Combatting smog, air pollution at center of discussions as Punjab chief minister visits China

Pakistan’s Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz speaks during a meeting with China’s Ecology and Environment Minister Huang Runqiu, in Beijing on December 10, 2024. (Screengrab/YouTube/@PMLNOfficial)
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Updated 12 December 2024
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Combatting smog, air pollution at center of discussions as Punjab chief minister visits China

  • CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif on China visit from Dec. 8-15, meets China’s Ecology and Environment Minister 
  • Almost two million people from Pakistan fell sick when smog choked Punjab for over two weeks last month

ISLAMABAD: Combatting smog and air pollution has remained at the center of discussions this week as the chief minister of Pakistan’s most populous Punjab province, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, visits China on a week-long trip.

Smog had choked Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province for weeks last month, sickening nearly two million people and shrouding vast swathes of the province in a toxic haze. 

On Thursday, Lahore, the capital of Punjab, was listed as the world’s third most polluted city by Swiss air monitor IQAir, and its PM2.5 concentration, which comprises air particles that damage lungs, was 20.5 times the World Health Organization annual guideline value. Last month, the province had closed down schools and offices, banned outdoor activities and shortened timings for restaurants, shops and markets in a bid to control smog.

China has taken significant steps to combat its worsening air quality, declaring a “war on pollution” in 2015. Key measures include reducing coal consumption, increasing renewable energy capacity, and improving air quality monitoring systems. However, the Helsinki-based Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) said last month in its annual assessment China’s emissions of carbon dioxide were on course to rise slightly this year, despite rapid progress on renewables and electric vehicles, putting a key 2025 climate target further out of reach.

“China is also a miracle in curbing pollution, smog mitigation, smog eradication and the steps that China has taken is not only an inspiration for us to learn from but also commend them,” CM Sharif said in televised comments during a meeting with Chinese Ecology and Environment Minister Huang Runqiu on Wednesday. 

“I am also completely and absolutely committed to making Punjab into a climate resilient Punjab.”

Briefing Chinese officials on Pakistan’s short-, medium- and long-term plans to combat air pollution, Sharif said:

“There is a complete plan that is in place which is environment conservation, biodiversity conservation, sustainable development and, most critical areas where we are working on daily basis, is air pollution, improving air quality standards and eradicating smog.”

Sharif said Pakistan would adopt the Chinese model of shifting industries out of cities to give people cleaner air to breathe.

Earlier this week, Sharif’s office said Punjab would develop an advanced air quality management system with the help of China and had set up a Beijing-Punjab Clean Air Joint Working Group.

“I suggest we form a working group where we can sit together on taking some tangible measures for smog mitigation, smog eradication and improving the air quality in Pakistan,” Sharif added. “We can exchange technologies, ideas, success stories and follow in China’s footsteps.”

She urged the working group to adopt a knowledge sharing policy regarding policy formulation, technology transfer, data, sharing, emission reduction strategies and e-transport.

On Thursday, the Punjab CM also invited a Chinese solar company to establish a manufacturing plan in Pakistan during her visit to the Jinko Solar Company in Shanghai, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.

“The CM directed the concerned authorities of Punjab government to take necessary steps for setting up the solar manufacturing plant in the province,” the report said.


Pakistan takes steps to enhance workforce skills for Middle Eastern job market — official

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Pakistan takes steps to enhance workforce skills for Middle Eastern job market — official

  • Government is integrating interpersonal and problem-solving skills into technical and vocational training
  • Pakistan heavily relies on remittances which is a key source of foreign exchange for its struggling economy

