ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s national flag carrier announced on Thursday it would operate direct Umrah flights from the country’s Quetta and Faisalabad cities to Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah in a bid to facilitate pilgrims in the two cities.
Thousands of Pakistanis travel to Saudi Arabia each month to visit the holy sites in Makkah and Madinah for the Umrah pilgrimage. Umrah is a voluntary Islamic pilgrimage to the Islamic sites in Saudi Arabia. A shorter version of the Hajj, it is voluntary and can be performed throughout the year.
“PIA has announced direct flights from Quetta and Faisalabad to Jeddah on the strong insistence of pilgrims,” a spokesperson of the airline said in a statement.
“Direct flights from Faisalabad and Quetta will be operated from August 6.”
The national airline’s spokesperson said two flights each from Quetta and Faisalabad to Jeddah would be operated per week.
Balochistan Governor Sheikh Jafar Khan Mandokhail thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for backing the initiative.
He said people in Balochistan previously had to travel to Karachi two days in advance to avail a direct Umrah flight to Saudi Arabia. Mandokhail said direct flights from Quetta to Jeddah will facilitate Baloch pilgrims in their travel.
“And when they [passengers from Balochistan] returned they had to stay for a couple of days in Karachi to wait for a flight or another mode of transportation to return [to Balochistan],” he said.
Pakistan’s national airline announces direct Umrah flights from Quetta, Faisalabad to Jeddah
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Pakistan’s national airline announces direct Umrah flights from Quetta, Faisalabad to Jeddah
- Flights from Quetta and Faisalabad to Jeddah to operate twice a week, says Pakistan International Airlines
- Every year, thousands of Pakistanis travel to Islamic places of worship in Saudi Arabia for Umrah pilgrimage
Two Pakistani startups among 23 selected from Asia-Pacific for Google’s AI Academy
- Pakistani startups AdalFi and Adlytic AI are among companies from India, Korea, Japan, Singapore and Malaysia selected for academy
- Google launched AI Academy in August this year to aid the growth of artificial intelligence startups in Pakistan and Asia-Pacific
ISLAMABAD: Two Pakistani start-ups have been selected among 23 companies from the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region to participate in Google’s first-ever Artificial Intelligence (AI) Academy in the region, the search engine giant said on Thursday, with the move intended to enhance the companies’ AI solutions and accelerate business development.
The AI program kicked off earlier this week in a three-day boot camp in Singapore with Pakistan start-ups AdalFi and Adlytic AI among other companies from India, Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia taking part.
These start-ups will receive over 170 hours of mentorship from AI and Cloud experts, up to $350,000 in Google Cloud credits apart from opportunities to connect with AI innovators across the APAC region, Google said.
“Two innovative startups from Pakistan are among the 23 chosen from across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) to participate in Google’s first-ever AI Academy in the region,” Google said in a press release.
Google launched the AI Academy in August to aid the growth of artificial intelligence startups in Pakistan and the Asia-Pacific. The move was aimed at sparking new cross-border innovations and partnerships that would allow the exchange of ideas, expertise, and resources to accelerate the development of AI solutions, helping the APAC region become a “global hub” for AI development.
The statement said these startups were pushing the boundaries of AI innovation in Pakistan and contributing to the region’s vibrant AI ecosystem.
“Pakistani startup AdalFi is increasing access to financial services with its AI-powered credit scoring system, promoting financial inclusivity for millions of individuals and small businesses,” it added. “Adlytic AI is enhancing retail analytics by transforming CCTV cameras into intelligent tools for businesses, helping retailers better use visual and geospatial data to grow their business.”
Head of Google for startups, Micheal Kim, expressed excitement at Google kicking off its first-ever AI Academy in the Asia Pacific region.
“AI has the potential to be an incredible force multiplier, and it’s incredible to see these 23 startups harnessing AI’s potential to impact some tough challenges, ranging from addressing underserved sectors, like expanding access to financial services and health care, to building AI collaborators for lawyers, democratizing influencer marketing with AI-generated avatars,” he said.
“Through this program, we hope to foster a wave of innovation that will have a ripple effect across the entire Asia-Pacific region.”
All the participating start-ups will be showcasing their “refined AI solutions” to investors, entrepreneurs and AI industry leaders in December later this year on the Ai Academy’s Graduation Day, the press release said.
Pakistan’s Punjab shuts educational institutes amid student unrest
- The protests first broke out in Lahore last week after social media reports suggested a student had been raped in the basement of a women college campus
- The police, college management and the provincial government have said that no victim has come forward and blamed online misinformation for the unrest
ISLAMABAD: Authorities in Pakistan’s most populous Punjab province have closed all educational institutes for today, Friday, amid widespread student protests over reports of a college campus rape.
