Category: 1. Pakistan

KARACHI: Pakistan will use a $1.4 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund’s climate resilience fund to expand fiscal space, embed climate planning into public investment decisions and unlock private-sector capital for green projects, the IMF said on Friday.

The financing, approved by the IMF’s Executive Board in May under its Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF), is part of a broader reform program that aims to help Pakistan adapt to increasingly frequent and devastating climate shocks.

Pakistan is the first country in the Middle East and Central Asia region to access the IMF’s Resilience and Sustainability Facility. The fund was launched in 2022 to help climate-vulnerable low- and middle-income countries make the structural changes needed to protect their economies and populations.

“The RSF will help build climate resilience in Pakistan by creating fiscal space to address climate vulnerabilities, such as the need to improve climate-resilient adaptation infrastructure,” the IMF’s country office in Islamabad told Arab News in a written response.

“It will also boost climate’s prominence in public investment management and budget processes,” the statement said, “helping Pakistan better identify and target projects needed to strengthen resilience to climate shocks.”

A third pillar of the reforms, the IMF said, is improving the overall “enabling environment for green investment” so that banks and private firms could incorporate climate-related risk considerations into their risk management and investment activities.

The RSF financing will be disbursed over a 28-month period and runs alongside Pakistan’s $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF), whose first review was also approved in May, releasing roughly $1 billion in immediate support.

CLIMATE-FINANCE GAP

Pakistan, one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, has long struggled to align its public finances with the scale of climate risk it faces. The 2022 floods alone affected over 33 million people and caused more than $30 billion in damages and economic losses.

By reforming how climate priorities are reflected in budget planning and investment screening, the IMF says Pakistan will be better equipped to attract funding and respond to future disasters.

The RSF does not fund individual infrastructure projects. Instead, it supports “policy and institutional reforms that make climate action more effective,” the statement explained.

These include reforms in disaster coordination, water and irrigation infrastructure, and provincial implementation capacity.

The IMF program supports better coordination between the federal and provincial governments on disaster risk financing, a chronic weakness in past emergency responses, and policy changes that would strengthen water and irrigation management, the lender added in the statement.

“Policy reforms that directly target Pakistan’s water management and irrigation infrastructure would help make farmers more resilient to climate shocks,” it said, adding the focus would be on improving irrigation service standards, reliability, and water supply adequacy.

The reforms also aim to reduce waterlogging, salinity, groundwater depletion, and growing water insecurity, issues that disproportionately impact poor rural communities.

The IMF said its climate program in Pakistan takes a “whole-of-government” approach, with many reforms to be implemented at the provincial level.

“Much of the focus is on improving coordination mechanisms between the federal government and the provinces.”

Federal Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Thursday called for the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the national development strategy, announcing new measures, including the establishment of a national AI fund to provide financial support for innovative ideas and pilot projects.

The announcements were made as Iqbal chaired a meeting of the National Task Force on Artificial Intelligence. Formed in April 2023, the body is working to develop a 10-year roadmap for accelerated adoption of AI in different sectors.

According to a statement from the Press Information Department, during the meeting, Iqbal emphasised that it was time for Pakistan to move with clarity and purpose.

“He stated that AI adoption cannot be advanced in isolation and must instead be guided by cross-sectoral collaboration, alignment with national priorities, and effective coordination across all relevant institutions,” the statement read.

It added that the taskforce was assigned a clear mandate to identify twelve key sectors, including education, health, agriculture, climate, business, and governance, where AI applications can generate measurable national benefits.

“Each sector will establish a multi-stakeholder working group, comprising experts from government, academia, and the private sector. These groups will develop sector-specific AI roadmaps, with defined objectives, timelines, and resource requirements,” the statement said. “The purpose is to ensure that Pakistan not only aligns with global technological trends but also maximises the utility of AI in solving domestic challenges.”

The minister also directed the establishment of a national AI fund to provide financial support for innovative ideas and pilot projects. To utilise these resources effectively, he called for the mapping of AI experts, research centres, and resources across the country.

Iqbal, according to the statement, instructed the task force to organise a national AI workshop in collaboration with the Pakistan IT Industry Association (P@SHA) and other relevant industry bodies to provide a platform for dialogue between government, academia, and industry.

“It will focus on designing practical AI solutions tailored to Pakistan’s development context,” the statement read.

Last year, Iqbal inaugurated a three-day international conference on 3D printing and vacuum technology at the National Centre for Physics (NCP) at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, calling on scientists, researchers and innovators to work tirelessly to position Pakistan at the forefront of technological advancements.

A man was arrested in Lahore for keeping an African lion illegally without a licence after the big cat escaped and ventured into a residential neighbourhood, said wildlife officials on Friday.

