Pakistan orders resolution of land, power hurdles for Chinese investor in special economic zone

Pakistan’s Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal is addressing an award ceremony of the staff working on the CPEC project at the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, on December 13, 2024. (PID/File)
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Updated 24 December 2024
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Pakistan orders resolution of land, power hurdles for Chinese investor in special economic zone

  • China’s Century Steel Group has complained of lack of power, high land costs in Rashakai Special Economic Zone 
  • Minister urges authorities to confirm land prices to Chinese steel giant, maintain reasonable power distribution margin

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has urged authorities to resolve land and power tariff hurdles reported by a Chinese steel giant in a key special economic zone (SEZ) located in the country’s northwest, state-run media reported this week, amid Islamabad’s intensifying efforts to attract foreign investment in vital economic sectors. 

Spread over an area of 1,000 acres, the Rashakai Special Economic Zone (RSEZ) is a flagship project of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure project that aims to connect Pakistan’s Gwadar port to China’s northwestern Xinjiang region. 

Pakistani media outlets have reported that China’s Century Steel Group, the primary investor in the RSEZ, has expressed its frustration over the past couple of months at Pakistani authorities for failing to finalize a plot purchase agreement and ensuring power supply for its steel mills operation. 

Iqbal held a meeting with China Century Steel Mills officials during which various issues faced by the investor came up, the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported on Monday. The minister instructed Pakistan’s Board of Investment (BoI), Power Division and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to address the issues hindering industrial development promptly, it said. 

“Specifically, he directed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Economic Zones Development and Management Company (KPEZDMC) to confirm land prices to the company at the earliest, by their demands,” it said. 

The KPEZDMC officials briefed Iqbal that the company had requested discounted rates for land per acre. Meanwhile, the Century Steel Group consultant cited examples from China, saying that land there is often provided free of charge to industries in SEZs, APP said. He stressed on the need for similar incentives in Pakistan.

“Addressing concerns over power tariffs, the minister directed authorities concerned to maintain a reasonable distribution margin and ensure that the zone receives power at the same rates as regular consumers,” the state-run media said. 

Iqbal instructed the FBR, Pakistan’s premier revenue authority, to conduct a consumption survey in northwestern Pakistan to estimate anticipated power consumption accurately, APP said. 

Pakistan has increasingly eyed investment from China and other regional allies, particularly from the Middle East, as it seeks to be less dependent on foreign aid and stabilize its economy. 

The South Asian country came close to suffering a sovereign default last year before it clinched a last-gasp $3 billion financial bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Islamabad has achieved some economic gains since then but Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has spoken repeatedly of bolstering the country’s economy via long-term financial reforms and international investment.


Pakistan wants to expel all Afghan refugees from the country, says Afghan embassy

Updated 19 February 2025
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Pakistan wants to expel all Afghan refugees from the country, says Afghan embassy

  • The embassy says Afghan nationals in Rawalpindi and Islamabad are facing arrests and police searches
  • Many are waiting to be resettled in a third country, with Pakistan warning they can’t stay permanently

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan wants to remove all Afghan refugees from the country and they face expulsion in the near future, the Afghan embassy in Islamabad warned Wednesday.
The embassy issued a strongly worded statement about Pakistan’s plans, saying Afghan nationals in the capital, Islamabad, and the nearby garrison city of Rawalpindi have been subjected to arrests, searches, and orders from the police to leave the twin cities and relocate to other parts of Pakistan.
“This process of detaining Afghans, which began without any formal announcement, has not been officially communicated to the Embassy of Afghanistan in Islamabad through any formal correspondence,” it said.
“Ultimately, officials from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that there is a definitive and final plan to deport all Afghan refugees not only from Islamabad and Rawalpindi but also from the entire country in the near future,” the embassy said.
There was no immediate comment from the Pakistani government on the Afghan statement.
The latest development comes more than two weeks after Pakistan’s government threatened to deport Afghan nationals living in the country illegally.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had approved a deadline of March 31 to deport those awaiting relocation to third countries unless their cases are swiftly processed by the governments who have agreed to take them after the Afghan Taliban seized power in 2021.
The Afghan embassy criticized “the short timeframe” given and “the unilateral nature of Pakistan’s decision.”
Besides hundreds of thousands of those living illegally in Pakistan, there are around 1.45 million Afghan nationals registered with UNHCR as refugees. Pakistani authorities say those who were registered earlier had their stay extended until June 2025, and will not be arrested or deported at least until the extension expires.
Earlier this month, Shafqat Ali Khan, the spokesman at Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had said: “This resettlement problem can’t be indefinite. So, for us, the Afghans who are here, awaiting resettlement also has to be a transitory phase. This is not a permanent thing.”
He said Pakistan has been collaborating with Western countries to expedite the resettlement program and “will continue to do that.”
In the past three years, tens of thousands of Afghans have fled to Pakistan. Many of them were approved for resettlement in the US through a program that helps people at risk because of their work with the American government, media, aid agencies and rights groups. However, after US President Donald Trump paused US refugee programs last month, around 20,000 Afghans are now in limbo in Pakistan.
These Afghans have been facing harassment and even arrest since October 2023, when Pakistan began cracking down on foreigners living in the country illegally.
Although the government said the campaign was not aimed at Afghans, they make up the majority of foreigners in Pakistan. Since then, more than 800,000 Afghan nationals have been deported or forced to leave the country under a so-called voluntary repatriation plan.
The International Organization for Migration has also reported an increase in deportation of Afghans in January.
IOM this week in a report said, “Afghan nationals are being deported to Afghanistan from Islamabad and Rawalpindi.” It said there is an increase of 13 percent in those Afghans returning home from Jan. 16 to 31 compared to the first two weeks in January. It said 824,568 Afghans have returned home since 2023.
Ahmad Shah, a member of an Afghan advocacy group, urged Pakistan on Wednesday to allow Afghans waiting for relocation to continue living in Islamabad at least until the Trump administration makes a final decision about their fate.
He said it would be hard for them to visit Western embassies in the Pakistani capital if they are moved to other areas.