The protests first broke out in the provincial capital of Lahore last week after social media reports suggested a student had been raped in the basement of a Punjab College for Women campus in the city.
The police, college and provincial government have said that no victim has come forward and blamed online misinformation for the unrest, but the protests have since spread to campuses across Lahore as well as Rawalpindi and other cities.
“All the public and private sector colleges and universities in Punjab shall remain closed on Friday, October 18,” the Punjab higher education department said in a notification on Thursday night.
Separately, the school education department ordered all public and private schools shut across the province on Friday.
On Thursday, more than 350 people were arrested in Rawalpindi, which neighbors the federal capital of Islamabad, on charges of damaging public property and engaging in arson, according to the police. Teams have been set up for more arrests.
“Special teams will also identify those inciting mischief on social media,” the police said on X.
The demonstrators, mostly male students, smashed windows and burned school buses at campuses in Lahore and have also clashed with police at many of the demonstrations, accusing authorities of a cover-up.
“They’ve bribed the government and top officials to cover up the truth, just to protect their institution’s reputation,” said a 19-year-old student protesting in Rawalpindi on Thursday.
“This is not fake news — it’s 100 percent real,” added Inshai, another 19-year-old demonstrator, who did not want to give her last name.
The protests reflect a deep concern among Pakistani students over safety, harassment and sexual assault against women at educational institutions as well as their mistrust in authorities.
Police arrested a security guard who was identified in online posts but said no victim had come forward and that they had not been able to verify the rape allegation.
“The incident does not exist,” Arif Chaudry, the Lahore director of the private Punjab Group of Colleges that runs the women’s college, said on Wednesday. “I will resign and I will leave this profession and stand with the students if the incident took place.”
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has said that those spreading “false posts” will be punished.
— With additional input from AFP
Ex-PM Khan’s party to hold Pakistan-wide protests against constitutional amendments today
- Khan’s party, prominent lawyers say government aims to curtail judiciary’s independence via amendments, a charge it denies
- Khan’s PTI is also protesting against Punjab’s decision to ban meetings at Adiala prison, where he has been imprisoned since August 2023
ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has called for Pakistan-wide protests today, Friday, against the government’s proposed constitutional amendments it alleges are aimed at curtailing the independence of the judiciary, and to demand Khan’s release from prison.
The PTI and Pakistan’s legal fraternity have been up in arms over a set of proposed constitutional amendments that the Shehbaz Sharif-led government has been trying to pass since last month. The government rejects PTI’s allegations that it wants to exert more control over judicial appointments and decision-making powers through these amendments.
The proposed amendments are expected to establish a federal constitutional court, raise the retirement age of superior judges by three years and modify the process for the appointment of the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
The PTI says the amendments aim to extend the tenure of Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, widely believed to be aligned with the government and against its chief rival, Khan. The government rejects these allegations.
“I appeal to my entire nation to come out of their homes on Oct. 18 and protest peacefully under the ambit of the constitution,” PTI leader Amir Dogar said in a video message.
The PTI gears up for protests as three major parties, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Jamiat Ulama-e-Pakistan Fazl (JUI-F) announced Wednesday night that they had reached a consensus on the amendments.
To pass the constitutional amendments, the ruling coalition needs a two-thirds majority in parliament, something the PTI and lawyers have vowed to take to the streets against.
BAN ON PRISON MEETINGS
Dogar said the party was calling for protests also as Khan was incarcerated on frivolous charges and was not being allowed to meet his lawyers and family members.
The PTI had earlier this week called for protests at the D-Chowk venue in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad against the Punjab government’s move to ban meetings at Adiala prison in Rawalpindi, where Khan has been imprisoned since August last year.
The provincial government said it had imposed the ban due to security reasons ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit following violent Islamabad clashes earlier this month.
The party later postponed its protest, saying it had done so for the larger national interest as world leaders arrived for the international summit.
PTI’s last protest in Islamabad earlier this month led to clashes between its workers and law enforcement personnel, leading to dozens of arrests and injuries to a large number of cops, one of whom died after being subjected to alleged torture by the protesters.
Khan, jailed since August last year, was ousted from the PM’s office in 2022 in a parliamentary vote of no confidence after what is widely believed to be a falling out with Pakistan’s powerful military, which denies being involved in politics.
Since his removal, Khan and his party have waged an unprecedented campaign of defiance against the military.
Pakistan’s UAE envoy, exhibitors praise GITEX Dubai as ‘great show’ for tech firms
- Eighty Pakistani IT, tech firms are taking part in GITEX in Dubai, considered one of the biggest tech exhibitions worldwide
- Pakistani exhibitors praise encouraging response received at GITEX 2024, stress importance of global networking in IT sector
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Faisal Niaz Tirmizi and several exhibitors taking part in the ongoing GITEX exhibition in Dubai praised the international tech show, saying that several lucrative agreements were signed by Pakistani IT companies during the five-day event.
