Pakistan is vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change which has occurred due to rapid industrialisation with substantial geo-political consequences. According to German Watch, Pakistan has been ranked in the top ten countries most affected by climate change in the past 20 years. While adequate measures were being taken at the appropriate level for addressing the climate change challenges and minimising its adverse effects on human beings and agricultural and other sectors, Pakistan during the past couple of months, has been hit by a severe heatwave further aggravating weather conditions. The incumbent federal government has formed a Task Force for developing a comprehensive strategy for mitigating the effects of climate change in the country on a priority basis, to prevent incidents such as the glacier incident in Hunza. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has already presided over the first meeting of the Task Force on Climate Change.

Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Tuesday said that his party’s long march to Islamabad, scheduled for May 25 (tomorrow), was a test for the judiciary, bureaucracy and the “neutrals” to show whether they were with or against the “thieves” governing the country. “It is a test for everyone, including the police,” the ousted premier told the youth while addressing them in Peshawar. During the presser, Imran told youth that it was their responsibility to remove the obstacles in the way of long march being staged for their ‘real freedom’. Imran Khan announced that he would lead the youth and rest of the party workers from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to Islamabad tomorrow. He added that the PTI will instruct its youth to be “fully prepared” for an internet and mobile phone outage.

What worries one however is the govt’s decision to use the state’s coercive machinery to block the PTI’s self-styled Azadi March. The government has gone even a step further to invoke the colonial-era Section 144 in Punjab and Sindh to disallow public gatherings. This can provoke PTI workers who have been told again and again that they are fighting a jihad, to undertake violent acts on a much larger scale than in 2014. Independent media has undergone unprecedented pressure and harassment under the PTI rule. Despite this it continues to support every political party’s right to peaceful protest while vigilantly watching if the rules of the game are being followed.

However, while talks with the IMF are ongoing, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail has indicated the disastrous fuel subsidies instituted by the outgoing PTI government will not be rolled back. Negotiations for restarting the Fund’s bailout programme are underway in Doha, and the fuel subsidies were widely publicised as a key concern raised by the IMF, even during the previous government’s reign. The fuel subsidies are costing the state as much as Rs40 billion a fortnight. There are precedents for fuel subsidies in other countries; Germany has provided tax cuts on petrol and other fuel products. Even if the IMF were to agree to this problematic subsidy, the government itself should reconsider.

PESHAWAR – Amid the ongoing crackdown against the workers and leaders of his party, the former prime minister Imran Khan said the entire nation is looking toward the neutrals. Addressing a press conference in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s capital, the PTI Chief announced leaving for Islamabad tomorrow amid the crackdown, saying the nation is watching the role of neutrals in the whole scenario, adding that the masses will pass a judgment on them. Khan asked and said that permission for such actions would dent the credibility of the judiciary. Recalling his tenure, the PTI chief said they never stopped the marches by then opposition members during their government. PTI chief also cautioned that they are taking a record of the government officials who are following illegal orders.

ISLAMABAD – The cost of holding General Elections has increased by 261.52pc in a span of just ten years. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has estimated the cost for upcoming 2023 general elections will be Rs 47 billion; official sources confirmed The Nation Saturday. The cost of the general elections has witnessed Rs 34 billion increases during the last 10 years, the sources said. Source disclosed that the total estimated expenses in 2013 general elections were 13 billion, However, it was jacked up to Rs 31 billion in 2018 elections. He told the court that the commission would take a minimum of four months to conduct the delimitation and another 90 days for the general elections.

Professor Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiative, was the chief guest of the ceremony. In recent times, PIDE has proven itself a valuable resource to the nation. Earlier, Vice-Chancellor PIDE, Dr. Nadeem ul Haque opened the ceremony by congratulation the graduates. It is a world-class economic development research center attracting the Nobel Planning Commission and the Government of Pakistan. The Vice-Chancellor said that PIDE students are sought after by the reputed international institutions and the top-rated institutions in Pakistan.

