KARACHI: Pakistani authorities on Friday released 22 Indian fishermen from Karachi’s Malir Jail, initiating their repatriation process, a police official confirmed, as a leading humanitarian activist urged both nations to adopt a more compassionate approach toward fishermen who inadvertently cross maritime boundaries.
The release comes amid longstanding tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors, whose relations have deteriorated in recent years, leading to a downgrading of diplomatic relations. Both countries frequently detain each other’s fishermen for alleged territorial violations, often resulting in prolonged incarcerations.
“Today, we have freed 22 Indian fishermen, who have now begun their journey back home,” Arshad Shah, Superintendent of Malir Jail, told Arab News.
“Once the necessary formalities from the Indian side are completed, Pakistan takes no time in facilitating their release,” he added. “We always strive to ensure that prisoners are kept in good conditions, and once we receive the required directives, they are promptly released.”
Faisal Edhi, Chairman of the Edhi Foundation, Pakistan’s leading humanitarian organization, said he had arranged transportation for the fishermen to Lahore, from where they will continue their journey back to India.
“The Edhi Foundation will cover their travel expenses, and we also presented them with gifts and gave them cash,” he informed.
“We strongly believe that these fishermen, from both countries, often cross the invisible maritime borders unintentionally,” he continued. “When they are arrested, their families suffer greatly. For this reason, we consistently urge the governments of India and Pakistan to release the fishermen immediately and ensure their swift repatriation once their sentences are completed. Unfortunately, many languish in jail for years, even after serving their sentences.”
Pakistan typically repatriates Indian fishermen through the Wagah border. Upon arrival, Indian authorities receive them and, after completing official formalities, facilitate their return to their respective coastal communities.
Pakistan releases 22 Indian fishermen as local activist calls for compassionate maritime policies
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Pakistan releases 22 Indian fishermen as local activist calls for compassionate maritime policies
- Edhi Foundation has arranged transportation for the fishermen to Lahore on their way back to their country
- Faisal Edhi says fishermen in both countries endure long prison terms for crossing ‘invisible maritime borders’
IMF warns against policy slippage amid weak recovery as it clears $1.2 billion for Pakistan
- Pakistan rebuilt reserves, cut its deficit and slowed inflation sharply over the past one year
- Fund says climate shocks, energy debt, stalled reforms threaten stability despite recent gains
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s economic recovery remains fragile despite a year of painful stabilization measures that helped pull the country back from the brink of default, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned on Thursday, after it approved a fresh $1.2 billion disbursement under its ongoing loan program.
The approval covers the second review of Pakistan’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and the first review of its climate-focused Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF), bringing total disbursements since last year to about $3.3 billion.
Pakistan entered the IMF program in September 2024 after years of weak revenues, soaring fiscal deficits, import controls, currency depletion and repeated climate shocks left the economy close to external default. A smaller stopgap arrangement earlier that year helped avert immediate default, but the current 37-month program was designed to restore macroeconomic stability through strict monetary tightening, currency adjustments, subsidy rationalization and aggressive revenue measures.
The IMF’s new review shows that Pakistan has delivered significant gains since then. Growth recovered to 3 percent last year after shrinking the year before. Inflation fell from over 23 percent to low single digits before rising again after this year’s floods. The current account posted its first surplus in 14 years, helped by stronger remittances and a sharp reduction in imports. And the government delivered a primary budget surplus of 1.3 percent of GDP, a key program requirement. Foreign exchange reserves, which had dropped dangerously low in 2023, rose from US$9.4 billion to US$14.5 billion by June.
“Pakistan’s reform implementation under the EFF arrangement has helped preserve macroeconomic stability in the face of several recent shocks,” IMF Deputy Managing Director Nigel Clarke said in a statement after the Board meeting.
But he warned that Islamabad must “maintain prudent policies” and accelerate reforms needed for private-sector-led and sustainable growth.
The Fund noted that the 2025 monsoon floods, affecting nearly seven million people, damaging housing, livestock and key crops, and displacing more than four million, have set back the recovery. The IMF now expects GDP growth in FY26 to be slightly lower and forecasts inflation to rise to 8–10 percent in the coming months as food prices adjust.
The review warns Pakistan against relaxing monetary or fiscal discipline prematurely. It urges the State Bank to keep policy “appropriately tight,” allow exchange-rate flexibility and improve communication. Islamabad must also continue raising revenues, broadening the tax base and protecting social spending, the Fund said.
Despite the progress, Pakistan’s structural weaknesses remain severe.
Power-sector circular debt stands at about $5.7 billion, and gas-sector arrears have climbed to $11.3 billion despite tariff adjustments. Reform of state-owned enterprises has slowed, including delays in privatizing loss-making electricity distributors and Pakistan International Airlines. Key governance and anti-corruption reforms have also been pushed back.
The IMF welcomed Pakistan’s expansion of its flagship Benazir Income Support Program, which raises cash transfers for low-income families and expands coverage, saying social protection is essential as climate shocks intensify. But it warned that high public debt, about 72 percent of GDP, thin external buffers and climate exposure leave the country vulnerable if reform momentum weakens.
The Fund said Pakistan’s challenge now is to convert short-term stabilization into sustained recovery after years of economic volatility, with its ability to maintain discipline, rather than the size of external financing alone, determining the durability of its gains.
