’s crime rate was attributable to Pakistanis
Updated 03 October 2024
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: Expat Muhammad Siddique Baksh, recently recognized by Dubai Police for having a “flawless” record without a single driving violation in 55 years, urged other Pakistanis this week to follow local laws, saying it had been the key to opening the “doors of bright opportunities” for him in almost six decades of living in the UAE. 

The commendation for Baksh comes on the heels of widespread reports of a declining trend in overseas employment for Pakistanis due to their alleged lack of respect for local laws and customs. During a widely reported briefing of the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis in July, Dr. Arshad Mahmood, secretary of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, said 50 percent of the crime rate in the UAE was reportedly attributed to Pakistanis.

Of more than 10 million overseas Pakistanis, over 50 percent live in Gulf countries, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE having been the top destinations for Pakistani laborers for decades. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are also the first and second largest sources of remittances to Pakistan respectively.

“During my 56 years in the UAE, I was never involved in any accidents, never faced a traffic violation ticket or other legal issues,” Baksh, 84, told Arab News in a phone interview this week, saying as a reward for his unblemished record, Dubai Police had renewed his driving license for five years despite him being 84 years old. 

Pakistan’s consulate general in the UAE had also presented an appreciation certificate to him for “making the Pakistani community proud.”

In all his years of living and working in the UAE, Baksh said he had guided many Pakistani expatriates there, always advising them to obey the laws of the land.

“I constantly told them that being a law-abiding citizen earns you respect and opens doors to bright opportunities in the UAE,” he said. “Wherever you go in the world, if you follow the law, the law will respect you.”

Baksh said UAE authorities had forwarded his case as an “exemplary law-abiding citizen” to Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
 
“I don’t know when it will happen, but it will be a great honor to meet such a visionary leader,” Baksh said. 

The expat arrived in the UAE by sea in 1968, three years before the Emirates was born in 1971 when six emirates, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Umm Al Quwain, Sharjah, Fujairah and Ajman, agreed to be a part of a single federation. Ras al Khaimah was the last to join in 1972. 

Baksh started out as a motor mechanic at the Al Nasser Engineering company in Dubai and was later promoted to foreman. He then completed a certification in engineering and worked as a marine engineer at Port Rashid.

After retiring, he ran a business in Jebel Ali for 16 years offering re-cushioning services and supplying parts for vehicles. The father of five sons and a daughter also paints as a hobby. 

“I have witnessed the whole development of the UAE from a long desert to a state-of-the-art modern country,” he said, “which was made possible by the visionary leadership and unwavering respect for the rule of law.”

Topics: Pakistan UAE ties Muhammad Siddique Baksh Dubai Police

Malaysian PM arrives in Pakistan to strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties

Updated 03 October 2024
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Malaysian PM arrives in Pakistan to strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties

  • Malaysian PM arrives in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad on three-day visit with high-level delegation
  • Anwar Ibrahim will also participate in Pakistan-Malaysia Business to foster trade, investment ties
Updated 03 October 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim arrived in Islamabad on a three-day visit to the country on Wednesday, PM Shehbaz Sharif’s office said, with his visit aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries in trade, investment and other sectors. 

Pakistan and Malaysia enjoy a strong bilateral relationship, rooted in shared Islamic values and historical ties. Since 1957, they’ve fostered economic cooperation, defense collaborations, and cultural exchange. 

The Pakistan-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement of 2008 boosted trade and investment, while regular high-level visits have solidified their partnership, underpinned by mutual respect and trust. Ibrahim is being accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising Malaysian ministers, deputy ministers and senior officials.

Sharif welcomed his Malaysian counterpart and the high-level delegation upon their arrival in the capital, with senior Pakistani government officials by his side. 

“Pakistan-Malaysia bilateral cooperation will be discussed during the visit and important progress related to the partnership between the two countries will be made,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said. 

“The prime minister of Malaysia will also participate in the Pakistan-Malaysia Business Forum for cooperation in trade and investment between the two countries,” it added. 

