Connect with us

Pakistan

Pakistani beggars plague Middle East, raising trust concerns

Published

on



ISLAMABAD:

The issue of gangs of professional beggars, once notorious on the streets and squares of Pakistan, has now crossed international borders and become a growing concern in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and beyond.

According to a report shared with the senators, a staggering 90% of professional beggars arrested in Middle Eastern nations hail from Pakistan, and Pakistani nationals are disproportionately involved in petty crimes such as pickpocketing around the revered Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia.

Advertisement

During a heated meeting of the Standing Committee of Overseas Pakistanis chaired by Senator Manzoor Kakar on Wednesday, Secretary Overseas Pakistanis Zulfikar Haider vented his frustration and raised alarm over the lack of action taken to address this escalating issue. Haider disclosed startling details about the extent of the problem and its impact on the reputation of overseas Pakistanis.

“Beggars are leaving Pakistan en masse, often traveling by boatloads, and then exploiting Umrah and visit visas to beg from pilgrims abroad,” Haider revealed. He went on to express his deep concern that prisons in Iraq and Saudi Arabia are now housing a significant number of Pakistani beggars, further tarnishing the image of Pakistanis abroad.

Also read: Rising nuisance : Professional beggars exploiting lenient laws

One of the most alarming aspects of this phenomenon is the erosion of trust in overseas Pakistanis. Haider lamented that Pakistanis are increasingly viewed with suspicion abroad, leading to a rising number of deportations. “Iraq and Saudi Arabia continuously complain that we are sending criminals to their countries, and their jails are overcrowded with Pakistani beggars. This is a serious issue of human trafficking,” he asserted.

In the same meeting, Senator Rana Mehmoodul Hassan highlighted another issue – the underrepresentation of Pakistani skilled labour abroad. Hassan compared Pakistan’s performance in sending skilled professionals to countries like Japan, where neighbouring nations like India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka have made significant contributions. Pakistan, in contrast, has sent a mere 200 individuals to Japan.

Advertisement

Hassan emphasised the urgent need for Pakistan to step up its efforts in providing skilled labour, especially since Saudi Arabia now demands more than simple labour but highly skilled professionals. “We have 50 thousand unemployed engineers in Pakistan. It’s time we focus on sending skilled labour abroad,” Hassan urged.

Also read: Beggars pester locals for food, money

Secretary Overseas Pakistanis informed the committee about the establishment of a Skilled Center in Saudi Arabia and highlighted the presence of 1,600,000 Pakistanis in the UAE and 200,000 in Qatar. He stressed that Pakistan must send skilled professionals such as engineers, nurses, IT experts, and individuals from the paramedical and pharmaceutical sectors to enhance the country’s reputation abroad.

“If we send professionals overseas, our remuneration will rise, and our trustworthiness will improve,” Haider explained.



Advertisement

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Pakistan

Father of girl killed for ‘honour’ arrested in Kohistan

Published

on

By


Police in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) on Tuesday arrested the father of the girl who was allegedly killed in the name of “honour” in Kohistan, officials said.

The suspect Arsala was presented before a local court which granted a seven-day physical remand. Three suspected accomplices, believed to have aided and advised the accused, have also been taken into custody.

On Sunday, a young girl was murdered and another rescued by the police in a case involving a viral video in which both the girls could be seen dancing with local boys.

Advertisement

The girl was killed in the Barsharyal village of Kohistan’s Palas — 150km northwest of Mansehra — allegedly by her own family members on orders issued by a local jirga.

Read More: Husband held over honour killing of wife

The boys featured in the video, which went viral on social media around four days ago, had gone into hiding.

According to details, in the case registered under sections 114, 15AA, 302/311/109/34 PPC at Palas police station on November 28, 2023, the arrested suspect, Arsala, son of Mohsin, belonging to the Barsharyal tribe, was presented before the senior sessions judge/ Palas Assistant Commissioner.

Read More: CM orders inquiry into Kohistan girl’s killing

Advertisement

The police had requested a 10-day physical remand for further investigation, but the judge approved a seven-day remand. The accused will be interrogated further in connection with the case.

Three other alleged accomplices in this gruesome murder have also been arrested. Among them, one is Arsala’s brother, one is his uncle’s son, and the third is a close relative. They have been apprehended on charges of abetment and will be presented before the court for physical remand.

Meanwhile, the boy, identified as Rahmat Shah, who featured in the viral images, has been rescued safely by the local police from Barsharyal.

The police had recorded his statement, and he will be presented in court for further legal proceedings.

Police teams are actively present in Barsharyal, conducting a thorough investigation into the matter.

Advertisement



Continue Reading

Pakistan

PM Kakar arrives in Kuwait on two-day official visit

Published

on

By



KUWAIT:

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Tuesday arrived in Kuwait on a two-day official visit to meet the brotherly country’s leadership.

Upon his arrival at the airport, Kuwait’s Minister for Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy Dr Jassim Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ostad received the prime minister, PM Office said in a press release.

Advertisement

Pakistan Ambassador to Kuwait Malik Muhammad Farooq and other senior diplomatic officials were also present on the occasion.

Read more: Investment worth $10b on the cards

During his visit, the premier will meet Crown Prince of Kuwait Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Al-Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.

During the visit, a new era of economic and economic cooperation between the two countries will begin. 

Advertisement

A number of MoUs will be signed for mutual cooperation in various sectors including manpower, information technology, minerals and mining, food security, energy and defence, it was further added.

As a traditional Kuwaiti welcoming gesture, the caretaker prime minister was also presented “Kahwa” upon his arrival.

Earlier this month, the interim federal cabinet gave the nod to seven memorandum of understanding (MoUs) with Kuwait for an investment worth $10 billion.

The MoUs would be signed by PM Kakar during the visit.

Advertisement

The MoUs will be inked for projects in various fields, including expansion of water reservoirs, mining facilities, protection and expansion of mangrove forests for coastal areas, investment in IT sector and food security.

The MoUs between the two countries became possible due to the efforts made by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), according to a statement issued by the PM Office earlier.

It added that the interim premier, who chaired the meeting in the federal capital, and his cabinet members appreciated the efforts of the SIFC and the relevant ministries.

The caretaker prime minister issued directions to the federal authorities concerned to ensure cooperation with the provinces for early and fair execution of the projects.

Advertisement

 



Continue Reading

Pakistan

Govt will support ECP in holding ‘fair polls’

Published

on

By



ISLAMABAD:

Caretaker Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Solangi Tuesday said under Article 218(3) of the Constitution, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) would fulfill its responsibility to conduct fair, transparent and impartial elections and the government would support it.

Talking to media in the federal capital, the interim minister noted that the Constitution comprised 280 articles, adding that it not only had the article pertaining to holding of elections in 90 days but also had Article 254.

Advertisement

Read also: Caretaker govt has no agenda: Solangi

“Everyone in Pakistan has freedom to express opinion, complain and criticize,” he said.

The minister maintained that the PML-N also had the same liberty as of the PPP and the other parties.

He said Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar had apprised the people about his visit to the UAE on Monday night through a video message.



Advertisement

Continue Reading

Trending