Filipina Tourist’s Complaint About English in Thailand Sparks Dialogue on Cultural Respect

The meeting of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee to sight the moon of Rabi-ul-Awwal 1448 AH is underway in Islamabad. The meeting is being held at the Ministry of Religious Affairs’ Kohsar Block under the chairmanship of Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) has predicted that the Rabi-ul-Awwal moon is unlikely to be sighted today. According to SUPARCO, the chances of sighting the moon are very low as it will be approximately 20 hours and 53 minutes old at sunset. SUPARCO said Rabi-ul-Awwal 1 is likely to fall on Saturday. However, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee is the competent authority to make the final announcement regarding the sighting or non-sighting of the moon.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has directed that workers associated with the Sutrah Punjab programme be paid their salaries by the fifth of every month. According to an official statement, the chief minister also sought monthly reports from the companies responsible for making payments to the workers to ensure that salaries are being disbursed on time. Maryam Nawaz ordered a zero-tolerance policy against workers who fail to perform their duties. She also directed authorities to develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) to regularly assess workers’ performance and improve the overall efficiency of the programme. The chief minister stressed that special attention should be given to cleanliness at fruit and vegetable markets. She said additional efforts were required to achieve better sanitation results across Punjab. Maryam Nawaz also directed officials to begin washing and cleaning major roads at 5am. She instructed authorities to ensure door-to-door waste collection and maintain proper cleanliness around schools, colleges, universities and hospitals. She further ordered the use of uniform garbage bins and waste bags in markets and commercial areas. Officials were directed to establish specific timings for removing waste from commercial zones and ensure that vacant plots in different areas were also cleaned.

Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah will arrive in Pakistan on July 28 for a two-day official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation between the two countries. According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, the Kuwaiti foreign minister will stay in Pakistan until July 29. The visit has been arranged at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. During his visit, Sheikh Jarrah will hold detailed discussions with Ishaq Dar on matters concerning Pakistan-Kuwait relations. The two sides are expected to review a wide range of bilateral issues and explore opportunities to further improve cooperation in different areas. The discussions will also cover important regional and international developments. Pakistan and Kuwait are expected to exchange views on issues of mutual interest, particularly those affecting peace, stability and security in the region. The Kuwaiti foreign minister is also scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Pakistan’s leadership during his stay. The Foreign Office said the visit reflected the commitment of both countries to further strengthen their longstanding partnership. It also highlighted the desire of Pakistan and Kuwait to broaden cooperation for the mutual benefit of their people. The visit comes shortly after a telephone conversation between Ishaq Dar and his Kuwaiti counterpart on July 18. During that discussion, Sheikh Jarrah appreciated Pakistan’s constructive role in encouraging dialogue and supporting regional stability. The upcoming visit is expected to provide an opportunity for both sides to build on those discussions and develop closer diplomatic and economic ties. Pakistan and Kuwait have maintained longstanding friendly relations, with cooperation extending across diplomatic, economic and other areas. Islamabad has consistently sought to strengthen engagement with Gulf countries, while Kuwait has remained an important partner for Pakistan in the region. The two-day visit is therefore expected to give fresh momentum to bilateral engagement and encourage further cooperation on matters of shared interest.