Pakistan’s caretaker prime minister arrives in Uzbekistan for 16th ECO Summit
Pakistan’s caretaker prime minister arrives in Uzbekistan for 16th ECO Summit/node/2405191/pakistan
Pakistan’s caretaker prime minister arrives in Uzbekistan for 16th ECO Summit
Pakistan Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar departs for Uzbekistan for the 16th Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Summit on November 8, 2023. (PID)
ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar arrived in Uzbekistan on Wednesday where he will attend the 16th Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Summit to discuss issues related to enhanced trade and regional connectivity.
The ECO, an intergovernmental organization, was established by Pakistan, Iran and Turkiye in 1985. Ever since, it has expanded its membership to include Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries.
The regional forum aims to utilize the economic potential of its member states that collectively form a mammoth market of over 500 million people by creating increased trade and investment opportunities. Together the ECO countries forged a multifaceted Vision 2025 for greater integration to expand tourism and ensure cooperation in a range of economic sectors.
“Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has arrived in Tashkent, Uzbekistan to attend the 16th Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Summit,” said a brief statement issued by his office in Islamabad.
“The Prime Minister was received by the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdullah Nagmatovich Aripov at Tashkent International Airport,” it added.
He is also accompanied foreign minister Jalil Abbas Jilani and commerce minister Gohar Ejaz.
A day earlier, Pakistan’s foreign office announced in a brief statement that Kakar “will reaffirm Pakistan’s commitment to ECO Vision 2025 and promote regional cooperation in the areas of trade, transport, connectivity, energy, tourism and economic growth and productivity.”
He is also expected to present his country’s vision for the future ECO work and hold bilateral discussions with the leaders of Uzbekistan and other participating states.
Pakistan has already launched its own regional connectivity program to tap central Asian markets by developing a deep-sea port in the southwestern city of Gwadar with Chinese assistance. The project is part of a multibillion-dollar economic corridor program that seeks to deepen Pakistan’s strategic relations with China.
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Tuesday ruled out talks with protesters who are holding a sit-in in Islamabad to demand the release of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan after four security officials and two demonstrators were killed in clashes.
Hundreds of supporters of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday reached the D-Chowk public square in Islamabad’s heavily fortified red zone, home to parliament, key government installations, luxury hotels, embassies and the offices of foreign organizations. Protest leaders, including Khan’s wife Bushra Khan and Ali Amin Gandapur, who is the chief minister of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province where the PTI is in power, have said this is a “do or die” sit-in that will go on until Khan is freed from prison. The former premier has been jailed since August last year and faces a slew of charges from corruption to terrorism that he says are politically motivated to keep him behind bars and away from politics.
PTI supporters broke through barricades and clashed with police as they marched on the capital late on Monday evening, with Interior Minister Naqvi saying three paramilitary troops and one policeman had been killed in clashes. The PTI said in a statement two of its supporters were confirmed dead while over 30 were wounded, the worst political violence seen in months in the South Asian nation of 241 million people.
“In today’s meeting, the clear cut decision of the prime minister and others is that there will be no talks with these protesters,” Naqvi said after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met his cabinet and other top officials.
Information Minister Ataullah Tarar said the government had agreed to offer the protesters a place on the outskirts of Islamabad to hold their protest and would have facilitated them in their activities.
“But why do they want to go to D-Chowk?” the information minister asked. “Because they want to cause damage to the life and property of Islamabad’s citizens. They have among them Afghan nationals, terrorists, dacoits.”
In a message shared with supporters from jail by his team, Khan, 72, urged his followers to stay peaceful but to stand firm til the end.
“My message for my team is to fight until the last ball is bowled. We will not back down until our demands are met!”
Message to the Pakistani nation by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, from Adiala jail, Rawalpindi:
I commend the Pakistani nation and PTI's political workers, who are fighting for their rights by participating in this peaceful protest, and resolutely standing before the mafia…
As thousands of rally goers left for Islamabad on Sunday in protest caravans, authorities shut down major highways leading to the capital and used shipping containers to block major roads and streets inside the city. Mobile Internet links and apps like WhatsApp have been down since the weekend and schools have been closed for several days in the capital and the nearby garrison city of Rawalpindi.
Last week, the district administration also banned public gatherings in Islamabad for two months, and on Monday, the interior ministry invoked Article 245, calling in the army to maintain law and order.
A round of the federal capital by Arab News on Tuesday afternoon showed that all entry and exit points of the city had been sealed again with shipping containers shortly after protesters removed them to enter the city. The Srinagar Highway, the main artery connecting the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, was littered with stones that protesters had reportedly hurled at security personnel on their way to D-Chowk.
