Pakistan to release first Sindhi-language feature film in decades aiming to promote regional culture — filmmaker

A still from the upcoming Sindhi-language feature film 'Indus Echoes.' (Photo courtesy: @filmnchips/YouTube)
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Updated 05 August 2023
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Pakistan to release first Sindhi-language feature film in decades aiming to promote regional culture — filmmaker

  • Titled ‘Indus Echoes,’ the Pakistani-Korean movie is currently in the post-production stage
  • Filmmaker says he planned of making an anthology film with multiple stories around Indus River

KARACHI: Pakistan will soon be releasing its first Sindhi-language feature film, 'Indus Echoes,' in nearly three decades, its filmmaker said on Saturday, calling it an attempt to earn "a little more respect" for the Sindhi culture, traditions, language and people. 

Pakistan reportedly released its first-ever Sindhi film, 'Umar Marvi,' in 1956, while the country saw the release of its last Sindhi film, 'Himmat,' in 1997. Since then, only a few Sindhi telefilms and short-films have been produced, but no Sindhi feature film, which averages between 75 and 210 minutes, has been made in the South Asian country.  

The latest project, which is currently in post-production phase and is expected to be released next year, is directed and produced by Pakistani journalist-turned-filmmaker, Rahul Aijaz, who is currently pursuing a filmmaking fellowship in South Korea.  

“The idea of making Sindhi films has always been there for some reason, but it took me many years to realize that I should push for it even more,” Aijaz told Arab News.  

“Nobody makes Sindhi movies now. [I am] trying to put a little more respect on that culture and the traditions and the language, and the people itself.”  

In 2020, Aijaz also produced a short Sindhi-language film called, 'A Train Crosses the Desert,' which was screened in four countries, including at the Jaipur International Film Festival (2021) in India and the South Asian International Film Festival (2020) in the US.  

Sharing the inspiration behind the name and storyline of his latest project, Aijaz said the Indus River fascinated him for a long time as it served as a “major symbol” of the Sindhi culture. The civilization in this part of the world probably wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for this river, he said. 

“We don’t really pay that respect to the entity (the river) that actually gave us our culture, life, and civilization,” he said.  

“A film that doesn’t just tell stories of the people but the stories of the river as a character itself. That’s the idea that evolved into Indus Echoes.” 

The idea came to life last year while Aijaz was sitting at a roadside kiosk with a friend. He thought of making “an anthology film with multiple stories all in, around, and across the river,” though the film explores other themes as well, according to the filmmaker. The cast and crew came on board by the end of 2022, while the shoots began in February this year.  

After Aijaz went to Korea for the fellowship, he said, he showed filmmakers over there what he had created so far and was able to get some international crew onboard too. 

Indus Echoes, he added, is a collaboration between Pakistan's Film N’ Chips Media Productions, Shaam Films and South Korea’s Big Meta Films. 

The film stars Sindhi-speaking actors, Vajdaan Shah and Ansaar Mahar, in addition to Samina Seher in key roles. They will be seen playing multiple characters in multiple stories, according to Aijaz.  

Hyderabad, the second-biggest city of Pakistan’s southern Sindh province, was the main production base of the film but several scenes were also shot in smaller towns of the province, including Kotri, Jamshoro and Wasi Malook Shah.  

Aijaz said he hopes to finish the film by the end of this year and target international film festivals, after which he plans to release Indus Echoes in cinemas across Pakistan and worldwide early next year. 

“The film has the potential to reach not just Sindhi audiences but all across the world and we can position this film as an introduction to Sindhi culture, heritage and the Indus River,” Aijaz said.  

Pakistan actor and director Shamoon Abbasi has also joined forces as one of the executive producers of Indus Echoes. What intrigued him to come on board was “a sense of reality” in the subject and that the film will “serve a purpose to society,” he said. 

“We see many Punjabi, Pashto, Urdu and even Balochi films in the cinemas but Sindhi-language films aren't being exhibited in Pakistan for a long time,” Abbasi told Arab News.  

“[Producing] a film in the Sindhi language will elevate Sindhi filmmakers in Pakistan and give them the strength to share their narratives in the future.”


