Tag: Gwadar

  • Issue of missing person can’t be solved overnight, says law minister

    Issue of missing person can’t be solved overnight, says law minister

    Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said on Tuesday, in a press conference in Islamabad, that missing persons were involved in the Gwadar attack. He highlighted the struggle of the government to resolve the issue, but also emphasised that the problem can’t be resolved overnight.

    He also said that the issue of missing persons in Pakistan is closely linked with terrorism.

    Tarar disclosed that the Supreme Court (SC) has taken notice of the problem and has sent over 10,000 cases to the commission responsible for investigating missing persons. He said they’ve successfully resolved approximately 8,000 of these cases.

    During the press conference, he stressed that the government is aware of its responsibility on the issue and is making efforts to resolve it. He also stated that earlier in 2022, the coalition government formed a committee to handle the issue.

    Under the directive of the Prime Minister, efforts to address missing persons cases have been reignited, he added.

  • Seven BLA militants killed storming Gwadar port: officials

    Seven BLA militants killed storming Gwadar port: officials

    Security forces killed at least seven militants on Wednesday as they tried to storm the offices of a Pakistan port considered a cornerstone of China’s investment in the nation, officials said.

    Pakistan has for decades battled a simmering insurgency in southwestern Balochistan province, where separatists hostile to Islamabad have often targeted foreign investment projects.

    Local official Saeed Ahmed Umrani told AFP seven militants had been killed in an attempt to “infiltrate” the compound of Balochistan’s Gwadar Port Authority.

    Gwadar Port, which sits on the Arabian Sea, is managed by a Chinese firm and considered the crown jewel of Beijing’s investment in Pakistan under its gargantuan Belt and Road infrastructure project.

    An army source who asked to remain anonymous also said seven militants had been killed, alongside four soldiers defending law-enforcement posts inside the compound.

    “The terrorists attacked with grenades, rocket launchers and Kalashnikovs,” he said. “The area is cleared now.”

    Chief minister of Balochistan province Sarfraz Bugti said on social media platform X that eight militants had been killed.

    The attack was claimed by separatist group the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) in an email statement, and spokesman Jeeyand Baloch said military intelligence offices had been targeted.

    “The operation was launched at 3:30 pm (1030 GMT) and is still underway”, he said in a message sent early Wednesday evening.

    Last August, the BLA also claimed an attack on a convoy carrying Chinese engineers to the port.

    Ethnic Baloch separatists have long claimed their communities are not getting a fair share of wealth from the region, which sits atop huge reserves of natural resources.

    They have frequently targeted Pakistani security forces protecting foreign investment projects.

    China has inked over two trillion dollars in contracts around the world under its Belt and Road scheme, but projects in Pakistan have been plagued by security concerns.

    In 2022, a BLA suicide bomber killed four people, including three Chinese language teachers, in Karachi city.

    A year earlier, a bus carrying engineers to a construction site near a dam in northwestern Pakistan was hit by a bomb, killing 13 people including nine Chinese workers.

    Islamabad has been accused of committing abductions and extrajudicial murder of Baloch citizens in retaliation for their campaign of separatism.

    bur-jts/sco

    © Agence France-Presse

  • Flash floods wreak havoc in Gwadar

    Flash floods wreak havoc in Gwadar

    Unexpected floods have hit Pakistan once more as Balochistan bears the brunt of sporadic rainfall just before spring. The flooded area includes the provincial capital of Quetta but this time, Gwadar has been severely affected.

    The flood was prompted by heavy rains on February 27 in Gwadar where the highest amount recorded was 58 millimetres.

    According to the Commissioner of Makran, the rain persisted for nine hours while in Gwadar, the duration was more than 16 hours which also impacted the electricity system.

    Some of the other areas experiencing rains were Dalbandin, Khuzdar, and Turbat.

    It has been forecast that heavy rains will continue across the province until March 2.

