ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) expressed optimism over substantial revenue gains on Saturday as a Chinese logistics company officially launched flight operations to Islamabad.
SF Cargo, a subsidiary of one of China’s largest logistics and courier firms, has established a new air cargo route linking Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and Islamabad.
According to a report in Pakistani state media earlier this month, the air corridor is expected to facilitate cross-border e-commerce and other trade goods, strengthening economic ties between the two countries.
“SF Cargo has officially commenced its flight operations at Islamabad International Airport,” the PAA said in a statement, adding the service would operate twice a week initially, with plans to expand to four weekly flights in the foreseeable future.
“This development is expected to generate substantial revenue growth through cargo throughput charges,” it added. “Additionally, it may open new export channels to Urumqi, offering local exporters enhanced access to the Chinese market.”
The statement said each flight operated by the Chinese firm will carry approximately 22,775 kilograms of cargo, contributing significantly to Pakistan’s air freight sector.
China and Pakistan maintain close economic and strategic relations, with both sides promoting trade and infrastructure development.
While large-scale projects like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) remain central to their cooperation, both governments have increasingly encouraged private-sector-led initiatives to deepen bilateral commerce.
Pakistan eyes revenue boost as Chinese cargo firm formally launches flights to Islamabad
https://arab.news/wrwp4
Pakistan eyes revenue boost as Chinese cargo firm formally launches flights to Islamabad
- The air corridor linking Urumqi and Islamabad is expected to promote cross-border e-commerce
- The airports authority says SF Cargo’s initiative will also strengthen Pakistan’s air freight sector
Pakistan says inflation expected to remain within 1-1.5% range in March
- Inflation may inch up to 2-3% in April 2025, says Finance Division in monthly economic outlook report
- Says Pakistan may record likely increase in remittances due to “seasonal factors” such as Ramadan, Eid festivals
ISLAMABAD: Inflation is expected to remain within the 1-1.5% range in Pakistan during the month of March, the country’s Finance Division said in its monthly outlook report on Tuesday, as Islamabad navigates a tricky path to recovery from a macroeconomic crisis.
Aggressive policy rate cuts by Pakistan’s central bank and a series of economic reforms by the government has led to a substantial decline in Pakistan’s annual inflation rate, bringing it down to 1.5% in February 2025.
Pakistan’s inflation rate peaked to a record high of 38% in May 2023 on account of surging food and fuel costs as Islamabad withdrew energy and fuel subsidies under a deal agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a financial bailout package.
“Inflation is anticipated to remain within the range of 1.0-1.5% for March 2025 and inching up to 2.0-3.0% in April 2025,” the Finance Division said in the outlook report.
It added that high frequency indicators, such as a “positive” growth in cement sales, increased automobile production and higher imports with an easy monetary policy, suggest a potential uptick in production if demand conditions remain supportive.
The report highlighted that Pakistan may record a likely increase in foreign remittances due to “seasonal factors” such as the holy month of Ramadan and the upcoming Eid festivals.
“Similarly, exports and imports are expected to improve owing to the expansion in economic activity,” the report said. “Collectively, these factors will help to keep the current account within manageable limits.”
The report praised the government’s resource mobilization, saying it had led to an increase in tax collection during the month and also noted the “favorable” performance of the Pakistan Stock Exchange compared to major global indices.
Pakistan’s government has claimed the country is finally on the path to sustainable economic growth, vowing to undertake long-term financial reforms. The nation expects its foreign exchange reserves to increase beyond $13 billion by June despite weak net financial inflows caused by a shortfall in the planned official inflows.
Pakistan has also repaid the majority of its external debt due this year, according to the central bank.
Pakistan police arrest Baloch rights activists in Karachi for violating public gatherings ban
- Sammi Deen Baloch, others were protesting on Monday against Baloch Yakjehti Committee leader Dr. Mahrang Baloch’s detention
- Pakistan powerful military denies allegations by rights groups it is involved in enforced disappearances of ethnic Baloch persons
KARACHI: Police in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi this week arrested prominent Baloch rights activist Sammi Deen Baloch and others for protesting despite a ban on public gatherings, a copy of the police complaint said.
Karachi commissioner’s office on Monday imposed a ban on public gatherings in the city under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure ahead of a protest by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) rights group.
The BYC announced a demonstration outside the Karachi Press Club (KPC) on Monday against the detention of its leader, Dr. Mahrang Baloch, and some other members who were arrested last week at a protest camp in Quetta, the capital of Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, in which three persons had died following clashes. Both sides blamed each other for the deaths.
Police broke up the protest outside the KPC on Monday evening, rounding up Baloch and other BYC members. Baloch and five other activists were charged under Section 188 (disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant) for violating Section 144.
“The protesters, which numbered around 35-40 men and women, were attempting to cross into the Red Zone when they were told by the assistant sub-inspector to refrain from doing so but they did not listen,” a copy of the complaint registered by the Artillery Maidan Police said.
