��������

KARACHI: Pakistan will develop a national action plan to conserve endangered shark species in the Arabian Sea, the maritime affairs minister said on Saturday, as the government steps up efforts to curb illegal fishing and protect marine biodiversity.

The plan, which will be prepared in consultation with provincial governments and fisheries authorities, is aimed at ensuring sustainable marine practices and meeting global conservation standards.

“The continued catching of banned sharks, including requiem, hammerhead, thresher, mackerel and whale sharks, threatens both marine biodiversity and Pakistan’s international conservation commitments,” Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said, according to an official statement.

He said the initiative would align with the Food and Agriculture Organization’s International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks, which urges countries to adopt national strategies to reduce waste and promote sustainable fishing.

Chaudhry noted the basking shark, a highly migratory species in the Arabian Sea, is classified as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List and faces growing threats from fishing nets and boat strikes.
Unsustainable fishing practices, he warned, risk damaging the country’s seafood trade and reputation if not urgently addressed.

The minister said consultations would include the Sindh and Balochistan fisheries departments and other relevant institutions to review current enforcement and monitoring systems for banned and vulnerable shark species.

He also called for closer coordination with international conservation organizations and regional fisheries bodies to strengthen Pakistan’s marine protection measures.

“These consultations will help create a unified strategy to protect shark populations while ensuring Pakistan’s fishing industry meets international sustainability standards,” Chaudhry said.

He also pointed out that protecting marine biodiversity was vital for the health of Pakistan’s coastal economy and the livelihoods that depend on it.

ISLAMABAD: ��������’s GO Telecom has opened an artificial intelligence (AI) hub in Islamabad to boost cooperation in AI and data infrastructure, Pakistan’s IT ministry said on Saturday.

The initiative, underscores growing Saudi investment in Pakistan’s digital sector, follows IT and Telecommunications Minister Shaza Khawaja’s visit to �������� to discuss bilateral cooperation under Saudi Vision 2030 and Pakistan’s National AI Policy 2025. She met with GO Telecommunications Group CEO Yahya bin Saleh Al-Mansour in Riyadh to discuss collaboration in digital infrastructure, AI and human capital development.

GO Telecom, a key player in ��������’s digital transformation offering cloud and data services, has expanded regionally through partnerships with Oman’s Data Park and a majority stake in Ejad Tech. The planned AI hub marks its first major tech venture in Pakistan, broadening its international footprint beyond the petroleum sector.

“In a landmark step toward advancing Pakistan–KSA digital collaboration, GO AI Hub, Pakistan was inaugurated today in Islamabad through joint initiative of Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication and KSA’s GO Telecom,” the IT ministry said in a statement.

The launch ceremony was attended by IT Minister Khawaja, GO Telecom CEO Al-Mansour and senior officials from Pakistan’s Special Investment Facilitation Council.

The Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) this month welcomed the initiative, saying the AI hub would open new avenues for Pakistani startups in training, innovation and bilateral collaboration.

“This is an excellent initiative as it will provide Pakistani AI and telecommunications companies with access to the GO Telecom Group’s platform, enabling greater collaboration and growth opportunities,” P@SHA Chairman Sajjad Mustafa Syed had told Arab News.

Pakistan and �������� have long enjoyed close ties, but in recent years have sought to broaden their cooperation further. During Prime Minister Shehaz Sharif’s visit to Riyadh in October 2024, they signed 34 MoUs worth $2.8 billion across multiple sectors.

Both countries are now planning to forge a partnership in the fields of AI and cybersecurity.