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Arab News
31-07-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan ruling party chief discusses strengthening bilateral defense, economic ties with Saudi envoy
ISLAMABAD: The president of Pakistan's ruling Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party Nawaz Sharif and his daughter, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, met Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki on Thursday to discuss strengthening bilateral defense, political and economic ties between the two countries, an official of the Punjab government said. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy close defense, economic and diplomatic ties. In recent months, the two countries have sought closer economic cooperation, with Islamabad and Riyadh signing 34 business-to-business agreements last year worth $2.8 billion. During their meeting, Sharif and the Punjab chief minister conveyed their sincere wishes and respect for Saudi Arabia's King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the public relations officer to the Punjab chief minister said in a message circulated to media. 'The meeting included discussions on matters of mutual interest, economic cooperation, defense partnership, and unity of the Muslim Ummah,' the statement said. It added that both sides reaffirmed to further strengthen the historic, political, economic and defense ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. 'Both sides agreed to expand defense partnership, joint training, intelligence sharing and mutual cooperation,' it said. The Punjab chief minister said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia's relationship is based on mutual trust, shared values and long-standing brotherhood. 'Relations with Saudi Arabia are a central pillar of Pakistan's foreign policy, which continues to grow stronger in political, economic, and other sectors,' she was quoted as saying. Nawaz said Islamabad is grateful to Saudi Arabia for hosting 2.5 million Pakistani expatriates in the Kingdom. 'Maintaining close and continuous contact with Saudi Arabia at the consular level is a top priority of the Punjab government,' she added. Apart from being a key regional ally and close business partner, Saudi Arabia also happens to be the largest source of foreign remittances for Pakistan. These remittances are a lifeline for Pakistan's cash-strapped economy, playing a critical role in stabilizing foreign exchange reserves and its supporting balance of payments.
BBC News
22-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Big cat owners hide their animals amid Pakistani crackdown
The smell hanging in the air is the first sign there's something unusual about the farmhouse on the outskirts of one of Pakistan's largest cities, inside, the cause becomes clear: the property is home to 26 lions, tigers and cubs – and belongs to rain, he says, has turned the ground into the animals are "happy here", he insists. "When they see us, they come over, they eat... they're not aggressive."Almost instantly, one of the lions roars."That one is aggressive, it's his nature," Fayyaz says. Fayyaz loves big cats. From this facility – thought to be the largest of its kind in private hands nationwide – the 38-year-old has sold cubs and breeding pairs for the last 10 years. He is widely considered to be one of the biggest lion dealers in decades these animals – lions, tigers, pumas, cheetahs and jaguars – have been a sign of power, status and even political fealty in the country. The tiger, for example, is a symbol of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. More recently, with the dawn of short video social media apps like TikTok and Instagram, there's been a surge in ownership, with lions now sometimes even brought along to wedding in the wake of a pet lion escaping and attacking a woman and her two children as they walked down the street in Lahore, the government has launched a crackdown – one which is already impacting people like Fayyaz. Among the new rules, owners must pay a one-time registration fee of 50,000 Pakistani rupees ($176; £129) per animal and farms are to keep a maximum of 10 big cats from no more than two species. The sites must also be open to the public for new laws could result in a fine of up to 200,000 Pakistani rupees and, for the worst offenders, up to seven years in another property on the outskirts of Lahore, five lion cubs – their coats muddied – pace around a cage."But where are the parents?" a wildlife official asks there are several empty cages. Wildlife officials are here after receiving a tip-off that a man was holding lions and cubs without a licence, and was breeding them for sale illegally. By the time they arrived, the owner was missing, leaving his caretaker holding the bag."I was only hired two weeks ago," he complains, as he was placed in the back of a truck and taken away for questioning. The officials suspect the owner may have taken the cubs' parents away and hidden rescued cubs have now been transferred to a public zoo in Lahore, and isolated for medical in a country where big cats have been sold for decades, officials worry the raids are barely scratching the surface. They believe there are in fact hundreds, if not thousands, of undeclared big cats in the state of Punjab alone."This is going to take at least six months," Mubeen Ellahi, the director general of Wildlife & Parks, tells the BBC. He expects 30-40% of the lions in Punjab will not be voluntarily is also another complication. Mubeen explains inbreeding has become a common practice in Pakistan, and some big cats may have to be euthanised. "They have a lot of health problems. We are still considering the policy," he added. He pointed to another incident in December last year, when another lion escaped in Lahore, and was then shot and at Fayyaz's property, he is considering what to do official told the BBC they're dissatisfied with the size of the cages, and that the farm needs to convert itself into a zoo. Fayyaz now has three months to animal rights groups believe more needs to be done for these animals."We've been calling for sanctuaries, not zoos," Altamush Saeed told the BBC. He wants more transparency of the conditions inside the zoos, and for the government to properly address the problem of privately owning big cats."We need a systematic solution, not stopgaps."Additional reporting by Usman Zahid and Malik Mudassir
Arab News
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Opposition in Pakistan's KP cries foul as assembly session adjourns without oath-taking
ISLAMABAD: Opposition lawmakers in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province protested on Sunday after the assembly's session was adjourned without the oath-taking of members on reserved parliamentary seats for women and minorities. The matter of reserved seats has become a controversial one in Pakistan. The country's top court ruled in June that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan was not entitled to reserved seats in the national and provincial legislatures. The dispute about the reserved seats stems from the February 8 general elections, where PTI candidates contested as independents after the party lost its electoral symbol for not holding valid intra-party elections, as required under the Elections Act. Despite winning the most general seats in the national polls, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) ruled that PTI was ineligible for reserved seats for women and minorities in parliament, which are allocated based on proportional representation from among the seats won by political parties. The reserved seats were then allocated to other political parties, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party and its coalition partners. At least 21 women and four minority members were supposed to take oath as members of the KP Assembly on reserved seats today, Sunday, as per local media reports. 'New members poised to take their oath on reserved seats in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly were unable to do so today due to a lack of quorum, forcing the session to be adjourned,' state television channel PTV News reported. The reserved seats were crucial for the PTI, which is the largest party in KP and has formed its government in the northwestern province consecutively since 2013. According to state media, PTI lawmaker Sher Ali Afridi highlighted the lack of quorum early in the session. As attendance remained insufficient, Speaker Babar Saleem Swati adjourned proceedings until 2:00 p.m. on July 24. 'Addressing media in Peshawar, Leader of the Opposition Dr. Ibaadullah sharply criticized the provincial government, stating it was 'playing with the assembly,'' PTV News reported. 'He lamented that the province has been deprived of its due representation in the Senate for more than a year. ' KP GOVERNOR TO ADMINISTER OATH Following the delay, KP opposition lawmakers filed a petition at the Peshawar High Court, urging the chief justice to nominate an authority to administer the oath to lawmakers on reserved seats. The PHC subsequently issued an order seen by Arab News, in which it nominated KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi to administer the oath to the lawmakers 'at the earliest.' PTI's KP chapter criticized the verdict on social media platform X. عدلیہ ریاست کا ستون ہوتی ہے لیکن بدقسمتی سے پاکستانی عدلیہ ایک زیلی ادارہ بن کے رہ گئی ہے جس کو لوگ اپنے مفادات میں استعمال کرتے ہیں۔ ان عدالتوں کے دروازے کبھی رات کو 12 بجے کھل جاتے ہیں تو کبھی اتوار کو لیکن عام ادمی کو انصاف دینے کے لیے کبھی نہیں کھلتے ۔۔۔… — PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (@PTIKPOfficial) July 20, 2025 'The judiciary is supposed to be a pillar of the state, but unfortunately, Pakistan's judiciary has been reduced to a subordinate institution that people use for their own interests,' it wrote, sharing a copy of the PHC's order. The addition of new lawmakers in KP Assembly opposed to the PTI will numerically strengthen the opposition while dealing yet another blow to Khan's party. The former prime minister's party has faced legal and political challenges since the downfall of its administration in a no-confidence vote in April 2022. Khan's party launched a 90-day 'do-or-die' anti-government protest drive earlier this month, saying it would reach its 'peak' on August 5, marking two years since the former premier was jailed on corruption charges.
Arab News
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
Pakistan dominate IBSF World Snooker Championship in Bahrain with twin titles
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. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport 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. 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.
