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Pakistan PM calls for global cooperation for sustainable water management at Riyadh forum

Pakistan PM calls for global cooperation for sustainable water management at Riyadh forum
This screengrab, taken from a live stream of One Planet Summit, shows Pakistan鈥檚 Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressing the One Water Summit in Riyadh, 黑料社区, on December 3, 2024. (Screengrab/YouTube@OnePlanetSummit)
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Updated 03 December 2024

Pakistan PM calls for global cooperation for sustainable water management at Riyadh forum

Pakistan PM calls for global cooperation for sustainable water management at Riyadh forum
  • The One Water Summit, a joint initiative of 黑料社区, France, Kazakhstan and World Bank, aims to stimulate global partnerships for water resource management
  • PM Shehbaz Sharif says it is their duty as leaders to ensure that water resources that have nourished civilizations for centuries must not be reduced to tales of past

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday called for transfer of technology, financing and international cooperation to ensure sustainable management of water for all as he addressed the One Water Summit in Riyadh, 黑料社区.
The summit, a joint initiative of 黑料社区, France, Kazakhstan and the World Bank, aimed for high-level political commitments to promote global cooperation and a coherent international approach toward water resource management.
Addressing the summit, Sharif said water was lifeblood of the planet, which transcended political boundaries, connected nations and fostered shared ecosystem, which was why his country attached great importance to transboundary cooperation.
鈥淎t the global level, I would submit for your kind consideration a number of steps to overcome water-related challenges. First, we need international cooperation and collaboration to ensure availability, sustainable management of water and sanitation for all,鈥 he told attendees at the summit.
鈥淪econd, exchange of knowledge and expertise as well as transfer of technologies on innovative water management must be prioritized. Third, adequate funding for climate-resilient infrastructure and overcoming financing gap remains critical for climate-vulnerable countries.鈥
He appreciated the Kingdom of 黑料社区, France, Kazakhstan and the World Bank for the initiative, saying the world required 鈥渟trong political will and global leadership to overcome the water crisis.鈥
鈥淲e must also focus on framework for transparency, data-sharing and regional cooperation to avoid conflicts and promote water-sharing,鈥 the Pakistan premier said.
鈥淲e must invest in skills development, research and institutional strengthening to tackle water challenges at national and global levels.鈥
Sharif detailed steps taken by his government to ensure water security and climate-resilience, saying Pakistan was proud of joining this initiative and looked forward to providing all possible support in achieving its goals.
鈥淎s leaders, policymakers and custodians of the future, it is our duty to ensure that these rivers, lakes and aquifers that have nourished civilizations for centuries must not be reduced to tales of the past,鈥 he added.
The One Water Summit is being held on Dec. 3-4 on the margins of the next high-level session of the COP16 of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). It aims to contribute to ongoing United Nations discussions and processes to enhance global water governance, accelerate action on SDG6 on water and sanitation, and build on the momentum of the UN Water Conference in 2023.
The summit aims to scale up projects by stimulating partnerships between states, international organizations, local authorities, development and private banks, businesses, philanthropies, scientific experts, NGOs and civil society, in line with previous One Planet Summits, according to the forum鈥檚 website.
The forum will also act as an incubator for solutions in preparation for the next UN Water Conference in 2026, and integrate its agenda into the other existing water processes and initiatives such as the World Water Forum, the Dushanbe Conference and the World Water Week.


Pakistani father kills daughter over TikTok account, police say

Pakistani father kills daughter over TikTok account, police say
Updated 1 min 42 sec ago

Pakistani father kills daughter over TikTok account, police say

Pakistani father kills daughter over TikTok account, police say
  • TikTok is wildly popular in Pakistan, in part because of its accessibility to a population with low literacy levels
  • Pakistani authorities have repeatedly blocked or threatened to block the app over what they call 鈥榠mmoral behavior鈥

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan police on Friday said a father shot dead his daughter after she refused to delete her account on popular video-sharing app TikTok.

