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Pakistani artists put spotlight on country’s rich cultural heritage at UAE exhibition

Pakistani artists put spotlight on country’s rich cultural heritage at UAE exhibition
Pakistan’s envoy to the United Arab Emirates, Ambassador Faisal Niaz Tirmizi (fourth right), interacts with the exhibitors at an art exhibition in Ajman, UAE, on March 24, 2025. (Photo Courtesy: Pakistan Embassy UAE)
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Updated 25 March 2025
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Pakistani artists put spotlight on country’s rich cultural heritage at UAE exhibition

Pakistani artists put spotlight on country’s rich cultural heritage at UAE exhibition
  • Syrian, Egyptian and Lebanese artists also present their works
  • Pakistan aims to deepen cultural ties with the UAE through art
Updated 25 March 2025
SAIMA SHABBIR
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s envoy to the United Arab Emirates on Monday emphasized the role of cultural diplomacy in strengthening people-to-people contacts, said an official statement, as he addressed an art exhibition in Ajman that highlighted his country’s rich cultural heritage.
The exhibition comes amid growing efforts by Pakistan to deepen economic and cultural ties with the Gulf nation. The UAE is one of Pakistan’s largest export destinations in the region due to its proximity, and Pakistani firms often use it as a base to target the broader Middle Eastern market.
In recent years, Pakistan has also hosted similar exhibitions featuring fruits, vegetables and industrial goods in a bid to enhance trade opportunities.
“Art, music, cuisine and sports have the power to unite people,” Ambassador Faisal Niaz Tirmizi said during the ceremony. “For greater harmony and peace, we must encourage more cultural exchanges.”
“The UAE’s beauty lies in its ability to bring together over 200 nationalities, creating a melting pot of cultures,” he added.
The exhibition featured a blend of traditional and contemporary works not only by artists from Pakistan but also other Muslim countries like Syria, Egypt and Lebanon.
The Pakistani envoy toured the venue following the inauguration, interacting with artists and appreciating their creative expressions.
The event concluded with the ambassador distributing certificates to participating artists in recognition of their work.
There was also a cake-cutting ceremony at the exhibition to mark Pakistan Day, annually celebrated on March 23.

Topics: Pakistan UAE ties Pakistan embassy in UAE

Relations with Pakistan growing at a ‘good pace,’ says UAE deputy PM

Relations with Pakistan growing at a ‘good pace,’ says UAE deputy PM
Updated 9 sec ago
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Relations with Pakistan growing at a ‘good pace,’ says UAE deputy PM

Relations with Pakistan growing at a ‘good pace,’ says UAE deputy PM
  • Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan hopes UAE, Pakistan strengthen cooperation in priority sectors
  • Al Nayhan’s two-day visit expected to further strengthen longstanding ties between the two countries
Updated 9 sec ago
Fatimah Amjad

ISLAMABAD: United Arab Emirates’ Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said on Monday that his country’s ties with Pakistan are growing at a “good pace,” hoping the two sides would further strengthen cooperation in priority sectors. 

The UAE deputy premier arrived in Islamabad on Sunday for a two-day official visit aimed at strengthening cooperation in energy, trade and security, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said in an earlier statement.

Pakistan and the UAE have deepened their economic partnership in recent years. The UAE is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner after China and the United States, and a major source of foreign investment, with over $10 billion invested in the last two decades.

“I must say that our relationship has been growing on a good pace,” Al Nayhan said during a joint media interaction with his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

“I think both our leaders, the people of Pakistan and the UAE do want to see more development in the relationship,” he added. 

The UAE deputy prime minister said relations between the two countries, over the past few years, have been “moving faster than they have for a while.”

“And I really look forward that the good spirit that has been moving the relationship in the last few months would continue on so many different cycles, if it’s trade, investment, aviation,” Al Nayhan said. 

The UAE royal is also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during his visit.

His stay in Pakistan is expected to further strengthen the longstanding ties between the two countries and contribute to deepening bilateral engagements in diverse fields, benefiting the peoples of both countries, according to the foreign office.

The UAE is home to over a million Pakistani expatriates, the second-largest overseas Pakistani community globally, and a major source of remittance inflows to Pakistan.

Policymakers in Islamabad view the UAE as an ideal export destination due to its geographic proximity, which lowers freight costs and facilitates smoother trade.

In recent years, the two countries have signed a series of agreements to boost economic ties.

In February, during the Abu Dhabi crown prince’s visit to Pakistan, the two sides signed accords in mining, railways, banking and infrastructure.

Last year in January, Pakistan and the UAE signed deals worth more than $3 billion covering railways, economic zones and infrastructure development.

The UAE has become an even more crucial partner for Pakistan amid Islamabad’s efforts to achieve sustainable economic growth after suffering from a prolonged macroeconomic crisis.

