ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday held a full court reference to bid farewell to outgoing Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, which was attended by his colleagues and prominent lawyers who recounted salient features of his tenure.
Isa, who retires today, took over as the country’s top judge on Sep. 17, 2023. He was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court on Sep. 5, 2014, prior to which he held the position of the Balochistan High Court chief justice from Aug. 5, 2009 till Sep. 4, 2014.
The full court reference was live-streamed on the Supreme Court website and YouTube channel. Fourteen Supreme Court judges, including Chief Justice-designate Yahya Afridi, were in attendance at the reference.
Addressing the reference, Isa reflected on his career and said taking up the responsibility of a judge had been a “life-changing experience” for him.
“I took the job at a time when there was no judge in Balochistan,” he said, crediting his wife, Sarina Isa, for supporting him in doing “a lot of work” for the people of the impoverished Pakistani province.
“Me and my wife, who was on the forefront, did a lot of work for the people of Balochistan.”
Justice Afridi showered his praises on Chief Justice Isa, describing him as “one of the best human beings” from whom he had got to learn a great deal.
“If you meet, greet and treat Justice Faez Isa with a smile and humility, he will reciprocate with such gentle softness, likeness and care that it will leave you astonished,” Justice Afridi remarked.
“But mind you, if you in any way provoke him, or if I may say so poke the bear, then even hell hath no fury to match his scorn and only God may help and save you.”
He said the outgoing chief justice would be missed in the Supreme Court: “We have a rush of feelings while saying goodbye to the chief justice.”
Senior puisne judge, Mansoor Ali Shah, recused himself from the reference. Among other judges who did not attend the full court reference were Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Ayesha Malik, Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan.
On the occasion, Attorney-General of Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan, Pakistan Bar Council Vice-Chairman Farooq H. Naek, and Supreme Court Bar Association President Shahzad Shaukat also addressed the full court, praising Justice Isa for his work.
Pakistan Supreme Court holds reference to bid farewell to Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa
https://arab.news/5wp5h
Pakistan Supreme Court holds reference to bid farewell to Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa
- Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa is set to retire today after serving as the top judge for more than a year
- Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Munib Akhtar among other judges did not attend the event
Pakistan to showcase top 10 startups at COP29 climate conference in Azerbaijan next month
- NUST has launched Green-Tech Hub in collaboration with Pakistan’s climate ministry to support young innovators
- Among the 10 startups featured at COP29, three will receive sponsorship for funding and green job creation
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will take its top 10 startups to the Conference of the Parties (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, this November to showcase projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, according to individuals familiar with the initiative on Friday.
The National University of Science and Technology (NUST) has launched a Green-Tech Hub (G-TH), a state-of-the-art facility designed to transform Pakistan’s energy landscape and reduce the country’s carbon footprint by fostering green technologies, renewable energy solutions and eco-friendly innovations at its Islamabad campus. The platform will help young innovators connect with industry leaders to promote their green projects.
The COP29 climate conference, set to take place in Baku next month, will bring together representatives from various nations to discuss the adverse impacts of climate change and evaluate available solutions for adaptation.
“We are seeking the top 10 startups working in agritech, energy and other sectors to sponsor and take to COP29,” said Salaal Hassan, the chief executive officer of Ignite, a company dedicated to funding and supporting tech ventures, while addressing the launch of the Green-Tech Hub.
He added that three of the selected startups would receive assistance to raise funds and create green jobs.
“Young innovators should focus on solutions to combat climate change,” he emphasized.
Speaking at the event, Ministry of Climate Change Secretary Aisha Humera highlighted Pakistan’s challenging environmental situation, noting it also presented opportunities for young innovators.
“This Green-Tech Hub platform is designed to offer solutions to climate change-related challenges,” she said. “Pakistan contributes less than one percent to [global carbon] emissions, yet its impact on our economy and society is immense.”
“We aim to help young innovators connect with the industry to market their ideas and products, promoting green solutions,” she added.
