Hajj application deadline for Pakistan government scheme expires today
Hajj application deadline for Pakistan government scheme expires today/node/2583367/pakistan
Hajj application deadline for Pakistan government scheme expires today
In this file photo, taken and released by the Saudi Press Agency on May 26, 2024, Saudi official handover passport to a Pakistani pilgrim at the Jinnah Internation Airport in Karachi. (SPA/File)
ISLAMABAD: The last day to submit applications for Hajj 2025 at designated banks under the Pakistan federal government scheme is today, Tuesday, the ministry of religious affairs said in a statement.
Saudi Arabia has allotted Pakistan a total quota of 179,210 pilgrims for the upcoming Hajj, to be divided equally between the government and private schemes. The government last week extended the deadline for the submission of Hajj applications for government scheme slots from Dec. 3 to Dec. 10.
On Dec. 10, the ministry of religious affairs said it had so far received 79,000 applicants and announced that it would continue receiving submissions on “a first-come, first-served basis for a few thousand vacant seats.”
“December 17 will be the last day for submitting Hajj applications at designated banks,” the religious affairs ministry said on Monday. “All applications received by December 17 will be considered successful.”
The religious affairs ministry announced this year’s Hajj policy last month, allowing pilgrims to pay Hajj fees in installments for the first time. The first installment of Rs200,000 ($717) must be deposited along with the application while the second installment of Rs400,000 ($1,435) has to be submitted between Dec. 19-27. The remaining amount has to be deposited by Feb. 10 next year.
Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry has launched the ‘Pak Hajj 2025’ mobile application to guide and facilitate pilgrims. The app is available for both Android and iPhone users.
The Pakistan government has also announced a reduction in airfare for Hajj 2025, with a Rs14,000 ($50) drop in ticket prices. Pilgrims enrolled in the federal program will now pay Rs220,000 for airfare, down from last year’s Rs234,000.
The national flag carrier, the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Saudi Airlines and other private airlines have agreed to the relief package, according to the Pakistan government.
With 79,000 Hajj applications received by Dec. 10, 10,605 slots remained vacant under the government scheme. Last year, Pakistan surrendered 21,000 Hajj seats to Saudi Arabia due to a shortage of applications, but this year the government hopes all slots can be filled.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s economy is projected to grow by 3 percent in 2025, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in its World Economic Outlook Update released on Friday, as it painted a picture of a subdued global economy for the year ahead.
The IMF report forecasts global growth to remain modest at 3.3 percent in both 2025 and 2026, with advanced economies expected to see slower growth, while emerging markets, including Pakistan, poised to face a mixed recovery trajectory.
It warns of heightened economic policy uncertainty, particularly on trade and fiscal fronts, while mentioning that political instability in parts of Asia and Europe has rattled markets.
The report also cites geopolitical tensions in regions like the Middle East as a significant global challenge.
“Global growth is expected to remain stable, albeit lackluster. At 3.3 percent in both 2025 and 2026, the forecasts for growth are below the historical (2000–19) average of 3.7 percent,” the IMF said.
It noted in tabulated form that Pakistan’s GDP is expected to grow from 2.5 percent in 2024 to 3.0 percent in 2025 and 4.0 percent in 2026, signaling a gradual recovery after a challenging period.
The IMF’s cautious global outlook reflected structural issues and external shocks that pose risks to different world economies.
Elevated policy uncertainty, fiscal imbalances and inflationary pressures have traditionally been significant concerns for Pakistan. Additionally, global financial tightening and geopolitical tensions have further strained Pakistan’s economy in the past since it heavily relies on imports and external funding.
However, the government has been implementing structural reforms in key areas like taxation, governance and energy management, aiming to improve long-term growth prospects.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has consistently emphasized the importance of adhering to IMF-mandated reforms under the $7 billion loan agreement signed last year. In September, he said that “our hand has been forced as a country” to take stringent measures to put the economy back on track.
The IMF report, based on the assumption of policy continuity, reflects a cautiously optimistic trajectory for Pakistan’s economy in 2025 and beyond.
KARACHI: The administration in Karachi, set to host the inaugural match of the ICC Champions Trophy next month, announced on Friday a series of special measures to ensure the tournament's success and provide a memorable experience for spectators.
Pakistan will host the tournament from February 19 to March 9 across venues in Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi. A hybrid model has been adopted for the event, as India’s matches will be played in Dubai after it showed reluctance to play in Pakistan, citing security concerns.
