Saudi Tourism Authority signs up as title partner for Pakistan’s top tourism expo next month

Saudi Tourism Authority signs up as title partner for Pakistan’s top tourism expo next month
The screengrab taken from a video shows Chief Marketing Officer of Pakistan Travel Mart (PTM), Adeeba Khalid Jadoon, speaks during an event in Karachi on December 26, 2024, to announce Saudi Tourism Authority as the title partner for the fourth edition of Pakistan’s leading travel trade show to be held in Karachi from January 31 to February 2, 2025. (AN)
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Updated 27 December 2024
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Saudi Tourism Authority signs up as title partner for Pakistan’s top tourism expo next month

Saudi Tourism Authority signs up as title partner for Pakistan’s top tourism expo next month
  • Fourth edition of Pakistan Travel Mart to be held in Karachi from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2, followed by roadshow in Islamabad
  • Saudi Arabia will feature a dedicated pavilion offering visitors a glimpse into its rich heritage and tourism destinations

KARACHI: The Saudi Tourism Authority will be the title partner for Pakistan’s premier tourism expo set to take place in the commercial capital of Karachi next month, the organizers of the event said on Thursday.

The fourth edition of Pakistan Travel Mart, a leading travel trade show, will bring together key stakeholders and partners from both Pakistan and around the world at the Karachi Expo Center from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2, followed by a roadshow in Islamabad on Feb. 4-5. 

“This is big news for us,” Adeeba Khalid Jadoon, Chief Marketing Officer of PTM, said as she announced the Saudi partnership. “We are really delighted to have Saudi Arabia as a destination and the Saudi Tourism Authority as our title partner.”

Speaking to Arab News, Jadoon described the partnership as a “breakthrough” that would strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries.

“The way Saudi Arabia has transformed the tourism landscape, no other country has done that,” she said. “And I think it’s doing exceptionally well when it comes to tourism development, projection of it as a tourism destination.”

Jadoon also praised the “fusion of tradition and modernity” in Saudi Arabia’s tourism offerings.

“There is NEOM, which is completely built on a 100 percent technology foundation, very sleek design, very sleek concept,” she said referring to a futuristic region being built in the desert. 

NEOM, a Red Sea urban and industrial development nearly the size of Belgium that is meant to eventually house 9 million people, is central to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

“And if you go toward the AlUla site, it’s a cultural preservation site for the travelers. So, in Saudi Arabia you will find every everyone will find everything for them to experience,” Jadoon added, referring to an ancient Arabian oasis city located in Medina Province, which has become a top tourist site in recent years. 

Sophia Al Khawar, Head of Trade and Acting Country Head at the Saudi Tourism Authority, highlighted the wide range of offerings that would be available to Pakistani travelers at the event:

“There are new products for Pakistan. We are supporting you with MICE [Meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions]. We are supporting you with destination weddings, solo travel for women. Saudi has something for everyone ... We host eight World Heritage sites. We have the biggest rave festival of the world. The most sustainable traveling there is, is there.”

Saudi Arabia will feature a dedicated pavilion at PTM 2025, providing attendees with an immersive experience of the Kingdom’s tourism offerings.

“If you wanted to know more about Saudi and what we’re offering you, you have to visit it at the PTM because everybody would get a good glimpse. So, see you at PTM and then see you in Saudi,” Khawar added.

For the first time, PTM will introduce a dedicated Tech Hall, bridging technology and travel to enhance consumer experiences, organizers said. Supported by industry partners like the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) and the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), the Tech District will feature technology companies, innovative platforms, and startups within the travel and tourism sector. 

This year’s PTM will also feature a Learning Enclave, an interactive space showcasing insights from both local and international travel, tourism, and hospitality experts. The enclave will host talks, panel discussions, case studies, and immersive demonstrations, “transforming traditional learning spaces into dynamic environments designed to maximize engagement and knowledge-sharing,” a press release said.


Glenn Phillips ton lifts New Zealand to 330-6 against Pakistan in tri-series

Glenn Phillips ton lifts New Zealand to 330-6 against Pakistan in tri-series
Updated 08 February 2025
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Glenn Phillips ton lifts New Zealand to 330-6 against Pakistan in tri-series

Glenn Phillips ton lifts New Zealand to 330-6 against Pakistan in tri-series
  • Phillips was ably supported by Daryl Mitchell with 81 and Kane Williamson with 58 runs
  • Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi ended up with expensive figures of 3-88 from his 10 overs

LAHORE: Glenn Phillips cracked a maiden century to lift New Zealand to 330-6 against Pakistan in the tri-series opener in Lahore on Saturday.
Phillips hit 106 not out from 74 balls, with seven sixes and six boundaries, after New Zealand won the toss and batted.
He was ably supported by Daryl Mitchell with 81 and Kane Williamson (58).
Phillips added a quickfire 54 off just 47 balls with Michael Bracewell for the sixth wicket. Bracewell scored 31 from 23 balls, with three sixes.

New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips (R) is congratulated by Mitchel Santner after scoring a century during the tri-series ODI cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand at Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore on February 8, 2025. (AP)

New Zealand plundered 123 runs in the last 10 overs, including 84 from the final five.
Phillips smashed a boundary and two sixes off pace bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi to reach his hundred off 72 balls, taking 25 in the 50th over.

Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan walks off the field as New Zealand’s players celebrate after his dismissal during the tri-series ODI cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand at Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore on February 8, 2025. (AP)

Shaheen ended up with expensive figures of 3-88 from his 10 overs, although he gave Pakistan an early breakthrough by removing opener Will Young for four with the fourth ball of the match.
Spinner Abrar Ahmed had opener Rachin Ravindra caught and bowled for 25 but Williamson and Mitchell then added 95 off 112 balls to rebuild the innings.

Pakistan’s Babar Azam (R) and Fakhar Zaman run between the wickets during the tri-series ODI cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand at Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore on February 8, 2025. (AP)

Williamson hit seven boundaries in his 46th half century, his first one-day international since November 2023, before edging Shaheen to wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan.
Mitchell appeared well set for a hundred but miscued a shot off Abrar in the 38th over to be caught after hitting four sixes and two boundaries.
Pakistan was hit hard when pace bowler Haris Rauf walked off in the 37th over after suffering a side strain, having bowled 6.2 overs that included the wicket of Tom Latham for nought.


Senior UN official slams inadequate global support for Pakistan’s climate efforts

Senior UN official slams inadequate global support for Pakistan’s climate efforts
Updated 08 February 2025
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Senior UN official slams inadequate global support for Pakistan’s climate efforts

Senior UN official slams inadequate global support for Pakistan’s climate efforts
  • Mohamed Yahya urges polluting countries to show ‘stronger solidarity’ to rebuild destroyed homes in Pakistan
  • The country faced devastating floods in 2022 that killed 1,739 people, resulting in $14.9 billion in damages

ISLAMABAD: United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Mohamed Yahya criticized the lack of global support for Pakistan in combating climate change this week, urging “stronger solidarity” with the South Asian nation to aid in the reconstruction of homes following the floods over two years ago.
In 2022, floods inundated one-third of Pakistan especially affecting the southeastern Sindh and southwestern Balochistan provinces, impacting 33 million people, causing 1,739 deaths and resulting in $14.9 billion (Rs4.1 trillion) in damage and $15.2 billion (Rs4.2 trillion) in economic losses, according to Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority.
The Global Climate Risk Index says Pakistan is among the countries most at risk from climate change. Extreme weather events like floods, droughts, cyclones, torrential rainstorms and heatwaves have been occurring more frequently and with greater intensity across Pakistan in recent years.
“One other things we are concerned about is the lack of stronger solidarity for Pakistan around the reconstruction after the 2022 floods,” Yahya told Arab News on the sidelines of the Breathe Pakistan Climate Conference in Islamabad on Friday.


He noted this was despite the fact that “Pakistan contributes even less than one percent of global emission and is in the top five countries impacted by climate change.”
Yahya described it as “unjust” for Pakistan to be asked to take loans for rebuilding homes destroyed in floods and mitigating a crisis caused by other countries, noting that 20 countries were responsible for 80 percent of global emissions.
According to the UN, the 20 countries contributing to the global greenhouse gas emissions include China, the United States, India, Russia, Japan, Germany and Iran etc.
“We obviously welcome the loans Pakistan has received but Pakistan should not be using or taking loans to rebuild things that it had very little to do with and that we think is not just,” he added.
The UN official maintained the world body consistently urged polluting countries, which have contributed to the climate change disaster, to do more and show solidarity and support to the countries bearing the brunt of the climate change impact.
International donors in January 2023 committed over $9 billion (Rs2.5 trillion) to help Pakistan recover from ruinous floods a year earlier, exceeding its external financing goals.
Officials from some 40 countries as well as private donors and international financial institutions gathered at a meeting in Geneva as Islamabad sought funds to cover around half of a recovery bill amounting to $16.3 billion (Rs 4.5 trillion).
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also called for a grants-based and flexible financial assistance for climate resilience for developing nations like Pakistan this week.
He told the Breathe Pakistan Climate Conference that without global empathy and support, “the path to climate adaptation and green transformation will remain elusive.”

