ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appointed new heads for the key petroleum and privatization portfolios on Friday, both departments seen as central to the country's recovery from an economic crisis.
Former junior finance minister Ali Pervaiz Malik was appointed as petroleum minister in a broader cabinet reshuffle.
His key task will be spearheading a major transaction in the Reko Diq copper and gold project.
Barrick Gold, which owns 50% of the project, is also in talks with railway authorities to revamp Port Qasim's coal terminal for copper transport, CEO Mark Bristow told Pakistan's Dawn News in January.
Muhammad Ali, formerly the special assistant to the prime minister on the power sector, has taken over as adviser for privatization. This follows Pakistan's failed attempt at offloading a 60% stake in debt-ridden airline PIA, which only received a single offer, well below the asking price.
Privatizing PIA and other state-owned enterprises is crucial for raising funds and reforming these entities under the ongoing $7 billion International Monetary Fund bailout program, set up to address an economic crisis stoked by surging inflation and a trade deficit caused by ballooning energy imports.
Bilal Azhar Kayani will take over as Pakistan's Minister for Railways.
The ministry is in talks with China to upgrade and reconstruct Pakistan's railway network, and develop the Gwadar port, under China's $65 billion investment in Pakistan, part of Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative.
Pakistan names new petroleum, privatization chiefs in cabinet reshuffle
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Pakistan names new petroleum, privatization chiefs in cabinet reshuffle
- New privatization minister’s appointment follows Pakistan's failed attempt at offloading 60% PIA stakes
- A new railway chief has also been appointed, with talks underway with China to upgrade the railway network
EU nations back Islamabad measures against illegal immigration, agree on jobs for Pakistanis — ministry
- Boat tragedies and the arrest of Pakistani and foreign nationals at airports with forged documents has spotlighted the issue in recent years
- Pakistan, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Finland agree on comprehensive roadmap to discourage illegal immigration, improve security
ISLAMABAD: Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Finland have backed Pakistan’s measures against illegal immigration and agreed on providing jobs to Pakistani nationals officially, the Pakistani interior ministry said on Friday.
The issue of illegal immigration and its consequences gained significant attention in Pakistan in recent years, following the death of hundreds of Pakistani nationals in boat capsizes and the arrest of Pakistani and foreign nationals at airports with forged documents.
The tragedies put the spotlight on perilous journeys many migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Afghanistan and other countries, often driven by economic hardship, undertake to seek better financial prospects in Europe and Western countries.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi this week attended a conference of foreign ministers from Pakistan, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Finland that focused on steps to prevent illegal immigration and human trafficking.
“The conference agreed to formulate a comprehensive roadmap to discourage illegal immigration and encourage legal immigration,” the Pakistani interior ministry said. “All countries also agreed to provide jobs for Pakistan at the official level.”
All parties agreed on joint measures to address the issue of illegal immigration, with participating EU countries deciding to appoint focal persons in the Pakistani interior ministry to improve coordination.
Detailed consultations on tackling internal security, militancy and narcotics also took place at the conference, and the participants decided to adopt a coordinated strategy to address common challenges.
“Pakistan is implementing a coordinated strategy against human trafficking and illegal immigration,” Naqvi told the participants. “Illegal immigration from Pakistan to Europe has decreased by 47 percent.”
He said the reduction in illegal immigration resulted from a tough crackdown on human trafficking mafia, adding that European nations and Pakistan could overcome this challenge together.
