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Pakistan

Winter activity and political turmoil!

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When the Supreme Court of Pakistan summoned Prime Minister Imran Khan during the hearing of the APS suo motu case, the tide of national politics began to turn.

Imran Yaqub Khan Profile Imran Yaqub Khan

The Honorable Court first reprimanded the Attorney General and then summoned the Prime Minister in person. Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Gulzar Ahmed and the esteemed judges of the bench Justice Ijaz-ul-Hassan and Justice Qazi Amin made strong remarks during the hearing. According to political pundits, the summons of the Prime Minister to the Supreme Court seems to be adding to the growing worries for the present government that always claims "change".

Opposition groups called for a boycott of the assembly. Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Mian Shahbaz Sharif and Bilawal Bhutto have once again stood in the same line. In today's joint sitting of the parliament, a joint strategy has been formulated to prevent the government from enacting legislation. The opposition is calling the NAB legislation and government legislation for electronic voting machines one-sided and illegal. The opposition believes that the Imran Khan government is trying to give itself NRO by changing the NAB rules. Attempts will be made to steal the next election through electronic voting machine.

On Tuesday night, PML-N President and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif had invited the opposition MPs for dinner. Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto also attended the dinner. According to newspaper reports, 180 members of parliament attended the dinner. On this occasion, it was decided that all members of the opposition would ensure attendance in the House. The people who are in the throes of inflation will want the opposition to be their voice.

It's welcoming to see the opposition together. The people may also see a glimmer of hope in their gathering. The purpose of uniting this long-divided opposition is to prevent legislation from gaining a numerical majority. Talking to media persons after the dinner, Shahbaz Sharif said that the country could not move forward without transparent elections. Bilawal Bhutto also assured that the opposition is united under the leadership of Shehbaz Sharif. Prior to the dinner, the legal team of the opposition parties also sat together and agreed that the government's efforts to bulldoze the parliament would be thwarted. This commitment of the opposition is commendable.

In the National Assembly on Tuesday, the government had to give up trying to get a vote on two bills. The government couldn't present its bill. The bill introduced by the opposition could not be stopped. This could be seen as a significant development ahead of the joint sitting of Parliament. In such a scenario, the question arises as to whether the opposition is really united and how serious it is to stop the government. Are old grievances gone? Until recently, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was on the ground in opposition to the government alone, taking the wound of separation from the PDM to heart. Young leaders are also going to be emotional, so while opposing the government, they have been opposing the opposition. Now that he is again standing by the side of Shehbaz Sharif, it is hoped that Shehbaz may have ignored Bilawal's statements.

Qamar Zaman Kaira is a seasoned politician and holds a prominent position among the central leaders of the PPP. Kaira Sahib had opened a front against PML-N on the day when the opposition parties in Islamabad were uniting and formulating a plan of action against the government. He accused the PML-N of having backdoor contacts with the Establishment and made it clear that if the statement of respecting the vote was to be respected then backdoor contacts should be terminated. The incumbant government is intact because of PML-N and these people want the government to complete five years.

There are two statements going on in his party. First unite in your party. Nawaz Sharif should clarify whether his statement is resistance or compromise. Kaira's questions must be answered. Now it remains to be seen whether Shehbaz Sharif's tolerance comes to the fore in response or whether there is shelling from PML-N as well. However, PDM spokesman Hafiz Hamdullah did respond to Kaira. In his statement, he said that the PPP had stabbed the PDM in the back for the post of Leader of the Opposition in the Senate. By criticizing the PDM, the PPP is opposing the opposition, not the government. PPP please, it is not appropriate to make a hole in the plate in which you have eaten. If you want to return to PDM, then consult Maulana Fazlur Rehman and the leadership of PDM.

The fate of the people of Pakistan always hangs in balance because of the Opposition's tactics favouring the government. Perhaps that is why Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry has termed the opposition as Bhanmati's family. He also advised the Opposition to wait for the first two years and the next five years. Every time the winter season comes, the political tension mounts. On this, Fawad Chaudhry mockingly called PDM a winter activity and said that these people just go out in winter and then leave. Given the past performance of the Opposition, this confidence of the government is not unreasonable. Now the question is whether the Opposition will be able to surprise the government in the joint sitting of the Parliament. If you look at the number of members of both the houses, the government has a lead of two members in the number game.

There are currently 440 MPs in both houses. The PTI and its allies have 221 members in the National Assembly and Senate. Opposition parties have 219 members in the National Assembly and Senate. There are 156 members of PTI, 7 members of MQM and 5 members of BAP in the National Assembly. PML-Q has 5 members and GDA has 3 members. Awami Muslim League, JWP and Azad are one member each. If you look at the opposition, there are 83 members of PML-N, 56 members of PPP, 15 members of MMA and 4 members of BNP in the National Assembly. The ANP has one member and the opposition has the support of three independents. The government and allies have 42 seats in the Senate. PTI 27, BAP 9 and MQM 3 are members of the Senate. The government also has the support of the Functional League, the Q League and an independent candidate. The Senate has 57 opposition members. PPP has 21 members, PML-N has 9, JUI-5 and National Party has 2 members. Jamaat-e-Islami One, PK Map 2, ANP 2 and BNP also have 2 members. The opposition also has the support of six members of the Dilawar Khan group in the Senate.

