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Pakistan deploys mobile air monitoring stations in Lahore amid toxic smog

Pakistan deploys mobile air monitoring stations in Lahore amid toxic smog
A motorcyclist rides past a mobile automatic air quality monitoring station parking along a roadside to mentor air quality index, in Lahore on November 14, 2024. (AP)
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Updated 15 November 2024
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Pakistan deploys mobile air monitoring stations in Lahore amid toxic smog

Pakistan deploys mobile air monitoring stations in Lahore amid toxic smog
  • Each station costs over $322,000, equipped for real-time air quality data
  • Smog has enveloped Lahore, Pakistan’s cultural capital, since last month
Updated 15 November 2024
Hasaan Ali Khan
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ISLAMABAD: Authorities in Pakistan’s populous Punjab province have deployed five mobile air quality monitoring stations in Pakistan’s eastern Lahore city, each costing over Rs90 million ($322,000), amid worsening smog conditions, state-run media reported on Thursday.
Lahore, consistently ranked as the world’s most polluted city in live IQAir rankings in recent weeks, is facing hazardous air quality due to cold atmospheric conditions trapping dust, vehicle emissions and smoke from illegally burned fires.
The toxic smog, which has spread to 17 other districts in Punjab, has caused over 40,000 cases of respiratory illnesses this month, according to health officials, prompting authorities to close schools until November 17.
“The Punjab government has established five mobile air quality monitoring stations in Lahore to track the city’s air quality index,” Radio Pakistan reported.
It quoted the Punjab Environment Protection Department official Farooq Alam as saying the mobile stations had been placed in highly polluted areas, such as the Defense Housing Authority, Model Town, Gulberg, Bhatta Chowk and near Shimla Pahari.
Alam told Radio Pakistan that “each mobile monitoring station costs over ninety million rupees,” adding that they are equipped with advanced technology to collect real-time air quality data.
The Punjab administration official, however, did not mention any sustainable solution to the worsening smog condition, which has become a regular feature during the winter season.
Meanwhile, Punjab’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority has urged people to wear face masks as a precautionary measure against smog and to avoid venturing out unnecessarily.
The United Nations children’s agency has warned that the health of 11 million children in Punjab is at risk due to air pollution.
According to a study by the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute last year, pollution could reduce life expectancy in the region by more than five years.

Topics: Pakistan Smog

Pakistan’s jailed former PM Imran Khan threatens civil disobedience movement

Pakistan’s jailed former PM Imran Khan threatens civil disobedience movement
Updated 14 sec ago
Reuters
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Pakistan’s jailed former PM Imran Khan threatens civil disobedience movement

Pakistan’s jailed former PM Imran Khan threatens civil disobedience movement
  • Ex-PM demands probe into crackdown on the Nov 25 protest march which he says killed 12 supporters
  • In a post on X, Khan asks supporters to converge on December 13 in the northwestern city of Peshawar
Updated 14 sec ago
Reuters

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan has called on his supporters to hold a rally next week and threatened to start a civil disobedience movement days after his party led a deadly protest march in Islamabad.
In a post on X on Thursday, Khan asked supporters to converge on Dec. 13 in the northwestern city of Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province which is ruled by his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
He demanded a judicial probe into the crackdown on the Nov 25 protest march which he said killed at least 12 of his supporters and violence on May 9 last year which killed 8. All arrested political workers should also be released, he said.
“If these two demands are not met, a civil disobedience movement will start from December 14, and the government will be held responsible for any consequences,” Khan said.
The government denies any deaths during the Nov 25 protest march, and says that Khan’s supporters had attacked military installations on May 9 last year.
Khan was indicted on Thursday on charges of directing the May 9 attacks, to which he pleaded not guilty.
The indictment was the latest in dozens of cases against the 72-year-old former cricket star, who has been in jail since late last year.
He and his party say the cases were made up to keep him out of politics at the behest of the military after he had fallen out with the army’s generals ahead of his 2022 ouster.

Topics: Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan PTI protest PTI protests

Pakistan says will push Central Asian states, UAE to expedite trans-Afghan railway project

Pakistan says will push Central Asian states, UAE to expedite trans-Afghan railway project
Updated 11 min 26 sec ago
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Pakistan says will push Central Asian states, UAE to expedite trans-Afghan railway project

Pakistan says will push Central Asian states, UAE to expedite trans-Afghan railway project
  • The railway corridor will run from northeastern Kazakhstan to Pakistan via Uzbekistan and Afghanistan
  • Aim is to use both land and sea routes to eventually link South and Central Asia with Jebel Ali port in UAE
Updated 11 min 26 sec ago
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan said this week Pakistan would reach out to Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan as well as the UAE to expedite work on a trans-Afghan railway project that will connect South and Central Asia with the aim of enhancing trade and economic opportunity in the region.

