Pakistan’s main health body warns of Congo fever risk ahead of Eid Al-Adha
Pakistan’s main health body warns of Congo fever risk ahead of Eid Al-Adha/node/2515556/pakistan
Pakistan’s main health body warns of Congo fever risk ahead of Eid Al-Adha
Livestock vendors and customers walk amid sacrificial camels at a cattle market ahead of the Muslim festival of Eid Al-Adha in Lahore on June 25, 2023. (AFP/File)
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s primary health body has issued an advisory for the prevention of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), a press release said on Thursday, in light of the upcoming Muslim festival of Eid Al-Adha that could be a breeding ground for the tick-borne virus.
CCHF is a viral hemorrhagic disease transmitted to humans through contact with infected animals, mainly through handling livestock or their blood, tissue, or excrement. It can also be transmitted from human to human through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected person. The disease has a high fatality rate, and there is currently no vaccine or specific treatment for it.
“During Eid Al-Adha, there is an unusual increase in the movement of animals from all provinces and increased contact between the general public and animals, raising the risk of the spread of Congo fever,” the National Institute of Health (NIH) said on Wednesday, advising people to wear light-colored clothing to easily detect ticks on fabric and avoid areas where ticks were prevalent.
The NIH also urged timely and appropriate measures to ensure protection from heatstroke and typhoid fever.
Pakistan has been experiencing severe climatic changes due to global warming in recent years which has led to heat waves, untimely rains and droughts.
A sunstroke is a form of hyperthermia and medical emergency during which the body temperature is elevated and can be fatal if not promptly treated, the health body said, adding that profuse or no sweating, dry skin, headaches, chills, slurred speech and dizziness were common signs of heatstroke.
Emphasizing precautionary measures during extreme heat, the health advisory advised people to avoid direct sunlight, drink plenty of water and use an umbrella or hat when outdoors.
On May 21, authorities had urged people to stay indoors as the country was hit by an extreme heat wave that threatens to bring dangerously high temperatures and yet another round of glacial-driven floods. Pakistan’s most populous province, Punjab, shut all schools for a week because of the heat, affecting an estimated 18 million students.
The country’s chief meteorologist has warned that the heat wave would “intensify” from today, May 23, onwards.
Regarding typhoid fever, a bacterial infection that can prove to be life-threatening if not treated properly, the NIH said Pakistan was among countries with the highest burden of typhoid fever due to a lack of safe drinking water, inadequate sanitation, and poor hygiene practices.
The statement stressed the importance of following hygiene practices, using clean water and avoiding street food. The disease has been reported from various parts of the country since 2016, especially during the monsoon and summer seasons, the health advisory said.
ISLAMABAD: The head of an official delegation visiting world capitals to present Islamabad’s position following a recent military standoff with New Delhi met senior British officials and Kashmiri diaspora leaders in London this week, urging the UK to play a more active role in defusing tensions with India and restoring the suspended Indus Waters Treaty.
Pakistan and India have launched parallel diplomatic offensives in world capitals weeks after their worst military confrontation in decades last month saw the two nuclear-armed nations exchange missile, drone and artillery strikes until the US and other allies brokered a ceasefire on May 10. The Pakistan delegation is currently in London after visiting the United States and will go onwards to Brussels. Officials of both countries are lobbying for international support over the disputed region of Kashmir, which both countries rule in part but claim in full.
In London on Tuesday, Pakistan’s former foreign minister, who is heading the Pakistani delegation, met with prominent UK-based Kashmiri leaders and senior British diplomats, warning of the dangers of rising hostilities and accusing India of violating long-standing international agreements.
“The Jammu & Kashmir dispute remains the unfinished agenda of the United Nations and the unhealed wound of Partition,” Bhutto Zardari said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “In all my interactions, Kashmir was central— its people’s inalienable right to self-determination under UNSC resolutions must be upheld.
He also accused India of “aggression, violations of sovereignty, and the illegal suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty,” saying the move endangered over 240 million lives in Pakistan and called for its immediate restoration.
Bhutto Zardari separately met with Christian Turner, former UK High Commissioner to Pakistan and now Britain’s incoming Permanent Representative to the United Nations, as part of Islamabad’s push to rally international diplomatic support.
“Welcomed the UK’s emphasis on diplomacy and dialogue, and encouraged its continued, constructive role in supporting de-escalation and encouraging dialogue for resolution of the Jammu & Kashmir dispute, the unfinished agenda of Partition and British legacy,” the Pakistani leader wrote following a luncheon hosted by Pakistan’s High Commission.
