ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s national flag carrier announced its decision to reduce Umrah pilgrimage fares in a brief statement issued on Friday, saying the new rates would be implemented immediately.
The cost adjustment, which appears to be an attempt to ease the financial burden for the faithful embarking on the sacred journey, has come at a time when the government has approved an Rs8 billion lifeline to address the airline’s financial woes.
Prior to that, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) was beginning to find it difficult to meet its operational expenses and canceling regular flight operations.
“PIA has announced an immediate reduction in Umrah fares,” an official statement circulated by the airline’s spokesperson said. “Two-way Umrah fare from Lahore, Islamabad, Sialkot, Peshawar, Multan, Faisalabad to Jeddah is Rs87,000 plus tax. Umrah fare from Karachi and Quetta is Rs79,000 plus tax.”
“These fares will be effective immediately,” the statement added.
The airfares for international travel significantly increased due to multiple factors after countries lifted lockdowns in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
PIA’s reduced rates are expected to incentivize pilgrims to travel through the national airline.
PIA slashes Umrah fares to support pilgrims amid financial aid boost
https://arab.news/4abze
PIA slashes Umrah fares to support pilgrims amid financial aid boost
- Last month, the government approved an Rs8 billion lifeline to address the airline’s financial woes
- PIA’s reduced rates are expected to incentivize local pilgrims to travel through the national airline
Pakistani PM on official visit to Tajikistan from tomorrow amid investment push
- Islamabad wants to enhance its role as trade hub connecting landlocked Central Asia with rest of the world
- In April, Pakistan opened its trade gateway to Central Asia with the first potato shipment to Tajikistan
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will be on an official visit to Tajikistan from tomorrow, Tuesday, the foreign office said, as the South Asian country moves to solidify ties with Central Asian republics.
Pakistan is pushing to enhance its role as a pivotal trade and transit hub connecting the landlocked Central Asian states with the rest of the world, leveraging its strategic geographical position.
In recent weeks, there has been a flurry of visits, investment talks and economic activity between Pakistan and Central Asian states and last week, Sharif chaired a special meeting attended by senior government ministers on how to enhance relations with the region, particularly in the areas of economy and investment.
“At the invitation of President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will undertake an official visit to Dushanbe, Tajikistan from 2-3 July 2024,” the foreign office said.
“In Dushanbe, the Prime Minister will meet President Emomali Rahmon, Chairman of Majlisi Namoyandagon of Majlisi Oli Mahmadtoir Zoir Zokirzoda and Prime Minister Qohir Rasulzoda.”
The foreign office said the two sides would engage in “wide-ranging discussions on areas of mutual interest” to deepen cooperation, especially in the areas of regional connectivity, trade, people-to-people contacts and energy.
“The two sides will also sign agreements and MoUs in diverse areas of cooperation,” the foreign office added.
In May, Pakistan’s investment minister reaffirmed the country’s resolve to cooperate with Central Asian states as Islamabad pushes forward an ambitious agenda to bolster trade activities as it grapples with a macroeconomic crisis.
“Pakistan has reaffirmed the resolve to cooperate with Central Asian countries to boost economic and trade activities in the region,” the state-run Radio Pakistan reported, quoting Pakistan’s Investment Minister Abdul Aleem Khan.
“He said Pakistan’s Port Qasim and Gwadar port are available for Central Asia’s trade routes.”
In April, Pakistan opened its trade gateway to Central Asia with the first potato shipment to Tajikistan.
Woman, two children killed in land mine blast in Pakistan’s remote southwest
- It was unclear who had laid down the land mine and when in a province where Baloch rebels frequently attack security officials
- Balochistan has seen a decades-long insurgency against what separatists call the unfair exploitation of resources
QUETTA: A woman and her two children were killed in a land mine blast in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province on Monday, paramilitary officials said.
Balochistan has seen a decades-long insurgency against what separatists call the unfair exploitation of resources in the mineral-rich region. Most of the separatist groups operate independently, but some recent reports in local media have pointed to increasing cooperation between them and with the Pakistani Taliban, also known as the TTP.