Running from northeastern Kazakhstan to Pakistan via Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, the railway initiative is part of a broader strategy to establish a southern corridor using both land and sea routes to eventually link South and Central Asia with the port of Jebel Ali in the UAE.

On Thursday, the Pakistani commerce minister reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to the project in a meeting with Kazakh Ambassador Yerzhan Kistafin to discuss trade, regional connectivity, and economic cooperation and lay the groundwork for several collaborative initiatives.

“The Minister reiterated the significance of the Trans-Afghan railway for strengthening connectivity with Central Asia,” the commerce ministry said in a statement on Thursday. “He committed to reaching out to Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Abu Dhabi authorities to expedite the project’s completion.”

In recent months, the railway project has seen the involvement of several countries, including Pakistan, the UAE, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Qatar.

Earlier this year, the Taliban government in Kabul signed a memorandum with Uzbekistan and the UAE to begin studies on the project’s viability after a meeting in Tashkent on Feb. 19, where technical, financial, and strategic aspects of the scheme were discussed. These developments followed an earlier meeting between transport ministers from Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Qatar, which led to the approval of the main routes and implementation modalities for the corridor.

However, Pakistan faces several challenges to the corridor’s completion. 

Political instability, insurgency in the southwestern Balochistan province bordering Afghanistan and Iran, and security threats to ongoing projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) are significant hurdles. Strained relations with Afghanistan due to the activities of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant groups, which Islamabad says operates from safe havens in Afghanistan, and an expulsion drive targeting Afghan refugees will also complicate Pakistan’s aim to secure trade routes vital to the corridor. The Taliban rulers in Afghanistan deny they allow Afghan soil to be used by terror groups. 

The railyway project is part of Pakistan’s wider push to consolidate its role as a pivotal trade and transit hub connecting the landlocked Central Asian states with the rest of the world, leveraging its strategic geographical position. In recent weeks, there has been a flurry of visits, investment talks and economic activity between officials from Pakistan and the Central Asian nations.

Topics: trans-afghan railway Pakistan Railway Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan

Islamabad says Russia and Pakistan to launch freight train service next year

Islamabad says Russia and Pakistan to launch freight train service next year
Updated 24 min 11 sec ago
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Islamabad says Russia and Pakistan to launch freight train service next year

Islamabad says Russia and Pakistan to launch freight train service next year
  • Awais Leghari says the North-South freight train service will connect Pakistan to Russia via Iran and Azerbaijan
  • Cold War rivals Pakistan, Russia have warmed up to each other in recent years through regular interactions
Updated 24 min 11 sec ago
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Energy Minister Awais Leghari has said that Russia and Pakistan are set to be linked by a freight train line next year as bilateral talks expand between the two countries.
The statement comes months after Pakistan’s ambassador to Moscow, Muhammad Khalid Jamali, expressed Islamabad’s readiness to join the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a 7,200-kilometer route connecting Russia and Central Asia with India via Iran, at the International IT Forum in Khanty-Mansiysk.
In an interview with Russian broadcaster RT this week, Leghari said the initiative would mark an important milestone in enhancing connectivity between Pakistan and Russia.
“As early as March next year, the first South-North train trial run will transport goods from Russia to Pakistan via Iran and Azerbaijan,” he told the broadcaster.
Leghari said talks were also ongoing between Moscow and Islamabad regarding the establishment of direct air service between the two countries.
“We are looking at these three or four major initiatives,” he said. “We are looking at linkage of Pakistan and Russia through airline services, the aviation sector, that makes it easier for our people to interact with each other, businesses to flourish and interact and communicate with each other.”
Pakistan and Russia, once Cold War rivals, have warmed up to each other in recent years through regular business and trade interactions as Islamabad seeks to enhance its role as a transit hub for landlocked economies in Central Asia.
Both countries this week signed eight memorandums of understanding (MoUs) in the fields of health, trade and education, the Pakistani energy ministry said, amid Islamabad’s efforts to boost foreign investment and enhance cooperation to stabilize its fragile economy.
The agreements were signed during the 9th Inter-Governmental Commission meeting in Moscow between Pakistan and Russia, with Leghari leading the Pakistani side at the talks to explore bilateral trade options.
Islamabad’s ties with Russia also saw significant improvement last year after Pakistan started purchasing Russian crude oil at a discount. Geopolitical tensions triggered fuel prices to more than double in Pakistan last year, forcing the country to opt for cheaper sources of fuel.
In 2023, Pakistan’s bilateral trade with Russia reached $1 billion. This was an increase from 2022, when Russia exported $505 million to Pakistan and Pakistan exported $75.8 million to Russia.

