QUETTA: At least seven people were killed and 54 injured on Thursday evening when a bus full of wedding guests fell into a gorge in Pakistan’s southwestern city of Quetta, officials said.
Police said over 60 people were aboard the bus, which was traveling from Quetta’s Musa Colony area for a wedding in Baleli area located on the city’s outskirts when it fell into a gorge on the western bypass highway.
“Seven dead bodies, including four minor girls, arrived in Civil Hospital Quetta,” Dr. Waseem Baig, the spokesperson of the provincial health department, told Arab News.
“Fifty-four injured were brought to the Civil Hospital and are being treated in the Trauma Center,” he added.
Muhammad Dilawar, an investigation officer at the Brewery Police Station in Quetta, said the accident took place after a bus tire burst, causing the vehicle to fall into the gorge.
“The driver who is among the dead could not control the bus filled with people after the front tire of the bus burst at the western bypass area,” Dilawar told Arab News.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti expressed sorrow over the deaths, directing health officials to ensure quality health care for the injured.
The chief minister called for an inquiry to ascertain the cause of the accident.
Fatal accidents are common in Pakistan, where traffic rules are rarely followed and roads, particularly in many rural and mountainous areas, are in poor condition. In Quetta, many parts of the western bypass highway have been in dilapidated condition for a very long time. The road is dedicated for heavy traffic movement to keep the flow of traffic smooth in the city.
Such incidents are particularly common in Balochistan where single carriage roads connect various cities and even some highways lack modern safety features.
At least four people were killed and more than a dozen injured after an Islamabad-Quetta bound passenger bus plunged into a ravine in Zhob district on Sept. 14, 2024.
ISLAMABAD: Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Friday Pakistan had the “potential” to be a gateway for Malaysian companies wanting to venture out into the Central and West Asian markets.
Ibrahim left Pakistan on Friday after concluding a three-day visit accompanied by a delegation of ministers and senior officials who held wide-ranging talks with Pakistani counterparts on trade, connectivity, energy, agriculture, the halal food industry, tourism, and cultural and educational exchanges. The visit came as Islamabad is pushing for foreign investment from allies and beyond in a bid to shore up its $350 billion economy while navigating tough reforms mandated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
During a joint press stakeout on Thursday, Ibrahim and Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced setting up a Malaysian trade office in Karachi. It was also agreed that Pakistan would export halal meat worth $200 million and 100,000 tones of basmati rice to Malaysia per year.
“I believe Pakistan has the potential to be a gateway for Malaysian companies that want to expand the market in Central Asia and West Asia,” Ibrahim said in a farewell message posted on X.
He said his state visit had “opened the widest possible space” for Malaysia and Pakistan to discuss and explore cooperation in various fields, including economic zones, trade and market issues, transport, halal industry, tourism, education, skilled labor and others.
Lawatan Negara ke Pakistan ini sangat bermakna dan dekat di hati saya serta delegasi dengan mengambil kira sejarah persahabatan kedua-dua negara yang telah terjalin sejak 67 tahun lalu.
Ia telah membuka ruang seluas-luasnya bagi Malaysia dan Pakistan dalam membincangkan dan… pic.twitter.com/BYVQkUM0Wn
Trade between Malaysia and Pakistan currently stands at $1.4 billion, including in palm oil, apparel, textiles, chemical and chemical-based products, and electrics and electronic products. Among South Asian countries, Pakistan is Malaysia’s third-largest trading partner.
“As part of the efforts to boost bilateral trade, both leaders agreed that Pakistan would export Halal meat worth $200 million per annum and 100,000 metric tones of Basmati Rice to Malaysia,” state news agency APP reported after Sharif and Ibrahim addressed a joint press stakeout on Thursday evening.
In his remarks to reporters, Sharif said the two leaders had discussed the export of Pakistani basmati rice as well as of halal meat from Pakistan to Malaysia worth $200 million per annum.
“He said the Malaysian PM had also assured to address the discrepancies in the import of Pakistan’s rice into his country,” APP reported, saying the two leaders also discussed cooperation in defense, tourism, agriculture, green energy, skilled labor and youth empowerment.
In his remarks, Ibrahim said both sides had agreed on a number of issues and follow-up discussions would be held in an upcoming joint commission meeting in Kuala Lumpur later this month “to ensure swift implementation of the decisions.”
