US envoy on Afghanistan to discuss women’s rights during Pakistan visit
US envoy on Afghanistan to discuss women’s rights during Pakistan visit/node/2241371/pakistan
US envoy on Afghanistan to discuss women’s rights during Pakistan visit
Pakistan's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar (right) meets US Special Representative for Afghanistan, Thomas West (second left), in Islamabad, Pakistan, on October 6, 2022. (@US4AfghanPeace/File)
Islamabad: US Special Representative for Afghanistan, Thomas West, announced on Monday he would be visiting Pakistan, Germany, and Switzerland from January 20 to February 4 to seek a “unified regional and international response” for women’s rights and access to aid in Afghanistan.
Ever since seizing control of Kabul in August 2021, the Taliban have issued edicts that have restricted women from seeking education and employment in the country.
In December 2022, the Taliban government banned women from working in non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on the pretext that female staff of NGOs had violated the dress code by not wearing hijab. The Taliban have also prevented women from entering parks and gyms, among other public places, in the country.
A couple of days before that, the Taliban banned women from attending universities and secondary schools across the country. The move sparked international outrage with Washington, United Nations, and several other countries including Pakistan, criticizing the move.
“I will travel to Pakistan, Germany, and Switzerland Jan 29-Feb 4 to consult with partners, Afghans, and humanitarian relief organizations regarding extraordinary challenges we face in supporting the Afghan people,” West wrote on Twitter.
1/2 I will travel to Pakistan, Germany, and Switzerland Jan 29-Feb 4 to consult with partners, Afghans, and humanitarian relief organizations regarding extraordinary challenges we face in supporting the Afghan people. https://t.co/VTFu96BBXP
— U.S. Special Representative Thomas West (@US4AfghanPeace) January 30, 2023
West said that the Taliban’s recent decisions have posed “extraordinary challenges” for the international community as it seeks to support the Afghan people.
“SRA West will work with counterparts to refine a unified regional and international response that reflects a collective commitment to Afghan women and girls’ rights and access to vital aid,” the US State Department website added.
While Pakistan has expressed “disappointment” over Afghanistan’s edicts concerning women, it has called on the world to engage with the Taliban government rather than shun ties with it altogether. Islamabad has also called on the world to provide humanitarian aid to Kabul to stave off an imminent economic collapse of the country.
Pakistan PM expresses sorrow over loss of hundreds of lives in India train crash
A deadly train crash in the Indian state of Odisha has so far killed nearly 300 people, injured 900 others
Rescuers were cutting through destroyed carriages on Saturday to find people who may still be trapped
Updated 03 June 2023
ARAB NEWS PAKISTAN
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday expressed grief over the loss of nearly 300 lives in one of the deadliest train crashes in India, as rescue workers searched through piles of debris and wreckage for bodies and survivors in the Indian state of Odisha.
Nearly a dozen coaches of one train derailed late Friday and debris from some of them fell onto a nearby track, according to railroad ministry spokesperson Amitabh Sharma. The debris was hit by another passenger train, causing up to three coaches of the second train to derail as well.
More than 288 dead bodies were recovered overnight and around 900 people were injured in the accident in Balasore district, while rescuers were cutting through the destroyed carriages to find people who may still be trapped under the debris.
In his reaction to the tragedy, Pakistan PM Sharif extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and said he was praying for recover of the wounded.
“Deeply saddened by the loss of hundreds of lives in a train accident in India,” the Pakistan premier said on Twitter. “I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families who lost their loved ones in this tragedy. Prayers for speedy recovery of the injured.”
Deeply saddened by the loss of hundreds of lives in a train accident in India. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families who lost their loved ones in this tragedy. Prayers for speedy recovery of the injured.
Train accidents have not been uncommon in India and Pakistan, where a majority of railway tracks date back to the pre-partition British colonial era and there has been little improvement in the department since their independence in 1947.
A speeding train ran over revellers watching fireworks during a Hindu festival in northern India on October 19, 2018, killing at least 60 people.