In the Muslim-majority country, women can be subjected to violence by family members for not following strict rules on how to behave in public, including in online spaces.

鈥淭he girl鈥檚 father had asked her to delete her TikTok account. On refusal, he killed her,鈥 a police spokesperson told AFP.

According to a police report shared with AFP, investigators said the father killed his 16-year-old daughter on Tuesday 鈥渇or honor.鈥 He was subsequently arrested.

The victim鈥檚 family initially tried to 鈥減ortray the murder as a suicide鈥 according to police in the city of Rawalpindi, where the attack happened, next to the capital Islamabad.

Last month, a 17-year-old girl and TikTok influencer with hundreds of thousands of online followers was killed at home by a man whose advances she had refused.

Sana Yousaf had racked up more than a million followers on social media accounts including TikTok, where she shared videos of her favorite cafes, skincare products, and traditional outfits.

TikTok is wildly popular in Pakistan, in part because of its accessibility to a population with low literacy levels.

Women have found both audience and income on the app, which is rare in a country where fewer than a quarter of the women participate in the formal economy.

However, only 30 percent of women in Pakistan own a smartphone compared to twice as many men (58 percent), the largest gap in the world, according to the Mobile Gender Gap Report of 2025.

Pakistani telecommunications authorities have repeatedly blocked or threatened to block the app over what they call 鈥渋mmoral behavior.鈥

In southwestern Balochistan, where tribal law governs many rural areas, a man confessed to orchestrating the murder of his 14-year-old daughter earlier this year over TikTok videos that he said compromised her 鈥渉onor.鈥


Pakistan seeks Saudi support for desert reclamation, afforestation projects amid climate worries

Pakistan seeks Saudi support for desert reclamation, afforestation projects amid climate worries
Updated 10 min 42 sec ago

Pakistan seeks Saudi support for desert reclamation, afforestation projects amid climate worries

Pakistan seeks Saudi support for desert reclamation, afforestation projects amid climate worries
  • Pakistan, 黑料社区 signed an agreement in 2022 to cooperate in nine environmental areas, including desertification and biodiversity
  • Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik says he will soon visit the Kingdom to discuss climate collaboration between the two countries

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan鈥檚 Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik has said that his ministry is seeking 黑料社区鈥檚 support for comprehensive climate projects that include desert reclamation, afforestation and carbon offset initiatives, amid Islamabad鈥檚 efforts to deal with climate-related challenges.

Pakistan has 4.2 million hectares of forest and planted trees, which equates to 4.8 percent of its total land area, according to the United Nations鈥 Food and Agriculture Organization. The country is currently focusing on combating desertification through afforestation, water management and sustainable agricultural practices.

黑料社区, on the other hand, is playing a leading role in global climate action and launched in 2021 the Middle East Green Initiative (MGI) that aims to mitigate climate change impacts by raising $10.4 billion for clean energy, planting 50鈥痓illion trees and restoring degraded lands spanning 200鈥痬illion hectares in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

In February 2022, the two brotherly countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to cooperate in nine environmental areas, including pollution control, nature protection, forestry, biodiversity, desertification, hazardous waste management, marine conservation, air quality monitoring and environmental training exchanges.

鈥淚 am going to work directly with them [黑料社区] on climate initiatives, on claiming deserts, on building forests, and on [carbon] offsetting,鈥 Malik told Arab News in an interview on Thursday.

鈥淚 just need a little bit more time to put a package together.鈥

He said 黑料社区 had always extended its unwavering support to Pakistan and he would soon visit the Kingdom to discuss climate collaboration between the two nations.

鈥淚t鈥檚 on my table right now to put together those projects with carbon offsets, or whatever those initiatives are, and take them there, which are viable, real, doable and meaningful,鈥 Malik said.

