KARACHI: Three out of four parties from China that qualified to potentially acquire Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) are no longer interested in the transaction, Pakistan’s caretaker privatization minister said on Thursday.
Pakistan’s caretaker government moved on Thursday to improve governance at state-owned companies and earmarked 10 for privatization or turnaround efforts, as it strives to deliver reforms under a $3 billion International Monetary Fund bailout.
Under the IMF loan deal, critical in averting a sovereign debt default, state-owned entities (SOEs) whose losses are burning a hole in government finances will need stronger governance.
As of 2020, the accumulated losses for SOEs amounted to 500 billion rupees ($1.74 billion).
“We are now confronted with a single bidder situation for Pakistan Steel Mills,” Pakistan’s caretaker privitization minister, Fawad Hasan Fawad. said on Thursday.
He said that prior to COVID-19, there were four companies that were interested and qualified to bid for Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM), but three of them have backed out for a variety of reasons including global demand for steel.
Fawad added that the caretaker government was in talks with the financial planner appointed for the transaction; and that only PSM’s operational assets were up for sale.
Pakistan has also been discussing outsourcing operations of several of its state-owned assets to outside companies.
In March, it kicked off outsourcing of operations and land assets at three major airports to be run under a public private partnership, a move to generate foreign exchange reserves for its ailing economy.
The government has budgeted only about 15 billion Pakistani rupees ($52.42 million) in receipts from a stalled privatization process in its budget for the fiscal year 2024.
Caretaker Finance Minister Shamshad Akhtar told reporters under the government’s draft policy on SOEs, the appointment of independent directors will be through a nomination process, adding that no ministry would be able to issue directives to SOEs in order to improve governance.
($1 = 286.9500 Pakistani rupees)
Only one bidder left for Pakistan Steel Mills — privatization minister
https://arab.news/6usq6
Only one bidder left for Pakistan Steel Mills — privatization minister
- Pakistan’s caretaker government has earmarked 10 state-owned companies for privatization or turnaround efforts
- As of 2020, accumulated losses for state-owned entities amounted to $1.74 billion, caretaker finance minister says
Pakistan and Hungary scrap diplomatic visa requirement, sign cultural cooperation deals
- The development took place as the two countries mark 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations
- Hungarian foreign minister says Pakistan’s counterterrorism campaign is also protecting Europe
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Hungary on Thursday signed an agreement to abolish visa requirements for diplomatic passport holders of both countries, along with two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) in the fields of culture and archaeology to enhance bilateral cooperation.
Hungarian Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Péter Szijjártó is visiting Islamabad on the invitation of his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar with a high-level delegation, including 17 businessmen, to explore investment opportunities in the country.
The visit marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations, which have enjoyed cooperation in energy, with Hungarian company MOL Group actively investing in Pakistan’s oil and gas exploration sector since the early 2000s.
“We are happy that we were able to sign the agreement of lifting the visa requirements for diplomatic passport holders,” Szijjártó said during a joint news conference with the Pakistani foreign minister.
“We are also proud to be able to sign the agreements about cooperation in the fields of culture and archaeology.”
The Hungarian minister also praised Pakistan’s war against militancy in the region, saying his country valued and appreciated Islamabad’s efforts since they also contributed to Europe’s security.
“Regardless of all huge international efforts, there’s still a big threat of terror stemming from Afghanistan,” he continued. “And this threat of terror comes with the danger of launching of further illegal migratory waves toward Europe.”
Szijjártó’s remarks come at a time when Pakistan has witnessed an uptick in militant violence in its western provinces bordering Afghanistan, prompting security forces to launch intelligence-based operations and blame the administration in Kabul for “facilitating” cross-border attacks by militant outfits, an allegation the Afghan government denies.
Pakistan is also carrying out a deportation drive of “illegal immigrants,” mostly Afghan nationals, citing security reasons. The move is part of a larger repatriation drive that began in November 2023, with over 900,000 Afghans expelled from Pakistan since.
On the occasion, Dar said the signing of MoUs and the visa agreement would “deepen our government-to-government and people-to-people” connections on regional matters.
This visit marks Islamabad’s push to attract investment from European countries in its priority sectors to achieve sustainable growth after pursuing agreements in trade, energy, tourism, livestock, mining and minerals with regional allies, including Gulf countries in recent months.