Others arrested apart from Baloch identified in the complaint were Abdul Wahab, Mustafa Ali, Shahzad Rab, Hamza Iftikhar and Sultan Hamal.
The BYC, founded in 2020, has organized several large protests in Balochistan and led marches to, and sit-ins in, the Pakistani federal capital, Islamabad, mainly against what it describes as a surge in enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in Balochistan that it blames on the army and other security forces operating in the province. Officials deny the accusations.
Balochistan has also been plagued by enforced disappearances for decades. Families say men are picked up by security forces, disappear often for years, and are sometimes found dead, with no official explanation. Government and security officials deny involvement and say they are working for the uplift of the province through development projects.
Pakistan’s military has a huge presence in the rugged, impoverished region bordering Afghanistan and Iran, where insurgent groups have been fighting for a separate homeland for decades to win a larger share of benefits for the resource-rich province. The military has long run intelligence-based operations against insurgent groups, who have escalated attacks in recent months on the military and nationals from longtime ally China, which is building key projects in the region, including a port at Gwadar.
International rights bodies like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch as well as opposition political parties have also long highlighted enforced disappearances targeting students, activists, journalists and human rights defenders in Balochistan. The army says many of Balochistan’s so-called disappeared have links to separatists.
Military spokespersons have also variously accused rights movements like the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) of being “terrorist proxies.”
US congressman introduces bill to sanction Pakistan army chief for ‘undermining democracy’
- Joe Wilson has consistently called for jailed former PM Imran Khan’s release from prison
- Pakistan military denies accusations by Khan and rights groups of persecuting political opponents
ISLAMABAD: US Congressman Joe Wilson announced on Tuesday he had introduced a bill seeking to sanction Pakistan’s army chief for “undermining democracy” and the “persecution of political opponents,” including jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Wilson announced in February he was nearly finished drafting the Pakistan Democracy Act, which he said would mandate a 30-day determination of sanctions on army chief General Asim Munir and review all generals and government officials and their families for sanctions.
On Tuesday, Wilson, who has consistently called for Khan’s release from prison on social media platform X, said he had introduced the bill.
“I am grateful to introduce the PAKISTAN DEMOCRACY ACT to sanction those undermining democracy in Pakistan!” Wilson wrote on X.
Khan has been in prison since 2023 and faces a slew of charges, from corruption to treason, that he says are politically motivated. He accuses the country’s all-powerful military of being behind his ouster from the PM’s house in 2022 by backing his political opponents in a parliamentary no-trust vote. The army denies the charge and says it does not interfere in political affairs. International rights groups have also raised concerns in recent years about rising political persecution in Pakistan, particularly of Khan and his party’s followers.
Announcing that he had introduced the Pakistan bill, Wilson posted a report by American news website “The Hill,” which reported that the legislation called for sanctions on Munir within 180 days under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. Violators of the act can be subjected to denial of entry to the United States and ineligibility for US visas.
The bill accuses the Pakistani army chief of “knowingly engaging in the wrongful persecution and imprisonment of political opponents,” and seeks the identification of key individuals involved in this “persecution,” and imposing similar bans on them, according to The Hill report.
“It gives the president the power to drop the sanctions if ‘military rule has ended in Pakistan and rule of law and civilian-led democracy has been restored’ and ‘all wrongfully detained political detainees have been released from detention,’” the report said.
The US bill has been introduced as tensions remain at a fever pitch between the military and Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, especially after May 9, 2023, when Khan’s brief first arrest sparked countrywide protests in which the PTI’s alleged supporters attacked military buildings. The PTI denies allegations it incited its supporters to attack official buildings.
The government also says four troops were killed in PTI-led protests to call for Khan’s release last November. The party denies the accusation, charging instead that its supporters were targeted, killed and injured by security officials.
Pakistani finmin to attend international economic conference in China today in push for investment
- Boao Forum for Asia says it is an international organization in China which aims to promote economic integration in Asia
- Muhammad Aurangzeb to meet Chinese officials, delegates from other countries and officials of investment banks, says state media
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb will attend the four-day Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in China today, Tuesday, state-run media reported, where he is expected to participate in high-level discussions and sessions to talk about Pakistan’s economic landscape.
Headquartered in China, the BFA is an international organization jointly initiated by 29 member states which holds its annual conference in Boao, Hainan. The founding purpose of the BFA was to promote economic integration in Asia.
The theme of this year’s conference, which will be held from Mar. 25-28, is “Asia in the Changing World: Towards a Shared Future.” The BFA says the conference is aimed at upholding multilateralism, fostering openness and development, and jointly tackling global challenges while remaining focused on Asia.
