ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has established a 24/7 federal control room to assist Afghan nationals and respond to complaints of harassment during their repatriation, according to a statement issued on Sunday, amid growing criticism of Islamabad’s ongoing deportation campaign.
The decision comes a day after Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar visited Kabul and met senior Taliban officials to discuss bilateral cooperation, including issues linked to the mass return of Afghans from Pakistan.
“Pakistan has set up a 24/7 Federal Control Room at the National Crisis Information Management Cell (NCIMC) to assist Afghan nationals and address complaints of harassment during repatriation,” the office of Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Sadiq Khan, said in a statement.
It noted the helpline service was launched in line with Dar’s commitment during his visit to Kabul. Dar had promised that Pakistan’s interior ministry would issue a notification within 48 hours to streamline a complaints mechanism for Afghan returnees.
On Sunday, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said Dar spoke with Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to thank him for the hospitality extended during the visit. Both leaders expressed satisfaction over the outcome of their talks and agreed to “expeditiously implement the decisions taken for the mutual benefit of the people of the two countries,” the ministry said
Dar also invited Muttaqi to visit Pakistan, an invitation the Afghan official accepted.
The development comes as Islamabad presses ahead with a second phase of its repatriation plan, targeting more than 800,000 Afghans whose residence permits have been canceled.
Rights groups and Afghan officials have raised concerns about the treatment of deportees, many of whom have reported harassment, arbitrary arrests and family separations.
Pakistan says nearly 85,000 Afghans have returned so far in April, with a large number of them undocumented. The United Nations says more than half of them are children, with many families entering a country where women face restrictions on work and education under Taliban rule.
Islamabad has defended the deportation policy as a national security measure, pointing to rising militant violence and alleging that many Afghan nationals have remained involved attacks inside Pakistan. The Taliban government in Kabul, however, denies the charge.
The first phase of the deportation campaign began in late 2023 wherein hundreds of thousands of undocumented Afghans were expelled from Pakistan.
Pakistan sets up 24/7 control room to address Afghan repatriation complaints
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Pakistan sets up 24/7 control room to address Afghan repatriation complaints
- The decision comes a day after Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar met Taliban officials in Kabul
- The government says nearly 85,000 Afghans have returned to their home country so far in April
Japan outclass Pakistan 3-0 to win Men’s U18 Asia Cup 2025 title
- Japan’s Yuma Fujiwara scored goals in the 22nd and 38th minutes of game
- Skipper Tatsuaki Yasui scored the final goal to end Pakistan winning streak
ISLAMABAD: Japan defeated Pakistan 3-0 to win the Men’s U18 Asia Cup 2025 final at the National Hockey Training Center in Dazhou, China on Sunday.
Despite both teams attacking each other, the opening quarter of the match ended without a goal. Japan’s Yuma Fujiwara scored the first goal in the seventh minute of the second quarter.
Fujiwara found the net once again in the third quarter, followed by Tatsuaki Yasui extending Japan’s lead to 3-0 on a penalty corner in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.
“Japan are crowned champions after a commanding 3–0 victory over Pakistan in the final,” the Asian Hockey Federation commented on X.
“A flawless campaign, built on discipline, skill, and teamwork, earns Japan the top spot on the podium.”
Pakistan had entered the final unbeaten, after defeating Malaysia 4-3 in the semifinals.
Prior to that, the Pakistani side beat hosts China 2-1, Bangladesh 6-3, Sri Lanka 9-0 and Hong Kong 8-0.
Pakistan’s performance under $7 billion program has been ‘strong so far,’ IMF representative says
- Pakistan is currently navigating a long path to economic recovery under the 37-month IMF program secured in Sept.
- Reforms to strengthen tax equity, improve business climate are key to economic sustainability, Mahir Binici says
ISLAMABAD: Mahir Binici, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) country representative for Pakistan, has described Islamabad’s performance under a $7 billion IMF loan program as being “strong so far,” the Islamabad-based Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) think tank said on Sunday.
Binici said this in his guest lecture at the Institute, during which he shed light on the evolving economic landscape across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and Pakistan.
Pakistan narrowly avoided a sovereign default in mid-2023 thanks to a shorter $3 billion IMF facility. In Sept. last year, Islamabad secured the 37-month, $7 billion program after meeting targets under the previous arrangement.
The IMF representative said Pakistan’s successful completion of the first review of its loan program, secured last year, by the IMF executive board in May 2025 was a “key milestone.”
“Early policy measures have helped restore macroeconomic stability and rebuild investor confidence, despite persistent external challenges,” Binici was quoted as saying in an SDPI statement.
