Emergency order to directly appoint financial consultants for the privatization of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) was approved by a Cabinet body with the intention of getting the loss-making company ready for sale within the next four months.
In Brief
POLITICS
Criticism against government's repatriation plan
On 6 October, the current government reaffirmed its commitment to expelling all illegal immigrants, including the approximately 1.7 million Afghan refugees living in the area on the grounds that it was in accordance with international norms. Over the past week, a sizable number of families have crossed into Afghanistan as law enforcement authorities have kept up their crackdown on referred to as "illegal aliens." In an interview with Hong Kong's Phoenix TV on the brink of a forum in Tibet, caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani said, "No government allows illegal persons to live in their country, whether it is Europe, whether it is countries in Asia, or in our neighborhood. The expulsion plan would be implemented in stages, according to Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, a spokesperson for the Foreign Office. She said that the procedure would go in an orderly manner, contrary to what she called assumptions that all of them would simply be expelled in one go, and that it may begin with persons with criminal records, such as those involved in smuggling or crimes. ( “Govt firm on repatriation plan amid criticism,” Dawn, 7 October 2023)
Cabinet declares a PIA emergency
On 6 October, an emergency order to directly appoint financial consultants for the privatization of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) was approved by a Cabinet body with the intention of getting the loss-making company ready for sale within the next four months. Bypassing the necessity for open bids through advertisements, the Cabinet Committee on Privatization (CCOP) chose to hire an international financial advisor by directly soliciting offers from the top 25 global financial firms. This choice will likely speed up the procedure by around two months, enabling the preparation of the transaction structure and other milestones to be finished by January of the following year. The temporary administration's goal is to begin the bidding process in January. (Shahbaz Rana, “Cabinet invokes emergency for PIA,” The Express Tribune, 7 October 2023)
Shehbaz confirms Nawaz's return as he wraps off UK business
On 6 October, Shehbaz Sharif, Nawaz Sharif's younger brother, stated that the PML-N supreme leader would return to Pakistan as scheduled on October 21 after his medical reports were presented to the Lahore High Court by Nawaz Sharif's legal team. The party's de facto London headquarters, Stanhope House, hosted the older Sharif on his penultimate day. Shehbaz Sharif clarified the ambiguity surrounding his elder brother's return during a news conference in Lahore. He also stated that after his arrival, he will address a rally at the Minar-i-Pakistan and "give an economic roadmap to steer the country out of crises.". Additionally, Shehbaz Sharif seems to redefine the party's catchphrase, "vote ko izzat do." Respecting the ballot does not imply that a slogan is anti-establishment. He questioned whether promoting anti-establishment rhetoric would contribute in resolving the issues facing the populace and responded, "It means serving the voters. (Zulqernain Tahir and Wajih Ahmad Sheikh, “Nawaz wraps up UK affairs as Shehbaz confirms homecoming,” Dawn, 7 October 2023)
ECONOMY
Pakistan's finances will be examined at discussions in Marrakech
On 7 October, when decision makers and asset managers assemble for the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) annual meetings in Marrakech next week, countries like Pakistan and Egypt's finances will be under close examination. In addition, a week of meetings regarding the threats to the world economy will bring together central bankers and finance ministers from 190 nations in Morocco, not far from the epicenter of a terrible earthquake in Morocco that claimed 2,900 lives. Emerging countries are experiencing headwinds from all directions as uncertainty surrounds US economic plans and China's faltering economy. Some of these economies continue to endure the effects of extreme weather and climate change. Fitch estimates that three nations, including Pakistan, will spend at least 40 per cent of their annual earnings on debt interest payments. (“Pakistan’s finances to come under the scanner at Marrakech meetings,” Dawn, 7 October 2023)
Pakistan is set to receive USD 3.4 billion of the USD10.9 billion in Geneva pledges
On 7 October, a careful examination of the international donors' committed pledges of USD10.9 billion for the flood-affected regions reveals that Pakistan is only anticipated to get about USD 3.4 billion as net funds to carry out the infrastructure projects. Out of the USD10.9 billion in commitments made at Geneva, a sizable portion of cash was committed in the form of financing for commodities, an oil facility, and the re-use of funds; the remaining net funding was solely available for the implementation of development projects in flood-affected areas. According to a detailed study of the USD10.9 billion in promises, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) committed USD 4.2 billion through the ITFC for financing of commodities and oil over a three-year period. There was USD 6.7 billion left on the obligation. (Mehtab Haider,“Pakistan likely to get $3.4bn out of $10.9bn pledged in Geneva,” The News International, 7 October 2023)
SOCIETY
“90 per cent of Pakistan's cases of polio are "imported" from Afghanistan”, says Health minister
On 6 October, Interim Health Minister Dr. Nadeem Jan has stated that 90 per cent of Pakistan's poliovirus infections were "imported from Afghanistan" as the country continues to experience an upsurge in poliovirus cases. Just one day after the third case of the year was reported, two more samples tested positive for the poliovirus in the nation. Sewage samples taken from Dera Bugti in Balochistan and Peshawar, according to a representative of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) polio laboratory, tested positive for the virus. Both viruses, which were discovered in sewage samples, resemble the poliovirus in Afghanistan. To combat polio, the government has started a five-day polio immunization campaign with a target population of 44 million kids nationwide. The campaign to give youngsters aged 0 to 5 years anti-polio vaccination drops would involve some 350,000 polio workers. (Nadir Guramani , “90pc polio cases in Pakistan ‘imported’ from Afghanistan: health minister,” Dawn, 6 October 2023)
Preterm birth rates are highest in Pakistan, according to research
