Foreign Detentions
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has revealed in the National Assembly that 19,997 Pakistanis are currently detained in foreign jails. Of this number, over half—10,279—are incarcerated in Saudi prisons. Additionally, 5,292 Pakistanis are detained in the U.A.E.; 598 in Greece; and 578 in Oman. The remainder are detained in other countries, including Malaysia, Turkiye, and the U.K.
Gaza Ceasefire
Hamas and Israel have reached a ceasefire agreement after 15 months of war—conditional on approval from the Israeli cabinet. If approved, the truce will take effect on Jan. 19. The deal will progress in three phases. In the first phase of six weeks, there will be a full ceasefire, withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas of Gaza, and the freeing of hostages held by Hamas.
Back to Dialogue
The third round of negotiations between the government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf will take place today (Thursday). The PTI is set to present a written list of its demands to the government committee, which will then share it with its leadership for consideration. The PTI has set a Jan. 31 deadline for progress on the talks, warning of a civil disobedience movement if deadlock persists.
Heavy Cost
Malnutrition is costing Pakistan $17 billion annually, according to report released by Nutrition International. It states that 34% of children under-5 in Pakistan suffer from stunting, while 22% of newborns have low birth weight and 53% of children aged 6-59 months are anemic. The ailments cause cognitive losses, increased school dropouts and reduced productivity, exacerbating economic concerns.
Lowering Tariffs
Power Minister Awais Leghari has claimed consumers will have the lowest electricity tariffs in the region in a few months, crediting ongoing reforms in the power sector. He has also announced a new electric vehicle policy, lowering tariffs for charging stations and introducing simplified rules for establishing the same to facilitate investment and bolster opportunities for new avenues of employment.
No Writ of State
JUIF chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has claimed the state no longer has any writ in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Urging all stakeholders to find a solution to the crisis before it becomes irreversible, he has lamented that the “mainstream” has yet to realize the gravity of the situation. He has warned that ongoing unrest can facilitate external interference and deny the state access to its natural resources.
New CEC
The PTI has written to the National Assembly speaker seeking the initiation of the process for the appointment of a new chief election commissioner (CEC). Incumbent CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja’s tenure expires on Jan. 26. Under the 26th Amendment, the CEC’s tenure is automatically extended until the completion of the process to appoint his replacement.
Deadly Habit
Gallup Pakistan has revealed that Pakistan has one of the region’s highest rates of smoking-related deaths at 91.1 per 100,000 people. The regional average is 78.1, while the global average is 72.6 per 100,000 people. Gallup has recommended accompanying taxation and pricing hikes with awareness campaigns and public education to steer the public away from the harmful habit of smoking.
Army vs. Army
The military spokesman has slammed the Indian military chief over remarks alleging Pakistan an “epicenter of terrorism.” In a statement, the ISPR has urged the neighboring country to refrain from “pandering to political exigencies.” It has also noted the hypocrisy of the Indian remarks while Delhi continues the repression of Kashmiris and has been implicated in several transnational assassinations.
Protecting Big Cats
The Punjab cabinet has approved amendments to the Department of Forests and Wildlife regulations, making it illegal to keep lions, cheetahs, tigers, pumas and jaguars as pets. To discourage exploitation, promotion of big cats on social media platforms will be banned, with violators facing legal action. The government has stressed big cats cannot be housed in urban areas under any circumstances.