PESHAWAR: Staying true to his campaign and electoral promises, Prime Minister Imran Khan ensured that the Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) was eventually merged with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. When the bill finally became a law in May this year, it gave residents ample reasons to celebrate.
However, today, nearly six months after the merger, several complained that children were being denied their basic right to education, which continues to remain a distant dream. Tribesmen from the volatile region who urged the government to prioritize the education sector said that hundreds of children had dropped out of school as they were forced to study in the open due to a lack of properly-constructed facilities in the South Waziristan, Bajaur and other tribal districts.
Sikandar Mehsud, a tribesman from South Waziristan, said that at least 204 children study under a tree in Shereen Khel -- a small village on the outskirts of Makeen -- once regarded as the epicenter of insurgency and the hometown of former Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan leader, Baitullah Mehsud.
Surrounded by gigantic mountains, the Shereen Khel village boasts a population of roughly 2,000 but has no buildings for its schools. Mir Kalam, a tribesman from the area said that because of this reason he has been teaching children for the past one year without getting any incentives for his services. “I teach children voluntarily to create awareness among them and to make them responsible citizens of the country,” Kalam said.
Back in 2009, when the Pakistani military launched its operations to stamp out militants from the South Waziristan region, it triggered a mass exodus of local families. However, they have since been repatriated to their respective villages in the district, according to Sayed Umar, a coordinator at the South Waziristan FATA Disaster Management Authority.
The children, however, continue to lack access to basic education. “Roughly, around 400,000 children are out of school in the tribal areas but plans are being implemented to enroll them,” Shoaib Khan, a senior official at the FATA Education Directorate, said.
He said that around 1,000 to 1,100 educational institutions are either damaged or non-functional across the region bordering Afghanistan, adding that the government, in collaboration with foreign donors such as the UNDP, had plans to rebuild all the schools and colleges in the area and ensure they were fully functional.
Maulana Jamaluddin, a lawmaker from the region told Arab News that he has been apprised of the issue and has taken it up with the relevant authorities to build a proper facility for children in Shereen Khel. “I have already told the FATA Education Directorate to expedite the process to rebuild the damaged institutions,” he added.
Another example is of the 200 children who have been attending classes in the open fields of Khayati, another dusty hamlet in the Bajaur tribal district. Said Munir, a teacher at the Maktab Primary School in Tehsil Utmankhel, told Arab News that the school has no drinking water, furniture, boundary walls or washroom facilities.
He added that the educational institution -- operational since 1985 – boasted a strength of 400 students which has now been reduced to 160 because the parents did not want their children to study under the open sky. “This school can be turned into one of the best educational institutions if the government provides us with the much-needed facilities such as buildings and infrastructure,” Munir said.
Misbahuddin Khan, a social activist from the Bajaur region said that the school has been functional for the past 20 years despite a lack of infrastructure. However, during harsh weather conditions, children often choose to skip school. “Most of the times in summer and winter, children fall ill because of the hostile weather conditions,” Khan added.
He reasoned that since most of the families have been repatriated, the government should take accelerated measures to work towards the construction of school buildings or to rebuild institutes that were damaged during military operations. Khan said that the FATA Secretariat and FATA Education Directorate have been informed about the problem, but concrete measures have yet to be taken to address the issue.
Another issue at hand, as highlighted by Mehsud, was that despite some educational institutions being housed in a proper facility, the schools or colleges remain non-functional due to a lack of teaching staff. Case in point being the Girls Degree College -- built in 2016 in the Ladha area of the South Waziristan region -- which has a sprawling building but has yet to hire teachers.
Samreen Mehsud, a college student, demanded that the government expedites the hiring process so that girls and women in the area can make full use of the facility at hand. She added that several children are either deprived of an education or forced to go to other cities of the country for higher studies.
Another school in Mamakhel, a small village located in the Orakzai tribal district, is in shambles, too. With two rooms for more than 300 students, a majority of the students were forced to attend classes conducted in tents as the rooms' roof, doors, and windows were damaged.
Not a minor problem: 400,000 children deprived of education in tribal districts
Not a minor problem: 400,000 children deprived of education in tribal districts
- Lack of schools and facilities major reason for students in KP province to opt out
- Residents urge government to prioritize measures for increased levels of literacy in the region
World Bank investment arm commits $300 million loan to Pakistan’s Reko Diq mining project
- Located in Balochistan, Reko Diq is among the world’s largest undeveloped copper and gold reserves
- IFC says its involvement will mitigate project risks and support sustainable mining practices in Pakistan
KARACHI: The World Bank’s private investment arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), will extend $300 million in debt financing for Pakistan’s Reko Diq copper and gold mining project, according to an IFC project disclosure published on Wednesday.
