ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines on Friday announced special flights to Iraq and Syria to facilitate people planning to visit the two Arab countries for the religious observance of Arba'een.
The occasion marks the fortieth day after the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), who lost his life on 10th Muharram during the Battle of Karbala in 61 AH (680 CE).
The Pakistani airline will operate several flights to Baghdad, Najaf and Damascus between September 17 and 24.
"PIA always launches special flights on significant religious occasions to facilitate pilgrims," it said in an official statement. "The national airline has always been in the forefront of transporting these people to sacred places."
The special flights will depart from Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.
Last month, Pakistan discussed ways to facilitate pilgrims to Iraq during the visit of Iraqi foreign minister Dr. Fuad Hussein to Islamabad.
Iraqi and Syrian cities of Najaf, Karabala and Damascus hold tremendous significance for Shiites around the world, many of whom travel to these places during the first two months of the lunar Islamic calendar to recall the sacrifices made by the small army led by Husayn ibn Ali.
Pakistan to launch special flights for pilgrims to Iraq, Syria
https://arab.news/vpvxs
Pakistan to launch special flights for pilgrims to Iraq, Syria
- The country's national airline says it will operate several flights to Baghdad, Najaf and Damascus between September 17 and 24
- Last month, Pakistan and Iraq discussed ways to facilitate people who wanted to visit the holy shrines in the Arab state
World Bank president in Pakistan to discuss development projects, policy issues
- Pakistan, World Bank are currently gearing up to implement a 10-year partnership framework to grant $20 billion loans to the cash-strapped nation
- World Bank President Ajay Banga will hold meetings with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other senior officials during the high-level visit
ISLAMABAD: World Bank President Ajay Banga has arrived in Pakistan to hold talks with senior government officials on development projects and key policy issues, Pakistani state media reported on Sunday, as Islamabad seeks multilateral support to stabilize economy and accelerate growth.
The visit comes at a time when Pakistan and the World Bank are gearing up to implement a 10-year Country Partnership Framework (CPF) to grant $20 billion in loans to the cash-strapped nation.
The World Bank’s lending for Pakistan, due to start this year, will focus on education quality, child stunting, climate resilience, energy efficiency, inclusive development and private investment.
"World Bank President Ajay Banga arrives in Pakistan for a high-level visit," the state-run Pakistan TV Digital reported on Sunday. "During his stay, he will meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other senior officials to discuss economic reforms, development projects, and key policy issues."
Pakistan, which nearly defaulted on its foreign debt obligations in 2023, is currently making efforts to stabilize its economy under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program.
Besides efforts to boost trade and foreign investment, Islamabad has been seeking support from multilateral financial institutions to ensure economic recovery.
“This partnership fosters a unified and focused vision for your county around six outcomes with clear, tangible and ambitious 10-year targets,” Martin Raiser, the World Bank vice president for South Asia, had said at the launch of the CPF in Jan. last year.
“We hope that the CPF will serve as an anchor for this engagement to keep us on the right track. Partnerships will equally be critical. More resources will be needed to have the impact at the scale that we wish to achieve and this will require close collaboration with all the development partners.”
In Dec., the World Bank said it had approved $700 million in financing for Pakistan under a multi-year initiative aimed at supporting the country's macroeconomic stability and service delivery.
It followed a $47.9 million World Bank grant in August last year to improve primary education in Pakistan's most populous Punjab province.
