Page 32 - Pakistan

Armed forces to stay out of politics, says Pakistan Army Gen Bajwa

Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has assured the nation that the armed forces have distanced themselves from politics and wanted to continue to do so, according to a media report on Wednesday. Gen Bajwa, who is in the US, also reiterated his promise to leave office after completing his second three-year term in November, adding that he would fulfill the pledge he made earlier, the Dawn newspaper reported. Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Bajwa, 61, would retire on November 29. Bajwa had been given an extension for a second term of three years in 2019. His remarks came at a lunch hosted at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington. According to those who attended the event, Bajwa said that the armed forces have distanced themselves from politics and wanted to continue to do so, the newspaper reported. These remarks came in the wake of former premier Imran Khan making anti-military statements. Bajwa has held the top post of the Pakistan Army for six years. He was initia

Govt to not allow PTI's long march to enter Islamabad: Pakistan Minister

Pakistan Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said that the government's cabinet had decided it would not allow Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf to enter Islamabad under any circumstances.Chairing an in-camera meeting in Islamabad, Sanaullah along with other representatives of law enforcement agencies, approved the strategies, Geo News reported.Earlier, PTI Chairman Imran Khan directed party workers to get ready for the 'Haqeeqi Azadi March' in Islamabad and asked his party's leaders and workers to take an oath that they will participate in the long march considering it a Jehad for the country.In the meeting, the members were briefed that around 20,000 people were expected to participate in the long march. The top security huddle decided to engage the Sindh Police, Rangers and FC to ensure law and order in the federal capital during the long march.The Pakistan Army, under Article 245 of the Constitution, will secure public buildings and the Diplomatic Enclave in the Red Zone.In the meeting, the ..

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif thanks EU for 30 million Euro humanitarian aid

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed gratitude to the European Union for providing 30 million Euro humanitarian aid for the flood victims.Taking to Twitter, PM Sharif said, "Grateful to European Union, particularly @vonderleyen, President of @EU_Commission for the announcement of EUR30 million in new EU humanitarian aid for Pakistan.""Gravity of food & health challenges can be met through deeper cooperation from the world," he added.Earlier, the United Nations launched the revised flash appeal of USD 816 million to respond to the need of people affected by floods.The revised '2022 Pakistan Floods Response Plan' (FRP) was shared with UN member states and humanitarian organizations in Geneva, according to United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)."The revised appeal urgently seeks USD 816 million to respond to the growing lifesaving needs of the people - a jump of USD 656 million from the initial appeal of USD 160 million," the OCHA said

4 UN peacekeepers, 3 Bangladeshis, 1 Pakistani killed in African attacks

In the latest attacks on UN peacekeepers, three Bangladeshis have died from a bomb attack in the Central African Republic, barely a week after a Pakistani was killed in Congo

China keen on importing donkeys, dogs from Pakistan, says report

China has shown interest in importing donkeys and dogs from Pakistan, officials have told a parliamentary committee as the cash-strapped country is trying to overcome a major economic crisis. During a briefing on imports and exports on Monday between the officials of the Ministry of Commerce and Senate Standing Committee, one of its members, Dinesh Kumar said that China has expressed interest in importing donkeys as well as dogs from Pakistan, Geo News reported. Senator Abdul Qadir also informed the committee that the Chinese ambassador had also talked about exporting meat from Pakistan several times. One of the members of the committee also suggested that since animals are comparatively cheaper in Afghanistan, Pakistan can import from there and then export the meat to China. However, the committee was informed by the officials of the commerce ministry that animal import from Afghanistan has been temporarily banned as there have been reports of lumpy skin disease among animals in t

Pak PM blames Imran for ruining economy; calls him 'biggest liar on earth'

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has accused his predecessor Imran Khan of ruining the country's economy and called him the the biggest liar on the face of the earth who has injected poison into society to dangerously polarise the electorate after he was toppled from power in April. In an interview with The Guardian newspaper from Pakistan, Sharif spoke about the damage that Khan, who ruled Pakistan from 2018 to April this year, had done to the country in both domestic and foreign affairs. Pakistan is currently in the midst of an unprecedented economic crisis, as it grapples with mounting inflation, sky-high foreign debt, and declining foreign currency reserves. Pakistan has also been hit by unprecedented floods. The floods have killed over 1,600 people and displaced more than 33 million others in Pakistan. The floods have left a third of the country submerged under water and caused estimated damage of nearly USD 30 billion. Sharif, 71, called Khan a liar and a cheat whose

Pakistan's textile units shut down due to shortage of cotton after floods

The already fragile Pakistan economy, hit hard by the devastating floods, now faces the shutdown of textile factories as the cotton crop has been destroyed

BSF opens fire at Pakistani drone spotted in Punjab's Gurdaspur sector

BSF troops opened fire at a drone from Pakistan along the International Border in Punjab's Gurdaspur sector on Tuesday, officials said. Border Security Force (BSF) troops heard a buzzing sound of the flying object in the early hours and opened fire, officials said. Search operations have been launched in the area to check if any packages were dropped by the drone in Indian territory, they said.

