Tag: Pakistan

Pakistan's Economic Crisis Going From Bad To Worse

Pakistan’s Economic Crisis Going From Bad To Worse

By LokMarg

Pakistan’s economic crisis is going from bad to worse. The forex reserves in the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has recently touched the lowest mark of USD 4.343 billion just enough for two weeks. This is just due to the ineptitude of the political class and over-involvement of the army in decision-making, reported Financial Post.

According to the Washington-based financial news organisation, this dip in forex reserves came after a loan of USD 1 billion was repaid by Pakistan to two United Arab Emirates (UAE) banks. The remittances to Pakistan abroad have declined from USD 15.8 billion to USD 14.1 billion. Notably, on January 6, the forex reserves in the SBP touched the lowest mark of USD 4.343 billion, just enough for two weeks.
The low forex reserves have also become the reason for severe food inflation because of which people are struggling to survive without the required food and energy resources, the Financial Post reported.

Now, Pakistan after getting a portion of a six-billion-dollar loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) hopes to receive financial support and aid from international financial organisations and friendly countries, such as Saudi Arabia, China, and the UAE, the report said.

Pakistan had previously raised USD 10 billion dollars at a donor conference in Geneva on January 10 for the floods that had hit the country from June to October last year.

It must be noted here that Pakistan had actually urged for USD 16 billion as an aid for flood recovery. Interestingly, 90 per cent of these financial ‘pledges’ (USD 8.7 billion) were project loans that will be rolled out over the next three years. Although the terms of these loans have not been revealed yet, which raises concerns over its repayment on the given deadline, the Financial Post report claimed.

To support Pakistan, Saudi Arabia has said to deposit another USD 2 billion with the State Bank of Pakistan, after conducting a “study”, adding to this UAE is also expected to provide USD 3 billion in financial assistance. Similar help is expected from China also, the report said.

Ironically, all of this financial help is in the form of loans which will increase Pakistan’s long-standing debt and increase its yearly debt servicing requirements. Similarly, the country already is facing difficulty in clearing import consignments and letters of credit due to delays in payments from banks, it said.

Another reason for the country’s poor economic condition as highlighted by the report is the recurring economic crises in Pakistan, primarily caused by a persistent fiscal deficit which is a result of the government’s tendency to overspend, neglect increase in domestic resources, and engage in excessive spending, the report said.

It was “shameful to have a nuclear weapon in one hand and a begging bowl in the other,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said while addressing the passing-out ceremony of probationary officers of the Pakistan Administration Service (PAS) on January 14, the Financial Post reported.

Although Sharif blamed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for wasting time by causing “political disorder” through street protests. Nevertheless, such political bickering will not help Sharif save Pakistan from the impending default crisis, the Financial Post noted. (ANI)

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Pakistani fishermen

India Repatriates Pakistani Via Attari-Wagah Border

By LokMarg

Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi on Thursday said that India repatriated a Pakistan national via the Attari-Wagah border who was under imprisonment in the country.

“In close coordination with Foreign Office Pakistan and also the Indian side, a national who was imprisoned in India, was repatriated today via the Attari-Wagah border. We will continue our efforts for early repatriation of those Pakistani prisoners who have completed their sentences,” Pakistan High Commission tweeted.
India and Pakistan this month had exchanged the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in their custody, in line with the longstanding agreement between the two countries.

In an earlier statement on January 1, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said India shared lists of 339 Pakistani civilian prisoners and 95 Pakistani fishermen currently in Indian custody. Similarly, Pakistan has shared lists of 51 civilian prisoners and 654 fishermen in its custody, who are Indians or are believed to be Indians.

In the statement, the Indian government called for early release and repatriation of civilian prisoners, missing Indian defense personnel, and fishermen along with their boats, from Pakistan’s custody.

“In this context, Pakistan was asked to expedite the release and repatriation of 631 Indian fishermen and 02 Indian civilian prisoners, who have completed their sentence and whose nationality has been confirmed and conveyed to Pakistan. In addition, Pakistan has been asked to provide immediate consular access to the remaining 30 fishermen and 22 civilian prisoners in Pakistan’s custody, who are believed to be Indian,” the MEA said.

The ministry said India remains committed to addressing, on priority, all humanitarian matters, including those pertaining to prisoners and fishermen in each other’s country.

