KARACHI: Authorities in Pakistan’s seaside metropolis of Karachi urged the citizens to stay calm after a massive swarm of locusts flew over different parts of the city on Monday morning.
“The relevant departments have been alerted and there is no need to panic,” Sindh’s Minister for Agriculture, Ismail Rahoon, told Arab News, adding that locusts had not damaged any crops or plants. “This has happened for the second time since the creation of Pakistan.”
The locusts first entered District Malir of the city on Sunday. The area has plenty of agricultural land where vegetables are grown for Karachi’s largest market.
On Monday morning, social media users started sharing videos from District East, Shahrah-e-Faisal, National Stadium and Bahadurabad areas of the city where armies of locusts could be seen.
“It was a very frightening scene,” Asim Ali, a resident of Malir, told Arab News. “I have never seen locusts in such large numbers.”
However, officials said there was no need to panic.
“The locusts are migrating from summer-monsoon breeding zone to the winter-spring breeding zone of Balochistan’s coastal areas,” Muhammad Tariq Khan, Department of Plant Protection, Ministry of National Food Security and Research, told Arab News.
Desert locust flies during daytime and settle at night. Such migrations do not cause any damage since such movement is not in search for food, the official said, adding: “We are monitoring the situation. The relevant desert locust control teams are ready to intervene according to the technical guidelines, if required.”
Pakistan has surveyed an area of 550,000 hectares and controlled 110,000 hectares by ground and aerial spray in Balochistan, Sindh and Punjab since March 2019.
“During this period, the locusts were confined to the desert and were not allowed to attack the cultivated area,” he informed.
Experts say desert locusts prefer sandy soil with moisture and vegetation since such habitat help them breed and multiply. In Pakistan, desert locusts have two breeding seasons and regions: the winter-spring breeding zone of Balochistan between February to June; and the summer-monsoon breeding zone of Tharparkar, Nara and Cholistan deserts between June and November.
Authorities urge calm as locusts fly over Pakistan’s megacity
Authorities urge calm as locusts fly over Pakistan’s megacity
- Officials say this is the second time locusts have entered Karachi since the creation of Pakistan
- Say the insects did not damage crops or plants
Pakistan central bank expected to hold rates on Monday ahead of IMF deal
- Median estimate in Reuters poll predicts State Bank will hold rates steady
- South Asian nation is seeking new long-term, larger IMF bailout program
KARACHI: Pakistan’s central bank is widely expected to hold its key interest rate at a record 22 percent for the seventh straight policy meeting on Monday as Pakistan gears up for an International Monetary Fund board approval and talks on a longer term program.
Monday’s policy decision will be followed by the fund’s executive board meeting to discuss the approval of $1.1 billion in funding for Pakistan, which is the last tranche of a $3 billion standby arrangement with the IMF secured last summer to avert a sovereign default.
The median estimate in a Reuters poll of 14 analysts predicts the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) will hold rates steady.
Four analysts are forecasting a 100-basis-point (bps) cut, while two expect a 50-bps cut on Monday.
Eight respondents expect a rate cut before Pakistan signs a new program with the IMF. There is another MPC meeting on 10 June 2024, which is possibly before Pakistan gets another IMF Programme.
The South Asian nation is seeking a new long-term, larger IMF loan. Pakistan’s Finance Minister, Muhammad Aurangzeb, has said Islamabad will begin talks with the fund next month, and could secure a staff-level agreement on the new program by early July.
Pakistan’s key rate was last raised in June to fight persistent inflationary pressures and to meet one of the conditions set by the IMF for securing the bailout.
Pakistan’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) for March rose 20.7 percent from the year before, slowing down partly due to the “base effect,” touching a record high of 38 percent in May 2023.
Tahir Abbas, head of research at Arif Habib Limited said that the central bank is unlikely to cut rates before getting a new IMF program. “The monetary policy will also consider the inflationary outcome of tensions in the middle east and its impact of fuel prices, along with the Fed’s delay in monetary easing,” he added.
