In Brief
INTERNAL
700 new Covid cases reported for first time since October 2021
On 3 January, Pakistan reported 708 new coronavirus cases in 24 hours, the first time since October 2021. According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), the positivity rate has risen to 1.55 per cent. Planning Minister Asad Umar warned that there was clear evidence of the new variant, Omicron increases in many parts of the country. (“Pakistan reports more than 700 new Covid cases for first time since October 2021,” Dawn, 3 January 2022)
PM terms rising corruption and sex crimes as the two main evils confronting the Muslim world
On 2 January, Prime Minister Imran Khan termed rising corruption and sex crimes as the two main evils confronting the Muslim world. He said, “There are two sorts of crime in society, one is corruption and the other is sex crime. Sex crime has risen sharply in our society, i.e. rape and child abuse and only one per cent of this is reported,” adding, “The other 99 per cent, I believe, society has to fight it. The same is the case with corruption… society has to make corruption unacceptable. Unfortunately, when you have leadership which is corrupt over time, they make corruption acceptable.” (Syed Irfan Raza, “Society must fight sex crimes, corruption itself: PM,” Dawn, 3 January 2022)
Fazlur Rehman confident about PDM's 'Mehngai' march
On 2 January, JUI chief and PDM leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman asserted that all component parties of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) were fully prepared for the 'Mehngai' march to be conducted on 23 March. Buoyed by the success in KP local government elections, the Maulana said that PTI would be defeated in the second phase of elections as well. (“PDM parties fully prepared for Mehngai march: Fazlur Rehman,” Dawn, 3 January 2022)
Around USD 1.8 billion recovered by NAB in Rawalpindi over the four years
On 2 January the anti-graft watchdog NAB log record was made public, it had filed a record number of reference files against people who were suspect of white-collar crime. According to it, NAB Rawalpindi recovered a total of Rs314bn through plea bargain and other mode of recoveries over the last four years, with indirect recovery recorded an annual increase of 85 per cent. In 49 cases, 160 accused were arrested — an average increase of 67pc. (“Rs314bn recovered from Rawalpindi region in four years: NAB,” Dawn, 3 January 2022)
Allrounder and gentleman cricketer Mohammad Hafeez calls it a day
On 2 January, former skipper and all-rounder of Pakistani team Mohammad Hafeez announced his retirement plan from international cricket. He played for his country for 18 years and transformed as cricketer with an amazing sports ethic on ground. His fans remember him by his round the wicket spinning and a generous smile. (Imran Siddique, “'No regrets, satisfied with career': Mohammad Hafeez retires from international cricket,” Dawn, 3 January 2022)
ECONOMY
Higher imports tilts the trade deficit in negative direction
On 2 January according to provisional data, the trade deficit has doubled in Pakistan to USD 24.79 billion for the first half of the fiscal year 2021-22. Despite the remarkable growth in exports during the same half, the imports outpaced the exports indicating the rhetoric confirmation of overheating of the economy of Pakistan. (“Trade deficit doubles in July-Dec as imports soar,” Dawn, 3 January 2022)
EXTERNAL
Pakistan conveys concern to Taliban over fencing incidents
On 2 January, a senior official while speaking to The Express Tribune stated that the Pakistan has conveyed its concerns at the highest level to the interim Afghan Taliban government over the repeated incidents. The official said that Pakistan was observing "maximum restraint" to avoid any escalation in tensions. This comes after videos circulated on social media showed that Taliban soldiers at the border breaking polls using a truck. (“Concerns conveyed to Afghan Taliban on fencing incidents,” The Express Tribune, 3 January 2022)
Pak-China Business Investment Forum launched by PM Khan
On 3 January, Prime Minister Imran Khan launched the Pak-China Business Investment Forum which is aimed at increasing information exchange and promoting communication between businesses between China and Pakistan. The forum consists of 18 Chinese and 19 Pakistani companies and seeks to promote sustainable investment, export industry and development of modern technology in Pakistan. (“PM Imran launches Pak-China Business Investment Forum,” Dawn, 3 January 2022)
In Brief
INTERNAL
PM brings in private health sector participation across the nation
On 31 December, the PM while launching the Health Card, which provides insurance and cost coverage for medical treatment declared that all district headquarters hospitals would be dissolved and private sector would be invited to become a stakeholder and provide quality healthcare to the people of Pakistan. (Mansoor Malik, “New system to replace district HQ hospitals, says PM Imran,” Dawn, 1 January 2022)
Prime Ministers Inspection’s Commission (PMIC) nearing investigation of Pandora paper leaks
On 31 December sources in the PMIC revealed that 80 per cent of the enquiry has been completed against the names appeared in Pandora leaks. Names from all white-collar professions in Pakistan had appeared in the list though PMIC had received names of 240 individuals. Many prominent names had been listed in the leaks including current finance minsters Shaukat Tarin. (“80pc inquiry into Pandora Papers leak complete,” Dawn, 1 January 2022)
IHC summons Rana Shamim and journalists in contempt of court
On 28 December the Islamabad High Court declared that former chief judge of Gilgit-Baltistan and journalists like Aamer Ghauri and Ansar Abbasi had tried to influence the IHC by publishing the affidavit Rana Shamim had submitted to court. The court observed that freedom of expression freedom of expression did not apply on the cases pending in the courts. (“Rana Shamim, journalists prima facie committed contempt of court: IHC,” Dawn, 1 January 2022)
Provinces
