KARACHI: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday assured Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong of personally overseeing investigation into a militant attack on a Chinese convoy in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi, promising that those responsible would be brought to justice.
Two Chinese nationals among three people were killed and 10 others injured in the attack near the Karachi airport late on Sunday night, Pakistani officials and the Chinese embassy said. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) separatist group claimed responsibility for the attack, saying that Chinese nationals were targeted by a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device.
China is a major ally and investor in Pakistan, having pledged over $65 billion in road, infrastructure and development projects in Pakistan under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a part of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative, that aims to connect China to the Arabian Sea and help Islamabad expand and modernize its economy.
PM Sharif on Monday visited the Chinese embassy in Islamabad and held a meeting with Ambassador Jiang to extend his condolences over the death of the two Chinese nationals, according to the Pakistan PM’s office.
“I will personally oversee the investigation into this incident,” Sharif said, expressing sorrow over the loss of Chinese lives in the attack. “After the identification of those responsible for the incident, they will be brought to justice.”
He said his government had fully mobilized resources to identify those behind this “act of terrorism,” adding that the protection of Chinese nationals was a “top priority” of Pakistan.
Sharif also assured the Chinese envoy of further strengthening security arrangements for Chinese nationals working in Pakistan.
The Chinese ambassador expressed confidence in the Pakistani government’s “effective investigation, prompt identification of the responsible terrorists, and their swift punishment,” according to a statement issued by Sharif’s office.
“We hope that those responsible for the incident will receive appropriate punishment as soon as possible,” Ambassador Jiang was quoted as saying.
The attack targeted a convoy of the Port Qasim Electric Power Company at around 11:00pm on Sunday night, according to the Chinese embassy. Two Chinese nationals were killed and one was injured.
The embassy said the Chinese side was working with Pakistani authorities in the aftermath.
“The Chinese Embassy and Consulates General in Pakistan remind Chinese citizens, enterprises and projects in Pakistan to be vigilant, pay close attention to the security situation, strengthen security measures, and make every effort to take safety precautions,” it said in a statement.
On Monday, the Pakistani foreign office condemned the attack and said the country’s security and law enforcement agencies would make every effort to arrest the perpetrators and their facilitators.
“This barbaric act will not go unpunished,” it said.
Separately, the BLA named the militant who carried out the attack as Shah Fahad Badini, a member of its Majeed Brigade who belonged to the Kili Badini area of the Nushki district in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province.
The 28-year-old had joined the group in 2019 and had completed his degree in Business Administration at the Lasbela University, it added.
Sunday’s attack is the latest by the BLA, the most prominent of a number of separatist groups fighting for independence for Pakistan’s gas-and-mineral-rich Balochistan province, where a low-lying insurgency has been ongoing for the past two decades. Baloch militants blame the Pakistani state for exploiting the province’s resources, a charge denied by state authorities.
The BLA also accuses Beijing of helping Islamabad exploit the province and has attacked Chinese interests and projects in the past, in particular the strategic port of Gwadar on the Arabian Sea. It has previously killed Chinese citizens working in the region and attacked Beijing’s consulate in Karachi.
In March this year, a suicide bombing killed five Chinese engineers and a Pakistani driver in northwestern Pakistan as they headed to the Dasu Dam, the biggest hydropower project in the country. In 2022, three Chinese educators and their Pakistani driver were killed when an explosion ripped through a van at the University of Karachi.
Sunday’s attack came after a series of coordinated attacks, most claimed by the BLA, that killed more than 50 people in Balochistan in August. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other officials said at the time the attacks had sought to harm Chinese-funded investment and development projects.
Pakistan PM assures Beijing will ‘personally oversee’ probe into attack that killed two Chinese
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Pakistan PM assures Beijing will ‘personally oversee’ probe into attack that killed two Chinese
- Two Chinese nationals were among three killed in the attack near Karachi airport on Sunday
- The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) separatist group claimed responsibility for the attack
Pakistan set to get its inaugural women’s cricket league as first trials held in Rawalpindi
- The event brought together students from various universities across the Rawalpindi and Islamabad divisions
- The Girls Cricket Camp will continue on Tuesday to provide more participants a chance to demonstrate skills
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is set to get its inaugural women’s cricket league as Zalmi Foundation, a Pakistani non-profit skills development organization, on Monday held trials of aspiring women cricketers from Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Zalmi Foundation completed day one of the trials for its Girls Cricket Camp at the Government Post Graduate College in Rawalpindi, aiming to empower women in sports and fostering gender equality through inclusive platforms.
The event, organized in collaboration with other organizations, brought together students from various universities across the Rawalpindi and Islamabad divisions to showcase their cricketing skills and compete at a national level.
“This event marks a turning point for women in sports in Pakistan,” said Dr. Saima Hamid, vice-chancellor of the Fatima Jinnah Women University in Rawalpindi. “By offering a space where young women can thrive and showcase their talent, the Zalmi Foundation is breaking down barriers and creating new possibilities for female athletes.”
Shabana Nawaz, deputy chief of the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), described the event as a “powerful initiative to challenge the status quo.”
