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Shafaq News
2 days ago
- Business
- Shafaq News
Over 300,000 visitors: Erbil's tourism sector soars this Eid
Shafaq News/ Large numbers of tourists began arriving in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, on the first day of Eid al-Adha, as the city continues to develop into a prominent tourism destination in Iraq and the wider region. Sirwan Tawfiq, Marketing Director at the Erbil Tourism Board, told Shafaq News that authorities expect to welcome over 300,000 tourists across the Kurdistan Region during the Eid holiday this year—up from 220,000 visitors during the same period last year. 'This growth is the result of extensive government facilitation measures for tourists, from easing entry procedures to offering a wide range of tourism services,' Tawfiq explained, adding that a comprehensive plan was implemented to ensure smooth visitor flow, including strengthened services in hotels and public facilities, expanded operations at tourist information centers, and full preparation of historical and recreational sites to receive guests. Public spaces across Erbil were filled with families and visitors from various Iraqi provinces and neighboring countries. Parks, shopping centers, and main streets were particularly active. Ahmed Salman, a visitor from Baghdad, said, 'This is my first Eid in Erbil, and I was impressed by how well-organized everything is. Access to tourist sites is easy, and the hospitality has been exceptional.' Sara, a tourist from Basra, noted that 'services are well provided, from hotels to transportation. Everything has been smooth, making our trip comfortable and enjoyable.' Mohammed, visiting from Najaf, remarked that Erbil offers entertainment options suitable for all age groups and added that he and his family felt safe while exploring the city.
Express Tribune
10-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Remittances boom fades in April
Listen to article Buoyant remittances, relied upon by the government to support its external financing needs, have witnessed a sharp 22% decline on a month-on-month basis in April 2025. This drop, following record inflows in March, has raised concerns over a potential current account deficit, which analysts estimate could fall between $350 and $400 million for the month. Pakistan received workers' remittances worth $ 3.2 billion in April 2025, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). This marks a 13.1% increase on a year-on-year basis, reflecting a continued trend of strong inflows from overseas Pakistanis. The cumulative inflow during Jul-Apr FY25 has now reached $31.2 billion, representing a significant 30.9% rise compared to $23.9 billion in the same period last fiscal year. Key contributors to April's inflows were Saudi Arabia ($725.4 million), the United Arab Emirates ($657.6 million), the United Kingdom ($535.3 million), and the United States ($302.4 million). "Although April's inflows were solid, they showed a month-on-month (MoM)decline when compared to the exceptionally high figure of $4.1 billion in March 2025," Commenting on the latest figures, Sana Tawfiq, Head of Research at Arif Habib Limited (AHL), told The Express Tribune. She attributed this dip to the end of seasonal factors, particularly the surge in remittances seen during Ramzan and Eid, which traditionally lead to a temporary spike in transfers. "Now that the Eid-related effect has subsided, a MoM correction was expected," she stated. Tawfiq emphasised that despite the decline from March, the average run-rate of remittances remains strong, which is a positive indicator for the economy. Tawfiq also highlighted potential challenges for the external account, forecasting a current account deficit for April 2025, estimated in the range of $350400 million. She pointed to the $5.5 billion import bill, as reflected in preliminary dat of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), as a primary factor contributing to this deficit. While the SBP's final balance-of-payments data is still pending, the trade figures suggest a temporary widening in the current account gap. However, Tawfiq maintained an optimistic outlook for the full fiscal year, projecting a current account surplus of around $1.3 billion for FY25, assuming stability in remittance inflows and controlled imports. Despite the short-term dip in April and a likely one-off deficit, the broader trend in workers' remittances remains favourable. These inflows continue to serve as a crucial buffer for Pakistan's external account, supporting macroeconomic stability amid global and domestic challenges. Ali Najib, Head of Sales Insight Securities, said the increase in workers' remittances is primarily attributable to exchange rate stability, regulatory measures against informal transfer channels, growth in overseas employment, expansion of digital banking infrastructure, and supportive