Cricket’s Comeback
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025, hosted by Pakistan, commences from today (Wednesday) with the inaugural match between Pakistan and New Zealand at Karachi National Stadium. This is the first international tournament hosted by Pakistan since 1996. In Pakistan, matches will proceed in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Karachi, while matches with India will take place in Dubai.
Seeking Explanation
The federal government has issued a show-cause notices to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority over its chairman and members unilaterally increasing their salaries without the approval of the federal cabinet. The notice has directed NEPRA to justify the salary hike, noting its actions are in violation of Section 8 of the NEPRA Act.
Pak-U.S. Ties
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed Pakistan’s desire to strengthen bilateral ties with the U.S. in a meeting with U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker. The U.S. envoy, in return, has assured Islamabad Donald Trump’s administration will work with Pakistan to advance shared objectives. There is little indication of any shift in ties, however, as Islamabad no longer aligns with Washington’s interests.
Rising Repatriations
The International Organization for Migration has reported that over 18,000 Afghans returned to their homeland from Islamabad and Rawalpindi in January, indicating a boost in the pace of migrations. Overall, since Pakistan launches Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan in 2023, at least 824,568 individuals have returned to Afghanistan, a majority between 18 and 59 years old.
Focusing on Exports
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has said Pakistan aims to double its exports, from roughly $30 billion to $60 billion, over the next 3-5 years, with a particular focus on the Gulf Cooperation Council market. In a visit to Saudi Arabia, the minister said the government hoped to use fiscal space from improving macroeconomic indicators to prioritize expenditures that can boost the growth trajectory.
Worrying Development
Pakistan’s current account posted a deficit of $420 million in January, the highest monthly deficit since June 2024. The sudden drop follows a surplus of $474 million in December 2024, indicating renewed pressure on the external accounts as imports continue to tick up and foreign payment obligations persist. Over the first seven months of FY2024-25, Pakistan has achieved a surplus of $682 million.
Fake News
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan is perfectly fit and healthy, according to his sister, Aleema Khan. After a meeting with her brother at Adiala Jail, Aleema urged people to avoid sharing fake news alleging Khan’s ill health. She also reiterated that Khan would not seek any “deal” to secure his freedom and alleged that Khan’s wife, Bushra, is being kept in solitary confinement.
Registration Denied
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has denied a petition filed by PTI founder Imran Khan seeking the registration of the Al-Qadir Trust under the Charity Act. In his ruling, acting IHC Chief Justice Sardar Mohammad Sarfraz Dogar said the petition had become infructuous after a ruling convicting Khan and his wife in the £190m corruption reference and placing the Trust in custody of the Punjab government.
Ethnic Strife
Unidentified gunmen in Balochistan’s Barkhan district have offloaded and shot dead seven passengers from a bus traveling to Punjab. While no group has claimed responsibility, the militant Balochistan Liberation Army has previously undertaken such attacks. In a statement, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti has condemned the killing and vowed a “strong” response.
Equitable Treatment
At the U.N. Security Council, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has underscored the need for restructuring of both the U.N. and global financial institutions. Stressing that existing frameworks have “failed to resolve long-standing conflicts and economic disparities,” he has specifically criticized the U.N.’s inability to enforce its resolutions in resolving longstanding conflicts in Kashmir and the Middle East.