KARACHI: Every month, Zakia Khatoon, a resident of a remote village in Azad Kashmir, happily travels to Rawalakot, a nearby city, to collect money sent by her husband employed in Saudi Arabia.
“My husband, Tariq Khan, found a job in the Kingdom eight months ago. We were facing a difficult financial period, but things turned around when he flew abroad and started working as a driver,” Khatoon told Arab News via telephone on Saturday.
Saudi Arabia is home to about 2.5 million Pakistanis who have made the Arab state the single largest source of foreign remittances for Pakistan.
Since the opening of Pakistani workers’ entry in the Gulf market back in 1971, Saudi Arabia has remained the top destination for Pakistani workers that has provided jobs to more than 5.7 million of them since then.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) was the second largest job market for Pakistanis with 3.9 million of them going there since the beginning of the 1970s.
“On an average we receive about $1 billion from Saudi Arabia and the UAE every month which is more than 50 percent of our exports. These inflows not only support our external accounts but also keep the local markets functional through consumption,” Muzzamil Aslam, senior economist, told Arab News, adding: “Consider it a form of export of services that plays a massive role in our economy and prevents the country from going externally bankrupt.”
On Friday, Pakistan’s central bank said that the workers’ remittances during the first nine months of the current fiscal year (9MFY20) amounted to $16.99 billion, implying a six percent increase when compared to $16.03 billion during the same months in the last fiscal year. A quick look at the data revealed that Saudi Arabia and the UAE retained their positions as top contributors to Pakistani remittances with $3.92 billion and $3.55 billion of inflows, respectively.
Despite the coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing lockdowns across the world, Pakistani workers’ remittances in March 2020 increased by 3.8 percent to $1.9 billion when compared to the inflows in the previous month.
In March, larger amounts of remittances were received from Saudi Arabia that went up by 7.2 percent to $452.3 million. The amount received from the UAE also registered 8.6 percent increase and stood at $420.4 million.
However, the country’s overseas employment promoters say the current lockdown in the Kingdom and the UAE, much like rest of the world, has terrified Pakistani workers. They maintain that this will also be reflected in the next remittance inflows that are likely to record a drastic decline.
“A large number of Pakistanis working in the Gulf countries are currently in a state of panic. They are not sure if they will be able to continue or sent back by their employees. Apart from essential services, all projects are completely closed. In April 2020, we expect drastic cuts in remittances,” Ikram Qureshi, convener of the standing committee of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) on Overseas Employment and Development, told Arab News.
Qureshi said that about 20,000 Pakistani workers with visas were in the process of entering the Kingdom, but the situation had changed and even those working there seemed uncertain about their future.
“It is the right time for Pakistani diplomatic missions and embassies to actively engage with the host governments to secure the future of overseas Pakistani workers. Otherwise, they may face mass layoffs,” he warned.
“The future of more than 2.5 million Pakistanis in the Kingdom and around 1.7 million in the UAE depends on the actions of their government,” Qureshi continued.
Economists fear that any decline in remittance will have a negative impact on Pakistan’s economy, making it likely that the country will default on some of its international financial obligations.
“If there is a slowdown in this area, Pakistan’s per capita income will be reduced and the country may go bankrupt externally,” Aslam warned.
As Khatoon prays for the safety and job security of her husband, Aslam believes that the cordial relations between Pakistan and the Gulf states could minimize the number of Pakistanis losing their jobs.
Despite pandemic, Saudi Arabia, UAE remain Pakistan’s top-tier remittance providers
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Despite pandemic, Saudi Arabia, UAE remain Pakistan’s top-tier remittance providers
- The country received $3.92 billion and $3.55 billion from Saudi Arabia and the UAE, respectively, in the first nine months of the current fiscal year
- Experts believe mass layoffs of workers likely in the Gulf countries due to the lockdowns and economic slowdowns
Pakistan delegation in Washington says India laying foundations of first ‘nuclear water war’
- Nine-member delegation headed by former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is visiting world capitals
- Delegation is presenting Pakistan’s position following worst military confrontation with India in decades last month
ISLAMABAD: The head of a delegation visiting Washington DC to present Islamabad’s position following a recent military standoff with New Delhi said on Thursday India shutting down Pakistan’s water supply would be tantamount to laying the “foundations for the first nuclear water war.”
