Over 11,410 Pakistani Hajj pilgrims return from 黑料社区
Over 11,410 Pakistani Hajj pilgrims return from 黑料社区/node/2604534/pakistan
Over 11,410 Pakistani Hajj pilgrims return from 黑料社区
Muslim pilgrims retrieve their luggage as they arrive for the annual Muslim pilgrimage in Mecca, at the Jeddah International Airport on June 10, 2024. (AFP)
ISLAMABAD: A total of 11,418 Pakistani pilgrims have returned in the post-Hajj flight operation so far, the country鈥檚 religion ministry said on Sunday.聽
Pakistan began its post-Hajj flight operation with the arrival of PIA flight PK-732 in Islamabad on June 11, carrying 307 pilgrims. The country is expected to conclude the operation on July 10, with the last flight carrying Hajj pilgrims to land in Islamabad.
This year鈥檚 Hajj took place from June 4 to June 9, drawing millions of pilgrims to the holy cities. Pakistan sent over 115,000 pilgrims under both the government and private schemes.聽
鈥淎s of Saturday, June 14, a total of 11,418 pilgrims have returned home,鈥 a spokesperson of Pakistan鈥檚 Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony said in a statement. 鈥淥n Sunday, June 15, another 4,995 pilgrims will arrive in the country through 20 flights.鈥
The spokesperson said six flights carrying Hajj pilgrims will each land in both Islamabad and Lahore, while four will arrive in Karachi, three in Multan and one in Quetta on Sunday.
Of the 20 flights, eight will be operated by the state-run Pakistan International Airlines, five by Saudia, four by Airblue, two by AirSial and one by Serene Air.
鈥淒espite global air traffic disruptions, Pakistan鈥檚 post-Hajj flight operation is successfully going on,鈥 the ministry said, referring to the recent diversion of flights due to the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict.聽
The spokesperson advised Pakistani pilgrims to ensure their return journey remained a 鈥渟mooth鈥 one by maintaining discipline.
鈥淧ilgrims should ensure their baggage weight complies with the limit stated on their air tickets,鈥 he said, advising pilgrims to reach their respective airports in 黑料社区 six to eight hours before departure.聽
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan鈥檚 state-run National Logistics Cell (NLC) and Dubai-based global logistics firm DP World have completed their first commercial cargo delivery from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Tajikistan via Karachi, state media reported on Monday, marking a milestone in Pakistan鈥檚 bid to become a regional trade hub.
The cargo, 38 tons of automotive spare parts, was shipped from Jebel Ali port in Dubai to Karachi and then transported overland to the Tajik capital Dushanbe. The journey was completed in just 16 days, which DP World said in a video was the fastest transit time currently available between Dubai and Dushanbe. Competing routes typically take between 20 and 70 days.
鈥淣LC and DP World transported 38 tons of automotive spare parts to Tajik capital Dushanbe,鈥 state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported. 鈥淭his achievement was made possible through NLC鈥檚 professional expertise and modern logistics infrastructure.鈥
In a video shared by Radio Pakistan, DP World said the rapid delivery underscored Pakistan鈥檚 emerging role in regional trade.
National Logistics Cell and DP World have successfully completed the first commercial cargo delivery from the to
鈥 Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan)
鈥淧akistan鈥檚 growing logistics capabilities is ensuring trade flows across the region,鈥 the company said. 鈥淎s Central Asia鈥檚 demand rises, Pakistan鈥檚 role as a connector is more vital than ever.鈥
The development highlights the deepening partnership between NLC, Pakistan鈥檚 premier logistics organization, and DP World, which has stepped up investment in Pakistan鈥檚 freight corridors and port facilities.
In January 2024, the two sides signed an agreement under which DP World will upgrade Qasim International Container Terminal, Pakistan鈥檚 busiest trade gateway, and help develop the Karachi Freight Corridor to improve cargo movement across the country. Earlier this year, the partnership dispatched Pakistan鈥檚 first commercial goods convoy to Central Asia.