Sindh: Controversial local government law not acceptable to Jamaat-e-Islami
On 30 December, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi chief Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman declared that the JI would stage a sit in protest in front of the Sindh assembly against the problematic local government law which aims to squeeze the financial powers of local government. He further added that feudal mindset in PPP was not allowing to empowerment of local bodies. (“JI to stage sit-in against controversial LG law today,” The News International, 1 January 2022)
Punjab: Local government bodies dissolved in Punjab ahead of local body elections
On 31 December the Punjab government notified the dissolution of local governments in the province and appointed administrators in administrative capacity. The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) Punjab government had dissolved the local bodies constituted under the Punjab Local Government Act (PLGA) 2013 in May 2019, soon after coming to power. However, the Supreme Court ordered restoration of local government institutions in March 2021 after declaring their dissolution as unconstitutional. (Imran Gabol, “Administrators appointed: Dissolution of local govts notified,” Dawn, 1 January 2022)
External
China Study Centre launched in a Women’s University in Balochistan
On 31 December, the governor of Balochistan formally inaugurated the China Study Center at Sardar Bahadur Khan Women’s University (SBKWU) while the Chinese Consul General in Karachi Mr. Li Bijian addressed the participants of the inauguration ceremony online. The governor said ‘He said ‘the establishment of China Study Center (CSC) at Women’s University is a milestone in introducing new knowledge and research to the new generation.’ (“Governor Balochistan inaugurates China Study Centre at SBKWU,” The Nation, 1 January 2022)
Economy
Economic Coordination Committee clears pending projects ranging from gas pipeline to housing
On 31 December the economic coordination committee opened floodgates of money for new and older projects. The projects include National Engineering and Scientific Commission’s (NECOP) projects in ammunition development, Naya Pakistan Housing and Development Authority (NAPHDA) for revision of customer pricing and mark-up subsidy period under Tier-I of the government scheme for low-cost housing and inclusion of housing finance companies. The government also extended untargeted subsidy on five essential consumer commodities for another month. (Mubarak Zeb Khan, “ECC allows subsidy on five essential items for another month,” Dawn, 1 January 2022)
Government debt securities up to USD 3.4 billion traded in open market operations (OMO) by SBP in a day
On 31 December State Bank of Pakistan traded government debt securities with commercial bank for a period of 63 days in a single day. The third OMO in series of weeks in December accumulates to USD 19.4 billion. The ample liquidity for short term periods of OMO and decline in long term OMO is to be watched carefully. (Kazim Alam, “SBP injects Rs604bn through 63-day OMO,” Dawn, 1 January 2022)
Editorials/ Opinion
In her opinion piece Dr Ayesha Razzaque discusses about definition of successful business stories and its confused causal relationship with dropout from educational institutes in Pakistan. The trio of Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs and Bill Gates further widens the confusion in application of policies in Pakistan’s context. And the most important question she raises is the role of universities in failing to make the education and knowledge non redundant. (Dr Ayesha Razzaque, “Myth of the dropout entrepreneur,” The News International, 1 January 2022)
In the editorial for Dawn, Fahd Hussain spins his head about the irony of celebration of a periodicity and is an air of despair and anxiety prevailing in Pakistan on the first day of the new year. The air needs to cleared of toxicity of partisanship and hatredness thereupon the healing can take place for some optimism for the new year. Mr. Hussain fears the accumulation of wounds and unexpected shedding of charade of statecraft governance. (Fahd Hussain, “Catch ’22,” Dawn,1 January 2022)
In his piece Abdullah Naveed explains about the concept of tawhid (competing discourses) as prevalent in Islamic debates under the umbrella of certainty in theology. Academic discourse on Islam predates it to pre-modern form as a more polyvalent in interpretations of religious injunctions. The fossilized form of interpretation not only damages the healthy process of interpretation but also limits the expedients in politicking. (Abdullah Naveed, “Beyond certainty: theologies of difference,” Dawn, 1 January 2022)
Also Read
An opinion in Dawn, writer, Ali Tauqeer Sheikh states that Pakistan has promoted itself as a role model for the rest of the globe. Nearly 200 activities are pledged by the NDC. A large number of them have explicit objectives and deadlines, necessitating rapid, if not urgent, action. This year, 2022, will likely be the most crucial in terms of determining Pakistan’s climate policy direction and momentum.
A piece in opinion page in Dawn, critically looks at the much-debated mini budget, while the bill’s negative inflationary implications cannot be emphasized, fresh fiscal measures were required to return the economy to a level of stability. These budgetary initiatives were also necessary to support the State Bank’s recent actions to limit money supply in the market and rein in inflation.
An op-ed in the The Express Tribune states various reasons behind recent terrorist attack in Quetta, the terrorist act is intended to cause economic harm to Pakistan, as it comes only days after the government announced its first-ever National Security Policy, focusing on geo-economics rather than geo-politics. The device was detonated remotely, killing four individuals and injuring several others. Since the third week of November, there have been two bomb explosions in the provincial capital. Earlier in the day, a terrorist incident occurred near a high-end hotel in the city.