ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has asked officials of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to intensify their crackdown on human traffickers and smugglers, the FIA said on Sunday.
The statement came after a meeting of senior FIA officials with the prime minister following the arrest of Usman Jajja, ringleader of a notorious gang involved in human trafficking.
Sharif said the individuals involved in the heinous crime of human trafficking not just cause a loss of precious human lives but also damage the country’s global repute.
“The prime minister called for intensifying operations to bring those involved in human trafficking to justice,” the FIA said in a statement.
Sharif awarded a cash prize Rs1 million to each official who was part of the operation against the Jajja gang involved in the Greece boat accident, in which four Pakistanis died after a migrant boat they were on sank near the Greek island of Crete in Dec. 2024.
The boat tragedies put the spotlight on perilous journeys many migrants undertake, often driven by economic hardship as young individuals seek better financial prospects by attempting dangerous crossings to Europe.
Several Pakistanis attempt the dangerous and illegal journey each year in a bid to escape surging inflation and opt for a better life as the cash-strapped country navigates a tricky path to economic recovery from a macroeconomic crisis.
Pakistan has intensified its crackdown on human smugglers after multiple boat tragedies resulted in its citizens getting killed in recent years. In 2023, an overcrowded vessel carrying over 250 Pakistanis capsized near Greece, in what was one of the deadliest migrant boat disasters in recent history.
Pakistan PM asks officials to intensify crackdown on human traffickers, smugglers
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Pakistan PM asks officials to intensify crackdown on human traffickers, smugglers
- Several Pakistanis attempt the dangerous and illegal journey via sea each year in search of greener pastures abroad
- These journeys have claimed lives of several dozen Pakistanis in recent years, prompting action against human smugglers
Pakistan Tekken 8 team delivers historic victory in Seoul, dismantling South Korea
- Pakistan wins with seven of the best players from both countries taking part in special Tekken 8 team event
- Winning team included Pakistan’s Arslan Siddique, considered one of the greatest Tekken players in the world currently
ISLAMABAD: A team from Pakistan delivered a historic victory in Seoul this week in a special Tekken 8 event, dismantling South Korea’s long-standing dominance in competitive Tekken esports.
South Korea had for years been the leading force in competitive Tekken until Pakistan’s Arslan Siddique, better known as Arslan Ash, began to gain prominence by winning major international tournaments. He is a five-time EVO champion, having emerged victorious in EVO Las Vegas 2019, 2023, 2024 as well as EVO Japan 2019 and 2023.
Considered one of the greatest Tekken players in the world currently, Ash became the first professional gamer in 2023 to win the global Tekken 7 title four times. Ash also won the Tekken World Tour Finals 2023 and has made the Tekken battle between Pakistan and South Korea one of the most enduring and celebrated storylines in the esports community.
“Pakistan is the best Tekken region in the world again,” Ash posted on X, after Pakistan’s win against South Korea, with seven of the best players from each country taking part.
The players participating in the Pakistan team event were TM|Arslan Ash, DRX|Knee, Falcons|Atif, KDF|Ulsan, Falcons|Farzeen, Varrel|Rangchu, QAD|TheJon, KDF|CBM, Fate|Numan Ch, VIT|JeonDDing, ROC|Usama Abbasi, KDF|Mulgold, TM|Hafiz Tanveer and DRX|Chanel.
“With yet another Pakistan Tekken victory, the nation has cemented its position at the pinnacle of competitive Tekken,” Pakistan’s top tech news and media outlet, TechJuice, reported on Monday.
“Once seen as challengers, Pakistan’s Tekken warriors have rewritten history, proving that the Tekken esports landscape belongs to them.”
Pakistani, UAE officials agree to expand cooperation in railways sector
- The UAE is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner after China and US, and a key source of foreign investment
- Pakistan Railways is currently working to improve its services with the help of domestic and international partners
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani and United Arab Emirates (UAE) officials have agreed to expand bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the railways sector, the Pakistani railway ministry said on Monday.
