PAKISTAN READER

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Government and IMF mission begin final review talks

In Brief
ECONOMY
Government and IMF mission begin final review talks
On 14 March, Pakistan and the visiting IMF staff mission began discussions on the second and final review of the current USD three billion short-term bailout package, in which authorities assured full compliance with the benchmarks. There were also separate and combined sessions held with the ministries of finance, energy and petroleum, the Federal Board of Revenue and the State Bank. Finance Minister Aurangzeb Khan “welcomed the mission and expressed the government’s commitment towards working with IMF on the reform agenda for economic growth and stability of Pakistan.” He had earlier expressed the government’s decision to request a longer and larger loan programme to sustain macroeconomic stability. Discussions were also held on “the overall macroeconomic indicators, government’s efforts on fiscal consolidation, structural refo­r­­ms, energy sector viability, and SOE (state-owned enterprises) governance.” As per the Ministry of Finance, Pakistan met all structural benchmarks, qualitative performance criteria, and indicative targets that were required for a successful completion of the IMF review. Energy Minister Musadik Malik assured the IMF mission that the government would meet the power sector’s circular debt target of PKR 2.31 trillion, with the government on track so far. He also stated that energy sector reforms would be undertaken and the government was already working on measures to contain energy prices by reducing generation costs and controlling theft. Malik provided details on the plan to provide maximum local gas to four LNG-based power plants in Punjab, which is now in its final stages under which maximum allocation of local gas could be ensured. (Khaleeq Kiani, “Govt begins final IMF review talks,” Dawn, 15 March 2024)
 
Government to follow comprehensive roadmap to ensure economic prosperity in five years
On 14 March, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a high-level meeting and laid down a roadmap for the country’s economic resurgence in the next five years, with a focus on curbing inflation, eliminating poverty and creating jobs. The Minister of State for IT, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, said that Sharif “sought estimates from different ministries and divisions and formed a committee to go back to the ministries to set five-year targets in different sectors, such as IT, agriculture, industries, energy, food and livestock, reforms in FBR (Federal Board of Revenue), ease of doing business, etc.” After getting the information, the committee will prepare a consolidated document of five-year targets for all sectors. Sharif asserted that “without wasting any time, implementation of projects for the economic stability and progress of the country should be ensured.” Steps to speed up progress in the aforementioned sectors would be prioritized, with the government reducing expenditure to prevent the “further waste of money of poor people.” He expressed hope that the country’s “economy would be stabilised to put the country on the path of progress” within the next five years, adding that tax revenue and per-acre yield in agriculture would be increased with the use of technology. The Minister for Petroleum and Energy, Musadik Malik, highlighted that in light of the “tense situation,” they needed to “how tolerance while maintaining differences so that a tolerant future could be given to a growing population.” (Syed Irfan Raza, “Curtain rises on five-year plan for economic revival,” Dawn, 15 March 2024)
 
Seafood exports to China increase by 13 per cent in 2023
On 15 March, The Express Tribune reported on a 13 per cent rise in Pakistan’s seafood exports to China, which an Investment and Trade Counsellor at the Pakistan Embassy in Beijing, Ghulam Qadir, has linked to a steadily growing demand for seafood in China. Qadir highlighted that as per data from the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC), in the January-December period in 2023 YoY, Pakistan’s seafood exports to China reached USD 247.3 million, compared to UDS 219.3 million in 2022 and USD 139.29 million in 2021. He further stated: “This growth can be attributed to various factors, such as improved trade relations between the two countries, participation in the China Fisheries and Seafood Expo held in Qingdao last year by a large group of Pakistani fisheries companies, and the implementation of efficient supply chain management strategies in the Pakistani seafood industry.” As per the GACC, in 2023, exports of frozen fish crossed USD 60.63 million, fresh/chilled crabs increased to USD 42.59 million, and frozen cuttlefish reached USD 34.93 million. (“Seafood exports to China surge by 13%,” The Express Tribune, 15 March 2024)
 
