Targeting Remittances
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan has reiterated his call for overseas Pakistanis to stop sending remittances. The appeal has attracted significant criticism, with observers noting the move is tantamount to encouraging PTI supporters to violate anti-money-laundering laws. The PTI founder has also urged the public to stage nationwide protests on Feb. 8 against alleged rigging in the 2024 polls.
Political Impasse
The government has said it will present a formal response to the PTI’s charter of demands during a meeting scheduled for Jan. 28. It remains unclear who would receive this response, as the PTI has said it will not engage in any further talks unless the government announces the formation of judicial commissions to probe the May 9 and Nov. 26 incidents.
Economic Headwinds
The World Bank has said Pakistan has the potential to become a trillion-dollar economy by 2035 if it sincerely implements a domestic economic recovery plan. The global lender has said the country can ‘easily’ achieve this goal with an annual growth rate of 7%–if it persist with much-needed economic reforms. Key to the reforms is attracting foreign direct investment.
Toxic Narratives
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has claimed certain elements are instigating U.S. lawmakers against Pakistan, urging political opponents to stop harming the country for political gains. He has also denied reports claiming he attended an “anti-China” event during a visit to the U.S., describing them as “baseless campaigns” designed to tarnish his reputation.
Contested Vehicle Purchases
FBR Chairman Rashid Langrial has said purchasing 1,010 vehicles for officers is essential for his department to perform its duties. Last week, a Senate panel directed the FBR to halt its procurement, urging the finance minister and prime minister to ensure there is no corruption. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has vowed transparency but noted the vehicles are an important requirement.
PECA Amendments
Major media stakeholders have urged a Senate panel to meet with them prior to deliberating on amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act approved by the National Assembly. The controversial legislation ostensibly aims to tackle the proliferation of fake news, but media bodies claim it will hamper freedom of expression and bolster censorship.
Back to Square One
The Jamaat-e-Islami is set to stage nationwide protests on Jan. 31 against inflated electricity bills, months after it called off its last round of demonstrations on the same issue. Party chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman claims the protest aims to question why revised contracts with several independent power producers have not yielded any benefits for consumers.
Redistributing Power
The PTI has replaced Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur with Junaid Akbar as the party’s provincial president. The move heralds plans of the party to reshuffle key leadership positions in a bid to revitalize the party’s administration. While the reshuffle has commenced in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, plans are underway for similar measures in Punjab.
Beware Hackers
The National Telecom and Information Technology Security Board has urged citizens to exercise caution when availing 16 browser extensions that pose malicious risks to user data. In its advisory, the body has warned these free extensions steal personal information from social media apps, banking apps and other websites. It has urged consumers to use alternate options that do not compromise their data.
Revisiting Solar Policy
The government is considering reducing the buyback tariff from solar rooftop consumers by replacing the net metering system with a gross metering system. Critics of the existing policy maintain it is costing the exchequer Rs. 103 billion annually, imposing additional burden on consumers who do not have solar setups. According to official documents, there are 266,440 solar net metering consumers nationwide.