The statement came after Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi’s meeting with UAE First Secretary to Pakistan Ahmed Al-Tahiri, at which both officials discussed strengthening bilateral relations across all sectors.
Abbasi highlighted that Pakistan Railways is continuously working to improve its services through long-term agreements with domestic and international suppliers, emphasizing that Pakistan offers a business-friendly environment and presents significant opportunities for investors.
“Both sides deliberated on various aspects of railway operations and mutual trade interests,” the Pakistani railways ministry said in a statement. “Both leaders agreed to continue and expand bilateral cooperation in the railway sector and other economic domains.”
Pakistan Railways faces many challenges like aging infrastructure, outdated tracks, locomotives and signal systems. Poor maintenance and a lack of modern safety measures often contribute to train derailments and accidents. Notable tragedies include the 2005 Ghotki train disaster, which killed over 130 people and the 2021 collision that left at least 65 people dead.
The UAE is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner after China and the United States, and a major source of foreign investment valued at over $10 billion in the last 20 years, according to the UAE’s foreign ministry. Both countries have stepped up efforts in recent years to strengthen their economic relations. In Jan. 2024, Pakistan and the UAE signed multiple agreements worth more than $3 billion for cooperation in railways, economic zones and infrastructure.
During Monday’s meeting, the UAE first secretary emphasized the deep-rooted ties of brotherhood and mutual respect between the two nations, according to the Pakistani railway ministry.
“He reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to further enhancing bilateral cooperation,” the ministry said.
Pioneering American AI firm to expand operations in Pakistan, finance ministry says
- Afiniti is a leading global AI provider in health care, telecommunications, travel, hospitality, insurance and banking industries
- Around 80 percent of Afiniti’s operational support team is based in Pakistan, with its customer base extending to Europe and other regions
ISLAMABAD: A pioneering American artificial intelligence (AI) company, Afiniti, has decided to expand its operations in Pakistan and recruit more talent in the South Asian country, the Pakistani finance ministry said on Monday.
Founded in 2005, Afiniti is a global AI provider in health care, telecommunications, travel, hospitality, insurance and banking industries as well as across multiple customer experience channels.
A delegation, led by Afiniti Chief Executive Officer Jerome Vaughan Kapelus, called on Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Monday to discuss the company’s growth and continued investment in Pakistan.
“The meeting focused on discussions regarding Afiniti’s expanding business operations in Pakistan, the recruitment of talent and associated issues related to the taxation structure,” the Pakistani finance ministry said in a statement.
Kapelus highlighted that around 80 percent of Afiniti’s operational support team was based in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, with the company’s customer base extending to North America, Europe and other regions.
He praised Pakistani engineers, computer scientists and technologists, and said that his firm had an “exceptional” experience while recruiting people from Pakistan, according to the statement.
Pakistan is making steady progress in AI, with increasing investments in research, education and industry. Initiatives like the National Center for Artificial Intelligence are driving innovation, while startups explore AI applications in health care, finance and security sectors.
Despite challenges such as limited funding and infrastructure, Pakistan’s AI sector shows promise, with companies leveraging AI for data analytics, automation and customer engagement. As global AI adoption increases, the South Asian country aims to strengthen its position through policy support and technological advancements.
Aurangzeb appreciated Afiniti’s continued investment in Pakistan and assured the delegation of his government’s support in creating an enabling ecosystem for IT and agriculture sectors. He apprised the delegation of the Pakistan Crypto Council’s launch to regulate and integrate blockchain technology and digital assets into Pakistan’s financial landscape.
“The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of the government’s commitment to supporting businesses like Afiniti, and the importance of continued collaboration between the public and private sectors to foster growth and development in Pakistan,” the finance ministry said.
‘Significant progress’ in IMF review triggers bull run at Pakistan stock market
- The KSE-100 index gained over 1,000 points to close the week’s first session at 116,199.59 points
- The index may rise to a record 123,000 points by June, if Pakistan clears IMF review, analyst says
KARACHI: Pakistan’s stocks rallied on Monday and rose 0.6 percent to the highest close in more than two months as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) gave some positive signals about its ongoing review of the South Asian country’s $7 billion loan program.
