Viral Pakistani tea vendor to open UK cafes after finding Internet fame

Arshad Khan, the world’s most famous chai wala, speaks to Arab News at his Cafe Chaiwala Rooftop in Islamabad, Pakistan, on October 8, 2020. (AN photo)
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Updated 22 May 2021
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Viral Pakistani tea vendor to open UK cafes after finding Internet fame

  • Handsome, blue-eyed Khan found fame through a lucky photograph taken of him in 2016
  • A franchise agreement for Khan’s UK cafe has been signed with seasoned franchise runners from the US

RAWALPINDI: Tea vendor Arshad Khan, who became Pakistan’s hottest celebrity in 2016 when his photo went viral on the Internet, says he is working to open a cafe in the United Kingdom. 

Khan the ‘Chai Wala,’ an ethnic Pashtun, became an overnight sensation when a photographer, Javeria Ali, took a shot of him for Instagram as he worked at his tea-stall-- which was then shared tens of thousands of times.
The fame won the strikingly handsome blue-eyed Khan a number of modelling contracts and last year, he launched his own chain of restaurants called ‘Cafe Chaiwala Rooftop,’ which he is now taking to the UK. 




Arshad Khan is making tea at a local stall in Islamabad in October 2016. The photo went viral and shot him to international fame. (Photo courtesy: Social Media)

“We are very excited because there is not any other Pakistani brand which has launched a franchise like this — well maybe there is but we don’t know about them,” Khan told Arab News over the phone on Friday. 
“We worked very hard and are focused on what’s to come.”
Khan did not specify a launch date but said he hopes to expand to 10 locations across the UK.
Khan’s first cafe in Pakistan, launched in October 2020 in Islamabad, had seen a “tremendous response,” he said, and he now had two more branches, in Islamabad and the hill station city of Murree, where local tourists throng in the summer months for respite from the weather.





Cafe Chaiwala Rooftop, belonging to Arshad Khan, the world’s most famous tea seller, is seen in Islamabad, Pakistan, on October 8, 2020. (AN photo)

Kazim Hasan, Khan’s partner and mentor told Arab News the duo had signed a “Master Franchise Agreement” for the UK with two seasoned franchise runners-- Nadir Khan Durrani and Yawer Akbar Durrani-- laying the foundations for Café Chaiwala to become a global brand. The Durranis already have a number of Arby’s and Popeyes restaurants under their belt.
“We had great conversations about what we were looking to achieve, and they have great know-how,” Hasan said about the partnership. 
“They haven’t worked in the UK before, but we believe in our goal and are are working on this together.”


Turkiye urges dialogue after Pakistan-India tensions, condemns Israeli attacks on Iran and Gaza

Updated 9 sec ago
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Turkiye urges dialogue after Pakistan-India tensions, condemns Israeli attacks on Iran and Gaza

  • Fidan praises Pakistan’s “calm attitude” during May tensions, warns of “severe results” of conflict between nuclear-armed states
  • Turkish foreign minister says Israeli strikes on Iran shift focus from Gaza “genocide,” calls for ceasefire, coordinated support for Palestinians

ISLAMABAD: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Wednesday urged Pakistan and India to pursue “meaningful and efficient dialogue” to avoid future conflict, warning that an air war between the neighbors earlier this year highlighted the “severe” risks of escalation between two nuclear-armed states. 

In May 2025, the most intense India–Pakistan military confrontation in decades erupted following an April 22 attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, which killed 26 people. New Delhi, without providing evidence, said Islamabad was behind the assault, which denies the charge.

India responded on May 7 by launching a series of airstrikes targeting what it called suspected militant infrastructure in Pakistan. Pakistan retaliated with its own drone, artillery, and missile strikes. After four days of hostilities, a US-mediated ceasefire was agreed on May 10, halting the confrontation amid global alarm over the risk of escalation.

“In April-May, there has been tension experienced between Pakistan and India, which we closely followed, and all the international society has seen the wisdom-oriented and calm attitude of Pakistan,” Fidan said during a press conference in Islamabad.

“This tension has been an important indicator that when two nuclear powers come face to face that this is going to have very severe results,” he added. 

“We have actually seen this ceasefire as an important decision, and in order to eliminate similar tensions, we believe that there has to be meaningful and efficient dialogue between the parties. As Turkiye, we’re always ready to support this so that there will be peace and there will not be any clashes.”

Fidan, along with the Turkish defense minister, is visiting Pakistan as part of efforts to deepen bilateral ties and discuss regional security challenges, including the ongoing war in Gaza and rising tensions in the Middle East after Israel’s attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities and other targets last month.

“Unfortunately, the attacks have actually shaken the trust first toward the international regime on the prevention of nuclear expansions, and we have actually conveyed our messages to the parties [US, Iran] for the restart of the nuclear negotiations,” Fidan said.

“We’re in constant contact with Pakistan, and both countries are contacting both parties of the conflict. Turkiye believes that there has to be peaceful resolutions through negotiations, and we will continue to have a constructive contribution to this.”

