Tag: Pakistan

  • ‘No delay in elections’: ECP dismisses remarks by President Arif Alvi

    ‘No delay in elections’: ECP dismisses remarks by President Arif Alvi

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has dismissed any notions of delaying the general elections, emphasizing its commitment to the scheduled electoral process despite recent uncertainties.

    Following President Arif Alvi’s statement in an interview with Geo News anchorperson Hamid Mir that have sparked speculations of a delay, the ECP swiftly issued a statement reiterating its preparedness and determination to carry out electoral proceedings as planned.

    “According to the action plan, the final list of constituencies is scheduled to be published on November 30, 2023. This announcement comes after the first phase of constituencies has already been completed, and the second phase, involving the filing of objections, is set to conclude on October 27, 2023,” the statement reads.

    The statement further said that ECP will commence the hearing of objections on preliminary constituencies starting from October 30 or 31, emphasising its commitment to conducting the elections as per the established timeline.

    “The President’s interview had raised concerns regarding a possible delay in the elections, but the Election Commission’s clear and prompt response has put those speculations to rest. The Commission remains steadfast in its efforts to ensure a fair and timely electoral process,” the spokesperson said.

    In an interview with Geo News anchorperson Hamid Mir, President Alvi said he does not see polls taking place in January. He recalled that he made various “efforts” for polls, including letters to the ECP and suggesting a cut-off date of November 6.

    According to the president, the law ministry told him that it was not his prerogative. He stated that free and fair elections and a level playing field were crucial for Pakistan’s progress.

    During the interview, he also alluded to the caretaker government being behind the spate of defections from the PTI. “Whatever the caretaker government is doing — what with people disappearing and reappearing with shifted loyalties,” he said.

    Speaking about the amendments to the Official Secrets Act and the Pakistan Army Act, President Alvi said he “stands by” his claim that he did not assent to tweaks made by the PDM government.

  • ‘It had to happen’: Aina Asif defends why Mayi-Ri had to end with divorce of Ainy and Fakhir

    ‘It had to happen’: Aina Asif defends why Mayi-Ri had to end with divorce of Ainy and Fakhir

    Child star Aina Asif was a guest on ‘Mazaaq Raat’ where an audience member asked her about the controversial ending of the drama ‘Mayi-Ri’. The serial centered around the forceful marriage of a 15-year-old girl to her cousin, and the birth of their daughter. The drama’s ending divided opinions when Ainy divorces Fakhir, decides to live with her single mother to raise her daughter and completes her education.

    The ending was applauded by some users for showing divorce as something that empowers a woman rather than shameful, with Ainy choosing to live her life on her own terms. While other users slammed the show-makers for ‘glamorising divorce’.

    READ MORE: ‘Mayi Ri’ ends with mixed responses from fans

    Aina defended the scene as something that was necessary to depict in order for audiences to fully understand why child marriage is wrong. “There could have been a different ending, but we have to emphasise that child marriage is wrong. We were trying to show that.”

    Aina further stressed the drama’s characters Ainy and Fakhir were good for each other but their timing was wrong, hence they had to part ways.

    Watch the clip

  • First flight carrying asylum-seeking Afghans departs from Islamabad to UK today

    The first flight carrying asylum-seeking Afghans will depart from Islamabad International Airport for the United Kingdom on Thursday.

    200 Afghan refugees are reportedly going to fly out today.

    The Independent has reported that around 3,000 Afghans, many of whom worked for the British army, are to be given UK residency after the Afghan Taliban took over Kabul in August 2021.

    For the time being, the UK has accommodated them in Pakistan since 2022, whereas hundreds have been stuck and await their turn to get relocated.

    The Independent wrote that in “A U-turn of government policy, ministers have pledged that all Afghans eligible for the UK’s resettlement schemes will no longer have to wait for accommodation to be confirmed before coming to Britain”.

    This u-turn was taken after Pakistan gave an ultimatum to all undocumented foreign nationals to leave by November 1 after which they will be deported.