Pakistan’s finance chief seeks deeper US trade ties, welcomes reform efforts at global lenders

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Pakistan’s finance chief seeks deeper US trade ties, welcomes reform efforts at global lenders

  • Muhammad Aurangzeb downplays US tariff concerns, says Pakistan sees greater opportunity in rebalancing trade
  • IMF chief says the international lender is trying to determine how to design loan programs for countries like Pakistan

KARACHI: Pakistan’s finance minister said on Tuesday the country wants to broaden trade and investment ties with the United States, especially in minerals critical to the energy transition, while also joining other vulnerable economies in urging reforms at the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb is currently in Washington to attend the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings, where policymakers are grappling with debt distress, climate vulnerabilities and growing calls from the Global South to reshape how multilateral institutions lend and design reforms.
The IMF has acknowledged the need to tailor programs more toward pro-growth reforms and private-sector led development, particularly for repeat borrowers like Pakistan.
“We genuinely believe that there’s a win-win situation,” Aurangzeb said at the Atlantic Council, pointing to high-level US interest in Pakistan’s copper and rare earth potential. “Reko Diq is only the first one... the value addition and downstream stuff is going to be really game-changing for Pakistan.”
Aurangzeb downplayed concerns over US tariffs, saying the country saw greater opportunity in rebalancing trade and attracting strategic investment.
He reiterated a high-level delegation from Islamabad would visit Washington in the coming weeks to explore broader cooperation beyond tariffs, citing minerals, agriculture and green technology as key areas.
On multilateral reform, Aurangzeb welcomed the willingness of IMF and World Bank leaders to reassess their lending frameworks, especially in light of liquidity strains across the Global South.
“These institutions also need to have ownership and accountability at their end to really drive impact,” he said, calling for a system that allows countries like Pakistan to access flexible financing and avoid perpetual debt cycles.
He praised recent efforts to unify public and private sector arms within the World Bank and to coordinate better with other lenders like the ADB and AIIB.
IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said on Tuesday the international lending agency was not just telling countries to get their own houses in order, but was also looking at the way it does business, including conducting a review of how it designs loan programs, and determines their length and conditions.
She said the IMF was also looking at countries that have had repeated programs, such as Pakistan, Argentina and Egypt, to ensure loan programs were designed the right way.
Pakistan has been in over 20 IMF programs, including a $7 billion Extended Fund Facility finalized last year to stabilize its economy.
Aurangzeb said the government was pursuing structural reform, with a focus on climate, population, and fiscal sustainability, including efforts to broaden the tax base and digitize enforcement.
– With input from Reuters


Pakistan’s foreign investment dropped 19% during first nine months of FY25— central bank

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Pakistan’s foreign investment dropped 19% during first nine months of FY25— central bank

  • Foreign portfolio investment dropped by 514% in July-March FY25 period, says state bank
  • Pakistani financial analysts attribute decline to political uncertainty, lack of ease of doing business

KARACHI: Pakistan’s foreign investment declined by 19% to $1.3 billion during the first nine months of this fiscal year through March, recent data from Pakistan’s central bank said, with analysts attributing the slump to political uncertainty and lack of ease of doing business.
As per the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) latest data, foreign direct investment (FDI) in Pakistan rose by 14% to $1.64 billion in the same period, compared to $1.44 billion the country attracted a year ago. 

However, the total foreign investment also includes foreign portfolio investment (FPI), which are foreign investments in a country’s stocks, bonds and other securities. The SBP said FPI dropped by a staggering 514% as foreigners sold $269 million of the country’s equity and debt during July-March this fiscal year. Last year, foreign investors were holding $65 million in Pakistan’s stocks and bonds during the same period.

Pakistan’s government has said the country is on its path to economic progress. Pakistan formed the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) in 2023 after coming to the brink of a sovereign default. The SIFC is a civil-military body that aims to attract foreign investment in minerals, agriculture, livestock, tourism, defense and other important sectors.

