Pakistan

Wasim Akram, Bilal Abbas Khan and Durefishan Saleem among several personalities who completed pilgrimage this year

From mass prayers to preparing animals for sacrifice, Muslims mark occasion with community, togetherness

KARACHI: Pakistan plans to boost domestic storage for crude oil and refined products to increase its energy security, according to a government document that was shared with oil producers and some of the world’s leading trading firms. Despite depending on supplies through the Strait of Hormuz for up to 90 per cent of its oil and liquefied natural gas imports, Pakistan has no strategic petroleum reserves. That has left it exposed to supply shocks provoked by the Iran war even as its lending programme with the Inter­national Monetary Fund limits room for costly state-owned emergency stocks. According to the document reviewed by Reuters, the energy ministry is proposing to build strategic petroleum reserves as well as commercial storage through bonded terminals, refineries and oil marketing companies. It is also pushing for more oil and gas exploration and production, upgrades to its refineries and a consolidation of its downstream sector. Govt plans to cut reliance on Hormuz imports “Pakistan’s oil security req...

KARACHI: After paying higher prices for sacrificial animals to fulfil a religious obligation, consumers now face another challenge in finding extra cash to buy high-demand vegetables and flour ahead of Eidul Azha. Retailers have increased the price of onions by Rs20 per kg as demand usually rises for its extensive use in preparing Eid-related meat dishes. Consumers are paying Rs100 per kg for good-quality onions, compared with Rs80 per kg a few days ago. A good-quality tomato is now priced at Rs180-200 per kg, compared with Rs70-100 in the middle of this month and Rs50-80 per kg earlier this month. Falahi Anjuman Wholesale Vegetable Market, New Subzi Mandi, President Haji Shahjahan said the Sindh onion crop is nearing its end, while demand is being met by crops from Punjab and Balochistan. Wholesale prices lag retail hikes; traders blame low arrivals and transport priority for sacrificial animals He said retailers are fully cashing in on the high demand for onions, as the wholesale rate is no more than Rs50 p...

QUETTA: In a significant boost to Gwadar’s air connectivity, private airline South Air has launched its first trial flight service from Karachi to Gwadar. The trial flight successfully landed at the New Gwadar International Air­port, marking a key step towards improving air tra­vel facilities in the coastal region. According to the airport flights schedule, South Air flight Z8-905 departed from Karachi at 12 noon on Tuesday and arrived at the New Gwadar Inter­national Airport at 3:40pm. The operationalisation of the Gwadar airport under the China-Pakistan Eco­nomic Corridor (CPEC) project is expected to facilitate smoother movement of passengers, cargo and services. The new air service is also expected to significantly reduce travel time between Gwadar, Karachi, Quetta and other cities, while boosting trade, tourism and development activities across the Makran division. According to the private airline spokesperson, improved connectivity between the Gwadar seaport and international airport could help transfor...

• Washington says strikes targeted Iranian missile sites, mine-laying boats • Rubio says Iran deal may take ‘a few days’; insists Hormuz will reopen ‘one way or the other’ • Iran says US drone downed, F-35 fired at; tanker damaged by external explosion off Oman • Trump to hold Camp David cabinet meeting on Iran crisis TEHRAN: Iran accused the United States of breaching their ceasefire on Tuesday and warned it was ready to retaliate and “will not leave any evil unanswered” after overnight US strikes targeting Iranian missile sites and mine-laying boats threatened a deal to end the war. The Brent benchmark oil price jumped up by more than four per cent after US Central Comm­and announced the new wave of bombings, and China urged both sides to respect the truce and to resolve their dispute peacefully. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, meanwhile, said negotiating a deal to halt the conflict could “take a few days”. According to Iranian media, Iran’s negotiators had been pushing for the memorandum to include the ...

Fans praise the singer for urging greater focus on charity and support for the needy during Eidul Azha celebrations

Discussions also cover Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach, multilateral cooperation, and regional stability efforts

Odeh's relative confirms death, family statement says chief killed with wife, son

• Verdict authored by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar notes solid grounds needed if wedlock policy is to be ignored • Bench sets aside Punjab service tribunal order; authorities directed to reconsider petitioner’s request for transfer within fortnight ISLAMABAD: The Supr­eme Court has ruled that a government employee may not have a vested right to transfer to a particular station, but spouses covered under the wedlock policy have a legitimate expectation to be considered for joint postings unless compelling public interest dictates otherwise. A division bench, headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and also comprising Justice Musarrat Hilali, gave its ruling on an appeal filed by Naheeda Aziz against the Jan 17, 2023 decision of the Punjab Service Tribunal, that had rejected her transfer request. While citing federal and provincial governments’ wedlock policies, Justice Mazhar noted that such policies mitigate and alleviate the socio-economic problems and hardships faced by husbands and wives in government service...

