Pakistan’s religious affairs minister lauds Saudi Arabia for excellent Hajj arrangements, ‘rapid’ transformation 

Pakistani Hajj pilgrims arrive from Jeddah at the Islamabad International Airport in Islamabad on July 2, 2023, as Pakistan begins its post-Hajj flight operation. (AN Photo)
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Updated 03 July 2023
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Pakistan’s religious affairs minister lauds Saudi Arabia for excellent Hajj arrangements, ‘rapid’ transformation 

  • Pakistan’s Religious Affairs Minister Talha Mahmood credits Saudi crown prince for the kingdom embracing technology
  • Pilgrims express satisfaction on cooling, transport, and other arrangements after first post-Hajj flight landed in capital 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Religious Affairs Minister Talha Mahmood on Sunday lauded the Saudi government for undertaking excellent measures to ensure the recently concluded Hajj pilgrimage was held smoothly, saying that he was amazed at the “rapid” transformation that the kingdom had undertaken under the Saudi crown prince. 

Mahmood comments came at the Islamabad airport as the first post-Hajj flight carrying 392 Pakistani pilgrims from Jeddah arrived. The Hajj concluded on Friday after pilgrims returned to the Grand Mosque in Makkah and performed farewell Tawaf, the circumambulation of the Holy Ka’aba, after spending days offering prayers and engaging in the remembrance of the Almighty. 

The South Asian country commenced its post-Hajj flight operation on Sunday, with four flights departing from Jeddah to Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, and Peshawar, according to Pakistan’s national flag carrier. A total of 1,423 pilgrims returned home via these flights. The post-Hajj operation will conclude on August 2, with the final flight departing from Madinah. 

“I am amazed to see how Saudi Arabia is transforming, evolving at a rapid pace, and embracing modern technology,” Mahmood told Arab News, crediting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the change. 




Pakistan's Religious Affairs Minister Talha Mahmood (2R) arrives from Jeddah at the Islamabad International Airport in Islamabad on July 2, 2023, as Pakistan begins its post-Hajj flight operation. (Photo courtesy: CAA)

He also heaped praises on the kingdom for ensuring excellent arrangements were in place for the annual spiritual pilgrimage. 

“This was the largest Hajj in the history of Saudi Arabia by the grace of Allah, all arrangements were excellent,” Mahmood said.
“I express heartfelt gratitude to Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the Saudi government as they have made great efforts to facilitate a large number of pilgrims at their best.” 

He said Pakistani pilgrims were very satisfied with the arrangements during the Hajj pilgrimage. 

“The people I have met have expressed satisfaction and happiness over the arrangements and I believe all pilgrims had a blessed Hajj,” the minister said. 




Pakistani Hajj pilgrims arrive from Jeddah at the Islamabad International Airport in Islamabad on July 2, 2023, as Pakistan begins its post-Hajj flight operation. (AN Photo)

Along with overseeing current Hajj operations, Mahmood said, he had secured next year’s quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Pakistan as well, which would help his ministry improve arrangements. 

“We were supposed to receive our quota after 8 months, and today I am bringing the quota for 179,210 pilgrims for 2024,” he continued. 

“I will now immediately start preparations for the next year’s Hajj, which we usually begin during Ramadan.” 

Zafar Iqbal, a Pakistani pilgrim from Mianwali, said it was his first Hajj and his experience was “fantastic.” 

“The arrangements were top-notch. The food, accommodation, and transportation were all excellent. There was no shortage of anything, and I felt incredibly blessed that Allah chose me to visit this sacred place,” he told Arab News. 

“I prayed for my country’s strength, prosperity, and protection from both internal and external conspiracies.” 




Pakistani Hajj pilgrims arrive from Jeddah at the Islamabad International Airport in Islamabad on July 2, 2023, as Pakistan begins its post-Hajj flight operation. (AN Photo)

Jansaid Khan, another pilgrim from Peshawar, said he had performed Hajj multiple times, but the arrangements for the pilgrimage were “exceptional” this year. 

“Despite the scorching heat in Saudi Arabia, the hotel, the Haram, and the availability of water were all well-maintained and kept cool,” he told Arab News. 

Syed Wajid Ali Shah from Peshawar endorsed what the other pilgrims said. 

“The weather was extremely hot, however, apart from that, all the arrangements were excellent, and we are extremely pleased with our government for providing us with facilities that exceeded our expectations,” he added. 


