ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed solidarity with Turkiye after four people were killed and 14 wounded in an attack on the country’s state-run aerospace and defense company TUSAS in Ankara on Wednesday.
Turkiye’s Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said two attackers were killed in what he called a “terrorist attack” at the Turkish Aerospace Industries’ headquarters. The minister added that three of the injured were in critical condition.
TV broadcasters earlier showed footage of armed assailants entering the TUSAS building while witnesses said they heard gunfire and a loud explosion at the site.
“Deeply shocked and saddened by the terrorist attack in Ankara,” Sharif wrote on social media platform X.
“Pakistan stands in complete solidarity with our Turkish brothers. I strongly condemn this dastardly act & pray for the families of the victims as well as speedy recovery of the injured,” he added.
TUSAS is Turkiye’s largest aerospace manufacturer, currently producing a training craft, combat and civilian helicopters, as well as developing the country’s first indigenous fighter jet, KAAN. Owned by the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation and government, it employs more than 10,000 people.
The cause and perpetrators of the attack remained unclear as no group claimed responsibility. Prosecutors have launched an investigation, Turkiye’s state-run Anadolu Agency reported.
Turkiye has previously suffered attacks by militant outfits Daesh and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
Pakistan expresses solidarity with Turkiye as attack on Ankara aviation site kills 4
https://arab.news/65he6
Pakistan expresses solidarity with Turkiye as attack on Ankara aviation site kills 4
- Unidentified attackers target country’s aerospace and defense company TUSAS in Ankara
- Pakistani PM condemns “dastardly attack,” prays for speedy recovery of 14 people injured
Pakistan says next two weeks ‘critical’ for dengue infections amid surge in cases
- Official data shows twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi reported nearly 6,000 dengue virus cases this year
- Met Office says prevailing atmospheric conditions provide conducive conditions for dengue virus diseases
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Wednesday warned that the next two weeks will be “critical” amid a surge in dengue infections in the country, as Pakistan grapples with the disease’s outbreak while health institutions report hundreds of cases daily.
Dengue is a viral infection transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes, with an estimated 100–400 million infections occurring each year worldwide, as per the World Health Organization (WHO).
Mosquitoes carrying dengue virus are mostly found in tropical and sub-tropical climates worldwide.
While many dengue infections are asymptomatic or produce only mild illness, the virus can occasionally cause more severe cases and even death.
Over 4,500 dengue cases have been reported in Pakistan’s most populous Punjab province, around 1,600 in Sindh, 2,276 in Islamabad and 3,220 cases of the infection in the adjoining city of Rawalpindi this year, according to official data.
“The next two weeks are still critical as prevailing atmospheric factors are favoring the conducive environment for dengue,” Dr. Zaheer Ahmed Babar, a director at the PMD, told Arab News.
Public and private hospitals have been receiving hundreds of patients daily suffering from cold, fever and body aches who are later diagnosed with dengue virus. Governments have designated special wards in hospitals and clinics for dengue patients.
Dr. Babar advised authorities to take pre-emptive measures to address the prevailing dengue outbreak in the country.
Separately, the PMD issued an advisory in which it said the next two weeks were critical but said dengue virus cases were expected to see a decline in November due to the current meteorological conditions and atmospheric trends in the country.
Sajid Hussain Shah, a spokesperson for the federal health ministry, said the government is “fully vigilant” in its attempts to curb dengue cases through awareness campaigns and measures such as fumigation in affected areas.
“The dengue cases are rising indeed but the disease is no more fatal as it was in the past,” he said.
The Pakistan Medical Association has expressed concerns over the rising number of dengue cases across the country, suggesting the government initiate preventive measures to curb it.
“Dengue is a preventable disease but unfortunately it has been spreading across Pakistan rapidly due to negligence of the authorities,” Abdul Ghafoor Shoro, PMA secretary-general, told Arab News.
“Local authorities should focus on fumigation and sanitation of their respective areas to curb growth of the larva.”
He said early identification of the disease and efficient clinical management of dengue patients could reduce fatalities to less than one percent.
“It is unfortunate to say that Pakistan shares the highest burden of major vector-borne diseases, including dengue, that could be reduced to a significant extent by focusing on primary health care and awareness,” Shoro said.