POLITICS
PPP bags four seats in Senate by-elections, PML-N and JUI-F secure one each
On 14 March, in a by-election held on six vacant Senate seats, the PPP won four seats while the PML-N and the JUI-F won one seat each. The seats became vacant after senators resigned from the house or got elected to the national and provincial assemblies after the 8 February elections. Of the six vacated seats, three originally belonged to the PPP. Former premier Yousuf Raza Gilani won the seat in Islamabad, and as per PPP sources, he will be the candidate for the office of the Senate chairman. A PPP leader added that as per an agreement with the PML-N, the Senate chairman would be from the PPP and the deputy chairman from the PML-N. In Sindh, PPP’s Jam Saifullah Dharejo and Aslam Abro returned elected on two seats of the Senate. In Balochistan, PPP’s Abdul Quddus Bizenjo, PML-N’s Mir Dostain Khan Domki, and JUI-F’s Abdul Shakoor Ghibzai were elected to the three seats. (Iftikhar A Khan, “Ruling alliance scores big in Senate by-polls,” Dawn, 15 March 2024)
 
PTI’s core committee calls for release of Imran Khan among other demands
On 14 March, denouncing Imran Khan’s detention, the PTI’s core committee called for Khan’s immediate release after receiving an overview of the cases against him by the party’s legal team. They also discussed the security of Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi and the recount of votes in constituencies in Punjab. The committee accused the state of trying to subject Khan to “political vendetta,” citing the speedy trial and delayed appeals against court decisions. While they demanded that all the cases against Khan be proceeded in accordance with the constitution, they also denounced Bushra Bibi’s detention in Banigala sub-jail against her will, calling for security to be provided to her. Further, they maintained that recounting votes in some constituencies of Punjab was “unconstitutional” as many seats won by PTI-backed independents were allegedly given to the PML-N after the recounts. Thus, they demanded that those constituencies be audited and seats “stolen” from the PTI should be given back. (Ikram Junaidi, “PTI core committee demands Imran’s immediate release,” Dawn, 15 March 2024)
 
President and other leaders commend meeting between PM Sharif and KP’s CM Gandapur
On 14 March, President Asif Ali Zardari termed a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur held a day earlier, as a positive step “towards healing the divisions Pakistan has been going through.” He appreciated the outreach as a “good beginning” in giving “people hope in the democratic process by showing them it could work.” The meeting came following Gandapur’s decision to not attend the oath-taking ceremonies of Sharif and Zardari, and was the first time PTI and PML-N representatives sat together with a “positive intention to resolve the problems of the people.” In the meeting, Sharif assured Gandapur that the Centre would clear KP’s dues and fulfil its genuine demands. The Federal Minister for Planning, Ahsan Iqbal, also hailed the meeting and stated: “We have to work together to resolve people’s problems.” Information Minister Ataullah Tarar said such meetings could help Pakistan move towards a solution to its economic problems, while PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafiq said the meeting was a “step in the right direction.” However, PTI leader Hammad Azhar asserted that the meeting should not be taken as an indication of any compromise on the theft of Imran Khan’s or the public’s mandate.” (Syed Irfan Raza, “President Zardari terms Shehbaz-Gandapur meeting ‘positive step’,” Dawn, 15 March 2024)
 
JUDICIARY
SC asks federal government for report on initiatives taken to tackle climate change
On 14 March, a three-judge Supreme Court (SC) bench asked the federal government to come up with a report containing details of initiatives it took to combat the climate change challenges facing Pakistan. The order was issued by the bench, comprising Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail and Justice Athar Minallah, after hearing a petition by the advocacy group Public Interest Law Association of Pakistan (Pilap), which noted the existential threat of climate change. The petition pleased that the Pakistan Climate Change Act 2017 was promulgated on March 31, 2017, to provide adaptation and mitigation measures required to address the impact of climate change and set up a Pakistan Climate Change Authority and Pakistan Climate Change Fund. Since neither had been set up, the petition argued that the act was rendered ineffective. The bench asked the attorney general for Pakistan and provincial advocate generals to apprise the court on 21 March about measures taken by provincial governments and sought opinions and assistance from independent experts. It also noted that the 2022 floods, a “distressing proof of complexities of climate change,” caused a total damage of PKR 3.2 trillion. As per the Global Climate Risk Index, Pakistan is the fifth most climate-vulnerable country globally and faces some of the highest disaster risk levels in the world as it is prone to flooding, earthquakes, and cyclones. (Nasir Iqbal, “SC seeks report on actions to tackle climate change,” Dawn, 15 March 2024)
 