Reko Diq, located in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, is among the world’s largest undeveloped copper and gold reserves. Once operational, it is expected to significantly boost Pakistan’s exports, generate substantial tax and royalty revenues and contribute to economic growth and job creation.
IFC said its involvement will mitigate project risks in the restive Balochistan region and support sustainable mining practices.
“The estimated total Project cost is $6.6bn, and it will be financed using a combination of debt and equity,” IFC announced while sharing a summary of its investment.
“IFC’s proposed investment consists of an A-loan of up to $300 million,” it added. “Other parallel lenders will provide the remaining debt financing.”
An A-loan is a direct loan provided by the IFC from its own funds, typically with long-term repayments. It is a form of debt financing, requiring the borrower to repay the loan with interest, unlike equity financing where the investor takes ownership stakes in the project.
The Reko Diq project is being supported by IFC’s technical and financial expertise. The institution will act as Environmental and Social (E&S) coordinator, ensuring adherence to its performance standards and helping implement best practices in sustainability.
IFC will also provide advisory support on mining operations, transport infrastructure and risk mitigation.
According to the investment summary document, the project will strengthen domestic supply chains and contribute to community development in Balochistan.
It is also expected to deepen domestic market integration by linking Balochistan to national and global markets and encouraging further investment in Pakistan’s mineral sector.
The IFC has actively engaged with Pakistan recently through several high-level visits and financial commitments. Earlier this year, its Managing Director Makhtar Diop visited the country in February and met with public and private sector stakeholders to expand IFC’s investment footprint and reaffirm its commitment to sustainable and inclusive growth.
Subsequently, the IFC announced plans to significantly increase its investment in Pakistan, with a target of up to $2 billion annually over the next decade, potentially amounting to $20 billion.
The initiative aligns with the World Bank’s Country Partnership Framework, which envisions a combined investment of around $40 billion in Pakistan over ten years.
With input from Reuters
Pakistan PM departs for Belarus on two-day visit to boost bilateral cooperation
- The two sides plan to sign several agreements during Sharif’s two-day visit, says Pakistan’s foreign office
- Visit can also help Pakistan diversify trade partnerships since Belarus can be a gateway to Eurasian markets
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif left for a two-day visit to the Eastern European country of Belarus on Thursday, his office said, as the two sides prepare to sign several agreements to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
Pakistan was among the first countries to recognize Belarus after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and has maintained diplomatic relations with it since 1994.
However, bilateral trade has remained modest, with annual volumes ranging between $50 and $65 million, according to the Belarusian embassy in Islamabad.
Belarus mainly exports tractors, trucks, potash fertilizers, synthetic yarns and tires to Pakistan, while Pakistani exports include rice, textiles, leather goods and surgical instruments.
“Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has departed for a two-day official visit to Belarus,” the PM Office said in a statement. “At the invitation of His Excellency President Aleksandr Lukashenko, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will undertake an official visit to Belarus from April 10 to 11, 2025.”
According to another statement released by the foreign office earlier today, Sharif will hold talks with Lukashenko to review progress in areas of mutual interest.
“The two sides are expected to sign several agreements to further strengthen cooperation,” it added.
The prime minister’s visit follows a series of bilateral engagements in recent months. The Belarusian president visited Pakistan last November for his third official trip to the country, during which both sides signed a “Roadmap for Comprehensive Cooperation for 2025-2027” to expand economic ties and institutional linkages.
Fourteen other agreements and memorandums of understanding were also inked, covering cooperation in environmental protection, disaster management, halal trade and science and technology.
For Pakistan, closer ties with Belarus offer several strategic advantages that include diversifying trade partnerships beyond traditional markets, enhancing defense collaboration through access to Belarusian technology and tapping into regional connectivity opportunities, with Belarus serving as a potential gateway to Eurasian markets.
The partnership also complements Pakistan’s broader goals, such as the development of an export-oriented economy.
