In a bid to stimulate economic growth, Pakistan’s central bank has reduced its key policy rate by 100 basis points, bringing it to a 16-month low of 19.5%. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has now revised the policy rate downward for the second consecutive time in just seven weeks, reflecting a response to the slowdown in inflation and the strengthening of the external economy. Cumulatively, the SBP has cut the policy rate by 250 basis points over the past seven weeks, a significant shift from the record high of 22% maintained until June 10, 2024. During a press conference, SBP Governor Jameel Ahmad explained that the impact of the central bank’s previously tight monetary policy has only recently started to manifest, as changes in the policy rate typically take about eight quarters to fully materialise. The significantly positive real interest rate provided room for the latest cut in the policy rate.

The Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) is the leading U.S. government entity responsible for overseeing Afghanistan reconstruction. Its mission is to provide independent and objective oversight of Afghanistan Reconstruction funds. SIGAR also operates a hotline for reporting suspected fraud, ensuring accountability and transparency in the reconstruction efforts. According to SIGAR, 38 out of 65 implementing partners, which is 58 percent, reported paying taxes, fees, duties, or utilities to the Taliban-controlled government since August 2021. It was also found that UN agreements with State and USAID do not include any requirements to annually report on taxes, fees, duties, or utilities incurred on U.S. funds provided for activities in Afghanistan.

The Anti-Terrorism Court of Lahore has handed over Maulana Muhammad Tahir Saifi, a leader of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), to police custody for a 7-day physical remand. The remand comes in connection with charges related to issuing a fatwa against the Chief Justice of Pakistan. Presiding over the case, Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Khalid Arshad reviewed the proceedings during which Maulana Muhammad Tahir Saifi was presented in court. The Investigating Officer requested the court grant a physical remand to conduct a photogrammetric test and recover the microphone used during the speech. The court approved the request and ordered that Maulana Muhammad Tahir Saifi be produced again on August 6 after the completion of the remand period.

With the Texas Longhorns set to start preseason camp on Wednesday in preparation for the program’s first season in the SEC, fourth-year head coach Steve Sarkisian is pleased with the state of his roster, which includes 83 scholarship players and high preseason expectations with Texas picked to finish second in the conference behind Georgia. At SEC Media Days earlier this month, Sarkisian assessed his Longhorns. Here’s a look at the projected depth chart heading into preseason camp. Preseason depth chart 11 Name No. 11 Name No.

NEW DELHI: A latest finding has revealed that misconduct and manipulation in the Lok Sabha elections 2024 benefited the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies in 79 seats across India. The report by the Vote for Democracy (VFD) group said that an independent investigation is necessary to probe these allegations. The report, titled “The Report: Conduct of Lok Sabha 2024,” analyzed election results and voter turnout percentages, revealing a significant hike in voter turnout that disproportionately benefited the ruling regime. The report demands an explanation from the ECI and seeks accountability for alleged gross illegalities, vote manipulation, and misconduct during the elections. The report highlights specific instances of malpractices, voter suppression, and misconduct during voting and counting day.

India’s Modi sets aside billions for jobs, allies in post-election budget https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2024/7/23/indias-modi-sets-aside-billions-for-jobs-allies-in-post-election-budget#:~:text=The%20%24576bn%20in%20total,states%20ruled%20by%20coalition%20partners. India’s Modi says Pakistan using ‘terrorism, proxy war’ to stay relevant https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/pakistan-using-terrorism-proxy-war-stay-relevant-says-india-pm-modi-2024-07-26/8. India has no right to object to Pak-China joint statement on Kashmir: FO https://tribune.com.pk/story/2472419/india-has-no-right-to-object-to-pak-china-joint-statement-on-kashmir-fo13. Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting Joint Statement, Tokyo https://www.foreignminister.gov.au/minister/penny-wong/media-release/quad-foreign-ministers-meeting-joint-statement-tokyo21. Quad foreign ministers condemn risky actions in South China Seahttps://tribune.com.pk/story/2483848/quad-foreign-ministers-condemn-risky-actions-in-south-china-sea?amp=1

The session has been called at 5pm today (Tuesday) to take up 43-point agenda, including the introduction of the Election Act Amendment Bills. The bill will be presented by MNAs Bilal Azhar Kiyani and Zain Jaffer as a private member bill. Proposed amendment to the Federal Employees Benevolent Fund and Group Insurance Act and the Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Bill will also be discussed. MNA Noor Alam Khan is set to introduce a bill to repeal the Contempt of Court Ordinance, 2003. Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan lawmaker Nikhat Shakeel Khan will move a resolution to take steps to reduce the expenses on Hajj.

