Pakistan’s impoverished southwestern province installs tribal leader as caretaker chief minister

Ali Mardan Khan Domki (right) takes oath as caretaker chief minister of Balochistan province in Quetta, Pakistan, on August 18, 2023. (Photo courtesy: Radio Pakistan)
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Updated 18 August 2023
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Pakistan’s impoverished southwestern province installs tribal leader as caretaker chief minister

  • Ali Mardan Khan Domki says he wants to facilitate free elections amid a peaceful security environment in the province
  • The new caretaker chief minister is the grandson of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti who was killed in a military operation in 2006

QUETTA: Pakistan’s volatile southwestern Balochistan province gained its caretaker chief minister on Friday, as Ali Mardan Khan Domki took the oath of office while expressing his resolve to ensure free and fair elections amid a peaceful security environment in the coming months.

Domki is the grandson of the late Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, former governor of the province and tribal chieftain who was killed during a military operation under the Musharraf administration in August 2006.

His father, Mir Hazoor Baksh Khan Domki, served as a senator from 1975 to 1977. In 2013, his elder brother, Dostain Khan Domki, secured a seat in Pakistan’s national assembly and served as state minister for science and technology in the 2017 government of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party.

The investiture of Balochistan’s new caretaker chief minister was administered by Governor Malik Abdul Wali Khan Kakar. Previously, he held the position of district nazim for Sibi from 2005 to 2010, hailing from a prominent tribal family entrenched in the area’s history.

“Being a caretaker government, our first responsibility is to hold fair elections and maintain law and order in the province,” he said during a brief media interaction after taking oath in the provincial capital Quetta.

“Holding elections is the responsibility of the Election Commission of Pakistan,” he continued. “I am optimistic that elections will be held on time.”

Domki’s name was approved for the job by the governor of Balochistan earlier in the day after a parliamentary committee comprising his predecessor, Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo, and opposition members selected him as their consensus candidate after a political deadlock.

His selection for the post came only a day after Pakistan’s Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar unveiled his 23-member cabinet which took the oath at the Presidency in Islamabad Thursday evening.

Pakistan’s least developed Balochistan province borders Afghanistan to the north and Iran to the west. It also has a long coastline on the Arabian Sea.

The province is known for its vast gold and copper reserves, though it has also experienced separatist violence by the Baloch nationalist groups who accuse the country’s central government of exploiting their region’s natural resources without doing much to improve the lives of its people.

Prior to the announcement of his name as caretaker chief minister, Domki met with the PM Kakar earlier this month.

Speaking to Arab News, Irfan Saeed, a senior journalist from Balochistan, said the interim provincial administration would find it challenging to deal with the security deficit in the area.

“For the coming interim CM Ali Mardan Domki, the biggest challenge will be to hold peaceful elections, given the province’s history where political and security disturbances are not uncommon on such occasions,” he said.

However, he acknowledged that Balochistan had found a significant representation in the current interim setup wherein the prime minister and his three cabinet members belong to the same province.

“The deprived masses in the province need a strong voice at the federal level,” Saeed added. “The next elected government of the country should focus on Balochistan to end decades-long insurgency and sense of deprivation in the area.”

 


Pakistan sent 336,999 nationals abroad for jobs from Jan. 1 to Jun. 30

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Pakistan sent 336,999 nationals abroad for jobs from Jan. 1 to Jun. 30

  • Over 10 million individuals have been sent abroad for jobs by Pakistan’s government since 1971, says state media
  • Remittances sent by Pakistani individuals employed abroad are crucial for cash-strapped South Asian country 

ISLAMABAD: The Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BUEO) sent around 336,999 Pakistanis abroad from January 1 to June 30 this year, state-run media reported on Monday, crediting the government’s policies for increasing employment opportunities for Pakistan’s skilled and unskilled laborers. 

Thousands of Pakistanis every year travel abroad for jobs in Gulf countries, Europe, the United States and other nations. Citing data from an official of the BUEO, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said over 10 million emigrants have been provided overseas employment through the bureau since its inception in 1971. 

“Through the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BUEO) an attached department of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development from January 1 to June 30, around 336,999 Pakistanis have proceeded abroad for employment,” APP reported. 

The official shared that in 2015, 946,571 Pakistanis went abroad for jobs, the highest number ever. The official further said 116,300 foreign jobs are available with BEOE.

“Overseas employment is playing a vital role in reducing the pressure of unemployment at home, besides being a major means of earning foreign exchange in the shape of overseas workers’ remittances,” it added. 

The state-run media said the bureau controls, regulates, facilitates and monitors the emigration process followed by the Overseas Employment Promoters (OEPs) in the private sector. It also monitors the “direct employment” mode adopted by individuals, who seek foreign employment either through their own efforts or relatives and friends living abroad.

“The Bureau has been engaged in maintaining comprehensive statistical record of all the migrant workers since 1971, which provides basis for planning and policy formulation by the Economic Division and other interested government departments.