The Pakistani outreach coincides with a parallel tour by a senior Indian delegation led by opposition MP and former UN under-secretary Shashi Tharoor, who is lobbying Western allies to support New Delhi’s position that Kashmir is an internal matter and that Pakistan is stoking tensions for political ends. India also accuses Pakistan of backing separatist insurgents and the attacks they carry out, including one in April 22 which triggered the latest conflict. Islamabad denies the charges.
Pakistan has long maintained that Kashmir is a disputed territory under UN resolutions, while India insists the region’s status was settled after its full constitutional integration in August 2019, a move Pakistan continues to reject as illegal.
The standoff has also drawn concern over shared water resources, particularly the Indus Waters Treaty, a 1960 World Bank-brokered agreement seen as a rare example of cooperation between the two neighbors. Recent Indian actions to suspend the treaty and threaten to halt water flow into Pakistan have added to Islamabad’s grievances.
As tensions grow, both nations are leveraging historic ties with Western powers in an effort to shape the diplomatic narrative. In London, Bhutto Zardari reiterated the need for “restraint, immediate restoration of treaty obligations, and comprehensive dialogue to prevent conflict and secure lasting peace.”
The visits come ahead of a high-level UN session on South Asia later this month, where both Indian and Pakistani envoys are expected to present competing narratives.
KARACHI: Pakistan received $3.7 billion in workers’ remittances in May 2025, a strong 16 percent increase month-on-month and 13.7 percent year-on-year, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said on Wednesday, with Saudi Arabia remaining the largest contributor, sending $913.9 million.
The inflows brought total remittances for July-May FY2024-25 to $34.9 billion, marking a 28.8 percent increase from $27.1 billion in the same period last year. The rise follows a record breaking $4.1 billion in March, the highest-ever single-month inflow, and a robust $3.2 billion in April.
The strong performance has helped offset Pakistan’s trade deficit and support its fragile foreign exchange reserves amid continued macroeconomic pressure.
“This is the highest level of remittances recorded in recent months,” the SBP said in a statement, noting that the increase reflected stronger flows from key corridors and a growing shift toward formal remittances channels.
Analysts attribute the surge to a combination of factors, including improved exchange rate management, government crackdowns on hawala and hundi informal systems for transferring money internationally, and seasonal flows during Ramadan and Eid.
Saudi Arabia remained the largest contributor in May, sending $913.9 million, followed by the United Arab Emirates ($754.2 million), the United Kingdom ($588.1 million), and the United States ($314.7 million).
Remittances remain a critical source of foreign exchange for Pakistan, which is currently under a $7 billion IMF program and facing over $24 billion in external debt repayments over the next fiscal year.
The central bank has raised its full-year remittance forecast to $38 billion, reflecting optimism that flows will continue to support economic stabilization.
The surging remittances, especially from Saudi Arabia, help cushion Pakistan’s chronic current‑account deficit and bolster its foreign exchange reserves, offering relief ahead of major debt repayments. With global commodity prices still volatile and external financing constrained, continued inflows from overseas workers, particularly from the Gulf, are seen as crucial to maintaining macroeconomic stability and supporting Pakistan’s growth outlook under IMF conditions.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani pilgrims returning from Saudi Arabia on Wednesday praised the smooth organization and facilities provided during this year’s Hajj, despite facing intense heat in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.
Pakistan’s post-Hajj flight operation began with the arrival of PIA flight PK732 in Islamabad earlier in the day, carrying 307 pilgrims. According to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, a total of seven flights are scheduled to transport 1,496 pilgrims to Islamabad, Lahore, Multan and Karachi on the first day of the repatriation operation.
“A total of seven flights carrying 1,496 pilgrims will land on June 11, while the post-Hajj flight operation will conclude on July 10 with the last flight landing in Islamabad,” Muhammad Umer Butt, spokesperson for the religious affairs ministry, informed.
Speaking to Arab News at Islamabad International Airport, returning pilgrims praised the Hajj experience, describing it as spiritually uplifting and logistically smooth, crediting the Saudi authorities for their efforts.
“It [Hajj] was very good and an amazing experience,” said Muhammad Waseem from Attock. “It was very hot, but the Saudi government had made good arrangements— there was water and fans everywhere.”
He said the Saudi authorities had taken excellent care of the pilgrims and ensured things remained smooth.
Those who followed their group schedules found the experience far less strenuous, he continued.
“Only those people got tired and faced difficulties who did not follow their scheduled timings fixed by the authorities for different groups for the Hajj rituals,” he noted.