Pakistan, home to over 240 million people, is consistently ranked among the countries most vulnerable to climate change and has seen erratic changes in its weather patterns, which have led to frequent heatwaves, untimely rains, floods, storms, cyclones and droughts in recent years.

Malik said his ministry was working on green mobility and recycling initiatives in partnership with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, particularly the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to drive climate action to benefit the poor.

鈥淭hey have sent me a letter about starting a movement on behalf of the entire world south鈥 moving the recycling kind of revolution in a manner which serves the poor people of Pakistan,鈥 he said.

In 2022, deadly floods submerged a third of Pakistan, claimed more than 1,700 lives and affected 33 million people, causing more than $30鈥痓illion in economic losses. 

So far this monsoon season, which began in late June, at least 87 people have been killed and 149 others injured in rain-related incidents across Pakistan, with the death toll expected to rise further as heavy rains continue to batter the South Asian nation.

But Malik believed the country was unlikely to face flood-like conditions similar to 2022 as the climate patterns showed a 鈥渂alancing effect鈥 between glacier melt and rainfall.

鈥淲here the melting is increasing, the rainfalls are projected to decrease,鈥 he said. 鈥淭he signs, the projections that we have seen, the numbers that we have seen, basically show that hopefully we would have a good, decent, and manageable year.鈥

Speaking of Pakistan鈥檚 early warning systems, the minister acknowledged 鈥渟erious gaps鈥 in the mechanisms despite previous investments, saying efforts were underway to fix deficiencies that hinder timely disaster alerts.

鈥淭he early warning systems, after all of the investments that we鈥檝e done鈥 they are not able to give us warning in a timely manner鈥 those systems are not working,鈥 he said.

Asked about international climate funding to Pakistan post-2022 floods, Malik said the funding was declining due to Pakistan鈥檚 鈥渓imited absorptive capacity and lack of impactful projects.鈥

鈥淲e did not have a lot of absorptive power and even when funding was available, we did not come up with enough projects,鈥 he said, adding that the country could only draw around $50-$70 million despite $500 million commitments.

He said his ministry had engaged youngsters from environmental sciences background to develop ideas, projects and startups to help attract international funding.

鈥淲e are going to come up with lowest cost, highest impact projects, and we are going to go after them,鈥 Malik added.


Pakistan tenders to buy 300,000 to 500,000 metric tons of sugar

Pakistan tenders to buy 300,000 to 500,000 metric tons of sugar
Updated 11 July 2025

Pakistan tenders to buy 300,000 to 500,000 metric tons of sugar

Pakistan tenders to buy 300,000 to 500,000 metric tons of sugar
  • The deadline for the submission of price offers is July 18
  • Shipment sought in series of consignments loading in August

HAMBURG: Pakistan鈥檚 state agency, the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP), has issued an international tender to purchase and import 300,000 to 500,000 metric tons of white refined sugar, European traders said on Friday.

The deadline for submission of price offers is July 18.

On July 8, Pakistan鈥檚 government had approved plans to import 500,000 tons of sugar to help maintain price stability.

Market analysts said that retail sugar prices in the country have risen sharply since January.

The sugar is sought from worldwide origins, packed in bags with a minimum offer of 25,000 tons permitted.

The TCP reserves the right to purchase more or less than the tender volumes, traders said.

Shipment is sought in a series of consignments loading in August. The entire volume purchased must arrive in Pakistan by September 30.


Pakistan, EU sign 鈧20 million grant deal to improve business environment, governance

Pakistan, EU sign 鈧20 million grant deal to improve business environment, governance
Updated 11 July 2025

Pakistan, EU sign 鈧20 million grant deal to improve business environment, governance

Pakistan, EU sign 鈧20 million grant deal to improve business environment, governance
  • The development comes as Pakistan takes policy measures to increase lending portfolio of small, medium enterprises
  • The initiative will strengthen these enterprises, green transition of export-oriented firms and facilitate green investments

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the European Union have signed a 鈧20 million grant agreement to launch the 鈥淏etter Governance and Business Environment鈥 initiative in the South Asian country, Pakistani state media reported on Thursday.

