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In meeting with UN chief, Pakistan deputy PM calls for settlement of Palestine, Kashmir disputes

In meeting with UN chief, Pakistan deputy PM calls for settlement of Palestine, Kashmir disputes
Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, shakes hands with United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York on July 21, 2025. (PID)
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In meeting with UN chief, Pakistan deputy PM calls for settlement of Palestine, Kashmir disputes

In meeting with UN chief, Pakistan deputy PM calls for settlement of Palestine, Kashmir disputes
  • The meeting came amid Dar’s visit to the US to preside over key UN Security Council events during Pakistan’s presidency for July
  • The South Asian country is using its presidency of the UN Security Council to help refocus global attention on the crisis in Gaza
Updated 35 sec ago
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, has called for a just settlement of the Palestine and Kashmir disputes, the Pakistani foreign office said on Monday, following Dar’s meeting with United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York.

The meeting came amid Dar’s week-long visit to the United States (US) to preside over key events in the UN Security Council during Pakistan’s presidency for the month of July, according to the Pakistani foreign office.

The Pakistani deputy PM reassured the UN chief of Pakistan’s resolute commitment to multilateralism and the central role of the United Nations in addressing the most pressing global challenges.

“The DPM/FM reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering support for Palestinian statehood, an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and firm opposition to Israel’s annexation plans in the West Bank,” the Pakistani foreign ministry said. 

Pakistan has maintained that the only viable remedy to the Palestine dispute was the realization of the two-state solution, which includes the establishment of Palestine as a viable, secure and contiguous state on the basis of pre-1967 borders.

The South Asian country is using its presidency of the UN Security Council to help refocus global attention on the crisis in Gaza and the wider Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Dar reassured Secretary-General Guterres of Pakistan’s focus on strengthening the UN’s role in resolving conflicts, promoting sustainable development and upholding fundamental rights of all peoples, according to the foreign office. He said

Pakistan is fully committed to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, especially the need to advance peace through dialogue and diplomacy.

The Pakistani deputy PM also discussed issues of critical national and regional importance to Pakistan, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, India’s violation of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) and “externally sponsored terrorism” in Pakistan.

“He stressed the imperative of a just settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the resolutions of the Security Council,” the Pakistani foreign office said. “The DPM/FM lauded the Secretary-General’s leadership and sincere efforts for de-escalation of recent tensions between Pakistan and India.”

The Muslim-majority Himalayan region of Kashmir has been divided between Pakistan and India since their independence from British rule in 1947. Both countries rule parts of the Himalayan territory but claim it in full.

In May, the two neighbors engaged in a four-day military conflict over a militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that New Delhi blamed on Pakistan. Islamabad denied the charge.

Soon after the attack, which killed 26 tourists, New Delhi suspended the World Bank-brokered Indus Waters Treaty, which ensures water for 80 percent Pakistani farms, while Pakistan closed its airspace for Indian aircraft in a raft of measures against each other.

Dar on Monday also stressed the need for concessional financing and debt relief for developing nations to bridge funding gaps in meeting global sustainable development goals (SDGs).

The deputy premier was speaking at a debate of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development’s (HLPF) Ministerial Segment in New York for the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 SDGs on Monday.

Dar said only 35 percent of the Agenda 2030 SDGs were on track and the compounding effects of the pandemic, food, fuel and finance crises as well as intensifying climate impacts had reversed the hard-won development gains and deepened inequalities.

“While national efforts are essential, these cannot succeed in isolation,” he said, calling for a “deep reform” of the international financial architecture to implement the SDGs.

