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Pakistan envoy at UN urges end to Gaza blockade, calls it collective punishment by starvation

Pakistan envoy at UN urges end to Gaza blockade, calls it collective punishment by starvation
Pakistan's permanent representative to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar Ahmed, speaks at the security council's briefing on the humanitarian situation in Gaza on May 13, 2025. (@PakistanUN_NY/X)
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Updated 14 May 2025
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Pakistan envoy at UN urges end to Gaza blockade, calls it collective punishment by starvation

Pakistan envoy at UN urges end to Gaza blockade, calls it collective punishment by starvation
  • Israel imposed the blockade in March, restricting entry of food, fuel and medical supplies
  • UN agencies warn nearly 470,000 people are facing significant levels of hunger in Gaza
Updated 14 May 2025
Arab News Pakistan
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top diplomat at the United Nations on Tuesday called for an immediate end to Israel’s blockade of Gaza, labeling the restriction of humanitarian aid as a violation of international law and a form of collective punishment through mass starvation.

Speaking at a UN Security Council briefing on the humanitarian situation in the war-torn Palestinian territory, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmed emphasized the dire consequences of the blockade, which has been in place since March this year.

The blockade has severely restricted the entry of food, fuel and medical supplies, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.
According to the World Health Organization, the blockade has led to severe shortages of essential supplies, with reports indicating that approximately 470,000 people are facing significant levels of hunger.

“The blockade imposed since 2nd March must be lifted,” Ahmed said. “Humanitarian access is not a favor – it is a legal obligation. Aid convoys and medical teams must be protected and allowed to operate freely and safely.”

“The normalization of starvation as a weapon of war is a crime,” he continued. “Collective punishment must end, and accountability must be ensured. The Gaza Reconstruction Plan must be fully and actively supported, and no forced displacement of Gazans must be tolerated.”

The ambassador’s remarks come amid escalating concerns over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The situation has been described as a deliberate starvation of a civilian population as a method of warfare by various humanitarian organizations.

UN agencies have reported that the blockade has resulted in the closure of bakeries and the depletion of food stocks, leaving the population with limited access to basic necessities.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has also highlighted the challenges faced in delivering aid, noting that humanitarian supplies have not entered Gaza for several weeks.

Ambassador Ahmed called upon the international community to take decisive action to alleviate the suffering of the Gazan people and to uphold the principles of international humanitarian law.

Topics: Asim Iftikhar Ahmad United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Gaza aid

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At least 72 killed in less than two weeks as monsoon rains batter Pakistan

At least 72 killed in less than two weeks as monsoon rains batter Pakistan
Updated 13 sec ago
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At least 72 killed in less than two weeks as monsoon rains batter Pakistan

At least 72 killed in less than two weeks as monsoon rains batter Pakistan
  • Pakistan’s disaster management authority warns of more heavy rains, potential floods till July 10
  • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reports highest number of deaths, 28, Punjab 22, Sindh 15 and Balochistan seven
Updated 13 sec ago
Shahjahan Khurram

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has warned of more downpours and flash floods across the country until July 10, with heavy rains killing at least 72 and injuring 130 in less than two weeks. 

In a press release issued on Sunday, the NDMA warned that the ongoing monsoon season is likely to trigger heavy rains and potential flooding in several parts until July 10. It said that flooding and increased water levels are expected in streams and rivers across Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan regions.

“Rivers including Chenab, Jhelum, Indus, Kabul, and Hunza may experience surges, with minor flooding expected at Marala and Qadirabad,” the NDMA report said. 

As per the disaster management authority’s latest situation report, at least 72 people have been killed and 130 injured across the country due to rain-related incidents since June 26. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has reported the highest number of deaths, 28, while 22 people have been killed in Punjab, 15 in Sindh and seven in Balochistan. 

Punjab reported 66 people injured from rain-related incidents, Sindh 34, KP 23, Azad Kashmir four and Balochistan three since June 26. The report said at least 161 houses had been damaged so far while 91 livestock had perished since June 26. 

