Foreign office says nearly 80,000 Afghan migrants in Pakistan resettled abroad, 40,000 remain

The screengrab taken from the press conference of Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs shows the foreign office’s spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan addressing the weekly media briefing in Islamabad on January 23, 2025. (MOFA/File)
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Updated 31 January 2025
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Foreign office says nearly 80,000 Afghan migrants in Pakistan resettled abroad, 40,000 remain

  • US President Trump suspended US Refugee Admission Program through executive order on Jan. 20
  • Thousands of Afghans who had applied for resettlement in US, EU entered Pakistan after fall of Kabul

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said this week nearly 80,000 Afghans in Pakistan had been resettled in various countries abroad, while another 40,000 still remained in Pakistan.

The 2021 withdrawal of US-led troops from Kabul ended two decades of war but began a new exodus, as Afghans clamoured to escape Taliban government curbs and fears of reprisal for working with Washington and its allies. Thousands of Afghans who had applied for resettlement in the US and European countries entered neighboring Pakistan, where many still remain trapped in legal limbo.

The latest blow has been a decision by US President Donald Trump’s administration last week to halt visa processing for refugees for at least 90 days, blocking around 10,000 Afghans approved for entry from starting new lives in the United States, according to non-profit #AfghanEvac. Tens of thousands more applications in process have also been frozen, the US-based organization said.

“I can give you a broad figure,” Spokesman Khan said in reply to a question on the number of Afghan nationals in Pakistan who were awaiting resettlement abroad.

“Almost 80,000 have been taken by various countries for resettlement and around 40,000 are still in Pakistan.” 

Trump’s order said “the United States lacks the ability to absorb large numbers of migrants, and in particular, refugees,” and stopped the relocation scheme until it “aligns with the interests of the United States.”

But campaigners argue the country owes a debt to Afghans left in the lurch by their withdrawal, which Trump committed to in his first term but was overseen by his successor president Joe Biden.

A special visa program for Afghans who were employed by or on behalf of the United States remains active.

But the more wide-reaching refugee scheme was relied on by applicants including ex-Afghan soldiers and employees of the US-backed government, as well as their family members.

With America’s Kabul embassy shut, many traveled to neighboring Pakistan to enter paperwork, conduct interviews and undergo vetting.

Khan said Pakistan hoped the US would restart its refugee program so the remaining Afghan refugees could be resettled “as per commitments given by the US government.” He also hoped the US would resume foreign development assistance programs, which have also been suspended by Trump for at least 90 days through an executive order. 

Islamabad announced a sweeping campaign in 2023 to evict undocumented Afghans residing in the country illegally, ordering them to leave or face arrest as relations soured with the Taliban government. 

At least 800,000 Afghans have left since November 2023, according to government data. 

But Afghans awaiting refugee relocation have also reported widespread harassment to leave by authorities in Pakistan, who deny the charge.


Pakistan opposition alliance holds conference in Islamabad to demand supremacy of constitution

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Pakistan opposition alliance holds conference in Islamabad to demand supremacy of constitution

  • Opposition’s PTI, SIC, PkMAP, members of civil society and journalists attend Islamabad conference
  • Pakistan’s opposition accuses coalition government of stifling dissent, interfering in judicial matters

ISLAMABAD: An alliance of Pakistan’s leading opposition parties kicked off a two-day conference in the capital city on Wednesday to demand rule of law and supremacy of the constitution in the country, calling on the government to refrain from committing alleged rights abuses. 
The meeting has been organized by the six-party Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (or the Movement to Protect the Constitution of Pakistan) at Islamabad’s Legend Hotel. Leaders from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), Awam Pakistan, Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) and Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) parties and others are attending the conference. 
Pakistan’s leading opposition parties have accused the ruling coalition government of cracking down on opposition supporters, resorting to rights abuses, interfering in judicial matters and passing legislation to stifle dissent. The government rejects these allegations and accuses the opposition of creating hurdles in its mission to reform Pakistan’s economy. 
Led by former prime minister Imran Khan’s PTI, the multi-party opposition alliance has also demanded the government investigate alleged irregularities in the February 2024 general election. 
“We demand supremacy of the constitution and rule of law in Pakistan,” former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, leader of the Awaam Pakistan party, told participants at the conference. 
He said lawyers, journalists, intellectuals and members of the civil society had been invited on the first day of the conference to present their point of view on the state of affairs regarding the rule of law and constitution in Pakistan. 
“Till we do not have supremacy of the constitution, there will be political turmoil in the country,” Abbasi said. “And if there is political turmoil, the economy cannot move forward, the country cannot move forward.”
In a post on social media platform X, the PTI said it was being represented at the conference by the party chairman Gohar Ali Khan and opposition leader Omar Ayub.
SIC Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza and PkMAP chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai are also attending the event. 
Pakistan has been plagued with political turmoil since Khan was ousted as prime minister via a parliamentary vote in April 2022. He was later convicted in a slew of charges and sent to jail in August 2023. 
Khan denies the charges and says they are politically motivated to keep him and his party away from power. He accuses the country’s powerful military of orchestrating his removal from office and backing his political rivals in the government. The military denies Khan’s allegations and insists it does not interfere in political matters. 
Protests led by Khan’s party in May 2023 and November 2024 led to violence and clashes with law enforcers.


