Market Panic
Following a bloodbath at the New York Stock Exchange, Asian markets have also plunged as the world reacts to U.S. President Donald Trump’s punishing tariffs that critics fear have unleashed a trade war that could trigger a new global recession. U.S. officials claim the situation will soon reverse as several countries have reached out to the U.S. to negotiate new trade deals.
Ongoing Deportations
Over 1,600 Afghans have been deported from Punjab and Sindh following the expiry of a March 31 deadline for the voluntary exit of undocumented migrants from Pakistan. According to officials, 5,111 other Afghan nationals are awaiting repatriation at transit camps in Punjab. Authorities say the process will continue until all illegal migrants have been expelled from the country.
Long March Deferred
The Balochistan National Party failed to advance its long march toward Quetta on Sunday after law enforcers informed party leader Akhtar Mengal that he will be arrested if he leaves the sit-in at Lakpass. In response, Mengal has announced a shutter-down strikes across the province and vowed to continue the sit-in until the release of Baloch Yakjehti Committee leaders.
Seeking Relief
PTI leader Azam Swati has announced that Imran Khan has empowered him to negotiate with the establishment, adding the former prime minister has said he has been “willing” for talks from day one. In the video statement, the politician has also urged vloggers and anchorpersons to stop sowing discord and work towards securing the release of Khan and his wife, Bushra.
Another Protest
Farmers have decided to launch a nationwide protest from April 13 against corporate farming launched by the government under the Green Pakistan Initiative. The farmers claim the project will threaten small landowners, displace peasants of state lands and limit their access to crucial agricultural resources. The government maintains the initiative will enhance agricultural development.
Canals Unrest
The Grande Democratic Alliance, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazl) all marked the weekend with separate protests against the construction of six new canals on the Indus River. The JUIF has warned that if the project is not shelved, it will block the Sindh-Punjab border and bar any containers from moving between the provinces.
Offloading Education
The Punjab Education Department has abolished 43,960 teaching and non-teaching posts in 10,652 schools as part of an ongoing privatization of thousands of schools across the province. The Punjab Teachers Union and other organizations have strongly condemned the move, announcing protests after Eid to demand the government reverse its decision.
Seeking Security
The Punjab Home Department has requisitioned deployment of Army and Rangers personnel to ensure security during the upcoming 10th edition of the Pakistan Super League cricket tournament. The high-profile event will begin on April 11 in Lahore, with the final scheduled for May 18. Of the 34 matches, Lahore will host 13, Rawalpindi 11, and Multan and Karachi five each.
Drug Trade
The discovery of large-scale poppy cultivation in the Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and adjacent border areas of Balochistan has raised serious concerns over the link between drug trafficking and terrorism in the country. While the KP government has denied the reports, the areas are widely regarded as no-go zones for law enforcers amidst resurgent terrorism.
Maternal Health
A U.N. report has warned that recent cuts to international aid budgets are threatening to undo decades of progress in reducing maternal deaths and may lead to an increase in preventable deaths during pregnancy and childbirth. The report notes that a 40% global decline in maternal mortality between 2000 and 2023 was largely driven by improved access to essential health services.