Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin returned to Washington to join the on-going discussion with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), his spokesperson Muzzammil Aslam announced in a tweet.
IMF latest update: Mr. Shaukat Tarin, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance, has returned to Washington DC to join ongoing discussions with IMF. Media reports related to inconclusive talks are baseless. @FinMinistryPak
The director of IMF Middle East and Central Asia Department, Jihad Azour stated that the talks between IMF and the Pakistan government for the six billion dollars Extended Fund Facility (EFF) had progressed towards a “very good step”, reported Dawn.
Earlier this week, while in New York, Tarin rejected a media report which claimed that the talks [earlier this month] have failed because of differences over a macroeconomic framework and uncertainty over the country’s economy.
The advisor said, “Some people have created an impression in Pakistan that we have failed, and the talks have been unsuccessful. That is completely false.”
“We are working on final details and in a few days, you will see the talks moving towards success. Give us some time and we will fix it”, he said, while adding that he and his team are committed to fixing Pakistan’s economy.
Pakistan and the IMF held their latest talks in the US capital from October 4 to 15 for the release of a one billion dollars tranche from a six billion dollars extended loan facility, which was approved in 2019.
Recently, the rupee hit a record low of 173.20 against the US dollar.
A petrol pump owner from the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh announced that he would give away free petrol to celebrate the birth of his niece.
According to The Indian Express, the pump owner, Deepak Senani’s sister gave birth to a baby girl on October 9 in Madhya Pradesh’s Betul district. After getting the happy news, Senani announced to give away free petrol.
Talking to the Indian media, the girl’s uncle said: “When the idea came to my mind, I was afraid that people might think it was an advertisement for my petrol pump, but I later shook off the idea and gave customers extra petrol as an expression of happiness.”
Senani said that he noticed that more customers came between 9-11am and 5-7pm, so “I decided to provide 5-10% extra petrol at that time.”
According to the report, Senani gave 5% extra fuel to those who bought petrol worth Rs100, while 10% extra petrol was given to those who bought petrol of Rs200-500.
The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) will launch its countrywide anti-government protests from today (Wednesday).
PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif held a high-level party meeting on Tuesday to finalise the schedule for protests and rallies against the PTI-led government.
The first jalsa will be held in Rawalpindi today, and Shehbaz Sharif is urging workers and leaders of the party at the district and provincial level tp take part in the protests.
PDM leaders in Islamabad will be meeting at 2pm, to decide the dates and venues for the Islamabad protests.
PDM, which had lost steam in previous months, is now once again, at the receiving end of the opposition’s criticism. Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed has said that the Prime Minister is lucky he has such a “worthless” Opposition to deal with and that the government does not feel threatened by the Opposition at all because “it is spineless”.
The call for protests come at a time when inflation is at its height and buying essentials in the country has become difficult.
Rasheed had also reacted to the Opposition’s criticism of the PTI-led government due to the rising inflation in the country and said that the situation arose due to the policies of the previous governments as well as the coronavirus situation in the country.
US President Joe Biden is nominating a career diplomat Donald Blome as his envoy to Pakistan, soon after U.S. troops left Afghanistan, giving up control to the Taliban and plunging the country into crisis.
Blome is currently serving as the US ambassador in Tunisia. He previously worked in the Kabul embassy and is a career Foreign Service diplomat.
The United States has frozen access to aid or foreign reserves in Afghanistan and the country is on the verge of humanitarian collapse.
The nomination comes at a time when the U.S. is also interested in Pakistan’s relationship with China.
Tunisia, where Blome has worked as ambassador since 2019, is an important diplomatic outpost for the United States in North Africa, representing interests beyond the country’s borders, including in neighbouring Libya.
The ambassadorial position requires Senate confirmation.
Actor Arez Ahmed has garnered positive reviews by netizens for his performance in Inteha-e-Ishq. The Uraan star has been appreciated for his nuances as Saim and his chemistry with the female lead, Hiba Bukhari.
Have a look at some of the comments by his fans and netizens on social media:
Directed by Dilawar Malik and produced by Irfan Rafique Khurram Riaz, the script is penned down Shagufta Bhatti. The drama serial also stars A-list actor Junaid Khan.
Actor Zoya Nasir clapped back to a troll on Instagram for criticising her choice of dressing. A netizen commented unpleasant remarks about her choice of dressing in her birthday picture.
The Zebaish star also exposed his hypocritical conduct.
She celebrated her birthday with close friends including singer-actor Farhan Saeed. The Meray Apnay diva took to her Instagram to share glimpses from her intimate yet fancy event.
Fellow female celebrities Aima Baig and Zara Noor Abbas sent love to Zoya on her birthday.
Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, while speaking at the Rehmatul-lil-Alameen conference held in celebrations of 12th Rabiul Awal, said, “When pornography becomes common in a society, the family system breaks down.”
Citing the example of the West, PM Khan talked about growing sexual crimes in the country and said that it has become a “big threat”.
“The family system is slowly breaking down due to sexual crimes in Britain,” he said.
The premier expressed his concern about the youth of the country and how bringing them towards the path of righteousness is challenging.
He said that parents are unable to take away mobile phones from children and cannot block their social media.
“Although there is no compulsion in religion, we can show them the right way. We can, at least, train our children and talk to them about the bad effects of [Western] culture,” he said.
PM Imran Khan promised the nation to establish an exemplary rule of law in the country and said that everyone, irrespective of their status in society, will be equal before the law.
“We will have to make the powerful abide by the laws of this country, otherwise, the system will never be corrected,” said PM.
“We cannot win this war unless the rule of law prevails in the country,” he said.
