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Profit NEW IMF DEAL CRUCIAL TO CONSOLIDATE ECONOMY: PM SHEHBAZ Friday, 5 April, 2024 I 25 Ramazan, 1445
SAYS GOVERNMENT WITH A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY, WILL PROBE JUDGES LETTERS ISSUE TO UNCOVER REALITY
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A TURKISH COMPANY WILL ARRIVE IN ISLAMABAD ON APRIL 6 TO NEGOTIATE AIRPORTS’ OUTSOURCING PROCESS, SAYS PM
AGENCIES
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated once again that the government was planning to enter a new program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which he said, was very important to consolidate the country’s economy. “With the new IMF program, the international institutions will have more trust in us, and we will be able to move forward on the agenda of development and prosperity with more confidence,” the prime minister said while speaking with the participants of the cabinet meeting held here under his chairmanship. He said the finance minister was going to Washington this month with a delegation to participate in the IMF spring meetings, where he will also discuss details of the new program with the IMF. He said although the terms of the new deal would not be so easy, the government would shift the burden of the tough conditions from the less privileged to the wealthier. The prime minister hoped that after the IMF board meeting, the last tranche of the existing standby agreement worth $1.1 billion would be disbursed to Pakistan this month. With regard to PIA’s divestment, he said the privatization process of Pakistan Airlines was on track, and the schedule set for the process would be fully implemented. Regarding the outsourcing of the airports, PM Shehbaz Sharif said a Turkish company was arriving in Islamabad on April 6, and would negotiate the outsourcing process with the Pakistani authorities. About the digitization of the Federal Board
of Revenue (FBR), the prime minister informed that the consultants for the digitization process would be appointed by the end of the current month. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he recently chaired a meeting of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) in which details of various sectors including finance, investment, exports, Information Technology, agriculture, power, and petroleum were discussed. “After a detailed meeting, it was decided that I will personally review the sector-wise performance to solve the problems faced by the sectors and to streamline the country’s economy,” he added. The prime minister pointed out that the government had fulfilled its due responsibility with respect to the inquiry of the matter of a
‘Threatening Letters’: CCTV cameras around letter boxes found ‘defunct’ ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Investigators, probing the “suspicious chemical-laced letters” sent to the judges of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), Lahore High Court and Supreme Court, found most of the CCTV cameras installed around the post boxes out-of-order, it emerged on Thursday. The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of the Islamabad Police is investigating into the case of “suspicious letters” and has submitted the initial report, carrying progress made so far, to the Registrars of the Supreme Court and the IHC. On March 3, just a day after the Supreme Court of Pakistan took suo motu notice of the allegations of six IHC judges against intelligence agencies, the IHC chief justice among eight judges received suspected letters. According to police officials, the CTD team is racing against time to unfold the mystery surrounding the letters and ascertain the nature of the “chemical powder” in these letters. Eight IHC judges and four each judges of the Supreme Court and LHC, have received “letters containing suspected anthrax powder along with a threatening message”. Sources privy to the development informed that many CCTV cameras surrounding the post boxes were found to be inoperative during examination within Satellite Town, Rawalpindi. The Islamabad police have expanded the scope of the investigation using alternative means, including questioning individuals working in shops and offices in the area of post boxes. Furthermore, all staff at the Satellite Town, Rawalpindi post office have been included in the inspection. According to sources, the letters were sent by a woman named Resham without mentioning her address. They added that a staffer of a judge accidentally dropped the envelope containing the suspicious powdery substance and later felt extreme irritation in their eyes and burns on the skin around his lips.
