Hefty Needs
Minister of State for Finance Ali Pervaiz Malik has said Pakistan needs $100 billion in external financing in the short- to medium-term, stressing the country cannot afford to exit the ongoing International Monetary Fund (IMF) program. He has also emphasized that achieving sustainable growth requires the country to first address fiscal imbalances and low investment and savings ratios.
Ending Free Rides
Power Minister Awais Leghari has admitted that power sector employees receive Rs. 6,000 of free electricity per month, adding efforts are underway to withdraw this privilege. He has told journalists the government cannot currently halt the practice due to ongoing legal challenges. A potential replacement for the benefits, he has said, is to increase salaries of the employees.
Backing Trump’s Call
The Foreign Office has come out in support of U.S. President Donald Trump’s demand for the Afghan Taliban to return American military equipment left behind in Afghanistan. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said the arms and ammunition pose threats to Pakistan’s safety and security. It has also noted terrorist organizations have used these weapons to carry out attacks in Pakistan.
Jilted Bride
A 33-year-old American woman is refusing to leave Pakistan after being rejected by a 19-year-old Pakistani man who she had hoped to wed. The woman has overstayed her visa and resisted multiple efforts to force her to leave. She claims she wants to become a citizen of Pakistan and has demanded the Pakistani government to give her $3,000 a week for her upkeep.
Another Round of Protests
In addition to organizing a rally in Swabi on Feb. 8 to register its protest over alleged rigging in the 2024 general elections, the PTI has sought permission from Lahore administration to stage a rally at Minar-e-Pakistan on the same day. The move comes as the party gears up efforts to return to the streets, with various leaders striving to stitch up an opposition alliance to muster public support.
Stifling Dissent
President Asif Ali Zardari has signed the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill, 2025 into law, drawing the ire of rights advocates and media bodies. The legislation criminalizes the sharing of fake news and misinformation, with critics alleging its ultimate aim is to suppress freedom of expression. Journalists have vowed to protest the law and challenge it in court.
Ship them Out
U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated he will soon sign an executive order to detain undocumented criminal migrants at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Trump has already signed into law a bill mandating the pre-trial detention of undocumented migrants accused of theft and violent crimes. Since assuming office, Trump has ramped efforts to curtail illegal immigration, attracting criticism from rights groups.
Massive Losses
A new report alleges Pakistan is facing annual losses of almost Rs. 5 trillion in its maritime sector. The losses have been attributed to underutilized ports, tax evasion, malpractices, fake billing, misuse of the Afghan Transit Trade facility and lack of value addition. The report has stressed that the country’s coastline can be its economic backbone if utilized to its full potential.
GSP+ Review
The European Union has warned Pakistan against taking its GSP+ status for granted ahead of an upcoming monitoring mission in June. A senior E.U. official, currently visiting Pakistan, has urged officials to resist imposing restrictions on freedom of expression and not use military courts to pursue cases against citizens. The bloc had earlier criticized the conviction of May 9 rioters by military courts.
Sanghar Sit-in
Family members, relatives and supporters of three people killed last week in a clash between rival groups near Sanghar, Sindh are staging a sit-in, demanding registration of an FIR against a PPP MNA over the incident. The protesters are refusing to bury the bodies of their loved ones until their demands are met. Multiple attempts by PPP lawmakers to resolve the situation have failed to restore normalcy.