The agreement, signed by EU Ambassador to Pakistan Dr. Riina Kionka and Secretary Economic Affairs Division Dr. Kazim Niaz, aims to enhance the competitiveness of Pakistan鈥檚 private sector, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs), including those led by or benefiting women.

Pakistan鈥檚 government has increasingly spoken about achieving sustainable economic growth and moving the country away from his usual 鈥渂oom and bust鈥 cycle through financial reforms, signing trade, business and grant deals with regional allies worth billions of dollars and enhancing its exports.

鈥淭he program will strengthen SME-related legislation, support the green transition of export-oriented firms, facilitate targeted green investments, and promote public-private dialogue,鈥 the Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.

The development comes as Pakistan takes policy measures to increase lending portfolio of SMEs to enhance their contributions to employment, exports and the national GDP.

These enterprises account for approximately 40 percent of the country鈥檚 GDP, 25 percent of exports and nearly 78 percent of non-agricultural employment, according to the Pakistani finance ministry.

But despite their contributions, their access to formal finance remains 鈥渄isproportionately low,鈥 with a small percentage of private-sector lending currently directed toward them

鈥淭his expansion is expected to enhance the contribution of SMEs to GDP, exports, employment, youth and women鈥檚 digital empowerment, and overall financial inclusion, laying the foundation for sustained and inclusive economic growth,鈥 the finance ministry said this month.

鈥淒eregulation efforts, such as reducing reliance on NOCs and increasing e-inspections, are also being introduced to reduce compliance burdens for SMEs.鈥

Pakistan will also use a $1.4 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund鈥檚 climate resilience fund to expand fiscal space, embed climate planning into public investment decisions and unlock private-sector capital for green projects, the IMF said last week.


Pakistani passenger, bound for Karachi, 鈥榤istakenly鈥 flies to Jeddah

Pakistani passenger, bound for Karachi, 鈥榤istakenly鈥 flies to Jeddah
Updated 11 July 2025

Pakistani passenger, bound for Karachi, 鈥榤istakenly鈥 flies to Jeddah

Pakistani passenger, bound for Karachi, 鈥榤istakenly鈥 flies to Jeddah
  • Civil aviation regulator requested to impose a 鈥榟eavy fine on the airline that is guilty of negligence鈥
  • No explanation yet on how the passenger cleared immigration at Lahore airport without a passport

KARACHI: In a bizarre turn of events, a Pakistani man, who was supposed to travel to Karachi from Lahore, boarded a wrong flight and landed in the Saudi city of Jeddah this week, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) confirmed on Friday.

The passenger, Malik Shahzain Ahmed, was traveling to Karachi through a private airline, Air Sial, but instead boarded the airline鈥檚 flight to Jeddah from the Lahore airport, local media reported, citing the passenger.

Ahmed told media that immigration authorities at the Jeddah airport briefly detained and questioned him upon landing in the Kingdom without a passport and deported him to Lahore after the situation became clear.

In a statement, the PAA said higher officials had taken notice of the lapse and written letters to civil aviation regulator and the station manager.

鈥淚n the letter, the civil aviation regulator has been requested to impose a heavy fine on the airline that is guilty of negligence,鈥 PAA spokesman Saifullah said.

The PAA statement did not offer an explanation as to how the passenger cleared immigration at the Lahore airport before boarding the Jeddah-bound flight.

In a video clip circulating online, Ahmed said he went to Lahore airport to board the Karachi-bound flight on July 8, but he 鈥渕istakenly鈥 sat in the Jeddah-bound flight after collecting his boarding pass for the domestic flight.

鈥淎fter two hours, I asked [myself], 鈥楾his plane doesn鈥檛 seem to be landing [soon]鈥,鈥 he said. 鈥淭hen I got to know that I had taken boarded the wrong plane.鈥