The benchmark KSE-100 index gained more than 1,000 points in the day trade before closing the week’s first session at 116,199.59 points, according to stock analysts.
Sana Tawfik, head of research at Arif Habib Ltd, said the stock market could reach 123,000 points by June if Pakistan sails through the first review of the IMF program.
“This is the highest since January 6,” Tawfik said, citing two main reasons for Monday’s bullish run.
“One is the IMF that issued a statement saying significant progress has been made [in talks with Pakistan] toward reaching the staff-level agreement. [Secondly], the overall sentiment is positive.”
The Washington-based lender put all speculation about its negotiations with Islamabad to an end, when its mission chief, Nathan Porter, said last week the two sides had made “significant progress” toward reaching an accord.
“The mission and the authorities will continue policy discussions virtually to finalize these discussions over the coming days,” Porter said on March 15.
The IMF team stayed in Pakistan for more than two weeks and reviewed the country’s economic reforms under its Extended Fund Facility as well as a fresh loan of about $1.5 billion to increase its climate resilience and sustainability.
“The IMF described the progress of the $7 billion loan program as ‘strong’ despite the absence of a staff-level agreement,” said Naveed Nadeem, a senior equity trader at Topline Securities Ltd., in a note to clients.
Monday’s rally was driven by Mari Energies, Pakistan State Oil, Oil & Gas Development Company Ltd. Lucky Cement and Searle Pakistan that collectively added 658 points to the benchmark index at the Pakistan Stock Exchange.
The equity market also gained some strength from reports of the government’s plan to resolve the longstanding issue of power sector debt, or the circular debt, according to analysts.
“This performance was influenced by the government’s initiatives to tackle Pakistan’s power sector debt,” Nadeem added.
Pakistan calls Indian PM’s remarks about regional peace ‘misleading and one-sided’
- PM Narendra Modi said in a recent podcast that India’s attempts to foster peace with Pakistan were ‘met with hostility and betrayal’
- India’s ‘fictitious narrative of victimhood’ can’t hide its involvement in fomenting militancy on Pakistan’s soil, Islamabad says
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Office on Monday said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent remarks on a podcast about regional peace were “misleading and one-sided,” criticizing New Delhi for “conveniently” omitting the Kashmir dispute from discussions.
Modi, in a podcast with American computer scientist and podcaster Lex Fridman released on Sunday, said that India’s attempts to foster peace with Pakistan were “met with hostility and betrayal” and hoped that “wisdom would prevail” on the leadership in Islamabad to improve bilateral ties.
In response to Modi’s remarks, the Pakistani Foreign Office said India’s “fictitious narrative of victimhood” could not hide its involvement in fomenting militancy on Pakistan’s soil and the “state-sanctioned oppression” Indian-administered Kashmir.
The Muslim-majority Himalayan region of Kashmir has been a flashpoint between Pakistan and India since their independence from the British rule in 1947. Both Pakistan and India rule parts of the Himalayan territory, but claim it in full and have fought three wars over the disputed region.
“Instead of blaming others, India should reflect on its own record of orchestrating targeted assassinations, subversion and terrorism in foreign territories,” it said in a statement.
“Pakistan has always advocated constructive engagement and result-oriented dialogue to resolve all outstanding issues, including the core dispute of Jammu and Kashmir.”
The statement by the Pakistani Foreign Office was a reference to allegations against Indian agents of plotting assassinations in the United States (US) and Canada.
In Jan. 2024, Pakistan also accused India of “extraterritorial” and “extrajudicial” killings of two of its citizens on Pakistani soil, while it has consistently accused India along with other countries of fomenting militancy in its western provinces, particularly Balochistan.
New Delhi denies all allegations.
The Pakistani Foreign Office further said that peace and stability in South Asia have remained “hostage to India’s rigid approach and hegemonic ambitions.”
“The anti-Pakistan narrative, emanating from India, vitiates the bilateral environment and impedes the prospects for peace and cooperation,” it said.
“It must stop.”
