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Pakistan’s commercial capital shuts down on religious party’s call for strike over Gaza

Special Pakistan’s commercial capital shuts down on religious party’s call for strike over Gaza
Commuters make their way through a partially deserted street during a nationwide strike called by a Pakistani political party and supported by trade organizations against the Israeli military aggression in Gaza, in Karachi, Pakistan on April 26, 2025. (AN Photo)
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Updated 26 April 2025
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Pakistan’s commercial capital shuts down on religious party’s call for strike over Gaza

Pakistan’s commercial capital shuts down on religious party’s call for strike over Gaza
  • The strike was widely supported by organizations representing traders, lawyers and people from different walks of life
  • Pakistan has consistently demanded Israel’s accountability and called for uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza
Updated 26 April 2025
NAIMAT KHAN
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KARACHI: Markets and businesses remained shut in Pakistan’s commercial capital of Karachi on Saturday in response to a nationwide strike called by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) religious party to express solidarity with the people of Gaza, amid renewed Israeli military strikes in the Palestinian enclave.
The strike was widely supported by various organizations representing traders, lawyers and people from different walks of life, and there was no major commercial activity in the southern Pakistani port city.
It followed massive Gaza solidarity marches in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad this month, which were attended by tens of thousands of Pakistanis who demanded the world stop Israeli military actions.
“Today, there is a strike throughout Karachi,” JI Karachi chief Monem Zafar Khan said, noting the strike was not only supported by Karachi’s business community but also by professionals and civil society groups.
“It is a shutter-down strike, and the entire business community of Karachi, the lawyers of Karachi, the students of Karachi, the scholars of Karachi, the civil society of Karachi — all of them are supporting this.”




Police patrol on streets during a nationwide strike called by a Pakistani political party and supported by trade organizations against the Israeli military aggression in Gaza, in Karachi, Pakistan on April 26, 2025. (AN Photo)

The strike was largely observed in Karachi and it could only partially take hold elsewhere in Pakistan.
Pakistan, which does not have diplomatic ties with Israel, has consistently condemned Israeli military actions and called for the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid into the Palestinian territory.
The South Asian country has stressed the urgent need to revive negotiations aimed at a two-state solution to the Palestine Issue, with East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state.




Commuters make their way through a partially deserted street during a nationwide strike called by a Pakistani political party and supported by trade organizations against the Israeli military aggression in Gaza, in Karachi, Pakistan on April 26, 2025. (AN Photo)

Muhammad Aslam Khan, general-secretary of the Cooperative Market Association, condemned Israel’s war on Gaza, which has killed over 50,000 Palestinians since Oct. 2023, and demanded stronger international action over it.
“It is now 12 o’clock and the city is completely silent and shut down,” Aslam told Arab News, surrounded by closed shops in the Saddar business district.
“We are sending them [Palestinians] a clear message that the hearts of the people are beating for the Palestinian Muslims, and we are deeply pained by the genocide happening to them, the oppression they are facing, and the fact that their basic needs like food and water have been completely cut off.”




Police stand guard during a nationwide strike called by a Pakistani political party and supported by trade organizations against the Israeli military aggression in Gaza, in Karachi, Pakistan on April 26, 2025. (AN Photo)

Usman Sharif, a representative of the All-Pakistan Cottage Industry Association in Karachi, said the Pakistani trader fraternity wanted to contribute to the Palestinian cause.
“Every trader says that they want to contribute in some way, whether it be through prayers, funds, participating in the strike, joining a rally, or through a boycott,” he said.
“The strike is happening across Pakistan, and here in Karachi as well, people have participated in the strike.”

Topics: karachi protest War on Gaza Israel Hamas war Pakistan Palestine pakistan palestine ties Jamaat-e-Islami (JI)

Pakistan presents baton of field marshal to its army chief after India standoff

Pakistan presents baton of field marshal to its army chief after India standoff
Updated 7 sec ago
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Pakistan presents baton of field marshal to its army chief after India standoff

Pakistan presents baton of field marshal to its army chief after India standoff
  • Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif applauds the top army commander for his ‘unflinching courage’
  • He says Field Marshal Asim Munir led the armed forces to ‘outstanding victory’ against India
Updated 7 sec ago
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top political leadership on Thursday conferred the baton of field marshal on army chief Syed Asim Munir at a ceremony in Islamabad, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praising him for his “unflinching courage” during the recent military standoff with India.

