Public hospitals throughout the province will now have anti-rape crisis cells, according to a Punjab government announcement.

Following a thorough discussion of the establishment of these crisis cells in government hospitals, the decision was made at a meeting presided over by Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique.

The gathering of proof data in the anti-rape crisis cells is crucial, Khawaja Salman Rafique underlined. Along with guaranteeing stringent laws to prevent sexual assault, he added that the reach of these crisis centers will be extended throughout the province.

“Necessary actions will be taken to enhance the anti-rape crisis cells’ operations,” Salman Rafique continued.

Improving the province’s overall response to rape cases and strengthening the support network for victims are the goals of the action.

Following an examination into the recent boat accident in Greece, departmental action has been taken against a number of Federal Examination Agency (FIA) personnel and officials who were found to have participated in human trafficking.

A sub-inspector, three ASIs, eleven head constables, and three constables were among the 18 FIA personnel and officials implicated in the case who were removed from the district during the first phase. Additionally transferred is Ali Zaidi, Additional Director (Immigration) at Sialkot Airport.

Gujrat, Gujranwala, and Sialkot were the posts for all of the suspected officers and bureaucrats when a notification of their transfers was sent out. The extra responsibility of Sialkot airport has been assigned to Kartarpur DD Muhammad Nauman.

The FIA officers and officials who were discovered to have been involved in the boat accident in Greece arrived at the agency’s headquarters in the meantime. They will personally come before the DG to make their case.

38 cops and officials who were allegedly engaged in the event reportedly showed up when the FIA DG was summoned. The DG is expected to personally investigate each of these individuals. Action would be taken against these officials and officers if they were proven guilty.

The 38 officers who came before the DG comprised inspectors, sub-inspectors, ASIs, and officials who were assigned to the Karachi, Gujranwala, Multan, and Faisalabad zones.

Recently, a meeting was held under the chairmanship of the prime minister regarding the deaths of Pakistanis in the boat accident in Greece and the prevention of human trafficking.

During the meeting, Shehbaz Sharif expressed anger over the slackness in taking action against the elements responsible after the 2023 boat accident and directed action to be taken against the officers involved in the negligence.

PM Sharif had said that a painful incident took place in the same area of ​​Greece last year in which 262 Pakistanis had died. “Human trafficking brings shame to Pakistan worldwide, so concrete steps are needed to stop it,” he had remarked, adding that the recurrence of such incidents due to the lack of action was a matter of concern.

On the other hand, the Spanish group, Caminando Fronteras, which works for the rights of migrants, has said in its latest report that 30 people died every day this year while trying to reach Spain by boat.

According to the report, more than 10,000 migrants lost their lives trying to reach Spain by sea and land routes in search of a better life. The majority of those killed hail from African countries, while other immigrants belonged to 28 countries around the world, including Pakistan.

A high-level meeting on Monday was presided over by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and covered the operationalization of the New Gwadar International Airport and its potential to increase regional development.

The prime minister expressed gratitude to China for its contribution in building the modern airport, highlighting it as evidence of the long-standing relationship between Pakistan and China.

“The New Gwadar International Airport will bring prosperity to the region and create significant employment opportunities,” stated Prime Minister Shehbaz.

In order to turn the airport into a bustling transportation center, he emphasized the necessity of a workable plan and gave orders to improve road connectivity between the airport and other regions of the nation, especially Balochistan. To guarantee safe operations, he also urged the use of infallible security measures.

Operational characteristics and future strategies
A thorough briefing on the airport’s operations was given by officials, who disclosed that it can accommodate A-380 aircraft and is the biggest in Pakistan in terms of area. Up to 400,000 travelers a year are anticipated to be handled by the establishment.

Among the main updates were:

Operational preparedness: Pakistan Customs has informed this airport, and the Pakistan Airport Authority has granted an Aerodrome Certificate. Personnel have been stationed at the location by pertinent authorities, including the Federal Investigation Agency, Pakistan Airport Authority, Airport Security Force, Pakistan Customs, Anti-Narcotics Force, and Border Health Service.
Flight operations: With plans to expand frequency to three weekly flights, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) already offers flights between Karachi and Gwadar. On 10 January 2025, direct flights to Muscat will start.
Expansion of internal and international flight services is being discussed with private airlines from the UAE, China, Oman, and Pakistan.
Facilities development: Space has been allocated for essential infrastructure, including cold storage, warehouses, courier services, hotels, shopping malls, and banking facilities. All banks registered with the State Bank of Pakistan have been contacted regarding the establishment of bank branches and installation of ATM machines at the airport.
Feasibility studies for expanding road networks, such as the second phase of the East Bay Expressway, are ongoing.
Strategic importance
During the meeting, PM Shehbaz reiterated the airport’s significance in enhancing regional trade and connectivity, describing it as a symbol of progress under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The meeting was attended by key federal ministers and senior officials, including Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif, Federal Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb, and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, who participated via video link.

The New Gwadar International Airport is poised to become a transformative hub, fostering economic growth and positioning Gwadar as a critical player in global trade and transit.