Latest news with #EidulAzha
Express Tribune
13 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Brutal 'honour killing' caught on video sparks nationwide outrage
Listen to article A horrifying video emerged on social media on Sunday, depicting the brutal killing of a man and a woman in Balochistan, in the name of so-called honour, sending shockwaves across the country and beyond. As the video spread like wildfire, the public recoiled in disbelief. The graphic images sparked immediate outrage, igniting a firestorm of condemnation from civil society, religious scholars, and political leaders alike. The victims, whose identities were not immediately known, were allegedly targeted by their own family or community members — a grim reminder of the archaic and deadly tradition of honour killings that continues to plague parts of Pakistan. The video purportedly showed that a few armed men were apparently shooting and killing a man and a woman publically. In this video, all the people were speaking in the Brahui language and their accent was the same as that spoken in different areas of Quetta and Mastung, according to BBC. The video is apparently made in a mountainous area where there is a desert around a dirt road. In the beginning, several vehicles and Jeeps can be seen in broad daylight, outside of which there are several people. Apparently, these men ask a woman dressed in a red dress and a wheatish chador to stand some distance from the vehicles. During this, the woman could be heard in Brahui that "only shooting is allowed, nothing else". The woman did not resist, rather stood quietly away from the vehicles. After this conversation, a few shots were also fired one by one. According to BBC, it was not clear in the video whether the man or the woman was shot first, however, after the first round of shots, a voice is heard saying "kill Him," which is followed by the sound of multiple shots. Talking to the media at the Karachi Press Club, Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind confirmed that the incident took place in Balochistan, but did not say when and where in the province. He revealed that one accused had been arrested. "The names of the deceased have been obtained, and the tribes they belonged to, but these cannot be disclosed at this time," he said. Their bodies had not yet been recovered, he continued, saying further that their relatives had not filed any police case. "The pictures of those seen in the video were given to Nadra [National Database and Registration Authority] and with their help one of the accused is arrested. Raids are being conducted to arrest the other accused," Rind said. "Initially, this incident seemed to be taking place on Eidul Azha [which was celebrated in June] but we cannot confirm it yet. Both the families of the murdered persons have not filed any police report, therefore, now a case has been registered on the government's complaint," Rind said. Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti took notice of the incident, ordering a thorough investigation and a detailed report on the matter. He ordered law-enforcement agencies to arrest all perpetrators without delay. "The rule of law will not be compromised. Those who challenge the writ of the state will be dealt with firmly. No one will be allowed to take the law into their own hands," Bugti said in a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Secretariat. Rind assured the public that the provincial government would take all legal steps to ensure justice is served. "The Balochistan government will not remain a silent spectator in the face of such cruelty. All legal means will be used to bring those responsible to justice," Rind said. Meanwhile, the provincial government has also appealed to the public for assistance in identifying the suspects. Citizens are being urged to share any information that may help in locating the individuals involved.
Arab News
4 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan sees $16 million in online animal sales during Eid — central bank
KARACHI: Pakistanis spent more than 4.7 billion rupees (approximately $16.3 million) on sacrificial animals through digital transactions during Eid-ul-Azha this year, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said on Tuesday, highlighting a growing shift toward cashless commerce in one of the country's most traditional and informal markets. The digital sales were part of the central bank's 'Go Cashless in Cattle Markets Campaign 2025,' launched to promote financial inclusion and reduce cash handling during the three-day religious festival that began on June 7. The annual holiday, also known as Eid Al-Adha, marks the Islamic ritual of animal sacrifice, during which millions of Pakistanis buy goats, cows, and camels, often in large, informal marketplaces. The SBP said the campaign was implemented in collaboration with 24 commercial banks and covered 54 major cattle markets across the country. 'The campaign was successfully implemented in 54 major cattle markets across Pakistan, resulting in 64,553 transactions valued at Rs 4.656 billion,' the central bank said in a statement. Eid-related animal trade represents a significant part of Pakistan's informal economy. By introducing digital payment options in livestock markets, the central bank aims to improve financial transparency and support the government's broader goal of documenting the cash-based economy. Pakistan is currently under a $7 billion loan program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which encourages reforms including digitization of financial services to boost tax collection and economic stability. 'Digital payment systems play a vital role in modern economies by offering transparency, reducing fraud risks, and providing secure, convenient, and inclusive access to financial services,' the SBP said. It added that such initiatives were crucial for building trust and driving adoption of digital platforms, especially among underserved groups like livestock traders. The central bank said feedback from buyers and sellers in the cattle markets was positive, with participants appreciating the reduced reliance on physical cash. 'This campaign was highly appreciated by the buyers and sellers in the cattle markets, as it reduced their reliance on cash,' the bank noted. Najeeb Ahmed Warsi, head of online trading at Foundation Securities Ltd, called the initiative a meaningful step toward modernizing Pakistan's financial landscape. 'This campaign is more than just numbers, it's a clear step forward in Pakistan's journey toward a digitally-driven, cashless economy,' he said. 'By digitizing traditional markets, we're building trust, increasing financial inclusion, and setting the stage for a safer, smarter financial ecosystem.' Warsi noted that the partnership between 24 commercial banks and the central bank allowed the initiative to scale effectively across the country. 'This groundbreaking initiative earned widespread praise from both buyers and sellers, who welcomed the shift from cash to digital payments, and transparency during one of the busiest market seasons,' he added. The SBP said it would continue fostering collaborations across the financial sector to further Pakistan's transition to a digitally inclusive economy.
