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Pakistan Eid tourism surged by over 360 percent amid easing inflation — provincial data

Visitors gather on a riverside in Naran valley, in Mansehra District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on June 28, 2021. (AFP/File)
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Updated 15 April 2024
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Pakistan Eid tourism surged by over 360 percent amid easing inflation — provincial data

  • Inflation in Pakistan fell to 20.7 percent in March, the country’s lowest in 23 months, data showed
  • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Galiyat area saw highest number of tourists, 237,500, from April 10-14 last week
Updated 15 April 2024
REHMAT MEHSUD

ISLAMABAD: Eid tourism in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province surged by over 360 percent this year, with over 580,000 tourists visiting the area’s scenic spots during the five-day holidays last week, data released by the provincial tourism authority on Monday showed, as inflation eases in the economically troubled country. 

Poor weather conditions and soaring inflation led to a staggering 74 percent decline in the number of tourists that visited KP last year during the Eid holidays, as per official figures, when over 125,000 tourists visited the province. The northwestern province is home to many picturesque locations and scenic spots such as Swat Valley, Malam Jabba, Abbottabad, Kaghan, and Shogran that Pakistanis from all over the country visit during the Eid holidays. 

As per figures shared by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Integrated Tourism Development Project (KITE), a provincial initiative by the provincial government to develop tourism in KP, 583,452 tourists in total visited the province from April 10-14. 

“Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s tourist spots remained tourists’ first priority during Eid holidays,” the KP Culture and Tourism Authority said in a statement. “During the five days [April 10-14], over 583,000 tourists visited the tourist spots of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.”

According to a breakdown shared by KITE, Galiyat saw the highest number of visitors with over 237,500 visiting the area during the five days while 151,900 visited Malam Jabba. As many as 92,470 tourists visited Kumrat Valley while 77,372 toured Naran and Kaghan areas, the data showed. 

Pakistan’s inflation last year peaked at 36.4 percent during April 2023 while food inflation surged to 49.1 percent. The South Asian country’s inflation outpaced price gains even in Sri Lanka as its currency depreciated and Pakistan hiked fuel and energy prices to comply with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). 

In March 2024, however, Pakistan’s inflation rate measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) fell to 20.7 percent, its lowest in 23 months. However, the country continues to face significant financial challenges, with dwindling foreign exchange reserves and a weak national currency.

Topics: Eid 2024 Eid Tourism in KPK

Warner, Williamson, Joseph and Mitchell to make debut in Pakistan Super League 2025

Updated 13 January 2025
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Warner, Williamson, Joseph and Mitchell to make debut in Pakistan Super League 2025

  • All six franchises assembled their squads at the glittering PSL 2025 Player Draft ceremony on Monday
  • PSL 2025 is scheduled to take place between April 8 and May 19, with 116 players from 10 countries
Updated 13 January 2025
Shahjahan Khurram

