ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday called for an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire” in Gaza where Israeli forces have killed more than 37,000 Palestinians since October and reduced the enclave to a wasteland.
Dar is in Jordan for the ‘Call for Action: Urgent Humanitarian Response for Gaza’ conference jointly organized by Jordanian King Abdullah II, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
On the sidelines of the conference, Dar met Guterres and commended his leadership and proactive role in raising concerns over the war in Gaza on the international stage.
“Reiterating Pakistan’s strong and unequivocal condemnation of the indiscriminate and brutal use of force by Israel against the Palestinians, the Deputy Prime Minister called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian assistance to the besieged people of Gaza, return of the displaced Palestinians, and ensuring accountability for the war crimes and crimes against humanity being committed by Israel,” the foreign office said in a statement.
The United Nations Security Council on Monday backed a proposal outlined by US President Joe Biden for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip and urged the Palestinian group to accept the deal aimed at ending the eight-month-long war.
Hamas welcomed the adoption of the US-drafted resolution and said in a statement that it was ready to cooperate with mediators over implementing the principles of the plan “that are consistent with the demands of our people and resistance.”
Russia abstained from the UN vote, while the remaining 14 Security Council members voted in favor of the resolution supporting a three-phase ceasefire plan laid out by Biden on May 31 that he described as an Israeli initiative.
The resolution welcomes the new ceasefire proposal, states that Israel has accepted it, calls on Hamas to agree to it and “urges both parties to fully implement its terms without delay and without condition.”
Pakistani deputy PM calls for ceasefire in meeting with UN chief on sidelines of Gaza conference
https://arab.news/z7cvs
Pakistani deputy PM calls for ceasefire in meeting with UN chief on sidelines of Gaza conference
- Dar is in Amman for ‘Call for Action: Urgent Humanitarian Response for Gaza’ conference
- Around 37,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in eight-month-long war
Pakistan’s PIA partners with UK, Canadian rail services to facilitate passengers
- The development comes weeks after a Pakistani consortium, led by Arif Habib Group, clinched a 75 percent stake in PIA
- The move will offer seamless onward travel to PIA passengers to eight cities in Canada and over 50 in the UK, airline says
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has partnered with rail service providers in the United Kingdom (UK) and Canada to offer seamless onward travel for its passengers, the recently privatized airline said on Tuesday, adding the move is aimed at improving convenience for its customers.
The move comes weeks after a Pakistani consortium, led by Arif Habib Group, clinched a 75 percent stake in PIA for Rs135 billion ($482 million) after a competitive bidding process, in a deal that valued the airline at Rs180 billion ($643 million).
The sale marked Pakistan’s most ambitious effort in decades to reform the debt-ridden airline that had accumulated over Rs784 billion ($2.8 billion) in losses. The government said it aimed to end decades of state-funded bailouts and support the airline’s revival.
The airline’s move to provide both air and train travel facility to passengers on a single ticket is aimed at attracting more customers by providing them improved facilities at their doorstep, according to the Pakistani carrier.
“The air-to-rail partnership is a major step toward building PIA’s network on digital and modern lines,” the airline said. “This facility will save passengers’ time.”
Passengers arriving in Toronto on PIA flights will be able to continue their journey to eight major cities in Canada through PIA’s partner rail service, according to the airline.
Passengers traveling to the UK cities of Manchester and London via PIA will be able to access more than 50 cities through rail service.
“PIA passengers can get tickets to their destination from all PIA booking offices and registered travel agents,” it said. “Tickets can also be booked via PIA’s official website and PIA’s mobile application.”