Pakistan and Bangladesh hold first Foreign Office Consultations in 15 years — media
- Media reports from Bangladesh say Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch is in Dhaka for talks
- The consultations are expected to pave the way for Pakistan’s deputy PM’s Dhaka visit later this month
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Bangladesh started their first Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in 15 years on Thursday, according to a media report from a Dhaka-based newspaper, signaling a thaw in relations long strained by historical grievances and regional alignments.
The meeting in Dhaka comes amid significant political shifts in Bangladesh following the ouster of its pro-India Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajid in the wake of a popular student uprising in August last year. Her departure opened avenues for Islamabad to reengage with Dhaka.
The two nations have shared a tumultuous history, as Bangladesh gained independence from Pakistan in 1971.
The complicated past between the two countries has often hampered their diplomatic relations, though recent developments, including Bangladesh’s interim government’s outreach to Pakistan and cooling ties with India, suggest a recalibration of regional partnerships.
“The Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between Bangladesh and Pakistan started in Dhaka this morning (17 April), marking the first such meeting since 2010,” the Business Standard, a prominent English-language daily published from Dhaka, reported.
“Foreign Secretary [Muhammad] Jashim Uddin and Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch are leading their respective sides at the FOC being held at the foreign ministry,” it continued.
The consultations are expected to pave the way for a visit by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to Bangladesh later this month, which would mark the first such visit by a Pakistani foreign minister since 2012.
While Pakistani authorities have not yet issued a statement regarding Baloch’s visit, the renewed diplomatic engagement highlights a mutual interest in strengthening bilateral ties.
In recent months, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus have met on the sidelines of international forums, including the United Nations General Assembly in New York and the D-8 Summit in Cairo.
These interactions have been described as cordial, with both leaders expressing a desire to deepen bilateral cooperation.
Yunus has also met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Bangkok, where discussions included Bangladesh’s request for the extradition of ex-premier Wajid, who has gone into exile in India and issued multiple anti-government statements against Yunus’s interim administration.
Pakistan begins emergency training for Hajj support staff ahead of pilgrimage
- The training program involves instruction in CPR, crowd management and life-saving techniques
- Expert trainers from Rescue 1122 are conducting the training sessions at Islamabad’s Haji Camp
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs said on Thursday it had launched an emergency response training program for Hajj support staff called Moavineen to equip them with first aid and civil defense skills ahead of this year’s pilgrimage.
The sessions, underway at Islamabad’s Haji Camp, include hands-on instruction in CPR, crowd management and life-saving techniques.
The initiative is part of broader preparations for Hajj 2025, when nearly 90,000 Pakistanis are expected to travel to Saudi Arabia under the government scheme.
“Expert trainers from Rescue 1122 Islamabad are conducting the sessions, providing hands-on instruction and practical demonstrations to the participants,” the ministry said in a statement.
“All selected Moavineen for this year’s Hajj operations are undergoing the training,” it continued. “The program is designed to equip them with essential life-saving skills and emergency response techniques to ensure the safety and well-being of Pakistani pilgrims during their stay in Saudi Arabia.”
The ministry said the training aims to strengthen the capacity of Moavineen to respond to medical emergencies and other challenges that may arise during the annual pilgrimage, including heat-related illness and large crowd movement.
Pakistan has been allocated a quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Hajj 2025, with the first government-arranged flight to Saudi Arabia scheduled to depart on April 29.
The Hajj rituals are expected to take place between June 4 and June 9, subject to moon sighting.
Authorities have also launched mandatory pre-departure workshops across the country to educate pilgrims on health precautions and Saudi laws and customs during their stay.
Bodies of eight Pakistanis killed in Iran arrive in Bahawalpur for burial
- The men, who worked as auto repair technicians, were killed by Baloch separatists last week
- Iran has assured Pakistan of cooperation in bringing the perpetrators of the attack to justice
ISLAMABAD: The bodies of eight Pakistani nationals killed last week in Iran arrived in Bahawalpur in the early hours of Thursday, the local administration confirmed, before being sent to their native villages for burial.
The men, who worked as auto repair technicians, were killed in Mehrestan County in Iran’s southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province, which borders Pakistan, in an attack claimed by the Baloch National Army (BNA), a separatist group operating in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province.