    A British High Commission delegation met senior officials from the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) on Tuesday.

    According to the senior CAA official, around 2,000 Afghan refugees will be repatriated by mid-December through one or two weekly chartered flights from Islamabad to the UK.

  • Here’s when PayPal and Stripe payment services will be available in Pakistan

    Here’s when PayPal and Stripe payment services will be available in Pakistan

    Dr Umar Saif, Pakistan’s interim Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunications, shared noteworthy developments on Wednesday regarding the imminent availability of PayPal and Stripe payment gateways within the country. Addressing the flourishing freelancing community, he drew attention to the current scarcity of financial tools to facilitate payments within this sector. 

    During these discussions with major industry players, including PayPal, Stripe, and Wise, a compelling case for Pakistan was presented, despite reservations, including those arising from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). 

    Dr Saif expressed optimism, foreseeing promising updates on PayPal and Stripe services in the coming four to six weeks, heralding positive implications for the freelancer community. 

    Highlighting the substantial size and potential of Pakistan’s IT freelancing workforce, the country ranks as the world’s second-largest online workforce, boasting approximately 1.5 million active IT freelancers. Nonetheless, the sector’s growth has been stymied by infrastructure limitations. 

    To address these challenges, the E-Rozgar programme is set to offer interest-free loans to the private sector, with plans for establishing co-working spaces capable of accommodating 500,000 individuals. Dr Saif also revealed a collaborative initiative with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to introduce standardised testing for IT graduates. 

    The significance of Pakistan’s IT sector cannot be understated, with around 19,000 companies contributing substantially to both employment and the national economy, boasting official exports worth $2.5 billion. 

    Another pertinent issue discussed by Dr Saif is the reluctance of some IT companies to maintain foreign exchange reserves and revenues abroad due to constraints on repatriating US dollars. Despite conservative estimates placing Pakistan’s IT exports at $4–4.5 billion, the reality is obscured by restrictions on US-dollar spending. 

    Fueled by cooperative efforts between the IT ministry and P@SHA, a positive development has emerged. IT companies can now retain 50 per cent of their revenue in US dollar accounts and receive corporate debit cards from banks, facilitating international payments without hindrance. 

    In addition, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has played a crucial role in assisting IT exporters. The SBP recently increased the permissible retention limit for IT exporters, allowing them to hold 50 per cent of their export proceeds in Exporters’ Specialised Foreign Currency Accounts (ESFCAs) with the aim of bolstering IT and IT-enabled services exports. 

  • ECP invites international observers, media ahead of January elections

    ECP invites international observers, media ahead of January elections

    In a bid to ensure transparency and fairness in the upcoming electoral process, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) extended invitations to international observers and media, signaling its intention to conduct nationwide polls tentatively scheduled for the last week of January 2024, as reported by Nausheen Yusuf for Geo.

    In a two-page invite, sent under Section 238 of the Elections Act, 2017, the ECP explained the process for international observers and media to avail accreditation cards and visas to enter the country for the nationwide polls.

    “The Election Commission has announced General Election is tentatively scheduled in the last week of January 2024. The Election Commission of Pakistan, has an Open Door Policy for accreditation of any national and international Observer subject to the fulfillment of codal formalities (Section 238 of the Elections Act 2017),” said the ECP.

    The commission laid out a detailed procedure for obtaining necessary visas, directing interested parties to the Pakistan Online Portal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Alongside the visa application, applicants were instructed to submit the accreditation application form accessible on the ECP’s official website.

    For the visa process, the ECP has explained that it may be obtained via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ “Pakistan Online Portal”. Along with the visa application, those wishing to come to the country for the polls will also need to attach the “accreditation application form” that is available on the ECP’s website.

    “After completion of codal formalities as per law, ECP will issue accreditation cards to security cleared international observers/media and arrange briefings for observers in ECP Secretariat,” added the commission. It also advised them to follow the advisories of the Foreign Office and the interior ministry.

