Belated Admission
An Indian defense official has admitted for the first time that Pakistan shot down Indian warplanes during the two countries’ aerial skirmish last month. Addressing a seminar in Indonesia, Captain Shiv Kumar blamed the losses on “political constraints” imposed by the Indian leadership, defending the military’s competence. India’s political leadership has yet to confirm even a single loss.
Brotherly Nations
The Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, Maj. Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi has called his Pakistani counterpart, Field Marshal Asim Munir, thanking Pakistan for its support during the recent conflict between Iran and Israel. The call negates malicious propaganda suggesting Pakistan had aligned with the U.S. and Israel during the conflict, despite repeated public pledges of support for Tehran by Islamabad.
Solar Power
Despite concerns over the government’s commitment to solar power following attempts to impose heavy taxes on imported panels, P.M. Shehbaz Sharif insists his government will continue to support the industry. He has described the rapid adoption of solar power as a welcome indicator, maintaining the government will address high electricity production capacity and lower grid consumption.
Uniform Tariff
The federal government has asked the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) to ensure a uniform electricity tariff rate nationwide, including for K-Electric, by incorporating subsidies, surcharges and inter-DISCO tariff rationalization. If approved, the plan would also apply to the government’s plans for privatization of state-owned distribution companies.
Another Bloc
Pakistan and China are considering establishing a new regional organization to potentially replace the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), which has largely become defunct due to a divergence of interests by India. Senior officials indicate the new group could include Sri Lanka, Maldives, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, among other regional states.
Pricey Gas
The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has notified a 50% hike to fixed charges on gas bills, increasing them from Rs. 200 to Rs. 600 for ‘protected’ domestic consumers.In the non-protected category, fixed charges have risen from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 1,500 for monthly consumption up to 1.5hm3, while those consuming more than this amount would pay fixed charges of Rs. 3,000.
IHC Judges
President Asif Ali Zardari has officially declared Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar the senior-most judge of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), confirming his permanent transfer to the IHC along with two other judges. In line with a Supreme Court ruling, the president has issued a new seniority list of IHC judges. However, controversy persists, as five judges of the IHC have filed an appeal against the judgment.
Self-Accountability
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formally launched the ‘Apna Meter, Apna Reading’ smart mobile application to enhance transparency in electricity billing by enabling consumers to record and submit their own usage. The initiative hopes to eliminate the role of meter readers nationwide, reducing public anger over inconsistent readings that can shift protected consumers to higher category slabs.
Monsoon Toll
The first week of monsoon rains, sweeping across the country, has resulted in the deaths of 45 people due to various rain-related incidents, including flash floods in the northern areas. Several deaths have occurred due to roof collapses, highlighting vulnerable infrastructure. Taking note of the looming disaster, authorities have issued advisories warning of risks of urban flooding in the coming week.
Green Credits
The Punjab government has inked an agreement with a private company to recycle single-use plastic, initially installing locally manufactured machines in four major universities of capital Lahore. The initiative recalls similar programs in Europe, with citizens standing to receive up to Rs. 1,000 in cash for the deposit of 20 1.5-liter bottles and 40 half-liter bottles in the machines.