“Expect a symbolic reduction in the current quarter (till June), with aggressive cuts to follow in the September quarter as the government has to roll over approximately 6.7 trillion rupees of maturing domestic treasury bills in the last quarter of the calendar year,” said Mustafa Pasha, CIO of Lakson Investments.
He added that by then there will be greater clarity on inflation and FX inflows. “Historically the SBP has cut rates in the 1st year of an IMF program and we expect the policy rate to settle around 17 percent by December.”
Punjab Police defends chief minister after controversy over wearing police uniform
- Sharif donned police uniform to attend passing out parade on Thursday
- Move widely criticized by political opponents and social media users
ISLAMABAD: Police in the Pakistani province of Punjab have said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s act of wearing a police uniform to a passing out parade this week was a “commendable show of solidarity” after widespread criticism by opposition politicians and social media users.
On Thursday, Sharif, who is the first woman chief minister in Pakistan’s history, wore a police uniform while attending a passing out parade of woman constables and traffic assistants at the Police Training College in Chung.
Opposition leader in the National Assembly, Omar Ayub, and other opposition politicians like Yasmin Rashid, Moonis Elahi and Shahbaz Gill all criticized Nawaz’s decision to don the police uniform. The issue also remained a top trend on social media, with many users questioning the logic behind the move.
But the Punjab Police force came out in the chief minister’s defense in an X post.
“As per the ‘Punjab Police Dress Regulations’, the CM of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, is entitled to wear the police uniform,” it said in a statement.
“This has been widely celebrated by the police personnel, who view it as a commendable show of solidarity.”
The statement said the Central Police Office had received hundreds of messages by police personnel who had “lauded” Sharif’s act of wearing the uniform and women police officers in particular were celebrating the gesture.
Punjab police also shared a copy of rules that govern how governors and chief ministers can dress on formal occasions.
As per the amended Punjab Police Dress Regulations, “chief minister may wear uniform on formal occasions like review of parades, while addressing police darbars, visiting police establishments or any such occasion as specified, for encouraging the police personnel and troops.”
Separately, a citizen named Waqar Ali filed a plea at a local court against Sharif, arguing that a civilian cannot wear the uniform of an institution and calling for a case to be registered against the Punjab chief minister.
No tension with Pakistan, US says after sanctioning firms for ‘aiding’ ballistic missile program
- US announced sanctions against three Chinese companies, one Belarus-based firm
- Washington says the firms were supplying items to Pakistan’s ballistic missile program
ISLAMABAD: The US State Department said on Thursday there were no tensions with Pakistan following Washington’s move to impose sanctions on four international firms for supplying to the South Asian nation’s ballistic missile program.
In a press release issued last Friday, the US State Department announced sanctions against three Chinese companies and one Belarus-based firm on charges they supplied items to Pakistan’s ballistic missile program.
Pakistan has said it rejects the “political use of export controls.”
“Absolutely not … Pakistan continues to be one of our most important partners in the region,” State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters in response to a question about tensions between Washington and Islamabad following the sanctions.
“There continues to be a lot of cooperation that we have with the Government of Pakistan, especially in the security space, especially in the trade sector … This is a robust relationship and we’ll look to continue strengthening it.”
The companies listed by the US for sanctions are the China-based Xi’an Longde Technology Development Company Limited, Tianjin Creative Source International Trade Co. Ltd, Granpect Company Limited and Belarus-based Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant.
The sanctions mean all property and interests in property of the companies in the US or in possession or control of American citizens are blocked and must be reported to the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), according to the State Department.
They also mean that all transactions by American citizens, or those within (or transiting) the US that involve any property or interests in property of the companies, are prohibited unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC.
Officials from global container logistics company in Pakistan for talks on developing ports
- Maersk is integrated container logistics company operating in 130 countries
- Company delegation meets Pakistani finance and maritime affairs ministers
ISLAMABAD: A delegation from a leading logistics company, A.P. Moller-Maersk (APM) Terminals, met Pakistani officials in Islamabad this week for talks on developing and modernizing the South Asian nation’s ports, state-run Radio Pakistan reported on Friday.