“By empowering women in sports, we are promoting equality and creating a future where young girls are not only encouraged but expected to excel in all areas, including sports,” she said.
On the occasion, Mohayyudin Ahmad Wani, special secretary at the Pakistani education ministry, emphasized the importance of collaboration to empower women in the country.
“The combination of education and sports is transformative. The Zalmi Foundation has taken a bold step by collaborating with NCSW and Dukhtar-e-Pakistan to provide opportunities that will shape the future of women in Pakistan,” he said.
Abbas Layaq, a top official of Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Peshawar Zalmi, expressed his excitement over the talent displayed during the trials, saying the young women had “immense potential.”
“We are committed to ensuring that they have the resources and platform to succeed,” he added.
The Girls Cricket Camp will continue on Tuesday to provide more participants a chance to demonstrate their cricketing skills and book a place in the inaugural women’s cricket league.
Pakistan all-parties conference urges OIC to call emergency summit on Gaza war
- PM Shehbaz Sharif says Pakistan will form a special working group to engage Islamic countries in raising a collective voice against Israeli actions
- Joint communique of All Parties Conference calls for full implementation of UN General Assembly Resolution demanding end to Israeli occupation
ISLAMABAD: An All Parties Conference (APC) in Pakistan on Monday called on the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to convene an emergency summit to address the situation in Palestine, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announcing the formation of a special working group to engage other Islamic countries in raising a collective voice on Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza.
The APC came as Pakistan observed Palestine Solidarity Day to mark one year of Israeli invasion of Gaza that has claimed the lives of more than 41,800 Palestinians so far.
The conference took place at the Presidency in Islamabad, with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Sharif, and leaders of key Pakistani political parties in attendance.
Speaking at the APC, PM Sharif said it was time for the Muslim World to move forward and take practical steps to prevent Israel from further bloodshed in Palestine.
“Pakistan has decided to form a special working group which will go to different lobbies and reach out to other countries in the Islamic world to raise a collective voice against Israeli atrocities,” he said.
“The first priority should be to stop the bloodshed in Palestine, which is a foremost duty and for this, the platform of the OIC is available.”
While reading out a joint communique by all parties, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said the APC called for full implementation of a UN General Assembly resolution, ES 10/24 of September 18, which inter alia demanded an end to Israeli occupation.
“[This APC] calls on the OIC to convene an emerging emergency summit to discuss the situation in Palestine, Israel’s brutal aggression in the region and its implications for the regional peace and security and underscores the need for unity of the Islamic ummah,” Dar said.
He demanded implementation of provisional measures by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which called for preventing Israel from committing further acts of genocide against the Palestinian people, as well as the ICJ’s advisory opinion of July 19 that reaffirmed the illegality of the Israeli occupation.
Dar said the APC expressed full support for the ongoing political and diplomatic efforts by the OIC, the League of Arab States, the United Nations and brotherly countries in addressing the prevailing situation in Palestine as well as for peace and stability of the broader region.
In his speech at the conference, President Zardari regretted the fact that the international community had failed to stop Israel from committing the “genocide” in Palestine.
“The prevailing culture of impunity and disregard for international law must be urgently addressed and it is crucial for the international community to take swift action to de-escalate the situation,” he said.
The president reiterated Pakistan’s firm support and vowed to continue raising its voice at all regional and international forums to stop Israel’s human rights violations and aggression against the Palestinians.
Nawaz Sharif, a three-time former prime minister and the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party supremo, questioned the world silence on Israel’s “genocide and war crimes” in Gaza.
“The government should contact the Islamic community after preparing recommendations for an effective role in the Palestine conflict, reflecting the nation’s desire to contribute decisively,” he said.
Nawaz urged Muslim countries to unite and develop a joint strategy to stop the ongoing bloodshed in Palestine.
“We have not seen such atrocities anywhere in the world as those being committed by Israel, yet many countries do not recognize it as a humanitarian crisis,” he added.
Speaking at the conference, Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI) leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman called for practical steps to help the Palestinians, instead of “passing resolutions and issuing condemnations.”
“A joint platform of leading Muslim countries should be formed to evolve a common strategy to face multiple challenges in Palestine,” he added.
Jamaat-e-Islami chief Naeem-ur-Rehman said Pakistan had to take a very clear stance on Israeli brutalities against the Palestinians.
“Pakistan should take steps to convene a meeting of the Islamic countries to adopt a common stance in this regard,” he said, adding that Islamabad should play a proactive role to launch a diplomatic campaign to highlight this issue at world fora.
Pakistan does not recognize nor have diplomatic relations with Israel and calls for an independent Palestinian state based on “internationally agreed parameters” and the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
Since the beginning of Israel’s war on Gaza, Pakistan has repeatedly raised the issue at the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and other multilateral platforms and demanded international powers and bodies stop Israeli military actions in Gaza. The South Asian country has also dispatched several aid consignments for the Palestinians.
Pakistan eyes up to $7 billion rice exports to support dwindling economy
- While India has been the largest exporter of rice worldwide, Pakistan holds 25 percent of the European rice export market
- Commerce Minister Jam Kamal stresses need for collaboration between government, exporters to maintain this edge
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal said on Monday the South Asian country aimed to boost its rice exports from the existing $4 billion to as much as $7 billion to support its dwindling economy, Pakistan state media reported.
