Tag: Pakistan

<strong>Falling remittances in crisis-ridden Pakistan amidst remittance boom in South Asia</strong>
Asia

Falling remittances in crisis-ridden Pakistan amidst remittance boom in South Asia

Since January 2022, Pakistan’s economy has been struggling with a significant dip in its remittances, further aggravating its already distressed economic conditions. Given the developmental needs of the country and current inflationary pressure, a further 10 percent decrease in remittance flow in FY23, as per the World Bank’s report[1], is a severe blow to the nation’s economic health. Between 2022 and 2023, the remittances have plummeted by almost 16 percent[2]. To put it into absolute numbers, in FY23, remittances were reduced by $4.25 billion year-on-year. The situation in Pakistan becomes even more concerning when we contrast it with the rising remittance flow in the South Asian region. As per the World Bank[3], in 2022, South Asia received remittances worth $176 billion, which ove...
Pakistan’s economy not managed properly in past: PM Khan admits
Asia

Pakistan’s economy not managed properly in past: PM Khan admits

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday admitted that the country’s economy has been mismanaged in the past.Speaking at an event in Islamabad, the Pakistan PM said loans worth billions of dollars were taken in the past which instead of wealth creation further increased the burden of loans.He said the government is focusing on wealth creation projects to retire the country’s debt.Amid the rising number of Covid-19 cases in the country, Khan said that his government would approach the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for another relief package to mitigate the impact of the pandemic.Khan had said his government’s “main concern is to lift our people” out of poverty.“We are going to speak to IMF because we see disruptions ahead. Just when our economy was recovering and all the indicator...
Pakistan among four countries added to Britain’s travel ban list
World

Pakistan among four countries added to Britain’s travel ban list

As the world witnesses a sudden increase in coronavirus cases, Britain has said it would add Pakistan, Bangladesh, Kenya, and the Philippines to its travel “red list”, banning entry of people arriving from those countries unless they are British or Irish nationals.“From 4 am on April 9, Pakistan, Kenya, the Philippines and Bangladesh will be put on the list, the government said, joining about three dozen other nations mainly in Africa, the Middle East and South America,” the UK government said in a statement on Friday.British High Commissioner Christian Turner informed that only the UK/Irish nationals and those with residency rights will be allowed to travel from to and from 04:00 (UK time) on Friday, April 9.“Anyone arriving into England after that will have to book a managed quarantine h...
Pak PM responds to PM Modi’s letter saying Pakistan also desires ‘peaceful relations’
Asia

Pak PM responds to PM Modi’s letter saying Pakistan also desires ‘peaceful relations’

In reply to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s greetings for Pakistan Day, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said that people of his country also “desire peaceful and cooperative relations.”Prime Minister Modi had written to Khan on March 23 extending greetings on the occasion of Pakistan Day. “As a neighbouring country, India desires cordial relations with people of Pakistan, for this environment of trust, devoid of terror and hostility is imperative,” PM Modi had written.Responding to Modi, Pakistan PM through a letter said: “Thank you for your letter conveying greetings on Pakistan Day. The people of Pakistan commemorate this Day by paying tribute to the wisdom and foresight of our founding fathers in envisioning an independent, sovereign state where they could live in freedom and r...
India, being major power, must be part of Afghan peace process: Envoy
World

India, being major power, must be part of Afghan peace process: Envoy

India, being a major power in the region, should be a part of the Afghan peace process at various forums as the country is suffering from international terrorism, said Afghanistan Ambassador to India, Farid Mamundzay on Tuesday.“India is an important partner to Afghanistan… We want India to be a part of all those forums and talks where peace is discussed. The peace of Afghanistan impacts India as well… India has adopted a principled position in the Afghan peace process. We would want India’s presence in those forums,” the Afghanistan envoy said.On the subject of Pakistan supporting terror activities in Afghanistan, Mamundzay said that unless the funding for terrorist entities stops whether in or beyond the region, the conflict in the war-ravaged country would continue.“Our President had ma...
UN panel finds ‘alarming’ media restrictions in Pakistan
World