On 6 October, according to a thorough study by the WHO, Unicef, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine that was published in a journal, Pakistan is among the worst-affected nations in southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa where almost 65 per cent of preterm births occurred in 2020. The rates are three to four times greater in the worst-hit nations, Bangladesh (16.2 per cent), Malawi (14.5per cent), and Pakistan (14.3 per cent), than in the least afflicted nations, Serbia (3.8 per cent), Moldova (4 per cent) and Kazakhstan (4.7 per cent). The study estimates that 13.4 million infants, or almost one in ten of all live births, were delivered before 37 complete weeks of pregnancy. (Amin Ahmed, “Pakistan among countries worst affected by preterm births: study,” Dawn, 7 October 2023)
SECURITY
Two BLA insurgents killed in Quetta
On 6 October, in an exchange of fire in the Hazar Gangi region, anti-terrorism officials killed two militants who belonged to the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army. In a statement, a CTD official said that an intelligence-based operation against the outlawed BLA in the Shalkot Hazar Ganji region was carried out, and a terrorist plot was thwarted by the killing of two militants and the recovery of weapons and ammunition. According to the statement, the CTD was informed that two armed BLA militants had been given the mission to commit acts of terrorism against important installations in Quetta. (Saleem Shahid, “Two BLA militants killed in Quetta,” Dawn, 7 October 2023)
EXTERNAL
US lawmakers promise to strengthen ties with Pakistan
On 6 October, many influential US senators and congressmen have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening US-Pakistan relations and broadening current collaboration in the areas of trade and investment, renewable energy, combating climate change, and regional security.The US lawmakers talked about how to further solidify bilateral relationships in their talks with Pakistan's ambassador to the US, Masood Khan, over the last week, with an emphasis on links in commerce and investment, energy, and counterterrorism. According to a press release from the Press Information Center, the US lawmakers included Senators Bill Hagerty, Jon Ossoff, Representative Jim Banks, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, and Representative Jason Crow. Additionally, Ambassador Khan has written letters of gratitude to several US lawmakers for their unwavering support during the recent House vote that rejected a proposed amendment to forbid funding for Pakistan under the State Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations (SFOFS) Act 2024. (“US lawmakers vow to cement ties with Pakistan,” The Express Tribune, 7 October 2023)
|
“Enough is enough. Pakistan doesn't need neither selections nor extensions. It's time for free and fair elections.”
- Waqas Ahmad
“Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan always Condemned Israel.
Imran Khan always raised voice for Palestinians. Currently Imran Khan is in a death cell fighting for his life, please remember him in your prayers”
- Faisal Khan
“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. Khan has done enough sacrifices for the nation in last 27 years and now we have to comeout to save Pakistan and sacrifices ourselves.”
- Naeem Gill
|
|
|
|
Pervez Hoodbhoy, Is Pakistan unusual?
Dawn, 7 October 2023
"Turkish author Ahmet Kuru helps situate Pakistan within a broader context of authoritarianism, underdevelopment, and ongoing conflicts in Muslim countries. Kuru is a professor of political science at San Diego State University and director of the Centre for Islamic and Arabic Studies. Much of what is below derives from his award winning book, Islam, Authoritarianism, and Underdevelopment – A Global and Historical Comparison. The rest comes from my public conversation with him this week over Zoom before an audience in Islamabad."
Syed Sheheryar Raza Zaidi, Delayed polls
Dawn, 7 October 2023
"On Sept 21, 2023, more than a month after the dissolution of the National Assembly, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced that, after deliberating on ‘delimitation’, they had decided that elections would be held in the last week of January 2024, ie, beyond the constitutionally mandated 90-day period. The holding of timely elections in Pakistan has never been a foregone conclusion. Yet, unlike yesteryear, when dictators, showing their might, delayed elections, this time the ECP has decided to rely on ‘delimitations’, a ploy which is being used to defy Article 224(2) of the Constitution, which expressly provides that where an assembly is dissolved (before its actual term is completed) a general election shall be held within 90 days."
Maryam Khan, No credible plan
Dawn, 7 October 2023
‘"Greenwashing’ is a term that originated after sustainability and climate action became a Sustainable Development Goal. Ever since the Covid-19 pandemic, consumers have become more aware of their behaviour patterns, and care about the environment at large. Wanting to cater to this, companies now care about the climate too. Still, some of them take the more symbolic route that reinforces sustainability as the norm, but their words do not translate into concrete action. These firms provide only ad hoc ‘win-win’actions that do not make a real difference. A classic example, which has been reported, is that of Inditex, the parent company of Zara. The company claims it is aiming for net zero emissions by 2050. However, a recent analysis by Carbon Market Watch finds the plan to be “uncertain and unsubstantiated”.
Farrukh Khan Pitafi, Subversion of the Pakistani mind
The Express Tribune, 7 October 2023
"As India grew and Pakistan plunged into one destablisation cycle after another, in the war on terror, Islamabad found another detractor. Hitherto, the state had convinced itself that the Westernised elite were its most prominent critics. But now, the religious far-right’s rage became the main problem for the state as it came under attack from the newly formed TTP. Still, the state was not programmed to see the religious right as the enemy. Consequently, it took the country nearly fourteen years and a tragedy like APS Peshawar to reach a fleeting consensus against this shade of terrorism. But by then, the real harm was done. The country had lost touch with its closest allies since its inception. Nearly all religious parties had been contaminated. Many actively worked as the TTP’s apologists. Others were, at the very least, not ready to trust the state. Now, the question is whether the state apparatus could remain insulated from such contamination. The obvious answer seems to be in the negative. More of this later."
|
|
|
“Companies must disclose their emissions.”
-An opinion in Dawn, 'No credible plan'
|
|
|
