19 Pak companies sanctioned by US, NA told

ISLAMABAD: The government Thursday presented the details of US sanctions on Pakistani companies in the National Assembly.

In a written reply to a question by Ibrar Ahmed during the Question-Hour, the foreign affairs ministry said on March 25, the US government placed 80 companies on the sanctions list of its Commerce Department. These 80 companies were from different countries including China, the UAE and South Africa, and these included 19 firms from Pakistan on allegations of having links with Pakistan’s strategic programme. These sanctions entail imposition of trade restrictions by the US Commerce Department.

In a written reply, Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar said Pakistan had rejected the insinuation that sanctioned companies were linked to Pakistan’s Strategic Program. The written reply stated that such allegations had been made in the past as well without evidence. Pakistan’s strategic programme is fully compliant with international and domestic laws as well as to our national obligations thereof.

In a written reply to a question from Shazia Marri with regard to details of Pakistani prisoners imprisoned worldwide, the foreign ministry stated that based on information provided by diplomatic missions abroad, approximately 23,456 Pakistani nationals were currently imprisoned in various countries worldwide with the largest number in KSA (12,156) and UAE (5,292).