“He assured that a Malaysian trade office would be opened in Karachi soon to strengthen economic collaboration between the two countries,” APP said. “He said Malaysia was seeking more skilled labor in various sectors including IT, artificial intelligence, and semiconductors and Pakistan could also be a source for such skilled labor.”
“Our focus is on professionals required to satisfy new demands, massive investments, probably the largest in the ASEAN region in terms of information technology, digital and artificial intelligence,” Ibrahim told reporters.
The two prime ministers also witnessed the exchange of signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and a Letter of Cooperation. This included an MoU between the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and the Malaysia External Trade Development Cooperation (MATRADE) on trade cooperation, and an MoU for cooperation in halal trade between the Pakistan-Malaysia Business Council (PMBC) in Pakistan and the Malaysia-Pakistan Business Council (MPBC) in Malaysia.
A Letter of Cooperation between the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) was also signed. Pakistan’s aviation ministry and Malaysian airline AirAsia also signed an agreement for four weekly flights.
Pakistan’s top economic body approves $160 million grant for defense projects
Pakistan’s defense budget consistently attracts media attention due to the military’s substantial role in both the political and economic arenas of the country
The allocation of significant funds to defense sparks debates over balance between security needs and critical public services, such as education and health care
ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC), Pakistan’s top economic body, has approved a supplementary grant of around $160 million for defense projects in the current fiscal year, the Pakistani finance ministry said on Thursday.
The statement came after Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb presided over a meeting of the ECC, at which decisions were made regarding special allowances for the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), Anti-Rabies Vaccine, and other matters.
Pakistan’s defense budget consistently attracts media attention due to the military’s substantial role in both the political and economic arenas of the country. The allocation of significant funds to defense sparks debates over the balance between security needs and other critical public services, such as education and health care.
“The ECC also considered and approved a proposal submitted by the Defense Division for a TSG amounting to Rs45 billion ($160 million) for various already approved projects of defense services during CFY 2024-25,” the finance ministry said on Thursday.
The development came weeks after the government approved Rs60 billion ($215 million) supplementary grants for Operation Azm-e-Istehkam to root out militancy from the country, apart from a 17.5 percent increase in the overall defense budget in June to Rs2.12 trillion ($6.15 billion) in view of the country’s security needs.
The ECC considered and approved a proposal for increase in the rate of special allowance (equal to 20 daily allowances) for employees of the ANF paramilitary force to bring it at par with other federal law enforcement agencies (LEAs), according to the finance ministry.
“The impact of revision to the tune of Rs. 264.744 million ($950,000) in DA rates for the ANF employees would be met from within the current year’s sanctioned budget,” it said.
Media coverage and public discussions about the defense budget also reflect concerns about transparency, with governments only mentioning the overall figure without sharing further details.
Last month, Dr. Kaiser Bengali, a prominent Pakistani economist who resigned from the government’s high-powered austerity committee in August, noted among several observations that the answer to addressing Pakistan’s large budget deficit lied in reducing the government’s expenditures, including non-combat defense spending.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani rice traders said on Thursday that exports of the commodity could face a setback this year as neighboring India, one of the major competitors in the global market, had lifted restrictions on rice exports.
Pakistan exported rice worth $3.9 billion this year as compared to $2.15 billion last year, benefitting from India’s more-than-a-year-long ban on rice exports to fulfil its domestic needs. Last week, the Indian government lifted the ban and removed minimum export price of the commodity following a bumper crop yield this year.
In a tit-for-tat move, Pakistan has also withdrawn the minimum export price for all rice varieties to compete with Indian exporters in the global market. Pakistan’s minimum export price for the rice ranged from $450 per metric ton to $900 per metric ton for super basmati and white sella rice, according to a government notification available with Arab News.
The South Asian arch-rivals are the only countries that produce basmati rice which is famous for its unique flavour and aroma around the globe. India has been the largest exporter of rice worldwide, followed by Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam.
“Now the basmati rice with a label of either from India or Pakistan will be available in the global market this year, so Pakistan’s exports are expected to decline by at least $1 billion from the previous year,” said Malik Faisal Jahangir, chairman of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP).
He said Pakistan was exporting basmati rice to Europe and the Middle Eastern countries on an average $1,250 per metric ton as the Indian commodity was not available in the market due to the ban.
“India is direct competitor of Pakistan in rice exports, therefore our exports could decline in the international market after India lifted restrictions on the commodity,” he told Arab News. “Pakistan has withdrawn the minimum export price in reaction to India’s decision and we hope this will help create a level playing field to boost our exports.”
