ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has signed a joint letter with Afghanistan and Uzbekistan seeking $4.8 billion in financing from international agencies for a railway from Pakistan to Uzbekistan through Afghanistan.
“Today the Prime Minister signed a letter for a joint approach with Afghanistan & Uzbekistan for asking international financial agencies to finance the railway from Pakistan to Uzbekistan through Afghanistan,” commerce adviser Abdul Razak Dawood said on Twitter on Tuesday. “This fits well with our vision for trade and connectivity through Afghanistan to the Central Asia Republics.”
Dawood said under process trade agreements with Afghanistan would be followed by similar agreements with Uzbekistan.
“I hope to visit Uzbekistan in January 2021 … this will open doors for increase in our exports,” the adviser said.
The signing ceremony, held at the Prime Minister’s Office in Islamabad, was attended by Uzbekistan’s Minister for Transport Makhkamov Ilkham. The joint appeal has already been signed by the presidents of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.
Ilkham also called on Prime Minister Khan separately and discussed bilateral relations, regional connectivity and peace and security in the region.
A statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office said Khan underlined Pakistan’s resolve to forge closer trade, investments energy and people-to-people ties with Central Asia.
Khan highlighted the importance of joint efforts to promote regional connectivity for the sake of economic growth and the development of the region and said his country’s seaports provided a great opportunity to Central Asian states to access the Indian Ocean.
Pakistan seeks $4.8 billion international loan for railway to Uzbekistan through Afghanistan
https://arab.news/pbjv2
Pakistan seeks $4.8 billion international loan for railway to Uzbekistan through Afghanistan
- PM Khan signs joint letter with Afghanistan and Uzbekistan seeking financing from international agencies
- Uzbekistan’s minister for transport calls on Khan, discusses bilateral relations, regional connectivity and regional security
Pakistan warns of landslides, avalanche in hilly areas, urges caution
- At least nine people were killed when an avalanche struck a house in Chitral district this week
- Heavy snowfall may trigger road closures in several areas from Jan. 26 to 27, Met Office says
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Sunday warned of possible landslides and avalanches in hilly regions in the country’s north, urging residents, travelers and tourists to exercise caution.
Cloudy weather with intermittent rain, thunderstorm and snowfall is expected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan and upper Punjab, while heavy rain with moderate to intense snowfall are likely in hilly areas on Jan. 26-27. Rain or thunderstorms are also likely in southern Punjab and upper Sindh during this period.
Heavy snowfall may cause road closure, slippery conditions in Naran, Kaghan, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Chitral, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Shangla, Astore, Hunza, Skardu, Murree, Galliyat, Neelum valley, Bagh, Poonch, Haveli, Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qilla Abdullah, Qilla Saifullah, Noushki, Harnai and Zhob, according to the PMD.
“[There is a] possibility of the landslides/avalanche in hilly areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and [Azad] Kashmir during the period,” the Met Office said in a statement.
“Tourists are advised to remain extra cautious and avoid unnecessary traveling during the forecast period.”
The PMD statement came two days after at least nine people were killed while an injured child was rescued after an avalanche struck a house in KP’s Chitral district, according to officials.
Rescuers evacuated dozens of residents and tourists as heavy snow blocked roads in Khyber, South Waziristan and Swat districts, where authorities cleared routes and provided food, clothing and bedding, the Rescue 1122 service said.
Tens of thousands of tourists flock to Pakistan’s scenic north every winter to witness snowfall, often neglecting warnings from disaster management authorities.
In Jan. 2022, at least 21 people, including children, died after they were stuck in freezing temperatures during a snowstorm in the Pakistani hill station of Murree.