The delivery also comes as Pakistan seeks to deepen economic cooperation with the UAE, its third-largest trading partner after China and the United States. The Gulf country has invested over $10 billion in Pakistan in the last two decades, according to the UAE foreign ministry, and hosts nearly 1.8 million Pakistani expatriates.
Earlier this month, Pakistan鈥檚 commerce ministry announced plans to establish a 鈥淧akistan Mart鈥 near Dubai鈥檚 Jebel Ali port to showcase Pakistani products to international buyers. DP World will build the facility at no cost to Pakistani stakeholders, Islamabad said.
In January 2024, Pakistan and the UAE also signed agreements worth more than $3 billion covering cooperation in railways, special economic zones, and infrastructure.
Pakistan is positioning itself as a key transit hub between the Gulf and landlocked Central Asian states, where demand for goods is growing. The UAE has long been a major entry point for cargo into the region, and the new corridor through Karachi offers both countries a faster, more reliable trade route.
By investing in freight and port infrastructure, Islamabad hopes to capture a larger share of regional trade flows, a goal that has gained urgency as Pakistan struggles to revive its economy and expand exports.
鈥淧akistan鈥檚 growing logistics capabilities is ensuring trade flows across the region,鈥 DP World said. 鈥淎s Central Asia鈥檚 demand rises, Pakistan鈥檚 role as a connector is more vital than ever.鈥
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani disaster management authorities on Monday issued fresh flood warnings for two major rivers as heavy monsoon rains continue to batter the country, with the death toll from weather-related incidents since late June climbing close to 800.
The most devastating spell of the monsoon began on August 15 and has killed at least 485 people in just 10 days. Since the start of the season on June 26, official figures show 798 deaths, underscoring the scale of the disaster in a country ranked among the most climate-vulnerable in the world.
鈥淣DMA鈥檚 National Emergencies Operation Center (NEOC) has issued a flood alert for River Ravi over the next 48 hours, indicating a medium-level threat,鈥 the authority said in its latest alert on Monday.
According to hydrological data, inflows at Thein Dam on the Indian side have reached 1,717 feet, or about 86 percent of its capacity.
鈥淒ownstream releases from Thein Dam, combined with rising nullah discharges on the Indian side, are likely to further elevate river flows,鈥 the NDMA said.
Members of the Rescue 1122 team sit on a boat with the monsoon rain clouds in the background, as they are waiting for residents to evacuate, due to the monsoon rains and rising water level of the Sutlej River, in Ghatti Kalanjar village near the Pakistan-India border in Kasur district of the Punjab province, Pakistan, on August 24, 2025. (REUTERS)
Medium to high flows are expected in nullahs originating from the Pir Panjal Range, particularly Bein, Basantar and Deg, with low to medium flooding likely at Jassar in the next 24 hours.
Residents in low-lying and flood-prone areas have been urged to remain alert, avoid unnecessary travel near riverbanks and strictly follow official flood warnings. The NDMA advised communities to prepare emergency kits with food, water and medical supplies for up to five days, secure valuables and livestock, and avoid crossing causeways, low bridges and flooded roads.
Separately, the Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) reported a high flood in the Sutlej River at Harike, downstream of India.
鈥淩iver Sutlej (Harike below) has been reported to be at high flood level at 10:00 hrs (25th August, 2025) which will affect the incoming water levels downstream,鈥 the PDMA said in its flood alert.
Authorities in Punjab have directed commissioners and deputy commissioners in multiple districts, including Lahore, Sahiwal, Multan, Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan, to remain on high alert. PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia instructed local administrations to complete emergency preparations, pre-position rescue teams at sensitive locations, and issue community warnings through mosques and local announcements.
The PDMA has said the province was experiencing its eighth monsoon spell, expected to last until August 27. Heavy rains have been forecast in the next 24 hours across most districts, with upper Punjab, including Murree, Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum and Chakwal, likely to receive the heaviest downpours.