    “We believe that the presence of international observers will add a valuable dimension to the electoral process, ensuring its transparency and impartiality while lending credibility to our electoral process. In this connection, all necessary arrangements will be made available for international observers to carry out their duties effectively and independently,” said the ECP.

    Pakistan has been embroiled in a state of political flux since the removal of the Imran Khan government through a no-confidence motion in April 2022. Subsequently, the coalition government that took over, dissolved the National Assembly on August 9, leading to the necessity of holding elections within 90 days, as per constitutional requirements.

    However, the ECP faced obstacles in meeting the deadline due to the need to establish new electoral boundaries following the approval of the census by the Council of Common Interest (CCI). Notably, the major political parties, including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), had urged the ECP to expedite the electoral process to quell the prevailing political uncertainty in the country.

  • IMF team to visit Pakistan next week for crucial $3 billion SBA assessment

    IMF team to visit Pakistan next week for crucial $3 billion SBA assessment

    A delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is scheduled to visit Pakistan on November 2 to initiate discussions pertaining to the inaugural assessment of the nation’s ongoing $3 billion standby arrangement (SBA). 

    Pakistan is currently navigating a complex journey towards economic recovery, operating under an interim government. 

    This endeavour follows an IMF loan programme sanctioned in July, which was instrumental in averting a potential sovereign debt default. As part of this programme, Pakistan received an initial disbursement of $1.2 billion from the IMF in July.

    Esther Perez Ruiz, the IMF’s resident representative in Pakistan, has disclosed that a delegation led by Mr Nathan Porter from the International Monetary Fund will embark on a mission to Pakistan commencing on November 2, with the primary objective being the evaluation of the current Stand-By Arrangement.

    Additionally, the finance ministry has exerted significant efforts to maintain the budget deficit within the predefined limits agreed upon with the IMF. They issued warnings to the provinces, urging them to curtail their expenditures. Recent provisional estimates indicate that both Punjab and Sindh have made notable strides in this direction.

    However, a notable challenge in the quest to contain the overall fiscal deficit lies in the escalating debt servicing requirements. These obligations are projected to surpass Rs8.3 trillion and reach Rs8.5 trillion for the current fiscal year 2023–24. This surge is attributed to the central bank’s heightened policy rate, a departure from the initial target of Rs7.3 trillion.

  • Jahangir Tareen ki party mein kaun kaun shaamil?

    Jahangir Tareen ki party mein kaun kaun shaamil?

    Senior politician Andleeb Abbas, along with two other former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) women MPAs joined the ranks of the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) on Tuesday. 

    In a significant show of support, the IPP patron-in-chief Jahangir Khan Tareen met the trio of former women MPAs, where they officially severed ties with PTI and pledged their allegiance to the IPP.

    Flanked by IPP Information Secretary Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Andleeb Abbas said: “The IPP will make a strong Pakistan. We have a cause to follow, which is above a party and an individual. We have joined the IPP for a cause.”

    Sadia Sohail said: “We are sitting here together for Pakistan. May 9 should not have happened. All institutions should be respected.”

    Sumaira Bokhari said nothing was more important than Pakistan. When asked why they chose to join hands with Tareen and Aleem Khan who [allegedly] represent mafias in the country and their reason to quit the PTI, the trio chose not to respond to any of these queries.

    A group of leaders from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in Balochistan also aligned themselves with the IPP. 

    PML-N Balochistan vice president Jaleel Ahmed Khan Musakhel, and his associates met IPP President Abdul Aleem Khan in Lahore to solidify their transition.

    Expressing his thoughts on the occasion, Aleem Khan said, “We want to see more progress in the small provinces. Apart from Punjab, the key political personalities from the other provinces are also joining the IPP.’’

    “The masses are upset by the traditional politics practiced by the PML-N, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), and PTI,’’ Aleem Khan added.  

    The IPP’s momentum further gained strength as Pashtun Social Community (PSC) Punjab President Muhammad Sher Khan officially announced his decision to join the party on October 17. 

    The development came after Sher Khan held a meeting with IPP General Secretary Mian Khalid Mehmood.

