Tag: Pakistans

Pakistan’s largest zoo faces permanent closure amid public outcry

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Karachi: Pakistan’s largest zoo in the port city of Karachi is facing a permanent closure after 145 years in existence due to its “very poor” living conditions for the animals, who face ill-treatment and are not being fed properly.
The Federal and Sindh governments are mulling the closure of the Karachi Zoo, the second oldest zoo in the country, after reports of the ill-treatment of several animals, particularly a 17-year-old elephant named Nur Jehan.
Earlier, the elephant was found in poor health condition. Despite undergoing successful surgery, the mammal’s health condition has deteriorated due to months of inadequate care and treatment.

“The living conditions are very poor and the animals are clearly not well taken care of. There have been complaints of animals not being fed properly. So, the option of shutting the zoo down is under consideration but not final as yet,” a top official in the provincial government said.
He said Federal Minister and Senator Sherry Rehman and Pakistan Peoples Party Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto had suggested closing the recreation park and the zoo.
“We are looking at moving the animals to safer places,” the official said.
The provincial government has already removed zoo Director Khalid Hashmi for his negligence and cruel behaviour towards animals, in particular Nur Jehan who is fighting for her life after falling into a concrete pond inside her small enclosure at the zoo last week.
The fall came after a team of veterinarians from a global animal welfare organisation visited the zoo and treated Nur Jehan and other animals who were sick.

Nur Jehan was one of four African elephants who were brought to Karachi in 2009. Nur Jehan and Madhubala were put in the Karachi Zoo while Malik and Sonu were taken to the Safari Park.
Numerous reports have highlighted the cruelty shown by the zookeepers and the administration of the Karachi Zoo towards the animals.
The poor living conditions of animals have raised eyebrows of the wildlife experts who are demanding that the Karachi Zoo be shut down and the animals be shifted to safer sanctuaries.
Officials at the zoo say the animals are suffering because there are no adequate funds.
“What can we do without a proper budget? The money generated is not enough to feed all the animals properly and keep the zoo neat and clean,” one official said.
Established in 1878, the Karachi Zoo was formerly known as Mahatma Gandhi Garden. It is the largest zoo in Pakistan and the second oldest zoo in the country after the Lahore Zoo.
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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 18, 2023
Pakistan’s parliament, SC on collision course

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Islamabad: Pakistan’s parliament and judiciary have arrived at a standoff as the ruling alliance rejected the eight-member bench constituted to hear the petitions challenging the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill 2023, a media report said.
The Pakistan Supreme Court, on the other hand, while exercising “anticipatory injunction”, stayed the operation on the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure Bill) 2023 aimed at curtailing the powers of the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take suo motu notice and constitute benches, The News reported.
The PDM coalition government released a statement, which rejected the eight-member bench, terming it controversial. The allies in the federal government vowed to resist attempts to take away parliament’s authority and to interfere in its constitutional scope, The News reported.
Earlier this week, the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill 2023 was passed by a joint sitting of parliament after Pakistan President Arif Alvi returned it. Following the development, an eight-member bench was constituted to hear petitions arguing that the “concept, preparation, endorsement and passing of the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill 2023 is an act tainted with mala fide”.
Subsequently, four separate petitions were filed under Article 184(3) of the Constitution, asking the top court to set aside the bill.
The ruling coalition statement termed the development “unprecedented” as the pleas were admitted even before the completion of the legislative process. It said the move was equivalent to sabotaging the credibility of the country’s highest court, making the constitutional process of justice “meaningless”, The News reported.
“This bench itself is a testament to the division of the SC, which once again supports the earlier stated position of the ruling parties,” the statement said. It said that the ruling alliance considers this an “attack” on parliament and its authority, The News reported.

The statement lamented the formation of the “controversial” bench – which does not include any of the judges who raised questions on the powers of the CJP — and the non-inclusion of judges from Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It said that attempts to snatch the authority of parliament and to interfere in its constitutional domain will be resisted. “No compromise will be made on the authority of parliament in the light of the Constitution of Pakistan,” the coalition partners maintained.
They said that the top court judges – Justice Qazi Faez Isa and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail – had in their earlier judgments expressed their objection to the “one-man show”, biased and dictatorial behaviour, and the formation of special benches. “With the formation of the eight-member controversial bench, the facts stated in the judgments of these honourable judges have become more clear,” the statement said, The News reported.
“The constitution of the controversial bench in haste and fixing the bill for hearing, apart from the will and intent, also clearly expresses the decision to come which is sad and tantamount to murder of justice,” the ruling alliance maintained.
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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 14, 2023
Saudi provides $240M for Pakistan’s hydropower dam

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Riyadh: Saudi Arabia signed a USD 240 million loan agreement with Pakistan on Friday to support the Mohmand Multipurpose Dam Project, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Economic Affairs of Pakistan, Dawn reported.
The agreement was signed by Sultan Abdulrahman Al-Marshad, CEO, Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) and Kazim Niaz, Federal Secretary for the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki was also present on the occasion.
The statement said this loan represents a strong partnership between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in promoting sustainable development and achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs), Dawn reported.