In 2018, this quota system was abolished; but in June this year, it was restored by the High Court. First is the organic uprising of students first against the quota system and then against the despotic rule of Sheikh Hasina. This shows that even Bangladeshi immigrants are staging protest marches and demonstrations against Sheikh Hasina. First, the Sheikh Hasina regime should accept responsibility for the bloodshed and take steps to address the demands of the protesting students. Second, there should be a total withdrawal of the quota system and compliance with merit in providing jobs.

Strongmen and coup planners in Pakistan have historically relied on the legal system to give their extraconstitutional actions credibility. People are asking if this concept would be revived again as unelected forces strengthen their hold on power and Pakistan’s fragile democracy is threatened by extreme political polarization. In this context, it is important to reiterate Supreme Court Justice Athar Minallah’s comments at a recent US event about the judiciary’s duty to uphold the constitutional order. When it comes to upholding the constitutional order, there can be no compromise, and their lordships have a responsibility to safeguard the text. The fact that discussions about defending the constitutional order are occurring despite the oppressive environment is what gives one hope.

The two-hour hunger strike of Tehreek-e-Insaf is meaningless, Haji HidayatullahThe IPPs which are closed are also being paid by the government, Dr. Tariq SaleemWe are the allies of the government and we are trying our best to move the country forward, Mirza Akhtiar BaigISLAMABAD:Chief Editor Sardar Khan Niazi’s conversation in Sachi Baat programmeJamaat-e-Islami’s dharna against inflation is a good moveJamaat-e-Islami has put a lot of pressure on the governmentJamaat-e-Islami’s protests and sit-ins will also benefit it politicallyLeader ANP Senator Haji Hidayatullah’s conversation in Sachi Baat programNo one knows who is running the system in Pakistan, Haji HidayatullahJamaat-e-Islami has taken a good step against inflation, all parties should supportThe agreement that has been made with the IPPs is not with them in the original condition,We have to find out who is taking money from IPPs,The two-hour hunger strike of Tehreek-e-Insaf is meaningless, Haji HidayatullahIn Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the system will be run by selling the land of the educational institution,It was alleged that parliamentarians do not pay electricity bills, this is just an allegation,The government has no existence at all,If a serious representative of the government goes to the JI sit-in, the matter will move forwardAmir Jamaat-e-Islami Punjab Dr. Tariq Saleem’s talk in Sachi Baat programPeople’s house rents are low and electricity bills are highThe IPPs which are closed are also being paid by the government, Dr. Tariq SaleemThe government’s malpractice is that they have their own people in the IPPs, Dr. Tariq SaleemThe owners of IPPs are sitting under the umbrella of PP and PML-N, Tariq SaleemJamaat-e-Islami is holding peaceful protest and dharna yet activists are being arrested, Tariq SaleemThe government negotiation team is not serious, the serious man Owais Leghari is not there, Tariq SaleemOn the one hand, they are negotiating with us, on the other hand, they are saying that they cannot talk to the IPPsThe government thinks Jamaat-e-Islami will sit for a few days and then leaveIf we have to sit for a month, we will sit, if the demands are accepted, we will go,All political parties agree that transparent elections should be held,We challenge that we have 5 seats of Karachi whose form 45 we have,Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Dr. Nisar talk in Sachi Baat programThe people’s resistance to tyranny and oppression and rejection of May 9 is amazing,We are suffering the result of the government formed on Form 47 in the form of inflation,Jamaat-e-Islami is lucky that the government is not oppressing them, Nisar JatTehreek-e-Insaaf’s focus is above hunger strike and inflation,We are talking about constitution and supremacy of law in Pakistan, Nisar JatEvery worker of Tehreek-e-Insaf stands with his zeal and patriotism,The houses of our 41 workers are being raided and pressure is being applied to change loyalties,PTI and the government are using rhetoric, the atmosphere of negotiations is not visible, SK NiaziThe Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has a message that there will be a reaction to the sale of the land of Mardan University, HidayatullahLeader PP and economist Mirza Akhtiar Baig’s conversation in Sachi Baat programWe are the allies of the government and we are trying our best to move the country forward, Mirza Akhtiar BaigIf we follow the agreement with the IPPs then it will be very difficult, Mirza Akhtiar BaigPayments to IPPs of same capacity and same power are differentThe government’s legal team is considering the agreement and how it can be leveraged, Mirza Ikhtiar Baig saidIn 1994, load shedding was very high, we brought in foreign investors for the first time,Today people are killing brothers and wives and children over electricity billsFinance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb went to China and discussed coal-fired plants,Why not talk to China with local IPPs, even though they are not fulfilling the agreements, Dr. TariqPeople who are not using electricity are also paying for it, Dr. Tariq SaleemAssets of Pakistan are being mortgaged which is not a good sign for a living nation, Tariq SaleemIf you will not diagnose a disease, how will you treat it, Dr. Tariq SaleemBy generating electricity from sugarcane, the prices are being charged in line with petrol and diesel, Tariq SaleemThe people in the government are responsible to solve the problems by ending the bitterness, Haji HidayatullahCorruption is also one of the reasons for inflation, said ANP leader Haji Hidayatullah

