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Amid complaints, government in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan forms committee to probe poor Internet connectivity

An undated file photo of women working on their laptops in the mountains of Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan region. (Photo courtesy: restofworld/website)
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Updated 12 March 2024
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Amid complaints, government in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan forms committee to probe poor Internet connectivity

  • The scenic, mountainous region in Pakistan lacks employment opportunities and industries to cater to its 1.5 million population
  • Tourism industry stakeholders, freelancers and students in the region say poor internet service has multiplied their woes
Updated 12 March 2024
Nisar Ali

KHAPLU: The government in Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) has constituted an eight-member committee to inquire cellular companies about poor internet connectivity in the remote, mountainous region, amid complaints by residents of poor connection and slow speed of internet.

GB has not officially been part of Pakistan, but forms part of the portion of disputed Kashmir that is administered by Pakistan. The region is Pakistan’s only land link to China and is at the heart of the $65 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) infrastructure development program.

Over the past few years, residents of GB have moved towards freelancing and online earning in the absence of sufficient opportunities and industry in the region. But they say poor internet connectivity has multiplied their woes.

“In view of the complete failure of all cellular companies of Gilgit-Baltistan in providing dependable telecom facilities to the customers/masses and the continuous protest and anger shown by the people of Gilgit-Baltistan, the Hon’ble Speaker GB Assembly has been pleased to constitute s special committee consisting of the following [eight] members of GB Assembly to interact with the relevant authorities of cellular companies operating across GB and take immediate steps to ensure smooth and uninterrupted mobile services/telecom facilities to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan,” read a notification issued by the GB Assembly Secretariat on Monday. 

Advocate Nazir Ahmad, speaker of the GB Assembly, told Arab News the issue of poor internet connection was not new in GB, but the government had been receiving frequent complaints in this regard from students, freelancers and private sector employees for the last three months.

“So, by keeping the concerns of public in mind and converting them into a public petition, I took notice and formed the [eight-member] committee and now we will check as to why the internet does not work properly in GB,” he told Arab News over the phone from Gilgit on Tuesday.

“The SCO [Special Communications Organization] is the largest telecom company in GB. So, the committee will call representatives of all telecom companies, including the SCO, and ask about their issues. After this stage, we will direct the authorities to provide smooth provision of internet in the region.”

In the past few months, residents have protested slow or no internet browsing in the region say it has cut them off from friends and relatives as well as adversely impacted freelancers in the mountainous region.

“We don’t have verified data. In addition to over 10,000 passive freelancers, there are 3,000-4,000 active freelancers in GB,” Ghulam Rehman, president of the GB Freelancers Association, told Arab News.

“The condition of internet connectivity is very pathetic in GB. We freelancers are losing the trust of clients and facing huge losses [nowadays]. Only the SCO is providing 4G service in GB, but it works like 2G or 3G. Due to this bad connectivity, they [freelancers] are missing deadlines and not getting new assignments.”

Rehman said there should be other competitors in the domain of internet service providers in the region. “Now we will raise the issue with the federal government as well,” he added.

Shireen Karim, a Gilgit-based woman journalist, said internet service depends upon the availability of power in many parts of the region.

“When the power comes, internet works properly. Otherwise, internet does not work,” Karim told Arab News. "Working on assignments, sending visuals and photographs is a big challenge for us. We have to move to different places time and again in search of a stable connection."

The scenic region is one of Pakistan’s most famous tourist destinations and was listed by Forbes among the 10 “coolest places” in the world to visit in 2018.

But its tourism industry is also badly affected because of internet connectivity issues, according to industry stakeholders.

“Like other facilities, internet is basic requirement of every tourist. Whenever tourists arrive, they first ask for the password of wifi,” Ayyaz Shigri, president of the Baltistan Association of Tour Operators (BATO), told Arab News.

“The world is talking about 5G and we have no stable internet connection of 3G or 4G in GB. Without internet, we can’t promote the region and attract tourists. Telecom companies must improve their services.”

