Report published by the Foreign Economic Assistance (FEA), the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) said that Pakistan secured USD 5.41 billion in inflows within FY2023 from July to August.
In Brief
ENERGY/ENVIRONMENT
Air Quality Index ranks Karachi as the “most polluted city”
On 26 September, the Air Quality Index by IQAir ranked Karachi became the most polluted city in the world for two consecutive days, they were followed by New Delhi. The particular matter used to judge the air quality rose by 20.3 times as per the World Health Organization standards. The recorded AQI was at 175 which is considered detrimental to individuals health and well-being. It is reckoned that Karachi’s air quality has over the years and the current ranking showcases that there is no improvement but a further decline in the air quality. (Wara Khan, “Karachi ‘most polluted city’ for second day,” Dawn, 27 September 2023)
ECONOMY
Exponential rise in Pakistan inflows
On 26 September, based on a report published by the Foreign Economic Assistance (FEA), the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) said that Pakistan secured USD 5.41 billion in inflows within FY2023 from July to August. This came as an exponential rise compared to the USD 493 million from last year. This comes in addition to the USD 1.2 billion provided by the International Monetary Fund as part of their 3 billion stand-by agreement. The estimated amount for foreign assistance stands at USD 17.62 billion and from the USD 3.206 billion in inflows USD 2.45 billion were for loans and budgetary support. (Khaleeq Kiani, “Pakistan secures $5.4bn inflows over two months,” Dawn, 27 September 2023)
PM Kakar’s priority to stabilise Pakistan’s economy
On 26 September, Interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar in an interview with TRT World expressed that fixing Pakistan’s economy is of paramount importance and priority during his tenure. He expressed his plans to slash government expenditure and hike revenue. He said: “The economy is extremely pressing right now and these are the problems which are hitting a common man very hard,” and the bailout loan by the International Monetary Fund is an opportunity for the country to reconsider their economic behaviour. Kakar expressed his confidence that during his short tenure, they will establish a mandate for the future stability of the economy and deliver to the people. (“Fixing economy top priority: PM,” Business Recorder, 27 September 2023)
PIA suffered PKR 60.71 billion in loss
On 27 September, the national flag carrier report on Pakistan International Airlines found that aviation had suffered a loss of PKR 60.71 billion within the past 6 months. The total revenue that was generated by PIA stands at PKR 120.27 billion. The report stated that the operational cost of the airline rose by 41 per cent owing to a hike in fuel and oil prices. Interim Privatization Minister Fawad Hassan announced that the flagship airline will not be grounded and that no employee of PIA will be sacked owing to the company’s loss. (“PIA suffers Rs60.71b loss in 2023 1st half,” The Express Tribune, 27 September 2023)
EXTERNAL
Islamabad received LPG shipment from Moscow
On 26 September, the first Russian liquified Petroleum Gas shipment reached Pakistan. The shipment is the second biggest energy transaction between the two countries and Iran supported the shipment process. Before this year Pakistan also received its first crude oil shipment from Russia as part of the bilateral deal. Moscow delivered 100,000 metric tons of LPG to Islamabad through Tehran’s Sarakh’s Special Economic Zone. Moscow embassy informed that the second shipment was under process but the value of the shipment was not disclosed except that Islamabad used Chinese currency to pay Moscow. (“Pakistan receives first shipment of Russian LPG, Russian embassy says,” Business Recorder, 27 September 2023)
POLITICS
PM Kakar clarifies his statement on PTI chief and party contesting elections
On 26 September, Interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar talking to Oxford Union clarified that Imran Khan’s participation in the elections is not based on political contentions but will be according to the law. When inquired if Imran Khan doesn’t receive a ballot, instigating protest PM Kakar said that peaceful protesting is a civilian right but the government would not tolerate violence or vandalism. Additionally, he felt that the PTI party contesting elections regardless of Imran Khan was misunderstood and that they do not hold any personal vendetta against any party. (Syed Irfan Raza, Atika Rehman, “No institution will favour one group or other in polls: PM Kakar,” Dawn, 27 September 2023)
SOCIETY
Eight dead after a rocket launcher detonated in Sindh
On 27 September, a rocket launcher shell detonated inside a house in Sindh’s Kandhkot area killing eight people out of which four were children and injuring three more. The investigation found that the children found the rocket shell while playing and brought it home where it exploded. The Senior Superintend of Police Rohail Khoso informed that the deceased and the injured were immediately taken to hospital. Sindh Chief Minister Justice Maqbool Baqar demanded a report by the provincial inspector general as to how the rocket launcher reached there, and whether was it a case of weapon smuggling to the Kutcha areas. This has been an ongoing unfortunate incident where earlier this year a shepherd was the victim of a grenade blast on the outskirts of Chaman, after finding the grenade and playing with it. (Imtiaz Ali, Qurban Ali Khushik, “8 dead, including 4 children, after rocket launcher shell explodes in Sindh’s Kandhkot tehsil,” Dawn, 27 September 2023)
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“It means that around 6 trillion will have to identify the source as such conversion / issue of new notes will only be for those who have declared & verified cash. In the situation in Pakistan, where people are dying & inflation is high we cannot let that 6 trillion out of books.”