“You can’t destroy a nation’s principles through bombing,” the premier said, adding that a nation is not poor without resources but it becomes poor without law and justice.
According to the quarterly survey by Pulse Consultants, almost six out of 10 people have no confidence in Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s claim of coming out of the economic crisis, reports The News.
The survey is based on 1,809 respondents’ opinions who were interviewed from October 04, 2021 to October 10, 2021. It covered 60+ cities from all provinces of Pakistan.
According to the survey, the number of people losing faith in PM’s economic policies is around 57 per cent coupled with a drop in those who were confident that the prime minister will be able to turn the tide.
In July, 17 per cent respondents expressed confidence in PM’s policies, which in the current survey has dropped to seven percent. Regarding questions about the direction of the economic policies, 56 per cent respondents in July found them to be in the wrong direction, but three months later it has risen by 19 per cent to 77 per cent. On the contrary, those perceiving them to be on the right track have dropped to 24 per cent from 43 per cent in July.
Anxiety about the wrong direction is high is in the main political battleground provinces Punjab (79 percent) and Sindh (73 percent), as per the survey.
Since November 19, 2018 more than 95 per cent believe that inflation has increased after every three months.
Furthermore, the survey states that 68 per cent of people do not have savings and most of them have reduced their expenditures to make ends meet.
When the respondents were asked about the country’s major concern, 77 per cent complained about inflation whereas 35 per cent found corruption, 25 per cent unemployment, 11 per cent load shedding, while 10 per cent termed inability to meet expenses as their biggest problem.
The Pulse Consultant also asked the respondents about the performance of PM’s Adviser on Finance and Revenues, Shaukat Tarin, which showed that 53 per cent were dissatisfied with him.
The survey was conducted through CATI (Computer assisted telephonic interviews), a state-of-the-art technology where all calls are recorded.
The country is Heading Towards Wrong Economical Direction
Three amongst four Pakistanis believe that country is heading towards a wrong economic direction
In July 2021 there were 56% have that opinion but in October 2021 with an increase of 19%, 75% have that opinion
Anxiety about the wrong direction is high in Punjab (79%) & Sindh (73%) – the main political battleground followed by KP – PTI’s hometown (67%)
PM Claim About Restoration of Country Economic Outlook
In July 2021, 6 out of 10 respondents (62%) had overall belief on PM IK’s claim that “country is out of economic crisis”
Now in October 2021, wave condition is vice versa – almost 6 out of 10 (57%) have opposite opinion and have no belief in PM IK’s narrative (In July 38% had no believe now by the increase of 19% -57% have no belief)
Satisfaction with Shaukat Tarin
Dissatisfaction increased 15% (from 38% to 53%)
Satisfaction decreased 22% (from 35% to just 13%)
Inflation Trend
Almost every Pakistani hit by inflation and 98% are reporting that ‘Inflation increased in past three months’
Price Hike – Major Cause of Dissatisfaction
Like previous wave, in July Y2021 ‘Inflation’ is once again ranked as the gravest issue by (with the increase of 5%) 77% of the respondents.
If we read it with the answer “Expenses Not Meet” (اخراجات پورے نہیں ہوتے),of 10% – then it will reach to 87% – Ever highest in past three years
This is followed by & ‘Corruption’ (35%) & ‘Unemployment’ (25%), in this wave ‘Corruption’ – overtake the ‘Unemployment’
Expenses
We asked the same questions about “Monthly Expenses Management” back in July 2020, in July 2020, 41% had the opinion that – their monthly expenses are according to their income – but with the decline of 9% , now 32% have the same opinion
Jul-20 Oct-21Monthly Expenses Meet 41% 32%
Monthly Expenses Not Meet 59% 68%
Punjab & KPK – where #PTI is holding the provincial Govt. unrest increase significantly – specially in KP
If we compare the results of July 2020 & October 2021 (after 13 months) – Upper Socio Economic Class is also complaining that their monthly expenses are not meeting
Those who claimed that – their monthly income meet expenses – 31% amongst them claimed that they save any money
On the other hand – those who complained that their household expenses are not meet – 37% amongst them reduced their expenses, 30% borrow money and 30% do some extra job/work other than regular
Pakistan Navy has once again thwarted an attempt by an Indian submarine to enter into Pakistani waters.
The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the incident took place on October 16, adding that the Indian naval submarine has been prematurely detected and tracked by the PN Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft.
“During the prevailing security milieu, a strict monitoring watch has been kept by Pakistan Navy to safeguard maritime frontiers of Pakistan,” says the ISPR statement.
The ISPR pointed out that this is the third incident of its kind wherein an Indian submarine has been “prematurely detected and tracked by PN Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft”.
“The recent incident reflects the deplorable Indian machinations vis-à-vis the commitment and resolve of the Pakistan Navy to defend maritime frontiers of the motherland,” said the ISPR.
‘Pakistan Navy with its unremitting vigilance and professional competence has once again detected and blocked the Indian submarine on 16 Oct 21 from entering into Pakistani waters.’ – ISPR pic.twitter.com/bA5HYiL5rN
Hiba Bukhari despite being a private person opened up about her relationship status in a recent Instagram ‘Question and Answer’ session with her fans. The Haara Dil star promised fans to reveal the identity of her fiancé soon.
Although she dropped hints that he is a known figure and is approximately 6 feet tall.
Later on, the Fitoor star received multiple questions regarding her fiance and she replied to most of the questions. According to her, fans already know about her fiance but she will disclose it before getting married.
Netizens are speculating that the Deewangi diva might be engaged to her friend and co-star Arez Ahmed.
