Posts

PPP, JUI-F agree on shared draft of constitutional package

Image
The PPP and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) reached an agreement on a shared draft of the much-touted constitutional amendments . The much-talked-about Consti­tutional Package is legislation proposing a set of constitutional amendments, including the extension of the top judge’s term. Three separate drafts of the constitutional package were being prepared — one by the government, the second by the PPP, and the third by the JUI-F. A committee, led by PPP’s Khursheed Shah, has the representation of all parties, including the PTI. It was formed by the National Assembly speaker for reconciliation among lawmakers, particularly between the PTI and the government, after a raid by plainclothesmen to round up the PTI men from the Parliament House. JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had told media persons in Hyderabad a day ago that there was harmony in the drafts of the PML-N, the PPP and the JUI-F. He said proposals rejected by the JUI-F had been removed from the draft by the government.
Post a Comment
Read more

Businesses see opportunity in SCO summit

LAHORE/KARACHI: The business community hop­es the Shanghai Co­­ope­r­ation Organisation (SCO) Summit, starting in the cap­ital on Tuesday, may boost the country’s economy. “The event offers Paki­stan an opportunity to stre­n­gthen its trade and economic ties with key international partners, particularly China. The summit will also send a clear message to global investors about the country’s openness to business and investment opportunities,” said the Lahore Chamber of Com­merce & Industry (LCCI) President Mian Abuzar Shad in a statement on Monday. Meanwhile, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) President Atif Ikram Sheikh said that the next phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corri­dor (CPEC) and the SCO summit could be the real game-changers for the nat­ional economy as we have geographical contiguities, economic complementarities, regional trade advantages and ability to look East and diversify our economic partners. On Monday, a high-profile C
Post a Comment
Read more

PTM jirga demands withdrawal of militants from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

The Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement’s (PTM) grand jirga in Jamrud concluded on Sunday night, with the rights group presenting a 22-point resolution that demanded the withdrawal of militant groups from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and cheaper electricity, among other issues. The three-day jirga , which was hosted with government support, concluded with delegates deploring the impact of militancy and subsequent anti-terrorism operations over the last two decades that had displaced millions. The delegates, from different political parties and professional organisations, held discussions at 60 separate enclosures to present their recommendations for the final declaration at a relatively larger forum. The federal government imposed a ban on the PTM on October 6, citing threats to national peace and security. The PTM was declared “unlawful” under Section 11B of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan . At the end of the jirga, PTM chief Manzoor Pashteen presented t
Post a Comment
Read more

From cash to clicks as digitisation increases

Over the last few years, Pakistan’s banking has reaped massive profits on the back of the sovereign’s ever-growing fiscal needs. In the process, it has drawn the ire of everyone, including the International Monetary Fund in the latest Article IV report, for depending on the government. However, one area where the sector seems to have done well, at least in relative terms, is in digitalisation as far as payments are concerned, as shown by the numbers in the latest Annual Payment Systems Review (PSR) FY24 by the State Bank. In this regard, FY24 was no different as digital transactions continued not only in absolute terms but also as part of the overall piece. Their shares in throughput and volumes reached 13.4 per cent and 52.4pc in the outgoing fiscal year, compared to just 2.6pc and 16.9pc in FY20. There were a few major breakthroughs over the last year, starting with how mobile banking overtook ATMs by number of transactions to become the single largest digital channel during t
Post a Comment
Read more

Ukraine, Russia say foiled dozens of drone attacks

KYIV: Russia and Ukraine traded drone attacks overnight, with Russian officials saying on Saturday that Ukrainian strikes had killed one person in the Belgorod border region. While Ukraine reported it neutralised 24 drones fired by Moscow, Russia said it had downed 47 Ukrainian drones overnight. The Ukrainian air force said many missiles were fired from Belgorod, without specifying the number or type. It said Russia had fired 28 drones at Ukraine, of which 24 were destroyed in the Sumy, Poltava, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv and Kherson regions. In the southern region of Zaporizhzhia, Russian bombardments wounded four people, the head of the regional administration said. Villager killed in Ukrainian attack in Belgorod region The Russian defence ministry said the 47 Ukrainian drones taken down overnight included 17 in the southeastern Russian region of Krasnodar, 16 over the Azov Sea and 12 over the border region of Kursk. A separate Ukrainian drone attack killed one person in the vi
Post a Comment
Read more

MQM-P ties support for constitutional courts to local govt empowerment

ISLAMABAD: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Saturday linked its support for the government’s constitutional amendment package to the inclusion of provisions that strengthen local governments across the country. The demand was made during a meeting between Sindh Gov­ernor Kamran Tessori, an MQM-P delegation and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad. MQM-P representatives asked the government to amend Article 140-A regarding local bodies, sources said. The party also presented a draft proposal to the prime minister and demanded that it should also be made part of the government’s proposed constitutional amendments. The sources said that a PML-N delegation, led by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, would visit MQM-P headquarters in Karachi to discuss the proposed constitutional amendments. Sindh governor, party leaders meet PM, present draft proposal During Saturday’s meeting, the current political situation in the country was also discussed. The MQM-P delegatio
Post a Comment
Read more

Dar and Saudi FM express ‘deep commitment and support’ for Palestinians, Lebanese in phone call

Image
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Saturday held a telephone call with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud in which they expressed their “deep commitment and support for the people of Palestine and Lebanon”. A post on X by the Foreign Office said the two diplomats discussed the situation in the two conflict-ridden countries subject to an Israeli military offensive. The Saudi Press Agency said both also reviewed relations between the two countries and discussed regional and international developments Israel’s military onslaught in Gaza has killed more than 42,000 Palestinians since it began a year ago and has laid waste to the enclave. The offensive began after a Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, on southern Israeli communities in which 1,200 people were killed and about 250 were taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies. Meanwhile, Israel’s latest fight with Hezbollah started when the group fired missiles at Isra
Post a Comment
Read more