The remittances sent by Pakistani citizens employed abroad is crucial for the South Asian country to shore up its foreign reserves, especially as it grapples with a prolonged economic crisis. 


Pakistani PM’s aide warns Imran Khan’s party against stirring ‘instability’ with protest drive

Updated 14 July 2025
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Pakistani PM’s aide warns Imran Khan’s party against stirring ‘instability’ with protest drive

  • Khan’s PTI party has launched 90-day anti-government movement to demand ex-PM’s release
  • Rana Sanaullah says law will take its course if PTI incites unrest during agitation campaign

ISLAMABAD: A top political adviser to Pakistan’s prime minister on Monday warned jailed former premier Imran Khan’s political party against inciting unrest during a newly announced protest movement to demand his release, as political tensions in the country continue to intensify.

Khan, who was ousted from office in a parliamentary vote in April 2022, has been jailed for nearly two years on multiple charges, which he and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party insist are politically motivated. PTI currently holds power in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and has previously led a number of protest marches toward the capital, Islamabad.

On July 13, PTI launched its latest agitation campaign, describing it as a 90-day “do-or-die” protest. The announcement followed the suspension of 26 PTI lawmakers in Punjab and the Supreme Court’s rejection of the party’s bid to reclaim reserved parliamentary seats for minorities and women.

“They have now planned a program lasting over 90 days. In this, if they remain peaceful, it’s fine, it’s their democratic right,” Rana Sanaullah, adviser to the prime minister on political and public affairs, said in an interview with a local news channel. 

“And if they take the law in their hands and try to create instability in the country then definitely the law will take its course.”

Sanaullah also accused Khan’s party of bypassing the government and seeking intervention from the military, commonly referred to in Pakistan as “the establishment.”

“They did not talk about speaking with the government [to resolve their issues],” he added. “They want to speak to the establishment, they are trying to straighten out their affairs through them.”

The latest protest drive was finalized at a meeting in Lahore on July 12, attended by PTI leader and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur who alleged that the PTI was being denied its right to peaceful protest. He vowed that the party would mobilize supporters nationwide before marching toward the capital.

Earlier this month, Khan’s sister announced that his sons, Sulaiman and Kasim, would join the protest campaign in Pakistan after returning from the United States, where they will seek to raise awareness about alleged human rights violations against Khan and his party.

PTI has organized a series of nationwide demonstrations since last year, calling for Khan’s release and an independent investigation into the February 2024 general elections. During one such protest in November 2024, the government said four security personnel were killed in clashes with Khan supporters, an allegation PTI denies.

The government maintains that the 2024 elections were free and fair and accuses the PTI of undermining democratic processes and causing economic stability through confrontational tactics. Pakistan’s military, long a powerful force in national politics, denies accusations of political interference or any role in Khan’s ouster or imprisonment. 


Saudi consortium launches $50 million fund to ease pilgrimage costs for Pakistanis — CEO

Updated 14 July 2025
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Saudi consortium launches $50 million fund to ease pilgrimage costs for Pakistanis — CEO

  • Pilgrimage fund aims to reduce Hajj costs by 20 percent and Umrah by 25 percent by September
  • Consortium says Pakistanis spend over $5 billion annually on travel to Saudi Arabia

KARACHI: A Saudi-based consortium of travel and hospitality companies has launched a $50 million fund to reduce the cost of Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages for Pakistani travelers by as early as September, the group’s chief executive said on Monday.

The consortium includes online Umrah booking platform Funadiq.com, Emaar Al Diyafa Group of hotels, Skyline Travel Company and other firms operating in Makkah. Its stated goal is to modernize the infrastructure and operations of Pakistani travel agencies to help them meet Saudi regulatory standards and better serve pilgrims.

The consortium’s CEO Mohammad Salman Arain told Arab News the main objective behind setting up the fund is to upgrade travel agencies’ infrastructure and operations in every major Pakistani city. 

He said the fund is expected to lower Hajj costs by 20 percent and Umrah costs by 25 percent for Pakistani pilgrims.

“On average, [Umrah for one person] is Rs300,000 ($1,054) and we expect that by September, a small travel agent would be able to offer it to his customers at Rs240,000 ($844) to Rs250,000 ($879),” Arain said in a telephone interview on Monday.

Arain attributed the current high costs to inefficiencies in the way many Pakistani travel agents operate:

“Once we help them operate better then Umrah will become cheaper for our pilgrims.”

His company, Umrah Companions, also launched what it calls the world’s first AI-powered Umrah agent this month, designed to help digitally savvy pilgrims customize their travel packages based on cost and convenience.

The consortium will also help Pakistani Hajj organizers adapt to Saudi Arabia’s evolving regulations.

“This should make Hajj better organized and cheaper as well,” Arain said.

