Pakistan police arrest 149, including 48 Chinese, in scam center raid

Pakistan police arrest 149, including 48 Chinese, in scam center raid
Police personnel patrol a market in Lahore on November 10, 2023. (AFP/File)
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Updated 2 min 42 sec ago

Pakistan police arrest 149, including 48 Chinese, in scam center raid

Pakistan police arrest 149, including 48 Chinese, in scam center raid
  • Pakistan’s cybercrime agency says the call center was involved in Ponzi schemes and investment fraud
  • Foreign nationals, including citizens of Nigeria, the Philippines and Bangladesh, have also been arrested

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan police arrested 149 people — including 71 foreigners, mostly Chinese — in a raid on a scam call center, the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency said Thursday.

“During the raid, a large call center was uncovered, which was involved in Ponzi schemes and investment fraud,” the agency said in a statement.

“Through this fraudulent network, the public was being deceived and vast sums of money were being illegally collected.”

The agency said they were acting on a tip-off about the network, operating in the city of Faisalabad, a manufacturing center in the east of the country.

It said the raid was at the residence of Tasheen Awan, the son of the former chairman of the Water and Power Development Authority, a government agency.

All those arrested were in custody, including 78 Pakistanis and 48 Chinese, as well as citizens from Nigeria, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and Myanmar.

Some 18 of the 149 were women, it added.


Pakistan joins ASEAN security talks in Kuala Lumpur amid Asia-Pacific tensions

Pakistan joins ASEAN security talks in Kuala Lumpur amid Asia-Pacific tensions
Updated 8 sec ago

Pakistan joins ASEAN security talks in Kuala Lumpur amid Asia-Pacific tensions

Pakistan joins ASEAN security talks in Kuala Lumpur amid Asia-Pacific tensions
  • ASEAN Regional Forum brings together 27 member states and dialogue partners to discuss security challenges
  • Ishaq Dar will meet with his Malaysian counterpart and engage with the Pakistani community during his visit

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday to attend the 32nd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting focusing on political and security issues in the Asia-Pacific region, the foreign office said.

Established in 1994, the ARF is a leading platform for multilateral dialogue on regional peace and security. It brings together 27 member countries, including ASEAN states, dialogue partners and other regional stakeholders.

Pakistan joined the forum in 2004 and has since been an active participant in its initiatives.

“Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50, has arrived in Kuala Lumpur to participate in the 32nd ASEAN Regional Forum Ministerial Meeting,” the foreign office said in a post on social media platform X.

Dar will lead his country’s delegation at the annual ministerial gathering, which is being attended by foreign ministers and senior representatives of ARF member states, alongside the ASEAN Secretary-General, according to a foreign office statement issued a day earlier.

“During his visit to Kuala Lumpur, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister will also meet with his Malaysian counterpart as well as other visiting foreign ministers and representatives,” the statement continued.

“He will also engage with the Pakistani community in Kuala Lumpur,” it added.

The meeting is expected to discuss major security challenges facing the Asia-Pacific region, with a focus on promoting peace, stability and cooperation through dialogue.


Pakistan calls for renewed global push to restore peace in Yemen at UN Security Council

Pakistan calls for renewed global push to restore peace in Yemen at UN Security Council
Updated 10 July 2025

Pakistan calls for renewed global push to restore peace in Yemen at UN Security Council

Pakistan calls for renewed global push to restore peace in Yemen at UN Security Council
  • It urges all parties in Yemen to build on the UN-backed December 2023 Roadmap for a phased political solution
  • Pakistan condemns Houthi detention of UN and aid workers, calls for immediate release, full humanitarian access

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday urged the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to take urgent and coordinated action to restore peace in Yemen, stressing the need for inclusive political dialogue and immediate humanitarian support to address the Middle Eastern country’s worsening situation.

The crisis in Yemen, which began as internal political turmoil, has since escalated into a wider regional conflict. A civil war erupted in 2014 after Houthi rebels took over the capital, Sana’a. The years-long war has led to the near-collapse of the economy, widespread displacement and a severe humanitarian emergency, with more than 18 million people in need of assistance.

Addressing a UNSC briefing on Yemen, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, urged member states to reinvigorate inclusive political negotiations and implement coordinated responses to Yemen’s interlinked political, humanitarian and socioeconomic challenges.

“The Council must send a united and unequivocal message: the people of Yemen deserve peace, dignity and a future free from fear, hunger and despair,” the Pakistani diplomat said.

Ahmad stressed “a comprehensive approach, anchored in inclusive political dialogue and urgent humanitarian action, can pave the way for lasting peace and stability in Yemen.”

He urged all parties to the conflict to build on the December 2023 Roadmap, a UN-facilitated framework outlining a phased political process, including a nationwide ceasefire, restoration of public services and the reopening of key transport routes.

Pakistan also condemned the continued arbitrary detention of UN, humanitarian and diplomatic personnel by the Houthis, calling for their immediate release and unrestricted humanitarian access.