  • Navy personnel martyred in helicopter crash in Gwadar

    Navy personnel martyred in helicopter crash in Gwadar

    Pakistan Navy’s spokesperson has confirmed that two Navy officers and one soldier have been martyred in a helicopter crash in Balochistan’s Gwadar on Monday.

    As per the statement, the helicopter crashed during a training flight in Gwadar.

    “The helicopter crashed during the flight due to a possible technical fault,” the spokesperson said. “As a result of the accident, two officers and one jawan of the Pakistan Navy lost their lives.”

    Moreover, the incident will be investigated.

    Political figures and parties have expressed grief over lives lost.

    In a statement issued by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, he expressed “regret” over the helicopter accident in Gwadar and over the martyrdom of Pakistan Navy officers and the young soldiers in the accident

    “Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s expresses sympathy and condolence to the families of the martyrs”, reads the statement.

    Similarly, Maryam Nawaz Shairf expressed regrets on X (formerly Twitter): “We deeply regret the accident that happened to the helicopter of Pakistan Navy in Gwadar and the resulting martyrdom. We pray to Allah Ta’ala to raise the ranks of martyred soldiers and officers. These sons of the nation are the pride of the nation. May Allah grant patience and reward to their families, Ameen.”

  • PM Shehbaz in Karachi: What is he planning to do today?

    PM Shehbaz in Karachi: What is he planning to do today?

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has arrived in Karachi today (Saturday) on a day-long visit.

    During this visit, he will meet a delegation of leaders of the government’s allied party Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P).

    According to Geo News, the premier will discuss the MQM-P’s agreement with Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N).

    When former PM Imran Khan was ousted, an agreement was signed to confirm MQM-P leaving the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) coalition and joining hands with the then-opposition parties [PML-N, PPP, JUI-F and others]. The MQM-P decided to part ways with PTI almost a week before the no-confidence motion against Khan and announced its final decision on March 30.

    Other than this, discussions on the census, electoral reforms and upcoming local body elections will also take place between PM Shehbaz Sharif and MQM-P.

    PM Shehbaz also paid a visit to Nawabshah to offer condolence to Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari on his mother’s demise.

    The premier’s first stop was Pakistan Naval Academy Manora where he attended the passing out parade of the 25th Short Service Commission.

    In his speech during the ceremony, PM Shehbaz expressed happiness over witnessing women cadets in the passing out parade.

    On Friday, PM Shehbaz made a visit to the port city of Gwadar.

  • A Chinese company will invest $50 million to enhance Pakistan’s agricultural sector

    A Chinese company will invest $50 million to enhance Pakistan’s agricultural sector

    Optima Integration Group of China and Asia Pak Investments of Pakistan agreed on May 23 to invest $50 million in the first stage to enhance agriculture, power, and logistics sector in Gwadar and Karachi.

    The Board of Investment (BoI) facilitated the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in this respect between the two businesses, which may result in the creation of more than 100 job vacancies in Gwadar and Karachi, as well as the establishment of a high-tech processing facility and technology transition.

    The event was attended by Federal Minister Board of Investment Chaudhry Salik Hussain, who signed the MoU with Optima Integration Group Chairman Sam Siu and Chief Executive Officer of Sino Pak Optima Technologies (SPOT) in the spirit of strengthening business-to-business (B2B) agricultural collaboration among the two nations. Ms Fareena Mazhar, Secretary of the BoI, was also present at the occasion.

    Under the terms of the agreement, the two parties would establish an end-to-end supplier base for seafood [79 breeds of fish have been certified for exporting from Pakistan to China by the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC)].

    In the long term, the initiative would grow from fish to beef and goat, beginning with cold chain transporting beef and then expanding with Chinese standard breeding, feedlot operations, immunizations, track and trace technologies, and slaughter and pack facilities in Karachi.

    Read more: SBP hikes interest rate by 150 basis points to control inflation

    Addressing the gathering, Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain praised the Chinese government’s involvement in Pakistan’s agriculture and livestock sectors, notably the fish and seafood business.

