ISLAMABAD: The first batch of 27 Palestinian medical students out of a total of 192 arrived in Lahore from Cairo on Monday to continue their studies in the country, a leading charitable organization involved in the initiative said. 

Pakistan’s foreign ministry announced in July that Islamabad will provide scholarships to over 100 Palestinian students enabling them to continue their medical studies in Pakistan, as Israel’s war wreaks havoc in the Middle East. Since Oct. 7, 2023, Israel has killed over 42,000 people in Gaza through relentless bombardment despite ceasefire calls and angry protests in several countries. 

The Palestinian students will continue their medical and dental studies in Pakistani institutions through fully funded programs. The initiative is a collaborative effort by the Global Relief Trust, Doctors of Rahman, and leading Pakistani charity organization, the Al-Khidmat Foundation. 

“Twenty-seven more Palestinian students from Gaza arrived in Pakistan to continue their education,” Al-Khidmat Foundation said in a press release. Pictures showed Palestinian students poising with airport officials after their arrival. 

“Welcome Palestine students,” read a large banner carried by the airport officials. 

Al-Khidmat Foundation representatives and the Pakistani embassy in Cairo facilitated the students’ departure from Cairo International Airport on Sunday, Al-Khidmat Foundation said. 

“During the first phase, a total of 192 Palestinian students will arrive in Pakistan through various flights and continue their medical and dental studies in Pakistan through the collaboration of Al-Khidmat Foundation, Doctors of Rahman and the Global Relief Trust,” the statement added.

Several international media outlets have reported significant destruction of hospitals and universities in Gaza since October last year. 

The World Health Organization and other sources have documented severe damage to the area’s health care facilities, including the largest hospital Al-Shifa, which has been rendered non-functional due to extensive damage in the ongoing conflict.

There have also been widespread reports of substantial damage to educational institutions along with reports of deliberate targeting of Palestinian academics.

ISLAMABAD: Police in Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province have said that around 63 bandits have been killed and 45 injured in an ongoing operation against criminals residing in the riverine areas of Rahim Yar Khan district, state-run media reported. 

The riverine areas or “kacha” areas as they are known in the local language, have been long associated with bandits. The hostile terrains in these areas, located in Sindh and Punjab, make it difficult for law enforcers to act against criminals who take shelter here. Some of the kacha areas notorious for crimes include Ghotki, Kashmore, Rajanpur, and Rahim Yar Khan. 

Some areas in the two provinces are so dangerous that people avoid traveling after sunset to avoid getting robbed, though police say they have cleared most “no-go areas.” In August, 12 policemen were killed when bandits attacked them with guns and rocket-propelled grenades in Rahim Yar Khan district’s riverine areas.

“The Punjab police’s intelligence-based operations are ongoing in the Kacha area of Rahim Yar Khan in which 63 dangerous criminals were killed and 45 injured so for,” state-run Associated Press of Pakistan reported on Sunday. 

The APP quoted a Punjab Police spokesperson saying that Rahim Yar Khan Police has established permanent posts in the district’s riverine area.

“The Punjab police are present in the region with full force and extensive resources,” the spokesperson was quoted as saying by the APP. 

Inspector General of Police Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar said all necessary resources, including long-range weapons, vehicles and bulletproof vehicles were being utilized against criminal elements in the area. 

“The intelligence-based targeted operations will continue in Kacha till the complete elimination of criminal activities,” Dr. Anwar was quoted as saying by the APP. 

The state-run media said 531 citizens were prevented from being kidnapped in the kacha area so far through “vigilance at border checkpoints.” The state media said police teams will continue intelligence-based targeted operations to “completely eradicate” crimes.