Pakistan’s KP province to recruit over 1350 new cops to tackle surging militancy
- Militants have killed over 82 policemen through various attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa this year
- Security analyst appreciates move but says province in dire need of urgent remedy to security woes
PESHAWAR: Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has decided to bolster security in the northwestern province bordering Afghanistan by creating an additional 1,356 police positions, the chief minister’s office said on Wednesday, amid a surge in militant attacks targeting police and law enforcers in recent months.
Over 82 policemen have been killed in attacks, ambushes and targeted killings in KP province so far this year, according to official data. Pakistan has seen a surge in militant attacks in the province ever since its fragile truce with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or the Pakistani Taliban broke down in November 2022.
Unidentified gunmen on Tuesday shot dead constable Mansoor Khan in his hometown Lakki Marwat district, police said. Meanwhile, attacks targeting police sparked protests in the province’s Lakki Marwat and Bannu districts last month.
“In view of the current law and order situation, 1356 new police posts of various ranks have been created for southern districts [of KP],” the CM Office said after Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur chaired a meeting related to the province’s police matters.
“Of these, 1200 the recruitment process of constables is in its final stages and appointment letters will be issued soon.”
Apart from constables, the new hirings would include sub-inspectors, assistant sub-inspectors and head constables, the statement said. It added that the quota for the recruitment of slain police officers’ children had been increased from 5 percent to 12.5 percent.
Gandapur told senior police officials at the meeting that strengthening the police force and stabilizing the law and order situation in the province was his government’s topmost priority.
“All resources will be provided on a priority basis to enable the police force to deal with the current situation,” the chief minister was quoted as saying.
‘SERIOUS SECURITY DYNAMICS’
Syed Akhtar Ali Shah, a security analyst and former inspector-general of police, described the move as a “commendable” one for the long run but said the province required an immediate solution to its security woes.
“The new recruitment of police officers is a long-drawn process while the province is in urgent need to combat militant attacks,” Shah told Arab News.
“Trained police officers should be deputed on the newly created posts which will help fill the vacuum,” he added.
Shah said the northwestern province was facing “different and serious security dynamics” which were completely different from organized crimes.
He called on provincial authorities to mobilize other forces, such as the paramilitary Frontier Constabulary (FC) and Frontier Reserve Police (FRP) forces, saying they would enable police to operate from an offensive position rather than a defensive one.
“Similarly, along with new recruitments, different departments need close liaison and seamless coordination with the backing of strong intelligence,” Shah said. “This way, we will be able to control the situation.”
International textile exhibition kicks off in Karachi with buyers from 52 countries participating
- Local textile, leather businesses showcase products at fifth edition of international exhibition
- Commerce minister says Pakistan’s textile and leather goods account for 60 percent of national exports
ISLAMABAD: The fifth International Textile and Leather Exhibition (TEXPO) kicked off in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi on Wednesday, aiming to connect local businesses with international buyers from 52 countries to promote Pakistan’s products globally, the commerce ministry said.
The textile and clothing sector earns the country direly needed foreign exchange and employs around 40 percent of the country’s 20 million-strong industrial workforce.
The event has been organized by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan from Oct. 23-25 at the Expo Center in Karachi to showcase the best products from Pakistan’s textile and leather industry.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Commerce Minister Jam Kamal inaugurated the exhibition, where Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi also participated along with other government officials.
“Pakistani products are of world-class quality and they showcase modern products at TEXPO,” Khan was quoted as saying by the commerce ministry. “Textile and leather products account for 60 percent of Pakistan’s national exports.”
He emphasized increasing exports of high-value products in Pakistan’s textile and leather industry, saying that Pakistani exporters were already meeting global standards of environmental friendliness and transparency.
The commerce minister said the establishment of a National Compliance Center would help meet global export standards as he stressed the importance of “clean energy and saving water” for the industry.
Terming the industry’s future as “bright and sustainable,” Kamal assured that the government was working to bring more “innovation and diversification” to the textile and leather industry.
‘Pakistan is your second home,’ says PM Sharif after welcoming Palestinian students
- Pakistan will provide fully funded scholarships to 192 Palestinian students to continue their studies here
- Shehbaz Sharif condemns Israel’s military aggression, calls on world powers to do more to halt war in Gaza
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday welcomed Palestinian medical students who recently arrived in Pakistan from war-torn Gaza to pursue their studies here, vowing to facilitate them in pursuing their aspirations despite Israel’s military aggression in the Middle East.