Pakistani security forces have been the main focus of sepratists and other militants in the province, but in recent years they have also targeted Chinese interests, given Beijing’s increasing economic footprint in the region.
“Family members of Mohammad Ali were coming back to their home on Monday morning when they stepped on a land mine outside their residence, killing a woman and two children aged five and two years old,” Levies sepoy Abdul Rasheed told Arab News, saying the incident took place in Gabeen village in Kech district of Balochistan.
It was unclear who had laid down the land mine and when in a province where Baloch rebels frequently attack security officials, gas pipelines, electricity infrastructure and transport links.
“Government of Balochistan along with law enforcement agencies are taking concrete measures to wipe out terrorists and their facilitators,” Home Minister Mir Zia Langove said, “Human rights organizations working in Pakistan should raise their voice against the murders of women and children.”
Low-cost airline flydubai starts flights to Islamabad, Lahore
- Flydubai started Pakistan operations in 2010 with launch of flights to Karachi
- Carrier also serves Pakistani cities of Faisalabad, Multan, Quetta and Sialkot
KARACHI: Dubai-based low-cost airline flydubai has started flights to Islamabad and Lahore, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority said on Monday, with the first flights in both cities greeted with water cannon salutes.
Flydubai first started operating in Pakistan in 2010 with the launch of flights to the southern port city of Karachi. The carrier also serves the cities of Faisalabad, Multan, Quetta and Sialkot.
“Flydubai has also started flights to Islamabad,” CAA said in a statement. “Inaugural flight FZ 353 arrived in Islamabad from Dubai at 1:55am.”
A small dinner ceremony was organized on the occasion, CAA said, and the inaugural flight carrying 153 passengers was given a water cannon salute by the Rescue and Fire Fighting Service.
The flight returned to Dubai at 220pm on Monday with 162 passengers on board.
Separately, the CAA said flydubai’s Flight FZ 359 arrived in Lahore at 429am.
“A cake cutting ceremony was organized on this occasion and gifts were presented to the passengers,” CAA said. “Flydubai’s inaugural flight to Lahore was presented with a water cannon salute.”
In a press release last month when flydubai announced it would start flights to Lahore and Islamabad, Hamad Obaidalla, chief commercial officer of the airline, said Pakistan had long been an important market for the carrier:
“Since 2010 when we first started operations to the market, we have seen sustained demand for travel and with the start of our daily services to Islamabad and Lahore, we look forward to offering passengers more opportunities to explore Dubai, the GCC region and beyond on the flydubai network.”
As per the airline, the return business class fares from DXB to ISB start from AED 5,500 ($1497) and economy class fares from AED 1,300 ($353). Return business class fares from ISB to DXB start from Rs400,000 ($1436) and economy class fares from Rs120,000 ($430).
Pakistan sets up National Emergencies Operation Center as monsoon begins
- Public advised to download “Pak NDMA Disaster Alert” mobile app for timely alerts
- Disaster authority issues precautionary measures against urban flooding in cities
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top disaster management authority has established a National Emergencies Operation Center (NEOC) in anticipation of intense cloud bursts and moderate to heavy rainfall expected to start tomorrow, Tuesday, as the country enters the monsoon season.
A statement from the PM office said on Monday the NEOC would use latest tools and technologies, including real-time satellite feeds, to anticipate disasters up to three months in advance and was run by a multidisciplinary team of experts employing the power of geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, climatology, meteorology, seismology, hydrology, and data sciences to monitor and analyze global and local hazards.
“NEOC has been reported a significant activity from the eastern Indian side, indicating intense cloud bursts that may hit Pakistani areas,” the PM Office said on Monday.
“Repeated early warnings have been shared with all provinces, and rainfall is likely to start over the upper catchments of all major rivers particularly Sutlej, Ravi and Chenab from July 2, 2024.”
The disaster management authority had also issued an alert regarding lightning expected in different cities of Punjab and the federal capital, Islamabad, during July 5-7, which could lead to rapid rises in water levels, flash flooding events, and urban flooding in metropolitan areas, the statement said.