The PDMA reported no casualties or damages in the past 24 hours but directed district administrations in vulnerable areas to remain on high alert. Citizens were urged to adopt safety measures during the rains, especially keeping children away from rivers, canals and storm drains.
Separately, the Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) said on Sunday that the Chenab and Indus rivers were likely to reach high flood levels in the next 24 hours, while the Sutlej at Ganda Singh Wala would remain at high flood levels for several days, depending on releases from Indian reservoirs.
Residents stand at the premises of their house flooded due to the monsoon rains and rising water level of the Sutlej River, in Hakuwala village near the Pakistan-India border in Kasur district of the Punjab province, Pakistan, on August 23, 2025. (REUTERS)
SHIFTING CLIMATE PATTERNS
Since the monsoon season started on June 26, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province has reported 479 deaths, followed by Punjab with 165, Sindh 54, Gilgit-Baltistan 45, Balochistan 24, Azad Jammu and Kashmir 23 and the capital, Islamabad, eight, according to official figures.
Authorities say the ongoing monsoon spell is expected to last until at least September 10 and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has warned the rains could rival the scale of the catastrophic floods of June 2022, which killed more than 1,700 people and caused over $30 billion in damage, according to government estimates.
鈥淒uring 25th August: Landslides/mudslides may cause road closures in vulnerable hilly areas of Kashmir during the forecast period,鈥 the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said in its daily forecast on Monday morning.
鈥淗eavy downpour may cause urban flood in low lying areas of Narowal, Sialkot, Gujarat, Jhelum, Gujranwala and Lahore.鈥
The PMD also cautioned that heavy rain, windstorms and lightning could damage weak structures such as the roofs of mud houses, electric poles, billboards, vehicles and solar panels.
Annual monsoon rains are crucial for Pakistan鈥檚 agriculture and water supply but in recent years have also unleashed devastation, intensified by shifting climate patterns.
Despite contributing less than 1 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, Pakistan ranks among the countries most vulnerable to climate change. In recent years it has endured increasingly erratic weather, including droughts, heatwaves and record-breaking rains that have caused widespread loss of life and damage to property.
Experts warn that without urgent adaptation and mitigation measures, the human and economic toll of climate change in Pakistan will only deepen in the years ahead.
ISLAMABAD: The World Bank said on Monday it had approved a $47.9 million grant to support education reforms in Pakistan鈥檚 Punjab province, aiming to expand access to schooling, strengthen teacher training, and improve learning outcomes for millions of children.
The funds, provided through the Global Partnership for Education Fund, will finance the Getting Results: Access and Delivery of Quality Education Services and System Transformation in Punjab Project. The initiative will expand early childhood education, re-enroll out-of-school children, provide remedial learning at the elementary level, and strengthen the sector鈥檚 ability to respond to climate shocks and emergencies.
The announcement comes as Pakistan continues to grapple with a severe education crisis. According to UNICEF and government estimates, about 26 million children remain out of school nationwide, the majority of them girls. Punjab, the country鈥檚 most populous province, has made progress in expanding access but still struggles with gaps in quality, inclusivity, and resilience to climate-related disruptions such as floods.
鈥淭his project represents a crucial step toward addressing learning poverty and ensuring equitable access to quality education across Punjab,鈥 said Bolormaa Amgaabazar, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan.
The project aims to directly benefit more than 4 million children, including 80,000 out-of-school children, three million enrolled in provincial schools, about 850,000 in the non-formal sector, and 140,000 differently abled children in special education institutions. More than 100,000 teachers and school leaders will also receive professional development, while parents and communities will be engaged through awareness campaigns.
According to the World Bank, the program is designed to strengthen foundational learning, build system capacity, and promote behavioral change to support long-term human capital development.
