Pakistan’s anti-crime agency arrests 9 suspects involved in blackmailing citizens through loan apps

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Updated 14 July 2023
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Pakistan’s anti-crime agency arrests 9 suspects involved in blackmailing citizens through loan apps

  • The development comes after a jobless man, who borrowed money, committed suicide after being threatened by loan sharks
  • The anti-crime agency says it carried out raids on the offices of people managing apps to confiscate laptops and seal facilities

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s anti-crime agency has arrested nine suspects involved in blackmailing citizens after lending them money through loan apps, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) said in a statement on Friday, following a widely reported incident of a man who took his own life after being harassed by loan sharks.

A 40-year-old man from Rawalpindi city reportedly committed suicide this week after he was unable to return the loans that he took by using a number of mobile apps. People running the apps started threatening him on a daily basis, compelling him to take his own life, his wife told the local media.

The tragic episode comes as annual inflation rose to 37.97 percent in May, setting a national record for the second month in a row and adding to Pakistan’s problems of a balance of payment crisis and the risk of a sovereign default. A large number of people in the nation of 220 million are struggling to cope with mounting living costs triggered by a massive depreciation of the national currency and the government’s decision to withdraw subsidies to secure an International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout needed to stave off economic collapse.

“The FIA’s cybercrime circle in Rawalpindi has arrested nine suspects working for online money-lending apps, who were involved in blackmailing people,” the agency said in a statement, adding that the suspects were found after the cybercrime unit carried out several raids in the city.

“Cases have been registered against 19 suspects involved in the incident, while offices of the loan apps have been sealed.”

The statement added that the suspects were given targets to make 100 to 150 calls per day and pressure people who took loans to pay back the original amount along with hefty interest.

“In addition to calling and harassing the borrowers, the arrested suspects also used to make phone calls to the borrowers’ friends and relatives to exert more pressure,” the statement said, adding that the suspects got access to the personal data of borrowers through the app at the time of signing up.

The FIA added a large number of documents, computers, laptops, and SIM cards were confiscated from the offices of the loan apps during the raids and would be used to facilitate the ongoing investigation.

“Raids are also being conducted to arrest the remaining suspects booked by the police for their alleged involvement in the incident,” the statement added.


FM Dar to represent Pakistan at SCO Council of Foreign Ministers today amid regional tensions

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FM Dar to represent Pakistan at SCO Council of Foreign Ministers today amid regional tensions

  • The SCO is a major trans-regional organization collectively representing nearly half of the world’s population
  • Dar will also hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts on the sidelines of the SCO meeting in China’s Tianjin

ISLAMABAD: Deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, will be leading the Pakistani delegation at a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) in China today, Monday, the Pakistani foreign ministry said, with member states expected to discuss key regional and global issues at the forum.

The meeting comes amid simmering regional tensions, particularly between India and Pakistan, following New Delhi’s refusal to sign a recent SCO joint statement over its omission of a deadly April attack in Indian-administered Kashmir.

The SCO, a trans-regional bloc comprising China, Russia, Pakistan, India, Iran, and Central Asian states, is expected to deliberate on pressing regional and global security, connectivity, and economic issues.

Dar is attending the CFM meeting, being held in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin on July 14-16, at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, according to the Pakistani foreign ministry.

“The deputy prime minister and foreign minister of Pakistan will also hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts on the sidelines of the CFM meeting,” it said in a statement on Sunday.

The CFM is the third highest forum in the SCO format that focuses on the issues of international relations as well as foreign and security policies of China-backed SCO.

Last month, Beijing’s bid for enhanced regional leadership suffered a setback when India rejected signing a joint statement put before defense ministers of the SCO, seen by some Western analysts as a regional grouping by China and Russia to counter United States influence in Asia, with New Delhi saying it was pro-Pakistan in not mentioning April’s attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir.

India blamed Pakistan for backing the gunmen behind the April 22 killing of 26 people. Islamabad denies the charge.

Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said the statement diluted India’s position on critical issues such as terrorism and regional security, The Associated Press reported, citing a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity. Singh alleged the joint statement “suited Pakistan’s narrative” because it did not include that attack but mentioned militant activities in Balochistan.

Pakistan has repeatedly accused India of backing separatists in its Balochistan province, allegations that India denies.

In May, India and Pakistan exchanged fighter jet, missile, drone and artillery strikes for four days over the Kashmir attack, killing around 70 people on both sides before agreeing to US-brokered ceasefire.