In this context, India has also urged Pakistan to expedite necessary action at its end to confirm the nationality status of 71 Pakistani prisoners, including fishermen, whose repatriation is pending for want of nationality confirmation from Pakistan.

The external affairs ministry also said Pakistan had been requested to ensure the safety, security, and welfare of all Indian and believed-to-be Indian civilian prisoners and fishermen, pending their release and repatriation to India. (ANI)

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34 Naxals Surrender In Chhattisgarh, 4 Having Bounty Of Rs 1L

Reports Of Pak Air Strikes In Afghanistan At TTP Hideouts, Islamabad Denies

By LokMarg

Pakistani forces launched an air strike on TTP strongholds in Nangarhar province, following repeated warnings from both Taliban-Pakistan governments.

Sources in Nangarhar on Thursday morning, January 5, said that Pakistani fighters bombed targets in the Salala neighborhood in the vicinity of the Gushta district.

Pakistan’s National Security Council (NSC) decided three days ago that the country’s forces should adopt a zero-tolerance policy against terrorists.

The government of Pakistan however denied any such strikes. The Foreign Office (FO) on Thursday categorically rejected reports claiming that Pakistan had carried out airstrikes in Afghanistan, terming them to be “utterly baseless and malicious”.

The uncharacteristically strong-worded statement issued at the end of the NSC meeting, which spanned two days, said: “Pakistan’s security is uncompromisable and the full writ of the state will be maintained on every inch of the (sic) Pakistan’s territory.”

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BBC Documentary Is Politics: Jaishankar

Jaishankar Takes A Dig At Pak: Terror Epicentre Close To India

By LokMarg

In a veiled attack on Pakistan, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday said the epicenter of terrorism is located close to India.

Speaking at a joint press briefing with Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, Jaishankar said he spoke with Austrian leaders about threats to international peace posed by terrorism.

Jaishankar said, “We spoke at length on the threats to international peace and security that are posed by terrorism, including its cross-border practices, violent extremism, radicalization, and fundamentalism.”

He added, “Their effects cannot be contained within a region especially so when they are deeply connected to narcotics and illegal weapons trade, and other forms of international crime. Since the epicenter is located so close to India, naturally our experiences and insights are useful to others.”

On the ongoing military conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Jaishankar said India is “deeply concerned” about the situation in Ukraine. Echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s refrain that today’s era is not of war, the EAM called for resolving the differences on the negotiating table.

Jaishankar said that Prime Minister Modi has remained in contact with leaders of Russia and Ukraine and has been pressing India’s viewpoint.

“With regard to the Ukraine conflict, let me underline that India remains deeply concerned we sincerely believe that this is not the era of war. Differences must be settled on the negotiating table. It is imperative that there is a return to dialogue and diplomacy. Prolonged conflict will not serve the interests of any party,” Jaishankar said.

“My Prime Minister has been in contact with the leaders of both nations pressing our point of view in that regard. We are increasingly anxious about knock-on effects of the conflict in terms of accessibility and affordability of fuel, food, and fertilizers this is a growing concern for the global south,” he added.

Jaishankar embarked on a two-nation visit to Cyprus and Austria on December 29. His ongoing visit to Austria will conclude on January 3.

In the joint press briefing with Schallenberg, Jaishankar further said India considers Austria a “serious and consequential partner” when it comes to bilateral cooperation.

“We view Austria as a serious and consequential partner when it comes to bilateral cooperation. You have experiences and capabilities that are relevant to India’s modernization and progress. These are guided by government policies but ultimately implemented through business transactions,” Jaishankar said.

“Our commitment today is to take both aspects forward in tandem and I look forward to concrete initiatives in that regard,” the EAM added.

On the agreements between India and Austria, Jaishankar said, “We have concluded a number of agreements. I think a particularly noteworthy one is the initializing of the Comprehensive Migration & Mobility Partnership Agreement because it will enable demands for skills and talents to be synchronized with their availability.” (ANI)

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Pak Govt Raises Prices

Pak Govt Raises Prices Of Flour, Ghee, Sugar In Utility Stores

By LokMarg

The Pakistan government has increased the prices of wheat flour, sugar, and ghee by 25 to 62 percent for sale through the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) with immediate effect to reduce the impact of untargeted subsidies, reported The Dawn.

