ISLAMABAD: The Bangladesh high commission in Islamabad said on Wednesday Dhaka had not stopped issuing visas to Pakistanis, following media reports of a fresh diplomatic spat between the two countries over the pending visa extension application of a Bangladeshi diplomat.
Media reported this week that the Bangladesh High Commission in Islamabad had stopped issuing visas to Pakistanis in the last one week to protest the visa application of a Bangladeshi diplomat not getting clearance from the Pakistan government for the last four months.
According to The Daily Star newspaper, Muhammad Iqbal Hossain, Counsellor (Press) at the Bangladesh High Commission in Islamabad, had submitted a visa extension application to Pakistan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry in January, which was subsequently sent to the Pakistani Interior Ministry. The application has still not been cleared, the newspaper reported.
“Bangladesh has not stopped visas to Pakistani nationals,” the Bangladesh high commission told Arab News in a written response to questions. “There has been no visa officer at Bangladesh Mission in Islamabad since November 2018. Counsellor (Press) was doing additional duty of visa officer on temporary basis.”
Due to a shortage of staff at the Islamabad office, the issuance of visas had become particularly difficult over the last one week, the high commission said.
“Now under order transfer to Dhaka, Counsellor (Press) is leaving Islamabad soon and passing preparation time,” the embassy’s statement said. “Issuance of visa has become extremely difficult due to absence of any officer at the visa section of Islamabad Mission.”
“Bangladesh Mission in Karachi continues to issue visas,” the embassy added.
Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen also told reporters on Tuesday Bangladesh had not halted visas for Pakistanis.
“We have not stopped issuing visas to Pakistanis, but delays could happen in some cases which are common worldwide,” he said during a press conference.
Momen said the High Commission in Islamabad was going through staff shortage issues, which were affecting visa processing, adding that Pakistani authorities were delaying issuing a visa for Bangladesh’s newly appointed visa councilor in Islamabad.
East Pakistan broke away to become independent Bangladesh after a war between India and Pakistan in 1971. About three million people were killed and ties between Dhaka and Islamabad have been strained since.
Relations became particularly tense in 2013 after Dhaka executed two opposition leaders for war crimes committed during the 1971 war to break away from Pakistan. Islamabad maintains the trials were flawed.
No block on visas for Pakistanis, says Dhaka high commission
No block on visas for Pakistanis, says Dhaka high commission
- Says shortage of staff at embassy’s visa section made issuing visas “extremely difficult” in the last week
- Bangladesh Mission in Karachi continues to issue visas, high commission adds
Pakistan, UK discuss tax reform and digital governance under stabilization agenda
- Pakistan outlines tax expansion, energy reform and SOE restructuring under IMF-linked program
- UK signals readiness to support governance, digitalization, investment climate improvements
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United Kingdom reaffirmed cooperation on economic reform and digital governance on Tuesday, with Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb telling UK Minister for Development Baroness Chapman that stabilization efforts were now centered on tax expansion, debt control and restructuring state-owned enterprises.
Pakistan is working to widen its tax base, reduce leakages through digital systems and overhaul energy-sector losses as part of ongoing fiscal reform. The government is also pursuing privatization and pension restructuring to create fiscal space for social spending in a period of high external financing needs.
Aurangzeb “highlighted ongoing work on energy sector efficiencies, debt management, public-sector right-sizing, pension reform, and measures aimed at restoring fiscal sustainability and creating space for social sector priorities,” according to an official readout of the meeting released by the finance ministry.
Chapman said the UK stood ready to support reform delivery through technical assistance, regulatory cooperation and digital transition tools aimed at simplifying compliance and improving transparency, the statement added.
Chapman “reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s readiness to provide technical assistance, regulatory support, and capacity-building … particularly in digitalization, governance reforms, investment climate improvement, and ease of doing business.”
Talks also covered demographic pressures, provincial governance, climate resilience and women’s economic participation, areas both sides said needed coordinated financing and policy planning. The ministers further discussed aligning development spending with World Bank-supported programs and encouraging private-sector participation in reforms.