Abdul Malik, a pilgrim from Lakki Marwat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, echoed similar sentiments.
“The arrangements were very good,” he said. “When Allah calls a person to visit His House and the Mosque of His Prophet [PBUH], it feels as if the person is soaring in the air. Such is the feeling which cannot be described in words.”
Samina Bibi from Islamabad called her Hajj deeply spiritual and fulfilling.
“My experience of Hajj was very good and I prayed for everyone, including all the Muslims,” she said. “Only Allah Almighty can understand my feelings during Hajj.”
Bibi informed it was her second visit to the Holy Places, having previously performed Umrah, and found the arrangements to be “very good.”
Abdul Haq, another pilgrim from Islamabad, reflected on the ease with which his journey unfolded.
“When I intended to perform Hajj, after that, Allah made everything easy upon easy, and we prayed for everyone including Muslims sitting in front of the Holy Kaaba,” he said. “The arrangements made by the Saudi government were excellent. We faced no difficulties during Hajj.”
While he acknowledged the natural hardships due to the heat in Mina and Muzdalifah, Haq said the experience remained “smooth and truly unforgettable.”
“In Hajj, there were not really difficulties, but there is hardship, mainly due to the heat,” he added. “However, overall, our Hajj was so wonderful that it’s beyond words, and we kept thanking the Saudi government for all the arrangements throughout.”
This year’s Hajj pilgrimage took place from June 4 to June 9, drawing millions of pilgrims to the holy cities.
Pakistan, which sent over 116,000 pilgrims under both government and private schemes, was among several countries managing large-scale contingents in the annual Islamic pilgrimage.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will travel to New York next week to attend a high-level United Nations conference on the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian question, the Foreign Office said on Tuesday.
The International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution will take place at the UN headquarters from June 17-19.
The visit underscores Islamabad’s continued diplomatic support for the Palestinian cause amid the latest Israeli military offensive in Gaza, which began in October 2023. Around 54,000 people have been killed in the besieged enclave since, mostly women and children.
“DPM/FM shall be traveling to US to attend High-Level Segment of the International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution to be held at UN New York from 17-19 June 2025,” the Foreign Office said in a brief statement.
During his visit, Dar is expected to meet with counterparts from other member states and reaffirm Pakistan’s call for an immediate ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian access, and a just and lasting resolution to the conflict in line with UN and OIC resolutions.
The conference comes amid renewed international efforts to revive stalled negotiations and de-escalate tensions in the region.
Pakistan has long advocated for a two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of an independent Palestinian state.
Islamabad does not recognize Israel and has consistently condemned Israeli military actions in Gaza, especially following Israel’s latest offensive in response to Hamas-led attacks in late 2023, which have resulted in widespread casualties and a humanitarian crisis.
KARACHI: Analysts, investors and key business chambers on Wednesday broadly welcomed Pakistan’s federal budget for 2025-26 as a “balanced” attempt at fiscal consolidation and economic stimulus, though they raised concerns about the achievability of the government’s ambitious growth target of 4.2 percent and heavy reliance on existing taxpayers.
Presenting the federal budget on Tuesday, the government announced a range of tax reforms, spending priorities, and incentives aimed at maintaining its ongoing $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan program while also trying to revive investor sentiment and ease pressure on the salaried class.
“The budget announced by the government yesterday [Tuesday] was pretty much in line with what we were expecting, a balanced budget,” said Sana Tawfik, head of research at Arif Habib Ltd, a major Pakistani financial services company.
“The government tried to ensure that the reforms being undertaken currently are on track and Pakistan continues with the fiscal consolidation phase.”
Tawfik was pointing to several key ongoing fiscal and structural reforms that align with Pakistan’s commitments under the IMF program and broader efforts to stabilize the economy.
These include fiscal consolidation through broadening the tax base, rationalizing subsidies, and phasing out tax exemptions; revenue mobilization though increased taxation on interest income, a phased reduction in the super tax and the removal of certain tax exemptions to improve revenue collection; and debt rationalization by managing debt servicing costs, likely by shifting to more concessional financing and restructuring high-cost debt.
While presenting the budget, the government also maintained it would continue its focus on providing relief to the salaried class and try to strike a balance between austerity with social protections.
This handout photograph taken on June 10, 2025, and released by Pakistan's National Assembly shows Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb presenting the 2025–26 fiscal budget at the Parliament House in Islamabad. (AFP)
Tawfik agreed that the government had attempted to strike such a balance between providing relief and raising revenue, citing relief measures for the salaried class in the budget and the phased reduction in super tax.
