In Karachi, 145-year-old veterinary hospital offers free lifeline for animals 

The combination of file photos shows the building of Richmond Crawford Veterinary Hospital (center) and animals being treated at the facility in Karachi, Pakistan on May 9, 2025..(AN Photo)
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Updated 12 May 2025
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In Karachi, 145-year-old veterinary hospital offers free lifeline for animals 

  • Richmond Crawford Veterinary Hospital named after British commissioner known for his efforts for animal welfare
  • Facility offers wide range of free procedures like surgeries and orthopedic treatment for animals with broken bones 

KARACHI: Safia Ahmed sat with her fluffy white Persian cat, Simba, last week in the storied hallway of Karachi’s time-worn Richmond Crawford Veterinary Hospital, waiting for her turn. 

A vet soon called her in, examined Simba and administered treatment. He also gave Ahmed medicine to take home for the cat. 

While this was a routine visit for Ahmed, a devoted owner of two Persian cats and two parrots, the hospital is anything but ordinary. 

Established in 1880, the state-run Richmond Crawford Veterinary Hospital offers free treatment and has a 145-year legacy of animal welfare.




The photo taken on May 9, 2025, shows the building of Richmond Crawford Veterinary Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. (AN Photo)

The facility, on Karachi’s busy M.A. Jinnah Road, is named after a British commissioner in the southern Sindh province known to hold a deep affection for animals, according to Dr. Chandar Kumar, the veterinary officer currently in charge of the facility, which functions under the Sindh provincial government’s Livestock Department.

“In 1840, Crawford had bought this plot ofland. After that, he left [for Britain]. Later, our respected community elders, including Parsis, Muslims and Hindus, came together and established an institution in his name,” Kumar told Arab News.

“This institution has been providing treatment for animals, working on their health and administering vaccinations ever since.”

Animal rights activists have long raised concerns over routine neglect, abuse and exploitation of domestic animals, livestock, stray populations and wildlife in Pakistan, calling for improved health care facilities. 

In Karachi, a city exceeding 20 million, a mere 27 public animal care centers are operational, a majority of them being clinics and dispensaries.

The number of animals that daily pass through the doors of Crawford highlights the important role the hospital plays in trying to bridge this gap, especially for those who cannot afford private clinics. 

“We have a daily OPD [Outpatient Department examination] of over 100 animals,” said Dr. Kumar, adding that all kinds of animals, from domestic pets like cats and dogs, small livestock like sheep and goats, and occasionally even larger animals, were daily brought to the facility.

Dr. Shalla Sharon Hayat, a veterinary surgeon at Crawford, said the hospital offered a wide range of facilities, including surgeries and orthopedic treatment for animals with broken bones that required complex procedures.

“It was opened with the vision of providing facilities where even a person from the underprivileged class who loves animals can have their pets cared for as well as an upper-class person who loves animals,” Hayat said. 

Ahmed couldn’t agree more. 

“This has become a great convenience for us because we can’t really afford to go to private clinics,” she said after Simba’s treatment. “If the government hadn’t set this up, we wouldn’t have been able to afford it.”

Iqbal Masih, who was at the hospital with his dog Lucky, a Maltese mix, concurred. 

“I’ve been taking care of him for four years, and I love him very much,” Masih said. 

“Whenever he gets a fever or any problem, I immediately take him to the doctor. I had brought another dog to them before as well, they gave the right medicine.”

Apart from animal care, the hospital also has great architectural significance in the Karachi landscape, said Peerzada Salman, the author of ‘Karachi — Legacies of Empires,’ a photographic history of the city.

“It’s a very simple building, built in the style of the renaissance. The ground floor has arches and above it is square windows. Such buildings are rare in Karachi nowadays,” Salman said.

The author commended locals who resisted an attempt to demolish the hospital and build a skyscraper in its place some 20 years ago but added that the historical building currently needed attention.

“If those involved in heritage preservation pay attention to it and renovate it properly, it would be great as it holds dual importance: one as a hospital for animals and the other as a building with historical significance,” Salman added.

Surgeon Hayat described the hospital as a central part of Karachi’s larger ecosystem.

“In any ecosystem, animals play a very significant role,” she said. “And those who care for them and raise them deserve our respect.”


Pakistan’s finance chief eyes ‘step-change’ US investment after Washington trade talks

Updated 19 July 2025
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Pakistan’s finance chief eyes ‘step-change’ US investment after Washington trade talks

  • Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb hints at forthcoming ‘leadership-level’ announcement in coming days
  • Says both sides have identified investment areas including minerals, mining and artificial intelligence

KARACHI: Pakistan and the United States are exploring a shift in their economic engagement from a trade-focused relationship to one anchored in long-term investment, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said in a video message after high-level talks in Washington on Friday.

The meeting between Aurangzeb, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer followed a virtual discussion last month during which both sides agreed to push negotiations forward “at the earliest.”

The talks come after the US imposed a 29 percent “reciprocal tariff” on Pakistani exports under President Donald Trump’s trade measures announced in April, a move Islamabad said could undercut its fragile, export-led recovery.

“One thing we discussed was that we have to move beyond the immediate trade imperative for it to be brought into the next level and bring in a real step change,” Aurangzeb said after his interaction with US officials.

“So, the investment imperative will come forward, and areas have already been identified in terms of minerals and mining, in terms of AI [artificial intelligence], in terms of digital infrastructure [and] crypto,” he continued. “We feel that this will be a real game changer, God willing, in terms of the relationship and the economic relationship between Pakistan and the United States.”

The Pakistani finance chief said both sides were committed to resolving outstanding trade issues to move “toward the finishing line” and begin investment-related discussions “very quickly.”

He also hinted at forthcoming announcements “at the leadership level,” which he said would reflect all the hard work and efforts that have been put in both by Pakistan and on the US side.

“We begin with trade, and then it will very quickly be followed through with investment discussions between the two countries and real execution of the investment upside,” he said, calling the next phase a “real win-win for Pakistan and the United States.”

Pakistan’s finance ministry has said the US remains its largest trading partner while emphasizing Islamabad’s interest in expanding cooperation beyond textiles to other sectors.

The US is Pakistan’s top export destination, with shipments totaling $5.44 billion in the 2023-24 fiscal year.

From July 2024 to February 2025, exports rose 10 percent from a year earlier, according to official data.


Relief operations underway as Pakistan rain death toll nears 200

Updated 19 July 2025
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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

Updated 19 July 2025
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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

Updated 19 July 2025
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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.

Muhammad Asif of Pakistan receives the Masters title award at the IBSF World Snooker Championship in Manama, Bahrain, on July 18, 2025. (Handout/IBSF)

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’s Muhammad Hasnain receives the Under-17 title award at the IBSF World Snooker Championship in Manama, Bahrain, on July 18, 2025. (Handout/IBSF)

 


Pakistan plans to build $10.5 million aquaculture park to promote seafood exports

Updated 19 July 2025
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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.