The annual Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) is considered one of the world’s largest tech shows, connecting industry leaders with major tech and innovation startups, as well as government officials, expert investors and corporate buyers.
This year’s five-day exhibition commenced on Oct. 14 and will end on Oct. 18. The event holds particular significance for Pakistan as it aims to showcase its growing prowess in IT as it eyes lucrative markets in the Middle East.
“It is a great show for Pakistan as many MoUs, deals and agreements were signed and many new opportunities were given to Pakistani companies,” Tirmizi told Arab News.
When asked about the deals signed by Pakistani tech companies, Tirmizi said the exact number would be known when the event concludes on Friday.
“This is the biggest trade show,” the Pakistani envoy said, adding that 6000 companies from countries around the world were participating in the event.
“Pakistan was recognized as Tech Destination of the Year and we also had a Pakistan evening which was an official evening of GITEX 2024,” he said.
Tirmizi said this exhibition provided the best opportunity for Pakistani companies to showcase their products, talent, manpower, and skills to the UAE, the region and even the world.
‘PAKISTAN’S SIGNIFICANT BRANDING’
Sajjad Mustafa Syed, the chairman of the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), described GITEX as a “game-changer” for Pakistan IT startups and companies. He said a total of 80 Pakistani companies are participating in the event.
“The slogan of Tech Destination Pakistan was well received by the audience and several Pakistani companies signed multimillion-dollar contracts at the conference,” Syed told Arab News.
Muhammad Zohaib Khan, the founder of A2Z Creatorz, a website and mobile app development company, said such exhibitions have tremendous potential, stressing the importance of networking with buyers in the IT sector.
“There was significant branding of Pakistan as a tech destination at Gitex Dubai and many regional and global companies took interest in Pakistani companies where many deals have been signed,” Khan, who is an ex-chairman of P@SHA, told Arab News.
Muhammad Ali Tahir, marketing manager of TMC (TallyMarks Consulting), a system integrator company, said his organization secured a powerful partnership on Wednesday with Obrela, a renowned global provider of cybersecurity services, under its subsidiary Integrians Cybersecurity Solutions (ICS).
“As the exclusive service provider for Obrela’s services in Pakistan, ICS will offer comprehensive cybersecurity solutions, building a fortress for businesses to innovate fearlessly,” Tahir told Arab News.
“By combining our expertise in enterprise business solutions with Obrela’s unstoppable cyber defense, we will ensure resilient protection every step of the way,” he added.
Shahid Ismail, chief executive officer of Premier Cables, one of the leading manufacturers of fiber-optic cables, said this was the 15th consecutive year his company has participated in GITEX.
“We secured supply orders from Etisalat through this platform a few years ago and have been supplying them with fiber-optic cables ever since,” he told Arab News.
“So far, we have supplied them with up to 17,000 km of fiber-optic cables, and today at GITEX, we received a new order from Etisalat.”
Pakistan Navy seizes 1.3 tons of hashish worth $26 million in Arabia Sea operation
- “Operation Himalayan Spirit” conducted by Pakistan and US navy coast guards and ships
- Navy says operation testament to its commitment to safeguard critical maritime choke points
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Navy seized 1.3 tons of narcotics valued at approximately $26 million during a targeted operation in the North Arabian Sea aimed at disrupting “illicit maritime activities” on Thursday, the navy said in a press release.
Pakistan Navy, in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, frequently carries out such narcotics seizure operations in the country’s territorial waters.
“Operation Himalayan Spirit” was conducted by Pakistan’s PNS Zulfiqar, which is part of the navy’s combined task force to curb illegal activities at sea. It was assisted by PMSS Kolachi along with the US Navy and US Coast Guard ships that were conducting operations in nearby waters.
“Pakistan Navy ship PNS Zulfiqar while participating in Focused Operation Himalayan Spirit successfully interdicted a vessel carrying 1.3 tons of hashish in the North Arabian Sea,” the navy said.
The operation was supported by aerial surveillance from a Pakistan Navy aircraft and the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, the press release said, adding that information regarding suspicious boats was regularly exchanged among all units involved in the operation.
Pakistan’s navy described the operation’s success testament to the country’s commitment to ensure peace and security at the “world’s critical maritime choke points.”
In June, the Pakistan Navy seized 389 kilograms of highly valuable drugs during an anti-narcotics operation in the Arabian Sea.
Last year in May, it seized over 4,000 kilograms of hashish worth over $65 million with the country’s Anti-Narcotics Force.