Police on Monday arrested Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) Naib Emir Pir Zaheerul Hassan Shah hours after registering a case against him on the allegation of threatening Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa. Hours earlier, the Qila Gujjar Singh police registered a case against the TLP leader on the complaint of SHO Hammad Hussain. The case was registered under the Anti-Terrorism Act besides other provisions of law, including spreading religious hatred, sedition, intimidating the higher judiciary, interfering in and obstructing statutory duties. According to the FIR, the suspct threatened and spread hatred against the judiciary during a protest outside the press club. The TLP naib emir and 1,500 workers have been nominated in the FIR.

International credit rating agency Fitch on Monday upgraded Pakistan's long-term foreign currency issuer default rating (IDR) from CCC to CCC+. The upgrade signifies an improvement in Pakistan's external liquidity and funding conditions, strengthened by the recent IMF agreement. Fitch highlighted the strong performance under the previous IMF arrangement, which helped Pakistan narrow its fiscal deficits and rebuild foreign exchange reserves. However, the agency warned that Pakistan's large funding needs could leave it vulnerable if challenging reforms are not implemented, potentially undermining program performance and funding. On the external front, Fitch noted that Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves have recovered but remain low.

A beggar involved in an accident on Sargodha Khushab Road was found in possession of Rs500,000 and multiple visas for Saudi Arabia on Monday, Express News reported. Rescue 1122 personnel reported that an elderly man was discovered unconscious on Khushab Road. Upon providing medical aid and transferring him to the hospital, authorities found Rs534,000 and passports with several Saudi visas in his possession. Local individuals and rescue officials revealed that the elderly man, identified as Mushtaq Ahmed, is allegedly linked to a beggar gang. Recently, the Punjab government announced its decision to intensify legal action against people living below the poverty line in the provincial capital, who were cushioning their household expenditures by begging on the roads.

A case was registered against Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Noor Wali Mehsud and Ahmad Hussain alias Ghat Haji in a terrorism case following a recently surfaced phone call in which they can be heard talking about attack on public properties and schools. Both have been booked under various sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act in the case registered at CTD North Waziristan. Another FIR has been registered under the Anti-Terrorism Act in Dera Ismail Khan over the terrorist attack on a rural health center in Kirri Shamozai area. In the recently surfaced phone call, Noor Wali Mehsud can be heard giving instructions to Ghat Haji to attack government properties especially schools and hospitals. Following this, the militants carried out terrorist attacks including the rural health center in Dera Ismail Khan, a girls' school in Mir Ali and the target killing of a teacher in Tank.

ISLAMABAD - Foreign Secretary Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi yesterday led the Pakistan delegation at the 31st ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial meeting held on 27 July in Vientiane, Lao PDR. At the meeting, the Foreign Secretary underscored Pakistan’s firm commitment to regional peace, security and cooperation and the importance attached by Pakistan to its relations with ASEAN and its member states. He appreciated the positive role played by ASEAN in regional integration and prosperity. The Foreign Secretary shared Pakistan’s perspective on regional conflicts in the Asia-Pacific region, stressing the need for dialogue and inclusiveness instead of bloc politics. He also presented Pakistan’s perspective on the regional hotspots including the situation in Gaza and Afghanistan.