ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party said on Sunday that it was ready to hold a third round of talks with the government, following a meeting of PTI members and allies with the jailed ex-premier.
Khan’s ouster in a parliamentary no-trust vote in 2022 has plunged Pakistan into a political crisis, particularly since he was jailed in August 2023 on corruption and other charges. His Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has regularly held protests to demand his release, with many of the demonstrations turning violent.
The two sides kicked off negotiations last month and have held two rounds of talks to end the political deadlock, but have failed to make a headway. The PTI and the government’s last round of talks on Jan. 2 ended inconclusively after Khan’s party demanded more time to meet and consult the ex-PM before submitting its demands.
Speaking to media after meeting Khan at Rawalpindi’s Adiala prison on Sunday, Hamid Raza, a Khan ally who was flanked by PTI’s Omar Ayub and Asad Qaiser, said they had informed the government’s team that they were ready for the third round of talks.
“We will talk about nitty gritty of judicial commission and on those things. The release of prisoners is part of our main demands,” he said. “If the judicial commission is not formed, then the process of negotiations will not proceed.”
Khan’s party has stated two demands: the release of all political prisoners and the establishment of judicial commissions to investigate protests on May 9, 2023, and Nov. 26, 2024, which the government says involved Khan supporters, accusing them of attacking military installations and government buildings.
The Pakistani government has said that it facilitated Khan’s party by arranging meetings with the ex-premier in jail, but the PTI remained “indecisive” about formalizing its demands despite written assurances made in joint declarations issued after previous two rounds of talks between both sides.
“If the PTI does not submit its demands in writing as promised, the negotiation process may face serious hurdles,” Senator Irfan Siddiqui, a member of the government’s negotiation committee, said this month.
The two sides held the first round of talks on Dec. 23, days after Khan threatened a civil disobedience movement, and amid growing concerns he may face trial by a military court for allegedly inciting attacks on sensitive security installations during the May 9, 2023 protests.
Raza reiterated that Jan. 31 was the final date for them to wrap up talks with the government.
“If you are to take the talks to a logical conclusion, then demonstrate your decision-making power, form commission, so that we may move ahead,” he added.
Ex-PM Khan party says ready for third round of talks with Pakistan government, reiterates demands
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Ex-PM Khan party says ready for third round of talks with Pakistan government, reiterates demands
- The Pakistani government says Khan’s party remained ‘indecisive’ about formalizing demands despite written assurances
- Khan’s ouster in 2022 has plunged Pakistan into a political crisis and both sides opened talks last month to end the deadlock
Pakistan PM offers condolences to Christian community at Pope Francis’ death
- Dead at 88, Pope Francis was the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church
- PM Shehbaz Sharif praises Pope Francis for demanding Gaza ceasefire during Easter address
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif offered his condolences to the Christian community on Monday over the passing of Pope Francis, describing him as a strong advocate of interfaith harmony and peace.
The Vatican announced Francis’ death in a video statement on Monday. The first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, his death ended an often-turbulent reign marked by division and tension as he sought to overhaul the hidebound institution.
The pope was 88 and had survived a serious bout of double pneumonia.
“The passing of Pope Francis is an irreparable loss for the entire world, especially the Christian community,” Sharif was quoted as saying by his office.
“On behalf of the government of Pakistan and the people of Pakistan, I extend heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the Vatican City, the global Christian community and all his admirers around the world.”
Pope Francis called for a ceasefire in Gaza during his brief appearance before thousands of Catholic pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the Vatican’s open-air Easter Sunday mass.
Sharif praised Francis for calling for the cessation of hostilities in Gaza, saying it was reflective of his “deeply humane” character.
“Under his leadership, the Catholic Church spread the message of love, tolerance, and mutual respect across the world,” he said.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected pope on Mar. 13, 2013, surprising many church watchers who had seen the Argentine cleric, known for his concern for the poor, as an outsider.
He sought to project simplicity into the grand role and never took possession of the ornate papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace used by his predecessors, saying he preferred to live in a community setting for his “psychological health.”
He inherited a church under attack over a child sex abuse scandal and torn by infighting in the Vatican bureaucracy, and was elected with a clear mandate to restore order.
But as his papacy progressed, he faced fierce criticism from conservatives, who accused him of trashing cherished traditions. He also drew the ire of progressives, who felt he should have done much more to reshape the 2,000-year-old church.
While he struggled with internal dissent, Francis became a global superstar, drawing huge crowds on his many foreign travels as he tirelessly promoted interfaith dialogue and peace, taking the side of the marginalized, such as migrants.
