ISLAMABAD: Pakistan kicked off its 33-day-long Hajj flight operation on Tuesday, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) said, with flights departing from Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and Quetta for the Saudi city of Madinah.
Over 89,000 pilgrims will travel under the government’s scheme during Pakistan’s Hajj flight operations. They will travel to Makkah and Madinah via 342 flights in total, with the last one departing from Pakistan on May 31.
The first Hajj flight for this year, Pakistan International Airlines’ PK-713, departed under the Route to Makkah Initiative from Islamabad at 4:45am, carrying 442 pilgrims. The second flight left the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore at 8:30am, with 147 pilgrims aboard, according to the PAA. The third flight left Quetta with 151 pilgrims and the fourth from Karachi, carrying 285 pilgrims.
Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousaf and Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki bid farewell to the pilgrims in Islamabad. Yousaf advised Pakistani pilgrims to strictly adhere to Saudi Arabia’s laws and respect the local culture during the annual Islamic pilgrimage and said he would “soon” travel to Saudi Arabia to review Hajj arrangements.
“As Hajj pilgrims, you are traveling to the sacred land as the guests of Allah and ambassadors of Pakistan, and you are urged to respect the laws and culture of Saudi Arabia,” the minister said in a televised address.
“I will take every possible measure to resolve the issues faced by Pakistani pilgrims in Saudi Arabia and will personally be among them to provide facilities.”
The Makkah Route Initiative is designed to streamline immigration processes by enabling pilgrims to complete official travel formalities at their departure airports. Initially tested in Islamabad in 2019, the program was later expanded to Karachi, benefitting tens of thousands of Pakistani travelers. This saves pilgrims several hours upon arrival in the Kingdom, as they can simply enter the country without having to go through immigration again.
Around 50,500 Pakistani pilgrims will travel to Saudi Arabia under the initiative this year. The scheme was launched in 2019 by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and has been implemented in five countries: Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Morocco and Bangladesh.
A total of 28,400 pilgrims will leave for Saudi Arabia through 100 flights from the Islamabad airport, Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry said. Seven special immigration counters have been set up at the Islamabad airport to facilitate pilgrims under the Makkah Route Initiative. The remaining 22,500 pilgrims will avail the scheme at the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi.
This year’s annual pilgrimage will take place in June.
In Karachi, the departure ceremony was attended by Saudi Arabia’s Consul General Muhammad bin Nasser Al-Subaie, representatives from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, and senior officials from various airport agencies.
“Special arrangements were made at the airport for the pilgrims, including dedicated check-in counters, guidance services, and improved facilities to ensure a smooth and comfortable travel experience,” the PAA said.
“Officials extended their best wishes to the pilgrims for a safe and spiritually fulfilling journey. The Saudi consul general praised the excellent coordination and arrangements made for Hajj operations.”
Punjab Minister for Specialized Healthcare Khawaja Salman Rafique and Balochistan Governor Sheikh Jaffar Mandokhail attended departure ceremonies in Lahore and Quetta, respectively.
Rafique appreciated efforts of the PAA and all concerned departments in ensuring a smooth conduct of Hajj operations and extended his heartfelt wishes to the pilgrims for a safe and peaceful journey.
Balochistan Director Hajj Ilyas Jaffar and representatives of other agencies were present alongside Balochistan Governor Mandokhail at the departure ceremony in Quetta.
“The Honourable governor and other dignitaries requested special prayers for the prosperity of Pakistan and the continued success of all institutions,” the PAA said.
Pakistani pilgrims depart from multiple cities as Islamabad begins Hajj flight operation
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Pakistani pilgrims depart from multiple cities as Islamabad begins Hajj flight operation
- Over 89,000 pilgrims will travel under the government’s scheme during Pakistan’s Hajj flight operation
- They will travel to Makkah, Madinah via 342 flights, with the last one departing from Pakistan on May 31
EU imposes measures to curb ethanol imports from Pakistan
- Pakistan became the EU’s top source of non-fuel ethanol in 2024, supplying over a quarter of total imports
- EU ethanol producers welcomed the new two-year measure, though many had hoped for a three-year term
PARIS: The European Commission has ended tariff preferences for non-fuel ethanol imports from Pakistan, answering EU ethanol makers’ calls that a surge in cheap imports from the Asian country was pressuring prices and disturbing markets.
Last year, ethanol imports from Pakistan accounted for more than a quarter of all non-fuel ethanol imports, making Pakistan the largest source of imports to the EU, the Commission said in its decision published in the EU’s Official Journal on Friday.
The rise in total ethanol imports has been lasting for several years with EU customs data showing imports of non-fuel ethanol into the EU nearly doubling between 2021 and 2024 to reach 726,000 metric tons in 2024, from about 376,000 tons in 2021, it said.
Of this, Pakistani ethanol imports jumped by almost 300 percent to 393,590 tons between 2021 and 2022 and were still 244 percent above 2021 imports in 2023.