The Punjab Wildlife Department, with assistance from local police, carried out the arrest in the Shah Di Khoi area. The lion has since been safely relocated to a secure wildlife facility.

The escape, which occurred a day earlier, caused widespread panic and led to injuries to at least three residents, according to authorities. All victims received medical assistance and are in stable condition.

Lahore Deputy Chief Wildlife Officer Adnan Work confirmed that the individual had not obtained the required permit and had failed to meet safety regulations.

“Keeping wild animals in residential areas poses serious risks and strict action will be taken against such individuals,” he said.

The Wildlife Department has filed a case under the Punjab Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) Act. Officials said unauthorised possession of dangerous wild animals is a non-bailable offence, carrying a penalty of up to seven years in prison and a fine of Rs5 million.

Senior Minister for Information and Environment Maryam Aurangzeb condemned the incident and announced a province-wide crackdown on illegal private ownership of exotic animals.

“We cannot allow anyone to jeopardise human lives. Enforcement of wildlife laws is a core part of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s environmental protection agenda, and no leniency will be shown,” she said in a statement.

Authorities have urged the public to report illegal possession of lions, tigers, or other exotic wildlife by calling the Wildlife Helpline at 1107.

The alliance between the two countries is such that China has now become India’s “backdoor adversary” and has turned Pakistan into a live laboratory to test its weapons and military systems, according to Lieutenant General Rahul R Singh, the deputy chief of the Indian Army.

As Turkey also stood with Pakistan in the conflict with India in May, India now essentially faces not one but three adversaries on its Western border, said Singh.

In the India-Pakistan conflict in May, Pakistan relied heavily on Chinese and Turkish weapons and military systems. Pakistan used China’s PL-15 missiles, J-10 and JF-17 fighter planes, and HQ-9 air defence systems, and Turkey’s drones against India.

“We had one border and two adversaries — actually three. Pakistan was in the front. China was providing all possible support — 81 per cent of the military hardware with Pakistan is Chinese…China is able to test its weapons against other weapons, so it’s like a live lab available to them. Turkey also played an important role in providing the type of support it did,” said Singh at the ‘New Age Military Technologies: Industry Capabilities & Way Forward’ conference on Friday.

India launched Operation Sindoor on the intervening night of May 6-7 in response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack in which 26 people were killed. After India struck nine terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK), Pakistan attacked military and civilian sites across northwestern India. In the four-day conflict, India responded by battering several Pakistani military sites, including airbases, radar sites, and air defence systems.

‘China is acting as backdoor adversary’

With such an axis that Pakistan has forged, India now essentially faces three adversaries on its Western border in the form of Pakistan, China, and Turkey, according to Singh.

As for the role of China, Singh said that it provided real-time support intelligence to Pakistan and this continued even at the negotiations were going on at the level of the directors general of military operations (DGMOs).

“Pakistan was the front face. We had China providing all possible support and it’s no surprise because if you were to look at statistics in the last five years, 81 per cent of the military hardware that Pakistan is getting is all Chinese. And China of course has the good old dictum ‘killed by a borrowed knife’ — the 36 stratagems that China talks about. So, they would rather use the neighbour to cause pain then getting involved in the mudslinging a match on the northern border,” said Singh.

Even though major population centres were not attacked in the conflict in May, India should be prepared for it for future rounds of conflict.

Outside of Jammu and Kashmir, where civilian sites, including houses and religious places, were struck, attacks on civilian sites were not widely reported. India had said that Pakistan had launched missiles and drones at Amritsar, the holiest city for Sikhs, but those attacks were foiled.

Notably, Singh said that an Israeli Iron Dome-like system cannot work in India because of the size of the country.

“We do not have the luxury like we have been seeing the way Israel has with the Iron Dome and number of other air defense features that they have. We do not have a luxury because our country is vast so and such things cost a lot of money,” said Singh.

More than 5,500 police personnel will be deployed across Karachi on Friday for the security of 8th Muharram processions.

Stringent security measures are being taken across the country, such as army deployment as well as a crackdown on sectarian content and hate mongers, ahead of Ashura (Muharram 10), which will be observed on Sunday.

According to the Karachi police, as many as 829 processions and 5,227 majalis are scheduled to take place during the first 10 days of Muharram.

“Karachi police [are] performing [their] duties at various locations in the city for the security of the 8th Muharram processions,” said a statement from the office of Karachi’s additional inspector general of police.

A total of 5,543 police officers and personnel will be present to monitor and secure the central procession, the statement added.

It continued that apart from senior officers and 4,957 constables and head constables of the Karachi police, 586 NGOs will also be performing duty for the security of the central procession. Expert police snipers will also be deployed alongside the main procession.

