ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Monday visited Azad Kashmir and reassured his country’s support to the Kashmiri people in their struggle for their right to self-determination, as Pakistan observed a public holiday to show solidarity with Kashmiris.
Pakistan, which observes the Kashmir Solidarity Day every year on February 5, calls for the right to self-determination to the people of Indian-administered Kashmir and has repeatedly urged New Delhi to hold a plebiscite in the disputed territory in line with the United Nations Security Council resolutions.
The Muslim-majority Himalayan region of Kashmir has been a flashpoint between Pakistan and India since their independence from the British rule in 1947. Both Pakistan and India rule parts of the Himalayan territory, but claim it in full and have fought three wars over the disputed region.
During his visit to Azad Kashmir’s capital Muzaffarabad, PM Kakar met with the Azad Kashmir prime minister, Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq, and Chaudhry Latif Akbar, speaker of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly.
“The entire Pakistani nation, including me, is standing by their Kashmiri brothers and sisters in the struggle for their right to self-determination,” PM Kakar was quoted as saying by his office.
“The final and just solution to the Kashmir issue is possible only under a free and impartial plebiscite according to the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council.”
He said “Indian atrocities in Jammu and Kashmir” were not hidden from anyone and the silence of the international community on the matter was “alarming and reprehensible,” according to a statement issued by PM Kakar’s office.
“Pakistan will continue to provide moral, political and diplomatic support to its Kashmiri brothers and sisters until they achieve their right to self-determination,” the Pakistan prime minister said.
The Azad Kashmir prime minister and speaker of the AJK Legislative Assembly welcomed the Pakistan PM’s visit to Muzaffarabad on the Kashmir Solidarity Day.
“They said Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar’s visit to Muzaffarabad for the Kashmir Solidarity Day conveyed a clear message to India that the hearts of Pakistani and Kashmiri brothers and sisters beat together,” PM Kakar’s office said.
Every year on Feb. 5, Pakistanis from all walks of life hold demonstrations, form human chains and organize events in many parts of the country to express their support for the people of Indian-administered Kashmir.
In his message on the Kashmir Solidarity Day, Pakistan’s President Dr. Arif Alvi said Kashmiris had been struggling for their rights for the past 76 years.
“Today, IIOJK (Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir) is one of the most militarized zones in the world,” Alvi said. “Kashmiris are living in an environment of fear and intimidation.”
While Pakistan says it politically and diplomatically supports Kashmiris in their struggle for self-determination, New Delhi alleges that Islamabad trains and harbors militants who carry out attacks in its part of the disputed Himalayan region.
Ties between the two nuclear-armed rivals have been on ice since a suicide bombing of an Indian military convoy in Indian-administered Kashmir in 2019 that New Delhi blamed on Pakistan. Islamabad denies the allegation.
PM Kakar visits Azad Kashmir, reassures Pakistan’s support on Kashmir Solidarity Day
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PM Kakar visits Azad Kashmir, reassures Pakistan’s support on Kashmir Solidarity Day
- Pakistan observes Kashmir Solidarity Day on Feb. 5, calls for right to self-determination to people of Indian-administered Kashmir
- Both Pakistan and India rule parts of the Himalayan territory, but claim it in full and have fought three wars over the disputed region
Pakistan announces nationwide polio campaign to vaccinate 16.5 million children
- Pakistan to kick off nationwide polio campaign across 66 districts from June 3
- South Asian country reported its fourth polio case in 2024 on Saturday
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s health ministry on Sunday announced it would undertake an anti-polio campaign that aims to vaccinate 16.5 million against the disease.
The development takes place a day after Pakistan reported its fourth polio case of the year on Saturday, when a toddler from the country’s southern Shikarpur city was found infected with the disease.
Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries in the world where the poliovirus, which causes paralysis and can be a life-threatening disease, is endemic.
“More than 16.5 million children under the age of five will be vaccinated in a crucial polio campaign beginning on June 3 in 66 districts, ahead of the high-travel season of Eid-ul-Adha,” the health ministry said in a press release.