Munir was elevated to the five-star rank during a federal cabinet meeting earlier this week. The rank of field marshal is the highest military designation in Pakistan and has only been awarded once before to former President Ayub Khan.

“Today we have gathered here to pay our tribute to Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff, for his admirable leadership, unflinching courage and outstanding service to our motherland as we have just conferred upon him the most prestigious and revered military title of Field Marshal,” the prime minister said during the ceremony.

“His command during Operation Bunyanum Marsoos and his resolute courage in safeguarding Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity not only thwarted the nefarious designs of the adversary but rewrote the history of warfare that shall continue to inspire generations to come,” he added.

Sharif credited Munir with leading Pakistan’s armed forces to what he described as an “outstanding victory” against an enemy “caught in its own web of arrogance and hubris.”

Referring to Pakistan’s military retaliation earlier this month after Indian strikes, Sharif said the army responded with speed and precision, pushing the conflict deep into enemy territory.

“In the annals of regional conflict and diplomacy, what transpired during those challenging days will not only be remembered as an outstanding military victory but also as a moral and diplomatic triumph,” Sharif said.

He also highlighted the close coordination between Pakistan’s political and military leadership in confronting the twin challenges of economic instability and foreign-backed terrorism, calling the synergy “unprecedented.”

“Today I join the entire nation in acknowledging the meritorious services of a son of the soil who embodies the finest traditions of the Pakistan Army and whose services shall remain etched in the annals of our national history,” he added.

Topics: Army Chief General Asim Munir Pakistan India Ties Pakistan Army

Pakistan envoy attends event celebrating Guinness World Record for largest UAE flag

Pakistan envoy attends event celebrating Guinness World Record for largest UAE flag
Updated 10 min 39 sec ago
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Pakistan envoy attends event celebrating Guinness World Record for largest UAE flag

Pakistan envoy attends event celebrating Guinness World Record for largest UAE flag
  • Flag features 24,514 human handprints contributed by individuals from over 100 nationalities
  • Pakistani expatriates took the lead and completed the project within a period of one month
Updated 10 min 39 sec ago
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s envoy to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Ambassador Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, attended an event to commemorate a new Guinness World Record set by the Pakistan Association Dubai (PAD) by creating the largest UAE flag using human handprints, his office said on Thursday.

PAD is a volunteer-run, non-profit organization established in the 1960s to serve the Pakistani expatriate community in the UAE by promoting social welfare, preserving cultural heritage, and supporting community development among the Pakistani diaspora.

“These are not merely handprints but heart prints, an expression of the community’s love, unity and dedication,” the Pakistan Embassy in the UAE quoted Tirmizi as saying.

“This initiative beautifully aligns with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and stands as a testament to the deep-rooted relationship between the Pakistani community and the UAE.”

This handout photo, taken and released by Pakistan Embassy in UAE on May 22, 2025, shows Pakistan Ambassador to UAE Faisal Niaz Tirmizi posing for a photograph with UAE flag featuring 24,514 human handprints in Dubai, UAE. (Handout/Pakistan Embassy)

The flag featured 24,514 human handprints contributed by people from over 100 nationalities and was unveiled in the presence of Pakistani and Emirati community members.

The record-breaking project, led by PAD, Emirates Loves Pakistan (ELP), and artist Rubab Zahra, was completed during a month-long campaign that began on Apr. 13 in Al Quoz, Dubai, the statement said.

On the occasion, PAD President Dr. Faisal Ikram expressed gratitude to all the contributors and volunteers.

In this handout photo, taken and released by Pakistan Embassy in UAE on May 22, 2025, officials receiving Guinness World Record for flag featuring 24,514 human handprints in Dubai, UAE. (Handout/Pakistan Embassy)

“This record-breaking effort symbolizes the unity and spirit of cooperation that defines our community and perfectly embodies the essence of the Year of Community 2025,” the embassy quoted him as saying.

Pakistani expatriates in Dubai play a vital role in strengthening ties between Pakistan and the UAE, contributing significantly to the economies of both countries.

