ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s foreign office on Thursday confirmed that a migrant boat with 80 passengers on board, including several Pakistanis, had capsized near Morocco while on its way to Spain.
Moroccan authorities rescued 36 people on Wednesday from a boat that had left Mauritania on Jan. 2 with 86 migrants, including 66 Pakistanis, on board, minority rights group Walking Borders said. The group’s CEO Helena Maleno said 44 of the 50 presumed dead were from Pakistan.
The group said the migrant ship was on its way from West Africa to Spain’s Canary Islands when it capsized.
“Our Embassy in Rabat (Morocco) has informed us, that a boat carrying 80 passengers, including several Pakistani nationals, setting off from Mauritania, has capsized near the Moroccan port of Dakhla,” the foreign office said.
Pakistan said its embassy in Rabat is in touch with local authorities and that a team from the embassy has been dispatched to Dakhla to facilitate Pakistani nationals.
“The Crisis Management Unit (CMU) in the Foreign Ministry has been activated and the Deputy Prime Minister / Foreign Minister has instructed the relevant Government agencies to extend all possible facilitation to the affected Pakistanis,” the statement said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief and sorrow over the incident, ordering authorities to submit a report on the incident.
“Strict action will be taken against those involved in the heinous act of human trafficking,” Sharif was quoted as saying by his office. “No negligence of any kind will be tolerated in this regard.”
Migrant boats capsizing highlight the perilous journeys many migrants, especially those from Pakistan, undertake due to conflicts and lack of economic opportunities in their home countries.
In 2023, hundreds of migrants, including 262 Pakistanis, drowned when an overcrowded vessel capsized and sank in international waters off the southwestern Greek coastal town of Pylos. It was one of the deadliest boat disasters ever recorded in the Mediterranean Sea.
Migrant boat with 80 passengers, including several Pakistanis, capsizes near Morocco — FO
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Migrant boat with 80 passengers, including several Pakistanis, capsizes near Morocco — FO
- Migrant boat had set off from Mauritania, capsized near Moroccan port of Dakhla
- Minority rights group Walking Borders says 44 of 50 dead are Pakistani nationals
Peshawar Zalmi smash PSL record with 120-run win over Multan Sultans
- Pacer Ali Raza returns figures of 4/21 while Tom Kohler-Cadmore scores blistering half-century
- Player of the Match Abdul Samad smashes 40 runs from 14 balls, hitting three sixes and four fours
ISLAMABAS: Peshawar Zalmi got off the mark in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 tournament on Saturday by defeating former champions Multan Sultans by 120 runs at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, registering the highest margin of victory in the PSL’s history.
After Zalmi openers Saim Ayub and Babar Azam fell for low scores earlier on, Tom Kohler-Cadmore (52 runs from 30 balls) Mohammad Haris (45 runs from 21 balls) and Abdul Samad (40 runs from 14 balls) helped the “Yellow Storm” finish at an impressive score of 227-7 off their 20 overs.
In response, the Sultans were no match for Zalmi’s potent bowling. Skipper Mohammad Rizwan’s side was bowled out for 107 runs in 15.5 overs courtesy of a stellar bowling performance by new pace sensation Ali Raza, who returned figures of 4/21 from his four overs, and spinner Ariq Yaqoob, who finished with 3/20.
“A blazing batting performance that saw Zalmi muster 227-7 in 20 overs was followed by young pace sensation Ali Raza’s masterclass as they registered the highest margin of victory in HBL PSL history,” the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on its website.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Player of the Match Samad said Zalmi expected him to perform well as he had been playing domestic cricket for some time.
“Stuck to my natural game,” he said, “We had to score 200-plus runs. There was grip, and the pitch was on the slow side but glad the execution went well.”
After registering their first win in three matches, Zalmi have moved up to number five on the PSL points table while the Sultans remain at the bottom with three losses from as many matches.
Islamabad United remain at the top of the table with three wins from three matches, while Lahore Qalandars secure the number two spot with two wins out of three matches.
PM Sharif urges global investors to tap into Pakistan’s minerals sector
- Pakistan organizes three-day Health, Engineering and Minerals Show in Lahore with foreign delegates in attendance
- Exhibition featured a range of high-tech stalls showcasing agricultural machinery, precious stones and pharmaceuticals
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif this week invited global investors and friendly countries to tap into the country’s mining sector and take advantage of its economic opportunities, state-run media reported.
Pakistan is home to one of the world’s largest porphyry copper-gold mineral zones, while the Reko Diq mine in southwestern Balochistan province has an estimated 5.9 billion tons of ore. Barrick Gold, which owns a 50 percent stake in the Reko Diq mines, considers them one of the world’s largest underdeveloped copper-gold areas, and their development is expected to have a significant impact on Pakistan’s struggling economy.
In recent months, Pakistan has aggressively tried to tap into its huge reserves of natural resources to extract maximum economic advantage from them. Islamabad hosted a two-day minerals summit this month in which hundreds of delegates from around the world visited Pakistan to explore opportunities in its mining and minerals sector.