SFD granted USD 240 million loan to Pakistan for Mohmand Dam Project today in Islamabad.(Photo/Twitter: Economic Affairs Division, Government of Pakistan)
Mohmand Multipurpose Dam Project is a major hydropower complex that will contribute to Pakistan’s energy security, increase sustainable water supply for agriculture and human consumption, and improve resilience to floods. Mohmand Dam is an under-construction multi-purpose concrete-faced rock-filled dam located on the Swat River near Pakistan’s Peshawar.
The statement noted that the project is expected to enhance water and food security and improve the standard of living for people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where almost 80 per cent of the population resides in rural areas, boosting the region’s socioeconomic development by creating employment opportunities and reducing poverty levels, Dawn reported.
It added that by using renewable energy sources, the project will generate 800 MW of electricity production capacity, contributing to Pakistan’s energy security. In addition, the storage of 1.6 million cubic meters of water will support sustainable agricultural practices, enable irrigation of 6,773 hectares of new land, and increase the total cropping area from 1,517 hectares to 9,227 hectares in the province, facilitating agricultural activities.
Co-financed by the SFD, OPEC, Islamic Development Bank, and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, the project aligns with SDG-2 (Food Security), SDG-6 (Clean Water), and SDG-7 (Clean Energy) and embodies SDG-17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

During the agreement signing ceremony, the CEO of SFD said this initiative is an extension of the fund’s continued support for development projects and programmes in Pakistan since its inception. He also highlighted the significance of joint cooperation between development funds, as evidenced by this project, Dawn reported.
For his part, Niaz expressed his sincere appreciation and gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its unwavering support towards the development sector in Pakistan through the SFD.
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#Saudi #240M #Pakistans #hydropower #dam
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 8, 2023
Pakistan’s Lahore sees surge in crime rate amid inflation spike

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Lahore: As Pakistanis are struggling to make the ends meet amid the rise in inflation, Lahore is seeing a massive surge in street crime, reported Dawn.
According to the official data, the crime rate in the first three-and-a-half months of the year shows that over 90 percent of them have been committed at gunpoint. This shows that robbers are fearless and brandish illegal weapons in the city to deprive the citizens of cash and valuables. The criminals are so desperate and fearless of the police action that they are even lifting bicycles too.
The data also revealed that 143 bicycles were stolen from various parts of the provincial capital during the first three-and-a-half months of this year besides 5,366 motorcycles.

Lahore has six police divisions, 35 circles, and 84 police stations. Each division is headed by a superintendent of police (SP) while circles are headed by sub-divisional police officers (SDPOs), reported Dawn.
But despite the appointment of so many police officers in such a large number, the criminals are on the rampage, looting and depriving citizens of their belongings fearlessly. The official data shows that 89 citizens have been allegedly murdered in Lahore in about the first quarter of 2023.
Most of the murder incidents – 20 each – were reported in City and Saddar divisions.
Meanwhile, in Islamabad, provincial’s Interior Minister Abdul Rehman Kanju admitted that the street crime rate has increased in the provincial capital, Dawn reported.
According to a Pakistani newspaper, Kanju claimed that the increase in the population has led to a spike in street crime cases, according to Dawn.

However, he claimed that the government was taking effective steps to ensure the safety of citizens.
The minister made these comments while responding to a calling attention notice, moved by PTI Member of National Assembly (MNA) Asiya Azeem regarding the increase in crimes against women in Islamabad, Dawn reported.
Giving details about the measures that the Pakistan government has taken to control crime, Interior Minister said that Eagle Squad had been formed to patrol streets on motorcycles, claiming that there had been a significant decline in the crime rate since the formation of the squad.
Kanju claimed that since the start of the year, not a single case of house robbery had been reported in the capital, reported Dawn.
Regarding the crimes against women, Kanju claimed that it was because of the government’s directives to the police to register every first information report (FIR) in this regard.
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#Pakistans #Lahore #sees #surge #crime #rate #inflation #spike
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 4, 2023
Stampede at food distribution centre kills 11 in Pakistan’s Karachi city