letter by the Islamabad High Court judges by forming an inquiry commission led by former Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani. Afterward, he said Tassaduq Hussain Jillani refused the commission; subsequently, the Supreme Court took a suo motu notice of the letter. As regards receiving letters from the judges with suspicious powder, the prime minister said the government was investigating the matter. “The government, with a sense of responsibility, will also probe this matter to uncover the reality.” With respect to the security of the Chinese workers and engineers, the prime minister said the government was evolving a foolproof system for the security of the Chinese workers. The prime minister said the cabinet presented the finance division’s Fiscal Policy Statement for the financial year 2022-23, the
Debt Policy Statement for the financial year 2022-23, and the Year-End Government Performance Monitoring Report in the meeting. The federal cabinet approved the submission of the above statements/report to the National Assembly under prevailing laws, he said. The meeting was told that the cabinet, on the recommendation of the Foreign Affairs Division, allowed former Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi to receive the “King Abdul Aziz Medal Badge of Honor of Excellent Class” on behalf of the Government of Saudi Arabia and “Darjah Kepahlawan Angkatan Tentera” on behalf of the Government of Malaysia. On the recommendation of the Human Rights Division, the cabinet approved the appointment of the members of the National Commission for the Status of Women. Likewise, on the recommendation of the Ministry of Human Rights, it approved the abolition of the National Commission for Child Welfare and Development, the National Child Protection Center, and the Implementation of the National Line of Action for Children, which are offices working under the Ministry of Human Rights. All the employees of these departments who are civil servants would be included in the surplus pool of Pakistan, the meeting was told. The meeting was also informed that under the National Commission on the Rights of Child Act 2017, the National Commission on the Rights of the Child had been established; therefore, all other departments had become unnecessary as all the work related to these institutions is done by this commission. Keeping in view the austerity policy of the government, it has been decided to close these institutions, the meeting was told.
11 security personnel, 16 terrorists killed in militant attacks on Iran security forces DUBAI
AGENCIES
Suspected Sunni Muslim militants killed at least 11 Iranian security force members and suffered 16 fatalities in attacks on Iran’s Revolutionary Guards headquarters in the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan, state media said on Thursday. The overnight clashes between the Jaish al-Adl group and security forces took place in the towns of Chabahar and Rask, the state TV said. “The terrorists failed to succeed in achieving their goal of seizing the Guards
headquarters in Chabahar and Rask,” deputy Interior Minister Majid Mirahmadi told state TV. State TV said 10 other security officers were also injured in the fighting in the impoverished region, which has a predominantly Sunni Muslim population. Jaish al-Adl says it seeks greater rights and better living conditions for ethnic minority Baluchis in Shia-dominated Iran. It has claimed responsibility for several attacks in recent years on Iranian security forces in Sistan-Baluchestan. The area, which borders Pakistan and
Afghanistan, has long been the site of frequent clashes between Iranian security forces and Sunni militants as well as drug traffickers. Iran is a key transit route for narcotics smuggled from Afghanistan to the West and elsewhere. In December, the militant group attacked a police station in the town of Rask, killing 11 security personnel. In January, Iran targeted two bases of the militant group in Pakistan with missiles, prompting a rapid military riposte from Islamabad targeting what it said were separatist militants in Iran.
protest would be aimed at strengthening the parliament as well as against mandate ‘theft’. “We want no mandate to be stolen in future also,” Barrister Gohar said. The PTI chairman said that the decision regarding the leadership of Grand Opposition Alliance has not yet been taken. He said that the alliance’s chief will be appointed in consultation with all parties. “It is our legal right to hold peaceful protest,” he said. Barrister Gohar said that all cases against the PTI founder are based on ‘political victimization, adding that Imran Khan would be released by the end of April 2024. Earlier on Tuesday, the Grand Opposition Alliance formed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and other major opposition parties announced an anti-government movement after Eidul Fitr According to sources, the newly formed
opposition alliance—also comprising, Sunni Ittehad Council, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), Majlis-e-Wadhat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) and Balochistan National Party (BNP) — would be holding the first joint public gathering in Quetta on April 14. Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) also hinted at joining the opposition alliance as its Liaquat Baloch said that his party will make a final announcement after the approval of Majlis Shura The Grand Opposition Alliance would also be holding public gatherings in other parts of the country to protest against ‘massive’ rigging in the elections. The schedule for public gatherings in other cities would be announced later in consultation with all parties. Sources privy to the development said that the Maulana Fazlur Rehman-led Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) would also be approached to join the opposition in the movement against the government.
