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Pakistan’s joint opposition seeks PM Khan’s resignation after key coalition partner abandons government

Leader of the MQM-P Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, second left, with opposition parties leaders Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, left, Shahbaz Sharif, second right, and Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman give a press conference, in Islamabad, Pakistan, on March 30, 2022. (AP)
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Updated 30 March 2022
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Pakistan’s joint opposition seeks PM Khan’s resignation after key coalition partner abandons government

  • Without vote of MQM-P, Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has fallen short of 172 votes needed to retain power
  • Information minister said earlier in the day the PM would not resign and ‘fight until the last ball’
Updated 30 March 2022
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: Pakistan’s leading opposition figures on Wednesday asked Prime Minister Imran Khan to resign after a major coalition partner formally announced to abandon the government, making the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party lose its majority in the national assembly.
Minister for information Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said earlier in the day the prime minister would not step down after the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) struck a deal with the opposition Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and signaled it would vote against Khan in a no-confidence vote expected to take place early next month.
“The prime minister should set a new tradition by handing in his resignation after losing his numerical strength [in the national assembly],” said Shehbaz Sharif, leader of the opposition in the national assembly, during a joint news conference with other politicians who want to bring down the government.
He said the agreement between the PPP and MQM-P had taken place within 20 minutes during a meeting of their leaders last night while congratulating the two parties for setting aside their past political differences.
PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari also agreed with Sharif, saying that Khan should step down.
“Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan has lost his majority,” he said. “Today, MQM Pakistan has joined the opposition ranks. Shehbaz Sharif has rightly given a challenge in the spirit of statesmanship to [PM Khan to] resign.”
The PPP leader added: “The prime minister does not have any option. Either he should resign or come to the parliamentary session tomorrow to settle this issue.”
He maintained the prime minister’s removal would help Pakistan resume its democratic journey again.
Without the vote of the MQM-P, Khan’s PTI administration would fall short of the 172 needed to retain power. Khan’s four coalition parties have a total of 20 seats in the lower house of parliament.
However, the prime minister’s close aides have ruled out the possibility of his resignation despite the recent setback.
“Prime Minister Imran Khan is a player who plays until the last ball,” the information minister said on Twitter, adding the PM would not resign.


Even before the MQM-P’s joint news conference with the opposition parties, MQM leaders Syed Aminul Haque, federal minister for IT and Telecom, and law minister Farogh Naseem, had resigned from their posts.
Speaking to Arab News, Faisal Karim Kundi, the PPP’s central information secretary, confirmed that the MQM-P had decided to join the opposition.
“The MQM-P will formally announce the decision and [make] public the points of the deal but I can just tell that Sindh’s governorship for the MQM-P is one of the agreed points of the deal,” Kundi said, referring to giving the coveted slot of the governor of the southern Sindh province to the MQM-P in exchange for siding with the opposition alliance.
“The united opposition and MQM have reached an agreement,” Bhutto-Zardari also announced on Twitter, adding that the agreement would be ratified by the executive committees of both parties and the details shared with the public in a press conference. “Congratulations Pakistan.”




Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, co-chairperson of PPP (2nd from L), former President Asif Ali Zardari (3rd from L) meets MQM-P Deputy Convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui (2nd from L) in Islamabad, Mar 30, 2022. (PPPP/Twitter)

Pakistani opposition legislators have been wooing ruling party legislators away for weeks and tabled a no-confidence motion against Khan in parliament Monday, hoping to oust his government amid accusations he has mismanaged the economy and governed poorly. 
Khan came to power in a 2018 election, securing 176 seats. He needs 172 votes to remain in power but about a dozen lawmakers from his ruling party have defected, weakening his position.
The ruling PTI accuses the opposition of bribing its lawmakers to vote against the prime minister. It has also filed a presidential reference in the supreme court seeking an interpretation of Article 63-A, which sets down rules in the constitution for the disqualification of lawmakers in the case of defection and violation of party policy. Khan’s party is calling for the lifetime disqualification of defectors.
On Tuesday, Khan directed all ruling party members to abstain from the no-confidence vote.

Topics: Pakistan politics no confidence motion Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) MQM-P Khalid Maqbool Asif Ali Zardari Shehbaz Sharif

Pakistan seafood exports rise 22 percent in last six months on strong Gulf, Asia demand

Updated 5 sec ago
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Pakistan seafood exports rise 22 percent in last six months on strong Gulf, Asia demand

  • Fisheries is a vital pillar of the national maritime economy that supports livelihoods of millions of Pakistanis, particularly in coastal communities
  • Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry stresses the need for strict regulatory compliance, sustainable fishing to protect marine biodiversity
Updated 5 sec ago
Ismail Dilawar

KARACHI: Pakistan’s seafood exports climbed 22% over the past six months buoyed by strong demand from Gulf and Asian markets, the country’s Press Information Department said, citing official data.

KARACHI: Pakistan’s marine fisheries sector posted strong growth as its seafood exports rose to 122,629.11 metric tons, valued at $253.24 million, between July and December 2025, the Press Information Department said on Friday, citing Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry.

Pakistan’s exports stood at 102,942.05 metric tons worth $208.25 million during the corresponding period of the previous year, according to the Marine Fisheries Department data. The sector recorded a year-on-year increase of 19.1% in volume and 21.6% in value.

Fisheries is a vital pillar of the national maritime economy that supports livelihoods of millions of Pakistanis, particularly in coastal communities along the Arabian Sea in Sindh and Balochistan provinces, according to the maritime affairs minister.

Historically contributing around 1% to GDP, the sector has rebounded from pandemic-era disruptions through expanded processing capacity, improved cold-chain logistics, and stricter certification aligned with international standards.

“The performance reflects the growing competitiveness of Pakistan’s marine fisheries in global markets,” Chaudhry, who noted sustained export momentum from July till December, was quoted as saying by the PID.

According to the data, frozen fish remained the leading export category, accounting for 26,669.37 metric tons valued at $53.33 million. Shrimps and prawns followed with earnings of $40.46 million, while frozen cuttlefish generated $36.13 million. Other products, including shrimp meal, crabs, sardines, mackerel, flatfish species and fish meal, also contributed to higher export receipts, underscoring diversification and growth in value-added processing.

“China retained its position as Pakistan’s largest export destination, importing more than 83,602 metric tons worth $149.2 million — nearly 59% of total seafood exports— driven by steady demand for high-quality frozen products,” PID said.

“Thailand ranked second with imports valued at $31.3 million, mainly shrimps and prawns, supported by Pakistan’s HACCP-certified (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point-certified) processing standards.”

The United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, and Japan followed, with rising shipments of cuttlefish and fish meal.

Chaudhry said that market diversification efforts have also expanded exports to the European Union, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Kuwait, and the United States.

Monthly export figures showed consistent growth, peaking at $56.42 million in November and $55 million in December, aided by seasonal demand and logistical improvements. Non-tax revenue from the fisheries sectors also increased to Rs127.7 million (approximately $460,000), up from Rs118 million a year earlier.

Chaudhry attributed the gains to government initiatives such as collaboration with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on sustainable fishing practices and investments in port infrastructure in Karachi and Gwadar.

“These developments signal the fisheries sector’s rising contribution to foreign exchange earnings and economic stability,” he said, stressing the need for strict regulatory compliance and sustainable fishing to protect marine biodiversity.

Topics: Pakistan's Exports Pakistan seafood export Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry

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