ISLAMABAD: A senior Pakistani official said on Friday the government had taken key measures to bridge the skills gap and boost the global competitiveness of people aspiring to work abroad, particularly in the Middle East, to better integrate them into the international job market, state media reported.
Pakistan relies heavily on remittances sent by its overseas nationals, a key source of foreign exchange that serves as a lifeline for its struggling economy. Many Pakistani workers seek jobs in Gulf countries, where demand for skilled labor remains high.
At the same time, the government has been working to open legal avenues for employment abroad following a series of tragic boat accidents involving illegal immigrants attempting to reach European shores, with dozens of Pakistanis among the victims.
Parliamentary Secretary for Federal Education and Professional Training Farah Naz Akbar shared the government’s strategy for workforce development while responding to questions during a National Assembly session.
“The government is integrating life skills and soft skills — such as communication, problem-solving, teamwork, interpersonal skills and work ethics — into technical and vocational training programs,” the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency said while reporting on her briefing to the assembly. “These skills are highly valued by Middle Eastern employers and are crucial for workplace success.”
“The curriculum is also being updated to reflect the latest industry trends and technologies, ensuring that Pakistani workers are equipped with relevant knowledge and skills to meet evolving job market demands in the Middle East,” it added.
Akbar said as part of these reforms, Pakistan has established the Pakistan Skill Company and the Pakistan Skill Development Fund to centralize and improve technical and vocational training across the country, aiming to create better employment opportunities for workers abroad.
To align Pakistani qualifications with international standards, the government has revised National Vocational Qualification Framework (NVQF) regulations, ensuring that workers’ certifications meet the requirements of both European Union (EU) and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
Akbar said authorities were shifting toward competency-based training programs, which emphasize practical skills and hands-on experience, ensuring that workers are not only trained but also proficient in job-specific skills required by Middle Eastern employers.
She noted the measures were part of a comprehensive strategy to strengthen Pakistan’s labor force and increase employment opportunities for skilled workers in the Middle East.


New Zealand’s O’Rourke’s four wickets limit Pakistan to 242 in tri-series final

Updated 13 min 2 sec ago
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New Zealand’s O’Rourke’s four wickets limit Pakistan to 242 in tri-series final

  • Final is a dress rehearsal for opening Champions Trophy match between the two sides on Wednesday
  • Pakistan’s batting ace Baber Azam scored confident 29, reaching 6,000 runs in one-day internationals

KARACHI: New Zealand pace bowler Will O’Rourke took four wickets to restrict Pakistan to a modest 242 runs in the tri-series final in Karachi on Friday.
O’Rourke finished with 4-43 and was ably supported by spinners Mitchell Santner (2-20) and Michael Bracewell (2-38) as Pakistan were dismissed in 49.3 overs after they won the toss and batted.
Skipper Mohammad Rizwan top-scored with a 76-ball 46, while Salman Agha hit 45 off 65 balls, with slow and variable bounce on the National Stadium pitch proving tough for batting.
The final is a dress rehearsal for the opening match of the Champions Trophy between the same teams at the same venue on Wednesday.
Pakistan lost opener Fakhar Zaman to O’Rourke in the fourth over for 10 and then Saud Shakeel for eight.
Babar Azam looked good for his 29 runs, hitting four boundaries and a six, and reached 6,000 runs scored in one-day internationals when he was on 10.
He was playing his 123rd innings, the joint fastest to reach the 6,000-runs milestone with South African Hashim Amla.
Azam fell to a miscued shot off Nathan Smith, leaving Pakistan struggling at 54-3.
Rizwan and Agha, who shared a match-winning 260-run partnership against South Africa on Wednesday, then revived the innings with an 88-run stand.
Rizwan hit four boundaries and a six but he and Agha fell within 19 runs of each other to end any hope of a big total.
Tayyab Tahir hit a 33-ball 38, also with four boundaries and a six, while Faheem Ashraf (22) and Naseem Shah (19) added 39 invaluable runs to get Pakistan past 240.


Pakistani actors Kubra Khan and Gohar Rasheed share photos from Grand Mosque after nikkah in Makkah

Updated 34 min 11 sec ago
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Pakistani actors Kubra Khan and Gohar Rasheed share photos from Grand Mosque after nikkah in Makkah

  • Khan and Rasheed remain among the most recognized faces in Pakistan’s entertainment industry
  • One of the images on social media shows them in the attire worn by pilgrims performing Umrah

KARACHI: Pakistani actors Kubra Khan and Gohar Rasheed announced their wedding on Friday, sharing photos on Instagram taken at the Grand Mosque in Makkah with the Kaaba, the black cubic structure at the center of Islam’s most sacred mosque, in the background.
Khan and Rasheed remain among the most recognized faces in Pakistan’s entertainment industry. With their marriage now public, fans and colleagues have flooded social media with congratulatory messages, celebrating their union.
Arab News attempted to contact both actors for further comments but did not receive a response. Most of their friends also refrained from speaking on the matter, though some confirmed that the nikkah, the Islamic marriage contract requiring mutual consent, took place in the Grand Mosque earlier this week on February 12.
“Under the Kursi [throne] of Allah… 70 thousand angels as witnesses and Rehmat [mercy] pouring down on us like rain… Qubool hai,” the two actors said in a joint Instagram post, referencing the belief in divine presence and blessings during their marriage and mentioning their acceptance of the bond in the last two words.
The images with the post showed the couple in the white attire worn by pilgrims performing Umrah, including a close-up of their hands placed on the Kaaba with wedding rings and another of them smiling at each other against the sacred black cube.