Commenting on the Israeli military campaign in Gaza, which began in October 2023, Fidan said Turkiye condemned the ongoing Israeli attacks and supported an immediate and lasting ceasefire.

“Israel attacks are, and aggressions are, not just a risk for our region but for the whole world. At this current status quo, we do hope that the ceasefire will be permanent,” he said.

He added that the Israeli strikes on Iran had diverted international attention from what he described as the “massacre in Gaza and the genocide in Gaza.”

“Today, we [Turkiye and Pakistan] also discussed about the joint steps that we can take for our Palestinian brothers,” Fidan said.

“Within this plan, the Israel attacks and aggression should end, and we hope that peace will be brought to Gaza and calm will be established. We will continue to support the Palestinian people and the Palestinian cause.”


Gulf remittances drive record $38.3 billion inflow to Pakistan in FY25,  surpassing IMF loan package

Updated 27 min 9 sec ago
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Gulf remittances drive record $38.3 billion inflow to Pakistan in FY25,  surpassing IMF loan package

  • Remittances rose by around $8 billion from FY24’s $30.25 billion, marking a sharp 27 percent increase
  • Saudi Arabia topped FY25 remittance sources with $9.34 billion, followed by UAE with $7.83 billion

KARACHI: Pakistan received a record $38.3 billion in workers’ remittances during the last fiscal year, reporting an increase of about $8 billion over a 12-month period that exceeds the country’s ongoing International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan program, according to official data and analysts on Tuesday.

The remittance surge from $30.25 billion in FY24 helped shore up the country’s foreign reserves, prompting experts to says it is likely to push the current account into surplus for the first time in over a decade.

The IMF Executive Board approved a $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) for Pakistan in April 2024, spanning 37 months, after acknowledging Islamabad’s structural reforms and stabilizing macroeconomic indicators.

The government described the bailout as critical to reviving an economy that had faced a prolonged financial crisis and balance-of-payments stress over the past two years.

“Remittances have actually rescued Pakistan beyond expectations. It was a significant jump of over $8 billion in annual remittances, which is more than the whole IMF program funding,” Shankar Talreja, head of research at Topline Securities Limited, told Arab News after the central bank released remittance figures for the last fiscal year.

“Thanks to the remittances, we will be able to record a current account surplus for the first time after 13 years of deficit and for only the second time in the last two decades,” he added.

According to the State Bank of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia led all contributors during FY25, with remittances totaling $9.34 billion, followed by the United Arab Emirates at $7.83 billion, the United Kingdom at $5.99 billion and the United States at $3.72 billion.

Remittances from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries excluding Saudi Arabia and the UAE totaled $3.71 billion, while EU countries contributed $3.53 billion.

Commenting on the data, Mohammed Sohail, CEO of Topline Securities, wrote on social media: “Record Remittances When Most Needed. In a year marked by economic challenges, overseas workers stepped up: Pakistan received a record USD 38.3 billion in remittances in FY25 — up 27 percent.”

The fiscal year average stood at approximately $3.19 billion per month, well above the average of $2.52 billion in FY24.


Pakistan to launch targeted polio vaccination drive in northern districts next week

Updated 09 July 2025
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Pakistan to launch targeted polio vaccination drive in northern districts next week

  • More than 158,000 children to be immunized in four high-risk areas from July 14 to 18
  • Surge in cases raises alarm as Pakistan remains one of two countries where polio is still endemic

KARACHI: Pakistan will launch a targeted five-day polio vaccination campaign next week, aiming to immunize more than 158,000 children in high-risk districts of the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region and northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, health authorities said on Wednesday.

The campaign will be conducted exclusively in the Diamer district of Gilgit-Baltistan and the Upper Kohistan, Lower Kohistan, and Kolai-Palas districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC), which oversees Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts.

“Special focus and effective strategies are being applied in high-risk union councils,” the NEOC said in a statement, referring to administrative units where access and vaccine acceptance remain challenging. 

The drive will take place from July 14 to 18.

Polio is a highly infectious viral disease that primarily affects young children and can cause permanent paralysis. There is no cure, but it can be prevented through multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and a complete routine immunization schedule, experts say.

Pakistan, one of only two countries in the world where polio remains endemic, the other being neighboring Afghanistan, has made significant gains in recent decades. Annual cases have fallen dramatically from an estimated 20,000 in the early 1990s to single digits by 2018.

However, the country has witnessed a worrying resurgence recently. As of July 2025, Pakistan has reported 14 polio cases, including eight in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, four in Sindh, and one each in Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan, according to official data. The country reported 74 cases in 2024, raising alarms among health officials and global partners supporting the eradication campaign.

In contrast, only six cases were recorded in 2023 and just one in 2021. 

The latest targeted drive follows smaller vaccination efforts in high-risk areas. A special campaign was conducted last month in six union councils of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district, where approximately 17,500 children were vaccinated. A similar operation is planned for 11 union councils in North Waziristan, another district with a history of polio transmission.

