ISLAMABAD: Saudi authorities have launched a health awareness campaign in several languages, including Urdu, for pilgrims arriving in the Kingdom for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, Pakistani state media reported on Friday.
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and requires every adult Muslim to undertake the journey to the holy Islamic sites in Makkah at least once in their lifetime if they are financially and physically able.
This year, around 179,210 Pakistani pilgrims are expected to perform the pilgrimage, of which around 70,000 people will undertake the journey under the government scheme, while the rest will use private tour operators.
The health awareness campaign for Hajj pilgrims is being carried out at key locations in the Kingdom through dozens of screens, the state-run Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.
“The campaign is being carried out through 97 smart display screens at various locations including Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport, the Haramain High Speed Railway Station, shuttle buses, pilgrim reception centers, malls and the health cluster’s facilities,” the report read.
“Messages cover issues such as the dangers of direct sun exposure, heat exhaustion, dehydration, food poisoning, first aid, personal hygiene and other health topics.”
More than 42,000 Pakistani pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia and around 390 assistants, including Pakistani civil and uniformed officers, are currently working for their travel and accommodation as well as for providing quality food to the pilgrims, according to the Pakistani religion ministry.
Over 150 officers of the religious affairs ministry are facilitating pilgrims at the Main Control Office, Madinah and Jeddah Airports, Lost and Found Department, Madinah Departure Cell, Monitoring Cell, and Accounts and Administration Departments.
This year’s pilgrimage is expected to run from June 14 till June 19.
Saudi Arabia launches health awareness campaign for Hajj pilgrims in Urdu, other languages
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Saudi Arabia launches health awareness campaign for Hajj pilgrims in Urdu, other languages
- This year, around 179,210 Pakistani pilgrims are expected to perform the annual pilgrimage
- Pakistan has appointed nearly 550 assistants, staff to ensure well-being of these pilgrims
Relief operations underway as Pakistan rain death toll nears 200
- The downpours have also damaged nearly 700 homes across the South Asian country
- Punjab deputy commissioners to remain in field until rainwater drainage is completed
ISLAMABAD: Authorities were conducting relief operations in several areas across Pakistan after this week’s torrential rains appeared to largely subside, with the death toll from rain-related incidents nearing 200 since late June.
Pakistan’s most populous Punjab province has been the hardest hit with 114 deaths, followed by 40 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 21 in Sindh, 16 in Balochistan and one each in Islamabad and Azad Kashmir since June 26, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
Authorities rescued four special persons who were stranded in floodwaters, while 18 others were evacuated to safety in Kacha Rokhri area in Punjab’s Minawali district, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party said on X, citing authorities.
“Immediate cleaning of landslide-affected roads in different areas of Chakwal has started. Administration, rescue and heavy machinery are present on the spot,” the party said.
“Deputy commissioners have been instructed to remain in the field until rainwater drainage is completed.”
The downpours have also damaged nearly 700 homes across the South Asian country, according to the disaster management authorities. Rations, blankets and tents are being distributed by local administrations in affected areas.
“Scattered thunderstorm/rain with isolated heavy falls is expected over Sindh, East Balochistan and South Punjab,” the NDMA said in its weather outlook for Saturday and Sunday.
Monsoon season brings South Asia 70 to 80 percent of its annual rainfall, arriving in early June in India and late June in Pakistan, and lasting through until September.
The annual rains are vital for agriculture and food security, and the livelihoods of millions of farmers. But increasingly erratic and extreme weather patterns are turning the rains into a destructive force.
In 2022, record-breaking monsoon rains combined with glacial melt submerged nearly a third of Pakistan, killing more than 1,700 people and displacing over 8 million. In May, at least 32 people were killed in severe storms, including strong hailstorms.
