ISLAMABAD: The enthusiasm in the air was hard to miss as thousands across Pakistan celebrated Eid Milad-un-Nabi on Wednesday to commemorate Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday.
Streets, shopping malls and government buildings adorned with colorful lights to mark the event which began with a 31-gun salute in the federal capital and a 21-gun salute in the four provincial capitals of the country.
Celebrated every year, people make special arrangements to mark the occasion by praying for the unity, progress, and prosperity of Muslims around the world.
Pakistan’s new political administration announced plans to commemorate the occasion at the state levels after it faced violent opposition from certain right-wing religious factions, in the wake of a Supreme Court verdict acquitting a Christian woman accused of blasphemy.
Addressing a two-day international conference in Islamabad on Tuesday, Prime Minister Imran Khan said: “The people who are unable to understand the philosophy of the life of the Prophet [Muhammad (PBUH)] have now become guardians of religion.”
He also informed the audience that Pakistan would work toward the International Convention on Preventing the Defamation of Religions, adding it was not right that the notion of free speech was used with abandon to hurt religious sentiments of Muslims across the world.
He also announced that he was going to appoint an international law expert, Ahmer Bilal Soofi as his envoy for this purpose, whose role would be to convince different countries to sign the document.
Khan also noted that his administration had asked the Higher Education Commission to include specialized courses in Pakistan’s three universities to undertake deeper research on the life of the Prophet.
Pakistan observes Eid Milad-un-Nabi with full fervor
Pakistan observes Eid Milad-un-Nabi with full fervor
- Government announces plans to commemorate occasion at the state level
- PM Khan vows to make country lead global campaign against defamation of religions
Pakistan’s PIA enters into cargo deal with Air France-KLM to boost exports
- As per agreement, PIA’s freight division will gain access to Air France-KLM’s network of European, American cities
- Exporters will be able to use both PIA, Air France–KLM’s networks under a single air waybill, says Pakistani airline
KARACHI: The recently privatized Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) announced on Wednesday that it has entered into a cargo agreement with global aviation group Air France-KLM to expand its global outreach and push Pakistani exports to more international markets.
The PIA said its agreement with Air France-KLM came into force on Jan. 15. Air France-KLM operates in 320 destinations and is a global aviation player in passenger, cargo and maintenance businesses.
As per the agreement, PIA Cargo, the airline’s freight division, will gain access to Air France–KLM’s global network. Through the deal, PIA Cargo will gain access to Air France–KLM’s global network via Dubai, Riyadh and Dammam.
Air France-KLM’s network includes major European cities such as Amsterdam, Paris, Brussels, Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Düsseldorf, and New York, Atlanta and Los Angeles, the PIA said.
“Significant improvement is expected in the exports of Pakistani products and access to global markets,” the PIA said in a statement.
Exporters will be able to use both the PIA’s and Air France–KLM’s networks under a single air waybill, the airline said.
An air waybill is a document used in international air shipping that serves as a legal, non-negotiable contract between the shipper and the airline.
In November 2025, PIA and Biman Bangladesh Airlines signed a Cargo Interline Special Agreement to expand cargo business and augment bilateral trade. The partnership aims to minimize logistical complexities in transporting commodities.
The PIA was Pakistan’s national flag carrier until a Pakistani consortium, led by the Arif Habib Group, secured a 75 percent stake in the airline in December for Rs135 billion ($482 million). Pakistan had previously attempted to reform the debt-ridden airline, which had accumulated more than $2.8 billion in financial losses over the years.
PIA’s new owner Arif Habib announced last week that the airline is in talks with aerospace manufacturers Boeing and Airbus as it plans to revamp service and expand its current fleet.
The PIA has said it plans to increase the airline’s fleet to 64 aircraft from the current figure of 19 over the next eight years.