Topics: Gilgit-Baltistan

‘Why did this happen to me?’: Maimed camel in Sindh finds new hope with prosthetic leg

Updated 14 sec ago
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‘Why did this happen to me?’: Maimed camel in Sindh finds new hope with prosthetic leg

  • Cammie the camel lost her leg last year after a landlord attacked her for straying into his field for food
  • A US-based company built a prosthetic leg and sent it to the shelter where she is recovering in Pakistan
Updated 14 sec ago
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: A year after a brutal act of violence left her maimed and terrified, Cammie the camel is finally getting a second chance at life.

The young camel had wandered into a field in Sindh’s Sanghar district in search of food when a local landlord, enraged by the intrusion, hacked off her front leg. Her owner, a poor peasant, lacked the means and power to seek justice, even though livestock like Cammie often represent the sole source of livelihood for families in the region.

Despite the owner’s refusal to press charges, the state pursued the case under Pakistan’s animal cruelty laws, registering a case and arresting five people after widespread outrage.

Now, Cammie is in the final stages of her recovery, with a custom-made prosthetic leg ready to help restore her mobility.

“She was a very scared, nervous little child. The kind of child who would start screaming if she saw a new person,” Sheema Khan, manager of the shelter where Cammie has spent the past year, told Arab News.

Cammie is pictured receiving a prosthetic leg in Sindh’s Sanghar district on May 16, 2025. (AN photo)

Animal cruelty is not rare in Pakistan. Last year, another camel in Sindh was found dead with all four legs amputated. Animal rights groups have also highlighted the mistreatment of other creatures, such as bears that are illegally captured, tortured and forced to perform.

While Pakistan has animal welfare legislation, enforcement remains weak, sporadic and hampered by limited resources.

“There was always a question in Cammie’s eyes: ‘Why did this happen to me? I had only gone to find food because I was hungry,’” Khan said, adding that it was heartbreaking to see her in pain whenever she tried to stand.

Cammie is pictured in Sindh’s Sanghar district on May 16, 2025, before getting a prosthetic leg. (AN photo)

The shelter, which has been caring for Cammie throughout her recovery, received early assistance from Pakistani startup Bioniks, which took precise measurements of her limbs to prepare for the prosthetic. These were then sent to the United States, where a specialist at the Virginia-based company Bionic Pets crafted the custom leg.

With the prosthetic in their possession, the shelter team hopes Cammie will soon walk, run and play like other animals around her.

When Cammie first arrived at the shelter, she received antibiotics, pain relief and a clean enclosure. But her recovery extended beyond the physical.

“Whether it’s a human or an animal, wounds and illnesses don’t go away until the mind is healed first,” said Dr. Babar Hussain, the veterinarian overseeing her treatment. “So first, we focused on her mental healing, and only after that did we start her treatment.”

Sheema Khan, manager of the shelter where Cammie has spent the past year, feeds her carrots in Sindh’s Sanghar district on May 16, 2025. (AN photo)

Her wound, which was infected and bleeding, has now fully healed.

“She is completely fit now,” Hussain said. “The entire wound is closed, and new skin has grown over it. There’s nothing to worry about.”

To help Cammie emotionally, the shelter introduced another young female camel, Callie, as her companion.

“We brought in Callie so that seeing her would motivate Cammie, encourage her to try to play,” Khan said. “Now, Callie and Cammie live together.”

Cammie (left) and Callie are pictured in Sindh’s Sanghar district on May 16, 2025. (AN photo)

As luck would have it, Callie was an orphan around the same age, in need of a peaceful home. Their bond proved transformational.

“The very night we brought Callie in, Cammie stood up with her. That night, we saw Cammie standing, without any support, alongside her friend Callie.”

Asked when her team would give Cammie her new leg, Khan said: “If it were up to us, we would immediately fit Cammie with the prosthetic leg and tell her: ‘Cammie! Now you can walk on all four legs. Stand up, come on, run!’”

“But now, everything depends on Cammie — on when she’s ready for this,” she added.

As Cammie trains with a harness and prepares mentally for her new limb, the team is hopeful and excited to witness the movement, which Khan says will arrive soon.

“You can walk on all four legs,” she said she would tell Cammie once she starts walking. “You’re free to go wherever you want, to play, to run and jump.”

