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Envoy shares potential of Pakistan freight corridors, ports for regional connectivity at Dubai event

Envoy shares potential of Pakistan freight corridors, ports for regional connectivity at Dubai event
Pakistan’s Envoy to the UAE Ambassador Faisal Niaz Tirmizi (5L) gestures for a group photograph at the 12th Global Logistics Alliance (GLA) conference in Dubai on may 16, 2025. (Photo courtesy: Handout/Pakistan Embassy)
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Updated 18 May 2025
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Envoy shares potential of Pakistan freight corridors, ports for regional connectivity at Dubai event

Envoy shares potential of Pakistan freight corridors, ports for regional connectivity at Dubai event
  • The Global Logistics Alliance conference brings together over 2,000 industry leaders, experts and potential partners to explore logistics opportunities
  • The development comes as Pakistan strives to boost trade, overseas investment amid a gradually healing macroeconomic environment after a prolonged downturn
Updated 18 May 2025
Arab News Pakistan
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Envoy to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador Faisal Niaz Tirmizi has underscored Pakistan’s freight corridors, port projects at a global logistics conference in Dubai, saying the South Asian has the potential to become a crucial hub for regional trade, transport and economic cooperation.

Ambassador Tirmizi said this while delivering a keynote address at the 12th Global Logistics Alliance (GLA) conference in Dubai, according to Pakistan’s Press Information Department (PID).

The three-day event, running from May 15 till May 18, has brought together over 2,000 industry leaders, experts and potential partners from 130 countries to network, acquire knowledge and explore opportunities in the logistics sector.

In his speech, Ambassador Tirmizi highlighted Pakistan’s strategic location at the crossroads of South Asia, Central Asia and West Asia as well as the Middle East.

“Pakistan is poised to become a vital corridor of connectivity and cooperation across the region,” he said, lauding the UAE-based firms DP World and AD Ports for their investments in freight corridors and port development projects in Pakistan.

The development comes as Pakistan strives to boost trade and overseas investment amid a gradually healing macroeconomic environment after a prolonged downturn that forced Islamabad to seek external financing from friendly nations and multiple loan programs with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The Pakistani government has pursued aggressive economic diplomacy in recent years, signing several agreements and memoranda of understanding with countries in Central Asia and the Middle East.

In her remarks, GLA President Grace Sun emphasized the importance of the event in creating new business synergies and accelerating global logistics collaboration.

On the sidelines of the conference, Ambassador Tirmizi and Sun discussed the potential of organizing a regional networking conference in Pakistan under the GLA framework, with a focus on engagement from South and Central Asian logistics stakeholders, according to the PID.

Ambassador Tirmizi reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to working with international partners to develop “smart, efficient, and sustainable logistics infrastructure,” particularly through transformational initiatives like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Pakistan criminalizes child marriages in Islamabad despite opposition from Council of Islamic Ideology

Pakistan criminalizes child marriages in Islamabad despite opposition from Council of Islamic Ideology
Updated 30 May 2025
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Pakistan criminalizes child marriages in Islamabad despite opposition from Council of Islamic Ideology

Pakistan criminalizes child marriages in Islamabad despite opposition from Council of Islamic Ideology
  • Under the new law, the minimum age for marriage is set at 18 for both men and women in the federal capital
  • Prison terms of up to seven years have been introduced for those who facilitate or coerce children into early marriages
Updated 30 May 2025
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday signed into law a bill criminalizing child marriages in the federal capital of Islamabad, despite opposition from a constitutional body that advises the Pakistani government on the compatibility of laws with Islam.

The law criminalizes underage marriages and introduces strict penalties of up to seven years in prison for family members, clerics and marriage registrars who facilitate or coerce children into early marriages. Any sexual relations within a marriage involving a minor, regardless of consent, will be considered statutory rape, according to the law. An adult man who marries a girl under the legal age could face up to three years in prison.

Pakistan’s National Assembly had unanimously passed the Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Bill tabled by Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Sharmila Faruqui on May 16. Under the new law, the minimum legal age for marriage for both men and women in Islamabad is 18. Previously, it was 16 for girls and 18 for boys.

However, the Council of Islamic Ideology this week declared the said bill “un-Islamic,” saying that clauses of the bill, such as fixing the age limit for marriage and declaring marriage below the age of 18 as child abuse and punishable, did not conform with Islamic injunctions.

“The Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Bill, 2025 is assented to, as passed by the Parliament,” President Zardari was quoted as saying in a notification issued from his office.

In Pakistan, 29 percent of girls are married by the age of 18 and 4 percent marry before the age of 15, according to Girls Not Brides, a global coalition working to end child marriage. In comparison, five percent of boys marry before 18.