The NDMA said 233 people were rescued in total, with the highest number of people rescued in KP, 115, Sindh 42, Punjab 31, Gilgit-Baltistan 25, Islamabad 15 and Balochistan five. 

Pakistan, home to over 240 million people, is consistently ranked among the countries most vulnerable to climate change. In 2022, record-breaking monsoon rains and glacier melt caused catastrophic floods that affected 33 million people and killed more than 1,700. The South Asian country has been the victim of irregular weather patterns recently that have ranged from heatwaves to droughts and torrential rains. 

Surging temperatures in the country’s mountainous north, especially in Gilgit-Baltistan, have accelerated glacier melt, compounding the risk of sudden floods and landslides in narrow valleys and near vulnerable glacial lakes.

The NDMA advises the public to stay indoors during thunderstorms, avoid unnecessary travel and keep children away from electricity poles and waterlogged areas.

Topics: Monsoon 2025 Rains in Pakistan climate change

Pakistan, China set strategic roadmap to deepen tourism, cultural cooperation

Pakistan, China set strategic roadmap to deepen tourism, cultural cooperation
Updated 9 sec ago
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Pakistan, China set strategic roadmap to deepen tourism, cultural cooperation

Pakistan, China set strategic roadmap to deepen tourism, cultural cooperation
  • Islamabad, Beijing agree to launch joint projects to restore, preserve and digitally document their historical landmarks
  • Both sides to strengthen museum development partnerships, organize series of cultural delegations and film festivals
Updated 9 sec ago
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Culture Minister Huzaifa Rehman agreed to enhance tourism collaboration and advance cultural diplomacy in a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Gao Zheng, in Beijing recently, Pakistani state media reported. 

Pakistan, home to several snow-capped peaks in the Himalayan and Karakorum mountain ranges and ancient archaeological sites such as Mohenjo-Daro and Taxila, has immense potential for tourism.

Islamabad has recently pushed to promote its tourist spots to visitors worldwide by establishing air and land links with Central Asian republics and signing agreements to boost tourism with regional allies. Pakistan hopes tourism will help the country earn valuable foreign exchange whilst it grapples with a prolonged macroeconomic crisis. 

Rehman met his Chinese counterpart Zheng in Beijing on Sunday, during which the two sides discussed advancing collaboration in tourism and other areas, state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said. 

“The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to advancing cultural diplomacy, enhancing tourism collaboration, and restoring shared heritage sites between Pakistan and China,” APP said in a report on Sunday. 

Rehman expressed gratitude for China’s friendship and support to Pakistan, the report added.

The two sides discussed and agreed on launching joint projects to restore, preserve and digitally document historical landmarks in both countries. They also agreed to strengthen museum development partnerships and organize a series of cultural delegations, art exhibitions and film festivals.

They agreed on implementing training programs in museology and professional development for museum staff, while rolling out collaborative tourism campaigns and policy initiatives to boost visitor flows and cultural exploration, the APP report said. 

The Chinese minister formally invited Rehman to attend the upcoming International Museum Conference scheduled to be held in China in September, which the Pakistani official accepted. 

“This landmark meeting paves the way for actionable steps in the near future, setting a strategic roadmap for Pakistan–China cultural partnership and mutual heritage conservation,” the report said. 

Apart from being a regional ally, China is also a major investor in Pakistan. Beijing has invested in a multi-billion-dollar project, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), that connects the two countries through a network of highways, railways and pipelines.

Since its initiation in 2013, CPEC has seen tens of billions of dollars funneled into massive transport, energy and infrastructure projects in Pakistan. 

