Five injured in shooting at aid convoy en route to violence-hit Pakistani district

Truck drivers gather beside aid supply trucks, parked along a roadside in Hangu on January 4, 2025, after gunmen ambushed a Pakistan aid convoy. Gunmen ambushed a Pakistan convoy traveling to bring aid to a region besieged by sectarian fighting on January 4, local government said, wounding several officials despite a ceasefire announced three days ago. (AFP)
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Updated 04 January 2025
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Five injured in shooting at aid convoy en route to violence-hit Pakistani district

  • More than 130 people have died in the remote district since Nov. 21 in clashes over land, sectarian disputes
  • The clashes have disconnected Kurram from the provincial capital, causing medicine, food and fuel shortages

ISLAMABAD: Five people, including a top administration official, were injured after unidentified gunmen opened fire on an aid convoy en route to a restive Pakistani district that has been hit by sectarian clashes in recent weeks, officials said on Saturday.
Kurram, a northwestern district of around 600,000 people in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, has been rocked by tribal and sectarian clashes since Nov. 21 when gunmen attacked a convoy of Shia passengers, killing 52.
The attack sparked further violence and blockade of a main road connecting Kurram’s main town of Parachinar with the provincial capital of Peshawar, causing medicine, food and fuel shortages in the area, as casualties surged to 136.
Saturday’s gun attack occurred near Bagan, a tense locality in the district’s center, as Deputy Commissioner (DC) Javedullah Mehsud and other officials led an aid convoy to Kurram, leaving the top officials and four security men injured.
“The deputy commissioner has been shifted from Alizai Hospital to Tal CMH [Combined Military Hospital],” said Muhammad Ali Saif, a spokesman for the KP provincial government.
“The deputy commissioner’s surgery is ongoing, but his condition is out of danger.”
Kurram police spokesman Riaz Khan told Arab News the attack injured DC Mehsud, his police guard and three members of the Frontier Corps (FC) paramilitary force.
“The deputy commissioner suffered gunshot injuries to his legs and shoulder,” the police official said.
Mehsud was leading the convoy of 17 trucks, which were carrying tents, blankets, medical kits, tarpaulins, solar lamps and sleeping bags.
“The convoy has been temporarily stopped,” Saif said. “The clearance process is ongoing, and the convoy will be sent to Kurram soon.”
Provincial authorities have previously air-dropped relief goods and airlifted ailing and injured people from Kurram to Peshawar via helicopters.
Saturday’s gun attack comes days after a grand jirga, or council of political and tribal elders formed by the KP provincial government, brokered a peace agreement between the warring Shia and Sunni tribes, following weeks of efforts.
Under the peace agreement signed on Wednesday, both sides had agreed on the demolition of bunkers and the handover of heavy weapons to the authorities within two weeks, but the attack on the aid convoy has once again cast a cloud on peace in the restive district.
“The situation is under control and security is on high alert. The government will restore peace in the region at all costs,” Saif said, urging both Sunni and Shia sides to remain peaceful and not fall prey to the “conspiracy.”
According to the peace agreement, any party that launches an attack after the signing of the deal will be considered a “terrorist” and action will be taken against it. Another point of the agreement says that a fine of Rs10 million ($35,933) will be imposed on those who would violate the terms of the deal by using weapons against each other.
Land disputes in the volatile district will be settled on a priority basis with the cooperation of local tribes and the district administration, according to the peace agreement. Opening of banned outfits’ offices will be prohibited in the district, while social media accounts spreading hate will be discouraged via collective efforts backed by the government.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur condemned the shooting incident near Bagan.
“The incident is a deliberate and nefarious but unsuccessful attempt to sabotage peace efforts,” CM Gandapur was quoted as saying by his office.
“The provincial government, with the cooperation of the area elders, will continue its efforts until complete peace is restored in the area.”