RAWALPINDI – A photo exhibition was organised at the Punjab Arts Council on completion of 71 years of Pakistan-China friendship here on Monday. The exhibition featured photographs of heads of state from seven decades of diplomatic relations. Dr Jamal said that the China Pakistan Economic Corridor was a symbol of great friendship and not only a game-changer for Pakistan but the entire region. On the occasion, Director of Arts Council Waqar Ahmed said that the Pak-China friendship was both countries’ most valuable strategic asset. The exhibition will continue for a week.

In this era, the road to glory is not too long and requires passion, unity and consistency of efforts. Today, Pakistan is at a crossroads and passions in our country have been ignited like pent-up steam. Ready to drive a locomotive if we can unite, or scald and burn the already suffering nation, if we polarize ourselves. Logic and reason alone without passion would make for a very dry, unfulfilled life.”The time is exactly right today, so let me make an emotional appeal, as without passion the Ummah cannot fulfill its own dream. “Rise my country as the World awaits you and let not the past drag you down.”Published in The Express Tribune, May 24th, 2022.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a benchmark project of China’s “Belt and Road”initiative. From 2015 to 2030, CPEC will create a total of 2.3 million jobs, bringing more than 2.5% of annual growth to Pakistan’s GDP. In recent years, attacks on the CPEC have also increased, killing the lives of innocent Chinese citizens. On July 28, 2021, two Chinese citizens in Karachi, Sindh, were shot on a bus out near the Gulbai Bridge injuring one of them. At the same time, all measures will ensure the safety of Chinese citizens in Pakistan and never allow such incidents to happen again.

Supporters of PTI wave flags and chant in support of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan during a rally in Peshawar, Pakistan April 10, 2022. With police forces swelling in the federal capital, the government on Monday fired a warning shot at former prime minister Imran Khan saying, “law will take its course if law and order situation is created”. On Monday, the police encircled PTI leader Hammad Azhar’s house in Garden Town ahead of PTI’s Azaadi March on May 25. The sources added that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will chair an important meeting of the coalition parties on Wednesday to decide a future course of action. The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, was held in Lahore.

The Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) on Monday has cancelled the Okara rally due to incessant rain, Dunya News reported. Member National Assembly Riaz-ul-Haq Judge after the advice of party organization and local leadership has announced that the meeting organized by PML-N in Okara has been cancelled due to heavy storm. It is pertinent to mention that the public gathering was to be addressed by Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz Sharif.

ISLAMABAD: China on Monday said that no matter how the international landscape may evolve, China-Pakistan relations will remain unshakable. “Third, both sides agreed that all-round cooperation between China and Pakistan enjoys fruitful results and broad prospects. “China highly appreciates the fact that Pakistan was among the first to lend support to the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative. Chinese foreign ministry official said that State Councilor Wang stressed that China and Pakistan are true friends sharing weal and woe and good brothers having a heart-to-heart affinity. “The friendship between China and Pakistan is jointly nurtured by several generations of leaders of the two countries”.

The Pakistan Information Commission (PIC) has directed the Federal Board of Revenue’s chairman to provide information about the individuals and companies who reaped benefits from the amnesty scheme given during the tenure of former premier Nawaz Sharif. The appellant stated that he had submitted information requests to the FBR chairman on March 5, 2018. He added that the introduction of any tax amnesty scheme for tax evaders was “nothing but the height of immorality fully sponsored by the state”. The government, instead of entertaining any such scheme, should seriously consider introducing an “asset-seizure scheme to confiscate undeclared and untaxed assets created from black money,” he contended and stressed the need for laws to bring back “looted money from tax cheaters”. However, the tax authority rejected the request of the applicant due to prohibition under section 216 of the Ordinance, 2021.

At least four million people have been affected by the worst floods in Bangladesh s northeast for nearly two decades, the United Nations said Monday. Heavy rains and a rush of water from upstream in India s northeast swelled rivers in Bangladesh, with two main border rivers, the Surma and Kushiara, breaching a major embankment and inundating hundreds of villages. “It is one of the worst floods in the history of the country s northeast,” he said. In this disaster, as in most others, children are the most vulnerable,” said Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative to Bangladesh. Floods are a regular menace to millions of people in low-lying Bangladesh and neighbouring northeast India, but many experts say that climate change is increasing their frequency, ferocity and unpredictability.