It said the five-day campaign will be implemented in 36 districts in full and partially in 30 districts, including Islamabad, 20 districts of Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, 23 districts of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, 16 districts of Sindh and six districts of Punjab.
Prime minister’s coordinator on national health services, Malik Mukhtar Ahmed Bharath, called on parents and caregivers to ensure their children received the best care possible.
“Poliovirus has paralyzed 04 children this year and is consistently being detected in sewage samples, which means the risk to children remains very high,” he said.
“We are resolved to end polio from our country and the support of parents and communities is critical in helping us achieve this goal,” Bharath added.
The ministry said it has adjusted the working hours of polio voluntary workers given the prevalent heat wave in the country, and is taking other measures such as providing access to hydration resources to ensure polio workers’ safety remains a priority.
Pakistan’s efforts to contain polio have often been met with opposition, especially in KP, where militants have carried out attacks against vaccinators and security teams guarding them.
Many believe in the conspiracy theory that polio vaccines are part of a plot by Western outsiders to sterilize Pakistan’s population.
Pakistani masses’ doubts regarding polio campaigns were exacerbated in 2011 when the US Central Intelligence Agency set up a fake hepatitis vaccination program to gather intelligence on former Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.
Pakistan will look to be positive in T20 World Cup— skipper Babar Azam
- Pakistan, T20 world champions in 2009, reached semifinal and final stages in 2021, 2022
- Their preparation for this year’s World Cup includes losses against Ireland and England
Pakistan captain Babar Azam called on his side to stay in high spirits as they begin their Twenty20 World Cup campaign off the back of a poor run of form.
Pakistan, T20 World Cup champions in 2009, have performed well in the past two editions of the competition, reaching the semifinals in 2021 and losing to England in the final in 2022.
However, their preparations for this year’s tournament in the United States and West Indies has been far from ideal, with a sobering defeat by Ireland in an eventual 2-1 series victory followed by a 2-0 defeat by England in a rain-affected series.
“Effort is in our hands, but results, we do not know,” Babar said in an episode of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) podcast released on Sunday.
“How we present ourselves on the ground, our body language and how we communicate with each other will matter. We must be positive, so results will come... Conditions in the USA may pose challenges as we are going there as a national side for the first time.
“We are in the process of collating various cricket and match-related information from players who have played there, which can help and assist us in our preparations.”
Pakistan are in Group A of the World Cup and begin their campaign against hosts US on June 6. They will then take on arch-rivals India in one of the event’s highly-anticipated matches three days later.
Pakistan and India have faced each other seven times at the T20 World Cup, with Pakistan winning just once.
“An India-Pakistan match is always the most talked about; it is discussed too much wherever you go in the world,” Babar said.
“The players get different vibes and excitement. What will happen is that everyone supports their country, so the focus is on that match. The whole world is focused on the day when the India-Pakistan match is held.
“Naturally, there will be nerves, but we need to keep our focus, stick to the basics and play easy cricket. It is always a pressure game; the more you keep cool and calm, believe in your skills and hard work, then things get easier.”
Saudi envoy vows to invite Pakistan team as royal guests for Hajj 2025 if they win World Cup
- Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki wishes Pakistan team luck ahead of its T20 World Cup matches
- Pakistan, Saudi Arabia have sought to strengthen ties in cricket in recent years as sport grow popular in Kingdom
ISLAMABAD: Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki on Sunday announced that the Pakistan cricket team would be invited as royal guests for Hajj 2025 if they win the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
Pakistan’s national cricket squad arrived in Dallas on Saturday night to take part in the T20 World Cup 2024. Skipper Babar Azam’s side will open their World Cup campaign on June 6 against the United States.
The 2009 world champions will face India, Ireland and Canada in subsequent Group A matches of the World Cup. The cricket megaevent is being co-hosted by the United States and West Indies from June 2-29 and features 20 teams in total.
In a video message shared by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Malki wished the Pakistan team luck as the tournament kicked off on June 2.
