Pakistan invites over 100 countries to maritime exercises from Feb. 7

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said this week nearly 80,000 Afghans in Pakistan had been resettled in various countries abroad, while another 40,000 still remained in Pakistan.

The 2021 withdrawal of US-led troops from Kabul ended two decades of war but began a new exodus, as Afghans clamoured to escape Taliban government curbs and fears of reprisal for working with Washington and its allies. Thousands of Afghans who had applied for resettlement in the US and European countries entered neighboring Pakistan, where many still remain trapped in legal limbo.

The latest blow has been a decision by US President Donald Trump’s administration last week to halt visa processing for refugees for at least 90 days, blocking around 10,000 Afghans approved for entry from starting new lives in the United States, according to non-profit #AfghanEvac. Tens of thousands more applications in process have also been frozen, the US-based organization said.

“I can give you a broad figure,” Spokesman Khan said in reply to a question on the number of Afghan nationals in Pakistan who were awaiting resettlement abroad.

“Almost 80,000 have been taken by various countries for resettlement and around 40,000 are still in Pakistan.” 

Trump’s order said “the United States lacks the ability to absorb large numbers of migrants, and in particular, refugees,” and stopped the relocation scheme until it “aligns with the interests of the United States.”

But campaigners argue the country owes a debt to Afghans left in the lurch by their withdrawal, which Trump committed to in his first term but was overseen by his successor president Joe Biden.

A special visa program for Afghans who were employed by or on behalf of the United States remains active.

But the more wide-reaching refugee scheme was relied on by applicants including ex-Afghan soldiers and employees of the US-backed government, as well as their family members.

With America’s Kabul embassy shut, many traveled to neighboring Pakistan to enter paperwork, conduct interviews and undergo vetting.

Khan said Pakistan hoped the US would restart its refugee program so the remaining Afghan refugees could be resettled “as per commitments given by the US government.” He also hoped the US would resume foreign development assistance programs, which have also been suspended by Trump for at least 90 days through an executive order. 

Islamabad announced a sweeping campaign in 2023 to evict undocumented Afghans residing in the country illegally, ordering them to leave or face arrest as relations soured with the Taliban government. 

At least 800,000 Afghans have left since November 2023, according to government data. 

But Afghans awaiting refugee relocation have also reported widespread harassment to leave by authorities in Pakistan, who deny the charge.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani companies participating in the four-day-long Arab Health 2025 exhibition in Dubai are expected to collectively generate around $15 million in business for the surgical industry, Pakistan’s envoy to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) told Arab News this week. 

Arab Health 2025, organized under the patronage of the UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention, featured over 3,800 exhibitors and has attracted more than 60,000 health care professionals and industry leaders from over 70 countries.

The event, held from Jan. 27-30, focused on nine key product sectors, including medical equipment and devices, disposables and surgical goods, orthopedics and physiotherapy, imaging and diagnostics, general health care services, health care infrastructure, wellness and prevention, health care transformation and health care technology.

Pakistan also set up a pavilion at the expo, where 40 leading companies showcased their products and services under the umbrella of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP).

“Pakistani exhibitors from the surgical industry alone expect business deals of around $15 million as the outcome of this exhibition and this does not include pharmaceutical companies’ potential business deals,” Ambassador Faisal Niaz Tirmizi told Arab News on Thursday.

He said the country’s participation in the expo had been a “success,” with Pakistani surgical equipment manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies receiving “overwhelmingly positive responses.”

“Several leading Pakistani companies have signed four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with international health care distributors,” the envoy said, adding that the agreements marked a “major step” in expanding the global reach of Pakistan’s medical sector and strengthening international trade partnerships:

“By fostering collaboration in medical technology, diagnostics, surgical instruments, and health care solutions, these MoUs are expected to enhance export opportunities and position Pakistan as a key player in the global health care industry.”

Global health care partners had shown “keen interest” in Pakistani products, reaffirming the country’s reputation for high-quality medical and surgical equipment, the ambassador added.

“Our exhibitors are enthusiastic about strong business leads generated during the exhibition, which will open new avenues for collaboration.”

Pakistani exhibitors also described their participation in the event as a success, hoping the business leads generated would translate into future revenue.

“Arab Health is the largest exhibition worldwide for the health care and pharmaceutical industry, where we received an excellent response from visitors, clients, and investors,” Bilal Tanveer, a director at the Sialkot-based surgical goods manufacturing company Durable Hospital Supplies, told Arab News.

Out of the 40 Pakistani companies present, he said 34 were from the surgical sector, with many deals signed and initiated. 

“We have signed several deals with clients which will translate into substantial business volume, but the information is confidential and cannot be shared at this stage,” he added.

Amir Shehzad, chief executive officer of the Sialkot-based electro-surgical instruments manufacturer Sehar Batool International, said he had been attending the Arab Health Expo for the past 10 years due to its high visitor turnout.

“We have signed four deals with international clients from France and Italy,” he told Arab News, declining to share details at this stage.

“This participation has expanded our horizons and provided valuable opportunities to connect with potential customers while also learning from other companies.”

The UAE is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner after China and the United States (US), and a major source of foreign investment, valued at over $10 billion in the last 20 years, according to the UAE foreign ministry. 

Policymakers in Pakistan consider the UAE an optimal export destination due to its geographical proximity, which minimizes transportation and freight costs while facilitating commercial transactions.