Pakistan has demanded that Israel halt its planned attack on Rafah, claiming that doing so will worsen the situation for the Palestinians living in Gaza and perhaps escalate the conflict. The deputy permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, Ambassador Usman Jadoon, stated to the UN Security Council, “Israel’s planned offensive in Rafah must be stopped,” stressing the danger of starvation. The Pakistani envoy also issued a dire warning about the impending danger of famine in the Gaza Strip, citing Israel’s ongoing five-month military campaign in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of 30,000 Palestinians, the majority of whom were women and children, the displacement of all 2.3 million residents of Gaza, and the starvation of half a million people. Israeli soldiers have blatantly damaged agricultural land in Gaza in addition to levelling its cities, exacerbating the already grave situation.
Prime minister, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, stated on Tuesday that Pakistan is a peaceful country, and his government was determined to protect its sovereignty and the security of the surrounding area. In a statement on the fifth anniversary of Operation Swift Retort, the prime minister praised the professionalism and tenacity of Pakistan’s military forces. Two Indian jets that had breached Pakistani airspace were shot down by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) on February 27, 2019. After being taken prisoner by Pakistan, one of the Indian pilots was eventually released as a peace offering. According to the prime minister, Pakistan’s armed forces have demonstrated their operational supremacy, refuting India’s assertions. “There is no reason to dispute Pakistan’s status as a peaceful nation that is committed to preserving its independence.
Following harsh criticism for the 2024 countrywide general election’s conduct and preliminary results, Pakistan’s Election Commission (ECP) has sprung into action to hold presidential elections and the first assembly session as required by the constitution. Preparations for the presidential election were initiated by the top electoral body, which has not yet made a decision about the reserved seats that support candidates backed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) following the party’s merger into the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC). A statement released on Tuesday said, “A public notice will be issued alongside the schedule for the presidential polls on March 1st.” It further said, “Nomination papers for the aforementioned event would be accepted by March 2, 12 noon.”
President Arif Alvi is coming under increasing fire for calling a session of the National Assembly (NA), and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said on Tuesday that the state leader would be charged with several constitutional violations. “I believe President Arif Alvi will face two cases for constitutional violations […] He made these statements to the media in Islamabad during the hearing on the reference to the death sentence for Zulfikar Ali Bhutto: “One for dissolving the NA following the vote of no confidence [against former prime minister Imran Khan] and another for failing to summon NA session as required by the Constitution.” His comments come the day after President Alvi rejected a summary and the NA Secretariat called the lower house’s first session on February 29.
Murtaza Solangi, the federal minister for information, broadcasting, and parliamentary affairs, stated on Tuesday that the Pakistani government, foreign organisations, and community-based groups have all made distinct contributions to fostering harmony, tolerance, and peace in the nation. Speaking at the opening session of the PeaceFLIX international conference and awards ceremony, he focused on “Policymaking and peace process in Pakistan” and said that, given the complex fabric of Pakistan’s landscape, pursuing peace has evolved beyond individual efforts to become a shared responsibility. “We stand witness to the collective efforts of various entities that are shaping the bedrock of peace within our nation” , he said. “As our nation crosses complex realms of economics, politics, and environmental concerns, the preservation of societal peace assumes paramount significance” , said the minister.
The cost of power has raised by Rs 7.5 per unit by the government. A notification regarding the rise in electricity prices within the context of the monthly fuel adjustment has been released by the National Electric Regulatory Authority (Nepra). Power users will bear an extra Rs66 billion in costs as a result of the price increase. The message states that the current month’s invoices will reflect the rise in electricity pricing. Customers of Lifeline and K-Electric would not be affected by the increase in electricity prices. The price rise for power will only be in effect for a single month. Sources claim that pricy power was produced in January using furnace oil at Rs. 35.43 per unit and diesel at Rs. 45.60 per unit.
Sumayya Wushah, an 11-year-old girl and future journalist, declared, “I am not afraid,” in spite of Israel’s heinous war crimes and abuses of human rights during the continuing onslaught in Gaza. Wushah declared that she is unafraid to cover events in the Gaza Strip, where since October 7 oppressive forces are thought to have killed over 100 journalists. “When I first started, my parents were worried because they knew that journalists were being targeted. However, they consented when they realised how committed I was to a career in journalism,” she continued. Since October 7, Israel’s assault on Gaza has resulted in at least 29,878 Palestinian deaths and 70,215 injuries, according to a statement released by the Gaza health ministry on Tuesday.
Maryam Nawaz, the recently elected Punjab’s first female chief minister, took the oath of office at the Governor’s House in Lahore today. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was administered the oath by Punjab Governor Muhammad Baligh Ur Rehman. This time around, a sizable contingent of party leaders and workers were in attendance, along with members of the Punjab Assembly, the President of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Quid Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, and members of the Punjab Assembly. Maryam Nawaz, the senior vice president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), was chosen as the chief minister of Punjab on Sunday despite the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) abstaining from the election. With the support of 220 MPAs in the provincial parliament, Maryam emerged victorious in the elections and became Pakistan’s first female chief minister ever.
Murad Ali Shah, a member of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), was elected chief minister of Sindh by the Sindh Assembly on Monday. This would be his third consecutive term in the role. With 148 assembly members casting ballots, Murad defeated Ali Khurshidi of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) with 112 votes, becoming the 25th chief minister of Sindh. Ali Khurshidi received just 36 votes. Murad Ali Shah, the recently elected chief minister of Sindh, stated he anticipated the PTI will contribute positively to the provincial assembly. “We are never scared of criticism, no one is perfect […] but if you don’t criticise, then how would we learn?” he added, addressing the PTI-backed MPAs in the assembly.
The government has taken several initiatives to minimise losses in State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), according to a report provided to the Senate on Monday by Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting, and Parliamentary Affairs, Murtzaz Solangi. Concluding the discussion on a motion proposed by Senator Mushtaq Ahmed concerning the performance of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), which a World Bank report claims perform worse in Asia, he stated that the Parliament and the newly elected government would decide on additional reforms, such as restructuring the institutions that cause losses. “There are differing opinions, but there is a consensus that losses in State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) must end,” stated the minister. While some contend that professional management is necessary to increase their efficiency, others think privatisation is the only viable option.”
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