Tensions between nuclear-armed neighbors Pakistan and India are high after they struck a ceasefire on May 10 following the most intense military confrontation in decades. Both countries accuse the other of supporting militancy on each other’s soil — a charge both capitals deny.
The latest escalation, in which the two countries’ militaries traded missile, drones and artillery fire, was sparked after India accused Pakistan of supporting militants who attacked dozens of tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22, killing 26. Islamabad denies involvement. Following the attack, Delhi unilaterally “put in abeyance” the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, which governs usage of the Indus river system. The accord has not been revived despite the rivals agreeing on a ceasefire on May 10.
“In the age of climate challenges that are to come, water scarcity and water wars, or anyway, used to be a theory,” Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, a former foreign minister who is heading the Pakistani delegation, said at an event at the Middle East Institute in Washington.
“India’s shutting off Pakistan’s water supply is laying the foundations for the first nuclear water war.”
Islamabad had said after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty that it considered any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan to be an “act of war.”
About 80% of Pakistani farms depend on the Indus system, as do nearly all hydropower projects serving the country of some 250 million.
“It is an existential crisis for us,” Bhutto Zardari said in DC. “Any country on the planet, no matter their size, their strength, or their ability, would fight for their survival and fight for their water. India must abide by the Indus Waters Treaty.”
He urged Washington and other countries not to allow India to violate the treaty or fulfil its threat of stopping Pakistan’s rightful share of Indus waters.
“You cannot allow this precedent to be set in the Pakistan context, because we’ll fight the first war, but it won’t be the last,” Bhutto Zardari warned.
“If India is allowed to cut off our water, that means that every upper riparian with hostilities to a lower riparian now has a carte blanche.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the nine-member diplomatic group last month, headed by Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who has been leading a team to visits in New York, Washington DC, London and Brussels since June 2. Another delegation, led by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi, has visited Moscow.
Earlier on Thursday, Bhutto Zardari’s delegation met members of the US Congressional Pakistan Caucus in Washington, including Republican party leaders Jack Bergman and Ryan Zinke and Democratic leaders Tom Suozzi and Ilhan Omar, among others.
“Pakistan remains committed to peace, but sadly, India consistently resists dialogue,” Bhutto Zardari told the American lawmakers, according to a statement released by Bilawal House, his official residence.
Pakistan and India, bitter rivals, have fought two out of three wars over the disputed territory of Kashmir that they both claim in full but govern only parts of.
Pakistan commits to provide basic, tactical-level training to Belarusian fighter pilots
- Belarus Air Force delegation meets Pakistan Air Force chief in Islamabad, says Pakistan military
- Trainings to include high-level exchange programs to foster professional development, it says
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Air Force Chief Air Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu on Thursday said the PAF was ready to support the Belarus Air Force (BAF) with basic to tactical level training, the military’s media wing said, as both sides discussed military and air cooperation.
Sidhu met a high-level defense delegation led by BAF and Air Defense Commander Major General Andrei Yulianovich Lukyanovich, the Pakistani military’s media wing said.
“During the meeting, Chief of the Air Staff [..] assured that PAF is committed to extending full support for the basic to tactical-level training of pilots and maintenance crews for capacity building of BAF,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, said in a statement.
“This includes the initiation of high-level exchange programs aimed at fostering professional development between the two air forces.”
Lukyanovich expressed a strong interest in learning from the PAF’s extensive operational experience in wartime operations and conveyed the BAF’s eagerness to draw lessons from the PAF’s combat-tested doctrines and training programs, the ISPR said.
The PAF says it shot down six Indian Air Force jets on the night of May 6 while repelling Indian air attacks. India’s defense chief recently admitted the country lost fighter jets to Pakistan. However, he denied six jets were shot down.
The meeting takes place a day after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Belarusian Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Victor Khrenin in Islamabad, where the two discussed bilateral defense and technology ties.
Sharif visited Belarus in April during which both countries signed a roadmap for military-technical cooperation from 2025 to 2027, along with multiple agreements in trade, defense and industrial collaboration.
Pakistan accelerates push to operationalize regulatory framework for digital assets
- Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb chairs key meeting on Pakistan’s digital assets legislation
- Pakistan state minister for crypto meets US lawmakers to strengthen digital assets cooperation
KARACHI: Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Thursday stressed operationalizing a framework to harness blockchain and crypto technologies’ economic potential and to fast-track their approval process, the Finance Division said amid Islamabad’s push to adopt digital assets.