PTI willing to join JUI-F’s sit-in against govt: Barrister Gohar ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Thursday said the party was open to joining a sit-in announced by the Maulana Fazlur Rehmanled Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) against the government, hinting at the “possible Grand Opposition Alliance with the erstwhile rival.” “A Grand Opposition Alliance would be made to launch anti-government movement after Eidul Fitr”, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar said while speaking at a private channel’s programme. He elaborated that Maulana Fazlur Rehman would be approached to invite him to the Grand Opposition Alliance. “We are in touch with the JUI-F and hope we will be meeting as well,” Barrister Gohar asserted. He said that the opposition parties’
Pakistan rules out any talks with outlawed TTP ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Responding to the ‘suggestion’ of a senior Afghan Taliban leader for peace talks with TTP, Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) ruled out any talks with the outlawed militant group. Responding to the queries of media persons at her weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Thursday regarding the suggestion made by an Afghan Minister for talks between Pakistan and TTP, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said Pakistan expects the Afghan authorities to take urgent action against the terrorist outfits and their leadership for the crimes they are committing and terrorist incidents they are responsible for in Pakistan. On Wednesday, Muhammad Nabi Omari, deputy interior minister of the interim Taliban government in Afghanistan,
made the remarks at an Iftar gathering in the southeastern Khost town. “We ask the government of Pakistan and advise the brothers (TTP) who are fighting with them to come together and talk,” he said. The deputy interior minister, however, did not address the presence of TTP in Afghanistan. The Afghan Taliban have been privately urging Pakistan and the TTP to engage in direct negotiations to end over a two-decadelong conflict that has claimed thousands of lives and seen massive displacement of people in the tribal region straddling Afghanistan. Talking to the media, the FO spokesperson said Pakistan remained committed to fighting against all the terrorist outfits which have targeted Pakistan and the symbols of Pakistan-China friendship. She said that following the security audit and enhancement of security measures, the Chinese projects in Pakistan are fully functional.
Earlier during her briefing, Baloch said that Afghanistan was discussed at the 19th regular meeting of the secretaries of the security councils of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) held in Kazakhstan on April 3. Secretary of the National Security Division, Waqar Ahmad, who led the Pakistan delegation at the SCO, warned about the “far-reaching consequences about terrorists acts for the entire region and stressed the need for adopting a comprehensive approach to address the root causes,” Baloch said. “He termed peaceful and stable Afghanistan a strategic imperative for regional prosperity and called upon SCO member states to follow a holistic policy and build broad convergences with SCO region to address multifaceted challenges confronting Afghanistan,” Baloch said. The FO spokesperson vehemently condemned the terrorist attack in Iran.
Expressing solidarity with the Iranian people, she said Pakistan would like to work with Iran to find joint solutions to terrorism. When asked about the Palestinians’ fresh bid for the UN membership, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said Pakistan recognizes the state of Palestine and will support any such move at the UN. Condemning the ongoing Israeli atrocities in Gaza, she called for international accountability of Israel for its crimes against humanity. Expressing concerns over the Indian occupation authorities’ decision to deny permission to hold Eidul Fitr prayers at Eidgah in Srinagar, she urged the Indian authorities to respect the rights of the people of IIOJK to peaceful assembly and to freely practice their religion. She said Pakistan will continue to extend moral, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people for the just and peaceful settlement of Jammu and
Govt’s debt stock declines slightly in Feb 2024 g
Domestic, external debt decreased by Rs36b MoM from Rs64.842tr to Rs64.805tr and enhance investment climate PROFIT
MONITORING DESK
The federal government’s total debt decreased by Rs 36 billion or 0.1% in February 2024 compared to January 2024. According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the central government’s total domestic and external debt stood at Rs64.805 trillion in February 2024, down from Rs64.842 trillion in January 2024. The central government’s external debt decreased by 0.4% to Rs22.134 trillion in February 2024, down from Rs22.215 trillion in January 2024. On the domestic front, the total domestic debt rose to Rs 42.671 trillion in February 2024, up by 0.1% or Rs47.9 billion from January 2024. The long-term domestic debt increased to Rs34.618 trillion in February 2024, up from Rs34.147 trillion in January 2024, a rise of 1.4%. Conversely, the short-term domestic debt saw a significant decline of 5%, reaching Rs7.954 trillion in February compared to Rs8.375 trillion in January, marking a decrease of Rs421 billion on a monthly basis.
Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions.