Jinnah Antarctic Research Station, operational since 1991, emerges as likely site of inaugural salah in Antarctica amid Pakistan’s polar scientific missions.
The Jinnah Antarctic Station, Pakistan’s permanent research facility established in 1991, is recognized as the first confirmed location where Islamic prayers (salah) were performed on the Antarctic continent.
Situated in the East Antarctic region, the station has served as a scientific and logistical base for decades.

Operated by Pakistan’s National Institute of Oceanography, the station conducts year-round studies in glaciology, marine biology, and climate science.
Since its inauguration, Muslim members of winter-over teams have maintained prayer routines within designated spaces at the base, despite extreme cold, months-long darkness, and isolation.
While informal worship likely occurred earlier during transient expeditions, documented communal prayers began with the station’s continuous operation.

A small musallah (prayer area) was established inside the main living module, oriented toward Mecca using calculated qibla directions specific to the Antarctic region.
Antarctic Treaty protocols respect all forms of religious observance across research stations. The Government of Pakistan confirmed the station remains active today, with ongoing research and religious accommodation for personnel.
The station is named for Muhammad Ali Jinnah, founder of Pakistan.
Representatives of the Consulate General of Uzbekistan participated in the 15th World Halal Products Exhibition and the International Conference “World HAPEX 2026”, held from July 30 to August 2 at Prince of Songkla University in Thailand, reports Dunyo IA.
The event brought together representatives of government agencies, business circles, academic institutions and industrial sectors from Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and China.
Speaking at a panel discussion, Consul General of Uzbekistan Fakhriddin Sultanov noted that Uzbekistan has been a member of the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC) since 2019 and, under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, continues to develop open and pragmatic cooperation with countries of the Islamic world.
He also emphasized that, thanks to the liberalization of the visa regime, pilgrimage and Islamic tourism to Uzbekistan has been steadily growing, particularly to such historic cities as Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva.
At the exhibition, the Consulate General presented a dedicated national pavilion featuring materials on Uzbekistan’s tourism potential, national culture and traditions. Visitors were introduced to books and video materials highlighting the legacy of outstanding thinkers and scholars, including Amir Temur, Alisher Navoi, Zahiriddin Muhammad Babur, Abu Ali ibn Sina, Abu Rayhan Beruni and Imam al-Bukhari, as well as information about the Center of Islamic Civilization in Tashkent.