ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday conducted a successful test flight of an indigenously developed guided multi-launch rocket system called Fatah-1, the Pakistani military said, capable of delivering a conventional warhead.
Arch-foes Pakistan and India routinely test newly developed weapon systems in their quest to gain military advantage over each other.
“The weapon system will give Pakistan Army capability of precision target engagement deep in enemy territory,” the Inter-Services Public Relations, the media wing of the Pakistani military, said.
Pakistan’s President Dr. Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Imran Khan, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman General Nadeem Raza and Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa congratulated the participating scientists and troops on the successful test.
On August 11, India tested its Defense Research and Development Organization-developed cruise missile off the coast of Odisha’s Balasore district.
A day later, Pakistan successfully conducted the test launch of a surface-to-surface ballistic missile, Ghaznavi (Hatf III). The test was “aimed at ensuring the operational readiness of Army Strategic Forces Command, besides re-validating technical parameters of the weapon system,” the ISPR said at the time.
The nuclear-armed adversaries have fought three wars — two of them over the disputed Kashmir region — besides engaging in skirmishes along the de-facto border in Kashmir and the one dividing the Punjab province between the two nations.
Pakistan successfully test fires guided multi-launch rocket system ‘Fatah-1’
https://arab.news/c7vtf
Pakistan successfully test fires guided multi-launch rocket system ‘Fatah-1’
- The indigenously developed weapon system is capable of delivering a conventional warhead
- Pakistan army says rocket system will provide precision target engagement deep inside enemy territory
Pakistan’s Lahore marks Basant festival after government lifts decades-old ban on kite flying
- Pakistan’s Punjab province outlawed Basant in 2000s after authorities linked metal-coated kite strings and celebratory gunfire to multiple deaths and injuries
- The three-day festivities began after midnight on Thursday as residents gathered on brightly lit rooftops to fly colorful kites to welcome the cultural festival
ISLAMABAD: The eastern Pakistani city of Lahore on Friday welcomed the return of Basant spring festival after the government this year lifted a more than two-decade-old ban on kite flying for a period three days, with Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz urging masses to follow precautions.
Provincial officials, including Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari, were seen flying kites in videos widely shared online. Meanwhile, the prices of air tickets from various Pakistani cities to Lahore have skyrocketed during the three days of the festival as more and more people try to join the celebrations after over a 20-year-hiatus.
Basant, once a vibrant tradition signaling the arrival of spring with colorful kites and rooftop festivities, was outlawed in Pakistan’s Punjab province in the 2000s after authorities linked metal-coated kite strings and celebratory gunfire to multiple deaths and injuries.
The government of CM Nawaz this year allowed Basant festivities in the provincial capital of Lahore, Pakistan’s cultural heart, on Feb. 6-8, but issued an extensive safety plan regarding kite materials and motorcyclists and pedestrians to avoid any untoward incident.
The three-day festivities began after midnight on Thursday as residents of Lahore gathered on their brightly lit rooftops along with family, friends and guests visiting from other cities and abroad to fly colorful kites to welcome the return of Basant.
“Kites return to the skies of Lahore as Basant comes alive again after 25 years,” CM Nawaz said on X. “A celebration of culture, color, and community! Let’s enjoy the festivities together responsibly, follow all safety SOPs (standard operating procedures), and make this Basant safe for everyone.”
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) this week forecast favorable weather conditions for kite flying in Lahore on Feb. 6-8, marked by light westerly winds blowing at speeds of 10–15 kilometers an hour.
Authorities have distributed 1 million safety rods among motorcyclists through designated safety points across Lahore, with spending on the initiative crossing Rs110 million ($392,000), according to local media reports. To enforce regulations and manage traffic flow, around 100 road safety camps have been set up in the city, staffed by teams from the district administration, traffic police and rescue services.
In addition, the Punjab government has launched a free shuttle service to reduce traffic congestion and promote safer travel via 695 buses deployed across Lahore.