“Although the SIFC has been instrumental in generating leads for foreign investment, the actual materialization of flows has been weak due to hurdles in executing these,” Shankar Talreja, director of research at brokerage firm Topline Securities Limited, told Arab News on Friday. 
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has tasked his government to increase exports to $60 billion in the next five years, seeking to boost its foreign exchange reserves.  
However, the country’s foreign reserves have declined to $10.6 billion during the week ended Apr. 11, as per the SBP’s figures. The amount is hardly enough to cover two months of imports whereas the International Monetary Fund (IMF) wants Pakistan to increase its reserves to support three months of imports. 
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and the finance ministry’s spokesperson Qamar Sarwar Abbasi did not respond to Arab News’ request for comments. 
While Sharif’s government has signed various memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with several countries over the past year, it has not been able to attract even $3 billion in investment since the last two decades, since FY09, as per the central bank’s data. 
Talreja said some foreign companies wanted to make major investments in Pakistan’s refinery sector but frequent changes in the country’s tax structure led to a “hue and cry” from them.
“The ease of doing business is quite low in Pakistan due to higher taxes and frequent bubbles in the economy led by inconsistent macro policies,” Talreja explained. 

‘ZERO GROWTH IN PER CAPITA INCOME
Financial analyst Sana Tawfik said besides political uncertainty and a high cost of doing business, Pakistan’s fragile balance of payment position has been a permanent concern for risk-averse investors. 

These investors have seen Islamabad approach the IMF for frequent financial bailouts whenever it has tried to achieve an import-driven 5-6 percent growth, she said. 
“Pakistan’s macroeconomic situation is no doubt improving but then we have to see how sustainable this improvement is,” Tawfik, the head of research at Arif Habib Limited, told Arab News. 
 


Pakistan, Turkiye demand immediate ceasefire in Gaza, separate state for Palestinians 

Updated 22 April 2025
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Pakistan, Turkiye demand immediate ceasefire in Gaza, separate state for Palestinians 

  • Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meets Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara
  • Both leaders discuss cooperation in energy, mining, military and defense, says Sharif’s office

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Tuesday called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, reiterating their demand for the establishment of a separate and independent state for the people of Palestine. 

Sharif is in Ankara on a two-day official visit to discuss bilateral ties between the two states, the regional situation and economic opportunities. 

Pakistan and Turkiye have both repeatedly condemned Israel for its military campaign in Gaza, which has claimed the lives of over 51,000 Palestinians since October 2023. 

“We strongly condemn the brutal killings of over 50,000 innocent Palestinians, including women and children,” Sharif said during a joint press conference with Erdogan.

“We have called for an immediate ceasefire and unhindered flow of humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people. We renewed our call for a viable, independent and contiguous Palestinian state with pre-1967 borders and Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital,” he added.

Erdogan praised Pakistan for always adopting a “resolute” stance on the Palestinian issue, noting that Islamabad had given one of the strongest reactions to the ongoing “genocide” in Gaza. 

“We will continue to work together toward the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state on the basis of 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital and on the basis of its territorial integrity,” the Turkish president said. 

Erdogan urged Turkish investors to develop joint business projects in Pakistan, saying that he discussed promoting mutual investments in Pakistan with Sharif and the allocation of a free economic zone for Turkish companies in the South Asian country. 

“We wish to further develop our relations in the fields of military and defense industry through joint projects,” he said. 

In a separate statement, Sharif’s office said he discussed the importance of enhancing economic collaboration with Turkiye, especially through joint ventures and bilateral investments, with Erdogan. 

The Prime Minister’s Office said Sharif highlighted opportunities for cooperation in the fields of energy and mining, joint ventures in defense and agri production. 

The PMO said Sharif also spoke about enhancing regional and bilateral connectivity to boost trade and deepen cooperation in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.

Pakistan and Turkiye enjoy close cultural, historical and military relations which they are now expanding into the realms of trade, economy and investment as both countries seek to develop their economies.

As long-standing allies and strategic partners, Pakistan and Turkiye maintain a tradition of regular exchanges and have institutionalized leadership-level mechanisms such as the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC).

The 7th session of the HLSCC was held in Islamabad on Feb 12-13 this year, and co-chaired by Sharif and Erdogan.


