ISLAMABAD: Pakistani journalist and publisher Mehr Husain said on Monday a recently released literary anthology, “Koi Hai – Letters to Palestine” that she put together aimed to “speak out” against Israel’s months-long violence in Gaza. Koi Hai – Letters to Palestine, an anthology comprising notes, letters, poetry, translations and illustrations, was published this month to express solidarity with the people of Palestine who have endured months of bombing and ground assaults by the Israeli military in Gaza. As per official figures, over 26,000 Palestinians have been killed since Oct. 7, which marked the beginning of Israel’s war in the territory. The e-book features submissions from authors in Pakistan, the UAE and India, while it also contains poetic works from Palestine which have been translated into Urdu, Persian and Seraiki languages. The project is a collaboration between an independent publishing house headed by Husain, Zuka Books, and global media platform Ananke, which published its electronic version of the literary project. A press release shared by Zuka Books said contributors to the e-book include globally respected names from the Pakistani literary community such as Taha Kehar, Hammad H Rind, Safinah Danish Elahi, Aisha Sarwari as well as aspiring writers, and students. “This anthology came about as a means to communicate to the Palestinian people that we bear witness to your suffering, we will speak out against the violence being inflicted upon on you and hopefully, you will live to tell your stories, by yourselves, for yourselves to the world to ensure an end to your suffering,” Husain told Arab News. She said the most “touching” aspect of the exercise was to witness how the contributors and people in general engaged with the war. “There is a sense of united understanding that hatred leads to nowhere and empathy is the way forward,” Husain noted. “I’m still receiving more submissions which shows people are keen on connecting with the Palestinians to show their support in a humane, civil manner without engaging in anger or hatred for the other.” Speaking at the digital launch of the project this month, Ananke founder and executive editor Sabin Muzaffar described the e-book as a “medicine that can begin with healing all around the world.” “Perhaps efforts like Koi Hai can bring us closer together for it is through discourse, dialogue that we may be able to reimagine communication— a conversation,” Muzaffar said. “This collaboration gives me hope.”
Pakistani publisher releases ‘Letters to Palestine’ anthology to ‘speak out’ against Gaza war
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Pakistani publisher releases ‘Letters to Palestine’ anthology to ‘speak out’ against Gaza war
- “Koi Hai— Letters to Palestine” features notes, letters, poetry, translations and illustrations capturing Israel’s war on Gaza
- Pakistani authors Taha Kehar, Hammad H. Rind, Aisha Sarwari, aspiring writers and students contributed for the project
‘Tremendous response’: Pakistani companies say several MoUs signed with Saudi firms at minerals summit
- Future Minerals Forum, world’s premier platform for minerals, was held in Riyadh from Jan.14-16
- Pakistan in recent months has intensified efforts to attract foreign investment in its mining sector
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani companies signed several agreements and joint ventures with Saudi firms during this week’s three-day Future Minerals Forum (FMF) summit in Riyadh, members of the delegation confirmed on Thursday, praising the “tremendous response” that the Pakistan Pavilion received at the Kingdom’s capital.
The Future Minerals Forum (FMF), the world’s premier platform for minerals, was held in Riyadh from Jan. 14-16. It brought together governments, international organizations and key stakeholders to collectively shape the future of the global minerals industry. With 14,000 participants from 178 countries, including 75 government representatives, FMF says it serves as a catalyst for global collaboration.
Pakistan’s Petroleum Minister Dr. Musadik Malik led a delegation of Pakistani companies and businesspersons at the summit. Pakistan set up a pavilion at the FMF where 12 leading companies, including the Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), Mari Petroleum Company, Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), Bolan Mining Enterprises, HTMA Mining and Wah Nobel Group, showcased their potential in the country’s mining sector.
“Pakistan Pavilion received a tremendous response during three days at FMF and many deals, joint ventures, and MoUs were signed with different Saudi firms,” Syed Mahmood ul Hassan, the general manager of Pakistan’s premier natural gas supplier PPL, and focal person of the country’s pavilion at the FMF summit, told Arab News over the phone from Riyadh.
He said around 35 Saudi firms from across the Kingdom actively engaged with Pakistani companies at the forum.
“About four MoUs have been signed by us and it has been very helpful in seeking collaboration, joint ventures and investments,” Hassan said. “We hope that in the future we will continue to materialize whatever talks we have conducted.”
Arslan Younus, business development manager at Wah Nobel Group, a Pakistani company engaged in producing a wide range of commercial explosives, detonators and drilling and blasting accessories, said the company signed four MoUs with Saudi firms during the FMF Summit.
“We have signed four MOUs with Saudi mining companies to offer our drilling and blasting services for their upcoming mining and mineral projects in the Kingdom,” he told Arab News.
Younus said these agreements were signed with the Saudi Gold Refinery, the Kingdom’s largest mining company, the Saudi Mining Company, a Saudi incubation firm and AMAK mining company.
