Pakistan religion minister in Saudi Arabia to attend Global Hajj and Umrah Conference

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United Kingdom reaffirmed their resolve to further strengthen bilateral relations to ensure mutual economic development, state-run media reported this week. 

UK's High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott met Pakistan's Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Saturday during which Pakistan's measures to improve its economy came under discussion. 

Iqbal spoke about Islamabad's efforts to eradicate basic education deprivation through public-private partnerships, provincial cooperation to enhance capacity in education, health, and human resources, and significant budget increases for higher education, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported. 

"Pakistan and Britain have reaffirmed the commitment to foster stronger ties and collaborative efforts for mutual growth and development," Radio Pakistan said in its report. 

The minister told the British official that Pakistan's economic strategy includes its aims to address five critical areas including exports, e-Pakistan, environment and climate change, energy and infrastructure, equity and empowerment.

He stressed the importance of Pakistan's financial sector in promoting export growth, enhancing agricultural exports, fostering industrial development and advancing critical areas such as IT, services, mining, workforce export, the blue economy, and innovation, the report said. 

Pakistan and the UK have strong military, economic and educational ties, with the latter hosting a large Pakistani diaspora.

KARACHI: Pakistani authorities on Saturday announced the arrest of a suspected human smuggler from Azad Kashmir, accusing him of involvement in last year’s Greece boat tragedy that killed five nationals and charging him with sending one victim abroad after taking Rs4.5 million ($16,200).

The incident occurred in December when a wooden vessel carrying migrants, which departed from Libya, sank off the southern Greek island of Gavdos. The government has intensified its crackdown on human smugglers in recent months, leading to several arrests.

The latest detention comes just days after another boat capsized off Morocco’s coast, where over 40 Pakistanis are feared to have drowned.

“The smuggler involved in the Greece boat tragedy has been arrested,” the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) said in a statement. “The accused, Abdul Salam, was apprehended during a raid in Bhimber, Azad Kashmir.”

“He was part of a gang involved in human trafficking and extorted Rs4.5 million from victim Ahsan Ali for facilitating his travel to Europe,” it added.

The FIA said the suspect and his associates had kept the victim in safe houses in Libya before coercing him to board the ill-fated boat to Greece. Ali, who hailed from Jalalpur Jattan, died in the shipwreck.

The FIA informed that evidence related to human smuggling was recovered from the suspect’s mobile phone, and investigations were ongoing to track down his accomplices.

“We are using all resources to ensure the arrest of those involved in these tragic incidents,” said Abdul Qadir Qamar, Director of FIA’s Gujranwala Zone. “Raids are being conducted to apprehend the remaining suspects.”

The FIA reiterated its commitment to bringing human smugglers to justice.

“No one will be allowed to play with the lives of innocent people,” the statement said. “Those responsible will face severe punishments based on solid evidence.”