Monthly Archives: June 2023

By Pervez Hoodbhoy Published in Dawn on June 24, 2023 ON Monday, the national flag flew half-mast to mourn the hundreds of Pakistanis resting in their watery graves under the Mediterranean. In lieu of roughly $7,500 apiece paid to trafficking agents, the ill-fated ones had hoped to start a new life in Europe. Like cattle, the Pakistanis […]

Published in Dawn on June 24, 2023 ISLAMABAD: After days of speculation over the total number of Pakistanis on the boat that capsized off southern Greece, the interior minister on Friday confirmed at least 350 passengers were from Pakistan. Speaking in the National Assembly, Rana Sanaullah said as per the information received so far, over 300 citizens[…]

Published in The Express Tribune on June 23, 2023 Hameed Iqbal Bhatti had prospered over two decades working in Saudi Arabia, but after returning to Pakistan three years ago, he was getting desperate. The economy had suffered in the pandemic and his restaurant business closed. With work avenues drying up and sky-high inflation blowing a hole in[…]