Topics: Pakistan at UN UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar

‘Tradition that should go on’: Delhi’s kulfi craft served cold and sweet on Karachi’s streets

‘Tradition that should go on’: Delhi’s kulfi craft served cold and sweet on Karachi’s streets
Updated 15 min 17 sec ago

‘Tradition that should go on’: Delhi’s kulfi craft served cold and sweet on Karachi’s streets

‘Tradition that should go on’: Delhi’s kulfi craft served cold and sweet on Karachi’s streets
  • Kulfi is a dense, creamy Mughal-era dessert made from slow-cooked milk and known for its caramel-like flavor
  • Several kulfi vendors with roots in Delhi’s traditional craft operate along the main road in Karachi’s Liaquatabad
Updated 15 min 17 sec ago
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: As Karachi’s scorching sun dips below the horizon, a familiar figure appears on Sir Shah Muhammad Suleman Road in the bustling Liaquatabad neighborhood, also known as Lalukhet.

Sixty-year-old Muhammad Abid arrives at his small, elevated wooden kiosk, carrying something special: kulfi, a dense, frozen South Asian dessert whose creamy richness once graced royal tables.

Kulfi is widely believed to date back to the Mughal Empire in the 16th century, where it was considered a royal delicacy, according to commonly available online sources.

The name is thought to originate from the Persian word kulfa or kulf, loosely meaning “covered cup” — likely a reference to the sealed metal molds traditionally used to freeze the dessert.

Unlike modern ice cream, kulfi is not churned, which results in a denser, creamier texture.

”This used to be royal kulfi,” Abid said. “It was made during the times of kings. Now it’s being sold on the streets.”

Asked how the product is prepared, he said traditionally, full-fat milk is slow-cooked until it thickens and reduces significantly, which is then sweetened, flavored with almond, sugar and another thing, which is his ‘secret.’.

”I told you about the almonds, I told you about the sugar, but that third ingredient is a secret,”he said, smiling while refusing to share the secret he claims was passed on to him through previous generations.

Abid said his family’s tradition of making kulfis dates back to pre-Partition India. As a child, he would accompany his father and grandfather to their cart, until both passed away and he took over.

”We’ve been selling kulfi for quite a long time,” he said, adding that his grandfather who took the tradition from India’s Delhi, where his family had been making kulfi for centuries, to set up shop in Karachi’s Liaquatabad area in 1968.

Before moving to Liaquatabad, they would sell Kulfi at a roadside corner at the city’s famous Jama cloth market under a peepal tree.

Much like him, other kulfi sellers in the vicinity claim to have similar roots. While these oral histories are not easy to independently verify, the richness of their technique and the taste of their product speaks for itself. Most of them have also remained associated with the business for decades in the same neighborhood.

Abid takes pride in preserving the authenticity of his craft.

”The kind we make, with almonds, butter, and cream that you won’t find anywhere else,” he said with a sense of pride.

A few stalls down, 62-year-old Abdul Rasheed, who also identifies as a fifth-generation kulfiwala, shares a similar story, saying his family migrated from India where it practiced the same craft.

“My father set up a stall inside the Jamia Masjid [in Karachi], and then in 1976, we came to Lalukhet,” he said. “Since then, we’ve been selling here.”

Like Abid, Rasheed emphasizes the purity of his offering.

“This is pure milk kulfi, real milk,” he said. “We cook the milk, make rabri, make khoya from it and add sugar. That’s all. Our kulfi is pure. We don’t use market-bought khoya or anything like that.”

But with kulfi now widely available in shops across Karachi, these traditional makers say the demand for their product has declined.

“Now every sweet shop, every mithai shop has kulfi,” Rasheed said. “Earlier, they used to buy from us. Now they make their own.”

Still, loyal customers return for the taste and tradition.

“I don’t pass by here often, but whenever I do, I always stop to eat this kulfi,” Majid Ali, a 40-year-old property worker and catering center owner, said. “It brings back old memories.”

“We eat a lot of different kulfis, new ice creams with new names,” he added. “But this is a part of old culture, a landmark of this road.”

Farhana Niazi, another customer, said she only recently discovered Lalukhet’s kulfi.

“‘Let me finally have you try this today,’” she quoted her husband as saying while they were passing through the area this week.

Previously, she would ignore such offers, thinking the taste might not be good.

