KUALA LUMPUR: Pakistan on Tuesday said it had designated a special aircraft to bring home 320 nationals languishing in various jails across Malaysia, as part of an initiative undertaken by Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The move will see them return on a chartered Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Boeing 777 flight on Wednesday, in time to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with their families, a statement released by the Foreign Office said.
“There are more than 320 Pakistani nationals in Malaysian jails who have completed their sentence and were unable to be repatriated, as direct flights got suspended in the last week of February 2019, owing to the regional situation,” the statement read.
It added that a majority of the nationals had been imprisoned “due to expiry of visa or residence permits.”
“The program is an initiative by the Pakistani government which intends to hasten the process to send back their citizens, especially the prisoners who are unable to purchase their own ticket,” Dato’ Indera Kairul Dzaimee bin Daud, director of the Malaysian Immigration Department (MID) told Arab News.
He added that in order to facilitate the initiative, the Pakistani High Commission (HPC) in Kuala Lumpur and the MID were working closely together to expedite the process.
Meanwhile, the MID confirmed that there are more than 300 Pakistanis detained in immigration and detention centers across Malaysia whose travel expenses will be covered by the Pakistani government.
“All the Pakistani (prisoners) will be sent back via airplanes that are specially rented by the government of Pakistan,” he said, adding that the Malaysian immigration agency will oversee the safe repatriation of the prisoners from Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
“The MID and HCP will always cooperate and ensure smooth handling of immigration matters between the two countries,” Bin Daud said.
In comments to the media last Thursday, Sayed Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, said that information pertaining to the matter was made available to the Pakistani government, which prompted PM Khan to take immediate action and direct “the Bait-ul-Mal and Foreign Office to release $577,000 and $145,000 respectively” for the purpose.
Malaysia and Pakistan have enjoyed an amicable relationship for decades. However, the relationship and cooperation between the two Muslim-majority countries has further strengthened with the new government of Malaysia installed last year under Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Muhamad, and the high-profile visit by PM Khan to Malaysia in November last year.
Malaysia to release 320 Pakistani prisoners by 29 May
Malaysia to release 320 Pakistani prisoners by 29 May
- PM Khan orders designated flight to bring them back
- Several had been imprisoned due to expired visas and residency permits
Islamabad launches real-time fuel monitoring system as Iran war rattles oil markets
- Authorities say they will track petrol stocks at 145 stations through City Islamabad app
- Petrol stations in the city are required to upload daily stock data to prevent shortages
ISLAMABAD: Authorities in Pakistan’s capital have launched a digital system to monitor petroleum stocks at fuel stations in real time, and official statement said on Tuesday, as the government steps up oversight of supplies following market disruptions linked to tensions in the Middle East.
The system has been introduced by the Islamabad district administration days after authorities sealed seven petrol stations for refusing fuel to motorists. It will allow officials to track fuel inventories through the “City Islamabad” mobile application, requiring petrol pump operators to upload daily stock details as authorities seek to prevent hoarding and artificial shortages.
The initiative comes days after Pakistan raised fuel prices sharply and authorities across the country launched crackdowns on hoarding amid fears that escalating conflict in the Middle East could disrupt global energy shipments and push oil prices higher.
“Real-time monitoring will ensure that any shortage of petroleum products can be addressed immediately,” Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Memon said in the statement announcing the system.
The statement noted the new digital tool would enable authorities to track stock levels at 145 fuel stations across Islamabad and monitor transactions through the mobile platform.
Under the system, petrol pump owners must upload daily stock information, while the district administration has released a tutorial explaining how to use the feature.
Authorities warned that failure to upload stock data could result in action against fuel station owners.
Pakistan has tightened monitoring of fuel supplies in recent days after global oil markets were rattled by United States and Israeli strikes on Iran, which raised concerns about possible disruptions to shipping routes in the Middle East, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, a key corridor for global energy trade.
The government has said it is closely watching domestic supply conditions and international oil markets while taking steps to ensure fuel availability and prevent panic buying.