Topics: camel Pakistan animals

Pakistan to send delegation to key world capitals to highlight stance on India standoff

Updated 17 May 2025
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Pakistan to send delegation to key world capitals to highlight stance on India standoff

  • PM Shehbaz Sharif has asked former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to lead Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach
  • The delegation will visit London, Washington, Paris, and Brussels in the coming days to counter India’s narrative
Updated 17 May 2025
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday tasked former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari with leading Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach to major international capitals to present the country’s perspective on the recent military conflict with India, as hostilities persist despite a US-brokered ceasefire following four days of cross-border strikes.

The move follows an April 22 gun attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 tourists. India blamed Pakistan for the assault, a claim Islamabad denied while calling for an international investigation.

The incident triggered retaliatory military action by India across the Line of Control in Kashmir and in mainland Pakistan, followed by Islamabad’s reprisal strikes. US President Donald Trump later announced a ceasefire on May 10, with his administration saying the countries had agreed to begin talks at a neutral venue to resolve outstanding disputes.

However, India has pushed back against the understanding, with New Delhi announcing to dispatch a delegation to key world capitals earlier on Saturday. Pakistan’s decision to do the same came later in the day.

“The prime minister has decided to send a diplomatic delegation to expose Indian propaganda and nefarious conspiracies at the international level,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement, adding that Sharif had contacted Bhutto-Zardari in this regard.

“The delegation will expose India’s propaganda and efforts to destabilize regional peace in London, Washington, Paris and Brussels,” it added.

Addressing a ceremony in Islamabad a day earlier, Sharif said India and Pakistan had fought several wars in the past, though these conflicts had not helped them resolve their disputes.

He urged India to begin dialogue to address mutual concerns and ensure peaceful coexistence.

Bhutto-Zardari also confirmed the assignment in a post on social media platform X.

“I was contacted earlier today by Prime Minister @CMShehbaz, who requested that I lead a delegation to present Pakistan’s case for peace on the international stage,” he wrote. “I am honored to accept this responsibility and remain committed to serving Pakistan in these challenging times.”

The delegation aims to lobby officials and diplomats on Pakistan’s narrative.

Besides Bhutto-Zardari, the team includes Musadik Malik, Khurram Dastgir Khan, Sherry Rehman, Hina Rabbani Khar, Faisal Subzwari and former diplomats Tehmina Janjua and Jalil Abbas Jilani.

Topics: Pakistan India Ties Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif

IMF says Pakistan’s loan ‘fully financed,’ with $6 billion inflows expected next fiscal year

Updated 17 May 2025
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IMF says Pakistan’s loan ‘fully financed,’ with $6 billion inflows expected next fiscal year

  • The global lender releases its country report, acknowledging improvements in Pakistan’s financial position
  • IMF says despite the recovery, Pakistan’s growth in the first half of the fiscal year was below expectations
Updated 17 May 2025
Ismail Dilawar

KARACHI: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Saturday Pakistan’s bailout program is “fully financed,” citing nearly $6 billion in external inflows expected in the next fiscal year and renewed commitments from key allies to roll over maturing debt.

The IMF released its country report on Pakistan earlier in the day, offering financial reassurance for the country, which in 2023 was on the verge of default and had to secure emergency funding.

Islamabad had to line up financing guarantees from friendly nations such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and China before the IMF agreed to revive its lending program, a standard condition to ensure the country could meet its external obligations.

Pakistan also secured a $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) last year after the international lender acknowledged the country’s progress in implementing stringent reforms that led to improved macroeconomic indicators.

“The program is fully financed, with firm commitments for the next 12 months and good prospects for the remainder of the Fund-supported program,” the IMF said in the report.

It added“substantial progress” had been made in realizing financing committed ahead of the EFF request, with $2.6 billion already disbursed or expected to be disbursed in the coming months.

It said these included support from Saudi Arabia, the Islamic Development Bank and a commercial loan backed by a partial guarantee from the Asian Development Bank.

The Fund projected Pakistan would receive around $6 billion in external inflows during the next fiscal year beginning in July.

It added these consist of fresh disbursements from the IMF, oil imports from Saudi Arabia on deferred payment terms, funding from China and other international financial institutions, budget support loans and proceeds from planned bond issuances.

Pakistan also intends to borrow modestly from commercial banks.