“When I tasted it, I realized it was actually very delicious,” she said. “It has a very different flavor. The taste of khoya really comes through. It was excellent, very different. I truly enjoyed it.”

Niazi believes more people should come and try the royal kulfi.

“It’s a tradition that should go on,” she said.

But for Rasheed, the golden era feels like a distant memory.

“Back in the day, we had a huge rush,” he said, recalling when 15 to 20 cars lined up at once in front of his kiosk, Madina Kulfi. “Now, that’s no longer the case.”

Topics: karachi food Kulfi street food

Pakistan police say woman shot seven, man nine times in ‘honor killing’ incident

Pakistan police say woman shot seven, man nine times in ‘honor killing’ incident
Updated 4 min 34 sec ago

Pakistan police say woman shot seven, man nine times in ‘honor killing’ incident

Pakistan police say woman shot seven, man nine times in ‘honor killing’ incident
  • A video clip of couple’s killing, who police say were having an extramarital affair, went viral last week
  • Women’s rights NGO says 212 people killed for so-called honor in Balochistan during last five years
Updated 4 min 34 sec ago
SAADULLAH AKHTER

QUETTA: The woman victim of the Balochistan “honor killing” incident was shot seven times while the male victim received nine bullet injuries, Pakistan police confirmed after conducting a post-mortem examination of the slain individuals this week. 

The killings in the southwestern Balochistan province, which took place in June, made headlines and triggered outrage in Pakistan after a video showing the couple being shot went viral online last week. The woman, identified by police as Bano Bibi Satakzai and the man, Ehsan Ullah Sumalani, were both shot dead in the Dagari area located on the outskirts of Quetta.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti told reporters on Monday that 12 suspects have been arrested in connection with the violence, including a tribal leader, who allegedly ordered the couple to be shot. Bugti hinted during the press conference, avoiding to share details, that both victims were allegedly having an extramarital affair.

Dr. Ayesha Faiz, a Balochistan Police surgeon, told Arab News that Satakzai and Sumalani were killed on June 4 and buried in different graveyards in Dagari. 

“After the postmortem, it was found that Bano Bibi had received seven bullet injuries on her head, abdomen and chest, and Ehsan Ullah received nine bullets on his chest and abdomen,” Faiz said. 

Syed Saboor Agha, head of the Serious Crimes Investigation Wing (SCIW) leading the probe, said police have taken nine other people into custody on suspicion of hiding the crime from authorities. He confirmed the victims were involved in an extramarital affair. 

“The prime accused in this case is Jalal, (brother) of murdered Bano Bibi who is still undercover and raids are being conducted to arrest him,” Agha said. “Because his arrest will likely uncover further details as he was the woman’s brother, who along with his maternal uncle, opened fire at them.”

So-called honor killings are common in Pakistan, where family members and relatives sometimes kill women and men who don’t follow local traditions and culture or decide to marry of their own choice.

Yasmeen Mughal, the provincial coordinator for the Aurat Foundation, a non-profit that monitors violence against women and cases of honor killings in Pakistan, said 212 people have been killed in so-called honor cases in Balochistan in the last five years. Of these, she said 33 women were killed last year. 
 
Raza Rumi, a Pakistani policy analyst, journalist and author who is currently a lecturer at The City University of New York, said tribal councils or jirgas have no legal or moral authority to decide matters involving human life.

“Honor killings are criminal acts, not cultural practices,” Rumi said. “Allowing jirgas to decide such cases legitimizes violence and undermines the constitution and rule of law.”

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the incident on Monday, tasking Bugti to hold an investigation and punish those behind the killings.
“No one is above the law and no one can be allowed to take the law into their own hands,” Sharif said. “All legal steps should be taken to bring the suspects to justice.”