 


Pakistan’s Imran Khan writes another letter to army chief as party stages protest

Pakistan’s Imran Khan writes another letter to army chief as party stages protest
Updated 08 February 2025
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Pakistan’s Imran Khan writes another letter to army chief as party stages protest

Pakistan’s Imran Khan writes another letter to army chief as party stages protest
  • The opposition party’s ‘Black Day’ protest is to mark the first anniversary of last year’s election
  • The ex-PM warns in his letter of a rift between the army and the people due to crackdown on PTI

KARACHI: Pakistan’s jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Saturday he has written another open letter to Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, complaining about the allegedly shrinking democratic space in the country since what he called “pre-poll rigging” in last year’s general elections, as his party marks a “Black Day” on the first anniversary of the electoral contest.
The letter is Khan’s second to the country’s powerful army chief this month. In the previous one, he had called for a reevaluation of current political policies while alleging that his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was being targeted by the state.
Khan’s PTI and another opposition faction, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), decided to stage protests today on the first anniversary of the last general elections. The PTI initially planned to hold a rally in Lahore but, after being denied permission by the local administration, relocated it to Swabi in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the party is in power.
As protests continued in different cities, Khan warned in his letter of a widening rift between the army and the people.
“Using agencies for pre-poll rigging and manipulating election results to establish an orderly government, forcing a constitutional amendment through parliament under duress to subjugate the judiciary, recruiting handpicked judges, enforcing draconian laws like PECA [Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act] to suppress dissent, and involving state institutions in political engineering rather than their constitutional duties is not only hurting public sentiment but also deepening the divide between the people and the army,” he wrote.
“The army is a crucial institution of the country, but a few black sheep within it are harming the entire institution,” he added.
Khan also criticized state policies, saying that “Internet censorship and social media restrictions” was creating problems for the country.
He blamed “a handful of individuals” for undermining the public mandate, leading to economic instability that has pushed investors and skilled professionals to leave Pakistan.
“Economic instability is at its peak,” he said. “The growth rate is at zero, and investment in Pakistan is nearly nonexistent. Poverty and unemployment are soaring.”

Pakistan police stand guard near a red zone in Karachi on February 8, 2025, as opposition parties protest to mark anniversary of Pakistan national polls, which they say were rigged to benefit their opponents. (AN Photo)

Khan also accused the authorities of damaging the military’s reputation among the public, arguing that national security depended on a strong bond between the people and the armed forces.
“Our soldiers are sacrificing their lives for Pakistan,” he continued. “To succeed in the fight against terrorism, the nation must stand behind the army. But the establishment’s policies and illegal actions have only worsened the army’s reputation among the people.”
There has been no official response from the army or the government to Khan’s letter yet.
Meanwhile, in Karachi, a PTI protest at the Press Club failed to draw large crowds, with party leaders blaming heavy security restrictions.
“How can anyone come to the protest?” asked Khair-un-Nisa, PTI’s Women District Manager in Karachi. “All the roads leading to [the protest venue] have been blocked. Troops have been deployed. They have started the arrests. What kind of law is this?“
Another PTI office bearer described the situation as “very unfortunate.”
“Freedom of association is a basic and fundamental right ensured by the Constitution of Pakistan,” said Advocate Maqsood Alam, Vice President of PTI’s Karachi Division. “But look here. You can see that the people of Pakistan, the citizens of Pakistan, cannot raise their voice independently. They cannot protest according to the constitution.”
Arrests of Opposition Workers
Earlier, police arrested multiple opposition members ahead of planned protests by PTI and JI to observe February 8 as a “Black Day” to highlight alleged election irregularities.
Pakistan’s general election was marred by a mobile Internet shutdown and unusually delayed results. The elections resulted in a hung National Assembly, followed by weeks of opposition protests alleging vote fraud. The caretaker government and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) have denied the charges, but the US House of Representatives and several European countries have called for an independent probe— an initiative Pakistan has so far rejected.
PTI candidates contested the elections as independents after the party was barred from running under its symbol. While they won the most seats, they fell short of a majority, allowing a coalition of rival parties, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, to form the government.