The detentions, which began in mid-2024, have affected dozens of UN and aid workers in Houthi-controlled areas, with many held incommunicado without due process, prompting international condemnation and urgent calls for accountability.

The Pakistani envoy stressed that peace in Yemen cannot be separated from the broader regional context.

He called for de-escalation and diplomacy, linking stability in Yemen with a resolution of ongoing Middle East conflicts, including an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and recognition of Palestinian statehood.

“Years of conflict have inflicted immense suffering on the Yemeni people,” he said. “What began as an internal crisis has since assumed broader regional dimensions, with serious implications for international peace and security.”


Russia calls Pakistan ‘natural ally’ in energy and economy, eyes August cargo rail link

Russia calls Pakistan ‘natural ally’ in energy and economy, eyes August cargo rail link
Updated 15 min 43 sec ago

Russia calls Pakistan ‘natural ally’ in energy and economy, eyes August cargo rail link

Russia calls Pakistan ‘natural ally’ in energy and economy, eyes August cargo rail link
  • Pakistani delegation attends industrial fair, proposes regional rail corridor via Uzbekistan
  • Talks held on establishing new steel mill in Karachi as part of broader industrial cooperation

ISLAMABAD: A top Russian official on Thursday described Pakistan as an “important partner” in the region’s economic and energy development and called the two countries “natural allies” during a meeting in Moscow, according to an official statement issued by the foreign office in Islamabad.

The remarks were made by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk during an interaction with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Foreign Affairs, Tariq Fatemi, and SAPM on Industries and Production, Haroon Akhtar Khan.

The delegation is currently in Moscow it attend INNOPROM, Russia’s largest annual industrial trade fair, which brings together government delegations, business leaders and technology firms from over 30 countries to explore partnerships in manufacturing, engineering and high-tech industries.

During the meeting, the Pakistani official said relations with Russia remained a key foreign policy priority for Islamabad. Overchuk also recalled his visit to Pakistan last year to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit where he was hosted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

“Characterizing Pakistan and Russia as ‘natural allies’, he stressed that President [Vladimir] Putin considered Pakistan as an important partner in the growth and development of economy and energy in the region,” the foreign office said in a statement released after the meeting.

“He also highlighted the significance of important connectivity projects between two countries, such as the railway connectivity between Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Russia, and the launching of pilot cargo train between Pakistan and Russia in August 2025,” it added.

The two sides also discussed regional and international developments, including the situation in South Asia, Afghanistan and the Middle East. They reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation at multilateral forums.

Prime Minister Sharif’s adviser on industries and production highlighted the government’s investment-friendly policies and ongoing discussions on establishing a new steel mill in Karachi, describing it as a potential “leap forward” in Pakistan-Russia cooperation and a revival of a key legacy project.

Originally built in the 1970s with Soviet assistance, the Pakistan Steel Mills stood for national self-sufficiency for decades before becoming non-operational in 2015 due to prolonged financial mismanagement, political interference and mounting losses. Talks are now underway between the two countries to launch a new steel mill project in Karachi.

Welcoming the high-level visit, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk said President Putin remained committed to expanding cooperation with Islamabad across all major sectors.

He also conveyed that the Russian president looked forward to meeting the Pakistani prime minister on the sidelines of the upcoming SCO-Council of Heads of State summit in Tianjin, China, later this August.


Media and civil society mourn the passing of trailblazing journalist Zubeida Mustafa at 84

Media and civil society mourn the passing of trailblazing journalist Zubeida Mustafa at 84
Updated 10 July 2025

Media and civil society mourn the passing of trailblazing journalist Zubeida Mustafa at 84

Media and civil society mourn the passing of trailblazing journalist Zubeida Mustafa at 84
  • She joined Dawn in 1975, becoming the first woman to hold a senior editorial role at a leading Pakistani newspaper
  • Mustafa penned her final op-ed for the publication in March 2025, stepping back from writing due to ‘failing health’

KARACHI: Zubeida Mustafa, a pioneering figure in Pakistani journalism who opened the door for women in mainstream newsrooms and became a powerful advocate for social justice, passed away at the age of 84, the Karachi Press Club (KPC) confirmed in a statement issued on Wednesday.

Mustafa studied International Relations at the University of Karachi and later briefly attended the London School of Economics on a Commonwealth scholarship.

She joined Dawn in 1975, becoming the first woman to hold a senior editorial position at a major Pakistani newspaper. Over a three-decade-long career, she reshaped the paper’s editorial landscape, focusing on education, health and social issues, and inspiring a generation of women journalists who followed in her footsteps.

“Zubeida Mustafa was not just a journalist; she was an institution,” the KPC said in its statement.

“She was a pioneer, breaking barriers and paving the way for women in a field often dominated by men,” it added. “Her work on social issues, education, and health was particularly impactful, demonstrating her deep empathy and dedication to improving the lives of ordinary citizens.”

A profile in Newsline magazine described her guiding ethos as rooted in writing from the people’s perspective.

