Tag: Pakistanis

  • US Embassy in Islamabad reduces visa wait times for Pakistanis

    US Embassy in Islamabad reduces visa wait times for Pakistanis

    The US Embassy in Islamabad has announced to reduce the visa appointment wait times for Pakistani people.

    According to the official announcement by the US Embassy on their X, formerly Twitter account, ‘Demand for US visas is the highest it has ever been. We are processing more visa applications than ever before and are working hard to bring down visa appointment wait times.’

    In order to reduce the waiting time, the US has announced three ways for visa applicants from Pakistan to meet the ‘unprecedented demand’ for US visas.

    ‘First, we have expedited thousands of non-immigrant visa appointments. More than ten thousand Pakistani visa applicants originally scheduled for 2024 at the US Consulate General in Karachi are receiving notice that their appointments have been rescheduled for 2023, some as early as next week. If you have a visa appointment in the next few months at the US Consulate General in Karachi, please check your e-mail and log-in to your account at our website to confirm your expedited appointment time.’

    The second method is that ‘to create added flexibility for Pakistani travellers, visa applicants can rebook appointments at either the Consulate General in Karachi or the US Embassy in lamabad—whichever  works best for them. Our hope is that this will allow applicants more freedom and flexibility to find a convenient date, time, and location.’

    Furthermore,’starting September 25, US Consulate General Karachi will begin accepting new interview waiver applications for some applicants who have previously been issued US visas. Applicants can check ustraveldocs.com/pk to determine whether they are eligible, print out a confirmation letter, and submit their application materials to a drop box without the need for an appointment. The US Embassy in Islamabad is already accepting interview waiver applications for qualified applicants.’

    It is pertinent to mention here that the United States Embassy in Pakistan has announced that it will facilitate Pakistanis applying for the country’s visa with a new optional visa delivery policy.

  • Young Pakistanis in the UK lead in unemployment, govt stats confirm 

    Young Pakistanis in the UK lead in unemployment, govt stats confirm 

    Official data from the United Kingdom’s government shows that among different ethnic groups in the country, young Pakistanis are the least active in terms of work and education. 

    The dataset in question is categorised as “unemployment,” encompassing individuals aged 16 to 24 who are neither employed nor engaged in any form of training or educational pursuits. This data was systematically collected over a three-year period spanning from 2017 to 2019. 

    Notably, within the spectrum of ethnic backgrounds in the UK, individuals of Pakistani origin stand out with the highest unemployment rate at 14.3 per cent, surpassing their counterparts from nine other nations. The next highest rate pertains to individuals of Bangladeshi descent at 12 per cent, while young individuals of Indian heritage exhibit a comparatively lower inactivity rate of 7.3 per cent, as indicated by the data. 

    A similar pattern is discernible when examining the overall employment data for the country, which encompasses individuals aged 16 to 64. In this context, Pakistani and Bangladeshi individuals are grouped together and collectively exhibit the lowest employment rate, standing at a mere 58 per cent, the lowest among ten defined categories. In contrast, individuals of Indian descent display a more favourable employment rate at 78 per cent, trailing only those of non-British white origin, of whom 82 per cent are gainfully employed. 

    It is worth noting, however, that the observed trends in employment and unemployment figures do not appear to have a conclusive impact on the overall happiness score, as the data does not differentiate by age and represents the broader community. The happiness index assigns a score on a scale of 10, and according to the data, individuals of Pakistani descent in the UK have a happiness score of 7.57, ranking as the fourth highest among the ten surveyed ethnic groups. 

    While individuals of Indian, Bangladeshi, and other ethnic backgrounds report higher levels of happiness than those of Pakistani origin, individuals of Arab, black, Chinese, and even white ethnicities exhibit lower happiness scores in comparison. 

  • Pakistan ranks 99th in Global Hunger Index 2022, faces serious hunger levels

    Pakistan ranks 99th in Global Hunger Index 2022, faces serious hunger levels

    In the recently published Global Hunger Index (GHI-2022), Pakistan has been ranked 99th out of 121 countries assessed for their hunger levels.

    The GHI report, launched in Islamabad on Tuesday, revealed a drop in Pakistan’s score from 38.1 in 2006 to 26.1 in 2022, but the hunger level is still considered serious, reported Dawn.

    The Global Hunger Index is an annual pre-reviewed report jointly published by Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide. Its primary objective is to raise awareness and understanding of the challenges faced in the fight against hunger worldwide.

