Another Pause
U.S. President Donald Trump has said he has decided to hold off on attacking Iran on the request of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the U.A.E. Reportedly, all three states urged Trump to give negotiations another chance, as they fear they would face the brunt of Iran’s backlash if the conflict resumes. A key fear, per reports, is that Iran would target oil and energy facilities.
United Front
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s chief minister, governor, speaker and opposition leader have jointly demanded the center fulfil the province’s constitutional rights, especially pertaining to wheat and CNG supply. In a press conference, the officials accused the Punjab government of withholding wheat and questioned why CNG stations in the province were denied gas despite local gas production.
IMF Goals
Islamabad has asked the country’s provinces to boost their revenue collection in FY27 by at least Rs. 400 billion, focusing on more effective collection in agriculture, property and services, to fulfill conditions imposed by the IMF. The demand is particularly directed toward Punjab and Sindh, as there is limited scope in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa due to security and governance challenges.
Blockchain
The federal government is considering linking its Naya Pakistan Certificates and sovereign bonds to a regulated blockchain via Digitally Native Notes to enable swift settlement for retail investors, particularly overseas Pakistanis. The PVARA, Finance Ministry, and the State Bank of Pakistan will coordinate on the design, governance, and phased development of this agenda.
28th Amendment
JUIF chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has urged President Asif Ali Zardari to “protect” the 18th Amendment amidst speculation over the proposed 28th Amendment rolling back certain provisions of the legislation to reduce provincial shares in revenue. Speaking to media, Rehman has admitted that there are no firm details on the 28th Amendment, adding the situation remains murky.
No Voter Age Change
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has dismissed reports suggesting the government is considering a proposal to raise the minimum voting age from 18 to 25, maintaining there is no point in commenting on mere speculation. The debate arose after Adviser to the P.M. Rana Sanaullah said in an interview a change in the voter age had been “discussed” with regards to the proposed 28th Amendment.
No Tariff Hike
The Power Division has claimed the electricity tariff will remain unchanged in June, citing “effective policy measures” for shielding consumers from additional financial pressures despite rising fuel costs in the global market. According to a spokesperson, additional local gas availability and increased output from imported coal-based plants helped ease load management pressures.
Animal Rights
Animal rights organizations in Lahore have accused the Punjab government of violating court orders and a prevailing TNVR policy by killing stray dogs in the provincial capital and other parts of the province. Activists have alleged they are being harassed for voicing their concerns, stressing stray dog culling is not a permanent solution to the issue.
Criminalizing Suicide
The Federal Shariat Court has declared the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Act, 2022, pertaining to the omission of the offense of attempt to commit suicide, as un-Islamic. The ruling effectively seeks to re-criminalize suicide, declaring the omission of the clause is against the principles of the holy Quran and Sunnah. The verdict stresses suicide is a cardinal sin in Islam and is an anti-life act.
Mass Deportations
More than 164,000 Pakistanis were deported from various Gulf countries over the past five years, according to official data presented in the National Assembly. The Interior Ministry has said Saudi Arabia leads with 108,029 deportations; with the United Arab Emirates having 40,497; Oman 9,814; Qatar 2,971 and Bahrain 2,779 cases.