For the foreseeable future, Pakistan will depend on the effective execution of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) programme and its official support, according to Fitch Ratings, an American credit rating organisation. Nearly half of Finch’s rated portfolio of Asia Pacific (APAC) sovereigns have elections in 2024, including Pakistan, where general elections are set for February 8. The agency disclosed this possibility in its forecast report on Wednesday, noting that there is a higher likelihood of election results influencing credit profiles in both Pakistan and Sri Lanka, which also receives funding from the IMF. Elections are also scheduled to take place in Korea, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, and Sri Lanka. “We consider the possibility of election results impacting credit profiles.
Rescue workers are unable to reach the injured and dead due to nIsraeli forces’ blockade on Khan Younis’ primary hospitals, according to Al Jazeera. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, at least 50 Palestinians have died in the southern city in the last 24 hours, including two children who were killed by an Israeli airstrike that targeted a residential building. Less than 20% of the tiny coastal enclave in southern Gaza, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross, is currently home to over 1.5 million people “where the dramatic escalation of fighting threatens their survival.” An attack on “hungry mouths” waiting in line for humanitarian aid in northern Gaza City, which has been devastated by conflict, was reported by Al Jazeera, citing the Health Ministry spokesman in Gaza.
Gen. Asim Munir, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), has urged the youth to resist falling for propaganda on social media that seeks to sow discord and hopelessness throughout the nation. In the absence of “positive thinking and research,” he added, society remained chaotic and it was necessary to confirm the news that was circulated on social media. He restated that no compromise will be made on Pakistan’s sovereignty and that the Pakistan Army was prepared to handle any threats and conspiracies, both external and internal. He emphasised that the goal of Pakistan’s creation was to demonstrate how our religion, civilization, and culture differed entirely from those of Hindus, not to embrace Western civilization and culture.
Murtaza Solangi, the federal minister for information, broadcasting, and parliamentary affairs, stated on Wednesday that in order to combat false information and fake news, the digital media landscape’s fact-checking system needs to be strengthened. Speaking at the 2nd International Media and Communication Conference held here, he stated that elections would take place in 2024 in a number of nations, including Pakistan, India, Indonesia, and the United States of America. Murtaza Solangi has stated that governments and democracies around the world are seriously threatened by the false information that artificial intelligence (AI) is spreading. He called on the media to act responsibly, saying that it had an obligation to uphold the public interest. According to Murtaza Solangi, “journalism is primarily about defending the public’s right to know.”
The Sindh High Court (SHC) has ordered the relevant authorities to guarantee that every citizen has continuous access to the internet through the general elections on February 8. The high court ordered the respondents to submit their answer by January 29 and prohibited the authorities from halting internet services in its judgement on Wednesday. Jibran Nasir, a human rights activist and advocate, had petitioned the Supreme Court over the nation’s repeated suspension of internet connectivity. Users have encountered several internet interruptions in the past several days as political canvassing intensifies in anticipation of the elections that will take place next month. On January 20, there was a second outage of social media sites in two weeks, including Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
With the general elections on February 8 drawing near, Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has been making more and more vehement speeches in which he lavishly targets political adversaries from all parties, particularly the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). Uzma Bukhari and Marriyum Aurangzeb, the party’s leaders, responded to the PPP scion’s critical comments by comparing the 35-year-old to Imran Khan, the founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). As part of the party’s election campaign, Bilawal has been criticising the PML-N leadership, especially leader Nawaz Sharif, in his remarks to PPP supporters during rallies. A day earlier, Bilawal had warned that if Nawaz returned to power, his “habitual revenge politics” would damage the nation. This was during a rally in Chiniot.
Aneeq Ahmad, the federal minister for religious affairs and interfaith harmony, announced on Wednesday that the government was thinking of establishing masjid schools to combat illiteracy and prepare young Muslims for modern society by creating new curricula for them. He remarked that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had emphasised the need for knowledge acquisition in order for Muslims to remain competitive in today’s world. He asserted that education could guarantee Islam’s hegemony over other religions and that there were significant differences between the learned and the ignorant. He expressed his gratitude to the madaris, or seminaries, who preserved the Islamic spirit amidst shabby and depressing circumstances.
Although there is a general understanding between Israel and Hamas that an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian inmates may occur during a month-long ceasefire, disagreements between the two parties over how to stop the Gaza War permanently are impeding the framework plan, according to three sources. In recent weeks, Qatar, Washington, and Egypt have intensified their mediation efforts, focusing on a phased approach to release various categories of Israeli hostages, from civilians to soldiers, in exchange for a halt to hostilities, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and increased aid to Gaza. Debates about the duration of an initial ceasefire have reduced to around 30 days as a result of the most recent round of shuttle diplomacy, which began on December 28.
The deployment of Pakistan Army and Civil Armed Forces personnel for the purpose of preserving peace and security during the forthcoming general elections has been approved by the Federal Cabinet. On the suggestion of the Ministry of Interior, the Cabinet approved this during a meeting held in Islamabad today, which was presided over by Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar. It has been determined that these security officers would act as a rapid response force in addition to being in charge of voting places and sensitive regions. Speaking at the event, the prime minister praised the work of the acting finance minister, Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, for raising tax revenue, enhancing the tax-to-GDP ratio, and putting up comprehensive recommendations for the Federal Board of Revenue’s organisational structure.
Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, the prime minister, stated on Tuesday that Pakistan presents numerous chances for foreign investment in the energy, IT, and other sectors. Abdullah al-Mutairi, the chief executive officer of EnerTech, paid him a visit here, and he was speaking with him. The prime minister praised the investment made by foreign businesses like EnerTech during the meeting. In the meantime, caretaker prime minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar received a farewell call from Tajikistan’s ambassador, Ismatullo Nasredin, today in Islamabad. Speaking at the event, the prime minister praised the ambassador’s contribution to the advancement of relations between Pakistan and Tajikistan. He expressed the hope that the next round of ambassadors would likewise be crucial in fortifying ties between the two nations. The ambassador described the historic and enduring brotherly links between the two countries.
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