Topics: Pakistan Association Dubai Pakistan UAE ties

Pakistani generals vow to ‘decimate’ militants a day after school bus bombing kills four children

Pakistani generals vow to ‘decimate’ militants a day after school bus bombing kills four children
Updated 22 May 2025
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Pakistani generals vow to ‘decimate’ militants a day after school bus bombing kills four children

Pakistani generals vow to ‘decimate’ militants a day after school bus bombing kills four children
  • The meeting terms the attack a ‘reprehensible violation’ of international norms due to the deliberate targeting of children
  • Field Marshal Asim Munir describes the people of Pakistan as the military’s ‘greatest strength’ following the India standoff
Updated 22 May 2025
Muhammad Ibrahim

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top generals on Thursday vowed to “decimate” militant groups operating in its western provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a day after a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device targeted a school bus in the Khuzdar district in the southwest, killing four children and two adults.

The military’s pledge follows a sharp escalation in militant violence across Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan, where separatist groups like the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) have launched increasingly coordinated attacks on civilians and security forces. Earlier this year, a BLA assault on a passenger train led to a hostage situation, reflecting the growing scale and sophistication of the insurgency.

Islamabad has repeatedly accused India of backing these groups to destabilize the country, an allegation New Delhi has denied, attributing Pakistan’s security troubles to internal failures.

Thursday’s statement followed a meeting of Pakistan’s top army leadership to review the country’s internal and external security environment. The huddle, chaired by Field Marshal Asim Munir, was the first since a recent military standoff with India, during which both sides exchanged missile and drone attacks.

“The Forum deliberated in depth on the threat posed by India-backed terrorist proxies operating in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a statement.

“The Forum resolved that Pakistan will never allow its peace to be compromised by externally sponsored terrorism,” it continued. “The Armed Forces, in close synergy with intelligence and law enforcement agencies, will pursue all proxies and facilitators of terrorism with unrelenting resolve. These hostile elements, trained and financed to incite chaos and fear, will be dismantled and decimated with full force of national will and institutional strength.”

The generals condemned the Khuzdar attack as a “reprehensible violation” of international norms, particularly due to the deliberate targeting of children.

They also offered prayers for victims of both the Khuzdar bombing and recent casualties from Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, the military campaign launched in response to Indian strikes.

Field Marshal Munir reiterated Pakistan’s strategic stance on national defense, declaring that “no one can coerce Pakistan through the use or threat of force.”

He also praised the professionalism and readiness of the armed forces and lauded the resilience of Pakistani civilians, youth and political leadership during recent hostilities.

“The people of Pakistan are our greatest strength,” he said during the meeting. “We remain committed to their trust and expectations in our shared struggle against any foreign aggression, terrorism and extremism.”

Topics: School bus bombing

Pakistan seeks World Bank’s technical help to fast track $20 billion development framework

Pakistan seeks World Bank’s technical help to fast track $20 billion development framework
Updated 22 May 2025
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Pakistan seeks World Bank’s technical help to fast track $20 billion development framework

Pakistan seeks World Bank’s technical help to fast track $20 billion development framework
  • The Country Partnership Framework was approved by the World Bank’s executive directors in January
  • It aims to support Pakistan’s development by promoting private sector-led growth, climate resilience
Updated 22 May 2025
Ismail Dilawar

KARACHI: Pakistan on Thursday sought the World Bank’s technical assistance to fast track the implementation of the Country Partnership Framework (CPF) discussed between the two sides earlier this year, according to an official statement circulated by the finance ministry.

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors endorsed the framework in January, aiming to support Pakistan’s long-term development by building human capital, promoting private sector-led growth and enhancing climate resilience through up to $20 billion in pledged lending over the next decade.

A World Bank delegation led by Managing Director for Operations Anna Bjerde met with Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb in Islamabad during the day to review the Bank’s financing portfolio and strengthen bilateral cooperation.

“We are focused on ensuring that climate resilience and sustainable development remain at the heart of our economic planning,” Aurangzeb said, according to the statement. “The CPF represents an important opportunity, and we aim to implement it with full coordination across key ministries and stakeholders.”