Topics: Pakistan Russia Ties

Retired diplomat Mohammad Sadiq reappointed Pakistan’s special envoy to Afghanistan

Retired diplomat Mohammad Sadiq reappointed Pakistan’s special envoy to Afghanistan
Updated 06 December 2024
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Retired diplomat Mohammad Sadiq reappointed Pakistan’s special envoy to Afghanistan

Retired diplomat Mohammad Sadiq reappointed Pakistan’s special envoy to Afghanistan
  • Sadiq, who served as Pakistan’s ambassador to Kabul from Dec. 2008 till Apr. 2014, resigned as special representative to Afghanistan in March 2023
  • His reappointment comes at a time of strained Pakistan-Afghanistan relations due to surge in militant attacks in Pakistan, expulsion of Afghan refugees
Updated 06 December 2024
REHMAT MEHSUD

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has reappointed veteran diplomat Mohammad Sadiq its special envoy for Afghanistan, the Pakistani foreign ministry said this week.
Sadiq, who served as Pakistan’s ambassador to Kabul from Dec. 2008 till Apr. 2014, retired in 2016 as secretary of the national security division. 
The veteran diplomat was later appointed Pakistan’s special envoy to Afghanistan, but he resigned from the post in March 2023 after serving for nearly three years.
His reappointment comes at a time of strained ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan due to cross-border militant attacks in Pakistan and subsequent expulsion of Afghan refugees.
“The Prime Minister of Pakistan has been pleased to approve the appointment of Ambassador (R) Mohammad Sadiq as Special Representative of Pakistan for Afghanistan with immediate effect,” the Pakistani foreign ministry said in a notification this week.
Pakistan has frequently accused neighboring Afghanistan of sheltering and supporting militant groups, urging the Taliban administration in Kabul to prevent its territory from being used by armed factions to launch cross-border attacks. The Taliban government in Kabul says Pakistan’s security and other challenges are a domestic issue and cannot be blamed on the neighbor.
In Nov. 2023, Pakistan began expelling illegal foreigners following a spike in bombings which the government said were mostly carried out by Afghan nationals. Islamabad has also blamed illegal Afghan immigrants and refugees for involvement in smuggling and other crimes.

Topics: Pakistan Afghanistan Ties

Pakistan says must learn lessons in ‘policy continuity, irreversibility’ from Saudi Vision 2030

Pakistan says must learn lessons in ‘policy continuity, irreversibility’ from Saudi Vision 2030
Updated 06 December 2024
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Pakistan says must learn lessons in ‘policy continuity, irreversibility’ from Saudi Vision 2030

Pakistan says must learn lessons in ‘policy continuity, irreversibility’ from Saudi Vision 2030
  • The Vision 2030 framework aims to cut the Kingdom’s reliance on oil by developing public service sectors such as health, education and tourism
  • Pakistan Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb says to ensure economic success, reforms must be institutionalized, making them difficult to reverse
Updated 06 December 2024
KASHIF IMRAN

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s finance minister, Muhammad Aurangzeb, on Thursday stressed the need for Pakistan to learn lessons in “policy continuity” and “irreversibility” from Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 framework, the Pakistani finance ministry said.
The statement came after Aurangzeb virtually attended a workshop on “Implementation Management” organized by Saudi Arabia. The workshop, facilitated by Pakistan’s Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Pakistan-Saudi economic collaboration, will have subsequent sessions focusing on Digital Transformation and Social Transformation.
Saudi Arabia is consolidating its economy on modern lines under the Vision 2030, which is a strategic development framework intended to cut the Kingdom’s reliance on oil. It is aimed at developing public service sectors in the Kingdom such as health, education, infrastructure, recreation and tourism.
Addressing the participants, Aurangzeb underscored the necessity of policy continuity as a cornerstone for sustainable progress, drawing attention to the concept of irreversibility in reforms, a key element in Saudi Arabia’s success story.
“Pakistan has often faltered in ensuring policy continuity,” he was quoted as saying by the Pakistani finance ministry. “The lesson we must take from Saudi Arabia is the importance of irreversibility in transformation initiatives.”
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy strong trade, defense and cultural ties. The workshop, titled “Saudi-Pak Economic Collaboration Taskforce — Pakistan Transformation,” was attended by senior Pakistani federal officials as well as representatives of provincial governments.
Addressing the participants, the finance minister highlighted the importance of learning from Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, an exemplary model of robust implementation strategies. He affirmed that setbacks were inevitable in the pursuit of meaningful progress, emphasizing that learning through failures was an integral part of success.
“To ensure success, reforms must not only be implemented but also institutionalized, making them difficult to reverse,” Aurangzeb said.
The workshop featured a comprehensive presentation on Vision 2030’s approach to developing strategic objectives and converting them into measurable outcomes through meticulous implementation processes, according to the Pakistani finance ministry.
The key principles of the approach include translating strategic objectives into measurable outcomes, establishing clear accountability mechanisms, and focusing on sustainability and irreversibility to ensure lasting impact.
“The workshop concluded by reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to leveraging international best practices, fostering collaboration with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and driving forward the economic and social transformation agenda,” the finance ministry added.

Topics: Pakistan Saudi Arabia ties Pakistan economy Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030

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