ISLAMABAD: New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell became the first pick of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 Player Draft as the two-time winners Lahore Qalandars roped him in to bolster their batting order at a ceremony in Lahore on Monday afternoon, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said.
Mitchell, who has played 70 T20Is, will make his PSL debut later this year. Left-handed batter David Warner was pouched by 2020 PSL champions Karachi Kings as they made use of the second pick in the first Platinum round. Warner, with his wealth of experience including 12,727 T20 runs in 392 T20 matches, will also be among the list of notable debutants this season.
Peshawar Zalmi used the Right to Match option for Tom Kohler-Cadmore, who was picked by Quetta Gladiators. Kohler-Cadmore has represented Zalmi in the last four PSL editions. Gladiators then picked up New Zealand’s Mark Chapman, who has played 81 T20Is in his 10-year long international career and is a dual international as well.
Michael Bracewell and Matthew Short were the last two picks in the Platinum one round as they were gleaned by Multan Sultans and Islamabad United, respectively. Bracewell, an all-format player for New Zealand has played 149 T20s having scored 2,744 runs and taken 66 wickets. Short will add to Islamabad’s explosive batting line-up as they look to add a fourth PSL Trophy to their cabinet later this year.
“In the Platinum round two, Quetta Gladiators and Karachi Kings had two picks each. Gladiators used their Wild Card pick option to snare all-rounder Faheem Ashraf to their squad,” the PCB said in a statement.
“Aggressive Kiwi opening batter Finn Allen was the other player Quetta picked in this round. Allen, 25, has played 47 T20Is for New Zealand and scored 1,141 runs with the help of two centuries and at a strike rate of 158.69.”
Karachi Kings strengthened their pace arsenal as they went for Adam Milne as their first pick of the Platinum two round and followed it up by using Wild Card on Mohammad Abbas Afridi.
Milne will bring in extra pace to PSL 2025 along with his experience of 186 T20s in which has bagged 213 wickets at an average of 23.61. On the other hand, Abbas Afridi, who will now ply his trade for the Kings, was the leading wicket taker – 23 wickets, for Multan Sultans in PSL 2023 and also became part of the team of the tournament.
The Diamond round of picks saw Peshawar Zalmi, Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars bag quality overseas talent in the form of Corbin Bosch, Jason Holder and Kusal Perera. Bosch was picked by Zalmi, Holder by United and Perera by Qalandars.
Peshawar Zalmi topped up their pace stocks by picking Bangladesh’s Nahid Rana in the Gold category round one. Rana, 22, has impressed one and all with his express pace in his brief international career.
In the same category, Islamabad United picked Aussie left-arm fast bowler Ben Dwarshuis, who has bagged 176 T20 wickets at an average of 22 in 140 games. He will join his fellow countrymen Riley Meredith and Short on the United roster for PSL 2025.
“In the Silver category round three Bangladesh leg-spinner Rishad Hossain was picked up by Qalandars. In a first, United States of America’s (USA) Andries Gous made it to the HBL PSL 2025 and he will turn up for Islamabad United,” the statement read.
“Multan Sultans added Irish pacer Josh Little and West Indies’ spinner Gudakesh Motie to their side during this round.”
In the supplementary round one, Kane Williamson was picked by Karachi Kings, who will join his New Zealand teammate Milne. He will be one of the notable overseas signings for Kings along with Mohammad Nabi, David Warner and Litton Das. Johnson Charles, Tom Curran, Kusal Mendis and pacer Alzarri Joseph were bagged by Sultans, Qalandars, Gladiators, and Zalmi, respectively in the supplementary round one.
In the round two, Sam Billings was snared by Qalandars who used Right to Match card against defending champions Islamabad United, who later picked up Rassie van der Dussen. Quetta Gladiators made a strong pick as they bagged Australia’s Sean Abbott adding more pace and batting firepower to their line-up. Shai Hope was picked by Sultans while Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi will return to Karachi Kings this year.
Shoaib Malik will feature in his tenth consecutive PSL edition as he was picked up by Quetta Gladiators in the Supplementary round three. Among the two Emerging rounds of picks, notable selections were made. Batting prodigy Hasan Nawaz went to Gladiators’ roster, while talented Maaz Sadaqat was picked up by Zalmi.
Saad Masood the right-arm leg-spinner, who can bat as well and made headlines in the recent Champions T20 Cup in Rawalpindi, found home in Islamabad United and will be marshalled by Shadab Khan himself. Hunain Shah returns to Islamabad United while Ubaid Shah was picked up by Multan Sultans.
FINAL SQUADS
Islamabad United: Matthew Short, Naseem Shah and Shadab Khan (all Platinum), Imad Wasim (mentor) and Azam Khan, Jason Holder (both Diamond), Ben Dwarhuis, Salman Irshad, Salman Ali Agha (Brand Ambassador) and Haider Ali (all Gold), Andries Gous, Colin Munro, Muhammad Nawaz and Rumman Raees (all Silver), Hunain Shah, Saad Masood (both Emerging)
Supplementary – Riley Meredith and Rassie van der Dussen
Multan Sultans: Michael Bracewell, Mohammad Rizwan and Usama Mir (all Platinum), David Willey (mentor), Iftikhar Ahmed (Brand Ambassador) and Usman Khan (all Diamond), Chris Jordan, Kamran Ghulam and Mohammad Hasnain (all Gold), Akif Javed, Gudakesh Motie, Josh Little, Faisal Akram and Tayyab Tahir (all Silver), Ubaid Shah and Shahid Aziz (both Emerging)
Supplementary – Johnson Charles, Muhammad Amir Barki, Shai Hope and Yasir Khan
Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam, Saim Ayub, Tom Kohler-Cadmore (all Platinum), Corbin Bosch, Mohammad Ali and Mohammad Haris (all Diamond), Abdul Samad, Hussain Talat and Nahid Rana (all Gold), Arif Yaqoob, Najeebullah Zadran, Max Bryant, Mehran Mumtaz and Sufyan Moqim (Brand Ambassador) (all silver), Ali Raza and Maaz Sadaqat (both Emerging)
Supplementary – Ahmed Daniyal and Alzarri Joseph
Quetta Gladiators: Faheem Ashraf, Finn Allen and Mark Chapman (Platinum), Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Amir (mentor) and Rilee Rossouw (all Diamond), Akeal Hosein, Saud Shakeel (Brand Ambassador) and Mohammad Wasim Jr. (all Gold), Haseebullah Khan, Khawaja Muhammad Nafay, Kyle Jamieson, Khurram Shahzad and Usman Tariq (all Silver), Mohammad Zeeshan and Hasan Nawaz (both Emerging)
Supplementary – Danish Aziz, Kusal Mendis, Sean Abbott and Shoaib Malik
Karachi Kings: Adam Milne, David Warner and Mohammad Abbas Afridi (all Platinum), Hasan Ali and James Vince, Khushdil Shah (all Diamond), Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Irfan Khan and Shan Masood (all Gold), Arafat Minhas (Brand Ambassador), Litton Das, Mir Hamza, Tim Seifert and Zahid Mehmood (all Silver), Fawad Ali and Riazullah (Emerging)
Supplementary – Kane Williamson, Mohammad Nabi, Omair Bin Yousuf, Mirza Mamoon
Lahore Qalandars: Daryl Mitchell, Fakhar Zaman and Shaheen Shah Afridi (all Platinum), Haris Rauf (Brand Ambassador), Kusal Perera and Sikandar Raza (all Diamond), Abdullah Shafique, Jahandad Khan and Zaman Khan (all Gold), Asif Afridi, Asif Ali, David Wiese, Muhammad Akhlaq and Rishad Hossain (all Silver), Mohammad Azab and Momin Qamar (both Emerging)
Supplementary – Mohammad Naeem, Sam Billings, Salman Ali Mirza and Tom Curran