    He briefed the attendees regarding the formation of the Pakistan-China Business and Investment Forum (PCBIF), which was the outcome of a collaboration between the BoI, the Chinese Embassy, and the All-Pakistan Chinese Enterprises’ Association (APCEA). He informed Chinese investors that the BoI would take deliberate steps to assist interested investors.

  • ‘Govt is going to ensure Pakistani citizens are safe without blood being spilt on either side’: Moeed Yusuf on BBC HARDtalk

    ‘Govt is going to ensure Pakistani citizens are safe without blood being spilt on either side’: Moeed Yusuf on BBC HARDtalk

    National Security Adviser (NSA) to the Prime Minister, Dr Moeed Yusuf, while giving an interview to BBC host Stephen John Sackur on BBC HARDtalk said that the state’s job is not to kill another Pakistani.

    “We are going to try our level best to ensure that Pakistani citizens are safe without any more blood being spilt on either side.” The NSA’s comments come in reference to the Pakistan government’s talks with the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

    “How secure is Pakistan after the Taliban are back in power in Afghanistan?”: Sackur

    Sackur questioned Yusuf on how secure Pakistan is after the Taliban are back in power in Afghanistan.

    “Frankly it depends on how responsibly the international community plays the future. Pakistan was not behind anything. There was a policy employed by the United States (US) and others who are in Afghanistan. That was always a failing policy. The only country that kept saying that you will not find a military solution to this problem was Pakistan and our advice was not heeded.”

    “We kept saying negotiate from a position of strength, we weren’t listened to, we were blamed and scape-goated and the result is in front of you,” added Yusuf.

    “We heard the worried voices of the Supreme Court when they were grilling PM Khan,” Sackur

    “Pakistanis are very worried. We heard the worried voices of the Supreme Court when they were grilling PM Khan on what was going on under these negotiations with the Taliban,” responded Sackur and further added that during the grilling of the premier, one of the judges alluded to the 2014 terrible atrocity where the TTP attacked the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar and killed more than 130 children and questioned PM Khan whether the government was about to sign a documented defeat with those who killed these children, and are we going to surrender once again.

    “You should recognise the state of democracy in this country that the judge calls in the prime minister who goes gets grilled and now Stephen Sackur has the opportunity to ask me. That’s the state of democracy and I am proud of that,” responded Yusuf.

    “We have a consistent policy as a state to say that negotiation must happen from a position of strength and this is what we told the Americans and United Kingdom (UK).”

    “No military bases of China in Balochistan”: Yusuf

    Yusuf said there were no military bases of China in Balochistan, rather there were economic bases there where any country could invest.

    “Let me clarify that there are no military bases offered to China in Balochistan, including Gwadar. Yes, there are economic bases and the same was also offered to the United States, Russia, and the Middle East and we are open to all the countries,” the NSA said, adding, “CPEC is what, it is road infrastructure and energy infrastructure and anybody can come and invest there, we are not closed to anybody.”

    “Is Pakistan developing relations with China at the cost of its principles of supporting the rights of Muslims in the world?” Sackur

    Sackur asked whether Pakistan was developing relations with China at the cost of its principles of supporting the rights of Muslims in the world. “You raise your voice for Kashmiri Muslims but refuse to condemn the violation of human rights in a Chinese province,” the interviewer asked.

    Moeed said that Pakistan did not accept the Western version of human rights violations in Xinjiang province and if they have any concerns, they should talk to China. “We have relations of trust with China and our ambassador and other delegations from here also visited the Xinjiang province,” he said.

  • PM Imran Khan to inaugurate important projects in Gwadar today

    PM Imran Khan to inaugurate important projects in Gwadar today

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan will be on a day-long visit to Gwadar today, accompanied by his federal ministers.