Meanwhile, EU non-fuel ethanol output dropped. Last year it was 8 percent lower than in 2021, it said.
The data and information available showed a coincidence in time between the evolution of imports from Pakistan and the serious disturbance to Union markets, the Commission said.
“The Commission considers that there is evidence of a serious disturbance in the Union market for non-fuel ethanol, characterised by a significant increase in imports at significantly lower prices compared to Union producers and a decline in Union production,” it said.
EU ethanol makers welcomed the move, set to last two years, although they had hoped for three-year duration and said the fact it did not include ethanol used in fuel raised concerns over potential circumvention.
Pakistan reports new polio case in northwest, raising 2025 tally to 12
- Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only countries where polio is still endemic
- Pakistan reported 74 cases in 2024, raising alarm over a possible resurgence
KARACHI: Pakistan’s polio eradication program on Friday said a new wild poliovirus case had been detected in the country’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, bringing the total tally of 2025 cases to 12.
Polio is a paralyzing disease with no cure, making prevention through vaccination critical. Multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine, along with the completion of the routine immunization schedule for all children, are essential to build strong immunity against the virus.
The country conducted three nationwide vaccination campaigns in February, April and May, aiming to immunize around 45 million children across Pakistan with the support of over 400,000 frontline workers including 225,000 women vaccinators.
“The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health, Islamabad, has confirmed a new case of wild poliovirus in District Bannu, South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” the body said in a statement.
“The 33-month-old male child from Union Council Shamsikhel, District Bannu is the sixth case of polio reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa this year.”
Pakistan has reported 12 polio cases so far this year, including six from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, four from the southern Sindh province and one each from the populous Punjab province and the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region.
Pakistan, one of the last two countries where polio remains endemic along with Afghanistan, has made significant progress in curbing the virus, with annual cases dropping from around 20,000 in the early 1990s to just eight in 2018.
However, the country reported an alarmingly high number of 74 cases in 2024, after six in 2023 and only one in 2021.
Health Minister Mustafa Kamal on Thursday claimed that Pakistan has recorded a 99 percent decline in polio cases, as he urged global vaccine organization Gavi to invest more in efforts to “train and retain” vaccinators.
Pakistan launched its polio eradication program in 1994, but its efforts have repeatedly been hindered by widespread vaccine misinformation and resistance from hard-line religious groups who claim immunization campaigns are a Western conspiracy to sterilize Muslim children or a front for espionage.
Militant groups have also targeted polio workers and police officials providing them security, often with deadly attacks that have hampered vaccination drives, particularly in the country’s remote and conflict-prone regions.
Pakistan beat France 3-2 in penalty shootouts to reach FIH Hockey Nations Cup final
- PM Shehbaz Sharif congratulates team on their win, paying tribute to players and the management
- Pakistan boasts proud hockey legacy by winning three Olympic gold medals and four World Cup titles
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s national hockey team advanced to the FIH Men’s Nations Cup final in Malaysia after defeating France 3-2 in penalty shootouts, the International Hockey Federation said on Friday.
The FIH Men’s Nations Cup is being played in Kuala Lumpur from June 15 to 21 at the National Hockey Stadium that brought together eight top-ranked teams competing with each other.
“Pakistan edge France to make it to their first FIH Hockey Men’s Nations Cup final,” International Hockey Federation said in a post on X.
“Excellent goals in the second half followed by amazing goalkeeping in the shootout,” it continued, “This is Pakistan’s first FIH final in more than a decade.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised and congratulated the Pakistan hockey team on their victory, paying tribute to the players and team management.
“The national hockey team delivered an outstanding performance throughout the tournament,” he added. “The team has made the nation proud and won our hearts.”
Sharif said he would also pray for Pakistan’s victory in the final scheduled for June 21, expressing hope that the country will soon regain its lost glory in the field of hockey.
Pakistan will play the winner of the second semifinal between New Zealand and South Korea.
Hockey is Pakistan’s national sport.
The national team boasts a proud legacy with three Olympic gold medals in 1960, 1968 and 1984 along with four World Cup titles in 1971, 1978, 1982 and 1994.
Hockey in Pakistan has faced a sharp decline in recent decades due to administrative challenges, underinvestment and inadequate infrastructure.
Renewed efforts are underway to revive the game with increased government support, youth development initiatives and greater international engagement aimed at restoring Pakistan’s former glory in the sport.
Pakistan PM orders expansion of national shipping fleet to cut $4 billion trade cost
- Shehbaz Sharif directs national shipping authority to submit plan to reduce freight burden
- Pakistan depends on foreign carriers due to a very limited fleet of government vessels
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday directed authorities to lease new ships to expand the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation’s (PNSC) fleet, aiming to reduce the $4 billion annual foreign exchange burden on sea-based trade.
