Latest news with #LahorePressClub
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Indian aircraft: Pakistan airspace to remain closed until June 24
LAHORE: The Pakistani airspace will remain closed to Indian aircraft until June 24 as per the government decision. Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) Director Media Saifullah Khan expressed these views while addressing the Lahore Press Club's 'Meet the Press' programme on Thursday. He noted that reports from Indian media indicate that India has faced significant losses due to the closure of Pakistani airspace. He pointed out that when the situation worsened due to the India-Pakistan conflict, various airlines changed their routes; however, all airlines have now returned to Pakistan's airspace. Talking about recent developments regarding the airports, he said a new system will be introduced at Chitral and Gilgit airports, allowing flights to operate regardless of weather conditions. 'Moreover, Skardu Airport was currently undergoing upgrades while a campaign will be launched in collaboration with the local government on the disposal of garbage in conjunction with Eid-ul-Adha,' he added. Khan disclosed that incidents of bird strikes at Karachi Airport have decreased by 15 percent while there have been 36 reported incidents of bird strikes at Lahore Airport, adding that airports are always built away from residential areas for safety reasons. Regarding the Pakistan Airports Authority, he stated that it was established in August 2024, created following regulations set by the international aviation authority. 'The quality of the communication systems has improved since the formation of the Pakistan Airports Authority; the decision to establish this authority followed several air accidents in the country,' he added. He clarified that there is an established policy regarding the outsourcing of airport services. On this occasion, he was grateful for the invitation to address the Lahore Press Club, saying it brought him great joy to meet with senior journalists, and he had always learned from their experience. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Indian aircraft: Pak airspace to remain closed until June 24
LAHORE: The Pakistani airspace will remain closed to Indian aircraft until June 24 as per the government decision. Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) Director Media Saifullah Khan expressed these views while addressing the Lahore Press Club's 'Meet the Press' programme on Thursday. He noted that reports from Indian media indicate that India has faced significant losses due to the closure of Pakistani airspace. He pointed out that when the situation worsened due to the India-Pakistan conflict, various airlines changed their routes; however, all airlines have now returned to Pakistan's airspace. Talking about recent developments regarding the airports, he said a new system will be introduced at Chitral and Gilgit airports, allowing flights to operate regardless of weather conditions. 'Moreover, Skardu Airport was currently undergoing upgrades while a campaign will be launched in collaboration with the local government on the disposal of garbage in conjunction with Eid-ul-Adha,' he added. Khan disclosed that incidents of bird strikes at Karachi Airport have decreased by 15 percent while there have been 36 reported incidents of bird strikes at Lahore Airport, adding that airports are always built away from residential areas for safety reasons. Regarding the Pakistan Airports Authority, he stated that it was established in August 2024, created following regulations set by the international aviation authority. 'The quality of the communication systems has improved since the formation of the Pakistan Airports Authority; the decision to establish this authority followed several air accidents in the country,' he added. He clarified that there is an established policy regarding the outsourcing of airport services. On this occasion, he was grateful for the invitation to address the Lahore Press Club, saying it brought him great joy to meet with senior journalists, and he had always learned from their experience. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Airlines return to Pak skies
Air traffic has returned to normal following recent disruptions caused by Pakistan-India conflict. All international airlines have resumed operations through Pakistan's airspace – except for Indian carriers, which remain restricted. Talking to media at the Lahore Press Club, Director of Public Relations for the Pakistan Airport Authority (PAA), Saifullah, said that international airlines had temporarily rerouted flights during the recent escalation but have since returned to their regular routes. He confirmed that, as per the government's directive, Pakistan's airspace will remain closed to Indian airlines until June 24. Skardu Airport is being upgraded while a new system is being introduced at Chitral and Gilgit Airport. Under a new system, flight operations will continue regardless of weather conditions, said the PAA director. He said bird strike incidents had gone down by 15 per cent in Karachi, while 36 such incidents were reported in Lahore. The PAA official said the authority will run a drive in collaboration with the local governments to dispose of offal during Eidul Azha. He said that there was a policy to outsource airports. Meanwhile, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has imposed a ban on flying drones, kites, pigeons, and other objects around Islamabad Airport. The restriction is placed following bird strike incidents, which cause damage to aircraft, and will remain in effect for a month. The areas around the Noor Khan Airbase and Qasim Airbase will also come under the restriction. Deputy Commissioner Hasan Waqar Cheema has issued a notification under Section 144. Besides, there is also a ban on aerial firing for a month.
