Author: OPN
The government is finalising comprehensive reforms aimed at preventing the misuse of car import schemes intended for overseas Pakistanis. Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan announced that the Ministry of Commerce is working on policy amendments to ensure that only genuine overseas Pakistanis benefit from these schemes, curbing commercial exploitation that has distorted the purpose of the facility. The development was discussed in a high-level meeting held at the Ministry of Commerce, co-chaired by Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries, Haroon Akhtar Khan. The session reviewed regulatory frameworks governing used car imports, the…
Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, arrived in Cairo where he was received by Pakistan’s Ambassador to Egypt, Aamir Shouket, along with senior Egyptian officials at the Cairo International Airport. The visit marks an important step in strengthening Pakistan’s bilateral engagement with Egypt, particularly in the areas of culture, labor cooperation, and diaspora affairs. During his stay, the minister is scheduled to participate in the prestigious opening ceremony of the Grand Egyptian Museum — a landmark event that highlights Egypt’s rich historical and cultural legacy. The museum’s inauguration is expected to draw global attention,…
The government has increased the mandatory medical examination fee for Pakistanis seeking employment abroad, triggering concern among job promoters and overseas recruitment agencies. The revised fee, which must be paid by all applicants before traveling overseas for work, has seen a significant hike. According to the Pakistan Overseas Employment Promoters Association (POEPA), the medical fee has been raised from Rs15,000 to Rs26,000, putting an additional burden on thousands of job seekers. The association has written a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, urging the government to reconsider the decision, which they say will directly affect low-income workers aspiring to find…
Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have entered their thirteenth day, keeping all major border crossings closed and disrupting cross-border trade. Key routes in Chaman, Khyber, South and North Waziristan, and Kurram district remain sealed, leaving hundreds of cargo trucks stranded on both sides. According to customs officials, at Chaman’s Bab-e-Dosti gate, only vehicles carrying Afghan nationals are being permitted to cross into Afghanistan through Gate No. 4. Since the clashes began, around 10,000 Afghan citizens have been sent back, while nearly 1,200 empty containers have re-entered Pakistan. Officials say that debris from the affected trade routes and areas hit by…
Heidelberg, Germany(OPN) Waseem Butt, member of the Heidelberg City Council and head of Heidelberg in Bewegung (HiB/Volt), welcomed the first official delegation from the Government of Punjab, Pakistan, during their visit to Heidelberg. The delegation was led by Punjab’s Minister for Local Government, Zeeshan Rafiq. During the visit, discussions focused on potential collaboration in key areas such as waste management, citizen engagement, digitalization, and waste-to-energy initiatives. According to Waseem Butt, these are sectors in which the city of Heidelberg is internationally recognized as a successful model. He said the visit would play a vital role in strengthening friendship and building…