EXTERNAL
FO spokesperson accuses India of violating agreement on pre-notification, criticizes CAA act
On 14 March, Pakistan accused India of not fully complying with the agreement on the advance notification of ballistic missile tests, citing the first successful test flight of a domestically developed missile conducted by India. As per the agreement, Pakistan and India are bound to share advance notice before carrying out any testing. Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch stated: “The advance notification was shared by India but it did not follow the 3-day timeline as stipulated in Article 2 of the Agreement on Pre-notification of the Fight Testing of Ballistic Missiles.” She added that the agreement should be “complied with in letter and spirit.” Earlier on 11 March, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a successful test flight of a domestically developed missile capable of carrying multiple warheads had been carried out. Separately, Baloch expressed concerns over the Indian government’s decision to implement the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act of 2019, saying Pakistan was aware of the “ugly debate that is currently taking place in India with regards to Muslims, minorities and immigrants.” She accused the legislation and relevant rules of being “discriminatory in nature as they differentiate amongst people on the basis of their faith.” Baloch cited a resolution passed in the National Assembly of Pakistan in 2019, which criticized this law for being “premised on a false assumption that minorities are being persecuted in Muslim countries of the region and the facade of India being a safe haven for minorities.” Additionally, she stated that Indian authorities should “stop pre-choreographed targeting and systematic marginalization of minorities inside India.” (Kamran Yousaf, “Pakistan accuses India of violating accord with Agni-5 test,” The Express Tribune, 14 March 2024)
 
President Zardari thanks Chinese president and appreciates bilateral ties
On 14 March, as per a statement issued by the President House, President Asif Ali Zardari thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping for his extending congratulations on the former’s re-election as the president. Zardari expressed commitment to working with Jinping to deepen ties and strengthen the partnership while appreciating the unique bond shared by both countries forged on the grounds of mutual respect, understanding, and common views on global issues. He highlighted that their “solid friendship serves as an anchor for regional peace, stability and development,” and pointed out how both countries were iron-clad brothers working for the success of their All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership. Additionally, Zardari appreciated the progress made in bilateral cooperation and the development of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in particular. (“President thanks Chinese counterpart,” The Express Tribune, 15 March 2024)
 
SECURITY
Pakistan and US conduct sea drills at Karachi Port
On 14 March, the US Navy Ship USS INDIANAPOLIS, Freedom Class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) arrived at the Karachi Port and held a sea drill with the Pakistan Navy port. As per the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), activities included discussions with Pakistan Navy officials and the ship’s crew on contemporary issues and conducting joint sea exercises. The Pakistan Navy ship ALAMGIR carried out a sea exercise with the US Navy ship to boost interoperability between the navies of both countries. As a whole, the exercise was directed towards strengthening mutual professional skills through cooperation and learning. (“US Navy’s USS Indianapolis conducts sea exercise with Pakistan Navy in Karachi,” The News International, 14 March 2024)
 
SOCIETY
PTA chairman claims phone hacking has become very easy
On 14 March, the Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Major-General Hafeezur Rehman, told an Islamabad High Court (IHC) bench that phone hacking had become very easy. During the bench’s hearing on audio leaks, Rehman claimed: “Phone hacking has become so easy that if you leave your mobile phone somewhere and go to the washroom, I can connect and hack it before you return.” The court had earlier received multiple reports in which Pakistani spy agencies contended that untraceable mobile apps and viruses could be used to tap phone calls. Rehman stated that 90 per cent of phones contained ‘viruses’ capable of operating inbuilt cameras, thus compromising users’ privacy, citing the introduction of software by an Israeli company that could “hack a phone within a minute.” While the PTA enforced provisions for the license for telecom operations, legal interception had not been granted. IHC Justice Babar Sattar asked whether telecom operators know of a mechanism by which calls could be intercepted legally, to which the counsel replied that the PTA had installed a system which was at the disposal of the federal government. Sattar highlighted that telecom operators are not under any obligation to keep the personal information of consumers confidential, and the IHC subsequently asked telecom operators to submit a detailed report by the next date of hearing so that the court could understand the framework of data sharing with the agencies. (Malik Asad, “Phone hacking has become too easy, PTA chief tells IHC,” Dawn, 15 March 2024)
 