US Defence Secretary to host Pakistan Army chief for talks at Pentagon

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday will host Pakistan Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa at the Pentagon for talks amidst signs of enhanced military engagement between the two countries. Last week, Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was in the town meeting top officials of the Biden Administration, including Secretary of State Tony Blinken. Bajwa will be accorded an "enhanced honour cordon" at the riverside entrance of the Pentagon by Austin following which the two will be holding a meeting on bilateral and regional issues. America's engagement with Pakistan, in particular with its military, has increased in recent months. Last month, the US announced a USD450 million F-16 fighter jet sustenance package for Pakistan.

Pakistan PM Shehbaz refuses to launch dashboard for monitoring flood relief

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has refused to inaugurate a dashboard built to monitor flood relief assistance in the country, leaving his federal ministers red-faced, local media reported

Pakistan farmers stuck in cycle of debt as crops destroyed in floods

As floodwaters in Pakistan recede, the story of those in the worst affected regions comes to the surface with many farmers sharing their woes of being stuck in a vicious cycle of sinking into debt

Pakistan rejects EAM Jaishankar's 'international terrorism' remarks

Pak rejected comments made by S Jaishankar, during his Vadodara address, where he drew a comparison between India's IT industry with that of the IT (international terrorism) industry of Pakistan

Imran Khan challenges Pakistan govt to arrest him over leaked audio

As the controversy regarding the leaked audio continues in Pakistan, former PM Imran Khan has challenged the coalition government led by Pakistan Muslim League (N) to arrest him

5.7 million Pakistani flood victims to face food crisis for 3 months: UN

The United Nations humanitarian agency is warning that about 5.7 million Pakistani flood survivors will face a serious food crisis in the next three months, as the death toll from the deluge rose on Monday. Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority reported that floods fuelled by abnormally heavy monsoon rains have killed 1,695 people, affected 33 million, damaged more than 2 million homes and displaced hundreds of thousands now living in tents or makeshift homes. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in its latest report on Saturday said the current floods are expected to exacerbate food insecurity in Pakistan and said 5.7 million people in flood-affected areas will be facing a food crisis between September and November. Even before the floods, according to the World Health Organisation, 16 per cent of the population was living in moderate or severe food insecurity. However, Pakistan's government insists that there is no immediate worry about food ...

Around 1,700 people killed, over 12,800 injured in Pakistan's rain, flood

At least 1,695 people were killed while 12,865 were injured so far (October 2) since mid-June due to the devastating floods and rains in Pakistan, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said

Here's why factories making towels and bedsheets are shutting in Pakistan

As many as 100 smaller mills have suspended operations due to a shortage of good quality cotton, high fuel costs, and poor recovery of payments from buyers in flood-hit areas

Pakistan: Imran Khan gets pre-arrest bail in 'remarks against judge' case

Islamabad HC approved the pre-arrest bail of former Pakistan PM Imran Khan and directed him to appear before the court concerned before October 7 in a contempt case, media report said

Arrest warrant against ex-Pak PM Imran Khan for remarks on female judge

A magistrate of Islamabad's Margalla police station has issued an arrest warrant against PTI chief Imran Khan, media reports said on Saturday

No other country 'practices terrorism' like Pakistan does: EAM Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said no other country "practices terrorism" the way Pakistan does. Speaking on "Rising India and the World: Foreign Policy in Modi Era" here, he said the Narendra Modi government's diplomacy made other countries take the issue of terrorism seriously. "No other country practices terrorism in the manner in which Pakistan has done. You show me anywhere in the world what Pakistan has done for so many years against India. After the 26/11 Mumbai attack, it is important for us to be clear to ourselves that this kind of behaviour and action is unacceptable and there will be consequences," said Jaishankar during interaction with the audience after the talk. While India is considered "expert in IT" (Information Technology), the neighbouring country is known as an "expert in International Terrorism", the minister quipped. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, India successfully made other countries realize that terrorism can harm ...

Death toll from floods near 1,700, puts pressure on Pak's fragile economy

The death toll from the cataclysmic floods in Pakistan neared 1,700, officials said on Saturday, a disaster that has displaced over 33 million and caused economic damages to the tune of USD 40 billion, fanning fears that the cash-strapped country may not be able to meet its debt obligations. At least 15 people have died in the last 24 hours, taking the toll to 1,693, with 12,865 being injured, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the chief national organisation tasked to deal with natural calamities. Record monsoon rains and melting glaciers in northern mountains submerged nearly one-third of the country, wiping off fertile agricultural lands, destroying property and putting more than 33 million or one-seventh of Pakistan's population without access to food and water. The threat of waterborne diseases is also adding to the travails, making it one of the world's deadliest crises this year. The floods have destroyed 13,074 km of roads, 410 bridges and ...