'Humanitarian values intact while expelling illegal immigrants'
The Sindh government is upholding humanitarian values while repatriating illegal immigrants to their country of origin, said Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon on Sunday.
A total of 307 individuals were deported from the Amin House Transit Camp between April 1 and 6, 2025, as part of a crackdown on illegal Afghan immigrants by the Sindh government, Information Minister Sharjeel Memon said.
Initially, a list of 313 individuals was prepared; however, following verification, 307 were repatriated to Afghanistan after the completion of legal formalities. Sharjeel stated that those deported included 79 children, 37 women, and 191 men. He explained that the Afghan nationals were being deported due to their illegal residence in the country. He emphasised that the campaign to deport illegal immigrants will continue, adding that international laws and regulations are being strictly followed in this process.
He stated that international laws concerning illegal immigrants are being observed, and Pakistan is repatriating illegal immigrants in line with these global principles. Sharjeel Memon further emphasised that the Sindh government is taking lawful measures while upholding humanitarian values. He added that the government's campaign will continue to ensure effective action against illegal immigrants.
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Express Tribune
13 hours ago
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Top US general praises 'phenomenal partner' Pakistan
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Gen Kurilla's candid remarks not only validate Pakistan's ongoing sacrifices but may also recalibrate the tone of future US policy in South Asia. Gen Kurilla's statement before the House Arms Services Committee led to a meltdown in India where the media and commentators questioned the US loyalty. The CENTCOM chief terming ISIS-Khorasan the most active terrorist groups, said the Afghan Taliban went after them and pushed "a lot of them into the trial areas on the Afghan-Pakistan border". "Through a phenomenal partnership with Pakistanthey (Pakistan) have gone after ISIS Khorasan, killing dozens of them," he told lawmakers. "Through our relationship we have with them, and providing intelligence, they have captured at least five ISIS Khorasan high-value individuals. They extradited back Jafar, who is one of the key individuals behind the Abbey Gate bombing," he added. "And the first person [ ] the [Pakistani] chief of the army staff Munir [called] me and said, "I've caught him, ready to extradite him back to United States, please tell the Secretary of Defense and the President." "So, we are seeing Pakistan, with limited intelligence that we provide, and go after them using their means to do that, and we're seeing an effect on ISIS Khorasan," General Kurila said. "And I would also tell you that since 2024the beginningPakistan has had over 1,000 terrorist attacks in the western area, killing about 700 security and [2,500] civilians. They have an active counterterrorism fight right now, and they have been a phenomenal partner in the counterterrorism world." Gen Kurilla highlighted the staggering toll terrorism continues to take on Pakistan itself, citing over 1,000 terrorist attacks in 2024 alonekilling approximately 700 security personnel and 2,500 civilians. "They have an active counterterrorism fight right now," he stated. "And they've been a phenomenal partner in the counterterrorism world." The CENTCOM chief emphasized that Pakistan's efforts over the last several months have severely degraded ISIS-K's capabilities. According to intelligence gained through interrogations and exploitation of captured militants, the terrorist group is currently at a "low point", though it still poses a transnational threat. "These are the same individuals that carried out the Crocus City Hall attack in Moscow and the bombing in Kerman, Iran," Kurilla said. "There are even ties to plots against the U.S. homeland, which I can discuss in a classified setting." In a significant diplomatic note, Gen Kurilla rejected the idea that US relations in South Asia must be zero-sum between India and Pakistan. "It's not a binary switch," he asserted. "We can't have one with Pakistan if we have a relationship with India. We should look at the merits of the relationship for the positives that it has." Paul Kapur Paul Kapur, US President Donald Trump's nominee for Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday that he would prioritise security cooperation with Pakistan where it aligns with US interests. He also expressed intent to explore opportunities for enhancing bilateral collaboration in trade and investment, He previously served on the State Department's Policy Planning Staff during Trump's first term, where he played a role in shaping US strategy in South Asia. Kapur, an academic of Indian origin, acknowledged the region's volatility, referring to the recent escalation between India and Pakistan. He said the crisis was narrowly averted due to "intense engagement" by US Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. "If confirmed, I will pursue security cooperation with Pakistan where it is in America's interest," says Paul Kapur who is set to become Trump's top diplomat on South Asia. On Pakistan, he said that if confirmed, he would "pursue security cooperation where it is beneficial to US interests while seeking opportunities for bilateral collaboration in trade and investment." He noted that "South Asia recently avoided a costly conflict with Vice President Vance and Secretary Rubio intensely engaged on the issue." He added, "If confirmed, I will continue to promote long-standing US security interests with India and Pakistan through the pursuit of peace and stability and the fight against terrorism."
