Government set to dispatch letter of intent to IMF

Daily Briefs

Photo : Dawn

16 August 2022, Tuesday I Vol 3, No.184

Government set to dispatch letter of intent to IMF

Sindh government launching a week-long anti-polio campaign to inoculate over 9.9 million children, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly accepting adjournment motion over lawlessness in Swat and Malakand Division

PR Daily Brief | PR Team

In Brief
ECONOMY
Government set to dispatch letter of intent to IMF
On 16 August, The News International reported that Islamabad has made a fresh request to the Fund staff for making some slight changes in it. Now the mini budget will be unveiled through the promulgation of the Presidential Ordinance to fetch additional taxes. Pakistan has also made a request to the IMF for augmenting the EFF programme by USD one billion, increasing it from the existing USD six billion to USD seven billion and also jacked up the timeframe from September 2022 to June 2023. The signed LoI will be circulated among the board members for reviving the stalled Fund program 15 days prior to holding the IMF’s Executive Board meeting on 28 August. (Mehtab Haider, “Govt to send LoI to IMF today,” The News International, 16 August 2022)

Net public debt and liabilities increase up to USD 300 billion
On 15 August, the State Bank of Pakistan released year-on-year financial indicators and shows that Pakistan’s total debt and liabilities reached PKR 59.7 trillion by June 30, compared to PKR 47.844 trillion in FY21. The year-on-year growth in debt and liabilities was 24.8 per cent in FY22, compared to a growth of just 7.3 per cent in FY21. The net debt and liabilities now stand at 89.2 per cent of the GDP. Total debt and liability servicing rose to USD 27 billion in FY22 compared to USD 22.84 billion in FY21. Pakistan had to pay USD 15.071 billion as external debt servicing in FY22, compared to USD 13.424 billion in the previous fiscal year. It increased by 21.6 per cent in FY22, compared to 2.5 per cent in FY21. The central government’s gross domestic debt (without external debt) was USD 155 billion by June 30, FY22, against USD 131.325 billion by the end of June FY21. The general government’s external debt rose to USD 86.134 billion in FY22 compared to USD 82.5 billion in FY21. The bifurcation shows that interest accounted for about 25 per cent of the principal amount of debt. (Shahid Iqbal, “Pakistan’s debt burden up Rs11.8tr in FY22,” Dawn, 16 August 2022)

INTERNAL
Hearing fixed for the PTI plea in funding case
On 16 August, PTI‘s application against the ECP decision in the prohibited funding case was fixed for hearing in Islamabad High Court today. PTI has challenged the commission's decision in the high court on the basis of the fact-finding report in the case. The petition has requested that the proceedings on the report be suspended and the show cause notice issued by the commission should be suspended as well. (“PTI plea in funding case fixed for hearing,” The Express Tribune, 16 August 2022)

PROVINCES
Sindh: Government launches week-long anti-polio campaign to inoculate over 9.9 million children
On 15 August, the Sindh government launched a launched a week-long anti-polio campaign to inoculate over 9.9 million children under five. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah formally launched the drive at the National Institute of Child Health (NICH). The campaign is scheduled to be held until 21 August in Karachi and Hyderabad divisions and then extended to Shaheed Benazirabad, Mirpurkhas, Sukkur, and Larkana divisions. (Tahir Siddiqui, “Week-long drive to vaccinate 9.9m children against polio begins in Sindh,” Dawn, 16 August 2022)

Sindh: LG law is ‘discriminatory’ says MQM
On 15 August, MQM told the Supreme Court that section 10 (1) of the SLGA, 2013 was discriminatory as it deprived the party of any opportunity to have its own mayor to serve Karachi and other cities of the province. Representing MQM, Barrister Dr. Farogh Naseem argued before the top court that through section 10(1) of the SLGA, the Sindh government had violated the Supreme Court’s 2014 directions in which the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was empowered to delimit local government constituencies under Article 140-A, 218 and 222 of the Constitution and the federal, Sindh and Punjab governments were asked to make laws to enable the ECP to delimit constituencies of local governments. Headed by Umar Ata Bandial, the Supreme Court bench also comprising Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Ayesha Malik, had taken up a set of petitions filed by MQM, PTI, and others against the SLGA .(Nasir Iqbal, “MQM terms Sindh LG law ‘discriminatory’,” Dawn, 16 August 2022)

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Landmine blast injures Khar tehsil Chairman
On 15 August, Khar tehsil council chairman Haji Said Badshah was injured along with his two companions in a landmine explosion in tehsil at about 9:30 am. Police said that the vehicle of Badshah was hit by a landmine planted along the roadside and is under investigation to find the elements behind the attack. A team of medical workers immediately reached the area and shifted all the injured to the district headquarters hospital in Khar for treatment after providing first aid to them. The officials were told by the doctors that the condition of the wounded persons was stable. (Anwarullah Khan, “Khar tehsil chairman among three injured in landmine blast,” Dawn, 16 August 2022)

