NEW DELHI: Letting Nawaz Sharif leave country was a 'big mistake,' Imran Khan says, senior journalist shot dead in Karachi, and other news from the ne
NEW DELHI: Letting Nawaz Sharif leave country was a ‘big mistake,’ Imran Khan says, senior journalist shot dead in Karachi, and other news from the neighbouring country in our weekly Pakistan round-up:
Letting Nawaz Sharif leave a mistake: Imran Khan
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said that letting former PM and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif leave the country was a “major mistake” by his government.
Sharif, who has been convicted for corruption, had left for the UK in November 2019 for medical treatment.
At a public meeting, Khan lashed out at PML-N, PPP, and other opposition parties for “looting the country’s wealth and stashing their money abroad.”
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Govt eyes people’s gold to increase forex reserves
The government is considering a proposal to borrow gold biscuits and bars from the people to increase foreign exchange reserves. Pakistan’s forex reserves continue to deplete despite over $5bn loans in the past three months from bilateral and multilateral creditors.
According to the proposal, commercial banks will issue a negotiable discounted instrument to the gold owner and pay an interest rate. They will deposit the gold with the State Bank of Pakistan that can monetise it to increase the forx reserves.
Senior journalist shot dead in Karachi
A senior journalist working with private channel, Samaa TV, was shot dead during a robbery bid in the North Nazimabad area of Karachi on Friday.
The police said Athar Mateen, who was driving a car, tried to foil a robbery bid when he saw armed motorcyclists robbing another citizen by shoving his car into their motorcycle.
At this, one of the motorcyclists, who fell on the ground, opened fire at Mateen’s car. He died on the spot of a bullet injury.
Bill Gates discusses health issues with PM Khan on first Pak visit
Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates on his first-ever visit to Pakistan called on PM Imran Khan and was briefed about efforts to tackle the coronavirus pandemic and eradicate poliovirus from the country.
Pakistan is one of the two remaining countries in the world where polio is still categorised as an endemic viral infection.
Gates attended a session of the country’s top anti-coronavirus body and also met planning minister Asad Umar.
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Ruling TTP, opposition JUI-F unite against ‘Aurat March’
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and opposition Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl have come together to oppose a women’s march in a rare display of unity that reeks of deep-seated misogyny and patriarchy in the country.
Ahead of ‘Aurat March’ that coincides with International Women’s Day, federal religious affairs minister and JUI-F have both termed it ‘un-Islamic’, reported Dawn.
“If any attempts are made for obscenity on March 8 in Islamabad, we will condemn it,” the chief of JUI-F Islamabad wing warned.
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Israeli navy joins US-led exercise with Pakistan, Saudi
The Israeli navy confirmed on Thursday that it has participated in a US-led exercise with Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and some other countries that do not have diplomatic ties with the Jewish state.
The participants included Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Comoros, Djibouti, Somalia and Yemen who do not have diplomatic ties with Israel.
The biennial drill was launched in 2012 and has become “the largest multinational naval exercise in the Middle East,” the US Navy said.
Letting Nawaz Sharif leave a mistake: Imran Khan
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said that letting former PM and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif leave the country was a “major mistake” by his government.
Sharif, who has been convicted for corruption, had left for the UK in November 2019 for medical treatment.
At a public meeting, Khan lashed out at PML-N, PPP, and other opposition parties for “looting the country’s wealth and stashing their money abroad.”
Read full story
Govt eyes people’s gold to increase forex reserves
The government is considering a proposal to borrow gold biscuits and bars from the people to increase foreign exchange reserves. Pakistan’s forex reserves continue to deplete despite over $5bn loans in the past three months from bilateral and multilateral creditors.
According to the proposal, commercial banks will issue a negotiable discounted instrument to the gold owner and pay an interest rate. They will deposit the gold with the State Bank of Pakistan that can monetise it to increase the forx reserves.
Senior journalist shot dead in Karachi
A senior journalist working with private channel, Samaa TV, was shot dead during a robbery bid in the North Nazimabad area of Karachi on Friday.
The police said Athar Mateen, who was driving a car, tried to foil a robbery bid when he saw armed motorcyclists robbing another citizen by shoving his car into their motorcycle.
At this, one of the motorcyclists, who fell on the ground, opened fire at Mateen’s car. He died on the spot of a bullet injury.
Bill Gates discusses health issues with PM Khan on first Pak visit
Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates on his first-ever visit to Pakistan called on PM Imran Khan and was briefed about efforts to tackle the coronavirus pandemic and eradicate poliovirus from the country.
Pakistan is one of the two remaining countries in the world where polio is still categorised as an endemic viral infection.
Gates attended a session of the country’s top anti-coronavirus body and also met planning minister Asad Umar.
Read full story
Ruling TTP, opposition JUI-F unite against ‘Aurat March’
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and opposition Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl have come together to oppose a women’s march in a rare display of unity that reeks of deep-seated misogyny and patriarchy in the country.
Ahead of ‘Aurat March’ that coincides with International Women’s Day, federal religious affairs minister and JUI-F have both termed it ‘un-Islamic’, reported Dawn.
“If any attempts are made for obscenity on March 8 in Islamabad, we will condemn it,” the chief of JUI-F Islamabad wing warned.
Read full story
Israeli navy joins US-led exercise with Pakistan, Saudi
The Israeli navy confirmed on Thursday that it has participated in a US-led exercise with Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and some other countries that do not have diplomatic ties with the Jewish state.
The participants included Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Comoros, Djibouti, Somalia and Yemen who do not have diplomatic ties with Israel.
The biennial drill was launched in 2012 and has become “the largest multinational naval exercise in the Middle East,” the US Navy said.
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