In Brief
EXTERNAL
PM Shehbaz Sharif meets with the Iranian President and Russian President along the SCO sidelines
On 15 September, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Iranian President Syed Ebrahim Raisi on the sidelines of the annual Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. During the meeting, both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in economic, trade, connectivity, energy, culture and people-to-people links. Further, they also agreed to evaluate the outcome of the Pakistan-Iran Joint Economic Commission.
Meanwhile, PM Shahbaz Sharif also met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to the PM Office, the two sides discussed bilateral ties and exchanged views on regional including food security, trade & investment, energy, defence and security and international issues. Additionally, President Putin expressed willingness to supply gas to Pakistan stating that pipeline gas supplies to Pakistan were possible and that part of the necessary infrastructure was already in place.
Pakistan raises cross-border attack with Taliban government
On 15 September, Foreign Office spokesperson said Pakistan has raised the issue of attack launched from inside the Afghan territory that martyred three Jawans with the Taliban government, adding that they made it clear that the Afghan government should control such incidents and ensure they are not repeated in future. The FO spokesperson expressing dismay over the recent violence during the Pakistan-Afghan cricket match in the UAE said thatsuch incidents should not have taken place among the people of two brotherly countries. (“Pakistan raises cross-border attack with Afghan govt,” The News International, 16 September 2022)
INTERNAL
Climate compensation from developed nations must be initiated by Pakistan, says WWA
On 15 September, a scientific study by World Weather Attribution (WWA) found evidence of climate change exacerbating recent devastating floods and heat waves earlier this year and has asked Pakistan to seek compensation from developed nations for loss and damage support along with an immediate push to reduce carbon emissions. the report released by WWA states, “We found that the five-day maximum rainfall over the provinces Sindh and Balochistan are now about 75pc more intense than it would have been had the climate not warmed by 1.2 Celsius, whereas the 60-day rain across the basin is now about 50pc more intense, meaning rainfall this heavy is now more likely to happen.” The NDMA countrywide statistics say the unprecedented floods, triggered by record monsoon rains and glacial melt in northern mountains, have left 1500 people dead, displaced 33 million people out of a population of 220m, and swept away homes, vehicles, crops, and livestock in damage estimated at 30 billion USD. (Khaleeq Kiani, “.Pakistan asked to seek ‘climate compensation’,” Dawn, 16 September 2022)
Imran, Mahmood gets fined by ECP for violating by-poll code
On 15 September, the ECP fined Rs 50,000 each to Imran Khan, Mahmood Khan, and several cabinet members including ministers and advisers to the chief minister, for violating the code of conduct issued for the upcoming by-elections by participating in the 6 September public rally in the provincial capital despite the warning. The District Monitoring Officer issued an order stating that the perusal of evidence comprising videos, photos, and news clippings coupled with a report of the monitoring team had established that various public office-holders, including the chief minister, cabinet members, advisers, and special assistants, in contravention of the code of conduct, participated in the rally. A day before the Peshawar rally, the DMO had directed the government functionaries not to attend the rally saying that action will be a violation of the code of conduct. He had warned that legal action would be taken against them all if they participated in the rally. (“ ECP fines Imran, Mahmood for violating by-poll code,” Dawn, 16 September 2022)
Funding case against the parties to have a final chance given by ECP
On 15 September, The ECP heard PTI’s petition to ascertain other political parties’ sources of funding, wherein the respondents asked for more time, prompting the commission to declare the next hearing as the last date for presenting arguments. The MQM‘s lawyer said that their application in the case was rejected, therefore, they need more time to submit their response. Similarly, the ANP lawyer said that their senior lawyer was busy and could not appear for the hearing, therefore, they too needed more time. The PTI demanded that the matter of ascertaining the sources of political parties’ funds should be handed over to the scrutiny committee. The member said that the political parties should submit their responses, adding that the final arguments would be held at the next hearing, and the case would not be adjourned any longer. (“ECP gives parties last chance in funding case,” The Express Tribune, 16 September 2022)