A meeting to review the arrangements was held under the chairmanship of Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi.
“It was decided that foolproof security would be provided during the event,” said an official statement from the commissioner’s office.
“The stadium’s surroundings and routes leading to it would be decorated,” it continued. “Special parking arrangements would be made, and a shuttle service would be provided from parking spots to the stadium.”
The meeting was attended by senior officials from the police, Rangers and other relevant institutions.
Among the participants were also the director-general of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan and representatives of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
PCB’s General Manager of the National Stadium Arshad Khan provided a detailed briefing on the tournament schedule.
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will feature eight teams competing in 15 matches. Group A includes Pakistan, India, New Zealand and Bangladesh, while Group B comprises South Africa, Australia, Afghanistan and England.
The opening match of the tournament will see Pakistan facing New Zealand on February 19 in Karachi.
The event is expected to strengthen Pakistan’s international cricket profile, particularly as it works to meet public expectations for hosting such a major championship.
KARACHI: A government spokesperson said on Friday political negotiations with former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) would not be affected by an accountability court verdict earlier in the day, which sentenced the ex-premier to 14 years in prison.
Khan, who has been incarcerated for well over a year, warned of civil disobedience from a high-security prison in Rawalpindi last month while calling for the release of political prisoners from his party, which has complained of a government crackdown since the downfall of the PTI administration in April 2022.
Subsequently, the government-PTI talks began as an attempt to reduce political bitterness and polarization in Pakistan. However, the accountability court’s verdict in a case involving a charitable entity, Al-Qadir Trust, set up by Khan and his third wife Bushra Khan in 2018, has raised questions about the future of the negotiations.
The court also sentenced Khan’s wife to seven years in prison in the case. Pakistani authorities allege that the trust was a front for the couple to receive valuable land as a bribe from real estate developer Malik Riaz Hussain, one of Pakistan’s richest and most powerful businessmen. Hussain, like Khan and Bushra, denies any wrongdoing.
“The talks are going on in parallel,” Barrister Aqeel Malik, government spokesperson for legal affairs, told Arab News over the phone. “These are two separate matters. The decision from the court should not be mixed with the ongoing talks with the opposition at this particular time.”
Malik argued that the case was decided in accordance with the legal provisions of the accountability laws.
“Today’s decision is in accordance with the law and justice has been served, where a huge loss had been caused to the national exchequer for private gains,” he added. “It has now been decided by the competent court that Mr. Khan stands certified to have been involved in corruption.”
Pakistan’s imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan’s supporters hold Khan’s portraits during a protest in Peshawar on January 17, 2025. (AFP)
The Al-Qadir Trust case, involving allegations of corruption and misuse of authority by Khan, revolved around £190 million recovered from the Pakistani real estate tycoon, who was investigated by British authorities for money laundering.
Riaz surrendered the amount as part of a settlement, which was returned to the Pakistani state under the laws of the United Kingdom. However, the Khan administration allegedly adjusted it against the real estate developer’s liability in Pakistan’s top court, where he was fined in a case for illegally acquiring land for a major project in Karachi.
The ex-premier was criticized for using the sum to reduce Riaz’s owed amount rather than depositing it in Pakistan’s national treasury. The country’s anti-graft National Accountability Bureau also accused him of approving the adjustment in return for financial benefits.
Unlike Malik, Khan’s close aide and senior PTI leader, Sayed Zulfikar Bukhari, described the talks as a political ploy by the government.
“Talks were just a bluff,” he told Arab News, adding that it was “obvious” the PTI founding leader and his wife would be sentenced in the case.
“Al-Qadir Trust is a nonprofit organization. Neither of them was a beneficiary, and the money had gone to the Supreme Court of Pakistan,” he continued, describing the verdict as another act of “political victimization and a pressure tactic to make Khan agree to talks.”
The former premier’s conviction has come at a time when the PTI confirmed meetings with Pakistan’s powerful army chief, General Asim Munir, earlier this week, although security sources denied that the interaction focused on political matters.
Former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party’s chairman and barrister Gohar Ali Khan (C) speaks to media outside the Adiala prison in Rawalpindi on January 17, 2025. (AFP)
Nadia Naqi, a talk show host and political analyst, said the verdict could pave the way for “more direct talks with the security establishment” of Pakistan, which she said was always interested in negotiating with a weaker Khan.
“Negotiations now, which have taken place within political circles, will become easier because a weak Imran Khan, a convicted Imran Khan, will be more likely to agree to the terms [offered to him] compared to a Khan who has obtained bail in various cases,” she argued.
