KARACHI: The government of the United Arab Emirates has issued a golden visa to Javed Afridi, the owner of the Pakistan Super League cricket franchise, Peshawar Zalmi, Afridi told Arab News on Thursday, saying he was “grateful” to receive the long term travel document.
The UAE’s “golden” visa system grants 10-year residency in the Gulf state to certain professionals, specialized degree-holders and others. Foreigners in the UAE usually have renewable visas valid for only a few years tied to employment. In the past few years, the government has made its visa policy more flexible, offering longer residencies for certain types of investors, students and professionals.
Peshawar Zalmi said in a handout Afridi was issued the golden visa for promoting peace through sports and achieving success in the business sector. Afridi is also the chief executive of Haier Pakistan, a consumer electronics and home appliances company.
“I am grateful to the leadership of the United Arab Emirates for granting me this long term visa,” Afridi told Arab News. “The country’s visionary leadership is a model for both emerging and several developed economies.”
“This visa is being offered to investors, entrepreneurs, researches and even exemplary students, which is evidence of the UAE’s focus on knowledge creation and excellence,” Afridi added.
“I especially wish to laud the efforts of His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his leadership and compassion during this last challenging year,” the franchise owner and businessman said. “Together with His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the leaders of the Emirates have set the course for a prosperous future.”
“Will try to act as a bridge between the business communities, sports and other sectors of both the countries,” he added.
UAE grants golden visa to Pakistan Super League cricket franchise owner
https://arab.news/5ts35
UAE grants golden visa to Pakistan Super League cricket franchise owner
- Peshawar Zalmi chairman and chief executive of Haier Pakistan, Javed Afridi, says grateful to UAE leaders for the long term visa
- “Will try to act as a bridge between the business communities, sports and other sectors” of Pakistan and UAE, Afridi says
Security forces kill four militants in Pakistan’s volatile southwest, military says
- Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by land area bordering Iran and Afghanistan, has long been the site of a low-level insurgency
- The Balochistan government has recently established a threat assessment center to strengthen early warning, prevent ‘terrorism’ incidents
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani security forces gunned down four militants in an intelligence-based operation in the southwestern Balochistan province, the military said on Tuesday.
The operation was conducted in Balochistan’s Kalat district on reports about the presence of militants, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing.
The “Indian-sponsored militants” were killed in an exchange of fire during the operation, while weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the deceased, who remained actively involved in numerous militant activities.
“Sanitization operations are being conducted to eliminate any other Indian-sponsored terrorist found in the area,” the ISPR said in a statement.
There was no immediate response from New Delhi to the statement.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by land area bordering Iran and Afghanistan, has long been the site of a low-level insurgency involving Baloch separatist groups, including the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF).
Pakistan accuses India of supporting these separatist militant groups and describes them as “Fitna Al-Hindustan.” New Delhi denies the allegation.
The government in Balochistan has also established a state-of-the-art threat assessment center to strengthen early warning and prevention against “terrorism” incidents, a senior official said this week.
“Information that was once scattered is now shared and acted upon in time, allowing the state to move from reacting after incidents to preventing them before they occur,” Balochistan Additional Chief Secretary Hamza Shafqaat wrote on X.
The development follows a steep rise in militancy-related deaths in Pakistan in 2025. According to statistics released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) last month, combat-related deaths in 2025 rose 73 percent to 3,387.
These included 2,115 militants, 664 security forces personnel, 580 civilians and 28 members of pro-government peace committees, the think tank said.