Pakistan’s commerce ministry said the minimum export price was introduced last year in response to rising global prices and a ban imposed by India on rice exports.
“The minimum export price has now become an obstacle for Pakistani rice exporters to remain competitive in global markets after India lifted its export ban and following a decline in international rice prices,” the ministry said in a statement.
Pakistani authorities have set a target of $5 billion rice exports for this fiscal year, while the exporters feared the government’s “regressive export policies and additional taxes” would bring down rice exports to $3 billion.
Irfan Noor, a rice exporter, said the government has increased tax from 1 percent to 29 percent on sales and profits of the exporters through a hybrid tax regime that would “definitely impact the exports negatively.”
He said Pakistan’s $3.9 billion rice exports were “an exception” due to India’s export ban on the commodity.
“Our rice exports will decrease this year due to India’s entry in the market that is also offering incentives to its traders on exports,” Noor said.
He urged the Pakistani government to review its tax policies and support rice farmers in growing new seed varieties resistant to adverse impacts of climate change to boost the per acre yield.
“We can compete with India in the global market only if our policy-makers come up with a holistic approach both for farmers and the exporters,” he added.
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday conferred Pakistan’s highest civilian award on Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim in recognition of his support for Islamic causes and for being a great friend of Pakistan, Pakistani state media reported.
Ibrahim arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday on a three-day visit along with a delegation of ministers and senior officials to hold wide-ranging talks on trade, connectivity, energy, agriculture, the halal food industry, tourism, and cultural and educational exchanges.
The Malaysian prime minister has been a prominent advocate of humanitarian causes and Islamic values, and his leadership is marked by a profound commitment to promoting social justice and addressing global issues affecting the Islamic world, according to a report by the Radio Pakistan broadcaster.
He has also been a voice for self-determination movements and has particularly stood against oppression across the world. The award, which honors those who render “services of highest distinction” to the national interest of Pakistan, was conferred upon him at a special investiture ceremony in Islamabad.
“The Malaysian Prime Minister continues to work tirelessly to counter Islamophobia, striving to create interfaith harmony by fostering understanding and respect between different cultures and religions,” the report read.
The investiture ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, federal ministers, services chiefs, diplomats, and senior government officials, followed by a state dinner in honor of PM Ibrahim and his delegation.
Separately, the Malaysian prime minister met Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir and discussed with him bilateral strategic interests, regional security and defense cooperation.
“He emphasized on the need for increasing bilateral ties, particularly military relations, among the two brotherly countries and extended an invitation to the COAS (chief of army staff) to visit Malaysia in the same context,” the Pakistani military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a statement.
Ibrahim’s visit comes as Islamabad pushes for foreign investment from allies and beyond in a bid to shore up its $350 billion economy, while navigating tough reforms mandated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as part of a $7 billion bailout.
Earlier on Thursday, PM Sharif and his Malaysian counterpart agreed to set up a trade office in Karachi, while Islamabad will increase its halal meat and basmati rice exports to the Southeast Asian country, Sharif’s office said.
“As part of the efforts to boost bilateral trade, both leaders agreed that Pakistan would export Halal meat worth $200 million per annum and 100,000 metric tons of Basmati Rice to Malaysia,” Pakistani state news agency APP reported after Sharif and Ibrahim addressed a joint press stakeout.
Trade between Malaysia and Pakistan currently stands at $1.4 billion, including in palm oil, apparel, textiles, chemical and chemical-based products, and electrics and electronic products. Among South Asian countries, Pakistan is Malaysia’s third-largest trading partner.
ISLAMABAD: Mobile phone services were suspended, all highways leading to the Pakistani capital as well as major roads inside Islamabad were blocked off and paramilitary forces were requisitioned on Friday ahead of a planned protest by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), with the government warning the opposition party against violence or clashes.
The PTI party of ex-premier Imran Khan has called a protest at Islamabad’s famed D-Chowk against proposed constitutional amendments that it says are aimed at curtailing the independence of the judiciary, a charge the coalition government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif denies. The PTI is also trying to mobilize the public through large public gatherings to put pressure for the release of Khan, who has been in prison since August last year and faces a slew of legal challenges.
“I want you all to reach D Chowk Islamabad today (Friday Oct. 4) for a peaceful protest and citizens of Lahore and its surrounding districts to prepare for a protest at Minar-e-Pakistan on Saturday Oct. 5,” Khan said in an X message to his supporters from prison.
