ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Office on Monday expressed “deep concern” over a recent spate of “Islamophobic” remarks directed toward the Pakistani community in the United Kingdom (UK), saying they were aimed at “conflating” reprehensible actions of a few individuals with the entire 1.7 million British-Pakistani diaspora.
The development comes amid a debate around grooming gangs in the UK after British Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips rejected Oldham Council’s request for a government-led inquiry into a historical child sexual abuse scandal in the town in favor of a local investigation. The grooming scandal, which came to light in the 2010s, involved the systematic abuse of thousands of girls in towns such as Rotherham, Rochdale and Oldham. A 2014 report estimated that 1,400 children were exploited in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013, primarily by men of Pakistani origin.
Indian nationalist lawmaker Priyanka Chaturvedi this month sparked the controversy by stating that the blame for grooming gangs in the UK should not be attributed to Asia as a whole, but rather to one “rogue nation.” Tech billionaire Elon Musk also endorsed the anti-Pakistan narrative on X and criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for rejecting calls for a new national inquiry and instead advocating the implementation of recommendations of an earlier seven-year inquiry.
In its response to media queries about the controversy, the Pakistani Foreign Office said British nationals of Pakistani origin had a rich history of contributing to the UK’s growth, development and, indeed, freedom, with an “exceptionally large” number of predominantly Muslim soldiers from what is now Pakistan serving in the British Indian army and laying down their lives in both World Wars.
“We note with deep concern the increasingly racist and Islamophobic political and media commentary in the UK that is aimed at conflating the reprehensible actions of a few individuals with the entire 1.7 million British Pakistani diaspora,” it said in a statement.
The Foreign Office said that the Pakistan-UK friendship is characterized by warmth, cordiality, robust cooperation and trust, noting that British-Pakistanis formed the “backbone of the UK’s health, retail and services sectors.”
“Many British Pakistanis hold high public office, and thousands serve their communities as Members of Parliament, mayors, councillors, and as members of local police and municipal services. British Pakistanis have excelled in sports and arts. Their cuisine and music enriches British culture,” it said.
“To demonize such a large and diverse community on the basis of the actions of a few individuals needs to be condemned.”
It said the multifaceted Pakistan-UK relations cover important areas, including trade and investment, education, security and counter-terrorism, and the presence of 1.7 million strong British-Pakistani diaspora provides the strongest link between the two friendly countries.
Pakistan voices concern over recent ‘Islamophobic’ remarks against British-Pakistanis in UK
https://arab.news/m9wjs
Pakistan voices concern over recent ‘Islamophobic’ remarks against British-Pakistanis in UK
- The development comes amid a debate around child sexual abuse in the UK, with an inquiry report accusing some Pakistani origin men of involvement
- Islamabad says such remarks are aimed at ‘conflating’ reprehensible actions of a few individuals with the entire 1.7 million British-Pakistani diaspora
Pakistan says eyeing billions in investments through crypto projects in coming years
- Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority Chairman attends Abu Dhabi Bitcoin Conference 2025
- Says Pakistan considers Bitcoin, digital assets “a fundamental pillar of the future financial system“
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority Chairman Bilal bin Saqib said this week that Islamabad is eyeing billions in investment through digital assets initiatives and cryptocurrency projects in the coming years, state media reported.
Analysts have said Pakistan’s attempts to tap into the country’s growing crypto market, crack down on money laundering and terror financing, and promote responsible innovation could bring an estimated $25 billion in virtual assets into the tax net.
Pakistan has attempted to bring virtual asset service providers (VASPs) under a formal licensing regime in recent months. PVARA this month also granted no objection certificates (NOCs) to global crypto exchanges Binance and HTX.
Speaking during an interview at the Abu Dhabi Bitcoin Conference 2025, Saqib said Pakistan is reforming the unregulated crypto market to transform it into a “transparent and investor-friendly system in line with global standards,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported on Saturday.
“He said that interim licenses, mining, tokenization and fintech pilot projects have been launched for major exchanges in Pakistan and billions of dollars are expected to be invested in these projects in the next few years,” Radio Pakistan said in its report.
The PVARA chairman said Pakistan has become the “center of attention” globally due to the significant progress it has achieved in crypto regulation.
Saqib said Islamabad considers Bitcoin and digital assets not only an investment but “a fundamental pillar of the future financial system.”
“He said that Pakistan’s goal is to make youth not consumers but digital creators and architects of the new economy,” Radio Pakistan said.
Pakistan’s move to formalize digital asset regulation comes amid broader economic reforms under an International Monetary Fund program, with authorities under pressure to strengthen financial controls, improve transparency and manage risks linked to emerging technologies.
While officials have framed the crypto framework as regulation-first rather than promotion-led, analysts say its implementation, particularly enforcement and coordination with the central bank, will be closely watched by international lenders and investors.