    As per reports, PM Khan will inaugurate Gwadar Free Zone, the Expo Centre, Agricultural Industrial Park as well as three factories to boost economic activity in the region.

    Focal Person to the Chief Minister of Punjab on Digital Media, Azhar Mashwani, tweeted that PM is also expected to lay the foundation stone for multiple development projects in the city, which includes water supply projects and a desalination plant. that would solve the problems of Gwadar residents related to water and electricity.

    PM will interact with China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) workforce.

    Through video link, major expressions of investment by the Chinese investors and the ambassadors of Kuwait, Oman, Egypt, Kenya, and Qatar are also expected, according to sources.

    PM’s last visit to Balochistan was in April.

  • Gwadar fisherman turns millionaire overnight after catching rare croaker fish

    Gwadar fisherman turns millionaire overnight after catching rare croaker fish

    Balochistan’s fisherman became a millionaire overnight as he caught a rare croaker (sowa) fish off the coast of Jiwani that he sold for a whopping Rs 8.6 million.

    As per reports, the weight of the rare croaker fish was 48 kilograms. It was sold in the Jiwani fish market on Sunday at a cost of Rs 150,000 per kg.

    The Deputy Director of Fisheries Ahmed Nadeem confirmed that a local fisherman of Koh-e-Sar Bazar named Waheed Baloch, hailing from Gwadar’s Pishukan village has caught the rare fish.

    Read More: Millions of years old sabre-toothed fish discovered in Pakistan named after a witch

    According to aquatic life experts, the sowa fish comes adjacent to the shores of Jiwani and nearby the sea in summers for breeding.

    The large croaker fish was very much in demand in Europe and China.

    Earlier, a fisherman called Abdul Haq had caught a croaker fish that was sold for Rs 780,000.

  • Gwadar stadium to host cricket match between Quetta Gladiators and Karachi Kings

    Gwadar stadium to host cricket match between Quetta Gladiators and Karachi Kings

    Gwadar Cricket Stadium is all set to host a cricket match between Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise teams Quetta Gladiators and Karachi Kings on March 25, Fakhr-e-Alam announced on Monday.

    The TV host-singer shared the news in a video posted on his official Twitter account. “I want to break the news that Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially informed the Government of Balochistan that it wants to organize a match between Quetta Gladiators and Karachi Kings on March 25, right after PSL ends,” Alam said in the video.

    “Congratulations to everyone who wanted this to happen. There can’t be better news for cricket fans, for me and for people of Balochistan.”

    The 45-year-old added that initially he wanted an official PSL 2021 match to be played at the venue but because the stadium doesn’t meet the standards set by International Cricket Council (ICC) and PCB, it was difficult to arrange the fixture.

    Alam was grateful to PCB and the owners of the two franchises for their support and willingness in playing a match at Gwadar Stadium, which was in the headlines recently for its striking beauty.

    “I want to thank PCB: Wasim Khan, thank you very much,” he said. “Both the franchises – Nadeem Omar and Salman Iqbal, thank you guys for doing this,” the host added.

    Earlier on Friday, the stadium held its first exhibition match between Gwadar Dolphins and Showbiz Sharks on Friday as a tribute to late mountaineer Ali Sadpara.

    Alam also showed his confidence in the provincial government saying Chief Minister Balochistan Jam Kamal is a “very dynamic and progressive” man and that he’ll successfully arrange the match.

    Later, when a sports journalist, Ihtisham Ul Haq, tweeted about the news that Karachi will play against Quetta on March 25 in the Gwadar Stadium, KK owner Salman Iqbal confirmed the news and said, “Insha Allah.”

    Meanwhile, CM Balochistan Jam Kamal Khan shared Fakhar’s video on Twitter and said: “Inshallah this shall be fully facilitated.”

    “Its Mashallah good to see Quetta Gladiators and Karachi Kings to play in Gwader. This shall be good for Balochistan cricket, youth and Gwader….And, for Cricket in Pakistan,” he added.