ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has brought back 250,000 nationals who were stranded in various countries across the world due to the coronavirus pandemic, with Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi commending the “extraordinary” efforts of the government and related organizations.
“I would like to acknowledge extraordinary efforts of all our officers, who, in addition to coordinating tirelessly across multiple (government) branches of Pakistan & host countries, went above & beyond call of duty, for their fellow countrymen,” he tweeted on Sunday.
According to the state-run news agency, Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis were repatriated from more than 70 countries after they were left stranded there due to an international travel ban to limit the spread of coronavirus across the globe.
However, Pakistan began operating special flights for the repatriation process in April with Prime Minister Imran Khan saying last week that the government would “continue supporting overseas Pakistanis in every way possible.”
Meanwhile, a statement by Prime Minister’s Special Adviser on National Security, Moeed Yusuf, released on July 2, said that while some countries had stopped the flights of national carrier Pakistan International Airlines, other flights would continue to operate.
“Ninety percent of the stranded Pakistanis are in Gulf countries, and for them, special flights will continue,” the statement said.
250,000 Pakistanis repatriated from 70 countries so far – Qureshi
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250,000 Pakistanis repatriated from 70 countries so far – Qureshi
- Foreign minister says efforts part of PM Khan’s endeavours to support overseas nationals in “every way possible“
- Pakistan began operating select flights for the repatriation process from April
World Bank president in Pakistan to discuss development projects, policy issues
- Pakistan, World Bank are currently gearing up to implement a 10-year partnership framework to grant $20 billion loans to the cash-strapped nation
- World Bank President Ajay Banga will hold meetings with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other senior officials during the high-level visit
ISLAMABAD: World Bank President Ajay Banga has arrived in Pakistan to hold talks with senior government officials on development projects and key policy issues, Pakistani state media reported on Sunday, as Islamabad seeks multilateral support to stabilize economy and accelerate growth.
The visit comes at a time when Pakistan and the World Bank are gearing up to implement a 10-year Country Partnership Framework (CPF) to grant $20 billion in loans to the cash-strapped nation.
The World Bank’s lending for Pakistan, due to start this year, will focus on education quality, child stunting, climate resilience, energy efficiency, inclusive development and private investment.
"World Bank President Ajay Banga arrives in Pakistan for a high-level visit," the state-run Pakistan TV Digital reported on Sunday. "During his stay, he will meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other senior officials to discuss economic reforms, development projects, and key policy issues."
Pakistan, which nearly defaulted on its foreign debt obligations in 2023, is currently making efforts to stabilize its economy under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program.
Besides efforts to boost trade and foreign investment, Islamabad has been seeking support from multilateral financial institutions to ensure economic recovery.
“This partnership fosters a unified and focused vision for your county around six outcomes with clear, tangible and ambitious 10-year targets,” Martin Raiser, the World Bank vice president for South Asia, had said at the launch of the CPF in Jan. last year.
“We hope that the CPF will serve as an anchor for this engagement to keep us on the right track. Partnerships will equally be critical. More resources will be needed to have the impact at the scale that we wish to achieve and this will require close collaboration with all the development partners.”
In Dec., the World Bank said it had approved $700 million in financing for Pakistan under a multi-year initiative aimed at supporting the country's macroeconomic stability and service delivery.
It followed a $47.9 million World Bank grant in August last year to improve primary education in Pakistan's most populous Punjab province.