Topics: Pakistan China Ties Pakistan China Cultural exchange Pakistan tourism

From Illinois to Upper Dir: American woman travels to Pakistan to wed online friend

From Illinois to Upper Dir: American woman travels to Pakistan to wed online friend
Updated 57 min 38 sec ago
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From Illinois to Upper Dir: American woman travels to Pakistan to wed online friend

From Illinois to Upper Dir: American woman travels to Pakistan to wed online friend
  • Mindy Rasmussen, 47, started talking to Upper Dir’s Sajid Zeb Khan, 31, on Facebook last year
  • Rasmussen says will begin husband’s immigration process for US after returning to America
Updated 57 min 38 sec ago
WASIM SAJJAD

Upper Dir, PAKISTAN: An American woman recently journeyed thousands of miles from Illinois to a remote northwestern Pakistani district to marry a man who befriended her online over a year ago, praising the people here for their hospitable nature and urging other foreigners to ignore the “negative” perceptions about Pakistan. 

Mindy Rasmussen, a 47-year-old procurement specialist at an aviation repair station in Springfield, Illinois, arrived in Pakistan’s mountainous Upper Dir district’s Usheri Darra valley on June 29 to marry Sajid Zeb Khan, a 31-year-old who works at his father’s medical store. 

She’s not the first foreigner who crossed countries to marry a resident of Upper Dir, a district known for its picturesque scenery. An Indian woman, Anju, converted to Islam in July 2023 and changed her name to Fatima before getting married to Nasrullah, a resident of Upper Dir. Anju met Nasrallah on Facebook, with their romance making headlines worldwide at the time. 

Rasmussen, who converted to Islam and adopted the name Zulekha Zeb before marrying Khan on July 2, said he befriended her on Facebook a year ago.

“He (Sajid Khan) sent me a friend request on Facebook and I thought he was very handsome, so I accepted,” Rasmussen told Arab News, laughing. “His first message to me was, ‘I am Sajid Khan from Pakistan.’“

Rasmussen said she responded to Khan and the two got to know each other better as time progressed. 

“He is a really sweet, loving man and I fell in love with him over this past year that we have been talking,” she said. 

Khan is the eldest of nine siblings, who include five sisters and four brothers. The newlywed couple are currently living in Usherai Darra, a famous remote tourist spot in Upper Dir in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. 

Khan told Arab News his conversations with Rasmussen went from messages to video calls as they grew close. Rasmussen eventually spoke to Khan’s family before she proposed marriage. 

“At the end, she proposed to me, saying, ‘Why don’t we get married as we are so close,’” he said. 

Traveling to the US was always difficult for Khan, given that Pakistanis have to undergo extensive background checks for a US visa, sometimes leading to delays and denials. Hence, he invited Rasmussen to come to Pakistan instead. 

And now that she’s here, he plans to take her to famous tourist attractions in KP. 

“We will go around in our own land, like our Swat, Kumrat, Chitral, Usherai Darra, especially Nehag Darra,” he said. 

‘AN OPEN MIND’

Touched by the people’s hospitality in Pakistan, Rasmussen praised the “tightly knit” community for showering her with affection. 

“The love that they have shown me, you know, we don’t really have this back in the US,” she said. “This level of community. I mean, everybody is a neighbor, is a friend, is a family,” she added. 

Pakistan’s northwestern KP province, despite being home to several glacial lakes, mountain ranges and picturesque locations that lure tourists in droves, has suffered from a surge in militancy recently.

Pakistani Taliban militants have launched attacks against law enforcers and citizens, especially in the tribal districts bordering Afghanistan, in their bid to impose their strict version of Islamic law. 

Rasmussen, however, said she had experienced neither “terrorism” nor any violence during her stay in the country. She advised foreigners not to harbor preconceived notions about KP. 

“Come with an open mind and you will see for yourself that this is a safe place, a peaceful place and just wonderful people,” she said. 

However, her visa expires on August 14 and she is in Pakistan for only a month. 

“I plan to go back to the US and then we are going to get Sajid’s [immigration] paperwork going and he is going to come to the US with me,” she said. 

Khan, meanwhile, insists he didn’t marry Rasmussen to secure an easy path to American citizenship, saying that she was his “honor” now. 

“She has arrived here by choice and has married me by choice,” he said. “Now, she can live by choice and leave by choice.”

Topics: Upper Dir Facebook friendship American woman in Pakistan

Lion owners arrested after attack on woman, two children in Pakistan

Lion owners arrested after attack on woman, two children in Pakistan
Updated 07 July 2025
AP
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Lion owners arrested after attack on woman, two children in Pakistan

Lion owners arrested after attack on woman, two children in Pakistan
  • Dramatic video showed lion leaping over wall before attacking victims in Lahore
  • Police say woman, her children sustained injuries to faces and arms when lion escaped
Updated 07 July 2025
AP

LAHORE: The owners of a pet lion that escaped from a farmhouse and injured a woman and her two children have been arrested in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore, authorities said Sunday.

The arrest comes after dramatic video footage surfaced showing the lion leaping over a wall before attacking the victims in a residential area.

The woman and her 5-and 7-year-old children sustained injuries to their faces and arms on Wednesday night when the lion escaped from its cage, police official Faisal Kamran said.

According to a police report, the children’s father told police that the lion’s owners stood by and watched as the animal clawed at his family, making no effort to restrain it. The lion later returned to the owners’ farmhouse and was relocated to a wildlife park, police said.

Keeping exotic animals such as lions is considered a status symbol among some wealthy Pakistanis, despite the legal requirements and high fees associated with ownership.

Topics: lion escaped Lahore

Pakistan eyes $200 million from tuna exports under new fishing quota

Pakistan eyes $200 million from tuna exports under new fishing quota
Updated 06 July 2025
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Pakistan eyes $200 million from tuna exports under new fishing quota

Pakistan eyes $200 million from tuna exports under new fishing quota
  • Pakistan says Indian Ocean Tuna Commission has issued it tuna fishing quota of 25,000 metric tons
  • Pakistan catches 45,000 metric tons of tuna per year but it escapes the formal economy, says minister
Updated 06 July 2025
Shahjahan Khurram

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Maritime Affairs Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said this week that the government is eyeing a $200 million boost for the country’s tuna sector, after securing a new fishing quota from the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC).

Pakistan’s Maritime Affairs Ministry said in a press release on Saturday that the IOTC has issued Islamabad a new tuna fishing quota of 25,000 metric tons, which comprises 15,000 tons of Yellowfin Tuna and 10,000 tons of Skipjack Tuna. 

The IOTC is an intergovernmental body comprising 30 member states, established under the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Its mandate is to manage tuna and related species in the Indian Ocean by promoting sustainable use through scientific research, quota distribution, and regulatory frameworks.

“This is a landmark achievement that promises significant foreign exchange earnings,” Chaudhry was quoted as saying by the ministry on Saturday. 

“With international prices for these tuna species ranging between $5 and $7 per kilogram, and potentially higher with value-added processing, the economic potential is enormous.”

The minister described the development as a “turning point” for the country’s tuna sector. He noted that though Pakistan currently catches more than 45,000 metric tons of tuna each year, much of it has been escaping the formal economy due to unregulated operations.

Chaudhry said to realize the potential of tuna fish as an economic resource, the government has undertaken reforms such as introducing the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy.

He said the policy is aimed at unifying fragmented regulatory frameworks while promoting environmentally sound and revenue-generating fishing techniques.

“This policy framework supports Pakistan’s obligations under international climate and marine conservation agreements,” the minister said. 

Chaudhry said destructive fishing methods such as gillnetting and trawling are being phased out, with the government replacing them with more selective and environmentally friendly longlining techniques. 

“This transition reduces bycatch and supports ocean health in the face of climate-driven stressors such as warming waters and changing migration patterns,” he said. 

He said the government has undertaken reforms such as the revision of certification and testing fees for seafood exports, resulting in a revenue increase from Rs48 million [$168,960] to Rs250 million [$880,000].

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has repeatedly spoken of the government’s intentions to put Pakistan on the path to sustainable economic progress through exports. 

The South Asian country hopes to increase its exports to escape a prolonged macroeconomic crisis that decreased its foreign exchange reserves and weakened its national currency, especially in 2023, before the government undertook fiscal reforms. 

Topics: tuna Fishing quota Pakistan

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