ECPâ€™s plea for more funds gets slow downed by the Finance Ministry,

Daily Briefs

Photo : Dawn

28 November 2022, Monday I Vol 3, No.260

ECPâ€™s plea for more funds gets slow downed by the Finance Ministry,

Health experts stating that nine out of 10 people breath polluted air exceeding the WHO guideline limits,nine terrorists killed in an intelligence-based operation and PSE seeing a plunge of 800 points over the policy rate hike

PR Daily Brief | PR Team

In Brief
INTERNAL
ECP’s plea for more funds gets slow downed by the Finance Ministry
On 28 November, Dawn reported that ECP has asked for PKR 47.42 billion from the government in order to make preparations for the general election. The finance ministry is in a difficult position to get a supplementary grant in view of the IMF’s interactions on expenditure. In a case moved in September, the ECP has asked for a technical supplementary grant to the Finance Ministry for PKR 6.3 billion extra on top of the normal budget which the finance ministry has denied seeking form the ECC of the cabinet with a proper summary. According to a summary sent to the ECC, the ECP requested that the rationalised amount of PKR 47.42billion be approved upfront and be released in two phases PKR 31.42billion during the current fiscal year and another PKR 16 billion during the next fiscal year. (Khaleeq Kiani, “Ministry hesitant over ECP plea to release Rs47bn for elections,” Dawn, 28 November 2022)

PPP would not remain silent over the murder, says FM Bilawal
On 28 November, The Express Tribune reported that Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has condemned the brutal murder of two PPP leaders Malik Bakhrawan and Tariq Khan in Bajaur. He said the PPP would not remain silent over the murder of the party leaders and demanded to arrest of the culprits. He further added that the whole party with its workers were saddened by the incident. (“Bilawal condemns murder of PPP leaders in Bajaur,” The Express Tribune, 28 November 2022)

Nine out of 10 people breath polluted air exceeding the WHO guideline limits, says health experts
On 28 November, Dawn reported that public health experts who were addressing a workshop on the effects of smog warned that nine out of 10 people breathe air that exceeds the WHO guideline limits for pollutants. Pakistan is one of the most affected who are in low and middle-income countries. Doctors Association President Dr Masood Sheikh, quoting a report from the WHO said, 4.2 million out of seven million people die of exposure to air pollution including smog. Continuous smog exposure increases the chances of premature death from respiratory ailments and cancers. Smog results in a higher incidence of allergies, coughing and irritation in the chest, eyes, throat and nose. Dr Rana Rafique said due to smog exposure, pregnant women can give birth to babies with birth defects and low birth weight. He said even exposure to smog particulate matter measuring as low as 5 µg can pose risks of extremely low birth weights at the time of delivery.(“ 7m die of air pollution per annum worldwide: WHO report,” Dawn, 28 November 2022)

Azam Swati gets arrested again over a controversial tweet
On 27 November, PTI senator Azam Swati was taken into custody for the second time by the Federal Investigation Agency’s Cyber Crime Wing Islamabad for allegedly tweeting against senior military officials. He was later produced before a judicial magistrate, who handed him over to the FIA on a two-day physical remand. the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) prohibited the broadcast and rebroadcast of Swati’s speeches, news conferences and media coverage, including as a guest at a talk show, statements or tickers, on all satellite TV channels with immediate effect. The FIR states that the tweet was controversial and alleged against the government functionaries, including the COAS.The report maintained that the PTI leader had started a highly obnoxious campaign of intimidating tweets against state institutions, including the army chief with malignant intentions and ulterior motives”.(“Swati held again for tweets against military high-ups,” The Express Tribune, 28 November 2022)

PROVINCES
Balochistan: Protestors demand the opening of the terminal gate near the Pakistan – Iran Border
On 27 November, A shutter-down strike was observed and a protest rally was held against the prolonged closure of the Bazarcha terminal gate at Taftan, a town near the Pakistan-Iran border in the Chagai district. Markets and shops in the area remained closed following a call given by the local leadership of different political parties and traders. The protesters marched on various roads and staged a demonstration. They said the terminal was the main source of income for local traders and hundreds of labourers, but it has been closed by Pakistani authorities due to unknown reasons for two years. Further, the protestors urged the authorities to reopen the terminal and warned that if their demands were not met, they will block the main RCD Highway and completely shut the border. (Ali Raza Rind, “Protest in Taftan against closure of terminal gate,” Dawn, 28 November 2022)

Balochistan: Nine terrorists were killed in an intelligence-based operation
On 27 November, nine alleged terrorists were killed and three others injured in an intelligence-based operation.ISPR statement said the terrorists belonging to BLA(H) were involved in the Kohlu bazaar bombing, which claimed two lives and left 19 others wounded on 30 September. According to intelligence reports, terrorists were planning to launch attacks in Kohlu, Kahan and Mawad areas of the district, security forces launched an operation against them in the mountainous area.(“ Nine terrorists killed, three held in Kohlu, says ISPR,” Dawn, 28 November 2022)