Pakistan, Russia call for regional collaboration on Afghanistan amid shared security concerns

Updated 4 sec ago
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Pakistan, Russia call for regional collaboration on Afghanistan amid shared security concerns

  • The call comes as Moscow’s special representative for Afghanistan visits Pakistan for a day
  • Despite security issues, Afghanistan’s neighboring states view its stability as vital for progress

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Russia on Thursday called for greater collaboration among regional states to address the situation in Afghanistan, amid shared concerns over militant violence emanating from the war-torn country.
The call came during a visit by Moscow’s special representative for Afghanistan, Ambassador Zamir Kabulov, who met with Pakistan’s foreign secretary, Amna Baloch, and held detailed discussions with the additional secretary, Ahmad Naseem Warraich, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad.
“The two sides exchanged views on relations with Afghanistan and called for enhanced coordination among regional countries for a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan,” the foreign office said. “The two sides agreed to remain engaged toward this end.”
The talks come as both nations grapple with security threats linked to Afghanistan. Russia has voiced alarm over Daesh and its attacks, including a concert bombing in Moscow earlier this year that was linked to militants with ties to Afghanistan.
While the Afghan Taliban and Daesh are sworn enemies, Pakistan accuses the Afghan administration of facilitating the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a proscribed militant network blamed for cross-border attacks, an allegation Kabul denies.
Pakistan’s approach to Afghanistan has grown increasingly confrontational since last year as it pressures Kabul to rein in the TTP. By contrast, Russia announced last month it would remove the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations, signaling a step toward normalizing ties with Afghanistan’s rulers.
Beyond security, Russia is keen to retain its influence in Central Asia and engage in Afghanistan’s economic reconstruction, particularly in energy and infrastructure projects.
Initiatives such as the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) Gas Pipeline and the Trans-Afghan Railway remain key priorities for Moscow, though persistent security challenges have delayed progress.
For Pakistan also, Afghanistan is critical for regional connectivity. Islamabad has offered landlocked Central Asian nations access to its ports, aiming to facilitate trade with global markets via sea routes.
Despite security concerns shared by Afghanistan’s neighboring countries, its stability is viewed as vital to unlocking the economic potential of regional projects.
 


PM Sharif urges nation to perform rain prayers as toxic smog chokes Pakistani cities

Updated 14 November 2024
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PM Sharif urges nation to perform rain prayers as toxic smog chokes Pakistani cities

  • Shehbaz Sharif urges Islamic scholars to play their role in organizing ‘Istisqa’ prayers across the country
  • Toxic smog has enveloped Pakistan’s cultural capital, Lahore, and 17 other districts of Punjab province

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has urged the nation to perform prayers for rainfall, calling on Islamic scholars to take the lead in organizing “Istisqa” prayers, his office announced on Thursday, as worsening air quality continues to endanger the health of millions.
The Istisqa prayer is a special Islamic ritual performed to seek rain, primarily during times of drought or severe water shortages. It symbolizes the community’s humility, repentance and reliance on divine mercy for sustenance.
Toxic smog has enveloped Pakistan’s cultural capital, Lahore, and 17 other districts in Punjab since last month. Health officials report that more than 40,000 people have sought treatment for respiratory illnesses, prompting Punjab authorities to close schools until November 17 to safeguard children’s health.
“PM Sharif appeals to the nation to offer Istisqa prayers for rain,” his office announced in a statement. “Scholars should especially play their role in organizing Istisqa prayers.”
The prime minister noted the rainfall would improve the environment apart from aiding in getting rid of diseases.
“Istisqa prayers should be organized in all mosques under the auspices of the federal government and the provinces,” he was quoted as saying. “In the current situation, there is a dire need for rain.”
A day earlier, Pakistan’s Meteorological Department forecast light rains from Nov. 14-16 in most districts of the country’s populous Punjab province.
The UN children’s agency has warned that the health of 11 million children in Punjab is in danger due to air pollution.
South Asia, particularly India and Pakistan, gets shrouded in intense pollution every winter as cold air traps emissions, dust, and smoke from farm fires.
Pollution could cut more than five years from people’s life expectancy in the region, according to a University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute study last year.
 


Pakistan signs four-year pact with Global Green Growth Initiative to boost climate resilience

Updated 14 November 2024
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Pakistan signs four-year pact with Global Green Growth Initiative to boost climate resilience

  • The agreement will help Pakistan’s transition to a green economy, address water scarcity and deforestation
  • Pakistan has ranked as the fifth most vulnerable country to climate change, with its cities engulfed in smog