Ministers urge public to include underprivileged segments of society in Eid celebrations, appeal to ensure cleanliness

Strikes hit five towns despite ceasefire; US deploys F-22s, refueling aircraft at Israeli bases, airports

Leaders say Eidul Azha reflects obedience, sacrifice and sincerity shown by Hazrat Ibrahim (AS)

War overshadows Eid al-Adha in south Lebanon

The Punjab Home Department on Tuesday issued a list of banned and monitored organisations ahead of Eidul Azha, urging citizens not to donate sacrificial animal hides to such groups or their affiliated organisations. According to a spokesperson for the department, “Providing any kind of assistance to banned organisations is a punishable offence under the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997.” He further warned that individuals found supporting organisations involved in terrorism or anti-state activities would face legal action. According to the list issued by the Home Department, the banned organisations included Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, Jaish-i-Mohammed, Lashkar-i-Taiba, Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, Al Qaeda, Daesh, Jamaatud Dawa, Falah-i-Insaniat Foundation and several other proscribed or monitored entities. “Citizens are advised to donate sacrificial hides only to organisations registered with the Punjab Charity Commission (PCC),” he said, adding that the authenticity of registered organisations could be verified through QR co...

Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and the Foreign Minister of Costa Rica, Manuel Tovar Rivera, on Tuesday, reviewed bilateral relations between the two countries.

Tremors were felt in several cities of Punjab on Monday, including Mandi Bahauddin, Malakwal, and Phalia, causing panic among residents.

JEHLUM: At least one person was killed and 11 others were injured after several houses were seriously damaged following a reported earthquake in Jhelum’s Pind Dadan Khan tehsil on Tuesday, the area administration said. According to Jhelum Deputy Commissioner Mir Reza Ozgen, the earthquake was reported in the Jalalpur Sharif area of Jhelum’s Pind Dadan Khan tehsil. Ozgen said around 10 houses were seriously damaged in the earthquake and confirmed that at least one person had died in the incident. According to a press release issued by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), an earthquake measuring 4.8 on the scale was recorded at 7:06pm on Tuesday. The quake had a depth of 12 kilometres, with its epicentre located 58 kilometres southwest of Jhelum at latitude 32.59 north and longitude 73.23 east, the release added. “Police, rescue teams and the local administration are present at the site. Further search and assessment of the area is underway,” the DC said. Assistant Commissioner Pind Dadan Khan Ayesha S...

UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan on Tuesday used the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to push for sustained diplomacy in the ongoing United States-Iran crisis, with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar highlighting Islamabad’s role in efforts aimed at reducing tensions between Tehran and Washington. Addressing a high-level UNSC debate chaired by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the UN headquarters in New York, the deputy prime minister warned that another conflict in the Middle East would have serious regional and global consequences. “Another prolonged conflict would serve no one,” he told the council. “It would endanger regional peace, disrupt global energy flows, deepen humanitarian suffering and strain an already fragile international order.” In remarks closely watched because of Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement in the crisis, Dar said Islamabad had consistently advocated for restraint and dialogue because of its ties with both Tehran and Washington. “As a friendly neighbour of I...

Imam of the Prophet’s Mosque, Sheikh Ali Al-Hudhaifi, on Tuesday prayed for unity among Muslims and better conditions for them around the world while delivering the Haj sermon at Masjid-i-Namirah. Huge numbers of Muslims prayed on Mount Arafat, as a harsh desert sun sent temperatures soaring towards 40°C. The imam concluded the sermon with an emotional prayer, seeking acceptance of the pilgrims’ rituals, unity among the Muslim world, and the safe return of pilgrims to their homes. “Oh God, improve the conditions of Muslims, create unity among them, and set them on the path of the truth,” he said, according to a televised Urdu translation. During his sermon, Sheikh Al-Hudhaifi emphasised that Haj is a fundamental pillar of Islam rooted in absolute monotheism and submission to Allah, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. He underscored that the pilgrimage serves as a vital platform for mutual acquaintance, harmony, cooperation, and unity among Muslims of all nationalities and backgrounds. The sermon also highl...