Japan outclass Pakistan 3-0 to win Men’s U18 Asia Cup 2025 title

Updated 13 July 2025
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Japan outclass Pakistan 3-0 to win Men’s U18 Asia Cup 2025 title

  • Japan’s Yuma Fujiwara scored goals in the 22nd and 38th minutes of game
  • Skipper Tatsuaki Yasui scored the final goal to end Pakistan winning streak

ISLAMABAD: Japan defeated Pakistan 3-0 to win the Men’s U18 Asia Cup 2025 final at the National Hockey Training Center in Dazhou, China on Sunday.

Despite both teams attacking each other, the opening quarter of the match ended without a goal. Japan’s Yuma Fujiwara scored the first goal in the seventh minute of the second quarter.

Fujiwara found the net once again in the third quarter, followed by Tatsuaki Yasui extending Japan’s lead to 3-0 on a penalty corner in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.

“Japan are crowned champions after a commanding 3–0 victory over Pakistan in the final,” the Asian Hockey Federation commented on X.

“A flawless campaign, built on discipline, skill, and teamwork, earns Japan the top spot on the podium.”

Pakistan had entered the final unbeaten, after defeating Malaysia 4-3 in the semifinals.

Prior to that, the Pakistani side beat hosts China 2-1, Bangladesh 6-3, Sri Lanka 9-0 and Hong Kong 8-0.


Pakistan’s performance under $7 billion program has been ‘strong so far,’ IMF representative says

Updated 13 July 2025
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Pakistan’s performance under $7 billion program has been ‘strong so far,’ IMF representative says

  • Pakistan is currently navigating a long path to economic recovery under the 37-month IMF program secured in Sept.
  • Reforms to strengthen tax equity, improve business climate are key to economic sustainability, Mahir Binici says

ISLAMABAD: Mahir Binici, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) country representative for Pakistan, has described Islamabad’s performance under a $7 billion IMF loan program as being “strong so far,” the Islamabad-based Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) think tank said on Sunday.

Binici said this in his guest lecture at the Institute, during which he shed light on the evolving economic landscape across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and Pakistan.

Pakistan narrowly avoided a sovereign default in mid-2023 thanks to a shorter $3 billion IMF facility. In Sept. last year, Islamabad secured the 37-month, $7 billion program after meeting targets under the previous arrangement.

The IMF representative said Pakistan’s successful completion of the first review of its loan program, secured last year, by the IMF executive board in May 2025 was a “key milestone.”

“Early policy measures have helped restore macroeconomic stability and rebuild investor confidence, despite persistent external challenges,” Binici was quoted as saying in an SDPI statement.

He, however, cautioned that “elevated trade tensions, geopolitical fragmentation, and weakening global cooperation continue to generate exceptional uncertainty and weigh on the global economic outlook,” underlining the urgent need for prudent and forward-looking policy actions.

“Growth across the Middle East, North Africa (MENA) region, and Pakistan is expected to strengthen in 2025 and beyond,” Binici said.

The IMF representative reaffirmed the global lender’s continued support for Pakistan’s economic and climate reforms agenda.

“Structural reforms remain central to Pakistan’s long-term economic sustainability, particularly reforms that strengthen tax equity, improve the business climate, and encourage private-sector-led investment,” he said.

Binici’s comments came a day after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif defended his government’s structural reform agenda, particularly in tax administration, saying that difficult and often unpopular decisions were necessary to rebuild national institutions as the country could no longer afford “business as usual.”

Speaking at a session of the Uraan Pakistan youth development program, he said his administration took on the “onerous task” of stabilizing the economy under immense pressure, choosing to pursue long-delayed reforms rather than temporary fixes.

“Pakistan had to undertake these long-overdue, deep structural changes, if we had to find our lost place in the comity of nations through hard and untiring efforts,” he said.

Sharif noted the transition from paper-based tax systems to digital and AI-led processes was already bearing fruit and his administration had prioritized accountability and removing senior revenue officials accused of corruption, resisting political pressure in doing so.

“It’s a long and thorny journey,” he said, assuring merit would remain the cornerstone of his governance model. “We are facing bumps on the way and mountain-like impediments. But I can assure you, we will not shy away from discharging our responsibility.”


Pakistani commerce minister embarks on ‘pivotal’ UK visit to deepen economic ties

Updated 13 July 2025
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Pakistani commerce minister embarks on ‘pivotal’ UK visit to deepen economic ties

  • The UK maintains zero-tariff access of Pakistan’s exports post-Brexit, making it Islamabad’s largest European export partner
  • The Pakistan-UK trade in goods and services reached £4.7 billion in 2024, an increase of 7.3 percent, compared to the previous year

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan has embarked on a “pivotal” official visit to the United Kingdom (UK) from July 14 till July 20 to strengthen economic ties between the two countries, Khan’s ministry said on Sunday.