Local residents of Rawalpindi and Islamabad could be seen distributing food and water among protesters on the Srinagar Highway while helicopters hovered above.
Protest leader Ali Amin Gandapur, whose caravan had still not reached D-Chowk by Tuesday evening, urged protesters to camp at the square and not advance further into the red zone.
“D-Chowk means D-Chowk,” the chief minister told supporters from atop a truck en route to the public square. “Beyond that, as long as Imran Khan’s orders, Imran Khan’s instructions are not given, we will not go beyond that area and we will respect his instructions.”
Amnesty International called on the Pakistan government to protect and ensure the rights of protesters and “immediately rescind the ‘shoot-on-sight’ orders that provide undue and excessive powers to the military.”
“The severe restrictions on assembly, movement and mobile and Internet services as well as arbitrary detentions of thousands of protesters across Pakistan, particularly in Islamabad, are a grave violation of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly, movement and expression,” the rights group said on X.
PAKISTAN: The government must fully protect and ensure the rights of protesters and immediately rescind the ‘shoot-on-sight’ orders that provide undue and excessive powers to the military.
In response to protests by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Islamabad, the… pic.twitter.com/7hqrwyXjOb
— Amnesty International South Asia, Regional Office (@amnestysasia) November 26, 2024
KARACHI: Pakistan’s Descon Engineering, which operates in the engineering, power and chemical sectors, on Tuesday announced the incorporation of Descon Engineering Arabia, a registered entity in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in partnership with its long-standing strategic partner, Olayan Saudi Holding Company (OSHCO.)
OSHCO is a Saudi-based diversified business enterprise with commercial and industrial operations spread across Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East and North Africa regions. The company’s portfolio includes more than 25 companies operating in five sectors, namely, food and beverages, restaurants, health and personal care, information and communications technology (ICT), and energy.
Descon, a group of companies headquartered in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore, is active in UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Iraq, and South Africa.
“This significant development reaffirms Descon’s continued commitment to the Kingdom and highlights its focus on localization within Saudi Arabia,” Descon said in a statement.
“Through Descon Engineering Arabia, the company is further expanding its regional footprint, reinforcing its position as a trusted and established service provider dedicated to meeting the needs of customers across the Kingdom.”
The company said the “new chapter” had strengthened its resolve to make a broader global impact, ensuring enhanced value delivery to clients in Saudi Arabia, while supporting the development of local talent and capacity building.
“As we establish Descon Engineering Arabia in partnership with OSHCO, we reaffirm our commitment to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its vision for sustainable growth. This step represents a deepening of our long-standing relationship with the region, enabling us to deliver tailored solutions while contributing to local talent development and capacity building,” Taimur Saeed, CEO of Descon Engineering, said.
“We look forward to fostering stronger collaborations and continuing to serve the Kingdom with the reliability and expertise that have defined our journey for nearly five decades.”
Through Descon Engineering Arabia, Descon Engineering is positioned to deliver even greater value, continuing its “dedication to excellence and local growth” for customers in Saudi Arabia and the region, the company added.
Ayub century helps Pakistan crush Zimbabwe, level series
Ayub struck unbeaten 113 as Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 10 wickets to level one-day international series with one match to come
Zimbabwe were all out for 145 at Queens Sports Club as they sought a second victory over the tourists
Updated 26 November 2024
AFP
ZIMBABWE: Saim Ayub struck an unbeaten 113 as Pakistan crushed Zimbabwe by 10 wickets in Bulawayo on Tuesday to level a one-day international series with one match to come.
Zimbabwe were all out for 145 at Queens Sports Club as they sought a second victory over the tourists in three days having won by 80 runs in a rain-shortened tour opener.
Pakistan then atoned for a poor batting show on Sunday with Ayub and fellow opener Abdullah Shafique (32 not out) unstoppable as they reached their target in 18.2 overs.
Ayub struck 17 runs and three sixes off 62 balls in a 75-minute stand while Shafique claimed four fours in the southern city.
Ayub reached his century off 53 balls — the second fastest in an ODI international by a Pakistani after Shahid Afridi.
Zimbabwe, seeking a first ODI series win over Pakistan, utilized five bowlers, but none made an impression with Brandon Mavuta, who conceded 47 runs in four overs, particularly expensive.
After winning the toss, Zimbabwe were quickly in trouble with openers Joylord Gumbie (five) and Tadiwanashe Marumani (four) back in the pavilion with less than four overs bowled.
Only Dion Myers, who struck six fours in his 33, and veteran Sean Williams, who posted 31 before being trapped leg before by Ayub, impressed for the home team.
