ISLAMABAD: Western nations, including the United States and European countries, have expressed “serious concerns” to Pakistan’s new Prime Minister Imran Khan about a crackdown on aid groups, diplomats said.
Pakistan has long viewed foreign-funded aid groups with suspicion and many members of the powerful military believe that Western countries often use such groups as a cover for spying.
Diplomats and foreign journalists also face severe restrictions on their movements in the nuclear-armed nation.
At least 18 international aid agencies were ordered to leave Pakistan over recent months after being refused registration.
The countries have written a letter to Khan saying the groups did not get a proper explanation for why the government had ordered them out and they criticized a “lack of transparency” in the registration process.
“We are writing to express serious concerns with respect to recent developments,” the countries said in the letter seen by Reuters. Four diplomats confirmed its authenticity.
“Restriction on civil society risks affecting Pakistan’s international reputation as a genuine partner on human developments and undermining confidence of the international donor and business community,” they said in the letter.
Neither Khan’s office nor the foreign ministry had any immediate comment on the letter, which was signed by envoys from the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, Norway and Switzerland.
The European Union ambassador signed on behalf of the 17 EU countries with missions in Pakistan, including Britain and France.
A similar letter was sent to the Interior Ministry in September, diplomatic sources say.
The 18 aid organizations were appealing against their expulsion orders, issued late last year to 27 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in all.
The Western envoys said the impact of expelling the groups would be “significant,” and warned that it would imperil some of development goals championed by Khan, who was elected in July on a populist platform to help the poor.
“Restricting INGO operations will affect millions of poor Pakistanis. In 2017 alone, the INGO sector reached 34 million people with humanitarian relief and development assistance,” the counties aid in their letter, referring to international NGOs.
“This will mean thousands of Pakistanis employed by INGOs and local partners may lose their jobs.”
One of the 18 groups facing closure, ActionAid, which focuses on education, poverty alleviation and human rights, said this month the expulsion of the groups was part of a broader pattern.
“Pakistan’s decision to shut down ActionAid and other International NGOs is a worrying escalation of recent attacks on civil society, academics and journalists,” the group said.
Media groups have warned of a more difficult environment for them with increasing censorship and threats from the military, which denies intimidation.
US, EU nations express ‘serious concerns’ about Pakistan’s aid group crackdown
US, EU nations express ‘serious concerns’ about Pakistan’s aid group crackdown
- Pakistan has long viewed foreign-funded aid groups with suspicion and many members of the powerful military believe that Western countries often use such groups as a cover for spying
- At least 18 international aid agencies were ordered to leave Pakistan over recent months after being refused registration
Pakistan stocks tumble 2.3% as Middle East conflict rattles investors
- KSE-100 posts weekly loss of 6.3% as geopolitical tensions trigger sell-off
- Foreign investors dump $25.5 million in equities amid global energy supply fears
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s benchmark stock index fell 2.3% on Friday as investors sold shares ahead of the weekend amid growing fears that the escalating conflict involving Iran could disrupt global energy supplies and trade routes.
The KSE-100 index closed down 3,714.57 points at 157,496.10, after touching an intraday high of 161,435.83 and a low of 157,072.64, according to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) data. Trading volume stood at about 196 million shares with a value of roughly Rs18.8 billion ($67 million).
The decline capped a volatile week for Pakistani equities, with the benchmark index falling 6.3% week-on-week as geopolitical tensions between Iran, the United States and Israel unsettled investors and triggered risk-off sentiment across regional markets.
“KSE-100 Index declined by -6.3% on a week-on-week basis, and this decline can be attributed to the Middle East conflict (US-Israel vs. Iran), where investors sold their positions in the backdrop of increasing risk to global energy supply and trade routes,” brokerage house Topline Securities said in its weekly review.
Topline said foreign corporate investors were among the largest sellers during the week, offloading equities worth $25.5 million, while mutual funds sold shares worth $54.5 million amid investor redemptions.
Banks, insurance companies and local corporates partly cushioned the sell-off, buying equities worth $36 million, $15.7 million and $14.3 million respectively during the week, according to the review.
Other economic developments during the week included Pakistan’s consumer price inflation for February rising to 6.98% from 5.80% in January and the country’s trade deficit widening to $2.98 billion for the month, up 8% from the previous month and 25% year-on-year.
Average daily trading volumes during the week stood at around 658 million shares, with average daily value reaching about Rs36.2 billion ($130 million), Topline said.
