ISLAMABAD: Legislators in Pakistan’s key Punjab and northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provinces were sworn in as members of the cabinet on Wednesday, almost a month after the contentious polls of Feb. 8.
In Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous and politically important Punjab province, an 18-member cabinet was sworn in, whose members will serve under the country’s first woman chief minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
The legislators were sworn in at a ceremony held at the Governor’s House in Lahore. Punjab Governor Muhammad Balighur Rehman administered the oath of office to 18 legislators with Sharif by his side.
“That, as a minister of the government of Punjab, I will discharge my duties, and perform my functions, honestly, to the best of my ability, faithfully in accordance with the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the law,” the ministers read out their oath after the governor.
“And always in the interest of the sovereignty, integrity, solidarity, well-being and prosperity of Pakistan.”
Legislators who took oath were Marriyum Aurangzeb, Azma Bokhari, Shafay Hussain, Salman Rafique, Khawaja Imran Nazir, Syed Muhammad Ashiq Hussain Shah, Muhammad Kazim Pirzada, Rana Sikandar Hayat, Zeeshan Rafique, Bilal Akbar Khan, Sohaib Ahmed Malik, Bilal Yasin, Ramesh Singh Arora, Khalil Tahir Sandhu, Faisal Ayub, Sardar Sher Ali Gorchani, Sohail Shoukat Butt and Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman.
Aurangzeb has been handed the portfolio of planning and development as a senior minister while Bokhari will head the ministry of information. Hussain has been given charge of the provincial ministry of commerce and industry.
Salman has been given charge of the specialized health care department while Nazir will lead the primary and secondary health ministry in Punjab. Sandhu has been handed charge of Punjab’s human rights ministry while Arora has been appointed as the minister for minorities by the chief minister.
Separately, a 15-member cabinet was sworn in at the Governor’s House in Peshawar. With newly elected Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur by his side, Governor Hajji Ghulam Ali administered the oath of office to the legislators.
Before the ceremony began, legislators shouted slogans in favor of former prime minister Imran Khan, the jailed head of the majority party in the province, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). A large, framed picture of the jailed cricketer-turned-politician was placed in the middle of the table by the legislators.
Members of the KP cabinet who were sworn in included Arshad Ayub Khan, Shakeel Ahmad, Fazal Hakim Khan, Muhammad Adnan Qadri, Aqib Ullah Khan, Muhammad Sajjad, Meena Khan, Fazal Shakoor, Nazir Ahmad Abbasi, Pakhtoon Yar Khan, Aftab Alam Khan Afridi, Khaleeq Ur Rehman, Syed Qasim Ali Shah, Faisal Khan Tarakai and Muhammad Zahir Shah.
The ceremonies take place amid a tense political atmosphere in Pakistan, with the PTI refusing to acknowledge the mandate of its rival Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party.
The PTI says it won a two-thirds majority in the Feb. 8 polls, which were marred by allegations of vote rigging and a countrywide shutdown of mobile and Internet services. Pakistan’s election regulator has rejected the PTI’s allegations it manipulated results, calling on all aggrieved parties to seek redressal from relevant forums.
As economically troubled Pakistan seeks a new long-term bailout program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) amid overlapping security, economic and political crises, Khan’s party has vowed to continue protests against the “rigged” elections.
Cabinets take oath in Pakistan’s key Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces
https://arab.news/2j2w8
Cabinets take oath in Pakistan’s key Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces
- Eighteen-member cabinet sworn in Pakistan’s most populous eastern Punjab province
- Fifteen-member cabinet takes oath in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province
Peshawar Zalmi pledge Rs50 million for Pakistani pilots for ‘heroic response’ to India strikes
- The announcement comes as Pakistanis mark a ‘Day of Gratitude’ to recognize the nation’s reply to India’s fighter jet, missile, drone and artillery strikes
- A ceasefire, brokered by the US, appeared to hold between the two arch-rivals on Sunday after four days of fighting killed nearly 60 people on both sides
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Peshawar Zalmi have pledged Rs50 million ($177,809) for Pakistani pilots for their “heroic response” to India’s missile and drone strikes on Pakistan this week, the franchise said on Sunday, in a gesture of national solidarity.
The announcement came as Pakistanis marked a “Day of Gratitude,” announced by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on Sunday to recognize the nation’s “befitting response” to India’s fighter jet, missile, drone and artillery strikes.
Hours after India’s missile strikes on multiple Pakistani cities on Wednesday, Pakistan said it had downed five Indian fighter jets, a claim partly corroborated by Indian government sources who confirmed at least three.
Javed Afridi, the Peshawar Zalmi chairman, said the recent events posed a serious threat to national security and public safety, but the “swift, precise and heroic response” of Pakistan’s air defenders averted any major damage.
“Their unwavering courage, dedication, and sacrifice are the heartbeat of our national pride. Today, we honor them not just with words, but through meaningful action,” Afridi was quoted as saying by his franchise.
“This contribution is more than a gesture — it is a powerful symbol of national solidarity and deep respect for the heroes who shield our skies with unshakable resolve.”
The statement came as a ceasefire, brokered by the United States (US), appeared to hold between the two nuclear-armed arch-rivals on Sunday. Four days of fighting between the two nations killed nearly 60 people and sent thousands fleeing, in the worst violence since India and Pakistan’s last open conflict in 1999.
The cross-border incursions forced both countries to postpone their respective Twenty-20 cricket leagues to ensure safety of local and international players as well as the spectators.
Cricket authorities of both countries have been in discussions to announce rescheduled dates and venues for the matches that had yet to be played.
Pope Leo XIV welcomes India-Pakistan ceasefire in first Sunday message
- New pope calls for lasting, “authentic” peace in Ukraine and a ceasefire in Gaza
- Pakistan struck Indian military bases with missiles on Saturday, widening fears of war
VATICAN CITY: Pope Leo XIV appealed to the world’s major powers for “no more war” in his first Sunday message to crowds in St. Peter’s Square since his election as pontiff.
The new pope, elected on May 8, called for an “authentic and lasting peace” in Ukraine and a ceasefire in Gaza and release of all Israeli hostages.
Leo also welcomed the recent ceasefire between India and Pakistan, and said he was praying to God to grant the world the “miracle of peace.”
“No more war!” the pope said, repeating a frequent call of the late Pope Francis and noting the recent 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, which killed some 60 million people.
Leo said today’s world was living through “the dramatic scenario of a Third World War being fought piecemeal,” again repeating a phrase coined by Francis.
The new pope said he carries in his heart the “suffering of the beloved people of Ukraine.” He appealed for negotiations to reach an “authentic, just and lasting peace.”
He also said he was “profoundly saddened” by the war in Gaza, calling for an immediate ceasefire, humanitarian aid and release of the remaining hostages held by the militant group Hamas.
Leo said he was glad to hear of the recent India-Pakistan ceasefire and hoped negotiations would lead to a lasting accord between the nuclear armed neighbors.
He added: “But there are so many other conflicts in the world!“
Azad Kashmir says India’s cross-border shelling killed 31 in last four days
- Eleven people were killed in district Kotli while six each were killed in districts Bhimber and Poonch
- India and Pakistan agreed to an uneasy ceasefire brokered by the United States on Saturday evening
ISLAMABAD: At least 31 people were killed and 123 injured in the last four days due to cross-border firing by Indian forces, Pakistan-administered Kashmir’s disaster management authority said on Sunday.
Indian and Pakistani troops have exchanged heavy fire along the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border dividing the disputed Himalayan Kashmir territory between India and Pakistan, since tensions escalated last month.
Tensions surged between the nuclear-armed neighbors this week when India fired missiles at what it said were “terrorist” camps in Pakistan, killing several people. New Delhi blamed Islamabad for an Apr. 22 attack at a tourist resort in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26, charges that Islamabad denied. Pakistan said Indian strikes on Wednesday killed several civilians, vowing retaliation.
Pakistan’s military launched retaliatory strikes against India on Saturday morning in response to what it said were drone and missile strikes on Pakistani air bases during the wee hours of Friday. Both countries have since then agreed to a ceasefire brokered by the United States and encouraged by other countries.
“Thirty-one people were killed in Azad Kashmir’s ten districts during the last four days during the India-Pakistan war,” Azad Kashmir’s State Disaster Management Authority said in a situation report.