“He [Aurangzeb] will elucidate Pakistan’s economic outlook during the high-level discussions at the forum,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan said. “On the sidelines of the forum, the finance minister will meet delegates from participating countries, officials of commercial and investment banks and senior Chinese officials.”
It added that the Pakistani finmin is also expected to meet representatives of selected international and Chinese media representatives.
The development takes place as Pakistan desperately tries to wiggle out of a macroeconomic crisis that has drained its foreign exchange reserves, weakened its national currency and increased its existing liabilities.
Pakistan came to the brink of a sovereign default in 2023 before it secured a last-gasp deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that year. Islamabad also secured a $7 billion economic bailout package from the international lender in 2024 in exchange for committing to undertake long-term financial reforms in its priority sectors.
Islamabad has reached out to regional allies such as China, Central Asian countries and Middle Eastern nations in recent months to attract international trade and enhance investment to escape its economic crisis.
China is a major ally and investor in Pakistan that has pledged over $65 billion in investment in road, infrastructure and development projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a part of the Belt and Road Initiative that is a massive China-led infrastructure project that aims to stretch around the globe.
‘Spirit of Ramadan’: Young professionals in Islamabad organize free iftar meals for poor
- Charity, encompassing both obligatory ‘zakat’ and voluntary giving, is highly valued among Muslims during the holy fasting month of Ramadan
- Eshal Arooj, friends decided to allocate part of their incomes this Ramadan to foster a culture of unity and compassion in Pakistan’s capital
ISLAMABAD: Eshal Arooj, 23, regularly visits shelter homes in Islamabad as part of her job at Karandaaz, a not-for-profit aimed at promoting sustainable development in Pakistan, which often makes her aware of the hardships faced by the poor and underprivileged in Pakistan.
This Ramadan, Arooj decided to team up with two of her friends from the university days, Amna Wasim and Yahya Shahid, to arrange iftar meals for the needy in the Pakistani capital, fostering a culture of unity and compassion by bringing smiles to their faces.
The three friends, who used to pool together their pocket money for similar causes during their studies, this time decided to take a structured approach by dedicating a portion of their incomes to fund iftar meals on every weekend.
“The idea of food or iftar drives came to me when I visited various shelters. It made me realize how much of a bubble I was living in and how I needed to step out of it to give back to society. Whenever I saw people, especially children, it sparked a deep feeling inside me to help them,” Arooj told Arab News, describing it as the true “spirit of Ramadan.”
“One thing that resonates deeply with me is how children or elders in orphanages often lose their sense of identity and suffer from emotional disconnect. When we sit, eat and talk with them, it helps bridge that gap and brings them comfort.”
Charity, encompassing both obligatory ‘zakat’ and voluntary giving, is highly valued among Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan. It symbolizes generosity, compassion and purification of wealth and soul, with rewards believed to be multiplied.
For Wasim, a 24-year-old employee of the Pakistani planning ministry, Ramadan is a time that strengthens bonds between people.
“I’ve always been involved with the community, something I inherited from my parents, who were always giving. Growing up in such an environment instilled in me a deep sense of responsibility. I wouldn’t be who I am today without the support of my community,” she said.
She believes it is the little things that matter the most, but are often overlooked in the society.
“When you gather to break your fast with people from different backgrounds, there’s a beautiful sense of community and oneness,” she said. “It’s the little things, seeing someone smile, sharing a moment, that truly matter.”
Shahid, who works for Bondh E Shams that strives to provide clean drinking water in Pakistan and other countries, believes a simple iftar meal brings some moments of relief to those who are struggling and makes them happy.
“There are countless struggles people face that we may never know. Food, though simple, has the power to bring joy to anyone,” the 23-year-old said.
“That’s why we do this work, to bring moments of happiness to those who are struggling.”
COMPASSION, COMMUNITY SPIRIT
The food drives organized by the three youngsters have not only been providing meals to the poor, but also raising awareness about underserved segments of the society.
Fayyaz Ahmed, the founding chairman of the Mohammadi Agosh orphanage in Islamabad, said Ramadan reminded them that even small acts of kindness could leave a lasting impact on people’s lives and these youngsters were the living embodiment of the “spirit of Ramadan.”
“When people from outside come here and donate to the children, our budget is saved,” he said. “We spend that budget on the education of the children, on the clothes of the children, on the medical care of the children and on all basic necessities of life.”
Ahmed said it meant a great deal for the children at his orphanage to see visitors who genuinely cared about them, adding that these young professionals served as a “shining example” of compassion, commitment and community spirit.
“We want more people to come and spend time with these kids. It lifts their spirits, and we hope thousands will follow this example,” he added.
Arooj says everyone can inspire a change in the society in their own humble capacity, and Ramadan is the best time for such deeds.
“No matter how small your income [is] or how limited your resources [are], you can still bring change to someone’s life,” she said.
“You might not change the whole world, but you could change the world for just one person.”
