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Saudi Arabia’s KSrelief distributes 50,000 winter kits in Pakistan’s cold areas

Saudi Arabia’s KSrelief distributes 50,000 winter kits in Pakistan’s cold areas
The photo shared on February 12, 2024, shows The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) distributing winter relief kits in Pakistan’s northern region. (Photo courtesy: APP)
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Updated 11 min 16 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia’s KSrelief distributes 50,000 winter kits in Pakistan’s cold areas

Saudi Arabia’s KSrelief distributes 50,000 winter kits in Pakistan’s cold areas
  • KSrelief distributes most number of winter kits, 16,000, in northwestern Pakistan, says state-run media 
  • Each kit includes two quilts, woolen shawls for men and women and warm clothing for children and adults
Updated 11 min 16 sec ago
Arab News Pakistan
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ISLAMABAD: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) has distributed 50,000 winter relief kits in 52 of Pakistan’s coldest and snow-covered districts, state-run media reported on Wednesday, saying that an estimated 350,000 people to benefit from the initiative. 

The humanitarian agency launched its initiative last month, saying that it would distribute 84,500 shelter, NFIs (non-food items), and winter kits across Pakistan as part of its annual initiative to support vulnerable communities.

KSrelief had said during its first phase, it would distribute 50,000 winter relief kits in Pakistan’s coldest regions. The remaining 34,500 shelter NFIs will be strategically allocated for disaster response, with distribution planned over three additional phases, set to conclude by December 2025, the agency had said. 

“The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) has launched a large-scale relief initiative, distributing 50,000 winter kits to residents in 52 of Pakistan’s coldest and snow-covered districts,” the organization said, as per a report in the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP). 

KSrelief said 12,200 kits in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province have been already distributed across 11 districts out of a total of 16,000. The remaining 3,800 kits are currently being delivered in six additional districts, the report said. 

It also distributed 10,000 kits in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region, 6,000 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), 4,000 in Sindh and 2,000 in Punjab. 

“Each winter kit includes two quilts, woolen shawls for men and women, and warm clothing for children and adults – offering much-needed protection against harsh weather conditions,” APP said. 

APP said the kits are being distributed in collaboration with Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs), local administrations and the Hayat Foundation.

“With an estimated 350,000 beneficiaries across the country, the initiative underscores KSrelief’s ongoing commitment to humanitarian aid, providing essential support to vulnerable communities facing extreme winter hardships,” the report said. 

In 2023 alone, KSrelief provided over 110 million meals globally, including a significant share for Pakistan. 

Topics: King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Aid (KSrelief)

Russia to collaborate with Pakistan on modernization of steel mill — state media

Russia to collaborate with Pakistan on modernization of steel mill — state media
Updated 4 min 7 sec ago
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Russia to collaborate with Pakistan on modernization of steel mill — state media

Russia to collaborate with Pakistan on modernization of steel mill — state media
  • A team of technical experts from Russia was in Pakistan last month to evaluate Pakistan Steel Mills
  • PSM among dozens of loss-making public entities Pakistan wants to sell as part of IMF reforms program 
Updated 4 min 7 sec ago
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Russian Ambassador to Pakistan Albert P. Khorev has announced cooperation with Islamabad this year in the energy and industrial sectors, including the modernization of a state-owned steel mill, Pakistani state media reported on Wednesday.

A team of technical experts from Russia was in Pakistan last month to assess Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM), one of several firms Pakistan wants to sell to revive loss-making entities as it strives to deliver reforms under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund bailout.

Islamabad has for years been pumping billions of dollars into cash-bleeding state enterprises to keep them afloat, including one of the largest loss-making enterprises, Pakistan International Airline, and PSM, once the producer of almost half the country’s steel needs but which has been in decline since 2008 due to corruption, mismanagement, and a lack of investment. 

As of August 2024, the accumulated losses of the mills stood at over $800 million. PSM has not produced steel at its 19,000-acre facility since June 2015.

“Ambassador Khorev has said that Russia and Pakistan will focus on cooperation in energy and industry including the modernization of the Steel Mills, agriculture and transport in 2025,” state news agency, the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), said. 