“Traffic police officers and personnel have been deployed to maintain traffic flow on main procession routes and crossings, including alternative traffic routes arranged for the 8th Muharram procession, so as to keep the traffic flowing and keep the public safe from any inconvenience,” the statement said.

“The Karachi police are providing complete security to the mourners participating in the 8th Muharram processions.”

The statement urged the public to keep an eye on their surroundings and immediately inform the police on Madadgar 15 of any suspicious or unusual situation.

A day earlier, Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said a total of 49,662 police personnel will be deployed across Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Mirpurkhas, and Shaheed Benazirabad from 8th Muharram till Ashura to prevent any untoward incident.

He added that 14,546 police personnel would be deployed for security of majalis, while 35,116 to protect Muharram processions. He further said that over 14,000 additional personnel had been assigned to ensure security of all events.

Also on Thursday, the Karachi Traffic Police (KTP) issued a traffic plan for 8-10th Muharram, outlining the procession routes as well as alternative traffic flows.

According to the KTP plan, Muharram processions on all three days will depart from Nishtar Park and culminate at Hussainiya Iraniyan Imam Bargah after following their traditional fixed routes.

Due to security reasons, MA Jinnah Road will remain closed from Guru Mandir to Tower. Additionally, vehicles performing sabeel, niaz or tabarruk were instructed to enter the procession route at Tower/Memon Mosque.

• Imran not being allowed to speak to his sons, says Aleema.
• Jail authorities have “refused” to provide him books as well.
• Waqas Akram says preparations complete for nationwide protests.

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Aleema Khan, sister of incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, on Friday said the party’s patron-in-chief had directed that the party should begin its movement against the government after the 10th of Muharram.

Speaking to media outside an anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi, she conveyed the PTI founder’s message, stating he said it would be better to establish a “monarchy” instead of implementing the 27th Amendment.

The announcement came days after the Supreme Court denied the party reserved seats for minorities and women in parliament.

On June 27, the SC’s constitutional bench ruled that the PTI was not entitled to reserved seats in the national and provincial assemblies.

Meanwhile, the government has warned the PTI against creating anarchy in the name of protest, emphasising that staging peaceful demonstrations was their constitutional right, but violence could not be permitted.

Aleema said that a plan for the movement has already been prepared, while the PTI founder has urged the masses to “come out for their freedom”. Imran has reiterated his stance that “imprisonment is better than slavery”, she maintained.

Imran’s sister further claimed that her brother was facing harsh conditions in jail, stating that his experience is unimaginable for his opponents. 

She claimed that the PTI founder spends 22 hours a day in a cell and is only allowed out for two hours. “All jail facilities for the PTI founder have been terminated,” she alleged, adding that he is not allowed to speak to his children or access books.

In contrast, she drew a comparison with former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, whose meals, she said, were delivered from home and who received hundreds of visitors.

She also said that Nawaz and his daughter were kept in “a rest house” with all facilities available.

On the other hand, Aleema said, Imran has not been allowed to speak to his sons for the past six months. “This continued denial is both inhumane and unlawful,” she wrote in a tweet.

Whereas, for the past eight months, as head of the largest political party in Pakistan, Imran has been barred from meeting his party members as well, she said, adding it amounted to denying his constitutional right to political consultation and leadership.

Meanwhile, PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram said his party first postponed the nationwide protests due to the Iran-Israel war, then it delayed it out of respect for Muharram days.

“Preparations of the party’s all provincial presidents are complete,” he said, talking to Geo News.

In the first phase, demonstrations would be held in provinces and districts, the PTI spokesperson said.

To a query, he said the party workers should not be exposed to live bullets.

“When the first bullet was fired, the PTI founder won,” he said. 

To another query pertaining to KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s statement that he would carry weapons to the protest, Akram said Gandapur was talking about self-defence. “What the chief minister meant was that everybody has the right to self-defence,” he added.

The PTI spokesperson also said the PTI founder had directed Gandapur to lead the protest. 

According to rescue officials, five injured people have been pulled out from the debris so far

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Updated On: Fri, 04 Jul 2025

12:49:43 PKT

KARACHI (Dunya News) – A five-storey residential building collapsed in the Lyari area of the mega polis on Friday, leaving several people trapped under the rubble.

According to rescue officials, five injured people have been pulled out from the debris so far. Several others are still believed to be trapped beneath the wreckage, they added.

Rescuers are actively engaged in relief operations.

Rescue agencies, police, and Rangers arrived at the scene shortly after the incident and using heavy machinery to remove the debris in search of people stuck there.

Local residents are also assisting in rescue operations.

Eyewitnesses said that multiple families were living in the building, which was in a dilapidated condition.

Authorities have cordoned off the area and have urged citizens not to obstruct the ongoing rescue operations.