Topics: Pakistan Super League (PSL) Pakistan Super League 2025 PSL 2025

Pakistan army chief vows to root out militancy on visit to troubled northwest

Updated 13 January 2025
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Pakistan army chief vows to root out militancy on visit to troubled northwest

  • Pakistan has struggled to contain militancy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, since its truce with Pakistani Taliban broke down in 2022
  • Islamabad has frequently accused Afghanistan of supporting militant groups that launch cross-border attacks, Kabul denies the allegation
Updated 13 January 2025
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s army chief, Gen Asim Munir, on Monday promised to eliminate militancy from the South Asian country, the military said, as the army commander visited the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province that has witnessed a surge in attacks in recent months.
Pakistan has struggled to contain surging militancy in KP, which borders Afghanistan, since a fragile truce between the Pakistani Taliban and the state broke down in November 2022. The TTP and other militant groups have frequently targeted security forces convoys and check-posts, besides targeted killings and kidnappings of law enforcers and government officials in recent months.
On Monday, Gen. Munir visited the provincial capital of Peshawar, where he was given a briefing on the prevailing security situation and the ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the region, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing.
“The enemy may try to sow discord and fear, but we will not relent. Hostile elements will be dealt with an iron hand,” he was quoted as saying by the ISPR. “They will continue to suffer heavy losses, and their capacity to inflict harm will be decimated.”
The army chief said that any attempt to disturb the peace of the nation would be met with “decisive and overwhelming force,” praising the unwavering resolve and sacrifices of armed forces and law enforcement agencies
“Through their dedication, courage, and supreme sacrifices, we have successfully degraded the operational capabilities of terrorist organizations, both within our borders and beyond,” he said.
“Our forces have relentlessly pursued and eliminated key terrorist leaders, dismantled their infrastructure, and neutralized their cells, sending a clear message that terror has no place in our land. This war is ongoing and we would take it to its logical conclusion.”
The visit by the army chief came two days after Pakistani security forces killed nine militants in two separate engagements in KP’s North Waziristan district, which borders Afghanistan.
Islamabad has frequently blamed the surge in militancy on Afghanistan, accusing it of sheltering and supporting militant groups that launch cross-border attacks. Afghan officials deny involvement and insist that Pakistan’s security issues are an internal matter of Islamabad.
Separately, Gen. Munir interacted with members of various political parties, including Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, in Peshawar.
“The political representatives showed vivid clarity on unflinching support of the armed forces and LEAs in nation’s fight against terror and agreed on the need for a unified front beyond political colors against the extremist philosophy of terrorist groups,” the ISPR added.