Pakistan stresses importance of trade corridors to increase investment at G-24 moot

Updated 22 April 2025
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Pakistan stresses importance of trade corridors to increase investment at G-24 moot

  • Muhammad Aurangzeb attends G-24 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting in Washington
  • Finance minister stresses importance of greater financial and technical support among developing countries

KARACHI: Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Wednesday stressed the importance of regional trade corridors and enhanced connectivity to ensure increased investment and cooperation among nations, the Finance Division said.

Aurangzeb was speaking at the G-24 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting in Washington. The Pakistani finance minister is currently on a visit to Washington to attend the 2025 spring meetings of the IMF and the World Bank Group, where he has held a series of high-level engagements on the sidelines.

Pakistan has increased the importance of regional connectivity in its economic policy in recent years. The South Asian country is part of the China-Pakistan-Economic Corridor (CPEC), a multi-billion-dollar project that connects both countries via an infrastructure network of roads, railways and energy projects. Islamabad is also pushing for greater connectivity for trade and investment with Central Asian countries, Afghanistan, Turkiye and the Middle East.

“He [Aurangzeb] underscored the importance of regional trade corridors, enhanced connectivity and South-South cooperation as key drivers for increasing investment and trade flows,” the Finance Division said.

“He also stressed the need for greater financial and technical support among developing countries to navigate global economic challenges effectively.”

The minister highlighted the recent financial reforms undertaken by his government, pointing out the macroeconomic stability achieved by Pakistan. He lauded the “strong resilience” of the country’s banking system and the government’s ongoing structural reforms, the Finance Division said.

“Minister Aurangzeb emphasized the need to maintain the reform trajectory in view of evolving geopolitical dynamics, demand fragmentation, rising protectionism, and the risks of spillovers and exogenous shocks, including trade tariffs,” it added.

Earlier on Tuesday, Aurangzeb met IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, reassuring her that Islamabad would stay the reform course mandated by the global lender.

His engagements also included a meeting with World Bank Group President Ajay Banga. Aurangzeb commended the World Bank’s leadership in developing a transformative Country Partnership Framework (CPF) — a decade-long strategic roadmap centered around measurable impacts and outcomes.

During his visit to Washington, Aurangzeb is expected to meet finance ministers from China, the United States, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, as well as officials of global credit rating agencies, commercial and investment banks.


Pakistani Catholics hold vigils, praise Pope Francis for raising voice for Gaza

Updated 22 April 2025
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Pakistani Catholics hold vigils, praise Pope Francis for raising voice for Gaza

  • Pontiff had reiterated call for Gaza ceasefire during last public appearance on Easter Sunday
  • Pope remembered as revered advocate for peace, interfaith dialogue, and rights of the poor

LAHORE: Catholics in Pakistan have been holding prayers and vigils for Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church who died on Monday, remembering him as an advocate for peace and praising him for speaking up for the “oppressed” in Gaza. 

The pope was 88 and had suffered a serious bout of double pneumonia this year, but his death came as a shock after he had been driven around St. Peter’s Square in an open-air popemobile to greet cheering crowds on Easter Sunday.

In the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore, a small number of Catholics in the Muslim-majority country held prayers and a candlelight vigil for Pope Francis at the Cathedral Church of the Resurrection.

Church leaders and worshippers described the pope as a revered advocate for peace, interfaith dialogue, and the rights of the poor. The pontiff had reiterated his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza during his brief appearance before thousands of Catholic pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the Vatican’s open-air Easter Sunday mass. 

“Pope Francis was a personality who spoke above all for humanity. All his services conveyed a message of peace and harmony. Even his last words, which we can call his final will, were a prayer to God for peace,” priest Irfan Fiaz, 34, said. 

“Pope Francis always prayed for the people, for our country, and constantly carried the message of brotherhood, peace, and security. And this message was not just limited to words, he practiced what he preached. There was harmony between his words and actions.”

Syed Mehmood, 50, chairman of a local peace committee, appreciated the pope for speaking up for the rights of Muslims and the “oppressed in Palestine and Gaza.”

“Wherever there was oppression against humanity, whenever there was injustice, the voice of Pope Francis was the first and the loudest to be heard, and his strong voice made a real impact,” Mehmood told AFP.