Pakistan sees Saudi fast-food giant Al Baik’s entry boosting jobs, bilateral trade

Pakistan sees Saudi fast-food giant Al Baik’s entry boosting jobs, bilateral trade
Updated 08 February 2025
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Pakistan sees Saudi fast-food giant Al Baik’s entry boosting jobs, bilateral trade

Pakistan sees Saudi fast-food giant Al Baik’s entry boosting jobs, bilateral trade
  • The commerce minister meets Saudi business leaders in Jeddah, inviting them to invest in Pakistan
  • Jam Kamal says both sides have seen a 22% increase in trade volume that now stands at $700 million

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan expressed hope on Saturday the investment of Saudi fast-food chain Al Baik in Pakistan would help generate employment opportunities, as he met Saudi businessmen in Jeddah to explore ways to enhance bilateral trade.
Al Baik, a popular Saudi brand specializing in fried chicken, has a strong following among Pakistani travelers to the Kingdom. The company signed a memorandum of understanding last year to enter the Pakistani market, capitalizing on its existing popularity.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have witnessed a 22% increase in bilateral trade volume that currently stands at $700 million. Saudi Arabia also remains Pakistan’s largest source of remittances, with $7.4 billion sent by expatriate workers last year.
During the visit, the commerce minister met Al Baik’s owner, Rami Abu Ghazaleh, who confirmed the company’s decision to open outlets in Pakistan, indicating that the agreement had reached its final stages.
“Al Baik’s arrival in Pakistan will create employment opportunities,” Khan said, according to an official statement. “Pakistan offers a favorable business environment and invites Saudi investors to explore opportunities.”
Khan also highlighted the significant role played by Pakistani workers in Saudi Arabia’s economy and discussed his country’s new policy of granting visa-free entry with a 90-day stay for the nationals of Gulf Cooperation Council countries, facilitating greater business and labor mobility between the two states.
Beyond Al Baik, the minister engaged with other Saudi business leaders as well who showed interest in investing in Pakistan’s energy, information technology, agriculture and construction sectors.
He also invited them to attend upcoming trade events in his country.
Pakistan has been working to strengthen business-to-business (B2B) ties with Saudi Arabia.
During Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Riyadh last October, both sides signed 34 agreements worth $2.8 billion to enhance private sector collaboration and commercial partnerships. Pakistani officials have since been following up on the commitments made between the two sides.


Pakistan army officer adopts baby girl rescued after being buried alive — state media

Pakistan army officer adopts baby girl rescued after being buried alive — state media
Updated 08 February 2025
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Pakistan army officer adopts baby girl rescued after being buried alive — state media

Pakistan army officer adopts baby girl rescued after being buried alive — state media
  • It is unclear who buried the infant before she was rescued by officials and miraculously survived
  • The case has drawn social media attention, with many praising Major Waqas for adopting the child

ISLAMABAD: An army officer in Pakistan adopted an infant girl who was buried alive in the country’s northwest after her rescue by emergency responders, state media reported on Saturday.
Cases of abandoned newborns, particularly girls, are not uncommon in Pakistan, where poverty, social stigma, gender discrimination and the fear of societal backlash against children born out of wedlock drive some people to desperate measures.
The Edhi Foundation, one of the country’s largest humanitarian organizations, has placed cradles outside its offices in multiple cities, urging parents to leave unwanted infants there rather than harm them.
“A tragic incident occurred in Nowshera, where an infant girl was buried alive,” Radio Pakistan said in a report. “However, the timely intervention of the Rescue 1122 team saved the baby, who was then transported to a local hospital.”
The report said Major Waqas, an army officer attending a course in Risalpur, learned about the case and went to the hospital to see the child.
“After completing the legal procedures, Major Waqas adopted the baby girl through the civil court,” it added.
The state media report did not specify who buried the girl, how authorities were alerted or the circumstances that led to her rescue.
However, it noted the case had drawn widespread attention on social media and local Pashto news channels, with many praising the officer’s decision to adopt the child.