government policies. These factors collectively enhanced formal remittance inflows and bolstered external sector stability. The current remittance growth, driven by increased labour migration to GCC countries, especially Saudi Arabia and the UAE, where regulatory reforms appear sustainable in the near term. However, evolving visa policies in those countries and potential economic fluctuations (especially the consistent declining trend in international oil prices) in the Gulf region pose medium-term risks to this trajectory. "Government should focus on diversifying remittance sources before it gets too late," said Najib. Waqas Ghani Kukaswadia, Research Head of JS Global, said the current trajectory appears promising, especially with sustained labour demand in Saudi Arabia in the coming years. However, sustainability from the UAE remains uncertain due to a marked slowdown in labour exports to the country. If Pakistan is able to negotiate more flexible immigration policies with the UAE, it could unlock further growth in remittances. Overall, the trend is positive, but continued momentum will depend on maintaining currency stability and expanding labour market access in key Gulf economies. The data on workers' remittances for April 2025 highlights several challenges that Pakistan faces in maintaining stable inflows from its diaspora. One key issue is the declining or volatile remittances from certain regions, such as the GCC countries (excluding Saudi Arabia and the UAE), where nations like Bahrain and Kuwait recorded negative growth in FY24. Similarly, remittances from Japan and Canada saw significant drops in FY24, with Japan experiencing a sharp 33.3% decline. While some countries, like South Africa, rebounded strongly in FY25, their earlier negative growth underscores instability in these markets. Another concern is the monthly volatility in remittance flows. For instance, remittances fell by 21.5% from March to April 2025, and the year-on-year growth for April (13.1%) was notably lower than March's 37.2%. Such fluctuations make it difficult to predict and plan for consistent foreign exchange earnings. Additionally, Pakistan's heavy reliance on a few key countriesSaudi Arabia, the UAE, the UK, and the USfor over half of its remittances poses a risk, as economic downturns or policy changes in these nations could disproportionately impact inflows. The data also reveals underperformance in some EU countries, such as the Netherlands and Denmark, where remittances contracted in FY24 despite overall growth in the region.
Ammon
19-04-2025
- Business
- Ammon
ACC, Ramallah and Bireh discuss trade cooperation
Ammon News - Chairman of Amman Chamber of Commerce (ACC), Khalil Haj Tawfiq, agreed with Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ramallah and Bireh Governorate, Abdul Ghani Attari, to increase joint cooperation and coordination in multiple areas of common interest, which would reflect "positively" on the two countries' trade at the meeting, Haj Tawfiq said ACC is "fully" prepared to support the Palestinian commercial sector and promote Palestinian products in the local market, as well as providing specialized training for the Palestinian chamber and the business Tawfiq noted the importance of working to overcome difficulties and challenges facing Jordanian-Palestinian trade exchanges, imposed by the Israeli occupation Tawfiq indicated that the Kingdom's exports to the Palestinian market amounted to JD202 million last year, compared to approximately JD47 million in to an ACC statement issued on Saturday, Hajj Tawfiq stressed the importance of strengthening joint cooperation in the coming period and activating the memorandum of understanding signed by the two emphasized the importance of supporting and promoting Palestinian products through joint exhibitions and promotion Attari praised support of the ACC and the Jordanian private sector to the Palestinian private sector to back its "resilience" in facing the Israeli economic noted difficulties facing businesspeople travel to and from Palestine due to the Israeli occupation's restrictions. Jordan, he noted, is Palestine's "vital artery, and the gateway" for other countries globally, including Arab countries, underlining importance of adopting the port of Aqaba as the main venue for Palestinian imports. Petra
Euronews
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
‘Ruled by warlords eating from rubbish bins': Yemenis reflect on one decade of devastating civil war