Balochistan: ANP alleges province being pushed into fire, demands judicial probe into police shooting in Harnai
On 15 August, Awami National Party (ANP), a coalition partner in the Balochistan Awami Party-led provincial government, and some opposition members demanded formation of a judicial commission, headed by a senior judge of the high court, to probe into alleged killing of an ANP activist. It is pertinent to mention that neither the local police, nor the Balochistan government, nor the military have addressed the alleged incident and the subsequent protest. ANP parliamentary alleged that police and local administration were not registering an FIR against those who fired on the protesters. (Saleem Shahid, “Demand for judicial probe into Harnai shooting,” Dawn, 16 August 2022)

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Assembly accepts adjournment motion over lawlessness in Swat and Malakand Division
On 15 August, an adjournment motion on the ‘deteriorating’ law and order situation in Swat and other districts of Malakand division and tribal districts for general discussion was jointly tabled by MPAs of the opposition MMA. It added that a wave of lawlessness had swept through the region and, after repeated incidents of targeted killings, some armed men held officials of the law-enforcement agencies, including a deputy superintendent of police, hostage in Swat. (“KP Assembly admits opposition’s motion for debate on Malakand ‘lawlessness’,” Dawn, 16 August 2022)

ON MILITARY
Discussion over the appointment of next chief of Pakistan’s Army
On 16 August, Dawn reported that a senior PML-N member has stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif could initiate discussions on the appointment by the end of August and finalise the decision by mid-September. According to Dawn, four of the six top Lt-Gens at the time of Gen Bajwa’s retirement will be from the same batch, while a fifth is senior to almost the entire lot. (Baqir Sajjad Syed, “Who will be the next army chief?,” Dawn, 16 August 2022)

EXTERNAL
US and Pakistan officials discuss options got COAS visit to Washington
On 16 August, while speaking to diplomatic sources, Dawn reported that the United States and Pakistani officials are considering various options for COAS Gen Qamar Bajwa to visit the United States in late August or early September. Previously, COAS Gen Bajwa urged the US to assist Pakistan in securing an early disbursement of funds from the IMF. Additionally, he spoke with US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman. (Anwar Iqbal, “US, Pakistan discuss options for Gen Bajwa’s visit to DC,” Dawn, 16 August 2022)

UAE to join hands with Pakistan in setting up Plasma Farming Facilities
On 16 August, Dawn reported that the Ministry of National Health Services in a landmark development discussed the development of the plasma farming facilities (PFF) with the UAE. A UAE mission, which is on a visit to Pakistan, aims to conduct a feasibility study for the establishment of PFF in Pakistan based on WHO standards as the blood services in the country are mostly provided by hospitals’ blood banks with no functional separation of the plasma processes into production and utilization. It was a significant development as Pakistan does not have even a single PFF despite the fact that there are a few hundred thousand patients suffering from an immunodeficiency disorder. After the visit, the team will furnish a feasibility report for the execution of the project, and later on, plasma fractionation establishment shall be considered. (Ikram Junaidi, “UAE to help Pakistan set up plasma farming facilities,” Dawn, 16 August 2022)

ON FATF
FATF team to arrive in Pakistan for ‘on-site’ visit in September
On 16 August, The Express Tribune reported that a team of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is expected to visit Pakistan in September to conduct “on-site” visit. During the visit the team would verify the steps taken by Pakistan to curb money laundering and terror financing before it finally exits the watchdog’s grey list. (Kamran Yousuf, “FATF team due next month for ‘on-site’ visit,” The Express Tribune, 16 August 2022)

ON GILGIT-BALTISTAN
Mehdi Shah to be appointed as the Gilgit- Baltistan governor
On 15 August, President Dr. Arif approved the appointment of Syed Mehdi Shah as the Gilgit-Baltistan governor, through a statement, the Presidency said the appointment of Syed Mehdi Shah was made under Section 33(3) of the Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018 on the advice of the prime minister. As the party finalized the name of Mr. Shah, Prime Minister Sharif sent a summary to President Alvi for the appointment. He was elected as the first chief minister of GB from 2010 to 2014 when the post was created under the GB Self-Governance Order 2009 during the PPP regime. (Jamil Nagri, “Mehdi Shah appointed GB governor,” Dawn, 16 August 2022)

Pakistan on Twitter

"What can be more cruel than that oil is becoming cheap in the world market and Shahbaz Sharif government has made oil expensive once again. This increase in the price of oil is unacceptable for common Pakistanis. don't take."
-Hamid Mir, Journalist

"If someone is accused of contravening law of the land or violating Constitution then he must be given a fair trial to defend himself so court can decide & give justice. To first abduct then cut fir & torture Shahbaz Gill (his body shows severe marks of torture)."
-Shireen Mazari

"IThe Queen of Liars' Candy Crush Champion inaugurated the recording of Liaquat Ali Khan three years after his martyrdom, and gauged his knowledge and intellect."
-CH Fawad Hussain

Daily Briefs

Government set to dispatch letter of intent to IMF

Sindh government launching a week-long anti-polio campaign to inoculate over 9.9 million children, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly accepting adjournment motion over lawlessness in Swat and Malakand Division

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