Overseas Pakistanis are precious assets of the country, PM Imran Khan

Prime Minister Imran Khan addressed Pakistani ambassadors stationed across the globe, days after he had called back Pakistan's envoy to Saudi Arabia over the mistreatment of the Pakistani expat community by the latter's staff.

"Overseas Pakistanis are precious assets of the country," the premier said, adding that it is unfortunate that Pakistani ambassadors do not treat them well.

"The feedback provided by Pakistani expats living in Saudi Arabia was shocking," the premier said. "An indifferent attitude towards the expat community is "unforgivable." He also read out complaints received on the Citizens Portal and slammed the "callousness" displayed by embassy workers.

"The job of embassies is to serve their citizens," the premier said.

It should be recalled that last week, PM Khan had recalled Pakistan's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Raja Ali Ejaz and members of the latter's staff after reports of their alleged 'mistreatment' of the Pakistani expat community surfaced.

Special Assistant to PM on Overseas Pakistanis Zulfi Bukhari, making the announcement, said the ambassador was recalled as the Pakistani community and Embassy staff had repeatedly lodged complaints against him over the past couple of months.

Following Amb Ejaz's removal, retired Lt Gen Bilal Akbar had taken over the post, Foreign Office Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said in a statement.

Chauhdri said the Pakistani community residing in the Kingdom had reservations against the officials recalled from their posts.

“The Government of Pakistan attaches high importance to the welfare of overseas Pakistanis. Overseas Pakistanis are our greatest asset. Their role in national development is indispensable," the spokesperson said.

There is zero tolerance, whatsoever, for any lapse in service delivery, he said.

"Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi oversees the working of all our diplomatic missions himself, particularly with regards to the services being provided to the Pakistani community," the spokesperson said.

"In this regard, Pakistan’s missions all across the world have standing instructions to extend maximum facilitation to the Pakistani community in their respective jurisdictions," he said.

As regards the Embassy of Pakistan in Riyadh, Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed an inquiry.

"The prime minister’s directions are being fully implemented" and a high-powered inquiry committee will look into the matter.

The ambassador of Pakistan to Saudi Arabia has already returned and orders have been issued for the recall of six more officers of the diplomatic, community welfare, and consular wings of the Embassy, he added.

Raja Ali Ejaz, a career diplomat, had assumed responsibilities as Ambassador of Pakistan in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 21st January 2019, according to a statement on the FO's website.

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Federal government's strategy to curb coronavirus is incomprehensible: CM Sindh

Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah said the federal government's strategy to curb the spread of coronavirus in the country is "incomprehensible".

The chief minister, addressing a press conference in the capital, said the coronavirus situation in the country was getting more serious by the day, as he called on the government to change its strategy.

The chief minister said inter-provincial transport should be banned for at least two weeks, just as Sindh had banned inter-provincial transport earlier.

The chief minister said in the National Coordination Committee meeting held a few days earlier, he had recommended putting a stop to the intercity transport.

CM Shah said incoming flights from across the world should be stopped. "I had heard that flights were restricted to 20%, but when I left Karachi for Islamabad, the plane was full of passengers."

The chief minister said the spread of coronavirus can not be halted through press statements.

"A federal minister asked people to go shop as in the last 10 days of Ramadan, the shops would be closed," he said, taking a jibe at Asad Umar, who had indicated the government would be ramping up restrictions in the coming days.

The chief minister said the country faces a major setback as the federal government was unable to procure coronavirus vaccines on time. "We are far behind other third-world countries in terms of vaccination," he said.

"Prime Minister Imran Khan says there is no need to panic, but I have been scared for a long time," the chief minister lamented.

He questioned what message the people will get when the prime minister "urges people to wear a mask one day and then the next day goes to inaugurate various projects".

Shah said if Pakistan does not take steps urgently to curtail the virus's spread, the situation in the country could escalate fast and turn into one like India.

Responding to criticism by Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry regarding the situation taking a turn for the worse in Sindh, the chief minister said "he used to sight the moon and is now developing metres".

It appears to be a reference to electronic voter machines, an ordinance for which was recently passed by the cabinet, news of which was shared by Chaudhry.

"Inventing a metre won't stop coronavirus," he said.

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Islamabad, Riyadh military cooperation will have positive impact on peace: COAS

Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa said that military cooperation between Islamabad and Riyadh will have a “positive impact on peace and security” of the region, said a statement issued by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).

