ISLAMABAD: Working out and staying fit can be difficult on the best of days, and in the holy month of Ramadan, when fasting Muslims go without food or drink from sunrise to sunset, it’s even more difficult. But no sweat, say many fitness trainers and experts; there are ways to do it just right.
Alizeh Imtiaz, head trainer at Islamabad’s multi-fitness studio, Body Lab, dismissed the notion that fasting during Ramadan is an excuse to ditch the gym.
“Unlike yesteryears, most people continue to work out in Ramadan...there have been less than five percent of clients who do not continue,” Imtiaz said. “Working out while fasting is a lot less draining than one assumes. A lot of it is also psychological. My clients are surprised by how far they can push themselves while fasting,” Imtiaz added.
Sarah Malik, a personal trainer who works at a HITT, or high intensity interval training, studio in Islamabad said the biggest misconception about working out while fasting is that you can eat high-calorie, fried and processed food items as long as you workout.
“Unfortunately, that’s not true!” Malik said. However, she said it was an encouraging trend that some gyms remained open 24 hours a day during Ramadan.
“It’s both a productive and social part of the month because clients workout and socialize with their friends at gyms and studios, then grab a bite for sehri before heading home,” Malik said.
Imtiaz agrees, adding that the only issue people need to overcome is “binge eating at iftar.”
“Whether it’s Ramadan or not, adhering to calorie control and general guidelines of avoiding bad fats will keep a person on track,” Imtiaz said.
Both Malik and Imtiaz agree that Ramadan is not the time for weight loss, but to maintain an already healthy lifestyle, without completely abandoning the gym.
Sundus Jamil, Co-Owner of The Space in Islamabad, couldn’t agree more.
“Ramadan is not the time to set fitness goals...it should be treated as a time to maintain,” Jamil said.
By launching The Space, a fitness studio which provides a variety of classes, including dance, fitness and yoga, that are specifically designed for women, Jamil hopes to change things up.
“Don’t let Ramadan be an excuse to not work out, just change your goals to maintain a healthy lifestyle as opposed to weight loss/gain,” Jamil said. “If gym isn’t your thing, go for a walk, or play a sport with your friends, go swimming. There are endless options out there as long as you’re disciplined enough to stick to it.”
Want to stay fit during Ramadan? No sweat, say fitness experts in Pakistan
Want to stay fit during Ramadan? No sweat, say fitness experts in Pakistan
- Physical trainers talk to Arab News about misconceptions and solutions to maintaining a healthy lifestyle while fasting in the holy month
- Ramadan is not the time to set fitness goals, it should be treated as a time to maintain a health lifestyle, many say
Anti-fuel smuggling drive boosts Pakistan revenues 82%, PM office says
- Crackdown targets illegal petroleum trade using GPS tracking and pump registration
- July–November gains cited as government intensifies tax, customs enforcement
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani prime minister’s office said on Friday revenues from petroleum products rose 82% between July and November 2025 after a nationwide crackdown on fuel smuggling, as the government steps up enforcement to curb tax evasion and losses that have long strained public finances.
The increase was cited during a weekly performance review of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), where Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed authorities to accelerate action against smuggling and tax evasion, according to a statement issued by the PM’s Office.
Fuel smuggling has been a persistent problem in Pakistan, where subsidised or untaxed petroleum products are often trafficked across borders or sold through unregistered pumps, depriving the state of revenue and distorting domestic energy markets. Successive governments have blamed the practice for billions of rupees in annual losses, while international lenders have repeatedly urged tighter enforcement as part of broader fiscal reforms.
“Every year the nation loses billions due to smuggling,” Sharif was quoted as saying in a statement, praising customs authorities for successful operations and noting that revenues from petroleum products increased by 82% from July to November 2025 compared with the same period last year.
The PM said stricter enforcement had brought several goods back into the formal economy, adding that there would be “no leniency” toward those involved in tax evasion or illegal trade.
Officials briefed the prime minister that Pakistan Customs has rolled out a nationwide enforcement framework, including GPS tracking of petroleum product transportation, registration of fuel stations through a digital monitoring system, and legal action against illegal machinery under updated petroleum laws.
The government has also instructed provincial administrations to cooperate fully with federal authorities in shutting down illegal petrol pumps, the statement said.
Sharif said enforcement efforts would continue until smuggling networks were dismantled and tax compliance improved, as the government seeks to strengthen revenues amid ongoing economic reforms.
Pakistan has struggled for years with weak tax collection and a narrow revenue base, forcing repeated bailouts from the International Monetary Fund. Smuggling of fuel, cigarettes, electronics and consumer goods has been identified by policymakers as a major obstacle to improving revenues and stabilising the economy.
Independent research shows that Pakistan loses an estimated Rs750 billion (about $2.7 billion) annually in tax revenue due to illicit trade and smuggling across sectors such as petroleum, tobacco and pharmaceuticals. Broader analyzes suggest total tax revenue losses linked to the informal economy and smuggling may reach as high as Rs3.4 trillion (around $12.1 billion) a year, roughly a quarter of the government’s annual tax targets.
Smuggled petroleum products alone are thought to cost the state about Rs270 billion (around $960 million) a year in lost revenue, underscoring why authorities have focused recent enforcement efforts on fuel tracking and pump registration.
