Government agrees to withdraw corporate income tax exemptions
Masses in for belt tightening amid rising prices, says editorial

 Sri Lanka cancels PM Khan’s planned parliament speech 
PM is scheduled to visit Colombo on a two-day trip next week

On 18 February, Dawn reported that PM Imran Khan’s planned address to the Sri Lankan parliament, during his upcoming visit has been cancelled. This comes after Foreign Secretary of Sri Lanka Jayanath Colombage stated that Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena had requested for cancellation on the pretext of Covid-19. PM Khan is scheduled to travel to Colombo on a two-day visit from 22 February.

Speculations over the cancellation
There have been broadly two speculations doing the rounds since the cancellation. First, the India factor. Some have speculated that there are elements within the Sri Lankan government, who did not want the speech to take place as they feared that doing so could further harm the already strained relations with India. Second, the concern over PM Khan speaking about the rights of Muslims in Sri Lanka, rising anti-Muslim sentiments, and biased government actions. (Baqir Sajjad Syed, “Imran’s planned speech in Lankan parliament cancelled,” Dawn, 18 February 2021)

In Brief
INTERNAL
Cabinet approves 25 per cent rise for federal employees
On 17 February, the cabinet approved a 25 per cent increase in the federal secretariat employees’ salaries by giving a relief of Rs21 billion. Further, they urged the provinces to end wage disparity between their civil servants and those of the Centre. Further, the cabinet discussed the issue of missing persons and directed the authorities concerned to make legislation to resolve the matter. The cabinet also ordered the enforcement of laws to check sexual violence. (Syed Irfan Raza, “Cabinet okays 25pc raise for federal employees,” Dawn, 18 February 2021)

Zalikhel and Dotani tribes continue to trade fire in South Waziristan
On 17 February, Zalikhel and Dotani, two rival tribes continued to trade heavy fire over a land dispute as the Wana Bazaar of South Waziristan remained under curfew. Local administrations have constituted a jirga to initiate a ceasefire, however, the jirga members have stated that they were facing a daunting task trying to end the dispute. (“Rival tribes continue to trade fire in South Waziristan,” The News International, 18 February 2021)

ECONOMY
External debt servicing reaches $7.06 billion in six months
On 17 February, the State Bank of Pakistan reported that the country paid USD 3.55 billion in external debt servicing for the second quarter of the current fiscal (2QFY21) and USD 3.51 billion in the first quarter (1QFY21). Thus, the cumulative payment as debt servicing reached USD 7.06 billion, indicating that the total debt servicing could cross the $14bn figure at the end of FY21. (Shahid Iqbal, “External debt servicing costs $7bn in six months of fiscal year,” Dawn, 18 February 2021)

PAKISTAN’S WORLD VIEW
A new frontier for discrimination against Muslims has emerged, says opinion
An opinion in Dawn critical of the rise of Islamophobia in South Asia especially Sri Lanka says that a new frontier for discrimination against Muslims has emerged. Further, the opinion says that when PM Khan visits Sri Lanka, he must consider his responsibility as a Muslim leader and realize that by not raising issues with his counterpart, he would be seen as complicit in the indifference that often lets realpolitik trump standing up for what’s right. (Rimmel Mohydin, “Forced cremations,” Dawn, 18 February 2021)

Children of Yemen bear no responsibility for the anguish that has overtaken the country, says editorial
An editorial in The News International critical of the plight of children in war-torn Yemen says that it is imperative that the world act to ensure that children are not made to suffer the repercussion of adults and leader choose war. The editorial says that Saudi Arabia and Iran should take the lead in putting a stop to the war, adding that the best way to influence people within the country is by offering them support rather than by killing them. Further, it says that Pakistan too must persuade other countries to do the same to ensure that better sense prevails and countries will not allow the kind of agony seen in Yemen to continue any longer. (“Children of Yemen,” The News International, 18 February 2021)