In 2016, at least 146 people died when an Indore-Patna Express train with around 2,000 people on board derailed in Uttar Pradesh, sending carriages crashing into each other.
In June 2021, more than 60 people died when a train hurtling through farmland derailed and collided with another passenger service in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province.
Pakistan regulator approves up to 50 percent hike in gas prices
The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority estimates revenue requirement of $2.4 this fiscal year
The regulator has proposed eliminating distinction between protected and unprotected slabs
Updated 03 June 2023
ARAB NEWS PAKISTAN
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has okayed up to 50 percent increase in gas prices as it calculated an estimated revenue requirement of Rs697.4 billion ($2.4 billion) to be collected from consumers this fiscal year, Pakistani media reported on Saturday, amid record inflation and economic meltdown in the South Asian country.
The South Asian nation has been witnessing an increase in the inflation rate since late last year when the government took prior actions to comply with the conditions set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to revive a stalled $7 billion bailout program, stalled since November.
Pakistan reported 38 percent inflation in May on the back of rising food and energy prices and a massive currency devaluation. The Pakistani rupee has devalued by around 30 percent since last June and played a major role in piling up the inflationary pressure.
Gas consumers in the country are likely to witness a potential 50 percent increase in prices starting from July as OGRA concluded its determinations for two struggling state-run gas distributors and submitted them to the government, The News English-language daily reported.
“The Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL), responsible for gas supply to consumers in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP), will collect Rs358.4 billion,” the report read.
“The Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), which supplies gas to consumers in Sindh and Balochistan, will collect Rs339 billion.”
OGRA determined Rs1,238.68 per 1 million British Thermal Unit (mmBtu) to be the average prescribed price for SNGPL, reflecting a 50 percent increase or Rs415.11 as compared to the existing price, according to the report.
Similarly, the average prescribed price for SSGC was set at Rs1,350.68/mmBtu, representing a 45 percent increase of Rs417.23.
The regulator has proposed eliminating the distinction between protected and unprotected slabs for gas consumers and setting the price at 1238.68/mmBtu.
“This change will result in a significant increase in gas prices for protected low-slab consumers,” the report read further.
“However, two highly gas-consuming slabs will benefit from the new pricing as they were previously paying up to Rs3,100/mmBtu.”
Interestingly, while gas will become more expensive for zero-rated consumers, gas-filling stations, cement and fertilizer plants, power stations, and independent power producers (IPPs) will experience a reduction in gas prices, according to the report. However, the feedstock gas prices for the fertilizer sector will more than double.
The regulator has now suggested a uniform prescribed price of Rs1,238.68/mmBtu for all these categories.
The increase in gas prices is expected to further burden the masses reeling from record inflation in the country, with many saying they have been forced to cut their kitchen spending and focus only on most essential items.
As Pakistan’s Finance Minister Ishaq Dar prepares to present budget for the next fiscal year, financial experts have urged the government to take steps to mitigate the suffering of low-income groups.
KARACHI: A young Pakistani child started sharing life’s fleeting moments on YouTube from the confines of a small room in his multistory residence in Karachi’s Baldia Town neighborhood after discovering that he was suffering from a debilitating disease.
Owais Shehzad, only nine years old, has been battling cancer for the last five years. Despite enduring intensely painful medical treatments, he found solace in dancing and creating videos, portraying himself as any other fun-loving child.
“I could neither eat nor drink, and I lost my hair and eyebrows due to chemotherapy,” he recalled, as he started reflecting on the days of enduring severe cancer treatment that caused mouth inflammation and painful blisters. “I lost my nails. It seemed like I was an alien who had come from another planet.”
“I was half-dead, yet I managed to handle the disease,” he added with a degree of pride. “My eyes sunk deep, and I could neither eat nor drink due to the blisters.”