The finance ministry said Aurangzeb requested the visiting delegation “to provide technical leadership and assistance to streamline processes and ensure a prioritized and focused rollout of the CPF.”

Bjerde praised Pakistan for continuing with difficult economic reforms under challenging circumstances and for aligning its growth with environmental sustainability.

She also reiterated the Bank’s support for initiatives in areas such as taxation, energy and social protection, while emphasizing girls’ education and women’s empowerment as critical to human capital and economic resilience.

Later in the day, the delegation also met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

According to a separate statement circulated by Sharif’s office, the prime minister welcomed the delegation and thanked the World Bank for playing a key role in the country’s development.

“We are grateful to the World Bank for the Country Partnership Framework, under which development investments exceeding $20 billion will be made in Pakistan,” he said.

Bjerde, in turn, commended Pakistan’s macroeconomic performance and recent stabilization efforts, describing the CPF as a “model” for other countries.

The meeting was also attended by federal ministers, advisers, parliamentarians and senior government officials along with World Bank Country Director Najy Benhassine.

Topics: World Bank

Pakistan says open to dialogue with India, with Saudi Arabia, UAE among neutral venue options

Pakistan says open to dialogue with India, with Saudi Arabia, UAE among neutral venue options
Updated 22 May 2025
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Pakistan says open to dialogue with India, with Saudi Arabia, UAE among neutral venue options

Pakistan says open to dialogue with India, with Saudi Arabia, UAE among neutral venue options
  • Pakistan’s deputy prime minister says dialogue with India has to take place and will cover all outstanding issues
  • Ishaq Dar says ceasefire is holding between the two states, with troops moving back to pre-standoff positions
Updated 22 May 2025
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said on Thursday composite talks with India would be held at a neutral venue, such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) or any other mutually acceptable country, once New Delhi was ready for dialogue.

His statement followed a US-brokered ceasefire announced by President Donald Trump on May 10 to halt missile, drone and artillery exchanges between the two nuclear-armed neighbors in the wake of a deadly gun attack in Indian-administered Kashmir last month that killed 26 tourists. New Delhi blamed Pakistan for the assault, though Islamabad denied involvement.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio subsequently mentioned after the ceasefire the two South Asian rivals had agreed to address a broad range of issues in a meeting at a neutral venue. However, the Indian authorities maintained any dialogue with Pakistan would be limited to the issue of “terrorism” and have not shown any interest so far in the said diplomatic engagement.

“The venue of the talks will be the place acceptable to both,” Dar said during a media briefing in Islamabad. “There are many candidates for it. It can be Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates or any other country.”

Dar maintained talks had to be held between the two countries, adding Pakistan was ready to engage whenever India was prepared.

“We are not in a hurry and will initiate dialogue when India will be ready,” he continued. “The venue will also be decided at that time.”

The deputy prime minister said the dialogue would cover all issues between the two countries.

“It will be a composite dialogue including everything,” he informed. “Terrorism will be part of it as we are ready to talk on this with all countries because we also want to eliminate the menace of terrorism as we are the biggest victim of it.”

Dar said the ceasefire was holding, though he expressed concern over “irresponsible statements” from Indian officials.

“I think the political compulsion is coming in front of them [the Indian leaders],” he said, adding the ceasefire was maintained by the armed forces of the two countries, with the director generals of military operations on both sides in regular communication with each other.

He also informed both countries were gradually restoring their forces to the pre-standoff positions.

“It won’t take months, it will be completed within the next few days,” he added.

Dar also spoke about his recent visit to China, where he attended a trilateral dialogue with China and Afghanistan, saying both countries had agreed to strengthen their diplomatic relations.

Since the Taliban takeover of Kabul, Pakistan-Afghanistan relations have remained strained, marked by border tensions, security concerns and a lack of trust.

Diplomatic engagement between Kabul and Islamabad have also remained limited, with both countries maintaining ties at the chargé d’affaires level rather than through full ambassadors.

“On the request of China, both countries agreed to enhance our diplomatic relations, though it will take time to complete procedures,” he added.

The deputy prime minister reiterated Pakistan and China had agreed to extend their joint multibillion-dollar corridor project to Afghanistan, including the construction of a road from Peshawar to Kabul to improve connectivity.

Topics: Pakistan India Ties

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