Business Recorder
14 hours ago
- Business Recorder
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Without flexible financing, targeted climate adaptation resources, and greater programmatic authority, the province remains constrained in addressing both the short-term needs of farmers and the long-term challenge of climate change. Misaligned policies and data disconnect One of the gravest flaws in Pakistan's fiscal governance is the siloed preparation of budgets. Federal and provincial budgets are formulated in isolation, without integrated data or joint economic planning. Decisions like changes in property taxation, sales tax, etc., are taken unilaterally by the federal government, with little regard for provincial fiscal autonomy or local economic realities. The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), central to data generation, remains under federal control—leaving provinces dependent on potentially outdated or misaligned datasets for planning and investment. Rethinking the NFC: misaligned incentives and a disconnected federation The current National Finance Commission (NFC) Award—structured predominantly around population size — has become increasingly disconnected from Pakistan's development needs and federal realities. Provinces like Punjab and Sindh, by virtue of their demographic weight, receive nearly 80% of the divisible pool. In contrast, regions such as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu & Kashmir — despite facing deeper development deficits, climate vulnerability, and regional instability — remain chronically underfunded. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa exemplifies this imbalance. The province that hosts over 1.5 million Afghan refugees has absorbed the Ex-FATA region without corresponding fiscal adjustment, and accounts for 45% of Pakistan's forest cover. Its vital contributions to national security, environmental preservation, and humanitarian burden-sharing go largely unrecognized in the current NFC formula. By rewarding population growth over economic performance, resilience, or service delivery, the NFC structure not only neglects disadvantaged regions but also distorts provincial incentives. International models—such as Vietnam's capped population shares and performance-linked transfers—offer more equitable frameworks, aligning resource allocation with outcomes rather than demographics alone. Efforts to reform the fiscal compact have been insufficient. KP's National Dialogue on the NFC in February 2025 signaled an intent to revisit the distribution model, but the absence of key federal and provincial actors reflected a broader lack of political will. The debate over vertical and horizontal allocations remains hostage to entrenched interests, especially in larger provinces that dominate federal politics. Federal fiscal policies further compound the imbalance. IMF-mandated surplus targets require provinces to underwrite federal deficits, while unfunded mandates—such as the devolution of higher education, social protection, and climate adaptation—shift responsibilities to provinces without the resources or autonomy to meet them. These gaps between constitutional obligations and fiscal reality are growing wider. If Pakistan is to function as a true federation, the NFC must evolve. A reformed framework should account for provincial contributions to national stability, equity, and long-term development—not just population figures. Until then, regions like KP will continue to carry disproportionate burdens, with limited fiscal space to realize their full potential. Toward a functional federation: empowering provinces, energizing Pakistan Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's experience offers a window into a broader national truth: Pakistan's progress is only as strong as the sum of its provinces. 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The National Finance Commission must transform—from a zero-sum contest focused on population numbers to a dynamic framework that rewards innovation, resilience, and results. Provinces should be architects of their own destinies, empowered to build infrastructure, attract investment, and pioneer solutions aligned with national goals. This is not just a fiscal debate—it's a call for a new social contract: a federation that shares opportunities, not just resources; a Pakistan where every province sees itself not as a burden, but as a vital partner in shaping a prosperous, sustainable future. The true test of federalism lies in creating an ecosystem where provinces grow not in spite of the system, but because of it. Reform the structure, and provinces like KP won't just survive—they will thrive and lead Pakistan toward green growth, enhanced regional trade, and lasting unity. The road ahead demands courage and vision. But if Pakistan can embrace a federation that trusts its provinces, values their contributions, and grows the pie together, the promise of inclusive, resilient development will finally be within reach. (Concluded) (The writer is an expert in public policy and finance, focusing on fiscal federalism, economic development, and governance reforms) Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
a day ago
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Sindh govt allocates budget for EV taxis, scooters in FY26
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