With numerous projects emerging in the Kingdom, particularly under Saudi Vision 2030 in the mining and mineral sectors, Younus expressed hope for more collaborations.
“Now we are entering the Saudi market through joint ventures and are optimistic about establishing strong collaborations,” he said.
Saudi Arabia’s Mining Minister Bandar Alkhorayef told Reuters on Wednesday that mining company Manara Minerals was looking at investing in Pakistan’s Reko Diq mine, saying that the Saudi Development Fund could contribute over $100 million to Pakistan’s mining infrastructure.
Located in the country’s southwest, Reko Diq is considered one of the world’s largest underdeveloped copper-gold areas by global mining company Barrick Gold Corp.
Saudi Arabia has offered Pakistan a 15 percent investment stake in the copper and gold mine project, Pakistan’s state media reported in September 2024.
Muhammad Yousaf, the focal person for mines and minerals at the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan, said the South Asian country offered highly attractive investment opportunities for Saudi investors, which is why leading Pakistani companies participated in the summit to capitalize on the opportunities offered by Riyadh.
“All of these companies are big names in mines and minerals exploration,” Yousaf told Arab News.
He said the Pakistani delegation had “very good discussions” with Saudi company Manara Minerals, hoping the investment would realize “soon.”
Pakistan Navy hands over command of multi-nation task force to New Zealand
- Combined Task Force 150 conducts maritime security operations outside the Arabian Gulf
- Pakistan Navy says intercepted narcotics with street value exceeding $50 million in six months
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s navy handed over command of the Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 multi-nation task force to New Zealand on Thursday, the navy said in a statement, after heading it for six months during which it boosted cooperation with regional allies and intercepted narcotics worth millions of dollars.
CTF 150 was established in February 2002 and is one of five operational task forces under the Combined Maritime Forces, the largest multi-nation naval alliance in the world. CTF 150 conducts maritime security operations outside the Arabian Gulf against threats from non-state actors.
Pakistan Navy Commodore Asum Sohail Malik turned over command to Royal New Zealand Navy Commodore Rodger Ward during a change of command ceremony at the Naval Support Activity in Bahrain. Pakistan had taken command of CTF 150 in July 2024.
The navy said during Pakistan’s tenure as head of the CTF 150, the task force conducted numerous maritime security operations. Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Maritime Security Agency ships independently interdicted three narcotics-laden dhows, the navy’s media wing said.
“Collectively, Pakistan Navy and CMF intercepted approximately 10 tons of narcotics, with a street value exceeding 50 million US dollars over the last six months,” Pakistan Navy said in a statement.
It said that under Pakistan Navy’s leadership, CTF 150 also actively fostered regional collaboration, securing the participation of ships from Kenya Navy and Royal Navy of Oman in CTF 150 operations.
The incoming Commander of the CTF 150, Commodore Ward, expressed his gratitude to Pakistan Navy for its exemplary leadership and operational successes during its tenure.
The new CTF 150 commander has an extensive background in maritime operations, with deployments to Malaysia, the Solomon Islands, Afghanistan, and Iraq, the CMF said in a statement.
This will mark the second time New Zealand has taken command of CTF 150.
Pakistan polio program says 73 cases reported in 2024
- Seventy-third polio case of 2024 reported from Pakistan’s southern Thatta district
- Pakistan is scheduled to hold first nationwide vaccination drive of 2025 from Feb. 3
KARACHI: Pakistan’s anti-polio program on Thursday confirmed detecting another poliovirus case from last year, saying that the total tally of cases reported in 2024 have now climbed to 73.
Polio is a paralyzing disease that has no cure. Multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and completion of the routine vaccination schedule for all children under the age of five is essential to provide children high immunity against the disease.
The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health confirmed that the 73rd case has been reported in a child from Pakistan’s southern Thatta district.
“The onset of this case was on December 10, 2024,” the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme said in a statement. “This is the first polio case from Thatta for 2024.”
Giving a breakdown of the cases reported in 2024, the program said 27 cases were reported from Balochistan, 22 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 22 from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad.
Pakistan, along with neighboring Afghanistan, remains the last polio-endemic country in the world. In the early 1990s, Pakistan reported around 20,000 cases annually but in 2018 the number dropped to eight cases. Six cases were reported in 2023 and only one in 2021.
Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts have met several challenges in recent years, including attacks by militants and misinformation by religious hard-liners.
The Pakistan polio program is scheduled to hold the country’s first nationwide vaccination drive of this year from Feb. 3 till Feb. 9.
“It is crucial for parents to ensure vaccination for all their children under the age of five to keep them protected,” it said.
Pakistan hopes its spin tactics work wonders against West Indies in test series
- Both Pakistan and West Indies are placed at bottom of World Test Championship table
- Pakistan used industrial-sized fans to prepare spinning track in October to beat England
MULTAN: Pakistan hopes its tried and tested spin template will be successful against the West Indies as the two bottom-placed teams in the World Test Championship gear up for the two-test series starting from Friday.