This photo, jointly posted by the couple on their respective official Instagram accounts on February 14, 2025, shows a close-up of their hands placed on the Kaaba with wedding rings, announcing their marriage on February 12, at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. (Photo courtesy: Instagram/@thekubism/@mirzagoharrasheed)

The Grand Mosque is considered the most sacred site in Islam, where millions of Muslims gather to perform Hajj and Umrah each year.
Kubra Khan, born Rabia Iqbal Khan, is a British-Pakistani actor known for her roles in popular television dramas such as “Sang-e-Mar Mar,” “Alif” and “Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay,” as well as films like “Na Maloom Afraad” and “Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2.”
Gohar Rasheed has built a reputation with performances in “Mann Mayal,” “Ishqiya” and “The Legend of Maula Jatt.” The two actors have been close friends for years and co-starred in the drama “Jannat Se Aagay,” fueling long-standing speculation about their relationship.


PM Sharif calls climate financing ‘crucial’ in talks with top UN official in Pakistan

Updated 45 min 5 sec ago
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PM Sharif calls climate financing ‘crucial’ in talks with top UN official in Pakistan

  • Pakistan is one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations, frequently battered by extreme weather events
  • The country has pushed for operationalization of Loss and Damages Fund for nations facing climate catastrophes

KARACHI: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday described climate financing as a “crucial component” of addressing the effects of climate change, urging developed nations to honor their commitments during a meeting with the United Nations’ top official in the country.
Despite contributing less than one percent to global carbon emissions, Pakistan remains one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations, frequently battered by extreme weather events.
The catastrophic floods of 2022 submerged a third of the country, affecting over 33 million people, killing more than 1,700 and inflicting about $30 billion in damages and economic losses.
In response, Pakistan has led efforts on climate financing, securing pledges at international platforms such as the COP27 climate conference in Egypt to assist in rebuilding climate-resilient infrastructure.
“[The Prime Minister] reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong political commitment to advancing the objective of combating climate change in close collaboration and partnership with the international community and the UN,” the PM Office said in a statement after Sharif’s meeting with UN Resident Coordinator Mohamed Yahya.
“The Prime Minister underscored that climate financing remained a crucial component of addressing the impacts of climate change, and expressed the hope that the developed nations would fulfill their commitments in that regard,” it added.
Pakistan has played a key role in pushing for the operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund, an initiative to support nations suffering climate-induced destruction, in recent years.
Sharif also emphasized the need for reforms in the global financial system to increase the voice and representation of developing countries in international financial institutions in his meeting with the top UN official, according to the statement.
Last week, the UN Resident Coordinator called for “stronger international solidarity” in rebuilding homes in Pakistan’s flood-affected regions while speaking to Arab News.
He also described it as “unjust” for Pakistan to be asked to take loans for reconstruction, arguing that the crisis was caused by other countries, including 20 nations responsible for 80 percent of global emissions.


Habib Bank, S&P Global launch Pakistan’s first index to track manufacturing sector

Updated 14 February 2025
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Habib Bank, S&P Global launch Pakistan’s first index to track manufacturing sector

  • The index will be a standardized economic indicator based on a survey of a diverse panel of industries
  • It will help track economic developments in Pakistan, support decision making by financial institutions

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s largest bank, Habib Bank Limited (HBL), and global financial information and analytics firm S&P Global have launched a new index to track the country’s manufacturing sector, the companies said on Friday.
Rising taxes and power tariffs have led to social unrest and hammered industries in Pakistan’s $350 billion economy, as it navigates a tricky path to recovery under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program approved in September.
The HBL S&P Global Purchasing Managers’ Index will be a standardized economic indicator based on a survey of a diverse panel of industries.
It will be Pakistan’s first comprehensive manufacturing index and a welcome source of information for investors in a country where economic data is scarce.
The industries will be asked about their perceptions of current business conditions and future expectations and the index will be released on the first working day of each month, the companies said in a statement.
“The launch of Pakistan’s first ever PMI is a significant event contributing to the accessibility of timely and high-frequency data to track economic developments in Pakistan and support decision making by financial institutions, investors and businesses,” said Luke Thompson, Managing Director of S&P Global Market Intelligence, in a statement.
Muhammad Nassir Salim, President & CEO of HBL said the series will enhance investor confidence and transparency in Pakistan’s economy.