Islamabad established the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) in March to help guide national policy on blockchain, digital currencies and crypto-related investments. This was followed by the government’s announcement of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR) at the Bitcoin 2025 Conference in Las Vegas, making Pakistan one of the first Asian countries to integrate Bitcoin into its sovereign asset strategy. The government also plans to establish an autonomous regulatory body to oversee the country’s digital finance and crypto ecosystem.
Aurangzeb chaired a meeting at the Finance Division to review progress on the development of a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital and virtual assets in the country. The law ministry tabled a draft of the proposed legal framework during the meeting, which was developed through close collaboration with members of the PCC, key stakeholders and technical experts.
“During the meeting, the draft was thoroughly reviewed and refined,” the Finance Division said. “It was collectively agreed that in-principle approval process will be fast-tracked to ensure timely enactment and effective implementation.”
The draft legislation outlines a regulatory structure for digital and virtual assets, encompassing governance mechanisms, licensing protocols and investor protection provisions, the statement said. The proposed framework seeks to position Pakistan as a forward-looking participant in the digital asset ecosystem, it added.
‘BEST IDEAS’
Separately, Pakistan’s State Minister for Crypto and Blockchain Bilal Bin Saqib met over a dozen key American officials and lawmakers in Washington to strengthen cooperation in digital assets, blockchain regulation, and financial innovation, his office said.
Saqib met Senator Cynthia Lummis, co-author of the Lummis-Gillibrand Responsible Financial Innovation Act and co-sponsor of the BITCOIN Act, which seeks to designate Bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset.
Saqib’s office said Lummis has been a leading advocate for “thoughtful and comprehensive” crypto legislation in the US.
He also met Senator Ted Cruz, Congressman Troy Downing, who is a member of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Congressman Ryan Zinke, Congressman Rick McCormick, and Congressman Derrick Van Orden.
Saqib’s office said these lawmakers were engaged in shaping policy frameworks related to emerging technologies in the US.
“We came to learn, to listen, and to contribute,” Bilal said. “Pakistan is actively studying how global leaders are approaching regulation, innovation, and financial inclusion — not to copy, but to adapt the best ideas for our own unique landscape.”
Pakistan’s broader digital asset strategy includes allocating 2,000 megawatts of surplus power to support Bitcoin mining and AI-driven data zones, aiming to turn untapped energy into economic productivity, job creation and digital infrastructure growth.
As regulatory frameworks continue to evolve globally, Pakistan says it is taking proactive steps to integrate private sector innovation with state policy and international partnerships, positioning itself as a key player in the next phase of the global digital economy.
In meeting with US lawmakers, Pakistani delegation says Delhi resisting dialogue with Islamabad
- Pakistan’s PM set up delegation last month, tasking it to present Islamabad’s perspective on recent India conflict
- Pakistani delegation criticizes India’s suspension of water-sharing agreement, says endangers future of entire region
KARACHI: A Pakistani delegation led by former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari met a group of American lawmakers on Thursday, telling them that India is consistently resisting dialogue to resolve bilateral issues.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif set up the delegation last month, tasking it to present Pakistan’s point of view regarding the country’s conflict with India last month. India and Pakistan last month engaged in four days of fighting, striking each other with missiles, drones, artillery and fighter jets before Washington brokered a ceasefire on May 10.
Bhutto Zardari’s delegation has held a series of meetings with top international diplomats since arriving in New York on Monday, urging the global community to help India and Pakistan enter a comprehensive dialogue to peacefully resolve their differences.
On Thursday the delegation met members of the US Congressional Pakistan Caucus in Washington. These included Republican party leaders Jack Bergman and Ryan Zinke and Democratic leaders Tom Suozzi and Ilhan Omar, among others.
“Pakistan remains committed to peace, but sadly, India consistently resists dialogue,” Bhutto Zardari was quoted as saying by Bilawal House, his official residence.
The former foreign minister criticized India’s decision to hold in abeyance the Indus Waters Treaty, a decades-old water-sharing agreement with Pakistan.
“India has weaponized water, endangering the future of not only Pakistan but the entire region,” he said.
He warned that if Indian hostility is not curbed in time, it could “seriously jeopardize regional peace.” The Pakistani politician reaffirmed his country’s desire for constructive engagement based on mutual respect and peaceful resolution of disputes, the statement said.
“The members of Congress welcomed the delegation, listened carefully to Pakistan’s concerns, and expressed willingness to strengthen bilateral engagement and regional stability,” the statement concluded.