In a separate statement, Funadiq.com said over 2 million Pakistanis travel to Saudi Arabia each year for pilgrimage and spend more than $5 billion annually, making Pakistan one of the world’s largest pilgrimage markets.

“Yet despite these numbers, the sector continues to suffer from poor management,” the company said. “More than 67,000 pilgrims missed Hajj this year alone.”

That figure refers to a large portion of Pakistan’s private Hajj quota that went unutilized this year due to reported delays by travel companies in completing payment and registration requirements, according to Funadiq.com. 

Private operators have blamed the shortfall on technical glitches, payment delays, and poor coordination between service providers. Pakistan’s government fulfilled its full allocation of over 88,000 pilgrims.

The Saudi consortium’s investment will be used for technology upgrades, staff training, and process improvements in small- and medium-sized travel agencies. These improvements could make the booking process 50 percent faster, Funadiq.com said.

“We are stepping in to help change that, working closely with the government, airlines, and private sector partners,” the company added.


Pakistan warns of more rains, floods as monsoon death toll hits 105 since June

Updated 14 July 2025
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Pakistan warns of more rains, floods as monsoon death toll hits 105 since June

  • Third spell of seasonal rains expected to begin July 14, meteorological department says
  • Punjab reports highest number of fatalities, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warned on Monday heavy monsoon downpours are likely to trigger flash floods and landslides across several regions of the country this week, as the death toll from rain-related incidents since June 26 rose to 105.

The toll includes 40 deaths in Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province, followed by 31 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 17 in Sindh, 16 in Balochistan, and one reported fatality in Azad Kashmir, according to official figures.

A total of 211 people have been injured in rain-related incidents, with Punjab again reporting the highest number (111), followed by KP (54), Sindh (7), Azad Kashmir (5), and Balochistan (4).

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has warned that a third spell of monsoon rains is expected to begin across the country from today, Monday, July 14.

“A low-pressure area (LPA) presently located over northwest Madhya Pradesh (India) is likely to affect Pakistan during next 24 to 72 hours,” the PMD said in its forecast.

“Under the influence of this weather system, strong monsoon currents are expected to penetrate central and upper parts [of the country]. A westerly wave is also present over upper parts of the country.”

The PMD said heavy rains with wind and thunderstorms are likely in most parts of KP, Punjab, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Islamabad and northeast and southern Balochistan on Monday.

“Scattered heavy falls (at times very heavy) are likely in Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Punjab, and northeastern Balochistan,” it added.

Authorities have warned of possible landslides and mudslides in hilly areas such as Murree, Galliyat, KP, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, which could result in road closures and blockades.

“Heavy downpour may cause urban flood in low-lying areas of Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Nowshera, and Peshawar,” the PMD said. “Caution is advised for the public.”

The NDMA has called on provincial and district administrations to prepare emergency response teams, ensure the availability of rescue machinery, and clear drainage systems in urban areas. Tourists have been advised to avoid high-altitude areas during the period of heavy rainfall.

Pakistan, a country of more than 240 million people, is among the nations most vulnerable to climate change. In 2022, record monsoon rains combined with glacial melt caused catastrophic flooding that affected 33 million people and killed more than 1,700.


Pakistan to launch new business train between Lahore and Karachi

Updated 14 July 2025
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Pakistan to launch new business train between Lahore and Karachi

  • Train will feature 28 digital coaches, Wi-Fi and international-standard dining car
  • Upgrade part of broader effort to modernize railways and improve intercity travel

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Railways will launch a new state-of-the-art business train service between Lahore and Karachi from this week, Radio Pakistan reported on Monday, outlining ongoing efforts to modernize the country’s aging rail infrastructure and improve passenger experience.

Rail transport remains a critical but underfunded part of Pakistan’s public infrastructure. The Pakistan Railways network stretches over 7,700 kilometers and connects major cities, yet it has struggled for decades with outdated technology, frequent delays and safety issues due to lack of investment and mismanagement.

In recent years, successive governments have pledged to revitalize the sector. Recent initiatives have included track rehabilitation, procurement of new locomotives and the expansion of digital ticketing systems.

The new business service aims to offer passengers a significantly enhanced travel experience on the popular north-south corridor between Lahore and Karachi, two of the country’s largest cities.

“The new train will feature twenty-eight digitally equipped coaches, complimentary Wi-Fi, and an international-standard Dining Car, offering the passengers a modern and comfortable travel experience,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported on Sunday.

The service marks a departure from older long-distance trains, which have long been criticized for overcrowding and lack of basic amenities. With onboard Internet and upgraded interiors, the new train will be geared toward business travelers and middle-class commuters looking for a more reliable and comfortable alternative to road or air travel.

Pakistan Railways did not disclose the exact launch date or fare structure but said the service would commence within the week.

“The new train service, which will run between Lahore and Karachi, aims to deliver a significantly enhanced travel experience to the passengers,” the report added.