It seems that the joint sitting of the parliament is going to be tumultuous no matter what else happens.

Imran Yaqub Khan

Imran Yaqub is senior journalist and analyst

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Pakistan

Inflation rate drops by 3.4pc in April

The rate of inflation was recorded at 20.7 percent in March 2024, but in April this rate was recorded at 17.3 percent

Published by Noor Fatima

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Islamabad: The Bureau of Statistics released data regarding inflation.

According to the Bureau of Statistics, the rate of inflation was recorded at 20.7 percent in March 2024, but in April this rate was recorded at 17.3 percent after a fall of 3.4 percent.

The Bureau of Statistics stated that after a 0.1 percent decline in urban inflation, the rate was recorded at 19.4 percent, and in April, rural inflation saw a 0.9 percent drop to 14.5 percent.

The Bureau of Statistics stated that after a 0.1 percent decline in urban inflation, the rate was recorded at 19.4 percent. And April saw a 0.9 percent drop in rural inflation to 14.5 percent.

According to the Bureau of Statistics, the rate of inflation was recorded at 36.4 percent in April 2023, while the rate of inflation was recorded at 25.97 percent from July to April of the current financial year.

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Pakistan

PM's Saudi Arabia visit to deliver positive results in few months: Tarar

The minister says comprehensive planning by Saudis for investment in Pakistan is a turning point in the bilateral relations

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Islamabad: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Thursday said 'highly successful' second visit of Prime Minister to Saudi Arabia within a month to participate in the World Economic Forum, was historic and major development, which would eventually bring about extensive positive results within next few months.

Addressing a press conference along with Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar, he said comprehensive planning by Saudi Arabia for investment in Pakistan was a turning point in the bilateral relations.

Tarar said that multiple meetings were held with the Saudi ministers on the sidelines of the WEF during the Prime Minister’s visit. “In two days, 12 high-level meetings were held with ministers and major personalities of Saudi Arabia including ministers for finance, industries, investment, energy and climate change”, he said.

The Saudi ministers expressed their commitment to work with Pakistan with regard to bilateral cooperation and investment on the special directives of Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman, he added. 

Within a short span of just one month, the Prime Minister had two meetings with the Saudi Crown Prince that had a historic significance for the two brotherly countries. 

He said immediately after Eidul Fitr, the Saudi Finance Minister visited Pakistan along with relevant ministers and extensive consultations were held regarding economic cooperation
and investment.

On the directives of the Saudi Crown Prince, the Saudi ministers formulated a comprehensive programme for cooperation with Pakistan , he added.

The minister said that it was was the new robust initiative in Pakistan-Saudi relations, and the specific results of the Prime Minister’s historic visit have started to come to fore.

Attaullah Tarar said that in follow-up to the PM’s Saudi visit, a delegation of Saudi businessmen was also coming to Pakistan in the next few days.

“This is the outcome of successful foreign policy of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif “, he said, adding that the exchange of delegations will continue between the two brotherly countries. He said that a delegation of Pakistani ministers including Petroleum Minister Mussadaq Malik, Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal, Minister for Energy Awais Laghari and officials of Special Investment Facilitation Council had reached Saudi Arabia a day before Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and returned one day after him as they held meetings on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum.

He said when Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said during his speech at the World Economic Forum that peace in the world was not possible without peace in Gaza, the entire hall clapped for him.

Attaullah Tarar said that a campaign by a section of media, intelligentsia and academia regarding online harassment and fake news was witnessed on social media recently.

He opined that there must be an end to any harassment, including online and said suggestions should be put forward to the government on how to counter such campaigns.

He said that there was also call for specific authority to address the issue of online harassment as at present there was no law to protect digital rights of consumers.

He said it was imperative to avert propaganda and rumors on social media and ensure the protection of people’s digital rights.

He said it was high time to take measures to prevent trends on social media targeting specific persons. He said it was necessary to create awareness among the general public about their digital rights.

He said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had issued directives for increasing the wheat procurement target to facilitate the farmers who contributed heavily in the rural economy.

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Technology

AI expected to risk 17% employment in Saudi Arabia

Director of the Middle East affairs of a global consultancy firm, said that considering the future changing conditions, it can be said that 17% of jobs in the Kingdom will be replaced by AI within three years

Published by Noor Fatima

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Riyadh: International consultants said that Artificial Intelligence (AT) could affect 17% of jobs in Saudi Arabia in the next three years.

According to Arab media, Najla Najam, professional business manager of an American consulting business company, stated that AI is expected not only to change the way people work, but it is also possible that it will replace people.

The experts suggested that 80% of jobs related to creative work can be affected by artificial intelligence, while 53% of executive positions are at risk from AI. An increase is also expected in the manufacturing sector by 10 to 30 percent over the next three years with the help of AI.

The study revealed that employees in the Middle East are more involved in productivity issues than in other countries, but it is also expected that organizations will train their employees to adapt them to the demands of the new era.

A large number of those affected by artificial intelligence will be people from the 90s to the 21st century whose jobs may be at risk.

Oliver, director of the Middle East affairs of a global consultancy firm, said that considering the future changing conditions, it can be said that 17% of jobs in the Kingdom will be replaced by artificial intelligence within three years.

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