Pakistan president departs for Lisbon to condole death of Aga Khan IV

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Pakistan president departs for Lisbon to condole death of Aga Khan IV

  • Prince Karim Aga Khan IV passed away at age of 88 last week in Lisbon 
  • Asif Ali Zardari to meet Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has left for Portugal’s capital Lisbon to condole the death of Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, the spiritual leader of the Ismaili community, Pakistan’s foreign office recently said. 

The late Aga Khan, who led the global Ismaili community for nearly seven decades, passed away last week at the age of 88. His death was announced by the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and the Ismaili religious community.

A private funeral service took place at the Ismaili community center in Lisbon on Saturday, attended by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Spain’s King Emeritus Juan Carlos, Portugal’s President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb. He was laid to rest on Sunday at a private ceremony in Aswan, Egypt.

“The President will meet His Highness Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan V, to extend his condolences on the passing away of late Prince Karim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan IV,” Pakistan’s foreign office said in a statement on Sunday. 

“During the visit President will also meet President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.”

Following the late Aga Khan’s passing, his eldest son, Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini, 53, was named the Aga Khan V, the 50th hereditary Imam of the community, in accordance with his father’s will.

The AKDN, founded by the late Ismaili leader, has been instrumental in various development projects in Pakistan, particularly in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral regions. Initiatives such as the Aga Khan Rural Support Program have focused on poverty alleviation, health care, education and cultural preservation, significantly contributing to the socio-economic development of these areas.

The Ismaili community in Pakistan, numbering in the hundreds of thousands, has benefited from these initiatives, which have also had a positive impact on the national economy through improved infrastructure and human development.
 


Pakistani firms eye $50 million business deals at LEAP 2025 tech conference in Riyadh

Updated 7 min 34 sec ago
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Pakistani firms eye $50 million business deals at LEAP 2025 tech conference in Riyadh

  • The fourth edition of the LEAP conference aims to expand business networking and investment opportunities in the global tech sector
  • Pakistan has the largest ever presence at LEAP this year, with over 100 companies and 1,000 delegates featuring innovative solutions