“I believe that negotiations with the PTI will now move forward. Whether the government is involved or not, it won’t matter,” she added.
Iftikhar Ahmed, a Lahore-based analyst, said the future of the talks would depend on the reactions of both the government and the PTI.
“Until now, the PTI has not announced that they are ending the negotiations,” he noted. “The party did not offer this as a condition for negotiations that the courts should not announce their verdicts against Khan. Their demand was the release of the founder of their party.”
Meanwhile, Aitzaz Ahsan, a veteran lawyer and politician, maintained that the judgment against Khan had legal loopholes.
“This is another case in which the conviction will be converted into an acquittal by a high court,” he said, adding that the government had to show the state had suffered a financial loss due to Khan’s decision about the repatriated money, pointing out this was not adequately done.
Shakeel and Rizwan lead Pakistan recovery in fog-hit first Test against West Indies
Bad light in Multan ended play with just 41.3 overs bowled, with the hosts on 143-4
Shakeel and Rizwan added 97 after coming together with Pakistan in trouble at 46-4
Updated 17 January 2025
AFP
MULTAN: Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan hit unbeaten half-centuries to lead a Pakistan fightback in the first Test against the West Indies on Friday as the hosts reached 143-4 at the close of a fog-hit opening day.
When bad light in Multan ended play with just 41.3 overs bowled, Shakeel was on 56 for his ninth half-century and Rizwan was 51 not out for his 11th.
The pair added 97 after coming together with Pakistan in real trouble at 46-4.
The left-right combination of Shakeel and Rizwan negotiated the three-spinner West Indies attack with aplomb after fast bowler Jayden Seales initially left the home team struggling.
“This pitch is tough to bat on,” said Rizwan.
“We batted with caution and just took advantage of loose balls. It’s tough to judge what should be a good total, but we will target 300 plus.”
Sensing the dry and grassless Multan Stadium pitch will be tricky for batting on the last two days — and with spin set to play a major role — the home team opted to bat after winning the toss.
But play was delayed because of early morning fog compounded by poor air quality, resulting in limited visibility and wiping out the first session.
Shakeel has so far cracked four boundaries while Rizwan has seven hits to the fence.
Seales finished with 3-21 off 10 overs.
“My aim was to build pressure and get wickets,” he said. “I sense spin will play a major role on this pitch going forward.”
Both teams started with three spinners and just one frontline fast bowler, and the tourists opened the bowling with left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie alongside Seales.
It was Seales who provided the breakthrough, forcing an edge off debutant Muhammad Hurraira to wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach in the sixth over. Hurraira scored six.
Three overs later, Motie dismissed skipper Shan Masood off a faint edge to the wicketkeeper for 11, before Seales trapped Kamran Ghulam leg-before with a sharp incoming delivery for five.
It became 46-4 when Babar Azam edged Seales behind the wicket for eight, continuing a poor run of scores at home for Pakistan’s premier batter.
The two-match series is part of the World Test Championship. Pakistan currently rank eighth and the West Indies ninth and last.
KARACHI: Pakistan’s security forces killed five militants, including a key commander, during an intelligence-based operation in the country’s northwest, the military said on Friday.
The operation, which took place in Tirah, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, comes as Pakistani authorities face increasing attacks by the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from neighboring Afghanistan.
Earlier this week, Pakistan’s army chief, General Asim Munir, assured political stakeholders in KP that the military would not launch a full-scale operation against the TTP but would continue targeted, intelligence-based actions to counter the group.
“On 17 January 2025, Security Forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in general area Tirah, Khyber District on reported presence of khwarij [TTP militants],” the military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a statement.
“During the conduct of operation, own troops effectively engaged khwarij location, as a result of which, five khwarij including kharji ring leader Abidullah @ Turab, were sent to hell, while one kharji was apprehended,” it added.
The ISPR noted that weapons and ammunition were recovered after the raid.
The slain militants, including the commander, were linked to several instances of extremist violence targeting both security forces and civilians.
Tirah was a major hotbed of militant activity during the 2000s and early 2010s, serving as a stronghold for groups like the TTP, Lashkar-e-Islam and Al Qaeda-linked factions.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the security forces for the successful operation, commending their efforts to combat militancy.
“The entire nation stands with our security forces in the ongoing fight against terrorism,” he said in a statement released by his office. “We are determined to eradicate terrorism in all its forms from the country.”
