Pakistani parties rally in Karachi to protest India’s missile strikes 

Pakistani parties rally in Karachi to protest India’s missile strikes 
Supporters of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) hold Pakistani flags and placards as they protest against India in Karachi on May 7, 2025. (AFP)
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Updated 07 May 2025
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Pakistani parties rally in Karachi to protest India’s missile strikes 

Pakistani parties rally in Karachi to protest India’s missile strikes 
  • Sindh chief minister leads rally featuring participation from PPP, ANP, MQM-P and JI parties 
  • Political parties’ leaders praise Pakistan’s armed forces for retaliating to Indian missile strikes

KARACHI: In a rare display of unity, major Pakistani political parties rallied in the southern port city of Karachi on Wednesday to vehemently protest India’s missile strikes that killed 31 people and injured 57. 

In the sharpest military escalation in more than two decades between the nuclear-armed rivals, the Indian government said it struck nine Pakistani “terrorist infrastructure” sites involved in planning a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22. The assault took place on the tourist hill station of Pahalgam in the part of Kashmir governed by India, with 26 men killed.

The Pakistani military said six locations across its territory — Ahmedpur East, Muridke, Sialkot, Shakargarh in the eastern province of Punjab and Kotli and Muzaffarabad in Azad Kashmir — were targeted. Azad Kashmir is the part of the disputed Kashmir valley that is administered by Pakistan. In response, Pakistan military spokesperson Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said five Indian planes and one combat drone that had attacked Pakistan were shot down, naming three Rafales and an MiG-29 and Su-57 each.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah led the rally at the Karachi Press Club, which featured participation from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Awami National Party (ANP), Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) parties. 

“Within just ten minutes, Pakistan was blamed without any investigation,” Shah told participants of the rally, referring to India’s accusations that Islamabad was involved in the Pahalgam attack.

The chief minister accused Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whom he referred to as the “Butcher of Gujarat,” for orchestrating the recent events to divert attention from domestic issues. 

“India rejected these gestures for peace and instead launched nighttime attacks on six separate locations, resulting in the deaths of innocent civilians,” he noted. 

He lauded Pakistan’s armed forces for giving a befitting response to Indian military strikes. 

“The Pakistan Air Force shot down five Indian aircraft and a drone,” Shah said. “We held back only to avoid escalation; otherwise, not a single Indian jet would have survived.”

Monem Zafar, the chief of the JI’s Karachi chapter, agreed with Shah that the rally was a demonstration of political unity amid the crisis. 

“The message to India and Modi is that the entire Pakistani nation strongly condemns this attack,” he said. “The nation stands with the Pakistan Army for the protection of the country.”

Zafar called on the nation to observe the coming Friday as a “Day of Resolve” to demonstrate national support for the armed forces.


Pakistan to celebrate Eid Al-Adha on June 7

Pakistan to celebrate Eid Al-Adha on June 7
Updated 33 sec ago
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Pakistan to celebrate Eid Al-Adha on June 7

Pakistan to celebrate Eid Al-Adha on June 7
  • Eid Al-Adha is observed on 10th day of Dhul Hijjah
  • Annual Hajj pilgrimage will commence on June 4

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s moon sighting committee announced today, Tuesday, that the crescent marking the beginning of the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah was not sighted due to unclear skies and the Eid Al-Adha festival would commence from June 7. 

Dhul Hijjah is the twelfth and final month of the Islamic calendar, a sacred period during which the Hajj pilgrimage and Eid Al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, take place. It is one of the four holy months in Islam, with the first 10 days especially revered and considered among the best days of the year for performing righteous deeds.

“Today, in Pakistan, most areas experienced cloudy weather, and some areas had clear skies. The confirmation of sighting of the Dhul Hijjah moon has not been received from any part of Pakistan,” Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad said at a press conference.

“Hence unanimously [we have] decided that the first Dhul Hijjah, 1446 AH will be observed on Thursday, May 29 and Eid Al-Adha will be on Saturday, June 7, 2025.”

Commemorating the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son on God’s command, Muslims mark the Eid Al-Adha holiday by slaughtering animals such as sheep, cows and goats. The meat is shared among family and friends and also donated to the poor.

Eid Al-Adha is observed on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah, while the annual Hajj pilgrimage will commence on June 4.


Pakistani PM meets Azerbaijan’s Aliyev, thanks him for support during India standoff

Pakistani PM meets Azerbaijan’s Aliyev, thanks him for support during India standoff
Updated 40 min 49 sec ago
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Pakistani PM meets Azerbaijan’s Aliyev, thanks him for support during India standoff

Pakistani PM meets Azerbaijan’s Aliyev, thanks him for support during India standoff
  • PM Sharif will attend a trilateral summit with Aliyev and Türkish President Erdogan in Lachin
  • Sharif is on regional diplomacy tour following Pakistan’s recent military confrontation with India 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday met the president of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and thanked his country for its “steadfast support” during a recent military standoff with India, the worst conflict in decades between the nuclear-armed neighbors in decades. 

