Search form

You are here

  • Home
  • PM reviews arrangements as Pakistan gears up for Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit


PM reviews arrangements as Pakistan gears up for Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit

Commuters past a newly installed birds’ replica at Constitution Avenue in Islamabad on October 10, 2024, ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit next week. (APP)
Short Url

https://arab.news/2smgg

Updated 12 October 2024
Follow

PM reviews arrangements as Pakistan gears up for Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit

  • Pakistan is hosting the SCO Council of Heads of Government summit in Islamabad on Oct. 15-16 under its rotating chairmanship
  • Among other leaders, Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar will also lead his country’s delegation at summit
Updated 12 October 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inspected late on Friday arrangements in Islamabad for an upcoming summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on October 15-16, Pakistani state media reported.
The SCO is an important Eurasian political, economic and security alliance founded in 2001 by China, Russia and several Central Asian nations. Over the years, it expanded to include countries like India and Pakistan, making it a significant regional bloc.
Pakistan is hosting the SCO Council of Heads of Government summit in Islamabad under its rotating chairmanship of the organization, with the participants expected to discuss issues related to trade, economic cooperation, security, and regional stability.
Sharif, accompanied by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and other officials, visited various areas of the Pakistani capital Friday night, where he was briefed on preparations for the two-day conference.




Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inspects arrangements in Islamabad for an upcoming summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), on October 11, 2024. (APP)

“All preparations for hosting the SCO meeting are complete,” Tarar, who described it as a “great honor” for Pakistan, was quoted as saying by the state-run Radio Pakistan broadcaster.
“Pakistan is looking forward to warmly welcome esteemed heads of government and dignitaries.”
The information minister said that law enforcement agencies were on high alert to ensure the security of the summit, adding that PM Sharif personally reviewed the arrangements to guarantee a hospitable reception.
Among other international leaders, Pakistan also extended invitation to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, though the delegation from New Delhi will be spearheaded by External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.




Laborers work on the beautification with artificial flowers and fancy lights at the installation in Islamabad on October 11, 2024, ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit next week. (APP)

Founded in 2001, the SCO is a major trans-regional organization spanning South and Central Asia, with China, Russia, Pakistan, India, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan as its permanent members. The SCO member states collectively represent nearly half of the world’s population and a quarter of global economic output.
The organization’s agenda of promoting peace and stability, and seeking enhanced linkages in infrastructure, economic, trade and cultural spheres, is aligned with Pakistan’s own vision of enhancing economic connectivity as well as peace and stability in the region.




Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi overseeing the preparation ahead SCO Summit in Islamabad on October 10, 2024. (APP)

Since becoming an SCO member in 2017, Pakistan has consistently and constructively worked to strengthen good neighborly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation among SCO member states. Hosting of SCO summit in Islamabad also reflects the abiding commitment of Pakistan to the purposes and principles of the SCO charter and the values of the Shanghai spirit.

Topics: SCO summit 2024 SCO Summit

Dubai-based Pakistani adventurer seeks recognition for her first space journey

Updated 4 min 34 sec ago
Follow

Dubai-based Pakistani adventurer seeks recognition for her first space journey

  • Namira Salim traveled into space in October last year aboard Virgin Galactic’s fifth successful flight
  • She previously traveled to both North and South poles and has also parachuted over Mount Everest
Updated 4 min 34 sec ago
Muhammad Ibrahim

ISLAMABAD: Namira Salim, who became the first Pakistani to travel into space last year, on Saturday expressed regret for not receiving any official recognition for the journey, saying it was a “larger than life accomplishment” and didn’t come without a “serious risk” to her life.
Salim traveled into space in October last year aboard Virgin Galactic’s fifth successful flight, according to the US company. The adventurer, who previously traveled to both North and South poles and has also parachuted over Mount Everest, was among the first customers to buy a ticket with billionaire Richard Branson’s space company after it was founded almost two decades ago.
Salim said she invested her own resources in her spaceflight ticket, which cost her $200,000 in 2006. For her space mission, she said she had traveled to the US and Europe from 2006 to 2023 and attended all milestone events in the process during which they built a fleet of motherships and spaceships.
While Pakistani sports and entertainment industry figures have been conferred with civilian awards at special investiture ceremonies in recent years, no ceremony has been organized to highlight Salim’s challenging, high-risk and self-funded space flight, in which she passionately invested 18 years of her time and resources.
“I must confess with a very heavy heart that my previous civil award nomination in early 2023 before my space flight for services renderred to Pakistan’s space sector and SUPARCO [Pakistan’s Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission] was sadly blocked by the concerned individual at the Ministry of Science and Technology despite the highest recommendations and support,” she said in a statement.
“Therefore, my civil award nomination was not approved due to this bureaucratic hurdle. My civil award application was obviously merit based.”
Salim said Pakistan’s space sector needed to be more highlighted and promoted.
She appreciated that on the recommendation of former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, President Asif Ali Zardari had conferred her with the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz civilian award in 2011 for her polar expeditions as first Pakistani at the North Pole in 2007 and at the South Pole in 2008 and for her skydive over Mount Everest during the historic First Everest Skydive 2008.
Salim said she merited official recognition for being the first Pakistani astronaut and for her tireless efforts in glorifying the name of Pakistan globally.