He, however, cautioned that “elevated trade tensions, geopolitical fragmentation, and weakening global cooperation continue to generate exceptional uncertainty and weigh on the global economic outlook,” underlining the urgent need for prudent and forward-looking policy actions.
“Growth across the Middle East, North Africa (MENA) region, and Pakistan is expected to strengthen in 2025 and beyond,” Binici said.
The IMF representative reaffirmed the global lender’s continued support for Pakistan’s economic and climate reforms agenda.
“Structural reforms remain central to Pakistan’s long-term economic sustainability, particularly reforms that strengthen tax equity, improve the business climate, and encourage private-sector-led investment,” he said.
Binici’s comments came a day after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif defended his government’s structural reform agenda, particularly in tax administration, saying that difficult and often unpopular decisions were necessary to rebuild national institutions as the country could no longer afford “business as usual.”
Speaking at a session of the Uraan Pakistan youth development program, he said his administration took on the “onerous task” of stabilizing the economy under immense pressure, choosing to pursue long-delayed reforms rather than temporary fixes.
“Pakistan had to undertake these long-overdue, deep structural changes, if we had to find our lost place in the comity of nations through hard and untiring efforts,” he said.
Sharif noted the transition from paper-based tax systems to digital and AI-led processes was already bearing fruit and his administration had prioritized accountability and removing senior revenue officials accused of corruption, resisting political pressure in doing so.
“It’s a long and thorny journey,” he said, assuring merit would remain the cornerstone of his governance model. “We are facing bumps on the way and mountain-like impediments. But I can assure you, we will not shy away from discharging our responsibility.”
Pakistani commerce minister embarks on ‘pivotal’ UK visit to deepen economic ties
- The UK maintains zero-tariff access of Pakistan’s exports post-Brexit, making it Islamabad’s largest European export partner
- The Pakistan-UK trade in goods and services reached £4.7 billion in 2024, an increase of 7.3 percent, compared to the previous year
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan has embarked on a “pivotal” official visit to the United Kingdom (UK) from July 14 till July 20 to strengthen economic ties between the two countries, Khan’s ministry said on Sunday.
The minister is accompanied by Commerce Secretary Jawad Paul and this high-level visit aims to deepen bilateral commercial ties, strengthen institutional frameworks, and open new avenues for trade and investment between Pakistan and the UK.
Khan will engage with major Chambers of Commerce in London and Birmingham to advance bilateral trade and explore opportunities in emerging sectors, besides highlighting Pakistan’s export potential and fostering greater business-to-business collaboration.
“One of the central moments of the visit will be the signing of the Terms of Reference (ToRs) for the Pakistan-UK Trade Dialogue,” the commerce ministry said.
“This formalization marks a significant step toward institutionalizing bilateral trade cooperation, injecting greater standardization, transparency, and predictability into the economic relationship between the two countries.”
The UK maintains zero-tariff access of Pakistan’s exports post-Brexit, making it Pakistan’s largest European and third-largest individual export partner, according to the Pakistani foreign ministry.
The Pakistan-UK trade in goods and services reached £4.7 billion in 2024, an increase of 7.3 percent, or £320 million, compared to the previous year, according to the UK government data. Of this £4.7 billion, UK exports to Pakistan amounted to £2.2 billion, while its imports from Pakistan amounted to £2.5 billion.
During his visit, the Pakistani commerce minister is scheduled to meet with members of the UK’s All Parties Parliamentary Group (APPG), where he will advocate for stronger political support in enhancing trade and investment flows, according to the commerce ministry.
These discussions will aim to align parliamentary efforts with Pakistan’s broader economic diplomacy goals and strengthen long-term partnerships.
“Khan will interact with leading UK-based multi-million-dollar companies from key sectors such as food processing, information technology, engineering, fintech, and capital investment. These meetings aim to showcase Pakistan’s economic potential and attract targeted investments into high-growth industries,” the commerce ministry said.
“The visit also includes important meetings with the UK Pakistan Business Council, Pakistan Britain Business Council, and UK Pakistan Chamber of Commerce & Industry. These discussions will focus on strengthening institutional trade linkages and leveraging diaspora-led initiatives to boost trade volumes and visibility in the UK market.”
Pakistan is currently striving to draw overseas investment amid a gradually healing macroeconomic environment after a prolonged downturn that forced Islamabad to seek external financing from friendly nations and multiple loan programs from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Khan’s visit follows another trip to the UK in June by Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s aide on privatization, Muhammad Ali, who held meetings with executives from renowned firms, including TTB Partners, STJ Partners, Deutsche Bank, Berenberg Bank, and Amundi Fund Group, to spotlight Pakistan’s privatization roadmap and its growing potential as a hub for strategic, long-term investment.