Sharif is in Azerbaijan on the third stopover of a five-day regional diplomacy tour that also saw him visit Iran and Turkiye. Turkiye and Azerbaijan had openly pledged support for Pakistan during the standoff with India while Iran had urged restraint multiple times and also offered to mediate.

The four-day military escalation saw Pakistan and India launch missiles and drones deep into each other’s territories and exchange gunfire on their de facto border, the Line of Control, until a ceasefire was announced on May 10. Nearly 70 people combined were killed on both sides of the border. 

“The prime minister thanked Azerbaijan for its steadfast support during the recent Pakistan-India confrontation, in the face of Indian provocation and acknowledged the public expressions of solidarity from both the leadership and the people of brotherly Azerbaijan,” Sharif’s office said in a statement. 

“He said that people of Azerbaijan celebrated the success of Pakistan.”

During the meeting, which took place on the eve of a trilateral summit between Pakistan, Azerbaijan and Türkiye, Sharif and Aliyev reviewed bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction on the trajectory of political, economic, defense, and cultural cooperation.

“They reaffirmed their shared commitment to diversifying the strategic partnership through investment in mutually beneficial avenues,” the prime minister’s office said. 

“Azerbaijan side agreed to exchange of delegations with regard to progress in investment of Azerbaijan in Pakistan. In this regard delegation level talks will be organized very soon.”

Pakistan and Azerbaijan have strengthened ties in recent years through defense and energy cooperation and Baku has supported Islamabad’s position on the Kashmir dispute at international forums.

Islamabad has also offered Azerbaijan access to its seaports to facilitate trade with global markets and promoted regional connectivity initiatives linking Central Asia to South Asia.

At the start of his regional visit, Sharif met Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in Türkiye and thanked him for Ankara’s strong backing during the conflict with India. The two leaders also discussed expanding cooperation in defense production, energy, IT, agriculture and infrastructure and agreed to pursue a bilateral trade target of $5 billion, building on commitments made during the 7th High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council held in Islamabad earlier this year.

Sharif also visited Tehran, where he held meetings with President Masoud Pezeshkian and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. 

At a joint press stakeout with the Iranian president, Sharif made a peace offer to India, saying Pakistan was ready for talks on contentious issues including Kashmir, water-sharing and countering terrorism.


Andersen Consulting expands into Pakistan with collaborating Firm NEC Consulting

Andersen Consulting expands into Pakistan with collaborating Firm NEC Consulting
Updated 27 May 2025
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Andersen Consulting expands into Pakistan with collaborating Firm NEC Consulting

Andersen Consulting expands into Pakistan with collaborating Firm NEC Consulting
  • NEC Consultants is an environmental and infrastructure consulting firm based in Pakistan
  • Andersen provides services spanning corporate strategy, business, IT, AI transformation

SAN FRANCISCO: Andersen Consulting bolsters its sustainability offering through a Collaboration Agreement with NEC Consultants (Pvt) Ltd., an environmental and infrastructure consulting firm based in Pakistan.

Established in 2006, NEC Consultants provides environmental and engineering professional services. Their offerings include environmental assessments and audits, wastewater treatment plant design, energy audits, sustainability and circularity consulting, and training in environmental and energy efficiency.

Azher Uddin Khan, managing director of NEC Consulting, said:

“This collaboration with Andersen Consulting marks a significant milestone in our journey to provide innovative and sustainable solutions. By combining our local expertise with the organization’s global reach, we are poised to address complex challenges and drive impactful change in Pakistan and beyond.”

Mark L. Vorsatz, global chairman and CEO of Andersen, added:

“Pakistan is a rapidly growing economy with enormous potential in infrastructure development and environmental sustainability. As the country continues to invest in large-scale public and private projects, the need for multidimensional services is greater than ever. By collaborating with NEC Consultants, we gain a competitive edge in a high-growth market.”

Andersen Consulting is a global consulting practice providing a comprehensive suite of services spanning corporate strategy, business, technology, and AI transformation, as well as human capital solutions. Andersen Consulting integrates with the multidimensional service model of Andersen Global, delivering world-class consulting, tax, legal, valuation, global mobility, and advisory expertise on a global platform with more than 20,000 professionals worldwide and a presence in over 500 locations through its member firms and collaborating firms. 

Andersen Consulting Holdings LP is a limited partnership and provides consulting solutions through its member firms and collaborating firms around the world.