Topics: Pakistan UAE relations Sheikah Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Pakistan to start vaccination process for Hajj pilgrims from today

Pakistan to start vaccination process for Hajj pilgrims from today
Updated 21 April 2025
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Pakistan to start vaccination process for Hajj pilgrims from today

Pakistan to start vaccination process for Hajj pilgrims from today
  • Hajj pilgrims from around the world must comply with strict vaccination requirements set by Saudi Arabia’s ministry of health
  • Vaccines will be provided in Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar and Multan cities from Monday, in Karachi and other cities from Tuesday
Updated 21 April 2025
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s religion ministry will start providing mandatory vaccines to Hajj pilgrims from today, Monday, state-run media reported as Islamabad undertakes preparations for the annual Islamic pilgrimage. 

Hajj pilgrims from around the world must comply with strict vaccination requirements set by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health to ensure public safety during one of the world’s largest annual gatherings.

Mandatory vaccines include the meningitis shot, with additional recommendations for the seasonal influenza vaccine, while travelers from regions prone to yellow fever and polio must also provide corresponding immunization certificates. 

“Ministry of Religious Affairs will start provision of vaccine to intending Hajj pilgrims from Monday,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan said in a report. “The vaccine will be provided in Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar and Multan from Monday,” it added. 

Meanwhile, the state broadcaster said Hajj pilgrims in Karachi, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, Faisalabad and Sialkot cities will start receiving vaccines from Tuesday.

“In Quetta, mandatory vaccination for Hajj pilgrims will be carried out on Wednesday,” it said, adding that the religion ministry will also provide gifts to Hajj pilgrims. 

Pakistan’s religion ministry announced this month around 90,000 Pakistanis are expected to perform Hajj this year under the government scheme. Saudi Arabia has allowed Pakistan a quota of 179,210 pilgrims for the pilgrimage, which is split equally between government and private schemes. 

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formed a three-member inquiry committee to investigate why Pakistan failed to fully utilize its quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Hajj 2025.

Hajj flight operations are set to begin from Apr. 29, with the first flight departing from Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore.

Topics: Hajj 2025 Pakistani pilgrims Polio Vaccination

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Pakistan Cricket Board refutes former head coach’s non-payment claims

Pakistan Cricket Board refutes former head coach’s non-payment claims
Updated 21 April 2025
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Pakistan Cricket Board refutes former head coach’s non-payment claims

Pakistan Cricket Board refutes former head coach’s non-payment claims
  • Jason Gillespie recently said PCB had not paid him his dues for his nine-month coaching stint
  • PCB says Gillespie “abruptly” left his position without giving a four-month notice period
Updated 21 April 2025
Shahjahan Khurram

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently rejected claims by former head coach Jason Gillespie that he had not been paid his dues, clarifying that the ex-Australian cricketer breached the terms of his contract and left his position “abruptly.” 

Former fast bowler Gillespie took up the coaching assignment in April 2024 but stepped down in December due to disagreements with the PCB. Since resigning from the role, Gillespie has been an outspoken critic of the PCB, criticizing the board for what he described was its short-sightedness and accusing current interim white-ball coach Aqib Javed of interfering in his job. 

When asked during a recent interview with a local sports platform about his relationship with the PCB, Gillespie wished the board well but said he was still waiting for it to pay him his dues for the coaching job. 

“The Pakistan Cricket Board refutes claims made by a former head coach on the non-payment of his dues,” the PCB said in a statement on Sunday. “The PCB spokesman states that the former head coach abruptly left his position without giving a four month notice period, which was a clear breach of the contractual terms.”

The board said Gillespie’s coaching contract “explicitly mentioned” a notice period applicable to both parties, adding that the former coach was “fully aware of it.”

Earlier this month, Gillespie’s comments during an interview made headlines when he revealed that his time with the PCB had a negative impact on his passion for coaching cricket. 

“The Pakistan experience has soured my love for coaching, I’ll be honest,” Gillespie said. “I’ll get it back, I’m sure I will, but that was really a blow.”

The former fast bowler said he had been disappointed with how his coaching stint with Pakistan ended. 

“It’s had me question whether I want to coach full time again,” he said.

Pakistan cricket analysts and critics have slammed the PCB for appointing a plethora of coaches, selectors and captains over the past few years, blaming the increasing instability within the board as the main reason for the national cricket team’s recent dismal performances. 