Topics: Pakistan Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir Pakistan Army KP militancy

Authorities start dismantling bunkers in clashes-hit northwestern Pakistani district

Updated 13 January 2025
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Authorities start dismantling bunkers in clashes-hit northwestern Pakistani district

  • Tribal and sectarian clashes since Nov. 21 have killed at least 136 people in Kurram, causing medicine, food and fuel shortages
  • On Jan. 1, warring sides agreed on the demolition of bunkers and handover of heavy weapons to authorities under a peace agreement
Updated 13 January 2025
WASIM SAJJAD

PESHAWAR: Authorities in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province have started dismantling bunkers built by rival tribes in the Kurram district, which has been hit by deadly clashes in the last two months, an official said on Monday.
Kurram, a northwestern district of around 600,000 people in KP, has been rocked by tribal and sectarian clashes since November 21, when armed men attacked a convoy of Shia passengers, killing 52 people.
The attack sparked further violence and blockade of a main road connecting Kurram’s main town of Parachinar with the provincial capital of Peshawar, causing medicine, food and fuel shortages in the area, as casualties surged to 136.
Authorities last week issued a notification regarding dismantling of the bunkers in Lower Kurram, more than a week after a council of tribal and political elders brokered a peace deal between the two sides.
“One bunker each has been demolished in Balishkhel and Khar Kali area of Lower Kurram and arrangements for the demolition of the rest are being made,” Lower Kurram Assistant Commissioner Hafeez-ur-Rehman told Arab News over the phone.
“The bunkers are being dismantled using explosives, under the supervision of the district administration.”
Under the peace agreement signed on Jan. 1, both sides agreed on the demolition of bunkers and the handover of heavy weapons to authorities within two weeks.
Any party that launches an attack after the signing of the deal will be considered a “terrorist” and action will be taken against it. A fine of Rs10 million ($35,933) will be imposed on those who violate the terms of the deal by using weapons against each other, according to the peace agreement.
Land disputes in the volatile district will be settled on a priority basis with the cooperation of local tribes and the district administration. Opening of banned outfits’ offices will be prohibited in the district, while social media accounts spreading hate will be discouraged via collective efforts backed by the government.
The decisions were made by the KP apex committee, which comprises civilian and military leadership in the province.
Muhammad Ali Saif, a spokesperson for the KP government, confirmed the start of a drive to demolish all such structures in the volatile district.
“All bunkers will be dismantled in light of the apex committee decision and the peace agreement,” he said, adding that it was essential to restore peace in the area.
However, a shortage of food and medicines persists in the district and provincial authorities have been supplying relief goods and transporting ailing and injured people from Kurram to Peshawar via helicopters.

