LONDON: Record immigration caused the population of England and Wales to rise by 610,000 to 60.9 million in mid-2023, the largest annual increase in 75 years, official data showed on Monday.
What statisticians term ‘natural’ population growth — the difference between births and deaths — fell to just 400, the lowest since 1978, while net international migration rose to 622,000, up from 548,500 in the previous 12 months.
A net 13,800 people also moved from England and Wales to Scotland or Northern Ireland.
Britain’s Office for National Statistics said the population increase in England and Wales was the largest since 1948, when a post-World War Two baby boom and the return of British military personnel serving overseas caused a rise of 1.5 million.
The population for the whole United Kingdom was 67.6 million in mid 2022. Data for 2023 is not yet available.
Economic output has not kept up with the rising population. Based on provisional population figures, gross domestic product per head in 2023 was 0.7 percent lower than a year earlier.
Net migration to the United Kingdom hit a record 764,000 in 2022 and fell 10 percent to 685,000 in 2023, but is more than double its level in 2015, just before the Brexit referendum.
Reducing immigration was a key goal of many Britons who voted to leave the European Union.
Britain’s previous Conservative government said it wanted to reduce net immigration, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party pledged in the election campaign to do so too by making the economy less reliant on foreign workers.
Post-Brexit changes to visas sharply reduced the number of EU migrants to Britain, but new work visa rules led to a surge in immigration from India, Nigeria and Pakistan, often to fill health and social care vacancies.
At the end of last year the government tightened rules to stop low-paid social care workers from bringing dependents.
England and Wales population rises by most in 75 years amid influx from Pakistan, elsewhere
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England and Wales population rises by most in 75 years amid influx from Pakistan, elsewhere
- Post-Brexit changes to visas sharply reduced the number of EU migrants to Britain
- But new work visa rules led to a surge in immigration from Pakistan, India and Nigeria
From biryani to paratha rolls: Islamabad now gets a taste of Karachi
- Hot N Spicy, Xander’s, Red Apple and Caffe Praha are some of the outlets that have expanded into Islamabad recently
- Islamabad customers say they relish the taste and dining experience offered by Karachi-based eateries in capital
ISLAMABAD: Waiters weave through the busy restaurant floor, hurriedly taking orders from famished customers and making room for plenty of others who amble into the busy Xander’s gourmet café in Islamabad. It has been a little over three months since the restaurant opened for business in Pakistan’s capital. The steady stream of customers suggests it’s here to stay.
This is the story of several restaurants from Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi, who have opened their outlets in Islamabad in recent years and found success in the capital. Karachi is not only Pakistan’s vital port city that serves as the country’s economic engine but is also its largest metropolis with a population of over 20 million people.
These people bring much-needed diversity to the city’s culinary landscape. The southern port city is home to the Memon, Bohra, Punjabi, Pashtun, Baloch, Bengali, Malbari, Sindhi and a large community of MuHajjirs--people who migrated from India at the time of partition. Each group has contributed distinct flavors to Karachi’s ever-evolving palate with their own signature dishes.
But while Karachi has always been famous for its mouthwatering biryani, slow-cooked beef stew popularly known as nihari and the haleem, a thick, savory porridge of meat, lentils, and wheat, Islamabad’s residents did not find the same delight in the capital city’s version of these dishes.
Hence it comes as no surprise that Karachi’s prominent eateries that tried their hand in Islamabad have gotten impressive results so far. Take for instance Red Apple, a Karachi-based restaurant food chain popular for its paratha rolls and barbecue items, that started in Karachi in 1996 and now has 25 branches in total in the city.
“Three years ago, we launched in Islamabad and Lahore and within that period, have opened seven branches across Islamabad and Rawalpindi,” Hamza Channa, the general manager of Red Apple’s F-6 branch in Islamabad, told Arab News.
“There was no good roll paratha here. So Red Apple brought a good roll paratha and barbeque,” he said, adding the restaurant chain has the potential to open 20 outlets in the capital city.
Xander’s, another Karachi-based eatery, describes itself as a modern gourmet café that serves simple and flavorful meals to customers. The cafe has been operating in Karachi for the past 14 years and found success with three outlets there before it expanded into Islamabad three months earlier.
Khasham Zaman, a businessman who has savored meals at both Xander’s outlets in Karachi and Islamabad, said the arrival of Karachi-based restaurants in the city is narrowing the gap in fine-dining experience in the capital.
“There is still room for improvement in the quality of the food, but I think they are doing exceptionally well,” Zaman told Arab News.
“I have tried Xander’s both in Karachi and after that in Islamabad. It’s a new addition and it’s fantastic.”
Another Karachi-based eatery that has gained popularity in Islamabad is Caffe Praha. After operating in the southern city since 2019, Praha, which offers its customers the experience of relishing coffee and cakes at its outlets that it says are styled after Prague’s street cafés, opened for business in Islamabad on June 26.
