Pakistani woman returns home after spending four years in Indian prison

Pakistani woman Sameera Abdul Rahman (3rd from R) stands with Indian officials upon her release from Indian jail on March 27, 2022. (Photo courtesy: local media)
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Updated 27 March 2022
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Pakistani woman returns home after spending four years in Indian prison

  • Sameera Abdul Rahman married an Indian national in Qatar before traveling to India without a visa
  • Rahman gave birth to a daughter in prison who also accompanied her mother to Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani woman who spent four years in an Indian prison after traveling to that country without a visa has returned to her homeland after getting assistance from Pakistani authorities, reported the local media on Sunday.

Karachi-born Sameera Abdul Rahman was living in Qatar where she met an Indian man whom she married against the wishes of her family. Her husband brought her to India without a visa in 2016, for which both of them were imprisoned.

Rahman also gave birth to a daughter in prison in 2017 who also accompanied her mother to Pakistan.

Last month, the Pakistani interior ministry said it had issued a citizenship certificate to her after the country's diplomatic mission in India held a meeting with her to confirm her nationality.

"Indian authorities handed over Sameera Rahman and her daughter Sana Fatima to Pakistani authorities at the Wagha border," The News reported, adding she was accompanied by officials of the Pakistan High Commission.

The newspaper said it would take another four days for her to fulfil "all the legal requirements and to complete immigration processes."

Rahman was released from Indian jail and kept in a custodial center after she paid a fine of million rupees to the Indian authorities.

A Pakistani senator, Irfran Siddiqui, who was following her case and first took it up in parliament, told the newspaper that no one from the woman's family was there to receive her at the Wagha border.


Pakistan, ADB sign $730 loan agreements to boost SOE reforms, energy infrastructure

Updated 25 December 2025
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Pakistan, ADB sign $730 loan agreements to boost SOE reforms, energy infrastructure

  • Both sign $330 million Power Transmission Strengthening Project and $400 million SOE Transformation Program loan agreements
  • Economic Affairs Division official says Transmission Project will secure Pakistan’s energy future by strengthening national grid’s backbone

KARACHI: Pakistan and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Thursday signed two loan agreements totaling $730 million to boost reforms in state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and energy infrastructure in the country, the bank said.

The first of the two agreements pertains to the SOE Transformation Program worth $400 million while the second loan, worth $330 million, is for a Power Transmission Strengthening Project, the lender said. 

The agreements were signed by ADB Country Director for Pakistan Emma Fan and Pakistan’s Secretary of Economic Affairs Division Humair Karim. 

“The agreements demonstrate ADB’s enduring commitment to supporting sustainable and inclusive economic growth in Pakistan,” the ADB said. 

Pakistan’s SOEs have incurred losses worth billions of dollars over the years due to financial mismanagement and corruption. These entities, including the country’s national airline Pakistan International Airlines, which was sold to a private group this week, have relied on subsequent government bailouts over the years to operate.

The ADB approved the $400 million loan for SOE reforms on Dec. 12. It said the program seeks to improve governance and optimize the performance of Pakistan’s commercial SOEs. 

Karim highlighted that the Power Transmission Strengthening Project will enable reliable evacuation of 2,300 MW from Pakistan’s upcoming hydropower projects, relieve overloading of existing transmission lines and enhance resilience under contingency conditions, the Press Information Department (PID) said. 

“The Secretary emphasized that both initiatives are transformative in nature as the Transmission Project will secure Pakistan’s energy future by strengthening the backbone of the national grid whereas the SOE Program will enhance transparency, efficiency and sustainability of state-owned enterprises nationwide,” the PID said. 

The ADB has supported reforms by Pakistan to strengthen its public finance and social protection systems. It has also undertaken programs in the country to help with post-flood reconstruction, improve food security and social and human capital. 

To date, ADB says it has committed 764 public sector loans, grants and technical assistance totaling $43.4 billion to Pakistan.