Mir Raza’s DNA matches parents as probe team exp…

Islamabad: The government has stopped providing the Pakistan Remittance Initiative subsidy, which reached Rs120 billion, saying the country’s financial difficulties make it impossible to continue the support under the current budget. Banks have agreed to absorb the related costs themselves to keep overseas Pakistanis sending money through official channels. The development puts the spotlight on the future of Pakistan’s remittance system, which depends heavily on money sent home by Pakistanis working abroad. The government had previously used subsidies to help banks facilitate these transfers, but curtailed that support last year. The Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan informed the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue that the government had initially provided subsidies to banks under the Pakistan Remittance Initiative to facilitate remittances from overseas Pakistanis. The total subsidy provided by the government reached Rs120 billion. However, the financial pressure on the government has now made it difficult to continue paying this amount. The subsidy could not be continued in the current budget because of prevailing fiscal constraints. Instead, banks have decided to bear the costs linked to facilitating remittances from their own resources. The decision means that banks will continue providing the service to overseas Pakistanis even though the government can no longer provide the previous level of financial support. The Pakistan Remittance Initiative was discussed by the committee during its meeting at Parliament House in Islamabad on August 25, 2026, under the chairmanship of Senator Saleem Mandviwalla. The committee considered the government’s decision important because remittances sent by Pakistanis living and working abroad are a major source of foreign currency for the country. The State Bank told the committee that banks decided to continue bearing the associated costs so that the flow of remittances would not be disrupted. The committee appreciated the banks’ decision but also decided to examine their actual performance. Selected banks will therefore be invited to the committee’s next meeting to explain their performance and contribution to the remittance sector. The move comes at a time when the government is facing tight financial conditions and has been forced to reduce or reconsider spending commitments. The end of the Rs120 billion subsidy raises an important question about how the remittance system will operate in the longer term if banks continue to carry the costs without government support. For millions of Pakistanis working overseas, remittances are an important way of supporting families at home. These transfers help families pay for everyday needs and also bring foreign currency into Pakistan. The government’s decision does not mean that the remittance service has stopped. Instead, banks have agreed to continue facilitating transfers while paying the related costs themselves. The Senate committee has now moved to check whether banks are fulfilling this responsibility effectively and whether overseas Pakistanis are receiving proper services. The next meeting is expected to provide the committee with a clearer picture of how banks are handling the change after the withdrawal of the government subsidy. The key issue remains whether banks can continue carrying the financial burden while maintaining an efficient and reliable remittance system for overseas Pakistanis. The Rs120 billion figure also shows the scale of government support previously used to encourage and facilitate remittances through the formal banking system.

Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf has reiterated his demand for the creation of a separate Hazara province, saying there is broad political consensus on the issue and that administrative reforms are essential to improve governance and public service delivery. Addressing a joint press conference in Islamabad alongside Senator Talha Mahmood, the minister said the movement for Hazara province began in 2010 and has remained a longstanding demand of the region’s people. He said seven young people sacrificed their lives during the movement, adding that their contributions would always be remembered. According to the minister, people from different political parties have consistently supported the establishment of Hazara as a separate province. Sardar Yousaf noted that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly has passed constitutional resolutions in support of Hazara province on three occasions—in 2014, 2018, and 2020. He added that bills seeking the creation of the new province have also been introduced in both the National Assembly and the Senate and have been referred to the relevant standing committees on law and justice. The minister said the creation of new administrative units has become a necessity in view of Pakistan’s growing population, which now exceeds 250 million. He argued that additional provinces would improve governance, revenue collection, and the implementation of development projects. He stressed that the demand for Hazara province is not linked to any single political party but represents a united movement supported by people from all walks of life, including political leaders, lawyers, journalists, students, traders, and religious scholars. Sardar Yousaf said several national political leaders have publicly expressed support for the Hazara province during visits to the region and public gatherings. He maintained that smaller administrative units would bring government services closer to the people, help address public issues more effectively, and strengthen the federation. He also paid tribute to those who lost their lives during the Hazara province movement, noting that Hazara Martyrs’ Day is observed every year on April 12 in their memory.