For popular food vlogger “Guy Knows Food,” the popularity of new food chains opening in Islamabad has less to do with taste and more with “aesthetic appeal.”
“It is really easy for Karachi’s restaurants to enter Islamabad’s food market because consumers here have really low expectations when it comes to restaurants,” the vlogger told Arab News.
“They usually just focus on the aesthetic and/or location of the restaurant and are not concerned about actual fundamentals, like food or service or choice of ingredients, or its sourcing even.”
He described Karachi’s range of food options as “absolutely amazing,” saying that restaurants based in the city are proof of that.
“Even Karachi’s restaurants don’t maintain the same quality of food and service here as they know that Islamabadi consumers won’t be too concerned,” he said.
“They can get away with it.”
Mahira Khan, however, absolutely relishes both the taste and experience that Praha offers.
“As they are advertising from Prague to Islamabad, I was expecting the same kind of touch, [that is] European food,” she said, sipping her Peach Mojito.
“And yes, the food was exactly what I was expecting.”
Dubai, Abu Dhabi to host T20 Asia Cup matches
- Arch-rivals India and Pakistan to meet in Dubai on September 14 for Asia Cup clash
- Group A includes Asia Cup defending champions India, Pakistan, UAE and Oman
Dubai and Abu Dhabi will be the host cities for the men’s Twenty20 Asia Cup, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) said, with arch-rivals India and Pakistan to meet in Dubai on September 14.
The tournament in the United Arab Emirates, scheduled to run from September 9 to 28, will feature eight teams — two more than the last edition — with 11 matches in Dubai and eight in Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi will host the opener between Afghanistan and Hong Kong, while the final will be held in Dubai.
“Hosting it in the UAE allows us to bring the excitement to one of the most vibrant cricketing hubs in the world,” ACC President Mohsin Naqvi said in a media release on Saturday.
“Dubai and Abu Dhabi are well equipped to deliver a seamless and world class experience for players, fans, and broadcasters alike.”
Group A includes defending champions India, Pakistan, UAE and Oman, while Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Hong Kong are in Group B.
Islamabad, Tehran discuss regional security, defense ties during Pezeshkian’s Pakistan visit
- Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in Pakistan on Saturday for two-day visit to boost trade, bilateral ties
- Pakistan, Iran have remained at odds over instability along shared border that led to a missile exchange between them last year
ISLAMABAD: The defense ministers of Pakistan and Iran this week discussed regional security and ways to enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries, Pakistan’s defense ministry said amid Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian’s two-day state visit to the South Asian country.
Pakistan and Iran have remained at odds over instability along their shared, porous border that led to a missile exchange between them last year. Both countries, however, were quick to move to ease tensions.
Iran was among several countries that attempted to de-escalate tensions between India and Pakistan during their May armed conflict, while Islamabad categorically condemned Israel for carrying out strikes against Iran that triggered a 12-day conflict between the two countries in June.
Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif met Brig. Gen. Aziz Nasirzadeh, his Iranian counterpart, on Saturday. Nasirzadeh is part of a high-level delegation led by Pezeshkian, who arrived on a two-day state visit to Pakistan on Saturday to increase bilateral trade to $10 billion and strengthen relations between the two countries.
“During the meeting, both sides discussed matters of mutual interest, including regional security, counter-terrorism efforts, and avenues to enhance defense cooperation between the two neighboring countries,” the Pakistani defense ministry said in a statement on Saturday.
“The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen bilateral ties and promote peace and stability in the region,” it added.
Asif expressed appreciation for Iran’s continued engagement and emphasized the importance of “defense diplomacy” in addressing shared security challenges, the ministry said.
In response, Nasirzadeh thanked Pakistan for extending the Iranian delegation a warm welcome and reiterated Iran’s desire to build stronger defense ties based on mutual respect, shared values and trust, the Pakistani defense ministry added.
“The meeting concluded on a positive note, with both leaders expressing optimism about the future of Pakistan-Iran defense relations and pledging to continue working together for the prosperity and security of the region,” the statement added.
This is Pezeshkian’s first official visit to Pakistan as the Iranian president, according to the Pakistani foreign office. His high-level delegation includes Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, senior ministers and other high-ranking officials.
Prior to arriving in Islamabad, the Iranian president made a brief stay in Lahore on Saturday, Pakistan’s cultural capital, where he also visited the mausoleum of Dr. Muhammad Iqbal, Pakistan’s national poet, who wrote in both Urdu and Persian and is widely revered in Iran and Persian-speaking communities across the world.
He then arrived in Islamabad and was received by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. During his stay, Pezeshkian will meet President Asif Ali Zardari and hold delegation-level talks with Sharif, the Pakistani foreign office said in an earlier statement.
Last year, Iran’s late president, Ebrahim Raisi, traveled to Pakistan on a three-day visit during which both sides signed memoranda of understanding in the fields of trade, technology, agriculture, health, culture and judicial matters.
This year, ties between the two countries warmed up after Islamabad voiced its support for Tehran during the Iran-Israel war in June, which began after Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
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.