The still image taken from a video recorded on June 1, 2023 shows Owais Shehzad, a child youtuber from Karachi, Pakistan. (AN Photo)
Owais’s battle with cancer hasn’t stopped since he has been diagnosed with a type of blood cancer in which the harmful pathogens never truly go away. However, the painful treatments he endured over the last five years have kept him alive.
His passion for dance also brought him happiness even in the darkest moments, and he served as an inspiration to fellow cancer patients at the hospital.
“My bone marrow test was done and fluid was drained through an IV injection in my back,” he said. “Even in that situation, I was dancing on the bed... I was motivating children, and they were happy to see me.”
The still image taken from a video recorded on June 1, 2023 shows Owais Shehzad, a child youtuber from Karachi, Pakistan. (AN Photo)
“Not only did it cheer me up, but it also brought happiness to the entire Indus Hospital, the children in the cancer ward, and my parents as well,” he reminisced.
Owais admitted to shedding tears, however, when he closed the door of his room, not wanting his parents to be hurt by his struggles.
He said that the road ahead remained uncertain, though he had always wanted to adopt a joyful and enthusiastic approach to life.
Nadeem Shehzad, Owais’s father and a local journalist, acknowledged that his son’s resilience uplifted the spirits of other parents when they were feeling weak.
“As a father, it was extremely difficult to witness my son in pain,” he told Arab News. “Whenever our strength and spirits wavered, we received a boost by witnessing the spirit and strength of this child.”
He informed that Owais had been diagnosed with B-all type blood cancer, with a recovery ratio ranging from two to five percent, which necessitates constant care to keep him alive.
“While treatment and care can prolong his life, the germs still remain in his body, and without complete care, they can become active at any time,” Nadeem explained, adding that it was also the reason why his son could not continue attending school.
Despite being unable to pursue education in a formal setting due to health issues, Owais’s passion for compels him to wear a school uniform and keep a bag at home.
“I wish to go to school,” he said. “However, my disease is such that I can neither sit nor stand due to the injections.”
Last year, the nine-year-old had one of his longstanding desires fulfilled when he embarked on a journey to Saudi Arabia for the Umrah pilgrimage.
“I had always wished to perform Umrah, to visit the house of Allah and witness His divine abode. Allah granted me an invitation... The experience of Umrah was truly amazing, and now I also aspire to perform Hajj,” he shared with gratitude.
Owais believes that those who remain happy even in sickness bring joy to God as well.
“May Allah grant me a long life, but whatever life I have, I’m living it to the fullest,” he said. “Currently, I am embracing life with utmost spirit and enthusiasm.”
He added that he harbors deep love for both journalism and the army, making his professional destination uncertain in life.
“Let’s see which of these two paths life takes me on,” he smiled.
Dubai-based multinational invests $6 million in Pakistan to acquire home care product manufacturer
UAE’s New Future Consumer International General Trading completes acquisition of Zulfiqar Industries that makes famous Capri Soap in Pakistan
The foreign investor says Pakistan is prioritized as part of its global business development strategy in the FMCG category with strategic partners
Updated 03 June 2023
KHURSHID AHMED
KARACHI: New Future Consumer International General Trading (NFCIGT), a Dubai-based multinational company, has acquired a Pakistani home and personal care product manufacturer, Zulfiqar Industries Limited (ZIL), by injecting around $6 million foreign direct investment (FDI) in Pakistan, officials and a corporate finance adviser familiar with the deal said on Friday.
The NFCIGT is an emerging global fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) player with business development initiatives in the Gulf countries, Russia, and now in Pakistan with local partners. The company has acquired over 5 million, or 84.84 percent, shares of the ZIL, according to a stock filing on Thursday.
The ZIL, incorporated as a private limited company in 1960, manufactures and sells home and personal care products, including the famous Capri Soap, in Pakistan.
Dr. Cobus Van Rooijen, the founder and managing director of the NFCIGT, said he believed in the long-term growth potential of Pakistan despite challenges.
“Despite the challenging times, we firmly believe in the long-term growth potential of the country,” Rooijen said in a statement on Friday. “We look forward to leveraging our global experience and resources to drive innovation, create employment opportunities, and contribute to Pakistan’s economic growth.”
