Pak-Afghan Border Clashes
Diplomatic efforts have secured a tentative calm along the Pak-Afghan border after clashes triggered by airstrikes on Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) camps. Security officials have said TTP militants, in collusion with Afghan forces, attempted to infiltrate into Pakistan but were rebuffed, causing significant casualties on the Afghan side. The clashes led to Afghanistan abandoning several border posts.
Charter of Economy
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has urged all stakeholders to achieve consensus on key economic issues to ensure sustainable stability and progress. Noting an improvement in macroeconomic indicators, he has stressed on shifting away from external debt and becoming self-sufficient. He has identified agriculture and I.T. as the twin sectors that drive Pakistan’s sustainable economic growth.
Kurram Peace Awaited
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Adviser Mohammad Ali Saif has announced a grand Jirga brokering peace in Kurram will re-convene on Tuesday. He has claimed achieving consensus on major issues, but noted that Ahle Sunnat has sought additional time to complete consultations with their elders. He has maintained that the provincial government is seeking a permanent resolution to the decades-old dispute.
Uraan Pakistan
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to unveil Uraan Pakistan, a homegrown national economic transformation plan covering 2024-2029. The plan envisions raising exports to $60 billion annually by 2029 and focuses on the 5Es: exports; e-Pakistan; environment and climate change; energy and infrastructure; and equity, ethics and empowerment. This is Pakistan’s 13th five year plan.
Madrassa Registration
The Societies Registration (Amendment) Act, 2024, has officially become law with the signature of President Asif Ali Zardari, resolving simmering tensions between the government and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazl). Immediately after its passage, the president issued an ordinance allowing madrassas to register either under the new law or with the education ministry.
White Paper on Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has issued a charge-sheet of the alleged corruption and financial mismanagement by the PTI’s Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government. The white paper claims financial irregularities and losses of Rs. 192 billion. The provincial government has rubbished the claims, maintaining its total debt is equal to the annual debt taken on by the federal government.
Fog Closures
Despite an improvement in the air quality index, Punjab has been engulfed in dense fog, reducing visibility. This has led to sustained closures of the M1-M5 motorways and the Lahore-Sialkot Motorway to ensure passenger safety. Motorways Police have urged people to avoid unnecessary travel in the evenings and opt for the safer daytime hours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Seeking Coverage
The PTI has claimed the PMLN and PPP are “targeting” its founder, Imran Khan, for public attention and media coverage. Despite repeatedly hailing messages of support from foreign lawmakers, the party has claimed Khan does not want any foreign intervention. It has also claimed its opponents are harming national security by describing a former prime minister as an “Israeli asset.”
E-Taxi Service
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has directed Transport Minister Bilal Akbar Khan to launch e-taxi services across the province along the lines of the China Taxi Service. The initiative aims to provide cheap transportation to the public. In its first phase, it will launch in Lahore and divisional headquarters before being expanded to all major cities of the province with 24/7 services.
No Country for Tourists
Muggers in Sindh robbed a Polish cycling couple en route to India as part of a journey that has winded through Europe and Asia. The robbers snatched the couple’s iPhones, cash and other valuables before escaping the scene. Police have resorted to victim-blaming, claiming the couple should have informed authorities of their movement so their safety could be ensured.