Pakistani tech firms urge 10-year tax stability, one-window compliance to ‘supercharge’ exports
- Pakistan recorded monthly IT exports of $338 million in June, up by 14% year on year and by 3% month on month
- Tech firms say they aren’t seeking subsidies, but predictability, digitalization and administrative simplification
KARACHI: Pakistan can unlock billions in tech investment if it gives investors predictable taxes, friction-free remittances and a single digital compliance experience, the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) said on Friday.
P@SHA said it presented a “Continuity & Consistency reform package” to the Ministry of Finance earlier this year, laying out a small number of high-impact changes that would slash compliance costs, bring tens of thousands of remote digital workers into the formal tax net, and catalyze both domestic and foreign investment into Pakistani tech firms.
The requested changes are not subsidies; they are predictability, digitalization, and administrative simplification. Most steps can be budget-neutral or revenue-positive once increased documentation, broadened compliance, and higher recorded export flows are taken into account.
“Every serious investor, local or international, asks the same two questions: What will my tax exposure be, and will the rules change after I invest?” P@SHA Chairman Sajjad Syed said.
“Right now, innovators spend too much time navigating overlapping regimes and too little time building export-earning products. If we hard-code continuity and make compliance near effortless, capital will move to Pakistan.”
Pakistan tech firms have been demonstrating their growing potential in the IT sector by showcasing their products and services at global forums, including the LEAP tech conference in Riyadh and GITEX global exhibition in Dubai.
Pakistan recorded monthly IT exports of $338 million in June, up by 14% year on year and by 3% month on month, according to Karachi-based Toplines Securities brokerage and market research firm. This took Pakistan’s annual IT exports to $3.8 billion, up by 18% YoY, in the outgoing fiscal year that ended in June.
In its statement, P@SHA urged continuation of the 10-Year Final Tax Regime (FTR) on information technology/IT-enabled services (IT/ITeS) export income, removal of discrepancies in tax rates where Pakistani IT companies get penalized for running payrolls from Pakistan, exemption of the Capital Gains Tax to secure investor’s confidence among other measures.
The association proposed joint working sessions with the Federal Board of Revenue, Ministry of IT & Telecom, State Bank of Pakistan, National Tax Council, and provincial revenue authorities to translate its proposed reforms package into draft language, digital filing flows, and phased rollout milestones, recommending immediate start of technical work.
“Pakistan stands at an inflection point: with its young talent base, global client footprint, and expanding startup ecosystem, the country can compete for high-value digital work, if investors trust the rules,” it said. “P@SHA urges policymakers to seize this moment to send that signal.”
Pakistan dominate IBSF World Snooker Championship in Bahrain with twin titles
- Veteran Mohmmad Asif beats India’s Brijesh Damani 4-3 in a nail-biting Masters encounter
- Hasnain produces clinical display of cue mastery, sweeping past Riley Powell of Wales 4-0
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday stamped their authority on the global snooker stage as Mohammad Asif and Muhammad Hasnain clinched both the Masters and Under-17 titles after a thrilling finale at the IBSF World Snooker Championship 2025 in Bahrain.
Asif faced a stern test in the World Masters final, going toe-to-toe with India’s Brijesh Damani in a nail-biting encounter. After six fiercely contested frames, the Pakistani star cueist held his nerve in the decider to edge Damani 4-3, clinching yet another major title.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz congratulated Asif on his brilliant win in the Masters category.
“Mohammad Asif has brought pride to Pakistan on the global stage by defeating his Indian opponent through sheer hard work, skill, and determination,” she was quoted as saying by her Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) party.
Asif advanced to the final with an impressive 4-2 win over India’s Manan Chandra in the semifinal on Thursday at the Crowne Plaza, Bahrain.
Meanwhile, Hasnain produced a clinical display of cue mastery, sweeping past Riley Powell of Wales 4-0 to seize the World Under-17 Snooker crown.
“The young prodigy remained unshaken throughout, showcasing composure beyond his years to secure the gold,” the IBSF said on its website.
