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GOVT FORBIDS ROAD TRAVEL FOR ARBAEEN TO IRAN, IRAQ AMID SECURITY CONCERNS: NAQVI
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Monday, 28 July, 2025 | 2 Safar, 1447
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INTERIOR MINISTER SAYS DECISION MADE AFTER CONSULTATIONS WITH MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, BALOCHISTAN GOVERNMENT, AND SECURITY AGENCIES
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XVI No 20 | 8 Pages | Islamabad Edition
PIA ANNOUNCES A SPECIAL FLIGHT OPERATION FOR ARBAEEN PILGRIMAGE, STARTING AUGUST 8 TO 11, RETURN FLIGHTS WILL OPERATE AUGUST 18 TO 23
pM tells interior Minister to start work on gwadar Safe City project ISLAMABAD
staff report
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ISLAMABAD
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N a move aimed at ensuring public safety and security, Pakistan has announced that pilgrims will not be allowed to travel by road to Iran and Iraq for the Arbaeen pilgrimage this year, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi confirmed on Sunday. “The decision, which comes after consultations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Balochistan Government, and security agencies, was made in light of security concerns,” the Interior Minister said, adding that while road travel would be restricted, pilgrims would still have the option to travel by air. The Arbaeen pilgrimage, which commemorates the 40th day of mourning for Imam Husain’s martyrdom, is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, drawing millions of devotees to Karbala in Iraq. Pakistan has always had a large
number of pilgrims traveling to participate in the event, especially from the Shia Muslim community. Naqvi stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had instructed authorities to arrange maximum flights to ensure pilgrims’ safe journey to Iraq and Iran. He also mentioned that special flights for the pilgrimage would be organized and coordinated by the relevant authorities. The prime minister also tasked Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif with arranging special flights for the pilgrims, starting from August 8 until August 11 for outbound travel and from August 18 to August 23 for return flights. In addition, Pakistan is set to introduce a new travel management system from January 1, 2026, under which pilgrims will only be allowed to travel through registered organizers. This new system will replace the traditional Salar System with the Zaireen Group Organisers model. Under the new plan, there will be an increase in
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday directed Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi to start work on the Gwadar Safe City project. During the meeting, PM Shehbaz and Naqvi also discussed the law and order situation in Balochistan, with the premier telling the minister to initiate work on the Gwadar Safe City project. The project aims to provide a safer city for the residents of Gwadar, particularly at the identified strategic locations, and also help law enforcement agencies in detecting and investigating crimes by collecting evidence. The delay in the project had been highlighted by Senator Quratulain Marri in May as she chaired a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives. Senator Marri had sought a report on a critical discrepancy—the Gwadar
weekly flights to Iran, and more special flights will be arranged to Iraq, ensuring smoother travel for pilgrims. Earlier, Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousuf had retracted his statement about 40,000 pilgrims not returning from trips to Iran and Iraq. He clarified that the confusion stemmed from outdated paper records, which have not been fully digitized.
uae visa waiver for diplomatic and official passports ‘in effective’: dar ISLAMABAD
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Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday announced that Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have reached a significant agreement on mutual visa waivers for holders of diplomatic and official Pakistani passports, effective from July 25, 2025. In a post on social media platform X, Dar revealed that the agreement was finalized in collaboration with UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, calling the move a step toward enhancing the longstanding and close relationship between the two nations. “This visa waiver for diplomatic and official passports is now active
at all UAE airports,” Dar stated, adding that reciprocal arrangements would also apply to Emirati nationals arriving in Pakistan. The visa exemption will be operational within 30 days of the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The UAE is one of Pakistan’s largest trading partners in the Middle East and a significant source of remittances, with a large Pakistani expatriate community residing and working there.