12 children were subjected to sexual abuse on average per day, says Report
On 15 September, NGO Sahil in a research report titled “Sahil’s Six Months Cruel Numbers Report” revealed that 12 children were subjected to sexual abuse on average per day, in comparison to 10 children per day in the last year’s January-June 2021 report. According to the report, children from the age group 6-15 are most vulnerable to abuse while 715 children from the age bracket of 11-15 years and 401 children from the age brackets of 6-10 were abused from January-June 2022. The major crime categories included child sexual abuse (CSA), abduction, missing children, and child marriages. The statistics highlighted that the abuser involved in 47 per cent of the total cases were acquaintances, 18 per cent strangers while in 9 per cent of cases acquaintances along with strangers committed crimes against children. In the first six months of 2022, 71 per cent of the total cases were reported from Punjab and 9 per cent from the federal capital. The rest of the cases were reported from other provinces including 15 per cent cases from Sindh, three per cent cases from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and 2 per cent cases from Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B). (Jahanzaib Yasin, “‘In Pakistan, 12 children sexually abused per day in first half of 2022’,” The Express Tribune, 16 September 2022)
PROVINCES
Sindh: Receding rainwater shows relief in the province
On 15 September, the floodwater in Dadu and Jamshoro districts started to subside with a decrease in water level in the Indus River. The water level had been reduced by around three feet in all union councils of Jamshoro district which were inundated by the rise in water level in Manchar Lake last week. An official confirmed the receding water levels and said that the situation will be better in a few days. He further said, “Even the water level at the main Indus Highway is going to recede.” Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah has said clearing the water might take up to three to six months. (Sameer Mandhro, “Water level begins receding in parts of Sindh,” The Express Tribune, 16 September 2022)
ECONOMY
Textile exports in August increased by 4.2 per cent from a previous year monthly basis
On 15 September, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) released its monthly trade statistics, as per the data, textiles exports have increased 6.37 per cent to USD 1.57 billion in August 2022 compared to last month’s USD 1.48 billion exports, with all major components, cotton cloth, knitwear, bedwear, towels, and readymade garments recording positive growth. Over the corresponding month of last year, cotton cloth exports were up 3.8 per cent, knitwear 23.6 per cent, and readymade garments 16.3 per cent. However, over August 2021, exports of bedwear slashed 2.44 per cent, towels 9.4 per cent, and cotton yarn exports declined 14 per cent. In FY22, total textile exports were at a historic high of USD 19.35 billion, with an increase of over a quarter over FY21’s exports of USD 15.4 billion. Textiles is the top foreign exchange earner for Pakistan and occupies over 60 per cent of the country’s total exports. (Israr Khan, “Textiles exports increase 6.37pc in Aug 2022,” The News International, 16 September 2022)
Food and oil imports increase by 31.8 per cent in July-August 2022
On 15 September, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) released its monthly trade statistics, as per the data oil import bill increased by 7.8 per cent to USD 3.3 billion in July-August from USD 3.08 billion over the corresponding months of last year. Crude oil imports rose by 10.5 per cent in value during the period under review while those of liquefied natural gas declined by 3.37 per cent in value. The food import bill, led by wheat, sugar, edible oil, spices, tea and pulses, rose by over 21 per cent to USD 1.78 billion in the two months under review from USD 1.47 billion a year ago to bridge the local production gap. (Mubarak Zeb Khan, “Oil, food imports rise to $5bn in July-August,” Dawn, 16 September 2022)
ON INDIA
Pakistan rejects India’s claims on Neelum-Jhelum project
On 15 September, Pakistan rejected the statement made by India on Neelum-Jhelum project. The FO spokesperson alleged that India was once again churning out false and baseless reports about the hydropower project. The spokesperson added that a fault was detected in the project and is currently undergoing remedial works for which the entity concerned, Gezhouba Group of China has been contacted. (Iftikhar A. Khan, “Pakistan rejects Indian propaganda on Neelum-Jhelum project,” Dawn, 16 September 2022)
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