Topics: militancy in Pakistan KP militancy kurram district

Pakistani forces kill 27 militants in southwestern Balochistan province

Updated 13 January 2025
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Pakistani forces kill 27 militants in southwestern Balochistan province

  • Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by landmass and rich in mineral resources, has been the site of a low-level insurgency by Baloch separatists
  • Separatist militants last week seized Zehri town in Balochistan’s Khuzdar district, setting government property on fire and robbing Rs768,000 from a bank
Updated 13 January 2025
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani security forces have killed 27 militants in the southwestern Balochistan province, the military said on Monday, in the latest incident in the insurgency-hit region.
The militants were killed in an intelligence-based operation in Balochistan’s Kacchi district, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing.
The deceased had been involved in militant activities against security forces as well as innocent civilians and were “highly wanted” by the law enforcement agencies.
“Multiple hideouts, including caches of arms, ammunition and explosives, were also destroyed during the operation,” the ISPR said in a statement.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by landmass and rich in mineral resources, has long faced a low-level insurgency led by separatist groups, who accuse Islamabad of exploiting the province’s natural resources, such as gold and copper, while neglecting the local population.
Successive Pakistani governments have denied the allegations, saying they prioritized Balochistan’s development through investments in health, education and infrastructure projects.
On Monday, a roadside bomb blast killed one person in Balochistan’s Turbat district, while dozens of ethnic Baloch separatists last week entered Zehri town in the Khuzdar district and seized control of its main market, setting government properties on fire and robbing Rs768,000 ($2,745) from a private bank.
Footage and pictures seen by Arab News showed armed fighters roaming the streets of the town after seizing weapons, vehicles and motorbikes from the Levies paramilitary force. The outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) separatist group claimed responsibility for the attack.
Security forces reclaimed the town following skirmishes with the militants, during which one soldier was injured. Provincial authorities later sacked 15 Levies personnel for showing “cowardice” by surrendering to armed militants, according to a government notification.
Violence by Baloch separatist factions, primarily the BLA, killed about 300 people last year, according to official statistics, marking an escalation in the decades-long conflict.

Topics: militancy in Pakistan Balochistan Liberation Army Balochistan Attacks

Pakistan, Bangladesh vow to strengthen trade ties, consular services

Updated 13 January 2025
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Pakistan, Bangladesh vow to strengthen trade ties, consular services

  • Pakistan and Bangladesh have sought to improve bilateral ties since former premier Hasina’s ouster
  • Established together as one nation in 1947, Bangladesh won liberation from Pakistan in 1971 with India backingEstablished together as one nation in 1947, Bangladesh won liberation from Pakistan in 1971 with India backing
Updated 13 January 2025
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad and Dhaka have vowed to strengthen ties, particularly in trade and consular services, the Pakistan embassy said on Monday after the consul general of Bangladesh in Dubai paid a courtesy call on his counterpart from Pakistan. 

Pakistan and Bangladesh share a complex history, having been a single country known as East and West Pakistan until Bangladesh was born in 1971 after a war of liberation backed by Pakistan’s arch-rival and neighbor India. Nearly three million people were killed in the conflict.

Ties reached a new low in 2016 when Bangladesh executed several leaders of its Jamaat-e-Islami party on charges of committing war crimes in 1971. Pakistan called the executions and trials “politically motivated,” arguing that the convicts were being punished for taking a pro-Pakistan stance during the war. 

However, Islamabad’s ties with Dhaka improved after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted last year after student-led violent protests in the country. Hasina fled to India, which has cast a shadow over the relationship between Dhaka and New Delhi in recent months, with the former repeatedly demanding that India extradite the ousted leader.

“H.E. Md. Rashedujjaman, Consul General of Bangladesh in Dubai paid a courtesy call on H.E. Hussain Muhammad, Consul General of Pakistan, at the Consulate General of Pakistan today [Monday],” the Pakistani consulate said in a statement. 

“Welcoming the visiting Consul General, Mr. Hussain emphasized the importance of strengthening ties between Bangladesh and Pakistan, particularly in trade. Both Consuls General acknowledged the potential for collaboration and agreed to engage their respective consulates’ trade sections to further promote bilateral cooperation.”

Both sides also discussed various consular services including passport issuance, national identity cards, and visa procedures.

“Both Consuls General agreed to enhance information sharing and future collaboration regarding community services and public awareness initiatives,” the statement said.

Topics: Pakistan Bangladesh Ties Pakistan consulate Dubai

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