Smog in Pakistan megacity ends outdoor play for schoolkids
- The eastern city of Lahore near the border with India regularly registers among the world’s most polluted cities
- Smog is particularly bad in winter due to low-grade fuel from factories, vehicles in low-lying city of 14 million
LAHORE: Schoolchildren in Pakistan’s second-largest city of Lahore have been banned from outdoor exercise until January because of hazardous smog levels, officials said Friday.
The eastern megacity near the border with India regularly registers among the world’s most polluted cities, this week recording more than 20 times the level deemed safe by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Smog is particularly bad in winter as a result of low-grade fuel from factories and vehicles in the low-lying megacity of 14 million, where denser cold air traps emissions at ground level.
Seasonal crop burn-off by farmers on the outskirts of Lahore is also a major contributing factor.
This week the Environmental Protection Agency of eastern Punjab province said that outdoor school activities in Lahore would end from Monday.
A Punjab School Education Department spokesman told AFP on Friday the ban would last for three months until January 31.
School hours will also be cut in the morning to prevent children traveling when the pollution is most punishing.
Lessons will start no earlier than 8:45 am (0345 GMT), cutting 15 minutes off learning hours for public schools and more than an hour for most private schools.
Breathing the toxic air has catastrophic health consequences, with WHO saying strokes, heart disease, lung cancer and respiratory diseases could be triggered due to prolonged exposure.
According to UNICEF nearly 600 million children in South Asia are exposed to high levels of air pollution.
Schools in Pakistan’s most populous province of Punjab in particular are increasingly disrupted by extreme heat in the summer and choking smog in the winter.
In an editorial on Friday, Pakistan’s leading English-language newspaper Dawn said measures such as shutting schools were “akin to putting band-aids on gaping wounds.”
“The long-term strategies needed to combat this environmental crisis remain elusive,” it said.
UAE master chef serves up Emirati feast in Pakistan’s culinary capital
- The UAE consulate hosted an event, ‘Flavors of the UAE,’ as part of over-a-month-long World Culture Festival in Pakistan’s Karachi
- Mainuddin, the chef, prepared a dozen dishes, including machboos, harees and balaleet, to the culinary satisfaction of attendees
KARACHI: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) consulate in Karachi on Thursday treated residents of Pakistan’s culinary hub to Emirati cuisine as it hosted an event at the Arts Council of Pakistan (ACP) to showcase the culture and cuisine of the Gulf country.
The event, titled ‘Flavours of the UAE: A Culinary and Cultural Journey,’ came as part of over-a-month-long World Culture Festival currently being held at the ACP in the southern Pakistani city. The festival featuring music, theater, dance and fine arts from various countries of the world is running from Sept. 26 till Oct. 30.
To introduce the people of Karachi to the delectable Emirati cuisine, UAE Consul-General Dr. Bakheet Ateeq Al-Remeithi invited a master chef from the UAE who prepared a dozen of mouth-watering dishes at the event.
“I made machboos [rice and chicken cooked in warm whole spices], harees [coarsely-ground cracked wheat, mixed with seasoned meat], balaleet [a sweet and savoury dish popular for breakfast], asida [a dough lump often with added butter or honey], gemat [sweetmeat balls], chebab [pancake], mahalla [a sweetened bread made from flour, water, eggs and seasoning] and a total of 12 such items,” said Mainuddin, the chef who had three assistants, told Arab News.
The venue featured an Arabic cultural tent for attendees to relish the delicious Emirati cuisine along with Arabic qahwa and dates.
The UAE consul-general said they especially flew Mainuddin from the UAE for the event.
“He came and made us all the dishes from yesterday till today to provide special UAE cuisine and Emirati food for our brothers and sisters in Pakistan, with the taste of UAE,” Dr. Bakheet said.
The event, which had attendees from the consulates of Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Indonesia as well, opened with traditional Arabic dance performance. The UAE consul general, Sindh Culture Minister Zulfiqar Ali Shah and ACP Karachi President Ahmed Shah also joined in to the delight of the attendees.
“This kind of dance [that we performed tonight], we celebrate on Eid. Like, [we do it] at a marriage, first of all, [or] any happiness festival,” the UAE consul-general said.
“When any visitors come to us, such as ministers, we prefer this traditional [dance] to be presented in front of them.”