“Pakistan is rich in talent, especially in IT and AI sectors,” Sharif said on Saturday while speaking at the three-day Health Engineering and Minerals Show [HEMS] in Lahore.
“We are extending investment opportunities to friendly nations and inviting them to initiate joint ventures, particularly in the mining and minerals sector,” he added.
The Pakistani prime minister stressed that over 60 percent of Pakistan’s population comprises the youth, describing them as intelligent and capable.
He called for equipping them with modern skills and professional training.
“Our young generation is our asset, and with the right direction and innovation, they can drive Pakistan’s economic success,” he added.
Sharif credited his government for increasing Pakistan’s exports, saying that its consistent policies had caused the country to boost production and rely less on imports.
The exhibition featured a range of high-tech stalls showcasing agricultural machinery, precious stones, pharmaceuticals and surgical instruments, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said.
Dignitaries and delegates from China, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, the United States, Turkiye and other countries participated, with a total of 860 foreign delegates in attendance.
On this occasion, several bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding were signed, the APP said.
UAE deputy PM to arrive in Pakistan today to strengthen bilateral cooperation
- Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s visit reflects fraternal relations between both countries, says state media
- In recent months, Pakistan and United Arab Emirates have signed several agreements to boost economic ties
ISLAMABAD: UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan is scheduled to arrive in Pakistan today, Sunday, on a two-day visit aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in various sectors, state-run media reported.
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.
“Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, will undertake a two-day official visit to Pakistan from Sunday,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
It said the high-level visit reflects the deep-rooted, fraternal relations that Pakistan and the UAE enjoy.
“It also underscores the two countries’ shared commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation across all areas of mutual interest,” the state broadcaster added.
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 months, 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.
Pakistani Christian man to appeal death sentence for blasphemy
- Christian man was convicted of blasphemy over allegations he had desecrated Qur’an in 2023
- Allegations fueled attacks in Jaranwala town in which hundreds of houses, churches were burnt
LAHORE: A Christian man accused of blasphemy in the eastern Pakistani town of Jaranwala will appeal against a death sentence handed down by an anti-terrorism court, his lawyer said on Saturday.
The 36-year-old man was convicted of blasphemy over allegations he had desecrated the Muslim holy book, the Qur’an, claims that fueled attacks on a Christian neighborhood in 2023 in which hundreds of houses and churches were torched and thousands of people forced to flee their homes.
“We will file an appeal in the High Court against it,” his lawyer Akmal Bhatti told Reuters, referring to the verdict delivered on Friday night.
Blasphemy is punishable by death in Pakistan. No one has been executed by the state for it, but numerous accused have been lynched by outraged mobs.
In the southern city of Karachi on Friday, a mob of 100-200 people beat a 47-year-old Ahmadi owner of a car workshop to death with bricks and sticks. Ahmadis are a minority group that have faced attacks in Pakistan, considered heretical and accused of blasphemy by some orthodox Muslims.
Pakistan’s central bank launches ‘Go Cashless’ drive at Karachi mall to promote digital economy
- Campaign launched with 12 financial institutions aims to highlight benefits of digital payments
- SBP’s drive aligns with Pakistan’s efforts to strengthen its financial systems, boost transparency
KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Saturday launched its “Go Cashless” campaign in the southern Karachi port city, aiming to promote digital payment solutions and accelerate the country’s transition toward a cashless economy.
The initiative, inaugurated by SBP Deputy Governor Saleem Ullah at a local mall in the Clifton neighborhood, is part of broader efforts to enhance financial inclusion and document the economy through increased adoption of digital transactions.
“This ‘Go Cashless’ campaign is not just an event,” he was quoted in a statement released by the central bank. “It is part of a broader vision to accelerate Pakistan’s transition toward a digital economy.
The campaign, organized in collaboration with 12 leading financial institutions, seeks to educate vendors and customers about the benefits of digital payments.
It is also designed to highlight the SBP’s preference for a cash-lite economy where digital payments become the preferred choice for all, from small vendors to large retailers.
Pakistan has witnessed significant growth in digital transactions in recent years. The SBP statement informed its instant payment system, Raast, processed over 892 million transactions amounting to Rs20 trillion ($72 billion) since its launch in 2021. In the second quarter of fiscal year 2025 alone, Raast handled 795.7 million transactions worth Rs6.4 trillion ($23.04 billion).
The central bank highlighted mobile and Internet banking have also witnessed substantial growth, with a 62 percent increase in the number of transactions.
Digital transactions grew by 35 percent in FY24, with volume increasing from 4.7 billion to 6.4 billion, and their value reaching Rs547 trillion ($1.97 trillion).
The SBP’s efforts align with Pakistan’s broader economic reforms aimed at strengthening financial systems and increasing transparency.
By promoting digital payments, the central bank can also document the economy more effectively and bring more individuals and businesses into the formal financial sector.