-SyedShabbarZaidi
“Those saying that the poweful cannot be punished & accountability narrative is futile should rethink. Gen Musharaf may have escaped punishment under Art 6 but when the law was set in motion he fled into exile. He couldn't return while alive. That's no small punishment. Awakening”
- Farhatullah Babar
“4 months of enforced disappearance has visibly changed Imran Riaz. There are those who returned home after years in captivity. Some have been missing since 2005, and have still not returned to their families.Those engaged in this cruel policy must receive exemplary punishments.”
- Ammar Ali Jan
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Sahibzada Riaz Noor, “Subsidies: equaliser, immiserator or collusive larceny?”
The Express Tribune, 27 September 2023
“What is the moral and economic philosophy underlying subsidies? The answer in simple terms lies in the inherent tendency of a market system towards greater inequality, if human welfare is left merely to the whims of a free market system based upon free pursuit of uninhibited profit motive and pricing mechanism. In this context subsidies act as equalisers.”
Mahir Ali, “Age-old dilemmas”
Dawn, 27 September 2023
“The question of age and cognitive decline is a tricky one. It’s taken for granted that intellectual capacity declines with the decades, but its effects are disparate. There are people in their 90s whose minds remain sharp, and some whose physical agility can be envied by far younger folks. Others can’t disguise their decrepitude. The retirement age has steadily been rising in many parts of the world, sometimes in the face of stiff resistance (ask Emmanuel Macron), but the general rule of a cut-off age is widely accepted. Not so, however, for US politicians. Or judges. A respected court of appeals judge recently had to be suspended for refusing to cooperate in an investigation into her competence at the age of 96.”
Talat Masood, “Women as equal partners”
The Express Tribune, 27 September 2023
“We fail to appreciate the contribution our women make in the rural areas. They are dynamic workers not only in farms and fields but have been making significant contribution to the enhancement of agricultural productivity by engaging in seed bed preparation, weeding, harvesting, threshing, food storage, cottage industry and multiple related tasks. With the national and provincial elections due in the near future, it is important that political parties give fair representation to women to stand as their party candidates. They should try to encourage maximum number of women to vote so that their voice and expectations are given greater weightage and women’s interests are addressed.”
M Nadeem Nadir, “The least we can do”
The Express Tribune, 27 September 2023
“Another area that sends these armchair naysayers into the lambasting spree on Pakistan is the failing economy that has brought it on the verge of economic default. The so-called critics voice their homilies against their country that Pakistan is no more a liveable land because of oppressive taxation. But their actions belie their tirade. For instance, some shopping stores play an underhand game and do not give computerised receipt bearing FBR monogram, FBR invoice number and deduction of general sales tax to customers who themselves do not insist on taking the receipt.”
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“It is not for an interim prime minister to speak on complex foreign policy matters.”
-An opinion in Dawn, ‘Beyond their mandate’
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