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani tech companies participating in the four-day LEAP 2025 tech conference in Riyadh are hopeful of attracting business deals worth $50 million at the global tech event, the head of Pakistani software producers’ association said on Sunday.
The fourth edition of LEAP, recognized as Saudi Arabia’s award-winning global technology event, opened on Sunday and will continue till Feb. 12, for which entrepreneurs, investors and startups have converged in Riyadh to present their products to an anticipated audience of over 170,000 visitors. It follows last year’s record-breaking LEAP 2024, which saw $13.4 billion in investments and project commitments. Under the theme “Into New Worlds,” LEAP 2025 aims to expand business networking and investment opportunities in the tech sector.
Pakistan recorded the highest-ever monthly IT exports of $348 million in Dec. 2024, up by 15 percent year-on-year and 12 percent month-on-month, according to official data. The LEAP event offers Pakistani firms a platform to collaborate with stakeholders, explore business opportunities and showcase Pakistan’s diverse IT exports, including software development, artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, fintech, gaming and robotics.
“This year, we have one of the largest delegations ever at LEAP, with over 100 companies and more than 1,000 delegates participating,” Sajjad Mustafa Syed, chairman of the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), told Arab News over the phone from Riyadh.
“With this strong presence at LEAP, we expect to double our business this year and generate $50 million in deals.”
Pakistani IT companies continue to maintain a strong presence in the Kingdom and this year some of the biggest names, including Systems Limited, Abacus and Excellence Delivered, are participating in the mega tech event, according to the P@SHA chairman.
In addition, several startups, around 20 companies sponsored by P@SHA, and a few more sponsored by the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) are attending the event, while some Pakistani firms have joined independently.
Syed said Saudi investors “responded positively” to Pakistani companies during a meeting of the Pakistan-Saudi Business Forum that was held ahead of the LEAP inauguration.
“There is growing excitement about Pakistan’s IT industry, which has now firmly arrived on the global stage,” he said. “We are no longer at the startup or entry level rather we are now a recognized force in the global tech landscape, and this recognition is evident in Saudi Arabia.”
Syed said Pakistan’s tech solutions were “at par with the best in the world, if not superior.”
“Our companies are making strides in high-tech sectors such as artificial intelligence and cybersecurity,” he added.
Former P@SHA chairman Muhammad Zohaib Khan, whose e-solutions company A2Z Creatorz is participating in LEAP, said the event has enabled many Pakistani firms to establish businesses in the Kingdom over the past few years.
“Our participation in LEAP 2024 was a huge success as around 25 Pakistani companies registered in the Kingdom after that and secured some good business deals,” he told Arab News.
“This year, we hope more companies will have the opportunity to register in the Kingdom through collaborations with Saudi firms and secure significant business by establishing offices in Saudi Arabia.”
Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ahmad Farooq, said the LEAP conference has developed into one of the foremost global IT events since 2022.
“The participation of over 100 Pakistani IT companies at LEAP 2025 is a testament to Pakistan’s growing strength in the global technology sector,” he said.
He said the Pakistani IT industry is offering cutting-edge solutions in AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity and software development, making Pakistan a key player in digital transformation.
“To further strengthen collaboration and engagement, I had the pleasure of hosting a networking dinner in Riyadh on February 8, bringing together over 400 distinguished guests, including business leaders, investors, and technology experts,” he said, adding that Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 presents immense opportunities and Pakistan is committed to fostering deeper cooperation through innovation in the region.
The LEAP tech conference plays a critical role in Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a global technology hub, aligning with its Vision 2030 plan to diversify the economy. As part of the initiative, the Kingdom has pledged $100 billion toward advancing its technology sector.
LEAP 2025 will debut Tech Arena, a platform for emerging innovations, featuring a ‘Live TV’ stage hosted by BBC Click’s Lara Lewington and Spencer Kelly. It is one of two new segments at LEAP 2025, alongside the SportsTech stage, supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 for innovation and technological growth.
Visitors will explore AI, mixed reality, fashion tech, and brain-computer interfaces. Key highlights include Anouk Wipprecht’s Tech Couture exhibit, Adobe’s ‘Project Primrose’ digital dress technology, and Aramco-backed Terra Drone’s long-range medical delivery system. Saudi oil giant Aramco will also showcase SARA, an AI-driven assistant for decision-making. Engine VR will present its Golden Gloves VR boxing platform with live demos by UFC fighter Andrew Sanchez, while Alwaleed Philanthropies will showcase its Atlai AI program to support global deforestation monitoring. XPANCEO will introduce smart contact lenses with integrated computing.


Pakistan PM to leave for UAE today to attend World Governments Summit

Updated 19 min 9 sec ago
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Pakistan PM to leave for UAE today to attend World Governments Summit

  • Summit will bring together a large number of heads of state, global policymakers, and leading private sector figures
  • Shehbaz Sharif will deliver keynote address, highlight Pakistan’s vision for economic growth and governance at summit

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will leave for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) today, Monday, to attend the World Governments Summit (WGS) on Feb. 10-11, the Pakistani foreign office said on Sunday.

The summit will bring together a large number of Heads of State/Government, global policymakers, and leading private sector figures to discuss the future of governance, innovation and international cooperation, according to the Pakistani foreign office.

This will be Sharif’s second visit to the UAE since assuming office in March last year. He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and other key members of his cabinet.

“The Prime Minister will deliver a keynote address at the WGS, highlighting Pakistan’s vision for inclusive economic growth, digital transformation and governance reforms,” the foreign office said in a statement.

“He will also hold bilateral meetings with the UAE leadership as well as engage with Heads of State/Government from participating countries and leading CEOs of major multinational companies.”

