ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will embark on a daylong visit to Azad Kashmir on Thursday where he will interact with officials and visit the site of a hydropower project, just a few days after a massive public protest in the region resulted in at least four fatalities.
The unprecedented protests against price hikes broke out last Friday and spread across the semi-autonomous Himalayan territory under Pakistan’s administration.
One police officer was killed in the clashes while three protesters lost their lives in clashes taking place in different parts of the region.
The Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), which organized the demonstrations, announced to end its protest on Tuesday after the Sharif administration approved $82 million in subsidies to provide relief to people who objected to the increase in flour prices and electricity tariffs.
“Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will arrive in Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir today for a one-day visit,” his office announced in a statement circulated in the morning. “A meeting will take place between the Prime Minister of Pakistan and the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Chaudhry Anwar ul Haq.”
Sharif will also address the cabinet of the Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir that will be broadcast by the state-owned news channel.
He will also meet with the leaders of the Kashmiri freedom movement.
“The Prime Minister will visit the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project where he will be briefed,” the statement added.
Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence from Britain in 1947, with both countries ruling part of the territory, but claiming it in full.
Pakistan has frequently criticized New Delhi for mismanaging the portion of Kashmir under its rule, accusing it of rights violations while using its forces to suppress people and their aspirations.
PM Sharif to meet officials in Azad Kashmir today following deadly protests in region
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PM Sharif to meet officials in Azad Kashmir today following deadly protests in region
- The unprecedented protests against price hikes broke out last Friday and resulted in four fatalities
- The protests were called off after Shehbaz Sharif’s administration approved $82 million in subsidies
Pakistan to begin first phase of Hajj 2026 trainings from today
- Training programs to be held in phases across Pakistan till February, says religion ministry
- Saudi Arabia allocated Pakistan a total quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Hajj 2026
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry has said that it will begin the first phase of mandatory Hajj 2026 training for pilgrims intending to perform the pilgrimage from today, Thursday.
The one-day Hajj training programs will be held in phases across the country at the tehsil level until February. The ministry directed intending pilgrims to bring their original identity cards and the computerized receipt of their Hajj application to attend the training sessions.
“Pilgrims should attend the one-day training program according to their scheduled date,” Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) said in a statement.
The ministry said training schedules are being shared through the government’s Pak Hajj 2026 mobile application as well as via SMS. It added that details of the schedule are also available on its website.
According to the ministry, training programs will be held in Abbottabad on Jan. 2; Ghotki, Thatta and Kotli on Jan. 3; and Tando Muhammad Khan and Khairpur on Jan. 4.
Hajj training sessions will be held in Rawalakot, Badin and Naushahro Feroze on Jan. 5, while pilgrims in Fateh Jang, Dadu and Tharparkar will receive the training on Jan. 6.
The ministry said training programs will be conducted in Umerkot and Larkana on Jan. 7, followed by sessions in Mirpurkhas, Shahdadkot and Mansehra on Jan. 8.
Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry has previously said these trainings will be conducted by experienced trainers and scholars using multimedia.
It said the training has been made mandatory to ensure that intending pilgrims are fully aware of Hajj rituals and administrative procedures.
Saudi Arabia has allocated Pakistan a quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Hajj 2026, of which around 118,000 seats have been reserved under the government scheme, while the remainder will be allocated to private tour operators.
Under Pakistan’s Hajj scheme, the estimated cost of the government package ranges from Rs1,150,000 to Rs1,250,000 ($4,049.93 to $4,236), subject to final agreements with service providers.