Pakistan-born all-rounder Sikandar Raza, often the batting savior for Zimbabwe, made just 17 before becoming one of three victims of Salman Ali Agha.
Abrar Ahmed took four wickets and Ali Agha three for Pakistan, who arrived in southern Africa after a 3-0 ODI series loss in Australia.
The Zimbabwe ODI series decider is set for Thursday, followed by three Twenty20 internationals from Sunday, also in Bulawayo. Pakistan then visit South Africa for an all-format tour.
ISLAMABAD: Top10VPN, an independent VPN review company, said this week VPN demand had more than tripled in Pakistan following the tightening of social media restrictions between Nov. 24-26, days that coincide with the launch of a protest movement by the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
Pakistani authorities have suspended mobile Internet services and blocked several VPNs amid a protest launched by supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has been jailed since August 2023 on a spate of charges from corruption to terrorism.
The government has been cracking down on VPN use for weeks, with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority announcing that businesses and freelancers would be able to legally use VPNs by registering with the government, but unregistered VPNs will be blocked in Pakistan after Nov. 30. Authorities say the measures are meant to deter militants and other suspects who use VPNs to conceal their identities and spread “anti-state propaganda” and promote “blasphemous” or other illegal content online.
Digital rights activists say the move is part of government attempts to block vital tools that allow users to bypass restrictions amid a wave of digital crackdowns, particularly as the use of VPNs has sharply risen in Pakistan since February this year when the government banned X.
“Demand for VPN services initially increased by 102 percent in Pakistan on November 24 compared to the daily average over the 28 days prior,” Top10VPN said in a report.
The PTI had launched its ‘long march’ protest to the federal capital, Islamabad, on Nov. 24.
“VPN demand intensified the next day [Monday], at 253 percent above the baseline on November 25 and continues to remain elevated,” the website added. “The surge followed reports that WhatsApp had been targeted by the authorities, preventing media sharing.”
The federal government is also moving to implement a nationwide firewall to block malicious content, protect government networks from attacks, and allow the government to identify IP addresses associated with what it calls “anti-state propaganda” and terror attacks. Internet speeds have dropped by up to 30-40 percent over the past few months due to the firewall, according to the Wireless and Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan (WISPAP).
In August, the Pakistan Business Council (PBC) warned that frequent Internet disruptions and low speeds caused by poor implementation of the national firewall had led many multinational companies to consider relocating their offices out of Pakistan, with some having “already done so.” The Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), the country’s top representative body for the IT sector, warned last week Internet slowdowns and the restriction of VPN services could lead to financial losses and closures and increase operational costs for the industry by up to $150 million annually.
Pakistan’s IT and ITeS exports have been growing at an average of 30 percent per year, and are on the way to achieve over $15 billion in the next 5 years, according to industry data, provided the government ensures continuity in export, fiscal, financial, SME, infrastructure and IT policies.
“If the VPNs are blocked, most of IT companies, Call Centers, BPO [business process outsourcing] organizations of Pakistan will lose all the major Fortune 500 clients, as well as others – as data protection and cybersecurity are of paramount importance to our clients, and connecting to client systems through VPN is a global norm and standard, and is a basic requirement and expectation of clients around the world,” P@SHA Chairman Sajjad Mustafa Syed said in a statement released last Tuesday.
“Additionally, no international company of any size tolerates any intrusion into their security protocols by any private or public institution.”
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan army said on Tuesday it had killed three militants out of a group that had tried to infiltrate its frontier with neighboring Afghanistan in the northwestern North Waziristan district, calling on Kabul to ensure “effective border management” on its side.
Islamabad, facing a sharp rise in militancy in recent months, says the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) group uses Afghanistan as a base to launch attacks and that the ruling Taliban administration has provided safe havens to the group along their shared border. The Taliban government in Kabul denies this.
The TTP is separate from the Afghan Taliban movement but pledges loyalty to the group that has ruled Afghanistan after the US-led international forces withdrew in 2021.
“On night 25/26 November, movement of a group of khwarij [militants], who were trying to infiltrate through Pakistan-Afghanistan border, was picked up by the security forces in general area Hassan Khel, North Waziristan District,” the army said in a statement. “Own troops effectively engaged and thwarted their attempt to infiltrate. Resultantly, three Khwarij were sent to hell.”
The statement said Islamabad had “consistently” been asking the Afghan government to ensure effective border management on their side of the border.
“Interim Afghan Government is expected to fulfil its obligations and deny the use of Afghan soil by Khwarij for perpetuating acts of terrorism against Pakistan,” the army added.
“Security Forces of Pakistan are determined and remain committed to secure its borders and eliminate the menace of terrorism from the country.”