Pakistan plans to build $10.5 million aquaculture park to promote seafood exports
- The development comes amid government efforts for sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth
- Pakistan’s fish and fish preparation exports reached $465.4 million in the last fiscal year that ended in June
KARACHI: Pakistan is planning to build Rs3 billion ($10.5 million) aquaculture park in the southern port city of Karachi, Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry announced on Saturday, amid efforts to strengthen the country’s blue economy.
According to the World Bank, the blue economy is defined as sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improving livelihoods and creating jobs, while preserving the ocean ecosystem health.
Pakistan has been pushing to modernize its port infrastructure and expand its role in regional trade by improving cargo handling, digitalizing port operations and encouraging public-private partnerships.
Speaking at a meeting to review progress on blue economy, Chaudhry said this new aquaculture park will be built on 120 acres and directed the Qur'angi Fish Harbor Authority to submit its report within 10 days.
“Pakistani coastal waters are very suitable for aquaculture,” he said in a statement shared by the maritime affairs ministry. “The project will be built under a public-private partnership and the park will boost seafood exports.
Pakistan’s fish and fish preparation exports reached $465.4 million in the outgoing fiscal year that ended in June, according to official data. The exports were up 13.4 percent from $410.3 million in the previous year.
Authorities are currently trying to enhance the potential of Pakistan’s fisheries, logistics and marine services while reducing environmental harm.
“Investment in aquaculture and port infrastructure is essential for national development,” Chaudhry told representatives of Gwadar Port, Qur'angi Fish Harbor, Marine Fisheries and Balochistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry at the meeting.
“The same aquaculture model will be implemented in Balochistan as well.”
In May, the Pakistani government announced the creation of a new Maritime Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), saying it would serve as a specialized platform for uniting stakeholders from across the maritime spectrum to pursue greener policies and long-term economic resilience.
“This chamber will not only support investment and innovation in the maritime sector but also prioritize sustainability at ports, promote green technologies and foster carbon reduction strategies,” Chaudhry said at the time.
PM Sharif reassures moral, political support to Kashmiris on Accession to Pakistan Day
- Muslim-majority Himalayan region has been a flashpoint between arch-rivals Pakistan and India since independence in 1947
- Both countries engaged in a four-day military conflict in May over an attack in the region that India blamed on Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday reassured Pakistan’s continued diplomatic, moral and political support to Kashmiris for the achievement of their right to self-determination, Sharif’s office said, as the Kashmiri people marked ‘Accession to Pakistan Day.’
The Muslim-majority Himalayan region of Kashmir has been divided between Pakistan and India since their independence from British rule in 1947. Both countries rule parts of the Himalayan territory but claim it in full and have fought multiple wars over the disputed region.
The Accession to Pakistan Day is annually observed to commemorate unanimous adoption of a resolution on July 19, 1947 by All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference in Srinagar, which called for Kashmir’s accession in view of aspirations of the Kashmiri people and their religious, geographical, cultural and economic proximity to Pakistan.
“On that day, the brave people of Kashmir passed a resolution for the accession of the state of Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan,” Sharif said a statement issued from his office.
“A peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions is the only guarantee of the rights of the Kashmiris and peace in the region. The government and people of Pakistan will continue to extend diplomatic, moral and political support to the Kashmiris.”
Most Kashmiris in the world observe the day to renew their pledge to complete the merger. In Azad Kashmir, wide-scale programs are organized to highlight the Kashmiri struggle and to demand their right to self-determination under UN resolutions.
This year, the Accession to Pakistan Day is being observed at a time of heightened tensions between Pakistan and India over an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir in April.
New Delhi blamed the assault, which killed 26 people, on Pakistan, an allegation denied by Islamabad. The attacked sparked four days of hostilities between the neighbors, with both sides attacking each other with jets, drones, missiles and artillery before agreeing to a United States-brokered ceasefire on May 10.
The conflict, the deadly between the neighbors in more than two decades, killed dozens of people on both sides.