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has signed a four-year country program framework agreement with an international green economy organization to advance its sustainable development goals by enhancing climate resilience through green growth initiatives, according to an official statement released on Thursday.
The agreement was signed by Pakistan’s Climate Change Ministry Secretary, Aisha Humera Moriani, and the Global Green Growth Initiative’s (GGGI) Deputy Director-General, Helena McLeod, during a formal ceremony at the United Nations-led Global Climate Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Pakistan ranks as the fifth most vulnerable country to climate change, according to the Global Climate Risk Index. In 2022, catastrophic floods claimed over 1,700 lives, affected more than 33 million people, and caused economic losses exceeding $30 billion.
While international donors pledged over $9 billion last January to help Pakistan recover from the devastating floods, officials report that little of the pledged amount has been disbursed so far.
“The Ministry of Climate Change & Environmental Coordination and GGGI has signed a four-year Country Programme Framework agreement to advance Pakistan’s sustainable development goals through targeted climate action and green growth interventions,” said the official statement.
On the occasion, McLeod said her organization aimed to facilitate Pakistan’s transition to a green economy through collaboration with national stakeholders to address water scarcity, deforestation and energy challenges “compounded by climate change effects.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Coordinator on Climate Change Romina Khurshid Alam thanked the GGGI for engaging with Pakistan to “mobilize green finance, support climate action frameworks and promote investment” to achieve climate resilience.
Pakistan also regularly faces other climate change-induced effects such as droughts, cyclones, torrential rainstorms and heatwaves.
Currently, record-high air pollution levels have triggered hundreds of hospitalizations, school closures and stay-at-home orders in the eastern city of Lahore and other cities in the populous Punjab province, which has been enveloped in thick, toxic smog since last month.
A mix of low-grade fuel emissions from factories and vehicles, exacerbated by agricultural stubble burning, blanket Lahore and its surroundings each winter, trapped by cooler temperatures and slow-moving winds.
The city of 14 million people stuffed with factories on the border with India regularly ranks among the world’s most polluted cities, but it has hit record levels this month, as has New Delhi.
 


Army officer, soldier killed in southwest Pakistan clash that leaves three militants dead

Updated 14 November 2024
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Army officer, soldier killed in southwest Pakistan clash that leaves three militants dead

  • Incident in Balochistan occurred after security forces reacted to militant presence in Harnai district
  • A Pakistan army major and a havildar lost their lives when an improvised explosive device blew up

QUETTA: An army officer and a soldier lost their lives in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province on Thursday, according to a statement from the military’s media wing, during an encounter that also left three militants dead.
Balochistan, which borders Iran and Afghanistan, has been the site of a low-level insurgency by separatist militants for over two decades. In August, ethnic nationalist militants carried out several coordinated attacks on civilian and military targets in the province, killing more than 50 people on August 25-26.
Most of the assaults were claimed by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), the leading separatist group operating in the province, which is home to key China-led infrastructure projects, including a port and a gold-copper mine.
“On 14 Nov 2024, on reported presence of terrorists, planning to target innocent civilians in Harnai District, security forces under Major Muhammad Haseeb were immediately mobilized to sanitize the area,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) informed.
“Own troops effectively engaged the terrorists’ location and resultantly three terrorists were sent to hell,” it continued. “However, during the operation, an improvised explosive device exploded on the leading vehicle of security forces, resultantly, Major Muhammad Haseeb (age: 28 years, resident of District Multan), a brave officer, who was leading his troops from the front, along with Havildar Noor Ahmed (age: 38 years, resident of District Barkhan), having fought gallantly, made the ultimate sacrifice and embraced Shahadat [martyrdom].”
The incident comes just four days after a deadly suicide bombing at the Quetta railway station killed dozens of people, including army soldiers, and wounded several others.
A day earlier, security forces killed eight militants and injured six others during an intelligence-based operation in Pakistan’s restive northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province.
KP has been predominantly targeted by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants, who have carried out attacks on security forces’ convoys and check posts, as well as killing and kidnapping officials and civilians in recent months.
The TTP leadership is reportedly based in neighboring Afghanistan, straining ties between Kabul and Islamabad, as Pakistani officials accuse the Afghan Taliban of “facilitating” cross-border militant attacks.
Afghanistan denies the allegations and has urged Pakistan to address its security challenges internally.
 


Pakistani security forces kill eight militants in restive northwest

Updated 14 November 2024
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Pakistani security forces kill eight militants in restive northwest

  • Army says six militants also injured during operation in Miran Shah area of North Waziristan
  • South Asian nation blames surge in militancy on TTP fighters operating out of Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD: Security forces killed eight militants while six others sustained injuries during an intelligence-based operation in Pakistan’s restive northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military’s media wing said on Wednesday.
According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the operation was conducted in the Miran Shah area of North Waziristan district.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which borders Afghanistan, has witnessed several attacks by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants who have targeted security forces’ convoys and check posts, besides killing and kidnapping officials and civilians in recent months.
“Security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in general area Miran Shah, North Waziristan District on the reported presence of khwarij [militants],” the ISPR said.
“During the conduct of the operation, own troops effectively engaged khwarij’s location, as a result of which, eight khwarij were sent to hell, while six khwarij got injured.”
A “sanitization operation” was also conducted in the area to eliminate any other militants, it added.
Earlier this month on Nov. 10, Pakistani security forces killed four militants in two separate encounters in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Prior to that, four Pakistani soldiers and five militants lost their lives in a gunbattle in South Waziristan’s Karama area.
The TTP leadership is said to be based in neighboring Afghanistan, affecting the ties between Kabul and Islamabad since the Pakistani officials have accused the Afghan Taliban of “facilitating” cross-border militant attacks.
Afghanistan denies the allegation and has urged Pakistan to resolve its security challenges internally.