Kamal said this during a meeting with the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) representatives. Rice exports play a vital role in Pakistan’s economy, ranking second in export value after cotton.
Pakistan is trying to navigate a prolonged economic crisis by actively pursuing foreign investments and enhanced trade opportunities, while it has also reached a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a $7 billion loan.
The South Asian holds 25 percent of the European rice export market, compared to India’s 16 percent, and there is a need for collaboration between the government and exporters to maintain this competitive edge, according to the commerce minister.
“Rice exports play a vital role in Pakistan’s economy, ranking second in export value after cotton,” Kamal was quoted as saying by the state-run APP news agency. “Rice exporters are a primary source of revenue and employment, with the government aiming to increase exports from $4 billion to $6-7 billion in the near future.”
Pakistan exported rice worth $3.9 billion this year as compared to $2.15 billion last year. It has also withdrawn the minimum export price for all rice varieties to compete with Indian exporters in the global market.
India has been the largest exporter of rice worldwide, followed by Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam. The South Asian arch-rivals are also the only countries that produce basmati rice which is famous for its unique flavour and aroma around the globe.
“We are focusing on improving our standards to meet international food safety requirements, especially in Europe,” Kamal said.
Increasing rice exports to Malaysia were also part of the discussions held during a recent visit by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who will host a business delegation led by Kamal in November to explore new opportunities.
REAP Chairman Malik Faisal Jahangir said Pakistan’s rice exports faced fewer regulatory challenges with only 74 rapid alerts for pesticides issued last year compared to 264 for India, according to the APP report.
He said Pakistan remained one of the “lowest-risk countries” concerning food safety standards.
Stressing the need to educate farmers to improve quality of rice production, Kamal called for a joint effort by all stakeholders to develop a five-year strategy to enhance the country’s rice export capacity and international standards compliance.
He urged REAP to give proposals on how to meet the government’s export targets within the next year, keeping in mind the “stringent” food safety standards in the European Union.
Saudi Arabia’s KSrelief to sign several aid deals in Islamabad today
- Established in 2015, the Saudi charity organization has one of the largest humanitarian budgets available to any aid agency across the world
- Pakistan is the fifth largest beneficiary of KSrelief’s humanitarian aid and has greatly benefited from its assistance since 2022 monsoon floods
ISLAMABAD: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) is set to sign several agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with various organizations in Islamabad on Tuesday, Pakistani state media reported.
The Saudi charity organization has one of the largest humanitarian budgets available to any aid agency across the world, which has allowed its officials to undertake a wide variety of projects in more than 80 countries. Pakistan is the fifth largest beneficiary of its aid and humanitarian activities and has greatly benefited from its assistance since 2022 monsoon floods.
The event at which the agreements are to be signed will be attended by Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Pakistan, Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki, along with Pakistani government officials as well as representatives of international and local humanitarian organizations, the APP news agency reported on Monday, citing the Saudi Press Attaché Dr. Naif Al-Otaibi.
“These agreements will encompass aid and construction projects in multiple underprivileged regions of Pakistan, in alignment with KSrelief’s comprehensive aid plans,” he was quoted as saying by the APP.
Established in 2015, KSrelief aims for high humanitarian goals in its operations to provide assistance to the needy and disaster victims anywhere in the world, according to Dr. Naif.
These tasks are carried out by the United Nations (UN) bodies and international and local non-profit organizations under the right monitoring procedures and modern methods of rapid transition.
“These aid projects cover all areas of relief and humanitarian work, including food security, camp management, shelter, initial rehabilitation, conservation, education, water and environmental reform, nutrition, health, humanitarian aid support, including logistics services, and emergency communications,” he was quoted as saying.
Senior army officer among six Pakistani soldiers killed in gunfight with militants laid to rest
- Lt. Col. Muhammad Ali Shoukat and other soldiers were killed in an encounter with militants in North Waziristan
- Pakistan blames a recent surge in militancy on groups operating from Afghanistan, Kabul denies the allegation
ISLAMABAD: A senior army officer among six Pakistani soldiers, who were killed in a gunfight with militants in Pakistan’s restive northwest last week, were laid to rest in their native towns with full military honors, the Pakistani military said on Monday.
Lt. Col. Muhammad Ali Shoukat and five other soldiers were killed in an encounter with militants in the North Waziristan district of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing.
The gunfight late Friday night also left six militants dead in the restive district that borders Afghanistan.
“A large number of serving senior military officers, military personnel, families of martyrs and local elders attended the funeral prayers,” the ISPR said in a statement. “These sacrifices of our martyrs strengthen our determination and courage in the ongoing war against terrorism.”
Pakistan has seen a rise in militant attacks in recent months and says militants mainly associated with the Pakistani Taliban frequently launch attacks from hideouts in neighboring Afghanistan, targeting police and other security forces.
Islamabad has even blamed Kabul’s Afghan Taliban rulers for facilitating anti-Pakistan militant groups. Kabul denies the charges.