ADVERTISEMENT As Ramadan ended and Eid celebrations kicked off in Egypt's capital at the end of March, a group of Yemenis gathered on a Nile felucca — a wooden sailing boat typically encountered across the Mediterranean — for revelry and respite from their troubles. They are just a fraction of the estimated 600,000 Yemeni citizens now resident in Cairo. Before war in their home country broke out in March 2015, that number stood at just 70,000. In the corner of the boat sat businessmen Tawfiq and Basim, chatting over mint tea, reflecting on what life must be like for those still in Yemen. 'Children are being deprived of the joy of Eid,' lamented Basim. 'They are deprived of smiling and the happiness of childhood.' Since a Saudi-led coalition started launching airstrikes a decade ago to fight off an insurgent and increasingly radical militia called Ansar Allah – better known as the Houthis – over 230,000 people have been killed or died because of hunger and lack of access to medicine. According to the UN, around half of Yemen's 40 million inhabitants are in dire need of humanitarian assistance and protection services. The war has also caused an economic crisis with prices for basic goods skyrocketing out of reach for most due to hyperinflation, exacerbated by a breakaway currency in the Houthi-controlled north. One of the most expensive things now, complains Tawfiq, are flights. 'Yemenia Airlines is the most expensive airline in the world, and why is that? There's no competition. War is the cause and war is the basis.' A man glanced over disapprovingly, but refrained from joining the conversation. He later admitted to Euronews that he was a senior figure at the airline. Tawfiq and Basim discuss the war in Yemen Euronews/Gregory Holyoke However, even in Yemen, the patchwork of competing authorities and militias makes travelling within the country a massive challenge. Before the war, driving from the capital Sana'a to the southern port of Aden would take a few hours. Now it often takes a full day. 'It is as if you are a stranger in your own country,' Basim told Euronews. 'I hope for the end of the war and that we become one people, far from regionalism, partisanship, sectarianism.' Tawfiq jumped in: 'All countries have wars.' 'In Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria, there is at least change. But for more than 10 years, we are now under the rule of warlords who eat from rubbish bins,' he retorted morosely. 'Where is our government? Where is the United Nations?' 'Dancing on the heads of snakes' Rising out of the Arabian Sea and giving way to craggy mountains and desert, Yemen is seen as one of the likely birthplaces for the Arabic language and civilization. It was also one of the first Silk Road trading routes, making it an important economic and cultural hub. However, it was seldom ruled as one consolidated entity. Before unification under Ali Abdullah Saleh in 1990, Yemen's south was for decades a Marxist-Leninist republic, while the north was ruled by a Zaydi Shi'a imamate – the sect from which the Houthis hail – supported by Saudi Arabia. Even after unification, Saleh's regime was plagued by the constant threat of civil strife, especially with early incarnations of the Houthis in the north. The president fought six wars with them in the early 2000s. As Saleh himself said, he was constantly 'dancing on the heads of snakes'. ADVERTISEMENT When revolutionary fervour swept across the Arab world in 2011, Yemen was ripe for change. Saleh's forces reacted violently, once shooting and killing 45 protestors in what became known as the Friday of Dignity. For protestors like Tawakkol Karman, this only spurred them on. Karman won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011 for her work and became known as 'the mother of the revolution'. Speaking to Euronews from the US, she was quick to push back against the idea that the revolution led to the chaos Yemen now finds itself in. 'This is completely untrue,' she said. 'The fact is that the war in Yemen came as a result of the 'counter-revolution' by the Houthis usurping power in Sana'a in 2014, after three years of transitional democracy.' ADVERTISEMENT A boy joins in traditional dancing as Yemenis celebrate Eid in Cairo Euronews/Gregory Holyoke For others, even the Houthi takeover itself wasn't cause for immediate alarm. Campaigner and analyst Nadwa al-Dawsari explained that, back in 2014, 'many of us Yemenis did not realise how dangerous the Houthis are and what they're capable of.' 'We had no idea that the Houthis were already in charge, and we didn't realise that they had an entire IRGC and Hezbollah expertise machine behind them,' al-Dawsari told Euronews. What ensued became infamous. A lightning expansion by the Houthis, with the transitional president Hadi bundled out of the country at night to Saudi Arabia, who – in late March 2015 – launched the first of thousands of airstrikes to repel the Houthis. A country redivided The following years saw fierce fighting, with the Houthis laying millions of landmines across Yemen and the Saudi-led coalition launching over 25,000 airstrikes, killing almost 20,000 people, including 1,400 children, according to researchers. ADVERTISEMENT Edmund Fitton-Brown, the British ambassador to Yemen from 2015 to 2017, explained to Euronews that internal political changes in Saudi Arabia may have affected the coalition's decision to intervene. 