EXTERNAL
Pakistan receives 46 modern coaches from China
On 28 November, Dawn reported that Pakistan Railways (PR) has received the consignment of 46 high-speed modern coaches from China. PR is set to soon start manufacturing 184 similar coaches at its carriage factory in Islamabad in association with Chinese engineers under the technology-transfer component of the 230 coaches’ purchase contract. The PR officers concerned would carry out a test run of the coaches on the Main Line-1 (ML-1) starting from Karachi to Peshawar via Lahore and Rawalpindi. After completion of the test run, the commercial use of these coaches would begin by using them for various express passenger trains. Modern train coaches can run at a speed of 160km per hour. The PR teams, under the technology transfer agreement, visited China in August during which they inspected prototypes of coaches and high-capacity wagons. (Shazia Hasan, “Railway gets 46 modern coaches from China,” Dawn, 28 November 2022)

ON PAKISTAN-OCCUPIED KASHMIR
Peaceful first phase LG elections held in Muzaffarabad division.
On 27 November, the ruling PTI in “AJK” appeared to have lost with PML-N and PPP in Muzaffarabad district in the first phase of LG elections. The elections were held in a peaceful atmosphere. Though less than 5,000 police personnel could be spared to maintain law and order at 1,323 polling stations across the division, the army had also given signals that it could come in aid of the civilian administration in the event of hostilities in any area, which had also significantly contributed to the maintenance of order. Unconfirmed and unverified results that started pouring in since evening and continued till late night suggested that 12 seats were bagged by PML-N, 10 by PTI, and seven each by PPP and independents.(Tariq Naqash, “PTI, rivals in close fight as AJK votes in local polls,” Dawn, 28 November 2022)

ON MILITARY
General Sahir Shamshad Mirza takes charge as the new CJCSC of the country
On 27 November, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza assumed the charge as Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) at the Joint Staff Headquarters. According to ISPR, a large number of serving and retired officers from tri-services, the ceremony was also attended by the former chairmen of JCSC. General Mirza reviewed the guard of honour and march-past.(“ Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza assumes charge as CJCSC,” Dawn, 28 November 2022)

ECONOMY
PSE saw a plunge of 800 points over the policy rate hike
On 28 November, the Pakistan Stock Exchange’s benchmark KSE-100 index plunged over 800 points over the hike in the policy rate issued by the SBP. The index saw a sharp slump right after the opening bell, dropping more than 600 points to 42,282.48 in the first 30 minutes of trading. Head of Research at Intermarket Securities, Raza Jafri, said the market had opened sharply negative as it factored in higher interest rates and continued uncertainty on the political front after Imran Khan’s threat to dissolve the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies. The central bank, in a statement, issued said that the decision reflects the Monetary Policy Committee’s view that inflationary pressures have proven to be stronger and more persistent than expected. (“ PSX takes a hammering after SBP's sudden interest rate hike to highest since 1999,” The News International, 28 November 2022; “PSX reacts to surprise rate hike, plunges over 800 points,” Dawn, 28 November 2022)

Special Notes

Follow-Up: Imran Khan’s assassination probe
Status of the probe
Imran Khan alleged that “three criminals” are waiting to take a shot at him again. He said two were those he had previously identified; one who fired at him and the other leaders and the other who fired at the container, and the third one who was meant to silence the assassin so they could not reveal any details.
Imran claimed that this third shooter had actually killed a person who lost his life in the attack while trying to kill the would-be assassin.

Pakistan on Twitter

"Organizations should correct the mistake of carrying the burden of Asif Zardari and Nawaz Sharif's politics as soon as possible. The politics of Zardari and Nawaz Sharif have reached the end of their physical life. It is getting expensive, don't be the villain of the people and stand with the people.”
-Ch Fawad Hussain

"The @UN report on gender based violence reveals chilling data: that every 11 minutes a woman or girl is killed by a family member or intimate partner. What is worse is that these statistics are just the tip of the iceberg. We all need to do more in our countries,communities..”
-Sherry Rehman

"Article 14 of the constitution declares "human dignity to be sacred"; So, my question to the honorable judges of the Supreme Court is whether the application of this article of the Constitution is limited only to the powerful authorities of the state, because for all others, even the basic right like human dignity is not protected?."
-Imran Khan

Daily Briefs

ECPâ€™s plea for more funds gets slow downed by the Finance Ministry,

Health experts stating that nine out of 10 people breath polluted air exceeding the WHO guideline limits,nine terrorists killed in an intelligence-based operation and PSE seeing a plunge of 800 points over the policy rate hike

Other Daily Briefs