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Monday, October 7, 2024

Pakistan considering complete airspace and land trade route ban for India

A meeting of the Federal Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, has decided to order a complete closure of the Pakistani airspace for Indian flights. The cabinet members have also suggested a complete ban on the use of Pakistan land routes for Indian-Afghan trade.

News Desk |

Fawad Chaudhry, the Minister for Science and Technology, on Tuesday, announced the decision taken by the Federal Cabinet to impose a complete ban on the use of Pakistani airspace for India. The Minister also revealed that the Federal Cabinet also suggested a complete ban on the use of Pakistani land routes for Indian trade with Afghanistan.

Announcing the decisions via Twitter, Fawad Chaudhry said, “PM is considering a complete closure of Air Space to India, a complete ban on use of Pakistan Land routes for Indian trade to Afghanistan was also suggested in cabinet meeting, legal formalities for these decisions are under consideration… #Modi has started we will finish!”

Fawad Chaudhry observed that the legal formalities to implement these decisions are under consideration.

Complete Ban on Indian Flights

Members of the Federal Cabinet expressed their concern over the allowances given to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to use the Pakistani airspace on his way back from the G7 summit, held in France. The Federal Cabinet members demanded a complete ban on the use of Pakistani airspace for India.

Informing the media about the details of the discussions held during the cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday, the Federal Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan said, “The decision on the closure of Pakistan’s eastern airspace for commercial Indian flights is expected to be ushered in within two days.”

The Cabinet has approved a strategy to pay fines for poor prisoners, while the Prime Minister has ordered the formation and implementation of new laws against creating pornographic movies of children.

The meeting of the Federal Cabinet put forward a 10-point agenda. The Minister for Aviation noted that the cabinet has not yet reached a final decision on the matter. He said, “The Cabinet members discussed all options with regards to closing the Pakistani airspace during the meeting.”

Ghulam Sarwar Khan added, “We will examine all the legal aspects of closing the eastern airspace, and within 48 hours, a decision will be implemented.”

Pakistani Nation to Protest 

Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting, shared details of the discussions held during the cabinet meeting. She said, “On Friday, the entire nation will pour out on the streets to spread the message of “do more” on the Kashmir issue to the international community. Prime Minister Imran Khan has ordered all assembly members to take part in the protest.”

The members of the Federal Cabinet reiterated their confidence in Prime Minister Imran Khan’s decisions to promote the Kashmiri struggle for self-determination. Dr. Firdous noted that members of the opposition, Naveed Qamar and Mushahid Hussain Sayed, have also been added to the focal group formed by the PTI on the Kashmir issue.

Read more: Pakistan reopens its airspace for all traffic – including India

She said, “The Prime Minister is ready to fight for the Kashmiri struggle for freedom in the United Nations General Assembly, and the entire Pakistani nation will express solidarity with their Kashmiri brothers and sisters from 12 noon to 12:30 am to send a strong message to the Indian leadership.”

Matters Discussed by the Cabinet

Dr. Firdous noted that the Federal Cabinet was apprised on the measures undertaken to put an end to child harassment and the harassment of the transgender community. She said, “The Cabinet has approved a strategy to pay fines for poor prisoners, while the Prime Minister has ordered the formation and implementation of new laws against creating pornographic movies of children.”

Awan added that the Prime Minister also ordered the relevant authorities to usher in new legislations to punish those involved in child rape with a death sentence. She apprised the Federal Cabinet has also decided upon a national policy focused on empowering the transgender community.

Responding to a question on China’s support for Pakistan’s narrative on Kashmir, Dr. Firdous observed that Beijing is fully supportive of Islamabad’s stance, and the meeting of the Vice Chairman of the Chinese Central Military Commission with Prime Minister Imran Khan is regarded as a crucial development.

Read more: Modi uses Pakistani airspace while travelling to France

Commenting on the performance of Pakistan Railways, Dr. Firdous noted that the PTI-government has prioritized the upgrades of railway tracks and other improvements in the Pakistan Railways. She noted that despite having limited resources, Pakistan Railways has exhibited a highly satisfactory performance rate.

Dr. Firdous added that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Health, and the Punjab Health Department, to launch an awareness and advocacy campaign on dengue fever.