The Dawn report said, “The beneficiaries of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) would be exempt from the price increase, while the limit for subsidized purchases from the USC has also been curtailed.”

The USC notified the new rates on Saturday, New Year’s Eve after the country’s federal cabinet approved Finance Minister Ishaq Dar’s recommendation to clear a hybrid model of subsidies involving targeted and untargeted elements of the prime minister’s relief package.

The price of sugar under the new rates has increased to Rs89 per kg from Rs70 per kg, an increase of 27 percent. The price of ghee has increased to Rs375 per kg from Rs75 per kg. The Wheat flour price has increased to Rs64.8 per kg from Rs40 per kg, a 62 percent increase.

Special, targeted subsidies will, however, be available to the poor populations registered in the BISP’s scorecard and below PMT-32 (Proxy Means Test to describe people below the poverty line), the USC said.

They would get wheat flour at Rs400 per 10 kg bag, ghee at Rs300 per kg, and sugar at Rs70 per kg. A discount of Rs15-20 per kg on pulses and rice will be available to them.

“However, their monthly purchasing limits have been capped to avoid the misuse of subsidies. Therefore, BISP beneficiaries under PMT-32 would be allowed to purchase a maximum of 40kg of wheat flour, 5kg of sugar, and 5kg of ghee per month,” reported The Dawn.

The Dawn report said: “All other USC customers would now be provided wheat flour at Rs648 per 10kg bag, and ghee and sugar at Rs375 and Rs89 per kg, respectively.”

There will be a limit on the monthly purchase of these customers. They would not be allowed to avail more than 20kg of flour and Rs3kg each for sugar and ghee per month.

Earlier, they were eligible for 40kg of flour and 5 kg each of ghee and sugar.

The people of this category were earlier eligible for 40kg of flour and 5kg each for ghee and sugar.

The people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to the USC, will be provided wheat flour at Rs400 per 10kg bag through designated sales points and mobile utility stores.

USC customers before visiting the store will be required to secure their monthly purchase eligibility through an SMS on 5566. They will then be provided with a one-time password and national identity confirmation to avail of the subsidy. (ANI)

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Rebel Attacks In Balochistan

Rebel Attacks In Balochistan, KP Surged During 2022

By LokMarg

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces remained under the grip of unlawful activities as Pakistan suffered close to 376 terror attacks the previous year, Dailytimes reported citing a report by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) on Sunday.

The report claimed that the majority of the attacks were carried out by banned outfits such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Daish (Islamic State Khorasan), and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province as a whole had an exponential surge in violence, with a corresponding rise in fatalities. Government officials, law enforcement officers, and civilians made up the majority of the victims of violence. According to the study, there were several foreigners among the civilian population.

According to the Center, after November 28 there was an extraordinary uptick in terrorist assaults in KP and Balochistan, with over twenty strikes occurring in only the month of December.

According to the report, this increased the number of fatalities in the province (including ex-FATA) to roughly 64 percent of all fatalities in the nation. Balochistan was next with 26 percent of deaths allegedly attributable to terrorism, Dailytimes reported.

During the last year alone, terrorists of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Gul Bahadur group, the Islamic State-Khurasan, and several others have reportedly conducted at least 165 terrorist attacks in KP province which is a 48 percent increase from 2020. Out of all these attacks, 115 of these were orchestrated by TTP, according to the Al Arabiya Post report.

The security establishment in Pakistan has also been facing severe issues, Al Arabiya Post reported citing a report shared during a recent meeting of Pakistan’s National Security Committee, that there are “capacity gaps” in KP’s counterterrorism department (CTD), revealing that CTD spends less than 4 percent of its budget on operations, with “zero allocation for procurement”.

The report stated that in the last year, Punjab faced only five terrorist incidents, while KP witnessed 704 such incidents. (ANI)

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Females In Afghanistan

Females In Afghanistan Spent A Terrible Time In 2022

By LokMarg

Women and girls in Afghanistan spent a terrible time in 2022 after being banned from schooling, higher education, and employment in non-governmental organizations reported TOLO News.

The TOLO News report stated, “Secondary schools were closed to girls at the beginning of the year. Universities were closed for women in December. So was the opportunity for women to work in national and international NGOs.”
Schools for girls were supposed to reopen on March 23, 2022. The Taliban, however, said that schools will remain closed until further notice. They are yet to open.