With additional input from Reuters
Pakistan sent over 151,000 laborers to Gulf countries in first three months of 2025
- Ministry of overseas Pakistanis and human resources sent around 172,144 workers abroad in first three months of 2025
- Saudi Arabia, UAE and other Gulf countries have always remained key destinations for Pakistan’s skilled, unskilled workers
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan sent 151,120 skilled laborers to Gulf countries in the first three months of 2025, state-run media reported on Monday, with Saudi Arabia topping the list of countries where the most number of Pakistani workers went.
A significant number of Pakistanis seek employment opportunities abroad for a better standard of living as the country grapples with macroeconomic challenges. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other Gulf countries are key destinations for Pakistan’s skilled and unskilled workers, whose remittances are vital for the cash-strapped country.
“The report stated that the highest number of 121,970 Pakistanis went to Saudi Arabia, while 6,891 people went to the UAE, 8,331 to Oman, 12,989 to Qatar and 939 to Bahrain,” the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said.
“Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment, an attached department of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development had sent around 172,144 Pakistani workers abroad to different countries in the first three months of this year.”
The report said of the Pakistani workers that went abroad, 38,274 were drivers, 3,474 technicians, 2,130 electricians, 1,859 masons, 1,689 cooks, 1,479 engineers, 1,058 welders, 849 doctors, 436 teachers and 390 were nurses.
The report highlighted that 1,454 workers also went to the United Kingdom, 870 to Turkiye, 815 to Greece, 775 to Malaysia, 592 to China, 350 to Azerbaijan, 264 to Germany, 257 to the United States, 109 to Italy and 108 to Japan in the same time period.
In 2024, the Overseas Pakistanis Ministry reported that 727,381 skilled laborers were sent to work in Middle Eastern and European countries. A senior Pakistani official said in February that the government was working to bridge the skills gap and enhance the global competitiveness of Pakistani workers, particularly in the Middle Eastern job market.
In January, Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain said Islamabad was focused on increasing the number of skilled workers heading to Saudi Arabia, highlighting the importance of an innovative project management and a well-trained labor force.
Pakistan sends approximately one million skilled workers abroad each year to help reduce unemployment and boost foreign exchange reserves through remittances.
Pakistan also received a record-high $4.1 billion in remittances in March 2025, a positive sign for the government’s efforts to revive an economy it expects to grow by three percent this year, with Saudi Arabia once again leading as the top contributor.
Pakistan says 979,486 Afghan nationals deported since 2023 as expulsion drive continues
- State media says 3,387 “illegal Afghan nationals” were sent back to their homeland from Pakistan on Sunday
- Pakistan has established a 24/7 control room to assist Afghan nationals, address harassment complaints
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has deported 979,486 Afghan nationals since the government launched an expulsion drive against illegal foreigners in 2023, state-run media reported on Monday, reiterating that authorities are ensuring their return takes place in a “dignified” manner.
Islamabad launched the deportation campaign in November 2023, asking all foreigners without legal documentation to leave the country. Earlier this year, it launched the second phase of deportations, setting a deadline of Mar. 31 for people with Afghan Citizen Cards (ACCs) — which since 2017 have granted temporary legal status to Afghans — to leave the country or face being deported.
According to United Nations data, Pakistan has hosted more than 2.8 million Afghan nationals who crossed the border in a desperate attempt to escape decades of war and instability in their home country. Around 1.3 million are formally registered as refugees and hold Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, which grant them legal protection. Another 800,000 Afghans possess ACCs, a separate identity document issued by the Pakistani government that recognizes them as Afghan nationals without conferring refugee status.
“The total number of illegal Afghan nationals leaving Pakistan has reached 979,486,” Radio Pakistan said in a report. “Three thousand, three hundred and eighty-seven illegal Afghan nationals were sent back to their homeland yesterday [Sunday].”
Pakistan established a 24/7 federal control room on Sunday to assist Afghan nationals and respond to harassment complaints during their repatriation. The decision came a day after Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar visited Kabul to discuss with the Afghan Taliban the issues linked to the mass return of Afghan nationals.
Last week during his visit to Pakistan, Afghan refugees minister proposed the formation of a high-level committee comprising officials from Pakistan, Afghanistan and relevant international organizations to address “refugee-related issues in a coordinated manner.”
Afghanistan has called for the peaceful and coordinated repatriation of its citizens amid reports of arrests and harassment during Pakistan’s mass expulsion drive. Islamabad denies the accusations and has urged Kabul to facilitate the reintegration of its citizens.
Pakistan’s deportation policy in 2023 followed a rise in militant attacks, particularly in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that borders Afghanistan. Islamabad has in the past blamed militant attacks and other crimes on Afghan citizens, who form the largest portion of migrants in the country.
