IMF delegation's surprise visit I Danish company to invest USD 2 billion in Pakistan’s maritime industry
In Brief
POLITICS
PTI sources reveal that the nomination of Salman Raja as secretary general violates the party constitution
On 12 November, an article in The News International revealed how Imran Khan’s nomination of Salman Akram Raja as Secretary General of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf violates the constitution. However, according to PTI sources only those members elected to the ‘Panel of the Secretary-General’ can be nominated as Secretary-General. The sources added that the development comes as the former Secretary-General’s resignation has neither been approved nor has he been de-notified. Similarly, even Salman Akram Raja has not been notified to be Omar Ayub’s replacement. Hence, Akram Raja functioning as the Secretary-General is a violation of the party’s constitution. It is worth noting that the last time the PTI constitution was amended was back in 2019. (Ansar Abbasi, Imran violated party’s constitution in nominating Raja as PTI secy gen,” The News International, 12 November 2024)
“To further bring women voter numbers up, the ECP should employ additional targeted measures,” suggests an editorial in Dawn
On 12 November, an editorial titled in Dawn titled “Narrowing the gap,” discussed the Electoral Commission’s role in enhancing female participation in the electoral process. The editorial noted the latest data which displays a significant narrowing in the gender gap. Places such as Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have shown improvement, on the contrary, Sindh has shown little progress in terms of female participation. Urban areas like Lahore and Faisalabad suffer from “substantial gender gaps, with nearly 390,000 and 380,000 more male than female voters, respectively.” The editorial highlighted the need to carry out “strategies that address specific cultural and logistical barriers in these areas.” Furthermore, these statistics can be improved by increasing mobile registration in regions where these gaps linger. The editorial urged the Electoral Commission to adopt targeted measures and even collaborate with civil societies to increase female participation. (Narrowing the gap,” Dawn, 12 November 2024)
JUDICIARY
Three-judge committee to divert cases for the constitutional bench
On 12 November Dawn reported that a meeting was on 6 November in the head of the constitutional bench, Justice Aminud Din Khan’s chambers. The minutes of the meeting revealed that a three-judge committee consisting of Justice Aminud Din Khan, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar will decide which cases will be fixed, issue court schedules, constitute benches, and decide the caseload of the constitutional bench. At the end of the meeting, it was decided that a colour coding system would be adopted for cases that came under the purview of Article 191 A. Separately, Mian Muhammad Rauf Atta was elected the new President of the Supreme Court Bar Association. In his speech, he announced that the bench would reduce the judicial backlog by addressing cases that require constitutional interpretation and, ultimately, improve the Supreme Court’s efficiency. (Nasir Iqbal, Three-judge committee to decide constitutional bench cases,” Dawn, 12 November 2024)
ECONOMY
IMF delegation's pays surprise visit
On 11 November, an unannounced visit was made by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation led by Pakistan’s mission chief, Nathan Porter. The visitors held discussions with Pakistan’s officials, including the Minister of State for Revenue Ali Pervez Malik, and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) chairman Rashid Mehmood Langrial. This visit comes ahead of the Extended Facility Fund programme’s review meeting which is set to take place in December for the disbursement of the second installment. The IMF staff is set “to discuss recent developments and programme performance to date” till 15 November. In response, the Pakistan side assured that its administrative action and enforcement was in its beginning stage and was set to gain impetus by the end of November. Their visit was aimed not only at looking into the revenue collection shortfall in the first quarter of fiscal 2024 but also at the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) auction fiasco. In the days to come, both sides are set to discuss key issues related to State Owned Enterprises, revenue sourcing and measures and the external financing gap. (Khaleeq Kiani, Govt sticks to revenue targets, vows to overcome shortfalls,” Dawn, 12 November 2024)
Nepra introduces a new framework for Discos and K-Electric
On 12 November, The News International reported that the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has introduced new performance standards for Pakistan electricity distribution companies (Discos) under the Nepra Performance Standards (Distribution) Regulations, 2024. These fresh standards are a product of the Pakistan Electric Power Act of 1997 which aims at ensuring accountability, transparency, consumer satisfaction, and operationality. It has set two benchmarks for the Discos, namely, the Guaranteed Performance Standards (GPS) and Overall Performance Standards (OPS). The former is a time-specific standard where tasks must be completed within a specific timeline and the latter is quality-specific, where the frequency of outages must be minimized through the provision of reliable and safe power networks. However, this is not all as Nepra has also sought to establish a customer service body known as Consumer Facilitation Application (CFA). The platform will allow customers to report their complaints, check progress, and even receive notifications in real-time. (Israr Khan, Nepra raises service, safety standards for Discos, K-Electric,” The News International, 12 November 2024)