“The government tried to make sure that we continue with the reforms that we have undertaken in the recent past, while ensuring that we meet the targets set for the upcoming fiscal year,” Tawfik said.
UNREALISTIC GROWTH TARGET?
However, Tawfik was skeptical of the government’s 4.2 percent GDP growth target, calling it “unrealistic” in the current economic context.
“Agriculture has been underperforming, and industries have not been performing due to the high cost of doing business. While we have seen interest rates coming down, agriculture would be the key sector to look forward to,” she said.
Arif Habib Ltd. has forecast GDP growth of around 3.6 percent for FY26, below the government’s target.
Tawfik also noted that while the government had projected inflation at 7.5 percent, her team expected it to be slightly lower, around 6 percent to 6.5 percent, although risks remained from global commodity prices, exchange rate pressures and the fading base effect.
She also flagged a projected current account deficit for FY26, in contrast to a surplus of $1.5 billion expected this fiscal year, citing pent-up demand and increased imports.
Muhammad Waqas Ghani, head of research at JS Global Capital Ltd., echoed the sentiment that the budget was more “measured” compared to previous years.
“In the last two years, we’ve seen very strict budgets. This time, the government has been a little lenient. We’ve seen reform measures but also some relaxations,” Ghani said.
He pointed to tax relief for the salaried class and incentives for the construction sector, though he noted that the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) allocation had decreased.
Corporate employees watching television screens as Pakistan Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb presents Pakistan’s $62 billion federal budget for fiscal year 2025–26, in Islamabad on June 10, 2025. (APP)
“There are many allied industries that benefit when we see measures taken for construction,” he said, while noting a less favorable outcome for the auto sector.
Ghani acknowledged the government’s target of a 2.4 percent primary surplus as “optimistic,” but achievable, and described the overall budget as “laying the groundwork” for sustained economic growth.
On the 4.2 percent GDP target, he noted:
“It’s an optimistic target… but with interest rates coming down, we hopefully will see contribution from [agriculture and industrial] segments, and we can get closer to the target.”
STRONG SUPPORT FROM EQUITY MARKETS
While the budget drew applause for investor-friendly policies and efforts toward macroeconomic stability, analysts cautioned that delivery on ambitious fiscal and growth targets remained key to sustaining momentum.
The stock market, however, responded positively from the opening bell.
“As soon as the market started today [Wednesday], it rallied close to 1,400 points,” Ghani said.
“We are in an IMF program and we’re seeing a decent budget this time. All of these things point to the fact that the market is going to reach new heights in the coming months.”
Indeed, despite macroeconomic challenges, the budget drew strong support from equity markets.
“Measures we have seen so far are broadly positive for the stock market,” said Tawfik. “The government kept capital gains tax and dividend income tax unchanged, which the market had feared would be increased.”
Sector-specific measures were seen as favorable for cement, steel, and textile sectors, particularly with subsidies for low-cost housing and removal of sales tax exemptions for certain regions, which levels the playing field for local manufacturers.
“Intraday today, market has gone north of 124,000 points, and we have seen an intraday surge of 2,000 points,” Tawfik said.
DIVIDED BUSINESS COMMUNITY
The reaction from Pakistan’s business chambers, however, was more mixed.
Both the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), and the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), warned that unless structural reforms were implemented and energy costs reduced, the budget may not succeed in spurring industrialization or export growth.
The FPCCI welcomed certain relief measures, particularly for the salaried class and property sector, but flagged concerns about revenue expectations.
“We welcome steps to end harassment of taxpayers,” said Atif Ikram Sheikh, President FPCCI, noting the simplified tax return form as a positive step.
However, he added: “The increase in tax collection target by Rs2,500 billion ($8.8 billion) is unrealistic.”
The FPCCI also expressed disappointment over the absence of support packages for key sectors such as IT, minerals, fishing, and e-commerce.
People walk past the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry building in Karachi on May 4, 2024. (AN Photo/File)
The KCCI, by contrast, issued a harsh critique of the budget, calling it disconnected from ground realities.
“This is a camouflage budget,” said Zubair Motiwala, Chairman of the Businessmen Group (BMG) at KCCI. “There is no meaningful relief for the business community or the common man. Instead of reforms to expand the tax base, the government is squeezing existing taxpayers.”
KCCI President Muhammad Jawed Bilwani added:
“Electricity bills are unaffordable, interest rates are high, and there’s no relief for the industrial sector. Without addressing the cost of doing business, you cannot expect growth or job creation.”