The same pitch has been prepared for the first test in Multan on which Pakistan spinners Sajid Khan and Noman Ali neutralized England’s aggressive “Bazball” in October when the groundskeepers successfully dried out the 22-yard strip with the help of giant industrial-sized fans and patio heaters.
“We emphasized during the England series that home conditions are very important in test cricket,” Pakistan captain Shan Masood said on Thursday.
“We adapted a style of play, style of pitches, (and) now we will try ... to carry forward the momentum of the England series.”
Pakistan came from behind to beat England 2-1 on engineered dry pitches in Multan and Rawalpindi after losing the first test by an innings when the tourists amassed a record 823-7 declared in the first innings.
Off-spinner Sajid and left-arm spinner Noman grabbed 39 of the 40 wickets in the last two test matches against England, and were in the 15-man squad after being overlooked for the away series against South Africa, which Pakistan lost 2-0.
Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed, who missed the home series against England because of illness, was included as the third specialist spinner in the playing XI with off-spinner Salman Ali Agha giving the home team a fourth spin option.
Pakistan has lost eight of its last 10 test matches under Masood’s captaincy since he was elevated to red-ball skipper in December 2023. But the skipper believed Pakistan couldn’t capitalize a number of times against Australia, Bangladesh and South Africa after putting opponents on the back foot.
“There are lots of test matches during last year when we lost the games after coming into a winning position,” Masood said. “There were only one or two one-sided matches … we came into good positions but couldn’t finish it. The lesson for this team is how we can convert it into victories.”
Pakistan will be without its in-form opening batter Saim Ayub, who was ruled out of competitive cricket for up to six weeks after fracturing his right ankle during the series in South Africa. Ayub will be replaced by Mohammad Huraira, who scored half-centuries in both innings during the three-day warmup game against the West Indies in Islamabad.
The West Indies has yet to win a series in this WTC cycle. It has lost to India, England and South Africa while drawing 1-1 against Australia and Bangladesh.
But captain Kraigg Brathwaite was hopeful that his team could finish the WTC cycle on a high.
“This series is very important for us,” Brathwaite said. “It’s a new year … it is important to finish this cycle strong and that’s our focus.”
Fast bowler Shamar Joseph was ruled of the series due to shin splits while another pacer, Alzarri Joseph, preferred to play in the ILT20 league in the United Arab Emirates.
Brathwaite said the tourists have left out vice-captain Joshua Da Silva from the playing XI while fast bowler Kemar Roach misses out because of illness.
Multan will also host the second test, starting from Jan. 25 due to ongoing upgrades at Pakistan’s two main stadiums in Karachi and Lahore for next month’s Champions Trophy.
Migrant boat with 80 passengers, including several Pakistanis, capsizes near Morocco — FO
- Migrant boat had set off from Mauritania, capsized near Moroccan port of Dakhla
- Minority rights group Walking Borders says 44 of 50 dead are Pakistani nationals
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s foreign office on Thursday confirmed that a migrant boat with 80 passengers on board, including several Pakistanis, had capsized near Morocco while on its way to Spain.
Moroccan authorities rescued 36 people on Wednesday from a boat that had left Mauritania on Jan. 2 with 86 migrants, including 66 Pakistanis, on board, minority rights group Walking Borders said. The group’s CEO Helena Maleno said 44 of the 50 presumed dead were from Pakistan.
The group said the migrant ship was on its way from West Africa to Spain’s Canary Islands when it capsized.
“Our Embassy in Rabat (Morocco) has informed us, that a boat carrying 80 passengers, including several Pakistani nationals, setting off from Mauritania, has capsized near the Moroccan port of Dakhla,” the foreign office said.
Pakistan said its embassy in Rabat is in touch with local authorities and that a team from the embassy has been dispatched to Dakhla to facilitate Pakistani nationals.
“The Crisis Management Unit (CMU) in the Foreign Ministry has been activated and the Deputy Prime Minister / Foreign Minister has instructed the relevant Government agencies to extend all possible facilitation to the affected Pakistanis,” the statement said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief and sorrow over the incident, ordering authorities to submit a report on the incident.
“Strict action will be taken against those involved in the heinous act of human trafficking,” Sharif was quoted as saying by his office. “No negligence of any kind will be tolerated in this regard.”
Migrant boats capsizing highlight the perilous journeys many migrants, especially those from Pakistan, undertake due to conflicts and lack of economic opportunities in their home countries.
In 2023, hundreds of migrants, including 262 Pakistanis, drowned when an overcrowded vessel capsized and sank in international waters off the southwestern Greek coastal town of Pylos. It was one of the deadliest boat disasters ever recorded in the Mediterranean Sea.