The government conducted three nationwide polio campaigns earlier this year, in February, April, and May, aiming to reach around 45 million children with the help of over 400,000 frontline workers, including 225,000 women vaccinators.

Despite decades of effort, Pakistan’s eradication drive has faced persistent challenges, including misinformation about vaccines and resistance from conservative religious and militant groups who view immunization campaigns with suspicion. Some clerics have claimed the vaccines are a Western conspiracy to sterilize Muslim children or part of intelligence operations.

Vaccination teams and police providing security have also been targeted in militant attacks, particularly in remote and conflict-affected areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. These threats have at times forced the suspension of campaigns and restricted access to vulnerable populations.

Pakistan launched its national polio eradication program in 1994.


Pakistan, Russia discuss steel mills revival, industrial cooperation at INNOPROM forum

Updated 09 July 2025
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Pakistan, Russia discuss steel mills revival, industrial cooperation at INNOPROM forum


ISLAMABAD: Russia and Pakistan discussed plans to modernize a major steel complex and expand industrial cooperation during a high-level meeting on the sidelines of the INNOPROM Annual Industrial Forum in Yekaterinburg, state media reported on Tuesday.

The meeting between Haroon Akhtar Khan, Special Assistant to the Pakistani Prime Minister on Industries and Production, and Russian Trade and Industry Minister Anton Alikhanov focused on reviving Pakistan’s dormant steel industry and enhancing bilateral trade.

INNOPROM is Russia’s largest annual industrial trade fair, bringing together government delegations, business leaders and technology firms from over 30 countries to explore partnerships in manufacturing, engineering and high-tech industries.

“Both sides reviewed technical aspects of modernizing the Pakistan Steel Mills to establish a cutting-edge metallurgical facility,” Pakistan Television (PTV) reported. “The discussions also explored ways to enhance trade ties and promote industrial collaboration between the two countries.”

Earlier this month, Russian Consul-General Andrey B. Fedorov told Arab News Moscow expected to finalize an agreement with Islamabad this summer to construct a new steel mill in Karachi.

The original Pakistan Steel Mills, once the country’s flagship industrial complex, was built in the 1970s with Soviet assistance. While it symbolized national self-sufficiency, the mill has been non-operational since 2015 due to years of financial mismanagement, political interference and mounting losses.

Technical experts from Russia have already inspected the proposed site for the new facility, and another delegation is expected soon to draft a detailed roadmap.

Russia has a long history of industrial cooperation with Pakistan, having previously built key infrastructure projects such as the Guddu Power Station in Sindh in the 1980s, one of the country’s major electricity producers.

Moscow and Islamabad have expanded cooperation in recent years despite global tensions over the war in Ukraine.


US reaffirms Trump’s role in India-Pakistan ceasefire, contradicting New Delhi’s denials

Updated 09 July 2025
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US reaffirms Trump’s role in India-Pakistan ceasefire, contradicting New Delhi’s denials

  • Tammy Bruce says people today can see events unfold for themselves and don’t need official statements to know what really happened
  • New Delhi has denied any US role in the ceasefire with Pakistan, while Islamabad has acknowledged and praised American involvement

ISLAMABAD: A US State Department official reaffirmed on Tuesday President Donald Trump and his top administration officials were involved in negotiations that led to a ceasefire between India and Pakistan earlier this year, contradicting repeated statements from Indian officials denying any American role.

Speaking at a State Department media briefing in Washington, spokesperson Tammy Bruce responded to a question about New Delhi’s rejection of Trump’s involvement in the truce.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and members of his cabinet have insisted that the ceasefire was achieved bilaterally, without third-party mediation.

“So many comments speak for themselves,” she said. “That’s one of the good-news aspects of our modern world — people can see what’s really occurring. You’re not reliant on a comment to know what has really happened.”

She maintained “Secretary [of State] Marco Rubio ... the Vice President of the United States [JD Vance were] also involved in the negotiations with Pakistan and India,” which was announced by President Donald Trump on May 10.

Bruce’s comments came amid continued tension between Indian and American narratives about the circumstances that led to the ceasefire after four days of intense military conflict between the two South Asian nuclear rivals.

The Trump administration announced the two countries had agreed to halt hostilities and engage in talks at a neutral venue.

While the Trump administration publicly claimed credit for defusing the crisis, New Delhi maintained silence initially. In recent weeks, however, Indian officials have pushed back against suggestions of US mediation.

Suggestions of foreign involvement in Indian foreign policy engagements in the region, particularly with Pakistan, are often politically sensitive.

The Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi announced in a statement after last month’s G7 meeting in Canada that Modi had challenged the American perspective, saying there was no US mediation in the Pakistan truce.

Subsequently, India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar made similar remarks to clarify India’s position on the issue.

Pakistan, in contrast, has openly acknowledged and praised US involvement, with the government even nominating Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize following the ceasefire announcement.