Pakistan’s army chief arrives in UK to attend military forum, hold talks with senior leadership

Updated 19 February 2025
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Pakistan’s army chief arrives in UK to attend military forum, hold talks with senior leadership

  • General Asim Munir address a conference on Pakistan’s future outlook amid the emerging world order
  • He will also meet British civil and military leadership to discuss strengthening of ties between both states
ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir has reached the United Kingdom to attend a platform for military-to-military dialogue between the two countries and hold talks with the British civil and military leadership, an official statement announced on Wednesday. The 7th Regional Stabilization Conference is an annual event held at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the UK. It facilitates bilateral collaboration and understanding by bringing together civil and military policymakers, as well as think tank members from both countries, according to the military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The 2025 conference is significant due to the rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape, offering an invaluable opportunity to exchange perspectives and explore pathways for enhanced bilateral cooperation, it added. “Chief of Army Staff General Munir is on an official visit to the United Kingdom to participate in the 7th Regional Stabilization Conference at the esteemed Royal Military Academy Sandhurst where he will deliver the keynote address on ‘The Emerging World Order and Pakistan’s Future Outlook,’” the ISPR said. “On the inaugural day of his visit, General Munir was accorded a warm and dignified welcome including a ceremonial Guard of Honour at the historic Royal Horse Guards Parade Ground presented by an impeccably turned-out contingent.” The ISPR added the Pakistani army chief would meet UK Chief of Defense Staff Admiral Toney Radikon, British Army Chief of General Staff General Sir Roland Walker and UK National Security Adviser Jonathan Nicholas Powell to discuss matters of mutual interest. He will also engage in discussions with UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to address shared challenges apart from underscoring the importance of fostering deeper collaboration between both countries. The ISPR said General Munir will visit prominent British Army units including the Land Warfare Center and the 1st Strike Brigade where he will be briefed about the “modernization initiatives and operational strategies.” “The visit highlights the enduring partnership between the two nations, reaffirming their shared commitment to regional stability and global peace,” the statement said. Pakistan and the UK have witnessed high-level visits between their military leaders, in an effort to strengthen defense ties and collaboration. Last August, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza met with top British military officials to discuss bilateral defense and security cooperation. The two countries share a long-standing relationship built on strong diplomatic, economic and security ties. Over the years, both militaries have maintained robust cooperation, particularly in the fields of counterterrorism and professional training. Their existing defense partnership includes Pakistani officers undergoing training at Sandhurst and the Royal College of Defense Studies.

PM Sharif urges Bahrain to increase trade volume with Pakistan

Updated 19 February 2025
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PM Sharif urges Bahrain to increase trade volume with Pakistan

  • The prime minister meets 11-member Bahraini parliamentary delegation
  • Trade between both countries has ranged between $500 million to $1 billion

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has invited Bahraini nationals to invest in Pakistan, his office said on Wednesday, urging increased trade between the two countries as Islamabad aims to strengthen economic ties and attract foreign investors, particularly in the Gulf region.
After narrowly avoiding a sovereign default in 2023 and securing a last-minute International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout, Pakistan is strengthening business and investment ties with regional allies, including China and Central Asian states, to overcome the impact of a prolonged macroeconomic crisis.
Sharif met with an 11-member Bahraini parliamentary delegation, led by Bahrain’s Council of Representatives Speaker Ahmed bin Salman Al-Musalam, to discuss ties between the two countries.
“The prime minister invited Bahraini investors to invest in Pakistan,” the PM Office said in a statement. “The PM urged efforts to increase the current trade volume between Pakistan and Bahrain.”
According to the foreign office, Pakistan’s trade with Bahrain ranges between $500 million and $1 billion. Major exports include meat, vegetables, rice, tobacco and textiles. Imports from Bahrain include petroleum and its products, ferrous waste, scrap and aluminum.
Sharif called for strengthening people-to-people connections to further enhance ties between both countries, the statement continued, adding he also highlighted the “valuable services” provided by Pakistani nationals in Bahrain.
He urged Bahrain and other Muslim states to increase their support for the residents of Gaza, apart from extending his wishes to Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa.
Earlier this month, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said Pakistan saw huge potential in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) market, comprising Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman.
Pakistan has intensified its outreach to international partners and allies in recent months as it navigates a fragile economic recovery, backed by a $7 billion IMF facility granted last September.