“Next year when they win the World Cup, god willing, they [Pakistan cricket team] will be the royal guests for Hajj,” Malki said. “I pray for Pakistan and its success and prosperity.”
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have sought to strengthen their ties in cricket in recent years as the sport grows increasingly popular in the Kingdom.
The PCB said in January 2023 it was ready to share sports expertise with the Gulf nation, which became an affiliate member of the International Cricket Council in 2003 and in 2016, was promoted to associate membership.
But the game saw a real boom in the last couple of years, after the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation was established in 2020, and has since lined up a series of programs to promote the sport at home and prepare national teams to compete with the world’s best in the future.
Pakistan, China sign agreements to facilitate industrial cooperation
- Economic affairs minister urges Chinese entrepreneurs to set up industrial units in Pakistan
- Development takes place as Pakistan eyes foreign investment in key economic sectors
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s state-owned bank and the China-Pakistan International Silk Road Industry Investment Management Company Limited this week signed an agreement to facilitate investment in key projects to promote industrial cooperation and establish special economic zones, state-run media reported on Sunday.
Islamabad views Beijing as one of its most reliable foreign partners in recent years, which has invested over $65 billion in energy and infrastructure projects in Pakistan as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The development takes place as Pakistan eyes foreign investment in key economic sectors whilst it grapples with a macroeconomic crisis. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has repeatedly said his government wants to break the “begging bowl” and is targeting mutually beneficial economic partnerships with allies.
The agreement between the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) and China-Pakistan International Silk Road Industry Investment Management Company Limited was signed on Saturday at the Pakistan embassy in Beijing in the presence of Aslam Chaudhry, Pakistan’s minister of economic affairs.
“He [Chaudhry] informed that special economic zones are being established across Pakistan where the Chinese enterprises could relocate their industry and export products to different countries taking advantage of preferential agreements signed by Pakistan with various countries,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
The minister said Pakistan, with a population of over 225 million people, is itself a “big market” and that Chinese companies could benefit from it.
Chaudhry urged Pakistan urged Chinese entrepreneurs to set up their industrial units in Pakistan.
“He opined that the MoU would help the Chinese companies for investment in different projects and promote industrial cooperation between the two countries,” Radio Pakistan said.
Pakistan has been making efforts to attract foreign investment since last year when it set up the Special Investment Facilitation Center (SIFC). The hybrid civil and government body was formed last year to attract investment in key economic sectors including tourism, agriculture, minerals and others.
Pakistan battles another forest fire in Margalla Hills amid heat wave
- Fire erupted on Saturday night in Margalla Hills part located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, says Islamabad deputy commissioner
- Part of the Himalayan foothills, Margalla range experiences bush fires relatively often in summer months as temperatures soar
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani authorities were busy dousing another forest fire in the city’s Margalla Hills Saturday night as South Asia continues to remain in the grip of a severe heat wave.
The Margalla range, part of the Himalayan foothills, has experienced bush fires relatively often in the summer months. There have also been multiple fires during this month, largely attributed to the extreme heat wave affecting the region.
Authorities on Saturday said they doused a fire that had erupted in three separate locations. However, erupted again in the part of the hills located in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province on Saturday night, Islamabad Deputy Commission Irfan Memon said.
“The Capital Development Authority (CDA) teams are present to douse the flames,” Memon said in a statement. “Thirty-six firefighters are busy battling the flames.”
Memon said authorities have formed a firewall to prevent the flames from reaching the capital city, adding that the Islamabad administration is undertaking joint efforts with the KP government to douse the fire.
Parts of Pakistan have seen temperatures as high as 52.2 degrees Celsius (126 F) over the last week with South Asia sweltering in a hotter summer this year — a trend scientists say has been worsened by human-driven climate change.
Pakistan is seen by global organizations as one of the most vulnerable countries to extreme weather and climate change. In 2022, floods wreaked havoc in the country, killing over 1,700 people and displacing millions.
In India, at least 15 people died of suspected heat-stroke on Thursday with the region gripped by a debilitating heat wave expected to continue until Saturday.