PPP Senator Sherry Rehman thanked the president for signing the bill into law “despite all pressure.”

“Proud moment for Pakistan,” she said on X. “Thank you to all the women and men who made this possible after a long journey of twists and turns.”

Pakistan ranks among the top 10 countries globally with the highest absolute number of women who were married or in a union before turning 18.

Girls who marry young are less likely to complete their education and are more vulnerable to domestic violence, abuse and serious health complications.

Pregnancy poses significantly higher risks for child brides, increasing the chances of obstetric fistulas, sexually transmitted infections and even maternal death. Teenagers are far more likely to die from childbirth-related complications than women in their twenties.

Topics: child marriage

Pakistan, India close to completing border troop reduction, senior Pakistani general says

Pakistan, India close to completing border troop reduction, senior Pakistani general says
Updated 30 May 2025
Reuters
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Pakistan, India close to completing border troop reduction, senior Pakistani general says

Pakistan, India close to completing border troop reduction, senior Pakistani general says
  • Both nations attacked military installations in their mainlands this month before the US brokered a ceasefire on May 10
  • General Sahir Shamshad Mirza says latest conflict has lowered the ‘threshold,’ won’t be restricted to disputed Kashmir
Updated 30 May 2025
Reuters

SINGAPORE: Pakistan and India are close to reducing the troop build up along their border to levels before conflict erupted between the nuclear-armed neighbors this month, a top Pakistani military official told Reuters on Friday, although he warned the crisis had increased the risk of escalation in the future.

Both sides used fighter jets, missiles, drones and artillery in four days of clashes, their worst fighting in decades, before a ceasefire was announced.

The spark for the latest fighting between the old enemies was an April 22 attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 people, most of them tourists. New Delhi blamed the incident on “terrorists” backed by Pakistan, a charge denied by Islamabad.

On May 7, India launched missiles at what it said were “terrorist infrastructure” sites across the border and as Pakistan responded with its own attacks, both countries built up additional forces along the frontier.

General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Pakistan’s chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, said the two militaries had started the process of drawing down troop levels.

“We have almost come back to the pre-22nd April situation... we are approaching that, or we must have approached that by now,” said Mirza, the most senior Pakistani military official to speak publicly since the conflict.

India’s ministry of defense and the office of the Indian chief of defense staff did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment on the remarks by Mirza.

Mirza, who is in Singapore to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue forum, said while there was no move toward nuclear weapons during this conflict, it was a dangerous situation.

“Nothing happened this time,” he said. “But you can’t rule out any strategic miscalculation at any time, because when the crisis is on, the responses are different.”

He also said the risk of escalation in the future had increased since the fighting this time was not limited to the disputed territory of Kashmir, the scenic region in the Himalayas that both nations rule in part but claim in full. The two sides attacked military installations in their mainlands but neither has acknowledged any serious damage.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned Pakistan this month that New Delhi would target “terrorist hideouts” across the border again if there were new attacks on India.

‘DANGEROUS TREND’

The two countries have fought three major wars, two of them over Kashmir, and numerous armed skirmishes since both were born out of British colonial India in 1947.

New Delhi blames Pakistan for an insurgency in India-administered part of Kashmir that began in 1989 and has killed tens of thousands. Pakistan says it provides only moral, political and diplomatic support to Kashmiris seeking self-determination.

“This (conflict) lowers the threshold between two countries who are contiguous nuclear powers...in the future, it will not be restricted to the disputed territory. It would come down to (the) whole of India and (the) whole of Pakistan,” Mirza said. “This is a very dangerous trend.”

Reuters has reported that the rapid escalation of hostilities ended in part because of behind-the-scenes diplomacy involving the US, India and Pakistan, and the key role played by Washington in brokering peace. India has denied any third-party role in the ceasefire and said that any engagement between India and Pakistan has to be bilateral.

But Mirza warned that international mediation might be difficult in the future because of a lack of crisis management mechanisms between the countries.

“The time window for the international community to intervene would now be very less, and I would say that damage and destruction may take place even before that time window is exploited by the international community,” he said.

Pakistan was open to dialogue, he added, but beyond a crisis hotline between the directors general of military operations and some hotlines at the tactical level on the border, there was no other communication between the two countries.

India’s foreign ministry spokesperson said on Thursday “talks and terror don’t go together” in response to a question on the possibility of dialogue with Pakistan.

Mirza said there were no backchannel discussions, or informal talks, to ease tensions. He also said he had no plans to meet General Anil Chauhan, India’s chief of defense staff, who is also in Singapore for the Shangri-La forum.

“These issues can only be resolved by dialogue and consultations, on the table. They cannot be resolved on the battlefield,” Mirza said.