Express Tribune
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Minister denies politics inFC revamp
Minister of State for Interior and senior PMLN leader Senator Talal Chaudhary has said that Frontier Constabulary (FC) is being restructured and renamed Federal Constabulary only to bolster internal and national security of Pakistan. He was addressing a news conference at the Deputy Commissioner's office on Monday. FC Commandant Riaz Nazir Gara was also present. The minister's statement came a day after President Asif Ali Zardari promulgated an ordinance empowering the federal government to transform the FC, a border security force, into the Federal Constabulary to maintain law and order, supplement the law enforcement agencies, and address the diverse security needs in a coordinated manner. "This will be a new force. This will be a stronger force. We need this force for internal security," Chaudhry said, adding that the president had already approved amendments in the law introducing changes in the paramilitary force. The decision to revamp FC prompts concern among opposition parties and human rights groups that it could be used as a tool of political repression. The minister; however, said that revamping of FC is not a politically-motivated decision but it is an institutional necessity to improve coordination, compensation and capability of this force across all provinces and territories of Pakistan. It is purely a defence-related issue to strengthen national defence by providing support to the law enforcement agencies, he added. He said that the FC had played a pivotal role in maintaining peace and security within the country and along its borders for nearly a century, yet this force has not been accorded the recognition and benefits comparable to other security forces in Pakistan. He lamented that despite limited salaries and fewer privileges, FC personnel have consistently served the nation with unwavering dedication. "Now Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi have decided to transform FC into a federal force to address the disparity with upgraded structure and scope under the new name of Federal Constabulary," he added. He clarified that while the name is being changed, the identity and core function of the FC as a constabulary remain intact. The restructuring would help ensure that its personnel receive salaries, training and benefits equal to those of other national security forces, he added. He said that the FC has long involvement in combating drug trafficking, smuggling and supporting civil law enforcement agencies during sensitive events like Muharram, elections and anti-polio campaigns. Now it would continue to carry out these responsibilities under its new federal framework, he added. He said that with the reorganisation, the jurisdiction of Federal Constabulary would be expanded to include all four provinces as well as Gilgit/Baltistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir. He said that recruitment will be opened to all citizens from across the country and the federal government would bear all operational and financial responsibilities, relieving the provinces of any budgetary burden. The FC revamp would include updated training modules, capacity-building initiatives and a modernized command structure designed to uplift the morale and effectiveness of its personnel, he added. FC Commandant Riaz Nazir Gara provided historical context and said that the FC was established in 1913, originally known as the North-West Frontier Constabulary. It was operated under an act that is now over 100 years old. Recognising the urgent need for reform, he said that the FC would be realigned into a more robust and federally managed institution with clearly defined command tiers including platoons, companies and wings. He said that the FC has 41 wings and its 36 wings are currently deployed under the security division. The revamped structure would streamline these units for improving efficiency, he added. Commandant Gara disclosed that 423 FC personnel have laid down their lives in the line of duty which is a testament to the commitment and sacrifice of this force. The reorganisation would help honor these sacrifices by providing a better command structure, improved facilities and clearer career pathways for FC members, he added. The State Minister and FC Commandant both urged the public, media and stakeholders to carefully read the new ordinance related to the Federal Constabulary to avoid misconceptions. This transformation is a strategic and institutional reform which would help address the internal security challenges and enhance operational capability of one of the oldest law enforcement bodies of the country, they added. Meanwhile, the development prompted concern among opposition parties and human rights groups that it could be used as a tool of political repression. The announcement came after the PTI said it would stage nationwide protests starting on August 5, the second anniversary of party founder Imran Khan's arrest. Several such protests since his August 2023 arrest have turned violent, in some cases paralysing the capital Islamabad for days. PTI leader Zulfikar Bukhari said the changes should be subject to parliamentary discussion. The new force "should not be used as a gimmick to silence political opponents, as has been previously witnessed when the government applied such laws against the PTI leadership and supporters", he said. His concern was echoed by Haris Khalique, secretary of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. "We are alarmed by the changes being made to the security and law enforcement structure of the country without any debate in parliament," Khalique said.