The minister is accompanied by Commerce Secretary Jawad Paul and this high-level visit aims to deepen bilateral commercial ties, strengthen institutional frameworks, and open new avenues for trade and investment between Pakistan and the UK.

Khan will engage with major Chambers of Commerce in London and Birmingham to advance bilateral trade and explore opportunities in emerging sectors, besides highlighting Pakistan’s export potential and fostering greater business-to-business collaboration.

“One of the central moments of the visit will be the signing of the Terms of Reference (ToRs) for the Pakistan-UK Trade Dialogue,” the commerce ministry said.

“This formalization marks a significant step toward institutionalizing bilateral trade cooperation, injecting greater standardization, transparency, and predictability into the economic relationship between the two countries.”

The UK maintains zero-tariff access of Pakistan’s exports post-Brexit, making it Pakistan’s largest European and third-largest individual export partner, according to the Pakistani foreign ministry.

The Pakistan-UK trade in goods and services reached £4.7 billion in 2024, an increase of 7.3 percent, or £320 million, compared to the previous year, according to the UK government data. Of this £4.7 billion, UK exports to Pakistan amounted to £2.2 billion, while its imports from Pakistan amounted to £2.5 billion.

During his visit, the Pakistani commerce minister is scheduled to meet with members of the UK’s All Parties Parliamentary Group (APPG), where he will advocate for stronger political support in enhancing trade and investment flows, according to the commerce ministry.

These discussions will aim to align parliamentary efforts with Pakistan’s broader economic diplomacy goals and strengthen long-term partnerships.

“Khan will interact with leading UK-based multi-million-dollar companies from key sectors such as food processing, information technology, engineering, fintech, and capital investment. These meetings aim to showcase Pakistan’s economic potential and attract targeted investments into high-growth industries,” the commerce ministry said.

“The visit also includes important meetings with the UK Pakistan Business Council, Pakistan Britain Business Council, and UK Pakistan Chamber of Commerce & Industry. These discussions will focus on strengthening institutional trade linkages and leveraging diaspora-led initiatives to boost trade volumes and visibility in the UK market.”

Pakistan is currently striving to draw overseas investment amid a gradually healing macroeconomic environment after a prolonged downturn that forced Islamabad to seek external financing from friendly nations and multiple loan programs from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Khan’s visit follows another trip to the UK in June by Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s aide on privatization, Muhammad Ali, who held meetings with executives from renowned firms, including TTB Partners, STJ Partners, Deutsche Bank, Berenberg Bank, and Amundi Fund Group, to spotlight Pakistan’s privatization roadmap and its growing potential as a hub for strategic, long-term investment.

The Pakistani commerce ministry said Khan’s visit marks a “renewed thrust in Pakistan’s efforts to advance economic diplomacy, diversify export markets, and solidify its commercial footprint in global markets like the United Kingdom.”


Pakistan minister to attend today tri-nation conference in Tehran on pilgrim, border issues

Updated 13 July 2025
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Pakistan minister to attend today tri-nation conference in Tehran on pilgrim, border issues

  • The Pakistan-Iran-Iraq conference is being convened on Islamabad’s request
  • Thousands of Pakistanis travel to the two countries annually to visit holy sites

KARACHI: Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi is undertaking an official visit to Tehran to attend a tri-nation conference on pilgrim and border issues, the Pakistani interior ministry said on Sunday.

The conference of interior ministers from Pakistan, Iran and Iraq is being convened on a request from Islamabad, according to the Pakistani interior ministry.

Thousands of Pakistani Shiite Muslims, who travel annually to Iran and Iraq to visit holy sites, have often complained of issues at the border.

“Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi will attend the trilateral conference on pilgrims and border issues in Tehran tomorrow,” the Pakistani interior ministry said on Sunday. “Naqvi will also meet with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.”

Last month, Pakistan evacuated over 260 nationals from Iraq and another 450 Pakistanis who had been stranded in Iran during the Tehran-Israeli conflict.

The 12-day war between Iran and Israel, which began on June 13 Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and military leadership, raised alarms in a region that was already on edge since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza in October 2023.

Pakistan remained engaged in talks with regional partners like Saudi Arabia, Iran, China and Qatar to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East after Iran conducted retaliatory strikes on Israel and a US base in Qatar, raising fears the conflict could draw in other regional states.