Topics: Namira Salim

At Ashgabat meeting, Pakistan calls for promoting connectivity among regional countries

Updated 12 October 2024
Follow

At Ashgabat meeting, Pakistan calls for promoting connectivity among regional countries

  • Asif Ali Zardari attended international forum on peace, cultural cooperation in Turkmenistan
  • The significant gathering brought together important figures from various regional countries
Updated 12 October 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday stressed the need to focus on promoting connectivity among regional countries to help strengthen cultures and economic cooperation, Pakistani state media reported.
He said this while addressing the ‘International Forum on Interrelation of Times and Civilizations — Basis of Peace and Development’ in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. The event commemorates the 300th birth anniversary of Magtymguly Faragi, an 18th-century Turkmen thinker, poet and philosopher.
The international gathering is significant since it brings together key figures from various regional nations to discuss peace, development and cultural cooperation.
The event provided an opportunity to interact with the leadership of regional countries that would help strengthen our bonds of friendship, the Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.
“The President was confident that the discussions and deliberations at this conference will not only honor the memory of Makhdum Gulli, but will also pave the way for new avenues,” the report read.

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari (6R) gestures for a group photograph with Heads of States participating in the ‘International Forum on Interrelation of Times and Civilizations — Basis of Peace and Development’ in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan on October 11, 2024. (APP)

Pakistan has aimed to enhance its role as a pivotal trade and transit hub connecting the Central Asian republics with the rest of the world, leveraging its strategic geographical position.
The South Asian country has invested in infrastructure projects like roads, railways and pipelines while seeking greater economic connectivity under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) initiative.
President Zardari also met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the forum in Ashgabat, where they pledged to further strengthen bilateral ties.
“The informal interaction was held on the sidelines of a two-day international forum ... here in the Turkmen capital,” the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported, adding, “they emphasized further strengthening of bilateral relationships.”

Topics: President Asif Ali Zardari

IMF to lower member borrowing costs by $1.2 billion annually

Updated 12 October 2024
Reuters
Follow

IMF to lower member borrowing costs by $1.2 billion annually

  • This year, the IMF decided to review policy on charges, surcharges for the first time since 2016
  • The decision came after higher interest rates internationally pushed the borrowing costs higher
Updated 12 October 2024
Reuters

NEW YORK: The International Monetary Fund on Friday approved measures that will reduce its members’ borrowing costs by about $1.2 billion annually, the fund’s Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said.
“The approved measures will lower IMF borrowing costs for members by 36 percent, or about $1.2 billion annually,” Georgieva said in a statement. “The expected number of countries subject to surcharges in fiscal year 2026 will fall from 20 to 13.”
This year, the IMF decided to review its policy on charges and surcharges for the first time since 2016, as higher interest rates globally have pushed borrowing costs higher.
The fund charges regular interest, plus surcharges for loans above a certain threshold or duration, and commitment fees for precautionary arrangements.
The IMF said the charge above the fund’s interest rate will be lowered, while the amount and duration thresholds will rise, as will the threshold for commitment fees.
“While substantially lowered, charges and surcharges remain an essential part of the IMF’s cooperative lending and risk management framework, where all members contribute and all can benefit from support when needed,” Georgieva said.
The changes will take effect on Nov. 1.
The five countries paying the highest surcharges are Ukraine, Egypt, Argentina, Ecuador and Pakistan according to research from Boston University’s Global Development Policy Center.
Argentina, currently the IMF’s largest debtor, will save over $3 billion with the changes, according to Finance Secretary Pablo Quirno.
Friday’s announcement falls short of calls by academics, non-profit groups and other economists, who have argued for a full cancelation of IMF surcharges, which they say place extra burdens on borrowing countries at a time when they are in dire economic circumstances and counteract the impact of IMF lending.

Topics: IMF bailout measures

Ashleigh Gardner spins Australia women to victory over Pakistan in Dubai

Updated 12 October 2024
Follow

Ashleigh Gardner spins Australia women to victory over Pakistan in Dubai

  • Wicketkeeper Muneeba Ali says the team needs to take charge to win matches for Pakistan
  • Pakistan will now face New Zealand in their last group game at the beginning of next week
Updated 12 October 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Australia Women secured a nine-wicket victory over Pakistan Women in the 14th match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday evening, handing Pakistan their second defeat while Australia claimed their third win of the tournament.
Australia chased down the 83-run target in 11 overs as skipper Alyssa Healy top-scored with a 23-ball 37 before retiring hurt in the 10th over of the innings. Her 36-run opening partnership with Beth Mooney was cut short by Sadia Iqbal in the fifth over when Mooney departed for a run-a-ball 15 with the help of three boundaries.
Ellyze Perry, who hit the winning run for Australia, remained unbeaten for 22 off 23 balls hitting two fours along with Ashleigh Gardner (7 not out). Out of the seven bowlers used by Pakistan, only Iqbal remained successful while Syeda Aroob Shah was denied Healy’s wicket as Nashra Sundhu dropped her in the eighth over.

