The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) announced on Friday that it has received the much-anticipated first tranche of Special Drawing Rights (SDR) worth 760 million, equivalent to USD 1.03 billion, from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
In a statement, the SBP said, “Following the approval of the IMF Executive Board of a 37-month Extended Fund Facility amounting to US$7 billion, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has received the first tranche of SDR 760 million (equivalent to USD 1.03 billion) from the IMF today.”
The central bank confirmed that these inflows would be reflected in the SBP’s liquid reserves, which are scheduled to be released on Thursday, October 3, 2024.
The IMF’s Executive Board granted approval for the 37-month, $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) for Pakistan on Wednesday, marking a significant financial lifeline for the country.
Pakistan and the IMF initially reached a staff-level agreement on the EFF, worth SDR 5,320 million (roughly USD 7 billion), on July 12, 2024, paving the way for today’s disbursement.
A big shock for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as PTI Member National Assembly (MNA) Adil Khan Bazai has joined the incumbent government ahead of proposed constitutional amendments, ARY News reported.
PTI-backed independent candidate Adil Bazai secured his National Assembly seat from Quetta constituency NA-262 in the general election of 2024.
After Bazai joined the incumbent government, the coalition government number rose to 215 seats in the National Assembly.
Earlier, the coalition government attempted to pass the constitutional amendments from parliament but was unsuccessful due to the insufficient number of lawmakers required to pass the amendments.
Chief Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam Fazl (JUI-F) Maulana Fazlur Rehman had been the decision maker by having only five votes of the Upper House in his pocket.
Veteran journalist Azaz Syed, on the YouTube channel ‘Talk SHOCK’, claimed that the coalition government intends to introduce the twenty-sixth constitutional amendment drafts to parliament in the first week of October.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has challenged the Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan’s September 14 detailed verdict regarding the allotment of women and non-muslim reserved seats to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
The ECP explained in its plea that the apex court’s July 12 ruling came before the Election Amendment Act 2024; on this amendment, the ECP sought clarification from the apex court on whether to follow the amended parliamentary law or the top court’s September 14 detailed verdict.
The 8-5 majority ruling of the Supreme Court’s verdict on reserved seats read, “Withdrawal of election symbol cannot disqualify a political party from elections.”
It further read, “The PTI was and is a political party.”
On September 14, the top court issued the detailed verdict of its July 12 ruling, directing the ECP to allot reserved seats to PTI.
Meanwhile, the Election Amendment Act 2024 stated, “A candidate who does not submit the party certificate before obtaining the election symbol will be considered an independent candidate. If the list of candidates for reserved seats is not submitted within the specified period, no political party will be entitled to those seats.”
Shaza Fatima Khawaja, the minister of State for IT and Telecommunication, was quoted by Business Recorder as saying that former caretaker federal minister Dr Umar Saif sabotaged a deal to bring PayPAYal to Pakistan by leaking the news before time.
As per Business Recorder, the IT Minister told a presser, “Bringing PayPal to Pakistan was a private deal, which Dr Saif leaked before time. This action annoyed PayPal and he (Dr Umar) sabotaged it”.
IT Minister released her response in a tweet to the viral statement: “I have been quoted out of context.” She further elaborated that her intention was never to name or blame anyone.
The Current talked to Shaza Khawaja about her statement. “The comment was mainly that he deal was private and it didnt go through with no intention of accusing anyone,” she stressed. While mentioning her tweet, in which she said, “I have always respected Dr. Umar’s contribution to the sector,” she added that she had tweeted about it and made an official statement about it as well.
The Current inquired her if she meant that the deal was made privately by Dr Umar, but she declined. “I just said that PayPal was a deal between two private entities that didnt go through,” she emphasised.
Notably, a year ago, on October 25, it was reported that Umar Saif, the then Minister for IT and Telecommunication, had shared that Pakistan would hear “good news” regarding Paypal in the near future.
However, the Current reached out to Dr Umar Saif, who refused to comment on it.
Pope Francis said Friday that the Catholic Church must “seek forgiveness” over the “scourge” of child sexual abuse, during a visit to Belgium where the Church’s dark past looms large.
In a speech before political and civil society leaders that opened his three-day visit to the country, Francis denounced the “tragic instances of child abuse” as a stain on the Church’s legacy.
“It is our shame and our humiliation,” Francis told the gathering at the Laeken Palace royal residency.
“The Church must be ashamed and must seek forgiveness,” he said.
The 87-year-old pontiff is due to meet with a group of clerical sexual assault victims in Brussels in the afternoon, as part of a three-day stay in the European nation tarred by decades of scandals and cover-ups.
The meeting with around 15 victims, taking place at 6:30 pm (1630 GMT) at the Vatican’s diplomatic mission, was being held with the “utmost discretion”, according to the Belgian church.
It was arranged after a hard-hitting documentary last year put Belgium’s abuse scandal back on the front pages, prompting many new victims to come forward.
In an open letter published by Le Soir newspaper this month, some demanded the pope address paedophilia and set up a process for financial reparations.
“Words alone are not enough. Concrete measures must also be taken,” Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said in a preamble to the pope’s speech.