Topics: honor killings Balochistan

Without paper: Ghost lives of millions of Pakistanis

Without paper: Ghost lives of millions of Pakistanis
Updated 50 min 35 sec ago
AFP

Without paper: Ghost lives of millions of Pakistanis

Without paper: Ghost lives of millions of Pakistanis
  • Pakistani authorities estimated in 2021 that around 45 million people were not registered with the government
  • Registration free within $0.70 to $7 range is still a burden for Pakistanis, about 45 percent of whom live in poverty
Updated 50 min 35 sec ago
AFP

KARACHI: Ahmed Raza is invisible in the eyes of his government, unable to study or work because, like millions of other Pakistanis, he lacks identification papers.

In the South Asian nation of more than 240 million people, parents generally wait until a child begins school at the age of five to obtain a birth certificate, which is required for enrolment in most parts of Pakistan.

Raza slipped through the cracks until the end of elementary school, but when his middle school requested documentation, his mother had no choice but to withdraw him.

“If I go looking for work, they ask for my ID card. Without it, they refuse to hire me,” said the 19-year-old in the megacity of Karachi, the southern economic capital.

He has already been arrested twice for failing to present identification cards when stopped by police at checkpoints.

Raza’s mother Maryam Suleman, who is also unregistered, said she “didn’t understand the importance of having identity documents.”

“I had no idea I would face such difficulties later in life for not being registered,” the 55-year-old widow told AFP from the single room she and Raza share.

Pakistan launched biometric identification cards in 2000 and registration is increasingly required in all aspects of formal life, especially in cities.

In 2021, the National Database and Registration Authority estimated that around 45 million people were not registered. They have declined to release updated figures or reply to AFP despites repeated requests.

To register, Raza needs his mother’s or uncle’s documents — an expensive and complex process at their age, often requiring a doctor, lawyer or a newspaper notice.

The paperwork, he says, costs up to $165 — a month and a half’s income for the two of them, who earn a living doing housework and odd jobs in a grocery shop.

Locals whisper that registration often requires bribes, and some suggest the black market offers a last resort.

“Our lives could have been different if we had our identity cards,” Raza said.

In remote Punjab villages like Rajanpur, UNICEF is trying to prevent people from falling into the same fate as Raza.

They conduct door-to-door registration campaigns, warning parents that undocumented children face higher risks of child labor and forced marriage.

Currently, 58 percent of children under five have no birth certificate, according to government figures.

Registration fees depend on the province, ranging from free, $0.70 to $7 — still a burden for many Pakistanis, about 45 percent of whom live in poverty.

“Our men have no time or money to go to the council and miss a day’s work,” said Nazia Hussain, mother of two unregistered children.

The “slow process” often requires multiple trips and there is “no means of transport for a single woman,” she said.

In this photograph taken on May 15, 2025, teacher Nazia Hussain (left) holds her child whilst teaching a class at a government school in Rajanpur district of Punjab province, Pakistan. (AFP)

Saba, from the same village, is determined to register her three children, starting with convincing her in-laws of its value.

“We don’t want our children’s future to be like our past. If children go to school, the future will be brighter,” said Saba, who goes by just one name.

Campaigns in the village have resulted in an increase of birth registration rates from 6.1 percent in 2018 to 17.7 percent in 2024, according to UNICEF.

This will improve the futures of an entire generation, believes Zahida Manzoor, child protection officer at UNICEF, dispatched to the village.

“If the state doesn’t know that a child exists, it can’t provide basic services,” she said.

“If a child does not have an identity, it means the state has not recognized their existence. The state is not planning for the services that the child will need after birth.”

Muhammad Haris and his brothers, who have few interactions with the formal state in their border village in the mountainous province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, have not registered any of their eight children.

“The government asks for documents for the pilgrimage visa to Makkah,” a journey typically made after saving for a lifetime, he told AFP.

For him, this is the only reason worthy of registration.