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Cattle deals hit Rs4.6b online
Listen to article The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) announced on Wednesday that 64,553 digital transactions worth Rs4.656 billion were carried out in cattle markets during Eidul Azha in early June. According to the central bank, the transactions were processed under the SBP's "Go Cashless in Cattle Markets Campaign 2025", which aimed to reduce reliance on cash and promote Digital Financial Services (DFS). The campaign was implemented in 54 major cattle markets nationwide, with participation from 24 partner banks. An award ceremony was held on Wednesday, in Karachi by the SBP Banking Services Corporation (SBP BSC) to honour high-performing banks. SBP BSC MD Maraj Mahmood appreciated the banks' efforts in promoting digital payments. Executive Director, DFS Group, SBP, Sohail Javaad, highlighted SBP's focus on building a digital economy.
Express Tribune
10-07-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Rotting Eid waste sparks health crisis
Massive heaps of waste, including animal entrails, blood and trash from Eidul Azha sacrifices, have piled up to 15-20 feet high at the Losar dumping ground in Rawalpindi. The site, already overwhelmed, is now emitting a foul stench worsened by recent monsoon rains and sunshine. Animal remains dumped over the past month have become a breeding ground for disease. Residents report outbreaks of eye infections, stomach and throat ailments, hepatitis, cancer, and various skin diseases in surrounding areas. In addition to Rawalpindi's waste, garbage from the newly formed Murree district and its Kotli Sattian tehsil is also being dumped at Losar. Around 20-30 garbage trucks from Islamabad and 30-40 from Rawalpindi offload waste here daily, without proper disposal — vehicles simply dump the trash in open areas. The 1,200-kanal landfill has turned into a mountain range of filth. Attempts by locals to prevent Islamabad's waste from being dumped in Rawalpindi have failed. The Environmental Protection and Climate Change Department has upheld the practice, and court battles initiated by residents have also ended in defeat. Locals Chaudhry Raheel, Fayaz Gilani, and Haji Ibrahim said they set up a medical camp near the dumping ground and conducted check-ups for area residents. Results claimed that 65 per cent of the people were infected with hepatitis, with cases also found among children. Eye and throat diseases were widespread. They added that during the previous PTI-led Punjab government, plans were approved to shift the dumping ground to Chak Beli Khan — a remote area. Land covering 1,000 kanals was acquired for this purpose, and a modern waste disposal plant, including a project to generate electricity from residual waste, was approved. The current government has shelved the project. Deputy Medical Superintendent of Benazir Bhutto General Hospital, Dr Inayat, stated that medical and lab waste often ends up in the dumping ground and must be treated with special equipment. If not, it poses serious health risks. He emphasised that chemical sprays should be applied daily at the site and that waste should be buried in dug-out pits rather than dumped openly. Fayaz Gilani, chairman of a local action committee, said surveys show the waste has contaminated underground water. The group now plans to file a petition in the Rawalpindi bench of the High Court.
Business Recorder
05-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Pricing mechanism across country: DCs directed to analyse wholesale, retail prices regularly
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal directed all deputy commissioners of the provinces to compare wholesale and retail prices regularly and take corrective action where necessary. The minister urged the provincial governments to actively supervise and support this process. He also directed the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) to provide login reports to chief secretaries on a monthly basis. Federal Minister for Planning chaired a meeting of the National Price Monitoring Committee (NPMC) in Islamabad on Friday to review the inflationary trends and pricing mechanism across the country. The meeting was attended by the chief economist, chief statistician, senior officials from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, and representatives from relevant federal and provincial departments. He emphasised the importance of effective monitoring through the Price Scorecard system. He highlighted during the meeting that the chief secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa accessed the system 114 times, while Sindh accessed it only 10 times, Punjab 6 times, and Balochistan did not log in at all. Among Deputy Commissioners, Islamabad logged in 27 times, Karachi 6 times, and Quetta 4 times. The minister expressed serious concern over the underutilisation of the Price Scorecard by provincial administrations. The meeting was informed that prices of several essential items, including LPG, bananas, mustard oil, chickpeas, and moong dal, have decreased. However, sugar prices have surged, reaching nearly Rs190 per kilogramme in most cities. The country has witnessed a decline in sugar production this year, with output falling to 5.8 million tons from 6.8 million tons. In response, the Ministry of Food has decided to import 0.5 million tons of sugar to stabilise the market. During the meeting, the Chief Statistician presented key data indicating that the inflation rate for the fiscal year 2024-25 stood at 4.5 per cent, significantly down from 23.4 per cent recorded during the previous year. Minister Iqbal highlighted this as the lowest inflation rate in the past nine years, reflecting the government's effective policy interventions and improved supply-side management. In urban areas, food inflation was recorded at 4.2 per cent, compared to 6.2 per cent last year. However, supply chain disruptions due to highway closures in Sindh were noted as a contributing factor in localised price fluctuations. Minister Iqbal also called for the development of an advance supply and demand plan for the upcoming Ramadan to avoid shortages and price hikes. He appreciated the stability in food prices during Eidul Azha and stressed the need to maintain this momentum through coordinated efforts among federal and provincial stakeholders. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