Shah commended the UAE consulate for hosting such a vibrant evening.
“Pakistan and the UAE share brotherly relations and today, Mr. Bakheet has presented various Emirati delicacies to the citizens of Karachi,” he said.
“Such programs strengthen cultural ties and our friendship will go a long way [through such events].”
Ramesh Singh Khalsa, patron-in-chief of the Pakistan Sikh Council, expressed his joy to be a part of the evening that fostered “diversity and inclusivity.”
“We saw a cultural presentation from Dubai in the form of an Arabic dance performance which was very good,” he told Arab News. “It was a delight to be here and taste the delicious food.”
Ahmed triple strike leaves Pakistan 187-7 in third Test
- The 20-year-old knocked over Mohammad Rizwan (25), Salman Agha (one) and Aamer Jamal (14) to enter the lunch break
- Pakistan’s batting was held together by Saud Shakeel’s unbeaten 72, who was accompanied by Noman Ali on six not out
Rawalpindi: Rehan Ahmed’s three quick wickets turned an evenly poised deciding third Test England’s way on Friday, leaving Pakistan teetering on 187-7 in Rawalpindi.
The 20-year-old knocked over Mohammad Rizwan (25), Salman Agha (one) and Aamer Jamal (14) to enter the lunch break on day two with figures of 3-25. England still lead by 80 runs.
Pakistan’s batting was held together by Saud Shakeel’s unbeaten 72.
He was accompanied by Noman Ali on six not out after no other batter from the home team managed to cross 30.
Pakistan added 114 runs in the extended two-and-a-half-hour session due to Friday prayers.
Shakeel, who reached his eighth Test half-century off 132 balls, has so far hit four boundaries in his fighting knock.
England’s frontline spinners Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir could not extract the same sharp turn from the pitch as rival Sajid Khan, who took 6-128 to dismiss the visitors for 267 on Thursday.
Pakistan resumed the day at 73-3 in search of a lead to press for a series win.
But Shakeel was the only batter able to press on after reaching double figures. He added 53 for the fourth wicket with captain Shan Masood who fell to Bashir for 26.
It was England’s first breakthrough, as Masood edged to slip. Pakistan looked to be getting their innings back on track as Rizwan joined Shakeel and the pair put on 52 for the fifth wicket.
But the introduction of Rehan into the bowling attack derailed their innings.
He trapped Rizwan and Agha leg before in successive overs and then bowled Jamal to give England the edge.
The three-match series is tied at 1-1.
Pakistan Stock Exchange breaches 90,000-mark to reach an all-time high
- KSE-100 index climbed 1,141, or 1.25 percent, to reach a historic high of 90,087 points
- Bullish trend fueled by ‘economic stabilization’ and ‘equilibrium in politics,’ analyst says
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Friday crossed 90,000 points to reach an all-time high during the intra-day trading, with analysts attributing it to economic stabilization and political “equilibrium.”
The benchmark KSE-100 index climbed 1141.43 points, or 1.25 percent, to reach a record high of 90,087.41 points as compared to the previous close of 88,945.98 points.
Analysts say an equilibrium in politics, economic stability and reducing interest rates, both locally and globally, were ushering in liquidity into Pakistani equities.
“If Pakistan continues to stick to its razor-sharp focus on the economy, it may lead to a multi-year boom at the KSE100,” Raza Jafri, head of equities at the Karachi-based Intermarket Securities, told Arab News.
Topline Securities, a leading brokerage house in Pakistan, said the crossing of 90,000-mark by Pakistani stocks was one of the “fastest record gains of 125 percent in the last 18 months.”
The development comes as the South Asian nation’s economic indicators continue to improve after it secured a $7 billion, 37-month bailout package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) last month. Pakistan’s central bank also cut its key policy rate by 200 basis points to 17.5 percent in September, making it the third straight reduction since June.
Last year, Pakistan narrowly avoided a sovereign default when it clinched a $3 billion IMF loan program. The country has suffered a prolonged economic crisis that drained its foreign exchange reserves and saw its currency weaken amid double-digit inflation.