    According to the report, the combination of armed conflicts, climate change, and the coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated hunger issues, forcing approximately 828 million people into hunger globally. Moreover, it highlights that 46 countries are not on track to achieve even a low level of hunger by 2030, signaling the need for urgent action.

    The regions most affected by hunger are Africa, specifically South of the Sahara, and South Asia, with the latter being the worst-hit. Notably, South Asia has the highest child stunting rate and the highest child wasting rate among all world regions.

    Pakistan, with a serious level of hunger, faces significant challenges in eradicating this issue. As the nation strives to address this pressing problem, stakeholders are urged to collaborate and implement solutions that involve local communities and diverse voices in shaping effective policies for food security.

    The Global Hunger Index serves as a vital tool in identifying and tackling hunger-related problems, and it is hoped that with collective efforts, progress will be made towards achieving a hunger-free world.

  • Govt to send one million Pakistanis abroad for employment

    Govt to send one million Pakistanis abroad for employment

    The Government of Pakistan will send 1 million citizens abroad for employment, Tikka Sani has reported for Samaa. Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Sajid Hussain Turi, while talking to Samaa said that the ministry is working on signing work visa agreements with fifty countries including Germany.

    He continued by adding that Saudi authorities are coming to Pakistan soon to issue visas and citizens who pass technical training tests will be able to get the visa.

    The minister further said that Japan has also opened visas for Pakistani workers while South Korea has a demand for 10,000 skilled workers from Pakistan.

    The Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis said that 27,000 blocked passports of overseas Pakistanis have also been restored.

  • 28 bodies of Pakistanis recovered in migrant boat crash off Italy’s coast

    28 bodies of Pakistanis recovered in migrant boat crash off Italy’s coast

    The bodies of 28 Pakistanis have been recovered after a wooden sail boat carrying migrants from several countries crashed against the rocks off the southern Italian coast early on Sunday.

    According to the Pakistani embassy in Rome, a total of 40 Pakistanis were on board the ill-fated boat. The fate of 12 more citizens is still unclear.

    Talking about the tragic incident, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has said that most of the Pakistan who died belonged to Gujrat and some of them were on their way to Italy from Libya.

    The agency also said that strict action will be surely taken against the facilitators, ‘agents’ who send these people via illegal routes to foreign countries.

    A total of 59 migrants lost their life in the crash. The survivors were mostly from Afghanistan, as well as a few from Pakistan and a couple from Somalia. One survivor was arrested on migrant trafficking charges, customs police said.

    “According to survivors, 140 to 150 people were on board,” Manuela Curra, the provincial government official said. She added that 81 survivors— most of them from Afghanistan —had come ashore, including 22 who were now in the hospital.

  • Number of Pakistanis who think the country’s economy will become worse reduces by 20 per cent

    Number of Pakistanis who think the country’s economy will become worse reduces by 20 per cent

    About 57 per cent of Pakistanis currently hold the opinion that the country’s economic situation will continue to worsen in the future, down from 77 per cent in September. This is a 20 per cent decrease in the percentage of people who think this would happen.

    This information was provided in the quarterly report of the IPSOS Pakistan study 2022 on Consumers Confidence Survey, which included responses from over a thousand participants. In 2022, the survey was carried out between November 29 and December 4th.

    According to The News, for the first time since the PDM-led government took office, the respondents expressed optimism about the improvement of the nation’s economic and general circumstances.

    According to the survey, the per centage of people who believe that the economy will improve in the future has climbed from 10 per cent to 17 per cent, while the per centage of people who hold a moderate view has gone from 10 per cent to 26 per cent.

    Additionally, the per centage of people who are dissatisfied with the country’s present economic position has decreased from 61 per cent to 55 per cent, while the per centage of people who describe it as stable has climbed from 1 per cent to 4 per cent. In the most recent study, the per centage of people who have a moderate opinion of the economic condition in the nation has climbed by 5 per cent to reach 41.

    The IPSOS survey shows that for the first time since the PDM took office, the per centage of Pakistanis who believe their country is heading in the wrong direction has decreased by 2 per cent to 86 per cent, while the per centage who think it is heading in the right direction has increased by 2 per cent to 14 per cent.

    According to the research report, 74 per cent of Pakistanis thought the country was headed in the right direction during the 2018 elections, but the trend continued to drop following the elections.

  • ‘Largest prison in the world’: Politicians condemn atrocities in occupied Kashmir

    ‘Largest prison in the world’: Politicians condemn atrocities in occupied Kashmir

    Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir is being observed today in Pakistan to mark the day when Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi revoked the special status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s (IIOJK). In violation of the United Nations (UN) resolutions and international law, India scrapped Articles 370 and 35-A of the Indian Constitution that granted special autonomous status to IIOJK and imposed a military siege on the territory on August 5, 2019.