Australia's Ashleigh Gardner bats during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match between Pakistan and Australia at Dubai International Stadium, United Arab Emirates on October 11, 2024. (AP)

“We are not up to the mark in batting. That’s not how you approach T20 cricket, it’s embarrassing and we need to change that and win games for Pakistan,” wicketkeeper Muneeba Ali said after the match.
Ali took charge of the team as captain Fatima Sana flew back home ahead of the match after the death of her father.
“Everybody needs to step up and we need to have the confidence to win the last game.”
Earlier, after Australia won the toss and opted to field, Gardner tied down the Pakistan batters with a four-wicket haul while she was backed up by tidy spells from Annabel Sutherland (2-15) and Georgia Wareham (2-16).
A quiet powerplay saw Pakistan amass 23 runs for the loss of two wickets before they were reduced to 39-5 in 9.4 overs. Aliya Riaz, who top-scored with 26 off 32 hitting three fours, stitched a 19-run sixth-wicket partnership with Iram Javed and a 13-ball 18-run seventh-wicket stand with Tuba Hassan to take Pakistan to 82 in 19.5 overs.

Australia's Ellyse Perry bats during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match between Pakistan and Australia at Dubai International Stadium, United Arab Emirates on October 11, 2024. (AP)

Megan Schutt picked up one wicket in her three-over spell to surpass Nida Dar’s tally of 143 T20I wickets and became the leading wicket-taker in Women’s T20Is. Schutt snaffled her 144th T20I wicket when she dismissed Sadaf Shamas in the fifth over.
Pakistan will now face New Zealand in their last group game on 14 October in Dubai with the first ball to be bowled at 1900 PKT.
With input from AFP

Topics: Pakistan women cricket team

Thousands gather in northwest Pakistan as grand council of banned Pashtun groups is delayed

Updated 11 October 2024
&
Follow

Thousands gather in northwest Pakistan as grand council of banned Pashtun groups is delayed

  • PTM leaders say the ‘crackdown’ against them impeded the preparations for the Pashtun gathering
  • KP government says it allowed the gathering on condition that no anti-state slogans will be raised
Updated 11 October 2024
WASIM SAJJAD & REHMAT MEHSUD

PESHAWAR/ DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Thousands of people gathered in the Khyber tribal district in Pakistan’s northwest on Friday to attend a three-day grand council organized by the recently banned Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) to address issues in the volatile region, though proceedings were delayed due to insufficient arrangements.
The provincial administration of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) allowed PTM to hold the Pashtun National Jirga after extensive deliberations involving representatives of different political parties a day earlier.
The dialogue over the issue was arranged by KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and took place after federal authorities in Pakistan banned PTM on charges of supporting the Pakistani Taliban militants and promoting anti-state narratives and activities.
The PTM leadership, which has consistently denied these allegations and claims it only advocates for Pashtun rights, said it would proceed with the jirga to discuss security challenges in the province. The group lost three of its supporters in a clash with police on Wednesday while preparing for the ethnic gathering.
“The arrangements were delayed as we had an issue [with the police] some two days ago and faced a crackdown that impeded the preparations,” Zakim Wazir, a member of PTM’s central committee, told Arab News.
“Around 80 camps had to be set up for the jirga, and we were only allowed to do that by the provincial authorities the night before,” he added.
PTM founder Manzoor Ahmad Pashteen also highlighted these challenges while speaking to those attending the gathering.
“The proceedings of the first day will be held tomorrow [Saturday] along with the second day’s proceedings,” he said.
Earlier, the KP administration released a statement saying it had imposed several conditions on PTM before allowing the gathering.
“There will be no anti-state or anti-military slogans during the three-day tribal council meeting,” Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, the KP administration’s spokesperson, said. “No one will also be allowed to raise the flag of any other country.”
Founded in 2014, PTM has long advocated against extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances of Pashtuns and other ethnic minorities, for which the state is sometimes blamed, though it has always denied the charge.
The KP spokesperson emphasized that the protection of public life and property, along with the restoration of peace and security in the province, were the top priorities of the provincial administration.

Topics: PTM jirga Pashtun National Jirga

Latest updates

Dubai-based Pakistani adventurer seeks recognition for her first space journey
Hezbollah warns Israelis to stay away from army in residential areas
PM reviews arrangements as Pakistan gears up for Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit
At Ashgabat meeting, Pakistan calls for promoting connectivity among regional countries
Alexei Navalny wrote he knew he would die in prison in new memoir

Search form

Print Edition
Read pdf version Subscribe now
© 2024 SAUDI RESEARCH & PUBLISHING COMPANY, All Rights Reserved And subject to Terms of Use Agreement.