UAE launches higher education scholarship program for students from Balochistan

Updated 26 February 2025
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UAE launches higher education scholarship program for students from Balochistan

  • 20 boys and five girls have been selected from different districts of Balochistan after written tests
  • Balochistan has low literacy rate compared to rest of Pakistan, gender gap in education also significant

ISLAMABAD: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced a higher education scholarship program for students from Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported on Wednesday.

Balochistan has a low literacy rate compared to the rest of Pakistan. The gender gap in education is also significant. 

In 2022–2023, Balochistan’s literacy rate was 54.5 percent, the lowest in Pakistan. The literacy rate for women in Balochistan is lower than the national average. In some districts, like Washuk and Kharan, female literacy is less than 10 percent, according to official data. Across the province, only 34 percent of girls attend school, compared to 52 percent of boys. More than 60 percent of government schools in Balochistan lack electricity and 45 percent operate without clean water. Classrooms are overcrowded, with a pupil-teacher ratio of 50:1.

“The UAE has announced a scholarship program for students of Balochistan to promote higher education in the province,” Radio Pakistan reported. “Under the scholarship, 25 candidates including five girls have been selected from different districts of the province after conducting written tests.”

Students selected for the scholarship thanked the Pakistan and UAE governments for the “educational journey milestone.”

One of the girls selected for the scholarship, Husun Bano, a resident of Turbat district, said in a video message the scholarship offered her a way to fulfill her childhood dreams.

Another student identified as Malik Lehri, a resident of the provincial capital of Quetta, said he would be completing his civil engineering bachelor’s degree from Abu Dhabi University. 

Earlier this month, the Balochistan government had announced fully funded scholarships for talented students from the province.

In 2018, Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf Al-Maliki announced 50 scholarships for Balochistan students to allow them to study in Saudi universities.
 


Pakistan to host delayed South Asian Games in January 2026

Updated 26 February 2025
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Pakistan to host delayed South Asian Games in January 2026

  • Sporting event will be held from Jan. 23-31 in Lahore, Faisalabad and Islamabad 
  • 14th edition, originally scheduled for 2021, was delayed due to coronavirus pandemic 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will be hosting the much-delayed 14th South Asian Games from Jan. 23-31 next year in the cities of Lahore, Faisalabad and Islamabad, the South Asian Olympic Council (SAOC) said this week. 

The quadrennial multi-sport event has been held among South Asian countries since 1984 under the SOAC. Participating nations include Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, competing in various sports such as athletics, swimming and football among others.

India emerged as the top performer in the last games held in Nepal in 2019. The 14th edition, originally scheduled for 2021, was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“The executive committee of the SAOC concluded a highly productive meeting today in Lahore, marking significant progress in preparations for the 14th South Asian Games which will be held from Jan. 26-31, 2026 in Lahore, Faisalabad and Islamabad,” the SAOC said in a press release this week. 

The meeting chaired by SAOC and National Olympic Committee President Arif Saeed called for collective efforts to promote sports in the region and enhance cooperation through sports.

Discussions also highlighted the achievements of Pakistani javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem, who won an Olympic gold medal at the Paris Games last year, as well as India’s Neeraj Chopra, and the rivalry and friendship between the two athletes, which had put a spotlight on “the power of sports in promoting peace, unity and shared aspirations across borders,” the press release added.

According to Pakistani newspaper Dawn, swimming, archery, athletics, badminton, billiards and snooker, boxing, fencing, golf, judo, karate, shooting, squash, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, triathlon, weightlifting, wrestling, wushu, basketball, cricket, football, handball, beach handball, hockey, mat kabaddi, rugby, volleyball, beach volleyball and rowing have been approved for the 2026 games.