Topics: National Database and Registration Authority UNICEF Pakistan

Three dead as cloudburst triggers flash flood in northern Pakistan’s popular Babusar Road

Three dead as cloudburst triggers flash flood in northern Pakistan’s popular Babusar Road
Updated 22 July 2025

Three dead as cloudburst triggers flash flood in northern Pakistan’s popular Babusar Road

Three dead as cloudburst triggers flash flood in northern Pakistan’s popular Babusar Road
  • Cloudburst affected seven to eight kilometers of area on Babusar Road, causing 14-15 major blockages
  • Torrential monsoon rains across Pakistan have killed at least 221 people and injured 592 since June 26
Updated 22 July 2025
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: Three people were killed while one was injured this week as a cloudburst triggered flash floods that caused several blockages on the key Babusar Road in Pakistan’s northern Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said. 

The Babusar Road in northern Pakistan is a popular mountain route for tourists, connecting the Kaghan Valley in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province to GB.

The NDMA said that a cloudburst at 3:30 p.m. on Monday affected an area of approximately seven to eight kilometers on Babusar Road, causing 14–15 major blockages due to landslides, debris and flash floods.

“Three dead bodies received at Regional Headquarters Chila, one injured person under treatment,” the NDMA said in a statement. “Tourists stranded at various points were evacuated.”

The disaster management authority further said that the deputy commissioner and superintendent of police of Diamer visited the site. However, it said they could only travel as far as the road’s middle point as the area beyond it remains inaccessible on foot due to heavy boulder deposits. 

“Babusar Road is severely blocked,” the NDMA said. “Karakorum Highway blocked at Lal Parhi and Tatta Pani [areas]. Around 10–15 vehicles are stuck in nullahs and slide areas.”

The development took place as the Pakistan Meteorological Department warned that a fresh monsoon rain spell till July 25 is likely to trigger more floods in Pakistan. 

Heavy rains have killed at least 221 people and injured 591 across the country, as per the NDMA’s latest situation report. Pakistan’s most populous Punjab province has reported the highest number of deaths at 135, followed by 46 in KP, 22 in Sindh, 16 in Balochistan, and one each in the federal capital of Islamabad and Azad Kashmir.

The PMD warned landslides and mudslides may block roads in vulnerable areas of Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir and GB during this time period. Heavy rains, windstorms and lightning could also damage weak structures, electric poles, billboards, vehicles and solar panels.

Monsoon season brings South Asia 70 to 80 percent of its annual rainfall, arriving in early June in India and late June in Pakistan, and lasting through until September.

In 2022, record-breaking monsoon rains combined with glacial melt submerged nearly a third of Pakistan, killing more than 1,700 people and displacing over 8 million. In May, at least 32 people were killed in severe storms, including strong hailstorms.

Topics: National Disaster Management Authority of Pakistan (NDMA) flash floods Floods in Pakistan Diamer

Pakistani consortium launches first Sharia-compliant Agri-Infrastructure Sukuks worth $7 million

Pakistani consortium launches first Sharia-compliant Agri-Infrastructure Sukuks worth $7 million
Updated 21 July 2025

Pakistani consortium launches first Sharia-compliant Agri-Infrastructure Sukuks worth $7 million

Pakistani consortium launches first Sharia-compliant Agri-Infrastructure Sukuks worth $7 million
  • The funds will be used to bolster renewable energy efforts, enhance essential food items production
  • The transaction reflects private sector’s commitment to facilitating sustainable financing solutions
Updated 21 July 2025
Ismail Dilawar

KARACHI: A consortium of Pakistani corporate entities on Monday launched the country’s first, fully subscribed Rs2 billion ($7 million) Agri-Infrastructure Sukuk to bolster renewable energy efforts and enhance production of essential staple food items, with a ceremonial gong strike at the Pakistan Stock Exchange.

Sukuk are financial certificates, often referred to as Islamic bonds, that represent ownership in an asset or a collection of assets and are designed to be Sharia-compliant by adhering to Islamic law, which prohibits interest-based transactions (riba). Instead of interest, sukuk holders receive a share of the profits generated by the underlying asset.