Pakistan and Russia, once Cold War rivals, have strengthened their relationship in recent years through increased dialogue and trade, including in 2023 when Pakistan began purchasing discounted Russian crude oil that had been banned from European markets due to Russia’s war on Ukraine. Islamabad also received its first shipment of liquified petroleum gas from Russia that year. 

It is targeting 100,000 bpd of imports from Russia, compared with the total 154,000 bpd of crude it imported in 2022, in the hopes that will lower its import bill, address a foreign exchange crisis and keep a lid on inflation.

However, the benefits are being offset by increased shipping costs and lower quality refined products compared with the fuels produced with crude from Pakistan’s main suppliers, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Energy imports make up the majority of the South Asian country’s external payments.

“Russia stands ready to intensify cooperation with Pakistan on the use of international transport corridors,” APP quoted the Russian ambassador as saying. 

These include the Pakistan Stream gas project, also known as the North-South gas pipeline, which is to be built in collaboration with Russian companies. The 1,100 km (683 mile)-long pipeline will deliver imported LNG from Karachi on the Arabian Sea coast to power plants in the northeastern province of Punjab. Another corridor is the Trans-Afghan Multimodal Transport Corridor, which will run from northeastern Kazakhstan via Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, and onward by sea to the port of Jebel Ali in the United Arab Emirates.

The statement also quoted Khorev as saying Russia was considering being involved in the modernization of the Quetta-Taftan railway line, one of the main railway lines in Pakistan. and increasing maritime cargo transportation.

Topics: Pakistan Russia Ties

Afghanistan cricket team arrive in Pakistan to play first Champions Trophy tournament 

Afghanistan cricket team arrive in Pakistan to play first Champions Trophy tournament 
Updated 12 February 2025
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Afghanistan cricket team arrive in Pakistan to play first Champions Trophy tournament 

Afghanistan cricket team arrive in Pakistan to play first Champions Trophy tournament 
  • Led by Hashmatullah Afridi, Afghanistan will play first match against South Africa on Feb. 19
  • Afghanistan have been placed in Group B with Australia, South Africa and England 
Updated 12 February 2025
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan’s national cricket team arrived in the eastern city of Lahore on Wednesday to play their first Champions Trophy tournament, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said with only days left for the international tournament to kick off. 

The eight-nation tournament kicks off in the southern port city of Karachi on Feb. 19. Defending champions Pakistan will take on New Zealand in the city in the tournament opener whereas Afghanistan will kick off the event with their first encounter against South Africa in the same city. 

Led by skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afghanistan will play their second match of the tournament against England in Lahore on Feb. 21 before meeting Australia on Feb. 28 in the eastern city. 

“Afghanistan’s cricket team have arrived in Lahore to take part in the Champions Trophy,” the PCB said in a statement. “This is the first time that Afghanistan are taking part in the Champions Trophy.”

Afghanistan were dealt a blow when teenage spinner AM Ghazanfar was ruled out of the tournament due to a back injury this week. 

“Afghanistan’s young spin-bowling sensation, AM Ghazanfar, has been ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy due to a fracture in the L4 vertebra, specifically in the left pars interarticularis,” the team confirmed via a statement.

“He sustained the injury during Afghanistan’s recently held tour Zimbabwe, and will be sidelined for a minimum of four months and will remain under treatment during this period.”

Afghanistan’s spin department is already missing experienced spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman. 

Squad: 

Afghanistan squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Farid Malik, Naveed Zadran. Reserves: Darwish Rasooli, Bilal Sami

Topics: Afghanistan cricket team Champions Trophy 2025

Pakistan car sales surge by 61 percent YoY due to lower interest rates, newer variants— report 

Pakistan car sales surge by 61 percent YoY due to lower interest rates, newer variants— report 
Updated 12 February 2025
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Pakistan car sales surge by 61 percent YoY due to lower interest rates, newer variants— report 

Pakistan car sales surge by 61 percent YoY due to lower interest rates, newer variants— report 
  • Pakistan’s central bank has slashed interest rates from all-time high of 22 percent in June 2024 to 12 percent 
  • Two and three-wheelers’ sales increased by 33 percent year-on-year and 18 percent month-on-month, says brokerage house
Updated 12 February 2025
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s car sales surged by 61 percent year-on-year (YoY) in January due to lower interest rates, increased customer confidence and newer variants entering the market, a top brokerage house said in its report this week. 