Giving a breakdown of the figures, the report said 11 people were killed in Kotli district while six each died in districts Bhimber and Poonch. Three people were killed in Muzaffarabad district while two were killed in Neelum.
The report said 287 houses and 21 shops were damaged due to shelling in the past four days while 22 cattle were killed.
Within hours of the ceasefire announcement on Saturday, India accused Islamabad of violating it by targeting Srinagar city in Indian-administered Kashmir.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Ata Tarar denied the allegation, saying people in his country were celebrating the end of the conflict and the government remained committed to the agreement.
The foreign office of Pakistan also maintained the country remained committed to the “faithful implementation” of the ceasefire.
Pakistani health tech platform raises $6 million to expand across GCC
- Founded in 2020, MedIQ says it provides convenient on-demand and cashless walk-in services to its customers
- MedIQ says will use funding to strengthen technology stack, scale operations in Kingdom’s health tech market
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan-based health tech platform MedIQ recently announced it has raised $6 million in a series A funding round led by Saudi Arabia’s venture capital Rasmal Ventures and the Kingdom’s investment company, Joa Capital.
MedIQ was founded by Dr. Saira Siddiqui, a doctor who holds a PhD in Health Economics from the University of Yorkshire, in 2020 in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad.
The startup aims to redefine health care through a digitally enabled hybrid ecosystem and is currently operating in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Canada.
“This over-subscribed round signals strong investor confidence in our accelerated market traction, validates our excellence in engineering to support in becoming the leading health tech player in MENA, and reinforces the great experience our customers have with MedIQ Solutions,” the platform said in a LinkedIn post on May 4.
“With fresh capital, a focused team, and a purpose-driven founder, MedIQ is now primed to scale across the GCC to become a regional leader,” it added.
The company, which expanded into Saudi Arabia in 2023, said it will use the funding to strengthen its technology stack, scale operations in the Kingdom’s health tech market and support entry into Qatar and neighboring Gulf markets.
In an interview with Arab News in 2023, Dr. Siddiqui expressed her desire to see the platform expand across GCC countries.
Siddiqui had said women were the bulk users of MedIQ’s products as it is usually hard for them to visit hospitals without male companions in Pakistan and the Middle East.
“According to the figures which we have, about 74 percent of our users are women and [the] women having children or dependents such as older parents,” she had said.
IPL chiefs in talks about restart following India-Pakistan ceasefire— reports
- Indian Premier League was suspended for a week on Friday after tensions spiked between India, Pakistan
- There are 12 regular season games remaining to be played followed by three playoff matches and the final
NEW DELHI: India cricket board officials were reported to be meeting Sunday to discuss a quick resumption of the IPL, following India and Pakistan agreeing a ceasefire in their deadly border conflict.
Nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan called a halt to hostilities on Saturday and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Devajit Saikia told website cricbuzz they were “closely monitoring the evolving situation.”
Saikia added they will “take a call on IPL resumption after consulting all stakeholders of IPL and the concerned government authorities.”
Rajeev Shukla, vice president of the BCCI, told Indian media that officials would meet on Sunday to decide the future course of action.
The Indian Premier League was on Friday suspended for a week, a day after a match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capital was abandoned in Dharamsala, less than 200 kilometers (125 miles) from the northern city of Jammu, where explosions were reported hours earlier.
A special train was arranged for players to return to Delhi on Friday as airspace was closed, while overseas stars began to head home on Saturday.
Teams on Sunday were reported to be contacting their overseas players and coaching staff about returning, with website ESPNcricinfo saying the IPL could restart around May 15 if given the go-ahead by the government.
There are 12 regular season games remaining to be played followed by three playoff matches and the final, originally scheduled for May 25.
India and Pakistan have fought two of their three full-scale wars over Kashmir, a disputed territory that both claim in full but administer separate portions of since gaining independence from British rule in 1947.
New Delhi launched missile strikes on Wednesday morning in retaliation for a deadly attack on tourists in Indian-run Kashmir two weeks ago that India blames on Pakistan.
Islamabad has denied any involvement.
At least 60 people have been killed on both sides of the border since Wednesday, in the worst violence in decades between the South Asian neighbors.