The Shariah-compliant Sukuk is backed by a 100 percent principal credit guarantee from InfraZamin Pakistan, which mobilizes private investment in pioneering infrastructure. The financial certificate carries a long-term AAA rating by VIS Credit Rating Company and is fully subscribed by institutional investors, a major step toward sustainable financing via capital markets in the country’s agricultural sector.

The funds raised through the Sukuk, whose issuance is led by BankIslami Pakistan Limited as the mandated lead arranger, will be utilized to advance Sunridge Foods’ Balancing, Modernization, and Replacement (BMR) projects, focused on upgrading production facilities with sustainable and energy-efficient technologies, according to InfraZamin Pakistan.

“Key components of the BMR include the installation of 1MW wind turbines and a 0.5MW solar power plant to bolster Sunridge’s renewable energy efforts, alongside the construction of new silos and warehouses to substantially expand agricultural produce storage capacity,” InfraZamin said in a statement.

“Additionally, the proceeds will provide working capital support for Sunridge’s critical wheat and rice processing plants in Karachi and Lahore, facilitating increased production of essential staple food items.”

On the occasion, Deputy British High Commissioner in Karachi Lance Domm lauded the initiative as a significant step toward climate-resilient and sustainable economic growth through capital market innovation.

“This Sukuk represents a significant step in expanding access to climate-friendly, Shariah-compliant finance in Pakistan’s agri-infrastructure sector,” Domm said.

“It reflects growing confidence in the country’s capital markets and the role of partnerships in mobilizing private investment for development. The UK, through its support to InfraZamin and other financial institutions, remains committed to strengthening Pakistan’s financial ecosystem.”

InfraZamin Pakistan CEO Maheen Rahman highlighted the strategic importance of the transaction, saying it reflected their commitment to facilitating sustainable financing solutions that empower Pakistan’s agriculture sector.

“By providing a principal credit guarantee, InfraZamin strengthens investor confidence and unlocks capital market access,” she said.

Amir Shahzad, chairman and executive director of Sunridge Foods, emphasized the operational and environmental benefits of the development at the ceremony.

“At Sunridge Foods, we are proud to be part of this landmark issuance that channels Islamic finance toward strengthening Pakistan’s agri-infrastructure,” Shahzad said.

“This Sukuk enables us to modernize our production capabilities, invest in renewable energy, and significantly expand our storage and processing capacity for essential food staples. It is a testament to how purpose-driven partnerships can unlock sustainable growth in critical sectors like food and agriculture.”

The event at PSX underscored the collective vision of all stakeholders to foster innovative, Shariah-compliant financing avenues that drive Pakistan’s sustainable infrastructure and agricultural development, according to InfraZamin.

“We are pleased to play our role in the launch of Pakistan’s first Agri-Infrastructure Sukuk, marking a significant step forward in sustainable financing for the country,” said Rizwan Ata, president and CEO of BankIslami.

“This transaction highlights the growing recognition of Shariah-compliant finance as a core tool for driving economic growth while supporting sustainable development.” 

PSX Chairperson Dr. Shamshad Akhtar emphasized that Pakistan’s intersecting crises of climate vulnerability and food insecurity demand bold, homegrown solutions. She commended the launch of the Agri-Infrastructure Sukuk as a defining example of how private sector leadership and financial innovation, particularly within Islamic finance, can mobilize capital toward climate resilience and agricultural development.

“[Such initiatives are] powerful catalysts for inclusive growth, food system transformation, and a sustainable future built on values, ingenuity, and collaboration,” she was quoted as saying.

PSX CEO Farrukh Subzwari reaffirmed the Exchange’s commitment to transforming the capital market into a platform for purposeful solutions, especially in addressing climate risk, food insecurity, and the structural gaps facing Pakistan’s economy.

“Banks, fund managers, corporates, regulators like SECP, and institutional investors must work together to build the ecosystem for sustainable finance,” the statement quoted him as saying.

“PSX will continue to serve not just as a marketplace, but as a catalyst for innovation, inclusion, and resilience— where ideas translate into impact and capital is mobilized for national priorities.”

Topics: Sukuk

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