Foreign Office | Pakistan

The Foreign Office (FO) on Sunday issued an advisory on the situation in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf, saying it had activated its crisis management unit (CMU) to “closely monitor the developments and extend all necessary assistance” to Pakistani nationals abroad. In a post on X, the Foreign Office (FO) said that the unit would be operational 24/7. It said that the unit could be contacted at +92-51-9207887 for information and emergency assistance. It “strongly advised” Pakistani nationals residing in the Gulf region to “exercise utmost caution, remain indoors where possible, avoid unnecessary travel, and strictly adhere to the instructions and advisories issued by the respective host governments”. The ministry also provided the emergency contact details of embassies and consulates in the Gulf region for the facilitation of Pakistani nationals abroad. Iran Embassy of Pakistan in Tehran: +98-21-669413-88/89/90/91 (landline); +98-9107648298 (mobile) Pakistani Consulate in Zahidan: +98-54-33223389; +98-90...

After Senator Rana Mahmoodul Hassan alleged on Friday that “corruption of billions of rupees” was being committed daily at the foreign affairs ministry in the attestation of documents, a Senate body decided to raise the matter with the Foreign Office (FO). Dawn has reached out to the FO for a comment. The attestation of documents, such as educational and marriage certificates, by the foreign affairs ministry is typically required for recognition by international and foreign entities. The matter came up during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, where Senator Hassan of the PPP alleged corruption in the process and remarked: “Overseas Pakistanis are either running from post to pillar for a single signature or paying money for corruption.” He said that people had been complaining about having to spend nights on pavements to get their documents attested. The attestation process should either be digitised or union councils and deputy commissioners should be authorised to attest documents...

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday rejected claims by Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval that India had successfully hit all nine identified targets on May 7, calling the remarks “replete with distortions and misrepresentations”. Foreign Office spokesman Shafqat Ali Khan, addressing a weekly press briefing, said Doval’s statements reflected “a deliberate attempt to mislead the public” and violated “the norms of responsible statecraft”. “Boasting of military aggression against a sovereign nation is a grave breach of the United Nations Charter and established principles of international law,” Mr Khan said. “Rather than resorting to fictitious narratives, India should accept the downing of six fighter jets and severe damages to other military targets.” Mr Khan also said it was public knowledge that the so-called terrorist targets attacked by India resulted in the deaths of civilians. To a question, Mr Khan said: “Indian involvement in sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan is very clear, and the international comm...