“Firm commitments are also in place for an additional $1 billion of financing in the next 12 months,” the IMF said. “Key bilateral partners remain committed to rolling over existing short-term liabilities in the remaining program period.”

The report noted the country’s financial and external conditions had improved, with foreign reserves exceeding program projections and a current account surplus recorded in the first eight months of the ongoing fiscal year.

It said inflation has declined to “historical lows,” although core inflation remains elevated at around 9 percent.

The Fund also noted economic recovery was continuing, but growth in the first half of FY25 was “somewhat lower than anticipated.”

Topics: IMF Pakistan IMF Pakistan talks

PM Sharif says Pakistan witnessed world’s biggest drop in gender digital gap in 2024-25

Updated 17 May 2025
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PM Sharif says Pakistan witnessed world’s biggest drop in gender digital gap in 2024-25

  • PM says Pakistan has over 200 million telecom subscriptions and 150 million broadband users
  • Mobile manufacturing is up 47.5 percent as Pakistan boosts connectivity through submarine cables
Updated 17 May 2025
Arab News Pakistan

KARACHI: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Saturday Pakistan recorded the world’s biggest reduction in the gender digital divide in 2024-25, with eight million more women gaining access to mobile Internet.

The announcement came on World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, observed annually on May 17 to promote the importance of information and communication technologies (ICTs).

The day was institutionalized in 1969 to commemorate the founding of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on this day in 1865.

Pakistan has been striving to advance gender equality in digital access to serve its broader economic goals, particularly as it seeks to attract foreign investment in its IT sector.

“Pakistan has made remarkable progress in narrowing the gender digital divide,” Sharif said in a statement released by his office.

“In 2024-2025, 8 million more women gained mobile Internet access, reducing the gender gap from 38 percent to 25 percent— the highest improvement globally, led by rural women,” he added.

The prime minister highlighted that Pakistan’s digital transformation includes surpassing 200 million telecom subscriptions, 150 million broadband users and two million fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) connections.

Additionally, mobile manufacturing has grown by 47.46 percent, and international connectivity has been enhanced through high-capacity submarine cables.

The prime minister noted the mobile ecosystem was now contributing $16.7 billion to Pakistan’s economy.

He said the government was committed to fostering a digital environment that promotes inclusion and empowers women through targeted policies, skills development programs and gender-sensitive digital infrastructure.

Sharif also called on all stakeholders to champion gender-responsive digital transformation and continue building an inclusive and empowered digital Pakistan.

Topics: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif

President Zardari visits troops in Gujranwala, lauds swift military response to Indian attack

Updated 17 May 2025
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President Zardari visits troops in Gujranwala, lauds swift military response to Indian attack

  • He praises people who lost their lives during the conflict, calling their sacrifice a source of national pride
  • Pakistan says its response to New Delhi culminated in a successful pushback that neutralized the threat
Updated 17 May 2025
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday praised the armed forces for swiftly repelling an Indian attack, saying they had changed the battlefield dynamics “within a matter of hours” in a recent military confrontation.
The comments came during a visit to Gujranwala Cantonment, where the president met with troops and top military leadership, including Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir.
Zardari’s remarks refer to Pakistan’s military retaliation, launched in response to Indian missile and drone attacks last week in various parts of the country.
The operation, according to Pakistani officials, culminated in a successful pushback that neutralized the threat and shifted the momentum on the ground.
“History will bear witness to how, within a matter of hours, the Pakistan Armed Forces repelled aggression with unmatched precision and resolve, sending an unequivocal message of Pakistan’s strength, resilience and national unity,” Zardari said, according to a statement from the military’s media wing.
During his visit, the president paid tribute to both military personnel and civilians who lost their lives in defense of the country, calling their sacrifice “a sacred trust and a source of enduring national pride.”
He also congratulated troops on the conclusion of the military operation, praising their morale, combat readiness and commitment to safeguarding national sovereignty.
The visit came amid heightened tensions between Pakistan and India following cross-border hostilities, though both sides have now been observing a fragile ceasefire.
The president was also accompanied by interior minister Mohsin Naqvi and received at the cantonment by senior army commanders from Gujranwala and Mangla Corps.

Topics: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari Pakistan Army

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