Sindh: Asian Development Bank to assist with coastal resilience; IMF Visit: Envoy to reach Pakistan on 2 November for the first review
In Brief
POLITICS
PIA: Spokesperson expresses fear of closure
On 25 October, Dawn reported that a Pakistan International Airlines spokesperson hinted that the aviation company might be facing closure or is on the verge of shutdown. This shutdown allegations are owed to the cancellation of 300 flights within ten days owing to unavailability of fuel and the crisis looming over the state-owned enterprise. The Pakistan State Oil has time again cut the supply of fuel to PIA owing to pending debts owed to PSO. The frequent cancellation has led to several thousand passenger’s flights being on hold with no information regarding the rescheduling of flights. (Mohammad Asghar, “Over 300 PIA flights cancelled in 10 days,” Dawn, 25 October 2023)
Repatriation of Afghan refugees: PHC strikes down petition against “harassment” of legal Afghan refugees
On 24 October, the Peshawar High Court refuted the petition alleging “harassment” faced by the Afghan immigrants with proper documentation owing to the repatriation order issued by the government. The court stated that the order had been issued for “illegal aliens” and unregistered Afghan refugees in the country and that no mandate was announced against documented refugees from Afghanistan. The petitioner lawyer Saifullah Muhib Kakakhel demanded that the court announce the detainment of Afghan refugees who have Proof of registration as “illegal,” and not book those who are entitled to Pakistani citizenship. The petition urged a formulation of measures to protect entitled Afghan refugees living in Pakistan. (“Only ‘illegal’ Afghans to be deported, PHC told,” Dawn, 25 October 2023)
The PRI exodus: Three leaders join the IPP
On 24 October, three PTI leaders Andleeb Abbas, Sadia Sohail, and Sumaira Bokhari parted their ways with PTI. Following the stream of exodus of PTI leaders from the party, three women party members joined Jahangir Tareen's Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP). IPP is a newly formed party in Pakistan secessionism from PTI, formed on 8 June by former PTI leaders Tareena and Aleem Khan. The party saw mass defection with PTI political crackdown after the 9 May violence with several PTI ‘loyalists’ leaving. (“In another blow to PTI, three women leaders join Jahangir Tareen's IPP,” The News International, 24 October 2023)
PROVINCES
Sindh: Asian Development Bank to assist with coastal resilience
On 25 October, Dawn reported that the Asian Development Bank will now provide technical assistance to the Sindh Costal Resilience sector. The project aims to further the coastal region with a high degree of resilience and enhance readiness in the region. The investments will be made in the sensitive environmental districts of Thatta, Sujawal and Badin, facing the aftermath of flooding, soil erosion and saline intrusion. Previously, the Japan Fund for Prosperous Resilient Asia and the Pacific provided the region with USD 2 million. The National Adaptation Plan pointed out that Pakistan’s coastal region is under threat of repercussions by climate change. (Amin Ahmed, “ ADB okays help for Sindh coastal project,” Dawn, 25 October 2023)
ECONOMY
IMF Visit: Envoy to reach Pakistan on 2 November for the first review
On 25 October, The Friday Times reported of the IMF visit to Pakistan to take place on 2 November as part of the first review under the stand-by agreement. Pakistan facing an economic crisis was able to get the USD 3 billion bailout package to stop defaulting, out of which the first installment was sent of USD 1.2 billion in July. The current government has been taking stringent measures to revive the economy, with the privatization plan of loss incurring SOEs and increasing gas tariffs. (“IMF Delegation To Visit Pakistan On Nov 2 For First Review Of SBA,” The Friday Times, 25 October 2023)
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“What would be the point of aid if there are no recipients left in Gaza ? We call upon the UN and the international community to immediately ensure a ceasefire and restore the supply of water, food, fuel, electricity, and medical supplies to the Palestinians  . We cannot turn a blind eye to war crimes termed as ‘self-defence.’ Clearly we recall the decades long offence that has been committed against the people of Palestine. Although I sense that it might already be too late, the world leadership must wake up to the deadly consequences of an unresolved Palestinian question.”
-Shehbaz Sharif
“Tragic to see the hundreds of cancellations of @Official_PIA flights all across the country. Not saying the airline has been a great performer, far from it. But it was never in total collapse like this. Private airlines are excellent but they don’t ply all the routes people in the country need, nor the cross-country time slots PIA flew. How has it come to pass that its liquidity is in such a critical pass that fuel payments have paralysed it? Interim Govt needs to act. I know it took a body blow from #Licensegate but this level of precipitous decline is entirely preventable surely.”
-Senator Sherry Rehman
“Congratulations Justices Ijaz ul Ahsan, Munib Akhtar, Ayesha Malik, Mazahar Naqvi & Yahya Afridi for declaring trial of civilians by military courts unconstitutional. Spirit lifting news after a long spell of gloom & doom. The red line is the Constitution and not anything else”
- Farhatullah Babar
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Kiyya Baloch, ‘Hows and whys of rising fundamentalism in Balochistan’
The Express Tribune, 25 October 2023
“The state’s tolerance to counter Baloch insurgency and the strategy of Baloch and Pashtun nationalists to coexist with religious fanatics for survival have worked to strengthen religious fundamentalism in Balochistan. We may see increased religiously-motivated attacks in those areas of Balochistan that thus far remain unaffected by religious extremism, with repercussions for all, including the state, PKMAP, BNP and NP.”
Editorial, ‘Elections now’
Dawn, 25 October 2023
“With the president distancing himself, and the chief election commissioner insisting that the ECP alone has the power to announce elections, what is the delay? In 2018, the ECP announced the election schedule before the assemblies’ tenure ended. This time, while it has busied itself with the delimitation exercise, it would do well to remember that it has a constitutional duty to announce an election date. Vague time frames won’t do. The time to announce a date is now.”
Dr Syed Akhtar Ali Shah, ‘Investigation — capacity of police’
The Express Tribune, 25 October 2023
“Maintenance of public order is one the most essential duties of the police as regards crime control. In this context, prevention and detection are interconnected. In other words, policing is about prevention and detection of crime and maintenance of public order. However, unfortunately despite the much-trumpeted claims of reforms through Police Order 2002 and subsequently Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Police Act 2017, no meaningful change could be brought in terms of relief to citizens. Police culture remains the same, with the stereotypical style of investigation persisting.”
Editorial, ‘Gassed up!’
The Express Tribune, 25 October 2023
“The beneficiaries from the cost-entailing decision, SNGPL and SSGCL, must be ashamed for taking refuge behind hapless masses for overcoming their pseudo-corporate inefficiency and institutional corruption. Much better could have been prescribed by addressing pilferage, opting for austerity and scrapping blue-eyed boys enjoyed perks and privileges, rather than callously putting up a chart of budgetary gimmicks. With electricity and oil prices already in the no-man’s corridor, this new slur will make life and whatever production Pakistan is left with, uncompetitive and bizarre.”
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“The party can come to power with establishment's support through dubious elections. But it cannot bring political stability to the country.”
-An opinion in Dawn, ‘Trying for a fourth term’
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