Pakistani, Chinese firms sign deal to boost electric vehicle production

Updated 26 February 2025
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Pakistani, Chinese firms sign deal to boost electric vehicle production

  • The Pakistani firm will develop vehicles with the help of Chinese expertise for domestic sales and exports
  • Agreement will help bring advanced electric vehicle technology to Pakistan, provide sustainable mobility

ISLAMABAD: A leading Chinese automotive company signed an agreement with a Pakistani firm this week to introduce advanced electric vehicle (EV) technology in Pakistan and scale up domestic production, state media reported on Tuesday.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on February 22 in Beijing between Shanghai Launch Automotive Technology Co., Ltd. (LAUNCH) and Yousuf Dewan Companies (YDC), a pioneer in EV assembly in Pakistan.
The deal is part of broader cooperation between Pakistan and China in technology and industrial development, following recent efforts to enhance investment and collaboration in the automotive sector.
YDC, which has been active in Pakistan’s automobile industry, will work with LAUNCH, a Chinese firm specializing in EV technology, to develop vehicles for Pakistan using LAUNCH’s expertise in design and innovation.
The agreement also includes setting up a completely knocked-down (CKD) assembly operation for battery electric vehicles (BEVs), producing both right-hand drive and left-hand drive models for domestic sales and exports.
“This agreement marks a significant step toward bringing advanced electric vehicle (EV) technology to Pakistan and promoting sustainable mobility solutions in the region,” the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency reported.
“The cooperation includes the creation of a technology partnership focused on EV innovation, battery life cycle management and recycling solutions, as well as exploring a joint venture for manufacturing and scaling BEV production in Pakistan,” it added.
The partnership is expected to drive EV adoption in Pakistan and contribute to the country’s sustainable energy and mobility goals, aligning with broader government efforts to promote clean transportation.


Pakistan, Uzbekistan sign multiple agreements, establish strategic council to strengthen cooperation 

Updated 26 February 2025
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Pakistan, Uzbekistan sign multiple agreements, establish strategic council to strengthen cooperation 

  • Leaders vow that bilateral trade, which currently exceeds $400 million, would be increased to reach $2 billion
  • Under strategic council, ministries and relevant bodies will report monthly on implementation of projects 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Uzbekistan on Wednesday signed a joint declaration to establish a High-Level Strategic Council aimed at strengthening economic, diplomatic and security cooperation, as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev during a state visit to Tashkent. 

Sharif landed in Tashkent late Tuesday following a visit to Baku, during which multiple agreements were signed to enhance cooperation in trade, energy, tourism and education, among other sectors. 

Pakistan is seeking to leverage its strategic position as a key trade and transit hub to connect the landlocked Central Asian republics to the global market. Since last year, there has been a flurry of high-level visits, investment discussions and other economic engagements between Pakistan and the Central Asian states.

On Wednesday, Sharif arrived at the Congress Center in Tashkent, where he was received by the Uzbek president. The two leaders jointly oversaw the signing of multiple memoranda of understanding (MoUs) covering trade, technology, security, youth affairs and media cooperation.

A photo of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev during the Pakistani prime minister's visit to Tashkent on February 26, 2025. (Photo courtesy: PMO)

“This historic visit is an important event that will open a new chapter in the expansion of our strategic partnership,” Mirziyoyev said after the signing of the agreements. 

“We have also decided to establish a High-Level Strategic Council ... Once in two months we will have calls by mobile phones. Once a month, all the ministries and relative bodies will report to us in the online format on the implementations of the instructions and measures.”

He said the council would evaluate any challenges to bilateral cooperation and work to address them.

Mirziyoyev said he had held detailed discussions with Sharif on regional connectivity with a focus on the trans-Afghan rail service aimed at linking the three countries. While air travel had already been launched between Tashkent and Lahore, the number of flights would be increased and new routes introduced connecting Samarkand and Bukhara to Karachi.

The Uzbek president said bilateral trade between the two countries, which currently exceeded $400 million, would be increased to $2 billion.

Speaking at the occasion, Sharif said the two leaders had discussed and decided to cooperate in the field of mines and minerals and would explore investing in each other’s economic zones.

Sharif and Mirziyoyev are also scheduled to participate in a Pakistan-Uzbekistan Joint Business Forum, while the Pakistani prime minister will visit the Tashkent-based Technopark, where he will tour Uzbekistan’s industrial manufacturing units. 

Among the MoUs signed was one for cooperation between news agencies, and others on youth affairs, science and visa-free travel.

Uzbekistan is the largest consumer market and the second-biggest economy in Central Asia. It is central to Pakistan’s regional connectivity plans and was the first Central Asian nation with which Pakistani officials signed a bilateral Transit Trade Agreement (UPTTA) and a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) covering 17 items.

A landmark moment in the relationship was the signing of the Joint Declaration on the Establishment of a Strategic Partnership during a high-level Pakistani visit to Uzbekistan on July 15-16, 2021. This was followed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s visit to Pakistan on March 3-4, 2022, which resulted in the signing of another Joint Declaration on Further Steps to Enhance the Strategic Partnership and multiple agreements covering trade, investment, and economic cooperation.

In February 2023, Pakistan and Uzbekistan signed a $1 billion trade deal to enhance bilateral commerce, facilitating the exchange of goods and services. 

Last month, Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Alisher Tukhtaev, announced plans to launch direct flights between Uzbekistan and Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi. Uzbekistan and Pakistan are also working toward optimizing cargo flows, green corridors at border customs points, and digitalization of customs clearance processes to facilitate smoother trade operations.