“You should not be afraid of any kind of sacrifice for your freedom and do not retreat from it. Freedom is your right … Democracy and the rule of law have completely ended in our country, for which we have to fight hard.”
As social media footage shared by the PTI and its supporters showed caravans of supporters traveling to Islamabad for the protest from nearby cities, the Punjab government issued a notification saying it had summoned the paramilitary Rangers force “to maintain law and order” in Rawalpindi, Islamabad’s twin city.
Section 144, which allows the district administration to outlaw gatherings of more than four people on account of security threats, was imposed in Islamabad as well as the cities of Lahore, Rawalpindi, Attock and Sargodha. The Punjab government had also imposed the Section 144 provision in Bahawalpur, Faisalabad and Mianwali cities ahead of demonstrations by the PTI on Wednesday.
“Gatherings can be a soft target for the terrorists,” a notification announcing the imposition of Section 144 stated.
Pillion riding, when someone sits behind the main rider on a motorcycle, was also banned in Rawalpindi and Attock for Friday and Saturday, a separate notification said.
The PTI says the measures are being used by the federal and provincial Punjab government to suppress the party’s constitutional right to protest and to block the growing popularity of a party that has a track record of attracting hundreds of thousands of people to demonstrations and rallies.
On Thursday, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi held a strongly worded press conference against the PTI’s protest plans, especially as Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is in Pakistan on a three-day visit.
“This is a very sensitive time for us [government] because the Malaysian prime minister is here … then a high-level Saudi delegation is coming, then the Chinese prime minister is coming and then there is the SCO [Shanghai Cooperation Organization] conference [in Islamabad on Oct. 15-16],” Naqvi told reporters.
“PTI is a Pakistani party, not a foreign party and I would like to tell them that it is not acceptable at any level that a head of state is here and you want to charge at Islamabad.”
He said there would be no “leniency” or “second thoughts” in security arrangements in Islamabad while the Malaysian PM was visiting.
In a message on X, Islamabad police warned citizens not to be “part of any illegal activity.”
“The law will act against those who disturb peace and order. Observe traffic adviseries for road closures while traveling.”
On Friday morning, an Arab News survey showed major roads inside Islamabad and Rawalpindi blocked off with shipping containers and long lines of traffic jams on main roads that connect the two cities. Entry and exit points of Islamabad were also sealed and even people on foot complained of being able to travel.
“You don’t want people to come into the city [Islamabad] and get to D-Chowk where the protest is but at least let people go outside the city,” taxi driver Arshad Shad told Arab News.
“Buses can’t move, there is no Internet, no mobile phone service. Families are stuck, they can’t come or go. So I don’t understand what the government is doing, they are only making life more difficult for the public.”
Zafar Iqbal, who deals in sale and purchase of property, lamented frequent protests were affecting businesses in the twin cities.
“Every fourth day there is a protest. This is very wrong. This shouldn’t happen. People’s businesses are getting affected and the public is being humiliated,” he told Arab News.
“This is a curse for the public, for businessmen. There is already no business and people are worried.”
Asif Khan, a Rawalpindi resident who works with a bike raid-hailing service, equally criticized the government and the opposition for the situation.
“This government has no shame nor do the PTI people have,” he said. “It’s been four hours, we have been sitting here since morning, but we didn’t get any passenger. What will the poor earn and eat?“ PREVIOUS PROTESTS
The PTI also held protests in a number of cities in Punjab province on Wednesday.
In Mianwali, Internet services were blocked city-wide and police used tear gas shelling to disperse demonstrators. A protest in Faisalabad was also blocked as all roads leading to the venue were shut down amid heavy deployment of police. Clashes between PTI supporters and law enforcers were also reported. Similar scenes occurred in Bahawalpur also.
Last Saturday, the garrison city of Rawalpindi, which borders Islamabad, remained tense as police fired tear gas shells to disperse hundreds of Khan supporters ahead of a protest in the city to demand the release from prison of Khan.
The PTI also held a rally on the outskirts of Islamabad on Sept. 8 against Khan’s incarceration, which was largely peaceful though a policeman was injured in clashes with some supporters en route to the rally venue.
The day after the rally, however, over a dozen legislators from the party were arrested on charges of violating an agreement based on which permission for the gathering was issued, including abiding by a time limit and supporters sticking to certain routes to reach the designated venue for the rally on Islamabad’s outskirts.
Khan’s party says the challenges in holding rallies and protests are part of an over-year-long crackdown.
Khan, who has been in jail since last August, 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.