The Pakistani commerce ministry said Khan’s visit marks a “renewed thrust in Pakistan’s efforts to advance economic diplomacy, diversify export markets, and solidify its commercial footprint in global markets like the United Kingdom.”
Pakistan minister to attend today tri-nation conference in Tehran on pilgrim, border issues
- The Pakistan-Iran-Iraq conference is being convened on Islamabad’s request
- Thousands of Pakistanis travel to the two countries annually to visit holy sites
KARACHI: Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi is undertaking an official visit to Tehran to attend a tri-nation conference on pilgrim and border issues, the Pakistani interior ministry said on Sunday.
The conference of interior ministers from Pakistan, Iran and Iraq is being convened on a request from Islamabad, according to the Pakistani interior ministry.
Thousands of Pakistani Shiite Muslims, who travel annually to Iran and Iraq to visit holy sites, have often complained of issues at the border.
“Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi will attend the trilateral conference on pilgrims and border issues in Tehran tomorrow,” the Pakistani interior ministry said on Sunday. “Naqvi will also meet with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.”
Last month, Pakistan evacuated over 260 nationals from Iraq and another 450 Pakistanis who had been stranded in Iran during the Tehran-Israeli conflict.
The 12-day war between Iran and Israel, which began on June 13 Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and military leadership, raised alarms in a region that was already on edge since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza in October 2023.
Pakistan remained engaged in talks with regional partners like Saudi Arabia, Iran, China and Qatar to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East after Iran conducted retaliatory strikes on Israel and a US base in Qatar, raising fears the conflict could draw in other regional states.
Imran Khan’s party says has launched 90-day ‘do-or-die’ movement against government
- Ali Amin Gandapur, KP chief minister and a close Imran Khan aide, says movement to ‘reach its peak’ on August 5
- Information Minister Attaullah Tarar calls the announcement a ‘political gimmick,’ saying Khan’s party is ‘heading toward irrelevance’
ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party announced on Sunday that its 90-day “do-or-die” protest movement against the government has begun, saying that it would determine the future of the party.
Earlier this month, the PTI announced it would launch a nationwide protest movement after the Islamic month of Muharram, following a ruling by Pakistan’s top court denying the party reserved parliamentary seats for minorities and women.
Tensions further escalated days earlier when 26 PTI provincial lawmakers were suspended by the speaker of the Punjab Assembly for 15 sessions, after they protested during Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s speech on June 27.
Gandapur arrived in the eastern city of Lahore from KP on Saturday to discuss the party’s political strategy and finalize its protest movement against the government.
“We have announced a 90-day protest movement, which began yesterday [Saturday]… And it will be a do-or-die [movement] for us, whether we remain there [in KP government] or not,” Gandapur, flanked by the PTI’s leadership, told reporters at a news conference in Lahore.
The KP chief minister vowed that the party’s anti-government protest movement will “reach its peak” on August 5, marking two years since Khan was arrested after being convicted by a court for illegally selling state gifts.
Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar termed the PTI protest movement a “political gimmick,” saying that Khan’s party had made several such announcements.
“He [Gandapur] has made several such announcements and these are political gimmicks,” Tarar told Arab News.
“PTI has lost street power and its credibility, and is heading toward irrelevance,” the minister added.
Khan, who has remained in prison since then, says the charges against him are politically motivated and has denied wrongdoing. His party has held various protests demanding his release and an independent investigation into the elections of February 2024.
Pakistan’s government has denied the PTI’s allegations and says the elections of February 2024 were transparent. It accuses the former prime minister and his party of attempting to disrupt the government’s efforts to achieve sustainable economic growth through violent protests.
In one of the PTI’s protests in November last year, the government said four troops were killed in clashes with Khan supporters. The PTI rejects this allegation.
‘REAL DECISION-MAKERS’
Gandapur alleged that the PTI was being denied its right to hold peaceful protests, vowing that it would now mobilize people across the country.
“We will announce a plan accordingly, after taking all our local workers and leaders into confidence on how to proceed with this movement,” the chief minister said.
On holding talks with the government, Gandapur said his government was ready to hold talks but with the “real decision-makers,” indirectly referring to the military.
“Imran Khan has very clearly said this, ‘[I] will only negotiate with those who are decision-makers. What’s the point of talking to someone who doesn’t have any authority?’,” Gandapur said.
Pakistan’s military says it does not interfere in political issues and rejects the PTI’s allegations that it conspired with Khan’s political opponents to oust his government in a parliamentary vote in April 2022.