Pakistan bans future participation in WCL league over ‘hypocrisy,’ alleged pro-India tilt
- PCB criticizes WCL’s move to award points to India after it withdrew from Pakistan league match
- WCL is a T20 tournament featuring retired and non-contracted players from cricketing giants
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday announced it was issuing a “blanket ban” on future participation in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) league, accusing it of being biased in favor of India.
The WCL is a T20 tournament held in England every year. It features retired and non-contracted players from cricketing giants, including England, India, Pakistan, Australia, West Indies and South Africa. It is co-owned by Bollywood superstar Ajay Devgn and Harshit Tomar.
The tournament became controversial when India refused to play Pakistan in the league stage of the match, and the WCL decided both teams would share the points. India again refused to play Pakistan in the semifinal stage of the tournament, with the Green Shirts advancing on to the final on Sunday.
Several Indian players announced they would not take part in matches against Pakistan after the two nations engaged in the worst fighting in decades with each other in May. The WCL had said it respected India’s decision to withdraw and Pakistan’s willingness to compete.
“The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announces that it is issuing a blanket ban from future participation in the World Championship of Legends (WCL),” the PCB said in a press release following its 79th meeting of the Board of Governors.
The PCB said it reviewed “with considerable disappointment” the WCL’s conduct of awarding points to a willfully forfeiting team, and the content of the press releases of the WCL announcing the cancelation of the scheduled India vs. Pakistan legends matches.
It said the press releases were “tainted with hypocrisy and bias.”
“The contents of the said press releases highlight a duality where the narrative of ‘peace through sport’ is selectively applied and sporting events are held hostage to political expediency and narrow commercial interests,” the cricket board added.
The PCB said it has always advocated for the separation of sports and politics, adding that it believes cricket, like other international sports, should solely serve as a platform for goodwill, healthy competition, and mutual respect.
“For a tournament involving legendary players to be dictated by sentiments that undermine this fundamental principle is not only regrettable but also deeply concerning for the future of independent sporting events,” it added.
“The WCL’s apology for ‘hurting the sentiments’, whilst being farcical, inadvertently acknowledges that the cancelation was not based on cricketing merit, but rather on succumbing to a specific nationalistic narrative,” it added.
“This bias, masquerading as sensitivity, sends an unacceptable message to the international sporting community.”
The PCB said it can no longer condone participation in an event where the fundamental principles of fair play and “unbiased administration” are compromised by external pressures.
“We cannot allow our players to be part of events where the spirit of the game is overshadowed by skewed politics that undermines the very essence of sportsmanship and the gentleman’s game,” it added.
Pakistan were beaten by South Africa in the final of the WCL on Sunday when the Proteas trounced the South Asian giants by nine wickets to claim the tournament.
Pakistan warns of more rains next week as monsoon death toll reaches nearly 300
- “Weak” monsoon currents likely to intensify from Aug. 4, westerly wave likely to strengthen from Aug. 5, says Met Department
- Monsoon rains have killed 299 in Pakistan since June 26, with Punjab reporting highest number of deaths with 162 casualties
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Meteorological Department warned on Sunday that currently “weak” monsoon currents penetrating the country are likely to intensify from next week, triggering more rains and flash floods, as the death toll from rain-related incidents since late June climbed to 299.
As per the Met Department’s latest press release, weak monsoon currents are continuously penetrating the country’s upper and central parts. It said these currents are likely to “intensify” from Aug. 4 and that a westerly wave is likely to strengthen from Aug. 5.
“Heavy rains may generate flash floods in local nullahs/streams of Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Buner, Charsadda, Nowshera, Swabi, Mardan, Murree, Galliyat, Islamabad/Rawalpindi, northeast Punjab and Kashmir from Aug. 5-7,” the PMD said.
Monsoon rains have killed 299 people in Pakistan since June 26, with Punjab reporting the highest number of deaths with 162 casualties, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) with 69, Sindh with 28, Balochistan with 20, Gilgit-Baltistan with 10, Islamabad with 8 and Azad Kashmir with 2.
As per the National Disaster Management Authority’s (NDMA) latest situation report, 715 people have been injured in total in rain-related incidents since June 26, with 239 of them children, 272 males and 204 females.
The PMD warned that heavy rains may trigger urban floods in the low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore and Sialkot cities of Punjab from Aug. 5-7.
“Landslides/mudslides may cause roads’ closure in the vulnerable hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Murree, Galliyat and Kashmir during the forecast period,” it added.
The PMD warned the public, travelers and tourists against traveling unnecessarily to vulnerable areas to avoid any untoward situation, and to keep updated with the latest weather conditions.
Pakistan, which ranks among the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations, has witnessed increasingly erratic weather events in recent years.
In May, at least 32 people were killed in severe storms, while a third of the country was submerged by devastating floods in 2022 that killed more than 1,700 people, affected over 30 million and caused an estimated $35 billion in damages.