The government says militants, especially from the Pakistani Taliban also known as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), are using safe havens in Afghanistan and links with Afghans residing in Pakistan to launch cross-border attacks. The ruling administration in Kabul has rejected the accusations.
Relations with Pakistan growing at a ‘good pace,’ says UAE deputy PM
- Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan hopes UAE, Pakistan strengthen cooperation in priority sectors
- Pakistan and UAE sign various MoUs for bilateral cooperation in trade, culture and consular affairs
ISLAMABAD: United Arab Emirates’ Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said on Monday that his country’s ties with Pakistan are growing at a “good pace,” hoping the two sides would further strengthen cooperation in priority sectors.
The UAE deputy premier arrived in Islamabad on Sunday for a two-day official visit aimed at strengthening cooperation in energy, trade and security, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said in an earlier statement.
Pakistan and the UAE have deepened their economic partnership in recent years. The UAE is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner after China and the United States, and a major source of foreign investment, with over $10 billion invested in the last two decades.
“I must say that our relationship has been growing on a good pace,” Al Nayhan said during a joint media interaction with his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“I think both our leaders, the people of Pakistan and the UAE do want to see more development in the relationship,” he added.
The UAE deputy prime minister said relations between the two countries, over the past few years, have been “moving faster than they have for a while.”
“And I really look forward that the good spirit that has been moving the relationship in the last few months would continue on so many different cycles, if it’s trade, investment, aviation,” Al Nayhan said.
After a brief interval, Dar and Al Nayhan signed several memoranda of understandings (MoUs) to promote bilateral cooperation between the two countries in multiple sectors including culture, trade and consular affairs, state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said.
Dar and Al Nahyan signed an MoU between the UAE ministry of culture and the culture division of Pakistan to promote cooperation in culture sector. The two dignitaries also signed an MoU for the establishment of joint committee for consular affairs.
The two sides also witnessed the exchange of an MoU signed between the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) for the establishment of the UAE Pakistan Joint Business Council.
The UAE royal is also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during his visit.
His stay in Pakistan is expected to further strengthen the longstanding ties between the two countries and contribute to deepening bilateral engagements in diverse fields, benefiting the peoples of both countries, according to the foreign office.
The UAE is home to over a million Pakistani expatriates, the second-largest overseas Pakistani community globally, and a major source of remittance inflows to Pakistan.
Policymakers in Islamabad view the UAE as an ideal export destination due to its geographic proximity, which lowers freight costs and facilitates smoother trade.
In recent years, the two countries have signed a series of agreements to boost economic ties.
In February, during the Abu Dhabi crown prince’s visit to Pakistan, the two sides signed accords in mining, railways, banking and infrastructure.
Last year in January, Pakistan and the UAE signed deals worth more than $3 billion covering railways, economic zones and infrastructure development.
The UAE has become an even more crucial partner for Pakistan amid Islamabad’s efforts to achieve sustainable economic growth after suffering from a prolonged macroeconomic crisis.
Pakistan to start vaccination process for Hajj pilgrims from today
- Hajj pilgrims from around the world must comply with strict vaccination requirements set by Saudi Arabia’s ministry of health
- Vaccines will be provided in Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar and Multan cities from Monday, in Karachi and other cities from Tuesday
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s religion ministry will start providing mandatory vaccines to Hajj pilgrims from today, Monday, state-run media reported as Islamabad undertakes preparations for the annual Islamic pilgrimage.
Hajj pilgrims from around the world must comply with strict vaccination requirements set by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health to ensure public safety during one of the world’s largest annual gatherings.
Mandatory vaccines include the meningitis shot, with additional recommendations for the seasonal influenza vaccine, while travelers from regions prone to yellow fever and polio must also provide corresponding immunization certificates.
“Ministry of Religious Affairs will start provision of vaccine to intending Hajj pilgrims from Monday,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan said in a report. “The vaccine will be provided in Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar and Multan from Monday,” it added.
Meanwhile, the state broadcaster said Hajj pilgrims in Karachi, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, Faisalabad and Sialkot cities will start receiving vaccines from Tuesday.
“In Quetta, mandatory vaccination for Hajj pilgrims will be carried out on Wednesday,” it said, adding that the religion ministry will also provide gifts to Hajj pilgrims.
Pakistan’s religion ministry announced this month around 90,000 Pakistanis are expected to perform Hajj this year under the government scheme. Saudi Arabia has allowed Pakistan a quota of 179,210 pilgrims for the pilgrimage, which is split equally between government and private schemes.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formed a three-member inquiry committee to investigate why Pakistan failed to fully utilize its quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Hajj 2025.
Hajj flight operations are set to begin from Apr. 29, with the first flight departing from Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore.