鈥淭he project is aligned with the Government of Punjab鈥檚 broader education reform agenda, which seeks to create a more effective, accountable, and inclusive education system,鈥 said Izza Farrakh, World Bank Task Team Leader for the project. 鈥淚t will do so by supporting the government鈥檚 efforts to improve governance, management, and capacity in the education sector.鈥
Since joining the World Bank in 1950, Pakistan has received more than $48 billion in assistance. The Bank鈥檚 current portfolio in the country includes 54 projects with commitments totaling $15.7 billion. The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Bank鈥檚 private sector arm, has invested about $13 billion in Pakistan since 1956, supporting projects in renewable energy, financial inclusion, infrastructure, health care, and trade.
ISLAMABAD: India on Sunday warned Pakistan of a high flood level in the River Tawi in Indian-administered Kashmir, despite New Delhi having suspended a decades-old water-sharing treaty that requires it to share hydrological data with its neighbor.
The Indian High Commission in Islamabad issued a flood warning about the River Tawi, which joins Pakistan鈥檚 Chenab River and runs through the border districts of Gujrat and Sialkot. The alert came even though India announced in April it was putting the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance after blaming Pakistan for an attack in Kashmir that killed 26 people, mostly tourists. Pakistan denied involvement and demanded an international probe.
The suspension of the treaty meant India could stop sharing critical information on water releases and flooding and was no longer required to maintain minimum flows to Pakistan during the dry season.
A letter from the Indian High Commission in Pakistan on Sunday, seen by Arab News, said:
鈥淭he High Commission of India to Pakistan presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Islamabad and has the honor to convey the following flood data. River and site Name: Tawi, Jammu. Date/Time: 24th August 2025, 10.00 Hrs, flood data: high flood.鈥
Following the warning, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) in Punjab issued a flood alert, warning that rising waters in the River Tawi were likely to affect levels in Gujrat and Sialkot via the Chenab. District administrations were asked to activate flood monitoring and early warning systems and ensure a coordinated response.
Under the IWT, in force since 1960, Pakistan has rights to the western rivers 鈥 Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab 鈥 for irrigation, drinking, and non-consumptive uses such as hydropower. India controls the eastern rivers 鈥 Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej 鈥 but can also use the western rivers for limited power generation and irrigation, provided it does not alter their flow significantly.
Pakistan reacted strongly to India鈥檚 suspension of the treaty in April, warning that any move by New Delhi to stop or divert its share of waters guaranteed under the IWT would be considered 鈥渁n act of war.鈥
The latest Indian warning came as Pakistan reels from deadly monsoon rains, with nearly 800 people killed since June 26 due to heavy showers, flash floods and landslides.
KARACHI: Sultan Muhammad, a resident of the southern Pakistani city of Karachi, shuddered as he received a phone call that upended his life last week.
On the other end was his daughter, her voice trembling as she pleaded:
鈥淧apa, come home as soon as you can, both brothers have been electrocuted.鈥
Muhammad鈥檚 tragedy was among 17 deaths in electrocution, wall collapse and drowning incidents that were reported in Pakistan鈥檚 commercial capital last week, as the city鈥檚 crumbling infrastructure once again buckled under heavy monsoon rains. The disaster laid bare both the human toll and the governance failures that accompany Pakistan鈥檚 intensifying climate shocks.
For Muhammad, a father of four who works at Karachi airport, only three miles stood between him and his sons, yet choked traffic, flooded streets and paralyzed rescue services turned it into an agonizing eternity.
Soon after being informed about the accident, Muhammad left the airport for Al-Mustafa Hospital in Shah Faisal Colony where he lives, and then to Jinnah Hospital in Saddar in search of his sons, 20-year-old Murad Khan and 11-year-old Siraj Khan, walking for hours as blocked roads bogged him down.
鈥淚 was on duty when my daughter called me,鈥 Muhammad, who is in his 50s, recalled. 鈥淭he traffic was so jammed, and there was so much water, so I walked on foot and reached Jinnah Hospital.鈥
Siraj was electrocuted near his family鈥檚 house. Murad rushed to save his younger brother, but he too received a massive shock. Neighbors took them first to Al-Mustafa Hospital, which referred them to Jinnah Hospital due to their serious condition.