” NDMA warns that the anticipated rainfall poses a significant risk of low to medium level flooding in River Sutlej, with water levels expected to reach low flood levels (approximately 50,000 cusecs) by July 5 and high flood levels (approximately 120,000 cusecs) by July 10,” the PM Office added.
The disaster management authority has been working closely with the federal and provincial departments to ensure preparedness and response to any potential emergency, the statement said, advising the public to remain vigilant and follow instructions from local authorities as well as download the “Pak NDMA Disaster Alert” for timely alerts, weather reports and flood updates.
“Protect yourself from floodwater, avoid contact with it, which may be contaminated or contain debris or electrical wires,” it added. “Develop an evacuation plan with your family, identify a safe location, and create an emergency kit with essential supplies.”
The disaster management authority also advised travelers to avoid unnecessary travel in case of heavy rainfalls and likely floods.
Pakistan is consistently ranked among the world’s worst-affected countries from climate change. Unprecedented rainfall and melting of glaciers in June 2022 triggered massive floods across the country that killed nearly 1,700 people and inflicted damages worth $3 billion. Scientists and experts attributed the floods to the adverse effects of climate change.
Pakistan also went through a severe heat wave in May and June, which saw temperatures in some regions rise to above 50 degrees Celsius.
Dispute over death toll as Karachi’s second-longest heat wave ends after eight days
- Government reports 49 deaths, relief agencies claim morgues received three times more bodies than usual during heat wave
- Chief Meteorologist says this year’s heat wave the longest since June 2015 when 2,000 people died from heat-induced causes
KARACHI: Pakistan’s Chief Meteorologist Dr. Sardar Sarfaraz said on Monday an eight-day heat wave in Pakistan’s largest city of Karachi was over with at least 49 dead, while relief agencies and health experts disputed the government figures, saying the death toll was likely much higher.
Pakistan has been in the grips of a heat wave since May, with temperatures rising above 52 degrees Celsius (125.6 degrees Fahrenheit) in the southern province of Sindh, of which the port city of Karachi is the capital. For over a week now, Karachi has seen an unusual spike in temperatures, with the mercury rising above 40 °C (104 °F) throughout last weekend and reaching 47.2 °C (117 °F) on June 25.
“As of today, the sea breeze has been restored and the heat wave is over,” Dr. Sarfaraz told Arab News. “During four of the eight heat wave days, temperatures reached up to 42°C but felt like 54°C due to low-pressure formation over southeast Karachi.”
Dr. Sarfaraz noted that this heat wave was the longest in Karachi since June 2015 when a “killer” episode claimed over 2,000 lives. He said 49 people had died in Karachi during this heat wave.
However, Muhammad Amin from the Edhi Foundation charity, one of the largest in Pakistan, estimated that the death toll from heat-induced causes was much higher given the number of bodies received at morgues.
“We have received 1,309 dead bodies since June 19, which is a significant increase, almost three times higher, than our average during this period,” Amin said, although he was unable to confirm if all the bodies received by Edhi were of people who had died due to complications from the heat wave.
Dr. Irfan Siddiqui, the head of emergency services at Jinnah Hospital, one of the biggest government-operated hospitals in Karachi, said the figures compiled by the government were authentic.
“We have reported these figures [49] after ascertaining the cause of death. One cannot attribute a death to a certain condition on mere speculations,” he said about the Edhi estimates.
However, Dr. Siddiqui acknowledged that some heat wave deaths may have gone unreported.
“While one cannot rely solely on figures from rescue services, the government’s data may also be inaccurate,” Dr. Abdullah Muttaqi, a senior health practitioner, told Arab News. “If morgues are receiving a large number of bodies during this period, heat likely played a role, but without medical confirmation of the cause, these figures cannot be cited.
“In the case of the government, figures are likely underreported, not properly documented, and inaccurately presented.”
Dr. Qaiser Sajjad, former general secretary of the Pakistan Medical Association, also said morgues had been receiving more bodies than usual and advised that the “government should sit with rescue services and rationalize its data.”
Pakistan is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change. In 2022, devastating rains and floods killed 1,739 people, destroyed 2 million homes, and submerged as much as one-third of the country under water. The deluges also caused more than $30 billion in damages to Pakistan’s already cash-strapped economy.
