Freeing Jaffar Express
Over 24 hours after militants of the banned Baloch Liberation Army hijacked the Jaffar Express and took hundreds of passengers hostage, security forces successfully freed the captives and killed 33 terrorists. Authorities have said the clearance operation proceeded with utmost caution, regretting the terrorists martyred 21 hostages and 4 FC personnel before the operation could conclude.
Funding Framework
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and federal governments have agreed on a framework to resolve issues concerning the release of development funds for the province and merged tribal districts. Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has said the two sides will work to align priorities with the Uraan Pakistan initiative, adding KP has great potential in tourism and mining, and is the gateway to Central Asian markets.
Open Access
Pakistan has offered Oman the use of the Gwadar and Karachi ports for greater access to emerging markets in Central Asia. A meeting between Commerce Minister Jam Kamal and his Omani counterpart, Qais Al Yousif, has agreed on the need to improve transportation links. Both leaders also agreed on the need to utilize Pakistan as a trade route to Central Asian countries.
Education First
The Sindh government has unveiled a plan to support the education of children of convicted prisoners. The initiative aims to provide free education from primary school through university. It enables the government to support children of 4,684 convicted inmates in Sindh’s jails. The program will also assist juvenile inmates in gaining education and vocational skills.
Baloch Insurgency
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti has said the government and security forces have offered insurgents multiple chances for dialogue but they have rejected all overtures. In an address at the provincial assembly, he has warned that the government will respond with violence to all terrorists who take up arms against the state.
Defending Rights
Pakistan’s Foreign Office has slammed India for banning Kashmir’s Awami Action Committee and the Jammu and Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen. In a statement, the Foreign Office has said the bans reflect a desire to suppress political activities of Kashmiris and stifle dissent. It has further claimed the move betrays sheer disregard of democratic norms and international human rights law.
Drug Peddlers
Islamabad Police have recovered two policemen taken hostage by a gang of drug dealers in Uthaal village, a suburban area of the federal capital. In a statement, police said the hostages were tortured while in captivity, adding an operation is underway to arrest the suspects. The tortured policemen have been shifted to hospital for medical treatment.
Visa Woes
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has informed the National Assembly that some Pakistanis have been submitting fake degrees, diplomas, and job contracts to obtain visas for the U.A.E. It has blamed recent increased scrutiny of Pakistanis seeking visas to the Gulf state on such illegal actions, as well as instances of overstaying visas, indulgence in criminal activities and misuse of social media platforms.
Looming Layoffs
The government has informed the International Monetary Fund of plans to lay off surplus employees by offering them golden handshakes to make up for FBR’s inability to collect revenue as per the approved budget for the ongoing fiscal year. The plan envisages amending the Civil Servants Act, 1973, which provides protection against retrenchment.
Revenue Loss
ACT Alliance Pakistan has released a report claiming the economic is losing over Rs. 300 billion annually due to a flawed tax regime that inadvertently incentivizes illegal trade in the cigarette sector. The report argues the government has crossed the “optimal tax point” and any further increases to tax rates will only reduce revenue rather than raising it.