Muhammad鈥檚 sister-in-law later told him she too was stuck in traffic near Baloch Colony with the boys鈥 bodies.
鈥淭here, some kind men of Allah saw them crying and mourning, so they did everything, washing, shrouding, burial preparation, and they booked a car and brought them here [home] via Korangi,鈥 he said.
By the time Muhammad returned home, his sons鈥 bodies had already arrived.
A CITY DROWNING EVERY MONSOON
Muhammad鈥檚 grief unfolding against a backdrop all too familiar in Karachi, where each monsoon season exposes both human fragility and systemic neglect.
The city of over 20 million with its dilapidated infrastructure has long seen even moderate rains paralyze life. In August 2020, record-breaking rains killed more than 40 people and left neighborhoods without power for days. Last week鈥檚 downpour 鈥 more than 300 millimeters recorded between Aug. 19 and Aug. 21 鈥 once again exposed Karachi鈥檚 vulnerabilities.
Pakistan, one of the world鈥檚 most climate-vulnerable countries, has reported 785 deaths in rain-related incidents since the monsoon season began in late June.
Meteorologists link the rising frequency of extreme weather to climate change.
鈥淏ecause of climate change, the frequency of these extreme events is increasing, and their severity is also increasing compared to before,鈥 said Sardar Sarfaraz, a former director at the Met Office.
鈥淔or every one-degree increase in temperature, 7 percent more moisture evaporates into the atmosphere, which then cools, forms clouds and leads to extreme rainfall events.鈥
Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab said the city鈥檚 drainage system was designed for only 40 millimeters of rain.
鈥淪o, if 235 millimeters of rain falls in twelve hours, how can a system meant for 40 millimeters handle that,鈥 he asked, adding that authorities had cleared major roads within hours after the rain.
He pointed to structural and political constraints, noting that key drainage channels run past commercial centers like the HBL Plaza, Pakistan Stock Exchange and Shaheen Complex, leaving no room for expansion.
鈥淚t is easier to talk, but there are technical problems,鈥 Wahab said.
Karachi is divided among nearly a dozen civic agencies, including cantonment boards and 28 towns, at least 12 of which are controlled by opposition parties Jamaat-e-Islami and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
鈥淭here has to be one father of the city,鈥 Wahab said, adding that the mayor controls only about 36 percent of Karachi.
CITIZENS AND THE CITY
Amber Alibhai, general secretary of Shehri-Citizens for a Better Environment (CBE), said the problem was not only governance but also residents鈥 behavior.
鈥淭he government and citizens are a team,鈥 she said. 鈥淭he biggest problem in our drains, streets, and places is that the garbage that goes there, it is not thrown by any political party鈥 We ourselves throw it.鈥
She criticized unplanned urbanization, with pavements laid over natural catchment areas.
鈥淵ou haven鈥檛 even left your parks open,鈥 she lamented. 鈥淭he city鈥檚 infrastructure has been pushed to a breaking point.鈥
For Tanveer Hussain, a bike-hailing service rider who lives near Baloch Colony, the rains turned a short commute into an ordeal.
鈥淭he bike completely stopped,鈥 he said. 鈥淧eople鈥檚 cars were submerged, swept away.鈥
Nearly a week later, as the city struggles to recover, Muhammad is left to mourn. His elder son had recently secured a job with a Rs45,000 ($158) salary.
鈥淧apa, don鈥檛 worry now, I will lessen your burden,鈥 Murad had told him just days earlier, Muhammad said, quoting his deceased son.
鈥淢y children are gone, right? But look, someone鈥檚 father, someone鈥檚 mother, sister, brother, children, if it rains again, an accident can happen again ... My dear ones are gone, both of them, but at least someone else鈥檚 should be saved.鈥