UN panel finds ‘alarming’ media restrictions in Pakistan

A United Nations human rights panel has reached out to the Pakistan government to express its concerns over an “alarming pattern of restrictions” on freedom of expression in the country.The UN panel has informed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government that it has received information regarding a series of “alleged meritless charges” brought against some journalists and human rights defenders.The documents sent to the government by the panel include cases that have been dismissed as well as those in which journalists were questioned or threatened but not prosecuted.Last year, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) in a ‘White Paper on Global Journalism’ had listed five countries, including Pakistan, as the ‘Most Dangerous Countries for Practice of Journalism in the World’Th...
Pakistan begins lockdowns as covid-19 spreads again; Lahore epicentre
Asia

Pakistan begins lockdowns as covid-19 spreads again; Lahore epicentre

The Health Minister in Pakistan’s Punjab, Dr Yasmin Rashid, on Monday said that the country is imposing micro-smart lockdowns (strictly restricted movement) in various cities of Punjab to rein in the spread of Covid-19 pandemic.She warned that the Covid-19 positivity rate has been consistently on the rise and witnessed 12 per cent increase. “Punjab government has issued new SOPs for public places, bazaars (markets) and other activities that involved gatherings,” she said.Dr Yasmin Rashid further said that Lahore was becoming epicentre of the novel coronavirus, as 1,824 new cases have been reported.She assured that there’s no need to panic because the government has enough facilities to manage the increasing infections.Dr Rashid further informed that National Command Operation Center’s (NCO...
Pak High Commission funding HefazatIslam to protest against Indian PM: Bangladesh Chhatra League chief
Asia

Pak High Commission funding HefazatIslam to protest against Indian PM: Bangladesh Chhatra League chief

Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) president Al Nahean Khan Joy has alleged that Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka is “secretly funding” hardline Islamist organisation Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh to stage protests against India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Taking to Twitter, Joy, the president of BCL, the student wing of Bangladesh ruling Awami League, said: “Pak Flag of Pakistan HC #Dhaka’s #SecretFunding for @HIBofficial @Hefazot to protest against India Flag of India & its PM @narendramodi. We, #secular & #democratic people of #Bangladesh condemn this attempt by Pak agency #ISI. #Shame on @GovtofPakistan, protector of #Terrorists around the globe”.Ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh, a massive rally was taken out on Friday in Bangladesh’s capital D...
French envoy in Islamabad faces threats amid deteriorating diplomatic ties with Pakistan
World

French envoy in Islamabad faces threats amid deteriorating diplomatic ties with Pakistan

French Ambassador in Islamabad, Marc Barety, is facing severe security threats amid deteriorating diplomatic relations between France and Pakistan, and a demand by a radical Islamist political party to expel him from the country.The Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan has refused to retreat on the ultimatum it issued to the Imran Khan government, stating that France had “insulted” the Prophet. The Islamist political party has called for severing diplomatic ties with France and boycotting French products.Instead of quelling the radical political party, Pakistan President Arif Alvi, while addressing an international audience, last month urged the political leadership of France “not to entrench the discriminatory attitudes against Muslims into laws” and cautioned that doing so would lead to repercussi...
US Congressman expresses solidarity with Sindhi community as Pak crackdown on minorities
World

US Congressman expresses solidarity with Sindhi community as Pak crackdown on minorities

US Congressman Adam Schiff has condemned the human rights abuses in Pakistan’s Sindh province, including disappearances, torture, forced conversions and extrajudicial killings.While supporting the Sindhi Foundation’s ‘Long Walk for Freedom, Nature, and Love’, Schiff said that he hopes the long walk “can raise awareness for these crimes and bring peace and justice to Sindh”.“I am so pleased to be able to offer a few words of encouragement and support for the long walk for freedom, nature and love. I have had the honour of getting to know more about the Sindhi people and their peaceful and inclusive culture,” he said.He also expressed concern over the “trends of human rights abuses in Sindh province, including disappearances, torture, forced conversions and extrajudicial killings”.According ...