Pakistan’s largest port operator issues monsoon safety measures

Pakistan’s largest port operator issues monsoon safety measures
Updated 27 May 2025
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Pakistan’s largest port operator issues monsoon safety measures

Pakistan’s largest port operator issues monsoon safety measures
  • Upcoming monsoon season is expected to begin earlier than usual and bring heavier rainfall, disaster authority says 
  • Pakistan is one of the most vulnerable nations to climate change, floods in 2022 killed more than 1,700 Pakistanis

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s largest port operator, the Karachi Port Trust (KPT), on Tuesday issued a list of precautions to be taken in case of heavy rains, winds and flooding during the upcoming monsoon season, including monitoring the safety of ships and boats and securing dredges, barges and cargo.

The upcoming monsoon season is expected to begin earlier than usual and bring heavier rainfall, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said last week. The season is likely to begin around June 26–27, roughly three to four days ahead of its typical onset. Rainfall across the country is likely to exceed normal levels by up to 5 percent, with northeastern Punjab bracing for a 50 percent increase.

“Monitor the safety of ships at berths closely and assess their security and ensure mooring lines are properly set,” the KPT said in an advisory. 

“Pilots should be on standby to cast off vessels to sea in heavy weather. Tugs, pilot boats, and shipping boats must be ready for emergencies.”

Small boats should be parked in less exposed locations and properly secured and dredgers and barges must also be well secured, with doubled-up mooring ropes and manned appropriately, KPT said. 

All cargo such as vehicles, appliances, sensitive and lightweight goods, should be secured and covered with tarpaulin. 

“Ensure technical staff is available 24/7 for support. Medical team and ambulance must be on standby,” the advisory added. 

“Roofs should be maintained to prevent leakages and seepage. High winds and lightning can damage power lines and transformers; maintenance of electrical items is necessary.”

KPT also recommended the availability of standby generators and backup power on short notice during heavy rain.

Pakistan is one of the most vulnerable nations to climate change. In 2022, devastating floods blamed on climate change killed more than 1,700 Pakistanis, affected another 33 million and caused the country over $30 billion in economic losses.


No breach reported by any Pakistani government, private agency amid global data leak — official 

No breach reported by any Pakistani government, private agency amid global data leak — official 
Updated 27 May 2025
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No breach reported by any Pakistani government, private agency amid global data leak — official 

No breach reported by any Pakistani government, private agency amid global data leak — official 
  • Massive data breach has exposed 184 million passwords for Google, Microsoft, Facebook, other platforms
  • NCERT spokesman recommends changing all passwords, especially if they were reused across accounts

ISLAMABAD: A spokesperson for Pakistan’s National Cyber Emergency Response Team (NCERT) said on Tuesday no breach had been reported by any government agency or private company following a data breach affecting 184 million Internet users worldwide.

NCERT released an advisory on May 25 regarding a major global data exposure incident involving a publicly accessible, unencrypted file containing more than 184 million unique account credentials. The breach exposed usernames, passwords, email addresses, and associated URLs linked to services from Google, Microsoft, Apple, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, as well as government portals, banking institutions, and health care platforms worldwide.

“As of now, no incidents of data breach have been reported to NCERT by any government or private organization within Pakistan,” Syed Imran Haider, the NCERT spokesperson, told Arab News, adding that his organization’s incident management response team was “vigilant, in contact with all relevant departments, and working around the clock” to monitor the situation.

“We are closely engaged with global CERTs and international cybersecurity platforms.”

NCERT had provided cybersecurity guidelines to all government departments, and each organization had established its own infrastructure for data protection, Haider said. 

The leaked database is believed to have been compiled using infostealer malware, malicious software that extracts sensitive information from compromised systems, with the data then stored in plain text and left completely unprotected, with no encryption or password safeguarding, Haider explained. 

The NCERT advisory had recommended changing all passwords, especially those reused across accounts, and to activate multi-factor authentication on all services, particularly financial, email, and administrative accounts.

“Users are advised to use unique, complex passwords for every online service, avoid storing passwords in emails or unprotected files, consider a password manager to securely handle account credentials,” the NCERT spokesman said. 

Users were also advised to monitor account login activity for any anomalies and use credible online services that can help determine whether their email addresses, phone numbers, or other personal data have been exposed in a data breach.

Commenting on the potential impact of the breach, cybersecurity expert Dr. Shahid Sultan said Pakistani users were at risk of personal account hijacking, identity misuse, and targeted scams due to the leaked login credentials.

“Banking and financial service accounts may be compromised, enabling unauthorized transactions and potential financial loss,” he told Arab News, calling on all users and organizations to remain vigilant, report suspicious activities, and act on the precautionary measures suggested by NCERT.