Pakistan car sales were clocked in at 17,010 units in January 2025, reflecting a 61 percent YoY surge and a 73 percent month-on-month (MoM) increase, Topline Securities said in its report on Tuesday. 

Pakistan’s central bank last month announced cutting its key interest rate by 100 basis points to 12 percent. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has slashed rates from an all-time high of 22 percent in June 2024 in one of the most aggressive moves among central banks of emerging markets. Lower interest rates charged by the SBP means commercial banks also lower the interest rates they charge on loans, including auto loans. 

“The YoY rise in car sales is driven by lowered interest rates, improved consumer confidence, and the introduction of newer variants and models,” Topline Securities said in its report. 

“MoM increase is primarily due to the low base effect, as December sales are typically low with buyers delaying purchases for new-year registrations, and SAZEW data not being released leading to an uptick in January,” it added. 

For the seven months of the current financial year, 7MFY25, auto sales have surged to 77,686 units, a 55 percent YoY rise from 49,989 units in 7MFY24.

It said all auto companies have seen a rise in YoY and MoM car sales. 

“Two and three-wheelers’ sales increased by 33 percent YoY and 18 percent MoM totaling to 139,161 units (2.5-year high) in January 2025,” the report said. 

It said the tractor industry recorded sales of 2,761 units, marking a 28 percent YoY and 61 percent MoM decrease, while truck and bus sales in Jan 2025 were up 2.57x YoY and 3.22x MoM, reaching 621 units after 3 years (last recorded in January 2022).

 “Auto sales have seen a boost and this is expected to continue as auto financing recovers amidst interest rates fall and new variants enter the market,” the report concluded. 

Topics: Pakistan car sales cars interest rates

Pakistan PM vows to deepen cooperation with IAEA for peaceful nuclear use

Pakistan PM vows to deepen cooperation with IAEA for peaceful nuclear use
Updated 12 February 2025
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Pakistan PM vows to deepen cooperation with IAEA for peaceful nuclear use

Pakistan PM vows to deepen cooperation with IAEA for peaceful nuclear use
  • The top IAEA official Rafael Mariano Grossi is visiting Pakistan on a two-day official visit
  • He will meet political leaders, attend seminars and visit a nuclear power generation site
Updated 12 February 2025
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to enhancing collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to maximize nuclear technology for peaceful purposes during his interaction with the top agency official, his office said on Wednesday.
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi is visiting Pakistan on a two-day official visit to meet key political leaders, attend seminars and visit a nuclear power generation site.
The United Nations nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, promotes the safe and peaceful use of nuclear technology worldwide. Pakistan has collaborated with the agency since 1957 and operates a civil nuclear power program under IAEA safeguards.
While Pakistan is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), it has voluntary safeguards agreements with the IAEA and actively works to ensure its nuclear facilities comply with international safety standards.
“The PM reaffirmed Pakistan’s dedication to further strengthening its collaboration with the IAEA to harness the full potential of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes,” the PM office said in a statement following Sharif’s meeting with Grossi in Islamabad.
“During the meeting, the peaceful applications of nuclear technology in various sectors including cancer diagnostics and treatment, agriculture, food preservation, water management and industry were discussed.”
It added that Sharif praised the UN nuclear watchdog’s efforts in promoting nuclear energy to combat climate change, highlighting Pakistan’s “productive and mutually beneficial partnership” with the IAEA over the decades.
“With the IAEA’s support, Pakistan has made significant progress in nuclear power generation, industrial development, health care, and agricultural advancements, contributing to the country’s socio-economic growth,” the PM office said.
The statement added that Grossi appreciated Pakistan’s “constructive and longstanding” engagement with the UN nuclear watchdog, saying the IAEA would continue working with Pakistan in the same spirit.
Pakistan, a member of the IAEA Board of Governors, has been advocating for membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), arguing that its nuclear program meets international safeguards standards.
The South Asian country actively participates in IAEA conferences, policy discussions and technical workshops, demonstrating its commitment to the peaceful use of nuclear technology.