The directive comes as Pakistan looks to bolster its maritime trade capacity and reduce reliance on foreign shipping lines, which officials say significantly contributes to the country’s widening trade deficit and puts pressure on foreign exchange reserves.
Pakistan’s sea trade plays a vital role in its economy, with over 90 percent of the country’s imports and exports transported by sea.
“The prime minister directed that ships be acquired on lease to expand the fleet of the PNSC,” the PM Office said in a statement following a meeting on PNSC affairs chaired by Sharif.
“He noted that due to the limited number of ships in the PNSC fleet, the national exchequer incurs a loss of $4 billion annually in foreign exchange on sea-based trade.”
Sharif instructed authorities to present a strategy within two weeks for the PNSC to eliminate this burden on the national treasury on account of freight charges.
The development comes as Pakistan plans to enhance its maritime trade with other countries, including the East African Community, and establish direct sea links with Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Somalia, Burundi, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In February, Pakistan and Bangladesh also decided to begin passenger and cargo shipping services between the two countries.
The PNSC inducted two $60 million Aframax oil tankers in 2019 to strengthen its oil transportation fleet.
Pakistan also regularly collaborates with its counterparts from various parts of the world to ensure illicit activities such as smuggling, drug trafficking, and piracy are kept in check.
Pakistan PM urges diplomacy to end Iran-Israel conflict in call with US secretary of state
- Sharif says Pakistan is ready to play a ‘constructive role’ as Rubio acknowledges Islamabad’s ‘excellent ties with Iran’
- The prime minister also reaffirms Pakistan’s willingness to engage in talks with India on all outstanding issues
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday emphasized the importance of “dialogue and diplomacy” to defuse the escalating military conflict between Iran and Israel during a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in which both sides discussed a broad range of issues.
The phone call came amid continuing hostilities between Iran and Israel, which began after Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities last Friday, leading to the killing of several top commanders and nuclear scientists.
Iran responded with retaliatory missile strikes, causing significant damage inside Israel and raising fears of a broader regional conflict.
Israel’s attack came while Iran was engaged in negotiations with the United States over its nuclear program. Subsequently, Washington supported Israel’s action, saying Iran could not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.
There has also been speculation the US could become more directly involved in the Israel-Iran conflict, though President Donald Trump’s administration has not announced how it plans to deal with the situation in the coming days.
“The situation in the Middle East, particularly the Iran-Israel crisis, was ... discussed [during the phone call], where the Prime Minister emphasized on the need to find a peaceful resolution to this grave crisis, through dialogue and diplomacy,” Sharif’s office said in a statement circulated after his conversation with Rubio.
“He stated that Pakistan was ready to play a constructive role in any effort for peace in the current situation, which was deeply worrying, not only for the region, but for the entire world,” the statement added.
Earlier this week, President Trump hosted Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, at the White House, where the unfolding Middle East crisis was also discussed.
The prime minister also referred to the “most cordial and productive” discussion between them in the conversation.
DIALOGUE WITH INDIA
During the call, Sharif also thanked Rubio for the US role in helping Pakistan and India reach a ceasefire understanding last month after a brief but intense four-day military standoff between the nuclear-armed rivals.
He appreciated President Trump’s “bold leadership” and Rubio’s “proactive diplomacy,” which he said had played a “pivotal role” in averting a major flareup.
He also maintained Trump’s recent positive remarks about Pakistan had created space for a more durable peace in South Asia, which, he noted, would only be possible through “meaningful dialogue” with India.
The Pakistani leader reaffirmed Islamabad’s “willingness for talks with India on all outstanding issues, including Jammu & Kashmir, the Indus Waters Treaty, trade and counterterrorism.”
Rubio, for his part, appreciated Pakistan’s resolve to uphold the ceasefire understanding with India and encouraged Islamabad to continue playing a role in regional stability, including through its “excellent ties with Iran.”
The two officials agreed that both countries must translate their talks into “tangible actions across all areas.”
COUNTERTERRORISM COOPERATION
They also discussed deepening security cooperation between their governments. Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to combating militant violence, particularly threats posed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and other armed factions carrying out recent attacks in his country.
Washington and Islamabad have a history of intelligence-sharing and military cooperation in counterterrorism operations, particularly during the US-led war in Afghanistan.
Rubio acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts and assured continued American cooperation to counter “all such threats.”
Sharif pointed to other areas of potential collaboration, including trade, investment, energy, mining, rare earth metals and information technology while emphasizing the need to advance mutually beneficial cooperation across these sectors.
The Pakistani premier also stressed the importance of maintaining the positive momentum in bilateral ties through regular high-level engagement.
He reiterated his invitation to President Trump to visit Pakistan and expressed hope to meet him at the earliest opportunity.
Sharif also extended a formal invitation to Rubio, as the US secretary of state said he looked forward to enhancing cooperation across “all areas of shared interest.”
