Day: July 10, 2026

Karachi: The Karachi Timber Merchants Group organized a luncheon at the Secretariat Timber Market in honor of Shahzad Sabir, the newly elected Governor of Rotary International District 3271 (Pakistan), and extended him congratulation. On this occasion, a shield was presented to him on behalf of the Karachi Timber Merchants Group. Suleman Soomro (President, Karachi Timber Merchants Group), Saeed Baghatia (Senior Member, Karachi Timber Merchants Group), Rehan Hanif (President, Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry), Mansoor Kadwani (Former Vice President, Karachi Timber Market Group), Syed Turab Shah (Chairman Media Affairs, Rotary District 3271), and other members were also present.

Karachi: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Sindh on Thursday announced province-wide protest rallies under the slogan “Marsoon Marsoon, Sindhu Na Desoon” (“We will die, but we will not surrender the Indus”) to oppose what it describes as India’s “water aggression.”

The announcement was made by PPP Sindh President, Nisar Ahmed Khuhro in a statement issued here. He said that, following the call of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, protest rallies would be held across all district headquarters in Sindh on Sunday (July 12).

He directed all district chapters of the party to organize large-scale demonstrations against what he termed an attempt to deprive Pakistan of its water resources and to ensure strong public participation.

Khuhro said the Indus River and its waters were essential for Pakistan’s survival and livelihood, adding that the no attempt would be allowed to undermine the country’s water rights.

Criticizing India, he said its unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty constituted a violation of international agreements. He maintained that India could not unilaterally terminate or suspend the treaty, as its purpose is to ensure the equitable distribution of water resources and prevent water-related disputes.

Khuhro recalled that the Indus Waters Treaty was signed on September 19, 1960, with the World Bank acting as a guarantor and mediator. The agreement was signed by Pakistan’s then-President Ayub Khan and Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

Under the treaty, Pakistan received rights over the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab rivers, while India was allocated the Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej rivers. He added that Pakistan was granted full rights to utilize the western rivers and that a Permanent Indus Commission was established to resolve disputes, with provisions for international arbitration if required.

Khuhro further claimed that the International Court of Arbitration has also declared India’s unilateral suspension of the treaty to be unlawful. He warned that using water as a political weapon would threaten regional peace, emphasizing that millions of people depend on the Indus River for their survival.

He said Pakistan’s water rights were protected under an international treaty rather than being a concession, adding that any attempt to block Pakistan’s water poses a threat to the country’s existence. He reaffirmed PPP Sindh’s commitment to defending the Indus River and vowed to raise the issue at every available forum.

Karachi: The Consul General of Malaysia in Karachi Herman Hardynata Ahmed, called on Speaker Provincial Assembly of Sindh, Syed Awais Qadir Shah, at his office on Thursday for a farewell visit upon completion of his three-year diplomatic tenure in Pakistan.

During the meeting, Herman Hardynata Ahmed informed Syed Awais Qadir Shah that after completing his diplomatic responsibilities in Karachi, he will now assume his new assignment in Putrajaya, the federal administrative capital of Malaysia, for the next three years.

The meeting discussed matters of mutual interest, including Pakistan-Malaysia relations, diplomatic cooperation, economic development, regional peace, people-to-people contacts, and other areas of shared interest.

The Consul General briefed the Speaker on the development of Putrajaya and informed that the modern city was developed during the tenure of former Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohammad under a strong public-private partnership model.

Both dignitaries also exchanged views on urban development, infrastructure planning, public service delivery, civic facilities, and systems relating to water and other public services in Pakistan and Malaysia.

The Consul General stated that due to its investment-friendly environment and competitive production costs, Malaysia has become an important hub for global manufacturing companies. He also informed the Speaker about a major data centre investment project currently underway in Malaysia.

The matters relating to Malaysia’s regional borders, diplomatic appointments, and the role of diplomats in friendly and neighbouring countries were also discussed during the meeting.

Herman Hardynata Ahmed appreciated Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts for regional and global peace and said that Pakistan’s role in mediation and de-escalation during recent tensions was commendable.

Speaker Syed Awais Qadir Shah said that Pakistan has always remained a peace-loving country, and that the political and military leadership of Pakistan has proved through practical actions that Pakistan is an advocate and ambassador of peace.

Speaker, further added that Pakistan’s positive diplomatic efforts played an important role in preventing a wider conflict and promoting regional and global stability.

Consul General Herman Hardynata Ahmed thanked Syed Awais Qadir Shah for his cooperation, guidance, and facilitation during his tenure in Karachi.

The Speaker SA also appreciated the services of the Consul General and particularly acknowledged his valuable support during the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Conference in ensuring effective coordination with speakers and delegates from Malaysia.

The Speaker also extended his best wishes to Herman Hardynata Ahmed for his new diplomatic responsibilities in Malaysia.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Consul General of Malaysia presented Speaker Syed Awais Qadir Shah with Malaysia’s traditional cultural headgear, Tanjak, as a souvenir.

On the occasion, Speaker Syed Awais Qadir Shah presented the Consul General with the Legacy Shield of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh, a traditional Sindhi Cap, Ajrak, and books on the history of Sindh and the Provincial Assembly of Sindh.

Karachi: Sindh Government has decided to take strict action against hoarders and those involved in the illegal storage of wheat across the province.

This decision was taken in a high level meeting co-chaired by Sindh Minister for Food, Makhdoom Mehboobuz Zaman and the Chief Secretary, Asif Hyder Shah here on Thursday. The meeting also reviewed the wheat stock position and flour prices across the province and devised a coordinated strategy against hoarding, illegal storage and artificial price hike.