Islamic emirate officials expressed various opinions on the closure of schools. In an interview with RTA TV, Zabiullah Mujahid said that schools for girls were closed due to religious issues.

Afghanistan’s acting minister under the caretaker Taliban regime later said that schools for girls were closed due to cultural issues and that people are not willing to send their daughters to school.

“If (we) were acting on Pakistan’s instruction, the problems of the schools and other problems would have already been solved. This is a religious issue and it needs Islamic cleric’s agreement,” said Zabiullah Mujahid, the Islamic Emirate spokesman, as quoted by TOLO News.

The TOLO News report also quoted Noorullah Munir, the former minister of education, saying that: “You wouldn’t need to ask me the same question if you ask how many people in this mosque are willing to send their 16-year-old daughter to school. You and I both grew up in the same Afghan society, and the culture is clear to everyone.”

A committee of eight religious experts was formed on May 26, under the leadership of Pakistan’s Supreme Court chief Abdul Hakim Haqqani to look into the reopening of schools for girls. The committee is yet to make its achievements clear.

“The committee has eight members. It includes religious scholars. The committee has done some work to reopen high schools for girls. We hope it can be solved in the near future,” said Inamullah Samangani, former deputy spokesman of the Islamic Emirate, as quoted by TOLO News.

As many as 11.6 million women and girls are no longer receiving vital assistance in Afghanistan, the US envoy to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield said on Saturday in the wake of the Taliban’s decision to ban women from contributing to humanitarian aid efforts in the country.

“The Taliban’s decision to ban women from contributing to humanitarian aid efforts is already having terrible consequences. According to the UN, 11.6 million women and girls in Afghanistan are no longer receiving vital assistance. This dangerous, oppressive ban must be reversed,” Thomas-Greenfield tweeted. (ANI)

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India Pak Exchange Lists Of Prisoners

India, Pak Exchange Lists Of Prisoners, Fishermen In Their Custody

By LokMarg

India and Pakistan on Sunday exchanged the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in their custody, in line with the longstanding agreement between the two countries.

“India and Pakistan today exchanged, through diplomatic channels simultaneously at New Delhi and Islamabad, the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in their custody. Under the provisions of the 2008 Agreement on Consular Access, such lists are exchanged every year on 01 January and 01 July,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.
It said India shared lists of 339 Pakistani civilian prisoners and 95 Pakistani fishermen currently in Indian custody. Similarly, Pakistan has shared lists of 51 civilian prisoners and 654 fishermen in its custody, who are Indians or are believed to be Indians.

In the statement, the Indian government called for early release and repatriation of civilian prisoners, missing Indian defence personnel, and fishermen along with their boats, from Pakistan’s custody.

“In this context, Pakistan was asked to expedite the release and repatriation of 631 Indian fishermen and 02 Indian civilian prisoners, who have completed their sentence and whose nationality has been confirmed and conveyed to Pakistan. In addition, Pakistan has been asked to provide immediate consular access to the remaining 30 fishermen and 22 civilian prisoners in Pakistan’s custody, who are believed to be Indian,” the MEA said.

The ministry said India remains committed to addressing, on priority, all humanitarian matters, including those pertaining to prisoners and fishermen in each other’s country.

In this context, India has also urged Pakistan to expedite necessary action at its end to confirm the nationality status of 71 Pakistani prisoners, including fishermen, whose repatriation is pending for want of nationality confirmation from Pakistan.

The external affairs ministry also said Pakistan has been requested to ensure the safety, security, and welfare of all Indian and believed-to-be Indian civilian prisoners and fishermen, pending their release and repatriation to India.

Similarly, the sides also exchanged the list of nuclear installations and facilities, simultaneously through diplomatic channels in New Delhi and Islamabad. The list was exchanged under the Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear Installations and Facilities between India and Pakistan.

” India and Pakistan today exchanged, through diplomatic channels simultaneously at New Delhi and Islamabad, the list of nuclear installations and facilities, covered under the Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear Installations and Facilities between India and Pakistan,” the MEA said in a statement.