Topics: General Sahir Shamshad Mirza Pakistan Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Pakistan India ceasefire

Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, Muhammad Yasir in Asian Athletics Championships javelin finals

Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, Muhammad Yasir in Asian Athletics Championships javelin finals
Updated 12 min 39 sec ago
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Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, Muhammad Yasir in Asian Athletics Championships javelin finals

Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, Muhammad Yasir in Asian Athletics Championships javelin finals
  • Olympic gold medalist Nadeem and compatriot Yasir qualified with impressive throws of 86.34m and 76.07m respectively
  • Nadeem made history at 2024 Paris Olympics by winning Pakistan’s first athletics gold with a record throw of 92.97m
Updated 12 min 39 sec ago
Hasaan Ali Khan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Olympic medalist Arshad Nadeem and compatriot javelin thrower Muhammad Yasir have qualified for the finals of the 26th Asian Athletics Championships in South Korea.

The championship, running from May 27 till May 31, is featuring over 2,000 athletes from 43 countries, who are competing across 45 track and field events at the Gumi Civic Stadium.

Nadeem advanced to the final with a powerful throw of 86.34 meters on his first and only attempt in the A qualification round, while Yasir secured his spot in the final with a 76.07-meter throw in the B qualification round.

“Alhamdulillah, qualified this morning for the final competition tomorrow afternoon at 1:10pm Pakistan time at the Asian Championships,” Nadeem said on X.

“As always I would need your support and prayers.”

Nadeem tops the 21-member field. He is followed by Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage with a throw of 83.71 meters and Japan’s Yuta Sakiyama with a throw of 81.36 meters.

Yasir entered the final ranked 9th.

Nadeem made history at the 2024 Paris Olympics by winning Pakistan’s first-ever athletics gold with a record-breaking javelin throw of 92.97 meters. His throw not only set a new Olympic and Asian record but also ended Pakistan’s 32-year Olympic medal drought.

He has since become a national hero, inspiring millions with his journey from humble beginnings in smalltown Mian Channu to the top of the Olympic podium.
 

Topics: Arshad Nadeem Muhammad Yasir

Pakistan among dozens of countries to join China’s new global mediation group

Pakistan among dozens of countries to join China’s new global mediation group
Updated 53 min 40 sec ago
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Pakistan among dozens of countries to join China’s new global mediation group

Pakistan among dozens of countries to join China’s new global mediation group
  • Beijing has touted the organization as the world’s first intergovernmental legal body for resolving disputes through mediation
  • Deputy PM Ishaq Dar says multilateralism is key to global peace and stability, and the new organization reaffirms this ideal
Updated 53 min 40 sec ago
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: Dozens of countries, including Pakistan, on Friday joined China in establishing a global mediation-based dispute resolution group, with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar hoping to play an “active” role in the mission.

Dar was among representatives of more than 30 countries, from Indonesia to Belarus to Cuba, who signed the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) in Hong Kong to become founding members of the global organization.

Beijing has touted the organization as the world’s first intergovernmental legal body for resolving disputes through mediation, saying it will be an important mechanism in safeguarding the principles of the United Nations charter. It also positioned Hong Kong as an international legal and dispute resolution services center in Asia.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dar said Pakistan values China’s steadfast support for multilateral efforts, which aim to bridge East and West, and North and South, bringing together developed and developing countries to foster a global community with a shared future.

“Pakistan and China have always shared the view that multilateralism is the centerpiece for international peace, stability, and development,” he said.

“​The creation of IOMed today reaffirms this ideal, offering new opportunities and fresh hopes to build a more inclusive, more just and more equitable world. Pakistan will continue to be an active voice in this noble mission.”

The new body, headquartered in Hong Kong, aims to help promote the amicable resolution of international disputes and build more harmonious global relations. The support of developing countries signaled Beijing’s rising influence in the global south amid heightened geopolitical tensions, partly exacerbated by US President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs.

Wang said China has long advocated for handling differences with a spirit of mutual understanding and consensus-building through dialogue, while aiming to provide “Chinese wisdom” for resolving conflicts between nations.

“The establishment of the International Organization for Mediation helps to move beyond the zero-sum mindset of ‘you lose and I win,’” he said.

Hong Kong leader John Lee said the organization could begin its work as early as the end of this year. The ceremony was attended by representatives from some 50 other countries and about 20 organizations, including the United Nations.

Yueming Yan, a law professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said the new organization is a complementary mechanism to existing institutions such as the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague.

“While the ICJ and PCA focus on adjudication and arbitration, IOMed introduces a structured, institutionalized form of alternative dispute resolution — namely, mediation — on a global scale,” she said.

Although many details about the new body are yet to be clarified, it could open the door for greater synergy between formal litigation or arbitration and more flexible methods like mediation, she said.