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Karachi: At least 11 people, including women and children, were killed and several others injured in a deadly stampede at a Ramzan food distribution centre in Pakistan’s port city of Karachi on Friday, officials said.
The stampede took place after some people unknowingly stepped on a live wire where food was being distributed, leading to the tragedy.
Soon, people started pushing each other, due to which some even fell into a nearby drain, police said.
At least 11 people, including women and children, died in the stampede and several others were injured.
“Initially two persons were electrocuted after stepping on the live wire and that led to panic and stampede,” SSP Ameerullah told PTI.
“Two children and two women fell in a drain when its wall collapsed due to the rush of the people,” he said.
At least 11 other people, including women, have died while trying to get free flour from government distribution outlets in Pakistan’s Punjab province in recent days.
With the latest incident in Karachi, the death toll from stampedes across free food centres in Pakistan has risen to at least 22.

The free food distribution initiative was launched by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif last week at a time when the country is in the midst of a severe economic crisis.
Pakistan has been negotiating with the IMF for the release of a USD 1.1 billion bailout package since February but has so far met with little success due to the stringent conditions imposed by the Washington-based lender.
The funds are part of a USD 6.5 billion bailout package the IMF approved in 2019, which analysts say is critical if Pakistan is to avoid defaulting on external debt obligations.
The weekly inflation level in Pakistan has touched an all-time high of 45 per cent.
Pakistan is scrambling to increase its forex reserves, which are currently estimated to be at USD 4.2 billion, according to the country’s central bank.
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#Stampede #food #distribution #centre #kills #Pakistans #Karachi #city
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

March 31, 2023
Pakistan’s Election Commission postpones Punjab elections to October 8

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Lahore: Pakistan’s electoral watchdog on Wednesday postponed election in the Punjab province — originally scheduled for April 30 to October 8 — citing an abysmal law and order situation in the country.
The assemblies in Punjab and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces were dissolved on January 14 and 18 respectively by the erstwhile governments of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
In its order, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said that it “hereby withdraws the election programme and fresh schedule will be issued in due course of time with poll date on October 8.”
The ECP said the decision was taken after briefing of the government and different departments and intelligence agencies informed that “the law and order situation in the country don’t permit to hold elections at any province at this point of time.”
On March 1, Pakistan’s Supreme Court ruled that elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces should be held within 90 days of the dissolution of the assemblies, as stipulated by the Constitution.
In the letter to President Dr Arif Alvi, the ECP proposed April 30 as the date for elections in Punjab.
Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor Ali fixed May 28 as the date for polls in the province but subsequently backtracked on his decision while calling for “key challenges” to be addressed before a new date is announced.
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Wednesday said there were differing opinions on conducting elections, and parliament needed guidance from the government and other institutions in this regard.

“Regarding the 90-day limit in the Constitution, I mentioned that April 30 is beyond that timeframe but have elections not been held after 90 or 60 days in the past?” Sanaullah asked.
Khan, 70, who came to power in 2018, is the only Pakistani Prime Minister to be ousted in a no-confidence vote in Parliament in April 2022.
Since his ouster, he has stepped up the ante on the ruling coalition to announce snap polls.
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#Pakistans #Election #Commission #postpones #Punjab #elections #October
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

March 23, 2023
Pakistan’s remittances increase 4.9 pc in Feb: Central bank

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Islamabad: Remittances sent by overseas Pakistani workers increased by 4.9 per cent in February on a month-on-month basis, the central bank said.
The workers’ remittances recorded an inflow of $1.987 billion in February as compared to the previous month’s figure of $1.894 billion, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said based on its official data.
The SBP added that the remittances decreased by 9.5 per cent on a year-on-year basis.
With a cumulative inflow of $17.994 billion during the July-February period in the fiscal year of 2023, the remittances decreased by 10.8 per cent as compared to the same period last year, the figures showed.
Last month, the remittances mainly came from Saudi Arabia with $454.6 million, the United Arab Emirates with $324 million, Britain with $317 million, and the US with $219.4 million, according to the bank.
Workers’ remittances play an important role in Pakistan’s economy as they are one of the major sources of foreign exchange.
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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

March 11, 2023
Journalists, police clash at Gaddafi Stadium in Pakistan’s Lahore city