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nationwide tally climbs to 17 as three new polio cases confirmed in Kp, Sindh ISLAMABAD
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The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad on Sunday confirmed three new polio cases in the country, raising the total number of cases to 17 detected so far in the current year. The fresh cases include a 15-
month-old girl from Union Council Takhtikhel in District Lakki Marwat, a six-month-old girl from Union Council Mir Ali-3 in North Waziristan, and a 60-month-old boy from Union Council Chajro in District Umerkot, Sindh, a statement by the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme (PPEP) said. With these new detections, the total number of polio cases in Pak-
istan in 2025 has risen to 17 — including 10 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, five from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and GilgitBaltistan. A special vaccination campaign was held from July 21-27 in the bordering area of KP and Balochistan to coincide with Afghanistan’s subnational polio campaign.
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Pakistan caps CPEC power project dues at Rs423b PROFIT
staff report
The government limited its unpaid dues to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) power projects at Rs423 billion by the end of fiscal year 2024-25, with the amount expected to be settled depending on the resolution of the interest on late payments. Official documents show that Pakistan has paid Rs5.1 trillion in energy costs to 18 Chinese power plants since 2017, covering 92.3% of the billed amount, including interest. Authorities believe the actual energy cost remaining is under
Rs300 billion, with the rest being late payment surcharges. As part of efforts to reduce circular debt, the government is arranging nearly Rs1.3 trillion in loans from local commercial banks to repay debts owed to state-owned plants, nuclear facilities, private units, and Chinese power producers. One condition from the federal cabinet includes negotiating with producers to waive interest in exchange for upfront payments. However, Chinese companies may not agree to this due to internal requirements, leaving the government with the choice of full
payment or phased clearance based on fiscal space. The Rs423 billion in unpaid bills violates the 2015 CPEC Energy Framework Agreement, which requires the government to fully settle dues regardless of consumer recoveries. The non-fulfillment of contract terms and security concerns have affected financial and commercial ties with China. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to visit China next month to discuss investor concerns and attract further Chinese investment.
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Development Authority officials blamed a lack of funds for the project delays, while the Finance Division said it had received no funding demand from the Balochistan government. On July 11, a representative of the Balochistan government told a highlevel government meeting that 30 percent of the project was complete, with full completion expected by June 2026. With the initial plan prepared in 2016, the first phase of the Gwadar Safe City project had been approved by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) in February 2023 for Rs4.97 billion. In a meeting with the prime minister, he briefed him on the new policy devised for the devotees visiting holy sites in Iran and Iraq. The prime minister, on the occasion, directed the minister for aviation to arrange special flights for the devotees. The minister also briefed PM Shehbaz on the law and order situation in Balochistan.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also discussed the law and order situation in Balochistan and decided to expedite the Gwadar Safe City project. This project aims to enhance security in the region and assist law enforcement agencies in gathering crucial evidence for crime detection and investigations.
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16 perish, dozens injured in two crashes on M2 motorway CHAKWAL
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At least 16 passengers were killed and over 30 others injured in two separate bus accidents on M2 Motorway near Chakwal, rescue and motorway police officials confirmed on Sunday. According to Chakwal Rescue 1122 spokesperson, nine passengers were killed and 18 others injured when a private bus overturned near the Balkassar Interchange while travelling from Rawalpindi to Lahore. According to motorway police, the accident occurred after the front-left tyre burst, causing the driver to lose control and the vehicle to overturn. Emergency responders, including six rescue vehicles and 25 personnel, arrived at the scene and shifted the injured to DHQ Hospital Chakwal. The rescuers informed that the deceased passengers included women, children, and elderly, adding that most victims sustained fatal head injuries while those who suffered minor injuries were treated on-site. Dr Saeed Akhter, CEO of Chakwal District Health Authority (DHA), confirmed the death toll, stating that eight passengers died on the spot, and one succumbed to injuries later at the hospital. The bus driver was also among those who lost their lives in the accident. There were over 40 passengers on board, with the list of the deceased including four children, among them an eight-month-old and a one-year-old. The oldest person among the victims was 45 years old. Two sisters, aged 14 and two, were also among the dead, while their mother was injured. Additionally, a woman from the Philippines, Emy Dela Cruz, who was married in Lahore, was reported as one of the injured. Chakwal’s Deputy Commissioner Sarah Hayat and Assistant Commissioner Zeeshan Sharif visited the injured at the hospital, assuring that all necessary medical support would be provided to the injured.