SOCIETY
PTA calls for registration of VPN users
On 11 November, the Pakistan Telecom Authority (PTA) and the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) issued a notification to the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) to register Virtual Private Networks in the Intelligence Technology (IT) industry. The letter stated that the use of VPNs was allowed but only for legitimate purposes across various industries such as corporate enterprises, universities, freelancers, and so on. It further read: “However, in light of security concerns and to curb misuse, the government is introducing stricter regulations on VPN usage.” In this regard, on 12 November, P@SHA held a virtual meeting, where the need to persuade VPN service providers to register clients from overseas was discussed. This development comes as many VPN users in Pakistan complained of poor internet connection amid an ongoing ban on the X platform. Responding to the possible reason behind this, the PTA claimed that the internet disruption was caused by a technical glitch. Separately, the PTA has started to block unregistered VPNs to protect user interest and internet security. (Kalbe Ali, “PTA speaks on ‘technical glitch’, insists on VPN registration,” Dawn, 12 November 2024; “PTA ‘begins blocking’ unregistered VPNs,” The News International, 12 November 2024 )
“Local e-commerce, which has mushroomed in recent years, has faced severe disturbances due to our authorities’ inability to resist tinkering with the internet, and many businesses stand to lose serious money if the situation does not improve soon,” suggests an editorial in Dawn
On 12 November, an editorial in Dawn titled “System failure,” discussed the recent internet disruption that has affected many users across Pakistan, including the Virtual Private Network (VPN) users. However, the exact issue wasn’t clear as some stated that they were unable to use VPNs, while others claimed that they could access the internet via mobile data, and broadband services or did not face any problem at all. The editorial criticized the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority for being silent on the matter. It observed how internet use is not just restricted to a few as “all shades” of Pakistanis are linked to the “modern world.” The editorial reads: “However, it often appears as if the relevant institutions still see the right to internet connectivity as an essential means of communication as a privilege.” The editorial claimed that the right to internet access is being restricted in the same manner as civil and political rights are. An “‘on/off switch” being used to restrict voices from being heard. But this poses a danger to the already dwindling economy as continuous disruptions like this dissuade foreign investors from outsourcing services or establishing shops in Pakistan. (System failure,” Dawn, 12 November 2024)
SECURITY
Terrorists from the Karachi airport attack have been arrested
On 11 November, during a press conference held in Karachi, Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar declared the capture of the culprit behind the attack on the Chinese convoy near the Quaid-e-Azam International Airport. An investigation of the attack which killed two Chinese nationals on 6 October revealed that a Research Department Explosive (RDX) was used in the attack. The attack was claimed by the BLA (Balochistan Liberation Army). The RDZ consisted of a chemical called pent weighing 40-42 kilograms was hidden in a car cavity. In his statement, the minister explained that such chemicals were utilized during World War II. Lanjar stated that Sindh police had arrested a female facilitator, the mastermind behind the attack, and three other suspects. However, one suspect who was later identified as Danish, is still at large. (Salis bin Perwaiz, Karachi airport attack on Chinese nationals Mastermind, 4 BLA terrorists arrested: Lanjar,” The News International, 12 November 2024)
PROVINCES
Punjab: UN expresses concern for children amid smog issue
On 12 November, The Express Tribune reported that the United Nations has expressed its concern regarding the increasing air pollution in Pakistan that is affecting the well-being of children and insisted upon putting increased “efforts” to combat the same. The capital city of Punjab, Lahore which has a population of 14 million, is experiencing an acute smog problem that has compelled the government to shut down “schools, parks, zoos and playgrounds.” It has also been alleged that the problem of smog originated in India where farmers are involved in the “burning of crop stubble.” In addition to that, industrial firms and automobiles also play their part in increasing air pollution. As per the UN data, the schooling of roughly “16 million children” is affected by the shutting down of schools. Air pollution in Pakistan is also responsible for causing 12 per cent of deaths of “children under five.” The data, however, does not take into account the present increase in air pollution. (“Over 11m children under five in Punjab exposed to toxic smog: UN,” The Express Tribune, 12 November 2024)
EXTERNAL
PM Sharif expresses solidarity with Palestine at the Arab-Islamic summit