UAE to grant 100,000 Pakistanis five-year visas this year – Sindh governor’s office
- Official statement quotes the UAE envoy mentioning the number of these visas his country plans to issue
- UAE consulate confirmed this week Pakistani citizens can apply for work, medical and other types of visas
KARACHI: The United Arab Emirates plans to issue five-year visas to 100,000 Pakistanis this year, according to an official statement released by authorities in Pakistan’s Sindh province on Wednesday, following a visit by Governor Kamran Khan Tessori to the UAE consulate in Karachi.
The governor’s office and UAE authorities in Pakistan said this week all visa-related issues between the two countries had been resolved, and Pakistani nationals could now apply for five-year visas to the Emirates.
The development came amid widespread reports in recent months of a decline in visa approvals for Pakistanis, allegedly due to violations of local laws and customs, as well as political sloganeering while abroad.
Tessori visited the UAE consulate in Karachi on the invitation of UAE Ambassador Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al-Zaabi following a meeting between the two officials in Karachi on Monday.
“The governor of Sindh, Kamran Khan Tessori, was warmly welcomed by the UAE ambassador and consul general during his visit to the UAE consulate,” the Governor House said in a statement.
“The governor toured the visa center at the consulate, where the ambassador briefed him on the facility,” it added. “Ambassador Hamad Obaid Al-Zaabi said 100,000 Pakistanis would be granted five-year visas. The consul general added that applicants would be treated with great respect at the visa center and receive full cooperation.”
Earlier this week on Tuesday, the UAE consulate in Karachi issued a statement on the meeting between Tessori and Al-Zaabi.
“We love Pakistanis very much,” the statement quoted Consul General Bakheet Ateeq Al-Rumaithi as saying. “Every person can apply for a UAE visa … Pakistani citizens can also apply for a UAE visa for work, medical treatment and other needs.”
The UAE is home to more than a million Pakistani expatriates, making it the second-largest overseas Pakistani community globally and a major contributor to remittance inflows to Pakistan.
Policymakers in Pakistan also view the UAE as an ideal export market due to its proximity, which reduces transportation and freight costs and facilitates smoother trade.
Gunmen kill three policemen in southwestern Pakistan
- The incident happened on the peripheries of Balochistan’s provincial capital Quetta
- Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti promises ‘revenge for the bloodshed of our martyrs’
QUETTA: At least three policemen, including a sub-inspector, were killed in southwestern Pakistan when armed militants targeted a police mobile in the volatile Balochistan province on Wednesday night, a senior police official said.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by landmass and rich in mineral resources, has faced a low-level insurgency for nearly two decades. Baloch separatist groups accuse the central government of exploiting local resources, such as gold and copper, without benefiting the local population.
Islamabad denies the allegations, saying it is committed to improving the lives of local residents in the province through various development projects.
The latest attack took place on the peripheries of the provincial capital, Quetta, targeting a police vehicle parked near a restaurant.
“A police mobile was targeted after unknown gunmen riding on motorbikes attacked the police team with intense firing,” Muhammad Baloch, Senior Superintendent of Police, told Arab News.
“Three policemen, including a sub-inspector, were killed in the targeted attack and one was injured,” he added.
Baloch said the policemen were patrolling the area when the incident happened.
No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, though suspicion is likely to fall on separatist militants, especially the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) that has previously targeted the police force in similar attacks.
CCTV footage of the attack seen by Arab News showed that armed men riding on two motorbikes attacked the police van. The gunmen, who had covered their faces, could also be seen escaping the area.
Sarfaraz Bugti, the Balochistan chief minister, condemned the attack, promising an effective response against the perpetrators.
“The state is not weak,” he said in a statement. “We will take revenge for the bloodshed of our martyrs.”
Last month, three policemen were killed and several injured after a police mobile was targeted with an improvised explosive device in Quetta.
Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, bordering Iran and Afghanistan, has witnessed an uptick in militant violence recently, with the separatist BLA intensifying attacks against security forces and commuters in the region.
Last month, militants affiliated with the group held hundreds of hostages aboard the Jaffer Express, a passenger train, for nearly 36 hours before the army intervened and launched a rescue operation.
Pakistan to propose more US imports as delegation set to visit Washington in two weeks
- President Donald Trump imposed a 29 percent tariff on Pakistan last week, saying Islamabad charges 58 percent duty on American goods
- Pakistani exporters propose importing US cotton, liquefied natural gas and petroleum products to address trade imbalance
ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani delegation is expected to leave for the United States in the next two weeks to discuss the tariff imposed by President Donald Trump, a commerce ministry official said on Wednesday, adding the main focus will be on increasing US imports to address Washington concern of trade imbalance.