Punjab’s polio programme head warns “laid back approach” in campaign will not be tolerated
On 14 March, during a meeting to review the anti-polio drive in February, the Head of the polio programme in Punjab and Emergency Operations Centre Coordinator, Khizer Afzaal, directed district health authorities (DHAs) to take ownership of the anti-polio efforts. He asserted that a “laid back approach” would not be tolerated while expressing concern over the “low quality micro plans” and “unplanned” training sessions organized for polio teams. He emphasized that micro plans had to be regularly updated to ensure every child could be reached during anti-polio campaigns, and stated: “Attention needs to be paid to plan the training sessions to ensure that no untrained team member is deployed during the campaign.” Afzaal was briefed on the field validating of the polio campaign data, and also reviewed data on ‘zero doze’ children in the campaigns. He added that as the virus “continues to be detected in major cities,” there was a need to “improve” the performance “instead of cutting a sorry figure.” Further, Afzaal claimed quality assurance indicators of the polio campaigns had been tightened, while Punjab was planning a campaign to respond to the virus detection in the environmental samples of some cities. (“Punjab health authorities warned against complacency in polio drives,” Dawn, 15 March 2024)
 
PROVINCES
Balochistan: CM assures reforms are underway in education and healthcare sectors
On 14 March, Balochistan’s Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti assured that reforms were being undertaken in the health and education sectors, as the condition of these sectors was unsatisfactory despite large expenditures. While the government has allocated PKR 80 billion for the healthcare sector, it will also initiate reforms in the hospitals following Sindh’s model as despite the huge allocation, the health department’s condition remained dire. As part of these reforms, the Fauji Foundation will run three hospitals in the province. Bugti also spoke on the education sector, where despite billions of rupees being spent, the situation “doesn’t seem to be improving.” Thus, a comprehensive assessment of the provincial Public Sector Development Programme will be conducted, after which a reform committee will be formed to present its report within 60 days, as per which the provincial cabinet will be directed to initiate development projects. (Saleem Shahid, “Reforms being implemented in education, health sectors: CM,” Dawn, 15 March 2024)

Overseas Pakistanis stage demonstrations outside the headquarters of the IMF and the World Bank, urging these institutions not to extend further loans to Pakistan. These protests, which coincidentally align with the timing of the iftar, are marked by a unique blend of democratic expression and religious observance. Most prominently on the display are the images of Pakistan Army generals, accusing them of financial misappropriation at the expense of the Pakistani people. Quite a protest to highlight the complex interplay between international finance and national governance and the difference between the degree of freedom Pakistanis have at home and abroad. -Sonam Mahajan   Pakistan Navy, in collaboration with the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency and the Anti-Narcotics Force, recently conducted a joint anti-narcotics operation at sea. This successful operation resulted in the seizure of 1500 kg of drugs. The confiscated narcotics have been handed over to the authorities of the Anti-Narcotics Force. This operation was carried out by the Joint Maritime Information and Coordination Center based on intelligence inputs. The Pakistan Navy remains resolute in its commitment to thwart all illegal activities within the country's maritime boundaries. -Balochistan Current Affairs   Our solid friendship serves as an anchor for regional peace, stability & development - President Asif Ali Zardari thanks Chinese President Xi Jinping for extending warm congratulations on his re-election as the President of Pakistan. -PPP Digital

“Globalised supply chains supersede any particular ‘national interest’.” -An opinion in Dawn, ‘TikTok wars’