'Mohammed bin Salman at that time was still emerging as a power in Saudi Arabia. And this was really his sort of first chance to make a big statement as a leader,' he said. 'Of course, it hasn't worked out particularly well for him … but I think they were conducting the campaign in reasonably good faith.' Meanwhile, retired Saudi Major General Abdullah Al Qahtani contended that his country wasn't involved enough, despite being intimately entangled in Yemeni affairs for decades and now housing the partially exiled Internationally Recognised Government. ADVERTISEMENT Saudi Arabia also hosted ousted President Saleh, until he returned to Yemen to form an ill-fated alliance with the Houthis, who later killed him. 'If I have anything to say about Saudi Arabia's mistakes in Yemen, it is that it did not impose, for a very long time, on our brothers in Yemen the importance of establishing an institutional state,' the major general told Euronews from Riyadh. Related Who are Yemen's Houthi rebels who are attacking Red Sea ships? The Houthis are the epitome of 21st-century non-state actors However, many inside Yemen felt very different about Saudi involvement, even if they disliked or opposed the Houthis. The devastation on the ground had a profound effect on Yemenis. Back on the felucca stood Ahmed in traditional Yemeni dress, including the jambiya dagger. 'I just hope that instead of supporting Yemen with missiles, they would support it with money. They would support it with things that benefit the country,' he sighed. ADVERTISEMENT 'Under existential threat' As Ahmed goes off to dance on the top deck, Leila Lutf Al-Thawr comes over. After the revolution, she created the centre-left, non-aligned Arab Hope Party. She hails from the capital and is desperate to return, but fears the consequences. 'I want to go back, but of course I'm worried that if I do, the Houthis will take me as a hostage,' Lutf Al-Thawr told Euronews. Since taking over Sana'a, the Houthis have imposed an increasingly authoritarian state. They have been accused by the UN and human rights organisations of widespread use of arbitrary detention and execution. The group has particularly targeted women and children, recruiting child soldiers and an all-female morality police force called the Zainabiyat, who have been documented as using vicious, often sexual violence against women. ADVERTISEMENT Yet people like Leila worry that the Saudi-led campaign may have played into the Houthis' hand. She shouts over the increasingly loud music that 'the Houthis are so smart'. 'They know how and to manipulate their opposition's actions,' she explained. 'The Yemeni government, all of them, do not understand the situation in Yemen and how to move Yemenis. The Houthis know. They studied Yemeni society.' Members of the Yemeni community in Cairo gathered on a Nile boat for Eid celebrations Euronews/Gregory Holyoke A scholar who used to be close to the Houthi family but wanted to remain anonymous for their and their family's safety, agreed, adding that the group play on the historical trauma felt by many Shi'a Muslims. 'Shi'ism arose from the marginalisation and killing of Imam Ali and the martyrdom of Hussein ibn Ali at the Battle of Karbala. Such events have provided long-lasting sources of grievance and mobilisation,' they explained. ADVERTISEMENT In the year 680, Imam Husayn ibn Ali – grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and son of the fourth caliph Ali – and his small group of soldiers were outnumbered and massacred by an army sent by the Umayyad caliph Yazid I at the city of Karbala in northern Iraq. The fallout caused a religious schism between what are now known as the Sunni and Shi'a branches of Islam. Speaking on the war itself, the scholar concluded that 'it hardened (the Houthis') ideological stance, reinforcing their sense of being under existential threat.' From ceasefire to speedboats In 2022, a more sustainable, if fragile, ceasefire was agreed by the parties in Yemen and the country uneasily relaxed into stalemate. The looming threat of gunfire and airstrikes somewhat receded. It led some to question the Houthis' durability and ability to govern when there was no one to actively fight. Then in November 2023, the Houthis launched a series of drone and missile attacks on commercial shipping they claimed was connected to Israel, in response to the latter's campaign against Hamas in Gaza. ADVERTISEMENT In the year that followed, they attacked over 90 vessels, hijacking one and sinking another. A US-led coalition responded with its own airstrikes on areas inside Yemen. For ordinary Yemeni citizens, the spectre of violence at any moment returned. It has also given the Houthis a new enemy that jeopardised peace with old ones. Major General Al Qahtani said that, although Saudi Arabia wasn't involved in the current strikes, it seemed like negotiations between his country and the Houthis had stalled. Despite this, Tawakkol Karman is adamant that all is not lost. 