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Lahore: Chaos descended upon the Gaddafi Stadium, which was hosting a PSL cricket match, after a group of journalists were denied entry to the venue by police officials for wearing masks in solidarity with the slain journalist Arshad Sharif.
Sharif, 49, a former reporter and TV anchor with ARY TV, was shot dead in Nairobi on October 23 last year under mysterious circumstances, sending shockwaves across Pakistan.
On Sunday, television anchor Imran Riaz and his friends donning masks with the picture of Sharif were stopped by police from entering the Gaddafi Stadium, the venue of a PSL-8 match, despite having tickets.
The situation quickly escalated after Riaz and his friends began to chant slogans to show their solidarity with Sharif.
Video clips showed police officials and the journalists engaged in heated arguments after the police surrounded them and asked them to surrender their masks before entering the stadium.
In the video, a police inspector was seen shouting to the journalists that wearing the mask showing the face’ of Sharif on the premises of the stadium was a clear violation of the regulations of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
Soon, a scuffle broke out between the police officials and the journalists.
“By wearing Arshad Sharif’s masks, we wanted to show solidarity with him and his family and seek justice for him,” Riaz was quoted as saying by the Dawn newspaper.

In August last year, Sharif was booked on charges of sedition for interviewing former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s close aide Shehbaz Gill.
In the interview, Gill criticised the Shehbaz Sharif government for trying to pitch Khan against the country’s powerful Army. Sharif subsequently fled the country.
A month after he left Pakistan, ARY TV fired Sharif, saying he had repeatedly criticised the military on social media in violation of the company’s policy.
In October last year, he was shot dead in Nairobi, in what the Kenyan authorities claim was a case of “mistaken identity.”
But in December last year, Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered the federal government to constitute a special Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe the case after the initial investigation revealed the murder was “premeditated.”
Sharif was awarded the Pride of Performance’ in 2019 by Pakistan President Arif Alvi.
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#Journalists #police #clash #Gaddafi #Stadium #Pakistans #Lahore #city
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 27, 2023
4 killed in a blast in Pakistan’s Balochistan province

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Islamabad: At least four people were killed and 14 wounded in an explosion inside the Rakhni market in Barkhan in Pakistan’s Balochistan province on Sunday morning, police and health officials said, local media reported.
Barkhan District Health Officer Dr Abdul Hameed confirmed the death toll adding that the injured persons were rushed to the Rakhni Hospital, Dawn reported.
According to Barkhan Deputy Commissioner Abdullah Khoso, the blast occurred when an improvised explosive device (IED), planted on a motorcycle, exploded, Dawn reported.
Khoso said the police have arrived at the site and cordoned it off. “Teams have begun collecting evidence from the site,” he added.
Unverified videos making the rounds on social media show volunteers carrying bloodied victims away as a crowd gathers at the purported site of the blast. Mangled motorcycles and charred vegetables can be seen strewn about on the road, Dawn reported.
There was no claim of responsibility as yet.
The blast comes on the heels of attacks in KP and areas bordering Afghanistan. Since the talks with the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) broke down in November last year, the militant group has intensified its attacks while insurgents in Balochistan have also stepped up their violent activities and formalised a nexus with it, Dawn reported.
President Arif Alvi also condemned it and stressed on the need to “speed up efforts for the complete elimination of terrorists”.

“Terrorists are the enemy of peace in Balochistan and progress,” he was quoted as saying. “Terrorists will never be successful in their nefarious plans.”
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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 26, 2023
Pakistan’s transgender news anchor Marvia Malik escapes death

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Pakistan’s first transgender news anchor, Marvia Malik, cheated death when she was attacked by gunmen outside her residence in Lahore on the night of February 23.
According to Dawn, Malik was returning from a pharmacy when two men opened fire. In a statement to the police, Malik claimed she had been receiving frequent threatening calls and messages from unknown numbers. She also claimed that her activism was a “major factor” behind the assassination attempt.
Malik is currently residing outside Lahore to ensure her safety.
Last year, the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) had appealed to the Pakistani government to review the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2018 as it is not in line with the Shariah,” as “several of its provisions are inconsistent with Islamic principles”.
Who is Marvia Malik
In 2018, Marvia Malik made history by becoming the country’s first transgender news anchor on air. She was born in Lahore in 1997 with two other siblings. She was often bullied and taunted by her classmates as a child and a college student.
“Like other trans people, I did not get any support from my family. On my own, I did some menial jobs and continued my studies. I had always wanted to be a news anchor, and my dream came true when I got selected,” she had said to American broadcaster Voice of America in a telephonic interview.
She worked as a makeup artist to fund her higher studies, before pursuing a career in mass media. She graduated from Lahore’s Punjab University.
In another interview with the news agency Associated Press, she mentioned how even after getting a degree a job was beyond her reach. “Our degrees are of no use…even if we seek jobs, we get rejected due to our identity, I want to change this mindset,” she said.

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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 25, 2023