Sharif was addressing a ceremony held in Islamabad to welcome the three batches of over 100 Palestinian students out of a total of 192, who arrived in Pakistan this month to continue their studies in educational institutions here on fully-funded scholarships.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry announced in July that the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) will provide scholarships to over 100 Palestinian students so that they can continue their studies in Pakistan. The initiative, which came amid Israel’s war on Gaza, is a collaboration between Doctors of Rehman, Global Relief Trust and a leading Pakistani non-governmental organization, the Al-Khidmat Foundation.
“Dear students, our brothers, sisters, Pakistan is your second home,” Sharif said at the ceremony attended by Palestinian students and other officials.
“Our hearts are there for you, our homes are there for you, our institutions are there for you, our teachers are there for you. Everything that we do will not be enough to make you comfortable here in Pakistan,” he added amid loud applause.
The Pakistani prime minister regretted the world’s silence in Gaza, saying that resolutions and speeches were not enough to stop the “heart-wrenching” war there.
“Blood still flows in the streets of Gaza, schools are being bombarded, hospitals are being smashed and the world is a silent spectator,” Sharif said.
He said Pakistan wished to invite hundreds of other Palestinian students from Gaza to Pakistan on fully funded scholarships, adding that he had requested Pakistani authorities to take action in this regard.
“We will be playing host to you,” the premier said. “Believe me, it is not a favor. It is a responsibility we should have discharged long ago. But it’s never too late.”
Speaking earlier, a Palestinian female student thanked the government of Pakistan, the country’s educational institutions and non-governmental organizations for helping them continue their studies in the South Asian country.
“Praise be to God, you are all looking after us like your own children,” she said, requesting the government to allow Palestinian students studying other subjects to continue their studies in Pakistan as well.
“Because each one of us holds Palestine, our families and our children and we want to continue our lives because we deserve it,” she said. “And so, we can help our people soon in the future.”
ISRAEL’S WAR ON GAZA
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 around the world. The Jewish state has bombed thousands of buildings, including medical institutions as it carries out airstrikes and ground offensives in Gaza.
There have also been widespread reports of substantial damage to educational institutions along with reports of deliberate targeting of Palestinian academics.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and other sources have documented severe damage to Gaza’s health care facilities, including the largest hospital Al-Shifa, which has been rendered non-functional due to extensive damage in the ongoing conflict.
AI cameras in northern Pakistan reducing attacks on endangered snow leopards — WWF
- Snow leopards have been killed in past by local communities in retaliation for their attacks on livestock
- AI cameras detect snow leopards’ presence, generate alerts for local communities about presence of animal
ISLAMABAD: Artificial Intelligence-based cameras installed along strategic locations in Pakistan’s northern Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region have resulted in the protection of snow leopards who are killed by local communities in retaliation for harming their livestock, the World Wildlife Fund-Pakistan (WWF-Pakistan) said on Wednesday.
WWF-Pakistan and the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) have developed and installed five AI-based camera traps at strategic locations where snow leopard depredations were reported by local communities, WWF Pakistan said in a press release.
Several snow leopards have been killed or hunted by local communities in the past in retaliation for their attacks on livestock. Poaching, illegal hunting, and habitat loss due to climate change impacts also endanger snow leopard populations across central and South Asia, the WWF added.
“The Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based trail cameras installed at strategic locations in the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region have turned human-wildlife conflict into human-wildlife coexistence,” WWF Pakistan said.
“This recent technology has significantly reduced Snow leopard (Panthera uncia) attacks on the livestock at the targeted sites.”
The WWF explained that the AI cameras detect the presence of snow leopards in the surroundings, transfer the data to a centralized system and generate alerts for members of local communities about the predator.
Local communities in turn safeguard their livestock from either grazing in the fields or being kept in the household, reducing conflict between leopards and humans.
The WWF said that since snow leopards are elusive animals, it is difficult to record their exact population across Central and South Asia where they are found.
“However, WWF research indicates that fewer than 7,000 Snow leopards live in the world, of which approximately 200 to 420 individuals inhabit the northern mountain ranges of Pakistan including the GB region, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK),” it said.