The agreement, which entered into force on January 27, 1991, provides, inter alia, that India and Pakistan inform each other of the nuclear installations and facilities to be covered under the Agreement on the first of January of every calendar year. (ANI)

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Pak Gwadar Unrest Grows

Pak: Over 100 Arrested As Gwadar Unrest Grows

By LokMarg

As many as 100 people have been arrested in Balochistan’s port city of Gwadar as the provincial government struck with an iron fist at protesters and imposed an emergency law that prohibits the gathering of five or more people.

The arrests come a day after the provincial government imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code in Gwadar, the Dawn newspaper reported. “There will be a ban on all kinds of rallies, protests, sit-ins, and gatherings of five or more people in the port city of Gwadar,” the Balochistan home department said in a statement.
Despite Section 144, workers and supporters of the Maulana Rehman-led Haq Do Tehreek (HDT) continued their protest, demanding the release of all people and activists of the movement.

Tensions continued to simmer in Pakistan’s port city of Gwadar with protests continuing after clashes with supporters of the ‘Haq Do Tehreek’ (HDT). The clashes occurred this month between locals and security forces in Gwadar as protests against illegal fishing turned violent after some people were arrested in the port city.

The provincial government had contacted Jamaat-i-Islami leader Liaquat Baloch to help restore normalcy and resolve the issues that have become a bone of contention between the government and the HDT, the Dawn newspaper reported citing sources.

After clashes between protesters and the police in several areas of Gwadar. Protestors have blocked the main highway linking the port city with other districts of the Makran division.

The Pakistani newspaper said the port city remained cut off from Karachi and other areas and all incoming and outgoing traffic was suspended.

The HDT activists have been protesting in the city for nearly two months. Their demands include an end to illegal trawling in Gwadar’s water, the high number of security checkpoints, and an opening up of trade on the Pak-Iran border.

As the HDT protests threaten to blow up on Pakistan’s ruling establishment, the country’s media has urged provincial authorities in Balochistan to exercise restraint.

“While violence cannot be condoned, the state needs to handle this issue with care,” the Dawn newspaper said in an editorial. (ANI)

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34 Naxals Surrender In Chhattisgarh, 4 Having Bounty Of Rs 1L

TTP Intensifies Attacks Creating Chaos

By LokMarg

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) with its supporters has attacked defense establishments in Pakistan 148 times within a year. And the rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan has given these terror attacks by TTP a boost. But the central government seems reluctant to take action against them, Khaama Press reported.

The TTP in the last year has conducted hundreds of terror attacks on the police and army headquarters in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Quetta in the Balochistan region. The Khaama Press article quoted unconfirmed reports which said that other militant groups have joined forces with the TTP to expand their terrorist operation in tribal areas of the country.
The Khaama Press in its report also mentioned that these attacks can increase in number as the TTP recently ended the ceasefire that they had with the Pakistani authorities.

However, the common people in Pakistan have been showing their aggression in the matter via protests like the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement [PTM] demanding the establishment to take action against these groups, according to Khaama Press.

Previously, on December 23 a suicide bombing shook Islamabad killing two conspirators and a policeman. Along with this at least three police officers and seven passers-by were wounded in the bombing.

Pakistan’s capital city took place nine miles from the garrison city of Rawalpindi, home of the military and government spy agencies.

“Security has been re-alert in Islamabad. Carrying weapons is not allowed under any circumstances. Election-related meetings will not take place without the permission of the police. Election activities and corner meetings will be allowed inside the four walls,” Islamabad Police tweeted.

Police said the blast took place when police officers spotted a car and ordered the driver to halt for routine checking. Instead of stopping, its driver detonated explosives hidden inside. A female passenger in the car also was killed, Suhail Zafar Chattha, a senior police officer in Islamabad told reporters at the scene

. The TV footage showed a burning car as police officers cordoned off the area. Residents said they saw policemen on motorcycles chasing a car and ordering a man inside the vehicle to come out. Police confirmed that account, saying the suspect blew up the explosive-laden vehicle after being surrounded by police officers.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the bombing and thanked the police. “Police officers stopped the terrorists by sacrificing their blood and the nation salutes its brave men,” Sharif said in a statement.

The responsibility for the attack was later taken by TTP. In a statement, TTP announced that the killing was orchestrated because of the killing of their senior leader.

This violence comes days after several Pakistani Taliban detainees overpowered guards at a counterterrorism center in north-western Pakistan after snatching police weapons and taking three officers hostage. (ANI)

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