On 11 November, Dawn reported that PM Shehbaz Sharif in his address at the “Arab-Islamic summit” expressed solidarity with the “people of Palestine” and condemned Israel’s use of indiscriminate force in Palestine, Lebanon, and Iran. He criticized the silence of the world community on speaking against Israel for committing atrocities in Gaza. He further criticized countries for arming Israel with state-of-the-art weapons and claimed that Israel has been guaranteed unwavering support and security. He once again spoke about Pakistan’s resolve to push for establishing the state of Palestine which would have Jerusalem as its capital city. He demanded that countries attending the summit collectively raise their voice and act in an unswerving manner to solve the crisis. Separately, he also met Saudi Minister for Investment Khalid bin Abdulazis Al-Falih to discuss the progress on “economic cooperation” between the two countries. Further, he is expected to meet the Muslim World League secretary general. (“Humanitarian crisis beyond ‘imagination’ in Gaza, says PM Shehbaz at Riyadh summit,” Dawn, 11 November 2024; “Humanity is being tested and failing in Gaza:’ PM Shehbaz Sharif,” The Express Tribune, 11 November 2024)
China reassures Pakistan of its assistance in economic growth and combating terrorism
On 12 November, Dawn reported that Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian has reassured his country’s support in assisting Islamabad to achieve economic growth and combat terrorism. Previously, the escalation in the number of attacks on Chinese citizens, particularly those who were involved in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects (CPEC) had increased China’s worries. Lin hinted that the terror attacks victimizing Chinese citizens in Pakistan could probably be seen as an attempt to cause tensions in the bilateral ties between the two countries and break apart mutual trust with regard to CPEC projects. He expressed optimism regarding thwarting any attempt that intends to damage the relations between the two countries. Separately, President Asif Ali Zardari thanked Chinese President Xi who wrote a letter to the Pakistani president wishing him a speedy recovery from an injury. On the invitation to visit China, President Zardari expressed his willingness to visit the country on a “mutually” suitable date. (Baqir Sajjad Syed, “Beijing renews resolve to help Pakistan in tackling terrorism,” Dawn, 12 November 2024; Asim Yasin, “Zardari thanks President Xi for goodwill message,” The News International, 12 November 2024)
Finance Minister expresses willingness to welcome Turkish firms
On 12 November, The Nation reported that Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb expressed his willingness to host Turkish businesses and encourage their collaboration with Pakistani firms, especially, in sectors such as Information Technology and agriculture. On 11 November, he met Ambassador of Türkiye Irfan Neziroglu, welcoming his posting in Islamabad. The Finance Minister stated that Pakistan could draw lessons from the progress made by Turkey in the power sector. The Turkish ambassador lauded the Pakistani government’s initiatives to boost the economy and affirmed to facilitate the deepening of ties between the two countries. Separately, the finance minister met Pakistan’s Ambassador to Denmark Shoiab Sarwar. The meeting focused on deliberating upon how to further deepen cooperation between Pakistan and Denmark. The Finance Minister underscored the importance of the Pakistani immigrant population in Denmark who play a significant part in the “socio-economic upliftment” of the country. (Imran Ali Kundi, “Turkish firms invited to enter mutually beneficial JVs with Pakistani counterparts,” The Nation, 12 November 2024)
Danish company to invest USD 2 billion in Pakistan’s maritime industry
On 11 November, The Express Tribune reported that the maritime industry of Pakistan is all set to receive funding of USD 2 billion from Maersk Line which is a Danish shipping firm. Minister of Maritime Affairs, Qaiser Ahmed Shaikh is optimistic that the funding would boost the development of “port infrastructure” and build up “logistics” capacity. Members of Maersk Line expressed content with the enterprise of the government. The Minister hopes that the development would further lure other companies to invest in the maritime industry of Pakistan which would play a part in its growth. It is anticipated that the funding would generate new employment opportunities and provide a boost to the economy of the country. (“Pakistan secures $2b investment from Denmark in maritime sector,” The Express Tribune, 11 November 2024)
Australian army chief visits Rawalpindi to meet his counterpart Gen Asim Munir
On 11 November, The Express Tribune reported that Chief of General Staff Asim Munir hosted Australia’s army chief, Lieutenant General Simon Stuart in Rawalpindi. The two dignitaries emphasized the need for deepening bilateral ties to achieve mutual objectives of “peace and stability.” The Australian Army chief appreciated Pakistan’s endeavors in combating the menace of terrorism and looks forward to increasing bilateral defence cooperation. The meeting between the two army chiefs signifies the deepening of security relations between the two countries which are emphasized upon achieving common goals of combating terrorism. (“COAS Gen Asim Munir, Australian army chief agree to boost defence, security ties,” The Express Tribune, 11 November 2024)
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"Allah's greatest commandment is to establish justice on earth."
Imran Khan
- PTI
Neither Trump nor his party can release Imran Khan!!
Leader of Muslim League (N) Tariq Fazal Chaudhry
- PMLN Digital
The Muslim Ummah should now not only condemn but take practical measures
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif
- PMLN
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"Pakistan risks burdening itself with unnecessary electricity projects."
- An opinion in Dawn, ‘Power discipline’
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