Shahla Ali, a law professor at the University of Hong Kong, said the International Organization for Mediation would have the capacity to mediate disputes between states, between a state and a national of another state, or in international commercial disputes.

“Conventions can provide opportunities to experiment with new approaches,” she said, noting rising interest in mediation globally as a means to resolve investor-state disputes.

Dar said peace and security as well as global prosperity can be promoted and preserved through strict adherence to the principles of the UN Charter, faithful implementation of UN Security Council resolutions as well as international law.

“Pakistan has established an International Mediation and Arbitration Center (IMAC) to promote commercial and investment dispute resolution and judicial efficiency. We look forward to collaborating with the Secretariat of IOMed and IMAC of Pakistan,” he added.​

— With input from AP

Topics: Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar International Organization for Mediation (IOMed)

At Tajikistan summit, Pakistan PM urges world action over India’s ‘weaponization’ of Indus waters

At Tajikistan summit, Pakistan PM urges world action over India’s ‘weaponization’ of Indus waters
Updated 30 May 2025
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At Tajikistan summit, Pakistan PM urges world action over India’s ‘weaponization’ of Indus waters

At Tajikistan summit, Pakistan PM urges world action over India’s ‘weaponization’ of Indus waters
  • India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty a day after a militant attack in disputed Kashmir, which it blamed on Pakistan
  • The attack triggered worst fighting between the two neighbors in decades before they agreed to a ceasefire this month
Updated 30 May 2025
Kashaf Rehman

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday drew the world’s attention to India’s “weaponization” of water by suspending Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan, urging the world to not let millions of lives to be held “hostage.”

India announced on April 23 that it was putting the 1960 World Bank-mediated treaty in abeyance after it accused Pakistan of backing an attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir. Islamabad has denied complicity and called for a credible, international probe into it.

The IWT grants Pakistan rights to the Indus basin’s western rivers — Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab — for irrigation, drinking, and non-consumptive uses like hydropower, while India controls the eastern rivers — Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej — for unrestricted use but must not significantly alter their flow. India can use the western rivers for limited purposes such as power generation and irrigation, without storing or diverting large volumes, according to the agreement.

Speaking at the International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation in Dushanbe, Sharif said the world must recognize that water transcends political boundaries, connects communities and sustains ecosystems and cultures, demanding world action over New Delhi’s move to suspend the IWT.

“We are now witnessing an alarming new low, the weaponization of water, India’s unilateral and illegal decision to hold in abeyance the Indus Water Treaty which governs the sharing of the Indus basin’s water is deeply regrettable,” he said, urging that lives of millions of Pakistanis must not be held hostage to “narrow political gains.”

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif speaking at the International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on MAy 30, 2025. (PMO)

“Our waters and our glaciers... bind us in a shared destiny. Let us protect and preserve nature’s precious bounties for our planet and our peoples.”

The IWT suspension was among a series of punitive measures India announced against Pakistan over the Kashmir attack that killed 26 people. The archfoes this month traded missile, drone and artillery fire in their worst fighting since 1999 Kargil War before agreeing to a ceasefire on May 10.

India has maintained its decision to keep the treaty, which ensures water for 80 percent of Pakistani farms, in abeyance, while Islamabad has said it will contest the move at every forum.

Sharif also urged the world to expedite its climate action to protect glacial systems, which were the lifeline of their civilization, culture and economy.

He said his country witnessed firsthand the peril of glacial melt in 2022, when devastating floods submerged Pakistan, washing away standing crops over millions of acres, affecting over 30 million people and causing more billions of dollars in damages.

“We only contribute less than half percent of the total world emissions, and yet we are one of those 10 most vulnerable countries facing this menace [of climate change],” he said.

“I pray to Allah Almighty that other countries do not face this kind of devastation which we faced back in 2022, but it will not be protected through words and speeches, it requires comprehensive, a plan, and immediate implementation.”

Pakistan believes in shared responsibility and collective action, according to Sharif. There is an urgent need for an enhanced global climate action to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change.

“The developed countries must meet their climate financial commitments without any delay and with a balanced focus on adaptation and mitigation as well as loss and damage,” he said.

“Adequate funding for climate resilient infrastructure and overcoming financing gap remains critical for climate vulnerable countries.”

Islamabad has been urging the international community to ensure faster and simpler disbursements from the global fund to help vulnerable countries respond to climate-related losses.

The Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) was established at the COP27 climate summit in Egypt in 2022 and a year later, nearly 200 nations agreed to the operationalization of $575 million as part of it. However, disbursements under the program have since been slow, hampering climate adaptation efforts in developing countries.

Topics: Pakistan Tajikistan Ties

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