Trump announced to impose a 10 percent baseline tariff on all imports to the US and higher duties on dozens of other countries, including some of his country’s biggest trading partners, rattling global markets and bewildering American allies. He also imposed a 29 percent tariff on Pakistan, saying it was charging a 58 percent tariff on goods imported from the US.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting on Wednesday to discuss Pakistan’s response to the US tariff, with his office saying in a statement a high-level Pakistani delegation will go to the US to hold negotiations over the issue and work out a mutually beneficial course of action.
“The delegation will go to the US in the next two weeks as the final date will be decided after the prime minister’s visit to Belarus,” Naveed Kallu, the commerce ministry spokesperson, told Arab News.
He said deliberations were underway on various proposals.
“Three to four different proposals are being worked out, with the main focus on offering options to the United States to increase its exports to Pakistan in order to address their major issue of trade balance,” he continued.
The US trade deficit with Pakistan was $3 billion in 2024, a 5.2 percent increase over 2023, according to the Office of the US Trade Representative.
The Pakistani official said another option under consideration was the imposition of reciprocal tariffs on US imports, but the government was focused on finding an amicable solution that would be acceptable to both sides.
When asked about the possible impact of the new American tariff on Pakistani exports, Kallu said it was premature to assess the effects, but Pakistan would be the least impacted country compared to its competitors.
“We are still subject to the lowest tariffs compared to our competitors,” he noted. “Therefore, the impact on our exports will be minimal.”
He said business leaders’ and exporters’ suggestions were also taken into account while formulating the strategy, adding commerce minister had held consultations with them earlier this week to get their recommendations over the issue.
In 2024, Pakistan exported $5.12 billion to the US, with $3.93 billion, or 76.7 percent, coming from textiles and apparel.
The All Pakistan Textile Manufacturers Association (APTMA) maintained a limited yet strategic import substitution favoring the US could be pursued to support a more balanced trade relationship and ease tariff pressures.
“We have suggested that the government focus on reducing the trade gap and propose to the US that Pakistan could purchase more cotton and other items, including petroleum products, in exchange for a reconsideration of the new tariff,” Shahid Sattar, APTMA secretary-general, told Arab News.
He said Pakistan contributes just 0.25 percent to the overall US trade deficit, which is not a significant number.
“Given the limited economic impact of Pakistan’s surplus and its modest tariff regime, there is credible room for negotiation, especially if US market access concerns are addressed constructively,” he added.
Sattar said the US is the second-largest market for Pakistan’s textile exports after the European Union, accounting for about 25 percent of the sector’s annual exports. This, he maintained, makes the industry highly dependent on the US market and particularly vulnerable to any increase in tariffs.
“Even a 10 percent reduction in this sector’s exports would amount to around $350 million,” he said, adding despite the sector’s vulnerability higher tariffs on competitors offered some reassurance.
“Pakistan’s 29 percent reciprocal tariff is comparable to India’s 27 percent but lower than those imposed on Bangladesh [37 percent], China [34 percent] and Vietnam [46 percent],” he continued while pointing out these countries had stronger industrial bases, better logistics, favorable taxation regimes, lower energy costs and an overall better business environment.
Sattar said US cotton is already duty-free and could substitute imports from Brazil.
“Allowing direct imports of US Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) by the textile sector would reduce energy costs and support US exports without harming Pakistan’s trade position,” he added.
Faisal Jahangir, Chairman of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP), the country’s second-largest export trade body after textiles, contributing over $2 billion to the national economy annually, said the tariff will have minimal impact on rice exports due to limited options in this sector for the US.
“The US imports rice from only two countries, Pakistan and India, due to the highest safety and compliance standards, and Pakistani rice meets these standards even better than India,” he told Arab News.
He said even Indian brands import rice from Pakistan to further export to other countries, especially the US.
“This tariff will affect US importers more, as they will still need to buy the rice but will now also have to factor in the added cost of the tariff,” he added.
Asked about his meeting with the commerce minister, Jahangir said REAP had suggested the government, along with other proposals, should consider imposing reciprocal tariffs on US food products.
“If our delegation fails to get any concession, we can respond to the [US] move by imposing reciprocal tariffs because we do have the option to import food products from many other countries,” he added.