Maersk is an integrated container logistics company operating in 130 countries. APM Terminals has been developing and operating advanced ports and container terminals for over half a century and has 60 strategically located ports and container terminals around the globe and several more in development.
On Thursday, a delegation from the company led by its CEO Keith Svendsen separately met Pakistani Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Minister for Maritime Affairs Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh.
“Pakistan is keen to explore future projects and investments with APM especially in the maritime sector,” Aurangzeb was quoted as telling the APM delegation in a report by Radio Pakistan. “The government is fully committed to facilitate an environment conducive to business and investments.”
Radio Pakistan quoted Svendsen as telling Aurangzeb APM was “pleased” to engage with Pakistan and saw “great potential” in the Pakistani market.
“Affirming confidence in the country’s growth prospects and development agenda, he expressed commitment to enhance its investment and operations to support the country’s trade,” the report said.
Svendsen and his delegation also met the maritime affairs minister and discussed investment prospects in Pakistan’s ports and terminals sector.
“The delegation head highlighted Moller-Maersk’s prominent global position and its robust relationship with Pakistan, which reflects a market share of approximately 20 percent in containerized import-export activities,” Radio Pakistan said.
“Recognizing the immense growth potential, Keith Svendsen proposed investments to enhance integrated supply chain solutions, including the upgrading of ports and logistics infrastructure. The delegation pledged support for the advancement of maritime affairs in Pakistan and for nurturing a skilled workforce in this sector.”
On Monday, Pakistani and United Arab Emirates (UAE) officials performed the groundbreaking of a $175 million Bulk and General Cargo terminal as part of a new 25-year concession agreement signed between AD Ports Group and Karachi Port Trust (KPT) in Feb. 2024 to outsource operations of the terminal.
Under the terms of the agreement, Karachi Gateway Terminal Multipurpose Limited (KGTML), a joint venture between AD Ports Group, as a majority shareholder, and Kaheel Terminals, a UAE-based company, will develop, operate and manage the Bulk and General Cargo Terminal, berths 11 to 17 at Karachi Port’s East Wharf.
Pakistani PM to attend Islamic Summit Conference in Gambia on May 4
- Palestine, Islamophobia, climate change on agenda of meeting arranged by OIC
- Summit to be attended by concerned heads of state such as PMs, presidents, emirs
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will attend the 15th session of the Islamic Summit Conference organized by the OIC on May 4-5 in the Gambian capital of Banjul to discuss a variety of regional and global issues, including Palestine, Islamophobia, climate change and the status of minorities, state-run APP reported.
The session will be held under the slogan “Enhancing Unity and Solidarity through Dialogue for Sustainable Development,” according to a press release issued by the OIC General Secretariat.
The Islamic Summit Conference attended by Sharif will be preceded by a preparatory meeting of senior officials on April 30 and May 1, who will discuss the documents of the session and submit a report to a preparatory meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM).
“The preparatory CFM meeting will be held on May 1-2 to consider the results of the senior officials meeting and in turn, submit its report to the Summit,” the OIC said.
Pakistani foreign minister Ishaq Dar will attend the CFM meeting.
“Leaders of the member states will discuss the political issues of the Islamic world, most notably the Palestinian cause, and the economic, humanitarian, social and cultural issues, in addition to the issues of youth, women, family, science and technology, information, Muslim communities and minorities in non-OIC member states, and legal matters,” the OIC said.
The Summit will also tackle issues related to hate speech and Islamophobia, the promotion of dialogue, climate change and food security.
“The 15th session will issue a final communique that includes the OIC positions on the issues submitted to the Summit, a resolution on Palestine and Al-Quds Al-Sharif, and the Banjul Declaration,” the OIC added.
The Islamic Summit is a principal organ of the OIC focused on the formulation, development, and implementation of decisions made by 57 member states. The Summit is attended by concerned heads of state such as prime ministers, presidents, emirs and other equivalent heads.