The NFCIGT chief said his company has prioritized Pakistan as part of its global business development strategy in the FMCG category.
“ZIL Limited has Capri as a fantastic heritage brand, which provides opportunities to expand into other personal care premium categories,” Rooijen said. “We have identified Pakistan as major investment opportunity based on demographics and anticipated consumption per capita growth in key consumer categories.”
Pakistan’s economic landscape has faced numerous challenges, including the global COVID-19 pandemic, and associated economic repercussions, followed by global commodity super-cycle given the Russia-Ukraine war, and the internal political and economic challenges.
However, the new investor remains optimistic about the long-term potential of the Pakistani market and the investment demonstrates their commitment to contributing to Pakistan’s economic development, creating job opportunities, and fostering innovation in the FMCG sector, according to the statement.
The share price of ZIL has increased by 86.6 percent from Rs181.67 per share to Rs339 since January 2023, according to the data available at Pakistan Stock Exchange website.
Alpha Beta Core, a Karachi-based financial advisory and investment banking firm, facilitated the acquisition that marks a significant milestone in the global expansion strategy of investors.
“The acquisition of a Pakistani company by a multinational FMCG player signifies an important milestone at a time when the country is facing economic crisis and needs much needed foreign exchange inflows,” Khurram Schehzad, CEO of Alpha Beta Core, told Arab News.
Schehzad said the acquisition highlights his team’s commitment to delivering exceptional financial advisory services and ability to navigate complex cross-border transactions.
“We are confident that our clients’ investment in the Pakistani market will yield substantial returns and create mutually beneficial partnerships,” he added.
Schehzad said the NFCIGT aims to contribute to the growth and development of the region and countries in which it operates, including Pakistan, .
The NFCIGT chief said he would continue to look for complementary investment opportunities with local partners.
“Our ambitions are to extend to multiple categories in the current countries followed by market entries in other targeted geographies, including Africa and CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States),” he said.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday arrived in Ankara to attend the inauguration of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, days after his reelection as the Turkish president.
A third term gives Erdogan an even stronger hand domestically and internationally, and the election results will have implications far beyond Ankara. Turkiye stands at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, and it plays a key role in NATO.
Erdogan, who has led Turkiye as prime minister or president for 20 years, prevailed in a runoff race last weekend despite the country’s ongoing economic crisis and his government’s criticized response to a February earthquake that killed more than 50,000 people.
“Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif arrives in Ankara on his two-day official visit to attend inauguration ceremony of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan,” Sharif’s office said in a statement on Saturday.
Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif (2nd right) with High officials from Turkish Foreign Ministry and Pakistan's Mission in Türkiye in Ankara, Turkiye on June 2, 2023. (Photo courtesy: Prime Minister Office)
“High officials from Turkish Foreign Ministry and Pakistan’s Mission in Türkiye received the Prime Minister upon his arrival at Esenboga Airport, Ankara.”
Known as “reis,” or “the chief,” among his fans, the 69-year-old Erdogan already is the longest-serving leader in the Turkish republic’s history. His reelection to a five-year term that runs until 2028 extends his rule into a third decade, and he could possibly serve longer with the help of a friendly parliament.
Pakistan and Turkiye share strong bilateral religious, cultural, trade and defense relations.
“I will convey our warmest greetings to the President on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan on his re-election. The fraternal ties between Pakistan and Türkiye are set to deepen further in line with our shared resolve and common destiny,” Sharif said on Twitter, before leaving for Ankara.
“The upcoming 7th Meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council in Islamabad will provide the right avenue to take the momentum of our strategic partnership forward. We have yet to unlock the potential of our multifaceted relationship and efforts are being made in that direction.”
Leaving for Türkiye today at the invitation of my brother, H.E. President @RTErdogan, to attend his inauguration ceremony. I will convey our warmest greetings to the President on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan on his re-election. The fraternal ties between…