'I do not regret the revolution, nor am I pessimistic about the future, nor have I lost my revolutionary faith,' she says defiantly. 'I have always believed that revolutions will ultimately triumph.' As the felucca approached the dock, a smaller vessel bobbed past, two frayed and discoloured Saudi flags limping in the light breeze. ADVERTISEMENT A shy young man sidled up. When asked about the situation in his homeland, quietly, he said, 'The Houthis' power is the Yemeni people. When they bomb and attack Israel or ships, the Yemeni people think they are protecting them.' Leila Lutf Al Thawr drives back after the celebration Euronews/Gregory Holyoke As Layla drives back from the celebrations, she shrugs and laughs sadly at the young man's comment. 'It's so silly, actually. They should have learned from before. From the Saudis, from everything that happened in Yemen for 10 years.' 'Ten years and nobody understands what was going on. It's really insane,' she ponders as she steers the car away from the bright Nile corniche and into the warren of Cairene streets. ADVERTISEMENT
Shafaq News
10-02-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraqi President sues PM over Kurdistan salary crisis
Shafaq News / On Monday, Hawari Tawfiq, Director General of the Presidency, detailed the lawsuit filed by President Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid against Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani. Tawfiq emphasized that the President is not an adversary of any constitutional authority and that the legal action—submitted before the Federal Court—is intended to resolve the ongoing salary crisis affecting employees in the Kurdistan Region. "We wish to make it clear to our dear Iraqi people that our country is at a critical juncture. It is imperative for everyone to uphold national unity and a strong sense of responsibility toward important issues." He further noted that President Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid, as the guardian of the constitution and a symbol of national unity, stands in solidarity with all Iraqis. Tawfiq underscored that the sacrifices made by the Iraqi people over decades have enabled the establishment of a democratic, federal parliamentary system that upholds dignity and ensures a decent standard of living. He pointed to the Tripartite Federal Budget Law, enacted in 2023, as a roadmap for distributing Iraq's wealth, thereby defining the rights and obligations of both the Federal and Regional Governments. Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Tawfiq explained that mass sit-ins and hunger strikes by teachers, educators, and public employees have led to the closure of numerous schools and disrupted the education of thousands of students. The lawsuit, he said, is driven by a profound sense of national responsibility and seeks a constitutional resolution between the Federal and Regional Governments. It also stresses the need for the Regional Government to implement the amendments to the Federal Budget Law by remitting its oil and non-oil revenues to the Federal Government. Through his extensive field visits to key governorates—including Basra, Nineveh, Erbil, Najaf, Wasit, Al-Muthanna, and Al-Anbar—the President has consistently demonstrated his commitment to protecting citizens' rights and addressing their concerns. Tawfiq concluded, "The Presidency is a constitutional institution dedicated to preserving the constitutional order, protecting the rights of all citizens without discrimination, and supporting all governmental authorities. A unified voice from our people will ensure our nation's prosperity and well-being." In a related development, the Presidency announced, on Sunday, that it had also filed a lawsuit before the Federal Court against Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani and Federal Finance Minister Taif Sami. According to Tawfiq, this legal action was initiated following a recommendation from the Legal Agent for the Defense of the Salaries of Employees in the Kurdistan Region. Although registered on January 20, the lawsuit was only publicly disclosed in light of the ongoing teacher strike at protest camps. Regarding the substance of the case, Tawfiq noted that it "includes several key points, foremost among them a demand for the Federal Court to issue an urgent order ensuring the continuous disbursement of salaries to employees in the Kurdistan Region." The ongoing hunger strike by 13 teachers and government employees in Al-Sulaymaniyah marked its second week today. Their primary demands include regularizing their employment status and settling overdue salaries. Demonstrators have also urged international organizations to take notice of their grievances, calling for intervention to help address the economic hardships affecting the region.
