Dual Convictions
An accountability court has convicted both former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case. Khan has been sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 1,000,000 for corrupt practices. Bushra faces 7 years in jail and a fine of Rs. 500,000 for aiding and abetting. The PTI has vowed to challenge the verdict in higher courts.
Downgraded Forecast
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has downgraded Pakistan’s growth forecast for the ongoing fiscal year to 3%, just three months after projecting the economy to grow by 3.2%. The lender did not specify any reasons for the downgrade, but economists believe it is linked to lower than estimated cotton output and a lagging industrial sector.
Safe Travels
Lahore’s Jamia Naeemia has issued a fatwa against the use of illegal means to travel abroad from Pakistan. The religious edict follows several cases of migrants perishing while traveling on unsafe boats. In the decree, the religious scholars say dangerous illegal travel violates sharia as it threatens one’s life. They have urged people to avail legal and safe means for travel.
Ending Monopoly
The Petroleum Division has notified an implementation framework for the sale of gas to the private sector, ending the monopoly of Sui gas companies in the sector. The policy enables exploration and production companies to auction off 35% of gas output to the private sector, helping them overcome an increasing liquidity crisis arising from the nonpayment of dues by Sui gas companies.
No Impact on Talks
PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan has rubbished the impression that the conviction of Imran Khan and Bushra will scuttle ongoing talks between his party and the government. He has announced that the progress in the talks will be contingent upon the government’s acceptance of the party’s charter of demands. The key demand, he says, is judicial commissions to prove the May 9 and Nov. 26 incidents.
Rightsizing
The government has earmarked five more ministries for potential rightsizing to reduce the financial burden on the federal government. The ministries of Communications, Railways, Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, Revenue Division, and Petroleum Division and their attached departments will all be examined in the fourth wave of rightsizing, announced Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.
Internet investment
Minister of State for I.T. and Telecommunications Shaza Fatima Khawaja has admitted the government has not invested into the country’s internet infrastructure for three years. Addressing the National Assembly, she has claimed that import restrictions when the country was on the brink of default discouraged investment in the sector. She has hoped improving indicators will reverse the situation.
Kurram Operation
The Kurram deputy commissioner has ordered the establishment of temporarily displaced persons camps in Lower Kurram over an “expected” counter-terrorism operation. The decision follows attacks on two aid convoys traveling to Parachinar after the inking of a peace accord between rival tribes. Under the plan, over 1,000 families will be relocated to the camps.
Gaza Ceasefire
Qatar, which helped mediate the agreement, has announced that a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip will go into effect at 8:30 a.m., local time, on Sunday morning. The Gulf state’s foreign ministry has urged residents to take precautions, exercise caution when traveling, and wait for official directions from their authorities.
Reko Diq Deal
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are inching closer to finalizing a multi-billion deal regarding the Reko Diq mining project. Under the deal, the Gulf kingdom will procure a 10% stake in the first stage, with additional acquisition in the future. The Saudi mining minister has said the Saudi Development Fund may contribute $100 million to Pakistan’s mining infrastructure to improve the deal’s potential.