Pakistani officials said the bodies were flown back from Iran aboard a military aircraft to facilitate urgent burials.
“The bodies of the eight Pakistanis martyred in Sistan, Iran, arrived at Bahawalpur Airport and were dispatched to their respective hometowns,” the district administration of Ahmedpur Sharqia said in a brief statement.
The attack triggered diplomatic activities between the neighboring states of Pakistan and Iran.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during a televised address to the federal cabinet on Tuesday, hoped Tehran would immediately arrest the killers and bring them to justice.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi also condoled the killing of the Pakistani nationals in a phone call with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday, assuring him of “full cooperation” in bringing the perpetrators to justice, according to the foreign office in Islamabad.
Thousands of Pakistanis, many from underprivileged backgrounds, cross into Iran for informal work in construction, agriculture and repair services. The killings have raised concerns about the safety of these migrant workers in Iran’s border region, which has long been volatile due to insurgent activity.
Baloch separatists in Pakistan have also waged a low-intensity insurgency in southwestern Pakistan for nearly two decades, accusing the central government of resource exploitation without local benefit.
Islamabad denies the allegations and says it is committed to inclusive development in the province.
Pakistan’s teen comedy sensation takes social media by storm, one hilarious skit at a time
- Talha Ahmed, 16, has attracted millions of views on Instagram with his comedic skits
- Shot entirely on a mobile phone, his videos feature stellar acting and witty dialogue
KARACHI: In a small building in Karachi’s low-income and densely populated Baldia Town area, 16-year-old Talha Ahmed is busy recording new content for his Instagram channel. His videos have recently been a hit with millions of people, partly due to his stellar acting and partly due to the relatable themes he employs.
Ahmed is a content creator who started making humorous skits in July 2024 and has amassed over 324,000 followers after uploading around 116 of them. A recent video of his, poking fun at the way India’s Bollywood film industry stereotypes Muslims, has notched over 20 million views.
Despite being shot on just a cellphone, without the support of a professional camera or tripod, his skits have the necessary ingredients to evoke bone-tingling laughs: strong scripts, meticulous acting and perfect dialogue delivery.
“My idea was to create content that families can also enjoy together, something that’s for everyone and can be watched with joy by all,” Ahmed told Arab News in a recent conversation.
His content is indeed relatable. In one of his videos, Ahmed essays the character of that one family member who does not wake up for the suhoor meals in Ramadan and does not fast, but eagerly shows up before everyone else for the evening iftar meal.
In another, he takes aim at popular journalist and television host Suhail Warraich, expertly blurting out dialogues in his signature impassive tone.
One particular video Ahmed enjoyed making focused on the behavior of tailors ahead of Eid Al-Fitr. The Pakistani content creator poked fun at tailors who habitually lie to customers about their orders.
“’No, brother, there’s still an issue... the outfit is out for buttoning,’” Ahmed said, mimicking the typical excuses offered by Pakistani tailors.
‘GREAT SKILL, CREATIVE MIND’
Talha’s creative process is largely self-driven.
“Almost all scripts and ideas for my videos are my own,” he said.
He wrote many of the videos he shot himself, while for others, Ahmed wrote a few lines and then showed them to his family for their feedback.
“If they wanted to refine it or make any improvements, they helped me with that,” he explained.
Dr. Taha Ahmed, his brother, helps record the videos and improves the writing in them as well. He recalled how Ahmed recorded some of the earlier videos when he didn’t even own a mobile phone.
“Some days, he would use his sister’s phone to make videos and other days, he would use his brother’s phone to create content,” Dr. Taha told Arab News.
“That is a testament to his great skill and creative mind.”
Talha said his ability to connect with the audience stems from the fact that he lives with the same ground realities they do.
“The issues I face are the same as those faced by other people,” he explained. “These are relatable, and people can connect with them because we live in the same society that others live in.”
Talha balances his growing online career with his education, having completed his matriculation exams recently.
He suffers from thalassemia, a genetic blood disorder that requires regular transfusions and management since childhood.
However, he doesn’t let the disease define who he is.
“Today, praise be to Allah, my work is my identity— my illness is not my reference,” he said.