Tensions between the arch-rivals began on April 22 when militants attacked a resort in Indian-administered Kashmir’s Pahalgam area, killing 26 tourists.
India blamed Pakistan for supporting militants involved in the attack, a charge Pakistan vehemently denied and called for a transparent, international probe into the incident.
Pakistan and India, bitter rivals, have fought two out of three wars over the disputed territory of Kashmir that they both claim in full but govern only parts of.
India accuses Pakistan of supporting militants in the part of Kashmir it administers. Islamabad denies the allegation and says it extends only diplomatic and moral support to the people of Kashmir.
Washington says Pakistan needs to address barriers to American exports, companies
- Islamabad, Washington last week kicked off negotiations after President Trump announced tariffs on countries, including Pakistan
- Talks expected to “sail through” but Pakistan’s textile industry may take a hit if they fail, warns financial analyst Shankar Talreja
KARACHI: Pakistan’s government needs to address its tariff and non-tariff barriers against American exports and companies, a spokesperson at the US consulate general in Karachi said on Thursday as both nations seek to forge closer trade ties through negotiations.
Reva Gupta, the spokesperson at the US consulate general in Karachi, made the comments a week after Pakistan and the US started what the official described as “dynamic” negotiations with Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Washington’s imposition of tariffs.
The talks take place as US President Donald Trump imposed steep tariffs on a number of countries earlier this year, a move widely viewed as a setback for the global economy still recovering from the coronavirus pandemic. Pakistan faces a potential 29 percent tariff, currently under a 90-day pause announced in April, on its exports to the US due to a $3 billion trade surplus with the world’s biggest economy.
“In our bilateral engagements with Pakistan, we always message the need to jointly tackle challenges to our trade relationship, including the need for Pakistan to address its longstanding tariff and non-tariff barriers against US exports and companies,” Gupta told Arab News.
The tariffs could be a setback to Islamabad’s hectic efforts aimed at navigating a tricky path to economic recovery. Pakistan hopes to achieve sustainable economic growth driven by exports.
The US is Pakistan’s largest export destination. American exports to Pakistan were valued at $2.1 billion in 2024, up 4.4 percent ($90.9 million) from 2023, according to US government data. The import of goods from Pakistan to the US totaled $5.1 billion in 2024, up 4.9 percent ($238.7 million) from 2023.
“The United States and Pakistan share a robust economic relationship going back decades, of which trade and investment are key elements,” Gupta said. “That the United States remains Pakistan’s largest export market globally is a testament to this strong partnership”.
Gupta, however, referred to US Trade Representative’s (USTR) National Trade Estimate Report which highlights significant foreign barriers to US exports in various countries, including Pakistan.
The USTR details tariff and non-tariff hurdles ranging from Pakistan charging higher tariffs to US businesses to the closure of Internet services, imposing a ban on US beef imports and “perceived politicization” of the anti-graft National Accountability Bureau body.
“US companies have cited concerns that Pakistan has been imposing high tariff rates and, in some cases, additional duties, on products such as automobiles and finished goods,” the report said.
Qamar Sarwar Abbasi, a spokesperson of Pakistan’s finance ministry, did not respond to Arab News’ request for comment.
Some prominent American companies operating in Pakistan include Pepsi-Cola, General Electric International, Procter and Gamble, Pfizer and DuPont, according to the International Trade Administration, a US government agency.
Experts have warned the tariffs could harm Pakistan’s competitiveness in the global market, especially if regional exporters such as China, Bangladesh and Vietnam redirect more goods to Europe, intensifying competition in alternative markets.
‘LIKELY TO SAIL THROUGH’
However, economist Shankar Talreja, who is also the director of research at Topline Securities Ltd. brokerage form, said talks between Washington and Islamabad are likely to “sail through.”
“Pak-US trade talks are likely to sail through as Pakistan exports are primarily based on labor-intensive industry such as textile,” Talreja told Arab News.
He said Pakistan is likely to increase its import of agricultural commodities such as cotton and petroleum products from the US to fill the trade deficit.
But if talks fail, Pakistani textile exports may be adversely affected, he said.
“If talks are not successful, Pakistan textile exports may get hurt in future assuming other countries will successfully negotiate with the US,” the analyst warned.
The textile industry attracts the largest amount of foreign exchange for Pakistan, fetching $17 billion for the cash-strapped nation in FY2024.