The meeting was briefed that there are 290 flour mills and 1,033 licensed wheat traders operating in the province. It was decided that, in accordance with the decision of the Sindh Cabinet, strict action would be initiated against hoarders and those involved in the illegal storage of wheat. It was further decided that any wheat found to have been illegally hoarded would be confiscated at the price already notified.

Chief Secretary Sindh, Asif Hyder Shah directed all Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners and Food Department officials to immediately initiate coordinated action against wheat hoarding in their respective jurisdictions. He instructed the divisional and district administrations to prepare and implement an effective strategy in consultation with the Food Department so that hoarding, illegal storage and artificial shortage of wheat could be prevented.

The Chief Secretary said that the Provincial Food, Minister Makhdoom Mehboob-uz-Zaman said that the purpose of the action was not to create hardship for flour mills, chakkis or licensed traders, but to prevent hoarding and protect the public from artificial price increases. He directed that this process must be given top priority and completed in accordance with law.

The meeting was attended by the Secretary Food, all Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Assistant Commissioners of the province and field officers of the Food Department.

Karachi: An inspection team of the Federal Ombudsman, Thursday, visited Jinnah International Airport Karachi to inspect the facilities and services being provided to the passengers and review the progress on the implementation of recommendations by the Wafaqi Mohtasib to further improve the service delivery.

The Inspection team was led by Wafaqi Mohtasib’s provincial coordinator for Sindh and Member in charge Regional Office Karrachi, Amir Ahmed Shaikh and composed of Advisor Moula Bukhsh Shaikh, Director Admin Rashid Shaikh and consultant Taqi Muhammad Soomro.

Amir Ahmed Shaikh, while chairing a meeting, stressed on maintaining close coordination among all the relevant agencies to ensure swift resolution of the issues encountered by citizens particularly the students and workers traveling abroad in pursuit of education and employment.

The authority bestowed by the official official also requires us to focus on problem resolution so that hardship of any aggrieved person could be mitigated, he emphasized and stressed on awareness of emigrants and tourists regarding laws and rules of the land, fulfilment of legal requirements and documentations as well as health related regulations and all the necessary details to save them from hardship at a foreign land.

The Wafaqi Mohtasib team was briefed in detail by management executives and senior officers of JIAP Karachi, Pakistan Airports Authority, Civil Aviation Authority, ASF, Customs, ANF, Passport and Immigration, FIA, Border Health Service, OPF, and other relevant agencies about measures taken in compliance of recommendations of Wafaqi Mohtasib to improve service delivery and facilitation of passengers.

The meeting was informed that One Window Facilitation Desk was further augmented to resolve different issues of passengers under one roof with availability of required staff and facilities, including protectorate and vaccination. The member appreciated the positive progress and suggested further enhancing coordination through periodical meetings and exchange of necessary information to assist the people in a safe and hassle free journey.

Later, the Wafaqi Mohtasib Team visited the international departure lounge and inspected One Window Facilitation Desk, a Federal Ombudsman’s umbrella initiative for providing multiple immigration related services of over a dozen organizations and agencies under the roof of airport building.

Karachi: Workers’ remittances from overseas to Pakistan grew 8.6% during the fiscal year 2025-26 to reach US$ 41.585 billion while monthly inflows in June 2026 were recorded as US$ 3.5 billion.

‘Cumulatively, workers’ remittances during FY26 amounted to US$41.6 billion, up by 8.6 percent from US$38.3 billion received during FY25,’ the State Bank of Pakistan reported on Thursday.

Workers’ Remittances during FY26 were mainly sourced from Saudi Arabia ($ 9,783.1 million), United Arab Emirates ($8,806.9 million), United Kingdom ($6,325.7 million), other GCC countries ($3,934 million) and United States of America ($3,623.8 million).

The contribution of expatriates in remittances from European Union countries during FY26 recorded as $5,226.6 million including $1,547.3 million from Italy, $905.6 million from Spain, $806.6 million from Germany, $591.6 million from France, $573.1 million from Greece, $270.6 million from Ireland and $207.9 million from Belgium.

Overseas workers also contributed to the remittances from Australia with inflows of $1,142.1 million, Canada $798.4 million, South Africa $290.7 million, Malaysia $167.6 million, Norway $150 million, South Korea $108.8 million, and Japan $67.6 million.

On a monthly basis during June 2026, workers’ remittances were recorded at $3.475 billion, showing a 18.3% decrease as compared to $4.25 billion inflows in May 2026. However, on a yearly basis, remittance inflows registered a 2% growth in comparison to $3.41 billion inflows of June 2025.

The major corridors of workers’ remittances in June 2026 were Saudi Arabia (US$ 829.6 million), followed by United Arab Emirates (US$ 792.2 million), United Kingdom (US$ 514.9 million) and United States of America (US$ 296.8 million).

From the other GCC countries expatriates contributed $ 320.7 million in remittances during the last month of FY 26 while from European Union countries Pakistan received inflows of $ 415.4 million which included $121.1 million from Italy, $74.5 million from Spain, $64.8 million from Germany, $42.4 million from France, $46.9 million from Greece and $21.8 million from Ireland.

Overseas workers in June 2026 also contributed to the remittances from Australia with inflows of $82.5 million, Canada $60.8 million, South Africa $22.2 million, Malaysia $12.9 million, Norway $12.6 million, South Korea $8.5 million and from Japan $ 7 million.