Express Tribune
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Punjab minrity minister, Sikh leaders condemn Indian drone strike on Nankana Sahib
Indian Drone Strike on Nankana Sahib Condemned as Violation of Religious Freedom and International Law Photo: FILE Listen to article In an emergency press conference held at the Lahore Press Club, Punjab's Minister for Minority Affairs and Chairman of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, strongly condemned an alleged Indian drone strike on the sacred site of Nankana Sahib. Terming it a blatant violation of international law, religious freedom, and human rights, Arora demanded immediate international attention to what he described as a provocative act. The press conference was attended by Lahore Press Club President Arshad Ansari and prominent Sikh figures including Sardar Bishan Singh, Satwant Kaur, Sardar Jaskaran Singh, and Kalyan Singh Kalyan. Arora accused India of deliberately targeting mosques, religious sites, and minority communities as part of a broader conspiracy to malign Pakistan's peaceful image on the global stage. He dismissed the recent Pahalgam incident as a "fabricated and orchestrated drama" aimed at misleading the international community by falsely implicating Pakistan. Highlighting the longstanding bond between Pakistan and the Sikh community, Arora said that Sikh pilgrims from around the world who visited Pakistan during the recent Baisakhi festival had praised the country's hospitality and religious tolerance. He further stated that India was attempting to incite hatred between Muslim and Sikh communities and engaging in psychological warfare against Pakistan. He categorically rejected Indian allegations regarding attacks on Amritsar and the Golden Temple, calling them baseless and misleading. 'Pakistan holds deep respect for the religious sentiments of its Sikh brothers and would never consider such actions,' Arora affirmed. The minister reiterated that religious minorities in Pakistan enjoy complete freedom of worship, and that the state treats all faiths and communities with equal dignity and respect. He urged the United Nations and international human rights organizations to take urgent notice of India's aggression and its campaign of hate against minorities. Speaking at the event, Lahore Press Club President Arshad Ansari criticized the Indian media for spreading venom and reaffirmed the Pakistani media's support for the state and armed forces. He added that the doors of the Lahore Press Club remain open to all religious minorities, especially the Sikh community. Sikh leaders present at the conference echoed Arora's concerns and asserted that Pakistan is a peaceful nation committed to the protection of minorities and interfaith harmony. They pledged full support to the Pakistani armed forces and warned that any act of Indian aggression would be met with a strong response.
Express Tribune
12-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
NP slams injustice against Balochistan
Senator Jan Muhammad Buledi, a central leader of National Party, on Friday lamented that Balochistan's long-standing democratic commitment continues to be repaid with betrayal and silence. He accused the federal system of treating the province like a "stepchild of the state". Speaking at the Lahore Press Club, Buledi vehemently blasted the historical and ongoing injustices faced by Balochistan, adding that people of the province have made a prolonged and sincere contribution to democratic development in Pakistan, but they remain neglected. "This democracy we see today is the outcome of decades of political struggle," he said. "But our federal system has failed to respect the political, economic and cultural rights of the nations that reside in this region." Buledi said a particular mindset in the country has repeatedly attempted to suppress and deny the existence of different national identities, their languages, cultures and history. "This very mindset led to the disintegration of Pakistan in 1971," he added. He pointed out that successive civilian governments, operating under a majority-rule mindset and a bureaucratic system unwilling to accommodate diversity, have further alienated Balochistan. "Our establishment believes a presidential system is more suitable and even wants to divide the country into 32 or 48 provinces. This is a long-standing battle," Buledi said, accusing the military of repeatedly undermining democracy during its stints in power. "If Pakistan is to remain stable and united, the existence of its nations must be recognised, their control over natural resources respected, and the country must be run within constitutional limits," he stressed. Buledi noted that while parliament exists and a parliamentary system is in place, neither the media nor the public enjoys true freedom of speech. "The PDM was formed to end institutional interference and ensure free and fair elections, and that remains the only way to resolve issues, including those of Balochistan." He also criticised politicians for making compromises once in power. "The Baloch issue has become so chronic that it has reached a critical state. Baloch leadership has tried time and again to explain the province's concerns to Islamabad, but we're seen only as 16 seats in the assembly." "Two days ago, a political market was held in Islamabad where Balochistan was sold," he said about recent political developments.