She credited Dawn editor Ahmad Ali Khan with shaping her editorial values, including the ability to distill complex issues into accessible, public-minded journalism.

Even after retiring from Dawn in 2008 due to health reasons, Mustafa remained an active voice in public discourse, continuing to write on education, population and gender justice.

Her contributions were recognized internationally in 2012 when she became the first Pakistani journalist to receive the International Women’s Media Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Dawn later established the Zubeida Mustafa Award for Journalistic Excellence in her honor.

“Zubeida Mustafa championed social, cultural and language rights like few,” the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said in a social media post. “She was a comrade-in-arms and stood by the disadvantaged and the oppressed.”

In its condolence note, the Karachi Press Club said her “unwavering commitment to truth, her incisive analysis, and her relentless pursuit of social justice set a benchmark for ethical reporting.”

Mustafa, who regularly contributed op-eds to Dawn, wrote her final piece in March this year, after which it became increasingly difficult for her to continue “because of her failing health,” the newspaper noted in its obituary.


Pakistani startup Bookme eyes $20 million annual revenue from Saudi expansion

Pakistani startup Bookme eyes $20 million annual revenue from Saudi expansion
Updated 4 min 7 sec ago

Pakistani startup Bookme eyes $20 million annual revenue from Saudi expansion

Pakistani startup Bookme eyes $20 million annual revenue from Saudi expansion
  • Bookme is a Pakistani e-ticketing platform that offers online tickets for movies, events, flights and hotels
  • Bookme founder eyes expansion further into Middle East, African countries after gaining foothold in Kingdom 

ISLAMABAD: The founder of Pakistani e-ticketing platform Bookme said this week the company expects to generate $20 million annually from its expansion into , following a recent deal with the Kingdom’s leading delivery app, Mrsool.

Founded in 2013, Bookme is Pakistan’s leading cashless e-ticketing platform, offering users online bookings for train and bus travel, flights, hotels, cinemas and other events. The startup has quickly gained a foothold across Pakistan, forging partnerships with major transport and fintech companies. Today, Bookme says it has over 14 million users. 

Bookme entered the Saudi market in 2024 via a strategic partnership with Mrsool, a leading food and package delivery app in the Kingdom, and the Saudi Tourism Ministry (STA). In early 2025, it also signed a deal with flyadeal, a low-cost Saudi airline, to facilitate direct flight bookings between Pakistan and the Kingdom’s cities.

“Bookme expects to generate around $20 million in additional annual revenue from its expansion in ,” the company’s founder and Chief Executive Officer Faizan Aslam told Arab News via telephone.

“The Mrsool contract alone is worth around $5 million annually and the flyadeal partnership is valued at approximately $4 million,” he added. 

He said Bookme’s integration with Mrsool was completed, adding that it was expected to go live by the end of July.

“Mrsool is one of the most popular mobile applications in and very soon, its users will also be able to book airline tickets and make hotel reservations across the globe directly within the Saudi Mrsool app,” Aslam said.

Aslam said Mrsool was the first “drop of the rain,” adding that Bookme had several other partnerships in the pipeline, including ones with the Kingdom’s leading banks and fintech companies.

Without disclosing any names, Aslam said Bookme had already signed three contracts, including ones with two banks that were pending approval from ’s central bank.

Aslam said the users of these banks would soon be able to access similar services from their respective applications.

On its flyadeal collaboration, the Bookme founder said the platform had aimed to support the airline’s growth by tapping into its large user base built through strong traction within the Pakistani market.

He noted that flyadeal recently began flight operations from Karachi, adding that it is also set to launch services from Lahore and Islamabad soon.

“Through this partnership, Bookme can help drive a significant number of new passengers to flyadeal,” Aslam said. 

Aslam shared that Bookme’s ticket fares were around 6–7 percent lower than the market average, with discounts rising to as much as 15 percent during seasonal promotions.

Aslam highlighted the e-ticketing platform’s partnership with the STA to promote the Kingdom as a top destination for Pakistani travelers.

“We are not a Hajj or Umrah operator or a traditional group travel agency,” he said. “We focus on business travelers, families and leisure passengers moving between Pakistan and ,” Aslam added. 

He explained that Bookme runs campaigns, events and influencer marketing initiatives with the STA to position the Kingdom as a preferred destination for Pakistani travelers.

The startup is currently growing at approximately 130 percent year-on-year basis, Aslam said. He said the platform was expected to reach greater heights through its expansion into .

“With the full-scale launch of operations in , our growth is expected to accelerate significantly, potentially reaching three to four times the current levels annually,” the Bookme founder said. 

Bookme has raised around $10 million in funding to date and plans to raise another funding round to support its broader regional expansion. Aslam, however did not disclose further details.

While remains its primary focus, Bookme is also targeting expansion across the Middle East and Africa, using as its regional base.

“We are trying to sign deals in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar through our Saudi office, with plans to expand into Africa— starting with South Africa and Tanzania— while our primary focus remains on the GCC and broader Middle East region,” he said.