The UAE is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner after China and the United States, and a major source of foreign investment valued at over $10 billion in the last 20 years, according to the UAE’s foreign ministry. Policymakers in Pakistan consider the UAE an optimal export destination due to its geographical proximity, which minimizes transportation and freight costs while facilitating commercial transactions.

It is also home to more than a million Pakistani expatriates, making it the second-largest Pakistani expatriate community worldwide, as per the foreign office, and a major source of foreign workers’ remittances for Pakistan.

Both countries have stepped up efforts in recent years to strengthen their business and investment relations. In January 2024, Pakistan and the UAE signed multiple agreements worth more than $3 billion for cooperation in railways, economic zones and infrastructure, a Pakistani official said, amid Pakistani caretaker prime minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar’s visit to Davos for the World Economic Forum’s summit.

“The prime minister’s visit underscores Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to further strengthening its ties with the UAE, fostering greater economic collaboration and exploring new avenues of partnership for mutual prosperity,” the foreign office added.


Islamabad says IMF mission will visit Pakistan to assess governance, corruption risks

Updated 09 February 2025
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Islamabad says IMF mission will visit Pakistan to assess governance, corruption risks

  • The report will recommend actions for addressing corruption vulnerabilities and strengthening integrity and governance
  • The South Asian country, bolstered by a $7 billion IMF facility granted in September, is navigating an economic recovery

A three-member International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission will visit Pakistan to conduct a Governance and Corruption Diagnostic Assessment under the country's 2024 Extended Fund Facility program, the finance ministry said on Sunday, without specifying dates.
The ministry added that the report will recommend actions for addressing corruption vulnerabilities and strengthening integrity and governance, noting that the findings would help shape structural reforms.
"The focus of the mission will be to examine the severity of corruption vulnerabilities across six core state functions. These include fiscal governance, central bank governance and operations, financial sector oversight, market regulation, rule of law, and AML-CFT," the ministry said in the statement.
Pakistan’s government welcomed the IMF’s technical support, saying the assessment would aid efforts to promote transparency and institutional capacity.
The South Asian country, currently bolstered by a $7 billion facility from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) granted in September, is navigating an economic recovery.
The IMF is set to review Pakistan's progress by March, with the government and central bank expressing confidence about meeting its targets.
 


Pakistani security forces kill seven militants in restive northwest

Updated 09 February 2025
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Pakistani security forces kill seven militants in restive northwest

  • The militants were killed in intelligence-based operations in Dera Ismail Khan and North Waziristan districts
  • Islamabad blames a surge in militancy on militant groups operating out of Afghanistan, Kabul denies allegation

ISLAMABAD: Security forces have killed seven militants in separate engagements in the country’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, the Pakistani military said on Sunday.

Pakistan has seen a surge in militancy in KP since a fragile truce between the Pakistani Taliban, or the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and the state broke down in November 2022. The militants have stepped up attacks against police and security forces in recent months, with the military reporting deaths of 383 soldiers and 925 militants in various clashes in the country in 2024.

In the latest incident, three militants were killed and two others injured in an intelligence-based operation in KP’s Dera Ismail Khan district, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing. Four suspected militants were killed in a gunfight in the North Waziristan district, which borders Afghanistan, while three others were injured.

“Sanitization operations are being conducted to eliminate any other Kharji [militant] found in the area,” the ISPR said in a statement.

The development came a day after militants attacked a police check-post in KP’s Bannu district, leaving two policemen dead and two others injured, according to a local police official.

No group immediately claimed for Saturday’s attack, but suspicion was likely to fall on the Pakistani Taliban, who have frequently targeted security forces and police convoys and check-posts, besides targeted killings and kidnappings of law enforcers and government officials in the region.

Islamabad has frequently blamed the surge in militancy on Afghanistan, accusing it of sheltering and supporting militant groups that launch cross-border attacks. Afghan officials deny involvement and insist that Pakistan’s security issues are an internal matter of Islamabad.