Pakistan, Saudi forces conclude naval drills with display of firepower and combat tactics

Updated 19 February 2025
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Pakistan, Saudi forces conclude naval drills with display of firepower and combat tactics

  • The two countries maintain close defense ties, with their navies regularly participating in joint drills
  • Affaa Al Sahil follows Naseem Al Bahr-XV and Aman 2025 exercises to enhance maritime coordination

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia concluded their annual Affaa Al Sahil naval exercise in Karachi on Wednesday with a demonstration of intense firepower, close quarter combat and hostage rescue, according to a statement by Pakistan’s military media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The exercise, which has been conducted annually since 2011 between the Pakistan Navy’s Special Service Group and the Royal Saudi Naval Forces’ Special Operations Forces, focused on enhancing interoperability and tactical coordination.
It follows Naseem Al Bahr-XV, another bilateral naval exercise between the two countries, and Aman 2025, a multinational maritime drill aimed at promoting regional maritime cooperation.
“The joint naval exercise Affaa Al Sahil between the Pakistan Navy and the Royal Saudi Naval Forces’ Special Operations Forces concluded in Karachi,” the ISPR said in a statement.
“The training drills included RPG [rocket-propelled grenade] firing, machine gun firing, close quarters combat, practical rappelling, hostage rescue, visit board search and seizure, explosive ordnance disposal drills, mission planning and advanced area clearance techniques,” it added.
The closing ceremony of the exercise was attended by Commander Coast Rear Admiral Faisal Amin along with senior officials from both navies.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia maintain close defense ties, with their navies regularly participating in joint drills to improve maritime security and counter asymmetric threats in the region.
“This joint exercise will help strengthen mutual capabilities and coordination in countering maritime security challenges,” the ISPR added.


Pakistan’s deputy PM seeks UN support to curb ‘cross-border terrorism’ from Afghanistan

Updated 19 February 2025
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Pakistan’s deputy PM seeks UN support to curb ‘cross-border terrorism’ from Afghanistan

  • Ishaq Dar meets Secretary-General António Guterres, says Pakistan will support the destitute in Afghanistan
  • Th deputy PM stresses OIC’s role in addressing issues facing the Muslim world in meeting with Saudi minister

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, who also holds the foreign affairs portfolio, on Wednesday sought the United Nations’ support to curb “cross-border terrorism” from Afghanistan during a meeting with Secretary-General António Guterres, according to an official statement.
Dar traveled to New York this week to address a Security Council debate on multilateralism and global governance convened by China. A day earlier, he called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid to people affected by Israel’s war.
He also mentioned a surge in militancy in its two western provinces of his country bordering Afghanistan since a fragile truce between the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamabad broke down in November 2022.
The government has frequently blamed the spike in militant activities on Afghanistan, accusing it of sheltering and supporting militant groups that launch cross-border attacks. Afghan officials deny involvement and insist that Pakistan’s security issues are an internal matter for Islamabad.
“The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister highlighted cross-border terrorism from Afghanistan and called for the UN’s support in countering terrorism within and from Afghanistan,” the foreign office said in a statement released after Dar’s interaction with Guterres.
“He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s desire to provide humanitarian support to the millions of destitute people in Afghanistan and to promote its economic development, including through implementing connectivity projects between Central Asia and Pakistan through Afghanistan,” it added.
During his conversation with the UN chief, the deputy prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for the UN’s central role in addressing global challenges, including peace and security, development and climate change.
Dar highlighted Pakistan’s commitment to multilateralism and UN peacekeeping efforts, saying Islamabad remained dedicated to promoting international peace and security as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.
He also welcomed the UN chief’s Summit of the Future initiative, designed to strengthen global governance and improve multilateral cooperation, expressing hope it would help address financing gaps for developing countries to achieve Sustainable Development Goals and climate targets.
Guterres thanked Pakistan for its contributions to UN peacekeeping and its active engagement in multilateral forums, according to the statement.
TALKS WITH SAUDI MINISTER
Later, the deputy prime minister met with Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Eng. Waleed Abdul Karim El-Khereiji, according to a separate statement by the foreign office.
Dar praised the long-standing ties between the two countries and reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to strengthening economic and security cooperation with the Kingdom.
“Recognizing the deep-rooted strategic and economic ties between the two countries, the two leaders reiterated their resolve to expand economic cooperation and explore avenues for broad-based collaboration in trade, investment, and commercial sectors, emphasizing the vast investment opportunities available in Pakistan,” the statement said.
The two leaders also discussed the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank, calling for the full implementation of the ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian assistance to Gaza and an early start to reconstruction efforts leading to a two-state solution.
They further underscored the critical role of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in addressing issues concerning the Muslim world.
The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to strengthening their strategic partnership for mutual prosperity and regional stability.