    Khalid Mehmood welcomed Sher Khan by presenting a party scarf to the latter.

  • Vote register karwaayein October 28 tak

    Vote register karwaayein October 28 tak

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday extended the deadline for the voter registration and information update from October 25 to October 28 (Saturday).

    The decision was made during a meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja.

    CEC Raja called upon the general public to utilise this final opportunity to ensure their registration, transfers, exclusions, and vote accuracy by October 28.

    How to register your vote:

    You can submit your application along with a copy of CNIC to the District Election Commissioner (DEC) or Registration Officer or Assistant Registration Officer of the district where you want to get your name enrolled.

    The prescribed Form (Enrolment / Transfer of Vote) is available online at the ECP website or it can be obtained free of cost from the office of the District Election Commissioner or Registration Officer or Assistant Registration Officer or Display Centre Incharge.

    How to check the details of your vote registration:

    Please type your CNIC without Hyphen (-) and spaces on your mobile and send it to 8300.

    After sending an SMS to 8300, an automated response will be generated, furnishing information such as the name of the electoral area, block code, and serial number.

    Each registered voter has the option to verify their details by visiting the District Election Commissioner’s (DEC) office in their respective area, where the complete electoral roll is accessible.

    How to transfer your vote

    There are two ways to transfer your vote:

    1. Visit the NADRA office and renew or modify your CNIC and ensure that the option to transfer your vote either at a temporary or permanent address is marked properly.
    2. Visit the office of the DEC Concerned and submit Form-21 (Click here to download Form-21). You can also submit the same form to the Form Submission Centers at the tehsil level. (Click here to check the list of Form Submission Centres).

    Eligibility to be a voter:

    A person shall be entitled to be enrolled as a voter in an electoral area if he—

    (a) is a citizen of Pakistan;

    (b) is not less than 18 years of age;

    (c) possesses a National Identity Card issued by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) at any time till the last day fixed for inviting claims, objections and applications for preparation, revision or correction of electoral rolls;

    (d) is not declared by a competent court to be of unsound mind; and

    (e) is or is deemed under section 27 to be resident in the electoral area.

    Explanation: The National Identity Card issued by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) shall be deemed to be valid for the purpose of registration as a voter or for casting vote in an election, notwithstanding the expiry of its validity period.

  • Bilawal Bhutto ki mulaqaatein, Kya ho rahi hain baatein

    Bilawal Bhutto ki mulaqaatein, Kya ho rahi hain baatein

    Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari met his party leaders on Tuesday in Islamabad to deliberate on the current political landscape of the country.

    In a notable development, Robina Shaheen Wattoo, a former member of the Assembly representing Okara, officially joined PPP. Her inclusion was warmly embraced by Bhutto-Zardari, marking an important addition to the party.

    On the occasion, former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf were present.

    The meeting delved into the intricate political dynamics of Punjab, with a particular focus on the situation in Okara.

    Several prominent PPP leaders including Sardar Omar Goraya, Nadeem Afzal Chan, Muhammad Ali Shah Bacha, and Shazi Khan were present in the meeting.

    Focused on dissecting the current political climate of the nation, the discussions centred on navigating Pakistan’s complex political situation.

  • Out of 687 staff members, only 45 women are employed in the Supreme Court

    Out of 687 staff members, only 45 women are employed in the Supreme Court

    New details reveal that among the total staff members of 687 in the Supreme Court, only 45 are women.

    The information came to light as a judicial order directed Supreme Court Registrar Jazeela Aslam to give details on staff following a petition filed in 2019, appealing the Right of Access to Information Act 2017 and Article 19-A of the Constitution.

    The apex court reportedly has 894 sanctioned positions at the moment but 207 of them are vacant and 687 employees were working as of September 25.

    146 are employed on a daily wage basis.

    84 new positions have been created since January 2017.

    The details also reveal that out of all the 45 women working in the apex court, 33 hold regular positions while 12 are contingent employees.

    Additionally, only two people with disabilities and two transgenders are employed.