Topics: IAEA Rafael Mariano Grossi

Journalists’ union in southwest Pakistan launches hunger strike against new cybercrime law

Journalists’ union in southwest Pakistan launches hunger strike against new cybercrime law
Updated 12 February 2025
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Journalists’ union in southwest Pakistan launches hunger strike against new cybercrime law

Journalists’ union in southwest Pakistan launches hunger strike against new cybercrime law
  • Bill creates four new government bodies to regulate online content, broadens the definition of online harm
  • Parliament adopted amendments last month in the context of what is widely seen as a digital crackdown
Updated 12 February 2025
SAADULLAH AKHTER

QUETTA: A union of journalists in the southwestern Pakistani province of Balochistan on Wednesday set up a hunger strike camp to protest recent amendments to the country’s cybercrime law that opposition parties, the media fraternity and digital rights activists have widely said threaten online speech.

The Pakistan Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025, enacted on January 29, includes provisions making the dissemination of “fake or false” information a criminal offense punishable by up to three years in prison without clearly defining “fake or false” news. Stakeholders like journalists and digital rights experts say they were excluded from consultations on the bill, which prevented genuine public scrutiny of the new law. The government denies the law is aimed at suppressing digital speech.

The amendments to the Electronic Crimes Act create four new government bodies to regulate online content and broaden the definition of online harm. The government bodies are authorized to block and remove content based on “ambiguous” criteria that do not meet the standards of proportionality and necessity required under international human rights law, rights bodies like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty have said.

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) last week challenged the new law before the Islamabad High Court, urging it to strike them down for being “unconstitutional.” Journalists and their unions have also held protests against the amendments in several cities across the country. 

On Wednesday, the Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ) launched a three-day hunger strike camp outside the Quetta Press Club, calling the new law “draconian.”

“Though the government says the amendments were proposed and approved to prevent fake news on social media, we are concerned that the government would target print and electronic media under the PECA Act also,” BUJ President Khalil Ahmed told Arab News.

He said the impoverished Balochistan province’s issues, including social and economic underdevelopment and security, did not get adequate coverage on mainstream media and many journalists from the region used online platforms to highlight the challenges. 

“Journalists in Balochistan province would be affected under this act because the majority of journalists here are forced to discuss provincial issues on social media platforms through vlogs and blogs,” Ahmed said, adding that the BUJ’s protest movement would continue until the government abolished the new amendments to the PECA Act.

Saleem Shahid, a senior journalist and former vice president of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, described the new law as being against “basic human rights.”

“Under these news amendments, authorities can detain journalists without giving them a chance of a legal trial in courts and fine them rupees two to three million rupees,” Shahid said. 

“When we speak about freedom of speech and independent journalism, we should be more responsible and pursue ethics of journalism.”

One of the regulatory bodies created under the new law, the Social Media Protection Tribunal, comprises government-appointed members rather than independent members of the judiciary.

Another new body, the Social Media Protection and Regulation Authority, is authorized to order any social media company to remove or block content deemed to be “against the ideology of Pakistan,” be known to be “fake or false,” or to cast aspersions on various public officials. The authority can also require any social media company to register with it and impose any conditions it deems “appropriate” upon registration.

Parliament adopted the amendments last month in the context of what is widely seen as an escalating crackdown on digital speech in Pakistan, including frequently shutting down the Internet and throttling Internet networks. 

The social media platform X has already been banned since days after February general elections last year as allegations of rigging emerged online. There are regular reports of VPN restrictions, and the government is also moving to implement a national firewall, though it denies these moves are aimed at censorship.

Topics: Pakistan Quetta PECA law Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists

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