    Pakistani politicians expressed solidarity with the people of occupied Kashmir.

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that India’s actions are “aimed at altering the demographic structure of the occupied territory”.

    “The Jammu and Kashmir dispute has been a battle of hope against overwhelming odds, of courage against fear and of sacrifice against tyranny.”

    The premier also paid tribute to the martyrs of IIOJK for their sacrifices and courage.

    “Pakistan will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our Kashmiri brothers and sisters in their just struggle. We call upon international community to take practical steps to hold India accountable for its gross and widespread human rights violations in IIOJK and to facilitate a peaceful resolution of this long-standing dispute,” tweeted President Dr Arif Alvi.

    The president further added, “The resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UNSC Resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people is the only way to ensure durable peace and stability in the region.”

    “More than 1.5 billion people in the region deserve to see the dawn of peace and prosperity, which has been held hostage by India in IIOJK.”

    Similarly, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said that the Indian authorities assumed that their moves would crush the spirit of Kashmiri resistance “but the Kashmiris’ spirit of resistance became stronger and it continues to strengthen”.

    Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari released a video message on the occasion of Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir.

    He said that the presence of the Indian troops has turned occupied Kashmir into the most militarised region in the world.

    “Over the past seven decades, three generations of Kashmiris have awaited for the world community and UN to honour their solemn commitment.”

    Former FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi called India a rogue state.

    “India continues to act as a rogue state with unrelenting violence in #IIOJK. Yet indigenous resistance movement for Kashmiri’s inalienable right to self-determination stands strong. Pakistan will always stand by ppl of Kashmir.”

    “Modi government has made IIJOK the largest prison in the world,” tweeted federal Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman.

  • US embassy expands interview waiver eligibility for Pakistanis

    US embassy expands interview waiver eligibility for Pakistanis

    The United States (US) Mission in Pakistan has announced the expansion of the interview waiver for Pakistani citizens who are renewing B1/B2 tourist and business visas at the US Embassy in Islamabad and the US Consulate General in Karachi.

    In a press release, the US embassy stated that Pakistanis who are 45 and older with valid or expired B1/B2 visas within the last four years are eligible to participate.

    However, some eligible visa holders may be required to appear for interviews at the US Embassy or Consulate-General after submitting their applications as it is required by US law.

    Applicants can check their eligibility for an interview waiver by visiting the website of the US Mission in Pakistan.

    This step has been taken to improve customer service and speed up the procedure of the renewal of tourist and business visas for qualified and eligible Pakistani citizens.

  • Only 9% of Pakistanis reported misuse of data, 51% unaware: Survey

    Only 9% of Pakistanis reported misuse of data, 51% unaware: Survey

    A survey conducted by Gallup Pakistan and Worldwide Independent Network of Market Research has revealed that only 51 per cent of Pakistanis are aware of the fact that their data can be missed by the applications downloaded on their phones.

    Only 35 per cent Pakistani respondents said that they are aware of it. In addition, only 9 per cent of Pakistanis said they have reported misuse of their data. Fake e-mails, company spam e-mails, bank accounts, credit cards, and e-mail hacking were among the most common issues reported by Pakistanis.

    66 per cent of Pakistanis said that technology is an important part of their lives.

    The survey was conducted between October 15 and December 18, 2021. A total of 33,000 people from 39 countries participated in the survey, out of which 1,000 were from Pakistan.

  • 60% of Pakistanis don’t agree with PTI’s long march: survey

    In a public survey by the Institute of Public Opinion and Research (IPOR), 60 per cent of Pakistanis do not like Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s idea to lead a long march towards Islamabad.

    According to 60 per cent of responders, Khan should run his campaign from the assemblies. On the other hand, only 23 per cent of Pakistanis support the idea of PTI’s long march.

    It has also been revealed that 48 per cent of PTI’s own supporters think that leading a long march is right, while 44 per cent are in favour of a struggle against the government in the assemblies rather than a long march.

    In the survey, more than 2,000 people from across the country participated.

    Meanwhile, 54 per cent of Pakistanis support the idea of holding fresh elections in the country, although 35 per cent of people suggest the assemblies should complete their constitutional term.

    A big majority of 86 per cent of PTI voters backed the idea of early elections, while 57 per cent of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) voters and 31 per cent of PML-N supporters said they favoured early elections.