Sharif’s office said Ibrahim will also meet Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari during his visit. 

Pakistan’s foreign office said earlier this week that the two sides will discuss a wide-ranging agenda to further strengthen Pakistan-Malaysia ties. These diverse fields include trade, connectivity, energy, agriculture, halal industry, tourism, cultural exchanges and people-to-people contacts.

Bilateral trade between Pakistan and Malaysia was recorded at $1.5 billion in 2023-24. The major exports of Pakistan to Malaysia include rice, condensate oil, onions, potatoes, home textiles, corn, seafood, and meat, palm oil and its products, petroleum, LNG, computers and laptops, nonwoven wadding, and fiberboard, according to the High Commission of Pakistan in Malaysia.

Tourism between both countries has gained momentum over the past few years and Malaysia currently ranks among the top tourist source countries to Pakistan, the foreign office said. 

Around 160,000 Pakistani nationals are residing in Malaysia and over 3,800 students from Pakistan are also enrolled in Malaysian higher education institutes, making the country the third largest source of international students in Malaysia.

Pakistan is also one of the major workforce source countries for Malaysia in various key sectors including plantation, construction, manufacturing, agriculture and services, the foreign office said. 

Topics: Pakistan Malaysia ties Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim

Pakistan expresses ‘deep concern’ over Middle East tensions after Iran’s missile attack on Israel

Updated 02 October 2024
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Pakistan expresses ‘deep concern’ over Middle East tensions after Iran’s missile attack on Israel

  • Pakistan’s foreign office calls for de-escalation, urges all parties to “prioritize peace“
  • Iran launched missiles into Israel on Tuesday for its military campaigns in Lebanon, Gaza
Updated 02 October 2024
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson expressed “deep concern” over escalating tensions in the Middle East and urged all parties in the region to prioritize peace, a day after Iran launched scores of missiles into Israel. 

Sirens sounded across Israel and explosions rattled Jerusalem late Tuesday as Iran marked its largest military blow to the Jewish state when it launched scores of missiles into its territory. Tehran said its assault was a response to Israeli killings of militant leaders and aggression in Lebanon against Hezbollah and in Gaza.
No injuries were reported in Israel, but one man was killed in the occupied West Bank, authorities there said, in the attacks that Iran described as defensive and solely aimed at Israeli military facilities.
The United Nations Security Council scheduled a meeting about the Middle East for today, Wednesday, and the European Union called for an immediate ceasefire as Washington said it would work with Israel to ensure Iran faced “severe consequences” for the attack. 
“Pakistan expresses deep concern over the escalating hostilities in the Middle East, urging all parties to prioritize peace,” the foreign office spokesperson said in a statement. 
The foreign office said Israel has increasingly violated international law and the UN charter in recent months, blaming the Jewish state for endangering regional peace and security with its “ongoing genocide in Gaza.”
It said Israel’s recent invasion of Lebanon have intensified these tensions and affected the lives of innocent civilians.
“The people of Palestine, Lebanon, and the wider region deserve to live free from fear and violence,” the statement said. “It is crucial for all sides to step back from the brink and for the international community to take swift action to de-escalate the situation.”
The foreign office spokesperson called on the international community to address the “prevailing culture of impunity and disregard for international law” urgently.
 “Pakistan reiterates its call for the UN Security Council to uphold peace and security in the region, safeguard Lebanon’s sovereignty, and put an end to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza,” the statement said. 

Pakistan’s national airline announced earlier on Wednesday it was suspending the use of Iran’s airspace until further notice amid growing tensions. 

Pakistan does not recognize nor have diplomatic relations with Israel and calls for an independent Palestinian state based on “internationally agreed parameters” and the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

Since the beginning of Israel’s war on Gaza since October last year, Pakistan has repeatedly raised the issue at the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and other multilateral platforms and demanded international powers and bodies stop Israeli military actions in Gaza.

Topics: Israel Iran Russia

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