Topics: Pakistan Cricket Board Jason Gillespie

COMSTECH to host sixth OIC steering committee meeting in Islamabad from Apr. 22-24 

COMSTECH to host sixth OIC steering committee meeting in Islamabad from Apr. 22-24 
Updated 21 April 2025
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COMSTECH to host sixth OIC steering committee meeting in Islamabad from Apr. 22-24 

COMSTECH to host sixth OIC steering committee meeting in Islamabad from Apr. 22-24 
  • Meeting will focus on reviewing implementation progress of OIC’s science, technology and innovation agenda 2026, says COMSTECH
  • Representatives of 17 OIC institutions from Saudia Arabia, Turkiye, Jordan, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Pakistan to attend the meeting 
Updated 21 April 2025
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: The Ministerial Standing Committee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation for Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) is set to host the sixth meeting of the OIC steering committee for the implementation of the OIC Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Agenda 2026 from Apr. 22-24 in Islamabad, the organization said recently. 

Established by the OIC in 1981 and headquartered in Islamabad, COMSTECH continues to serve as a cornerstone of the OIC’s mission to promote scientific excellence and technological innovation, focusing on sustainable development, poverty reduction and improvement in quality of life across member states.

Confirmed participants of the upcoming steering committee meeting include heads and representatives of 17 OIC institutions from Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, Turkiye, Jordan, Uganda, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Pakistan, COMSTECH said. 

“The upcoming Steering Committee meeting will focus on reviewing the implementation progress of the OIC STI Agenda 2026, which was initiated following the First OIC Summit on STI in Astana, Kazakhstan, 2017,” COMSTECH said in a statement issued on Sunday. 

“The agenda aims to foster research collaboration, knowledge sharing, and technology transfer among OIC member states to support sustainable development.”

It said key agenda items also include reviewing member states’ progress on STI Agenda 2026 goals, identifying new joint initiatives and partnerships and discussing future actions leading toward the proposed OIC STI Agenda. 

The meeting will also feature presentations from OIC institutions on their progress, challenges and recommendations under the Abu Dhabi Declaration (2022). 

To prepare for the event, COMSTECH’s Coordinator General Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary chaired a high-level preparatory meeting at the body’s headquarters in Islamabad on Sunday where he issued key directives to ensure the smooth execution of the Steering Committee’s sessions. COMSTECH said its senior officials, program managers and departmental representatives attended the meeting.

COMSTECH said it continues to play a central role in facilitating STI cooperation and will oversee coordination among partner institutions to implement recommended initiatives and sustain momentum toward the strategic objectives of the OIC-STI agenda.

Topics: COMSTECH OIC steering committee meeting

Pakistan kicks off anti-polio drive to vaccinate over 45 million children 

Pakistan kicks off anti-polio drive to vaccinate over 45 million children 
Updated 21 April 2025
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Pakistan kicks off anti-polio drive to vaccinate over 45 million children 

Pakistan kicks off anti-polio drive to vaccinate over 45 million children 
  • Seven-day polio drive being held nationwide from Apr. 21-27, says state media 
  • Pakistan and Afghanistan remain only two countries where polio remains endemic
Updated 21 April 2025
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan kicked off a seven-day anti-polio drive on Monday to vaccinate over 45 million children against the disease, state-run media reported, as Islamabad grapples to contain the infection. 

Polio is a paralyzing disease with no cure and multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine — along with completing the routine immunization schedule for children under five — are crucial to building immunity against the virus. Pakistan, which has reported six polio cases so far in 2025, has planned three major vaccination campaigns in the first half of the year, with additional rounds scheduled for April and May. 

The seven-day campaign from Apr. 21-27 is the second nationwide anti-polio drive to be held this year, which aims to vaccinate over 45 million children against the disease. Sharif on Sunday formally kicked off the campaign by administering polio drops to a few children during a ceremony in Islamabad. 

“A week-long anti-polio vaccination campaign begins across the country on Monday,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported. 

“During the drive, field teams of hthe ealth department will go door to door to administer anti-polio vaccine drops to over 45 million children under the age of five years.”

A day earlier, PM Sharif requested parents to get their children vaccinated against polio. 

“It is my request to parents all over Pakistan that they help us out in administering polio drops to their children,” Sharif said. “Help our teams in the field so that this virus can be eliminated for good.”

The Pakistani premier thanked Islamabad’s local and international partners for helping fight the disease, saying he had no doubt Pakistan would stem the spread of the infection. 

Sharif said the government has undertaken stringent security measures in sensitive areas for polio volunteers. He called on authorities to mobilize the public so that they become “soldiers” in the fight against poliovirus. 

In 2024, Pakistan reported an alarming 74 polio cases. Along with Afghanistan, it remains one of the only two countries where polio is still endemic.

Pakistan’s polio program, launched in 1994, has faced persistent challenges including vaccine misinformation and resistance from some religious hard-liners who claim immunization is a foreign conspiracy to sterilize Muslim children or a guise for Western espionage.

Militant groups have also repeatedly targeted and killed polio vaccination workers. Gunmen attacked a vehicle and abducted two polio workers who were on their way home after visiting a health facility in Dera Ismail Khan, a district in restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, earlier this month. 

Topics: Polio

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