The army chief conveyed this to Saudi Armed Forces Chief of General Staff (CGS) General Fayiadh Bin Hamed Al Rowaily in Riyadh.

The two discussed matters of mutual interest, regional security situation including the Afghan peace process, defence and security and military to military cooperation.

“[Gen Bajwa] emphasised the need to further enhance military to military cooperation between the two armed forces and said that Pakistan-KSA cooperation will have positive impact on peace and security in the region,” said the ISPR.

The military’s media wing said that General Fayiadh thanked Saudi Arabia for his “sentiments and assured him of full cooperation and support” from Riyadh in all initiatives aimed at improving regional cooperation, peace and stability.

Gen Bajwa had arrived in Saudi Arabia on an official visit on Tuesday and is scheduled to meet the kingdom’s civil-military leadership.

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Fix price of oxygen cylinders, SC tells government

The Supreme Court directed on Wednesday the Ministry of Industries and Production to fix the price of oxygen cylinders within two days’ time.

An apex court bench gave this direction on a plea filed by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.

The court further instructed the ministry to explain how the price of oxygen cylinders is set.

The Advocate General of KP said suppliers are charging excessively for oxygen cylinders in absence of official rates.

A Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) lawyer said the Ministry of Industries and Production deals with the supply of medical oxygen and that the drug regulator has nothing to do with it.

An additional attorney general informed the bench that the Pakistan Steel Mills oxygen plant is nearly 40 years old. Making the oxygen plant functional will cost Rs1 billion, he explained, and vowed to submit a detailed report on the oxygen situation.

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Fix price of oxygen cylinders, SC tells government

The Supreme Court directed on Wednesday the Ministry of Industries and Production to fix the price of oxygen cylinders within two days’ time.

An apex court bench gave this direction on a plea filed by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.

The court further instructed the ministry to explain how the price of oxygen cylinders is set.

The Advocate General of KP said suppliers are charging excessively for oxygen cylinders in absence of official rates.

A Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) lawyer said the Ministry of Industries and Production deals with the supply of medical oxygen and that the drug regulator has nothing to do with it.

An additional attorney general informed the bench that the Pakistan Steel Mills oxygen plant is nearly 40 years old. Making the oxygen plant functional will cost Rs1 billion, he explained, and vowed to submit a detailed report on the oxygen situation.

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Pakistan seals land borders with Iran and Afghanistan

Pakistan has sealed its land borders with Iran and Afghanistan over apprehensions regarding transmission of new variants of the coronavirus to the country, reported on Wednesday.

“The routes to the border have been completely sealed,” border sources said.

Pakistan had on Sunday announced to revise its land border management policy with neighboring Iran and Afghanistan.

In view of the recommendations of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) competent authorities have taken the decision in order to halt the transfer of new variants of coronavirus from the neighboring countries with revision in the land border management policy.

The revised land border management policy came into force from the midnight between 4 and 5 May.

The new border policy will remain in force until the midnight of 19 and 20 May, according to the NCOC.

The new policy being implemented over the people who will cross the border on foot.

The new rules of the policy will not be implementable over the cargo, bilateral trade and the Afghan Transit Trade, the NCOC stated.

Iran, Afghan border terminals will remain open for the entire week, according to the NCOC statement.

The authorities have also decided to enhance the number of the health staff and the law enforcement personnel at the border.

The tally of border personnel being increased to ensure enforcement of the testing protocols, officials said.

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Pakistan seals land borders with Iran and Afghanistan

Pakistan has sealed its land borders with Iran and Afghanistan over apprehensions regarding transmission of new variants of the coronavirus to the country, reported on Wednesday.

“The routes to the border have been completely sealed,” border sources said.

Pakistan had on Sunday announced to revise its land border management policy with neighboring Iran and Afghanistan.

In view of the recommendations of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) competent authorities have taken the decision in order to halt the transfer of new variants of coronavirus from the neighboring countries with revision in the land border management policy.

The revised land border management policy came into force from the midnight between 4 and 5 May.

The new border policy will remain in force until the midnight of 19 and 20 May, according to the NCOC.

The new policy being implemented over the people who will cross the border on foot.

The new rules of the policy will not be implementable over the cargo, bilateral trade and the Afghan Transit Trade, the NCOC stated.

Iran, Afghan border terminals will remain open for the entire week, according to the NCOC statement.

The authorities have also decided to enhance the number of the health staff and the law enforcement personnel at the border.

The tally of border personnel being increased to ensure enforcement of the testing protocols, officials said.

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