The pontiff said the abuse scandal was “a scourge that the Church is addressing firmly and decisively by listening to and accompanying those who have been wounded, and by implementing a prevention programme throughout the world”.
Forced adoptions
Francis has made combating sexual assault in the Church a main mission of his papacy, and insisted on a “zero tolerance” policy in the wake of wide-reaching abuse scandals around the world.
During his speech, Francis also said he was “saddened” to learn about a forced adoptions scandal in Belgium that saw institutions run by nuns give up the babies of thousands of underage girls and unmarried women.
“We see how the bitter fruit of wrongdoing and criminality was mixed in with what was unfortunately the prevailing view in all parts of society at that time,” he said.
Belgium’s HLN news site estimates that up to 30,000 children were taken from their mothers in Belgium between 1945 and the 1980s.
Bishops in Belgium apologised in 2023 and requested an independent investigation after fresh testimonies emerged from women and people claiming to have been “sold” by the Catholic Church to their adoptive family.
Child sexual abuse and forced adoptions have “badly damaged trust” between the Church and society, De Croo said.
In a sign of the work yet to be done, the program of an open-air mass concluding Francis’s trip on Sunday had to be changed at the last minute after it emerged that the closing hymn was composed by a priest accused of sexual abuse.
The blunder prompted the head of the Belgian bishops’ conference, Archbishop Luc Terlinden, to admit that the Church needed to get better at keeping a tab on cases and perpetrators.
“This represents a great challenge for us, but we must think about it seriously with the help of lawyers and psychologists,” he told a local broadcaster. The composer, who died this month, reportedly settled a sexual abuse case in 2002.
On the wane
The Argentinian pope arrived in Belgium on Thursday evening after spending the day in neighbouring Luxembourg, where he made a plea for international diplomacy amid flaring conflicts across the globe.
He was welcomed by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, who hosted him on Friday morning, and he will head on to meet with academics at the Catholic university of Leuven in Dutch-speaking Flanders — whose 600th anniversary next year is the official reason for Francis’s visit.
On Saturday, during what is his 46th trip abroad, Francis will meet the clergy at the vast Basilica of the Sacred Heart before holding discussions with students at Louvain-la-Neuve in French-speaking Wallonia, notably on climate issues.
The last papal visit to Brussels was in 1995, when John Paul II attended the beatification of Saint Damien, who dedicated his life to lepers.
Nearly 65 percent of Belgium’s population is Christian, including 58 percent who are Catholic, according to figures from Louvain university.
But their numbers are on the wane, reflecting a decline across Europe.
During his weekly general audience, Francis said he hoped his visit could be “the opportunity for a new impetus of faith”.
A Bangladeshi cricket fan was assaulted during the second Test match between India and Bangladesh at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur.
According to Indian media, a Bangladeshi fan named Tiger Robi was subjected to violence on the first day of the Test match. The injured have been shifted to a nearby hospital by police and rescue officials.
Bangladeshi fan says that they hit me in the jaw and lower part of the stomach, due to which I could not breathe for some time.
The Test between India and Bangladesh has started today in Kanpur.
Clashes between rival tribes in Kurram district have been ongoing for eight days now, with 46 people dead and 96 injured so far.
On Friday, fresh clashes left five more people dead and 15 injured, Dawn News reported.
Earlier, clashes started between the Bushehra tribe and the Ahmedzai tribe in the Kurram district following the construction of trenches on disputed land.
Viewing the ongoing clashes at Kurram district, former Senator and tribal leader Sajid Turi had claimed that a grand jirga tried to resolve the dispute but ended in vain.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, in a statement issued from the CM’s secretariat, Chief Minister (CM) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur said that serious efforts were being made to maintain public order in the province.
He added, “After the improvement of the law and order situation in southern districts, more checkposts will be handed over to the police. However, before that happens, there is a need to enhance the capabilities of police.”
If you’ve noticed a sudden obsession with donuts in Pakistan recently, you’re not alone. It seems like everyone suddenly started loving those round, sugary treats, and here is why.
If all the talk around donuts has made you want one, here is where you can get the one you crave.
1-Crusteez Islamabad
If the Chief Justice of Pakistan can try it out, maybe so should we? Crusteez Donuts has suddenly become one of the most famous donut shops. Known for its fresh, delicious donuts in the capital city, give it a shot, maybe after a few days to avoid the super long lines.
2- EASY Karachi
Easy donuts in Karachi quickly rose to fame when it launched in the city a few years ago. With creative flavours and a really nice, comforting texture, it has always been Karachi’s go-to for donuts.
3-OD Donuts
OD Donuts is making waves among donut lovers and they have really cute marketing campaigns too. Known for its soft, airy texture and unique toppings, it’s a must-try for anyone looking to indulge in something delicious.
4-Loafology
Famous for its artisanal bread, it is also known for its incredible donuts! Located in Islamabad and Lahore, this bakery offers a mix of freshly baked goods, and their donuts have become a favourite for many. Known for their quality ingredients and unique flavours, Loafology’s donuts are a must-try for anyone craving something sweet with a gourmet touch.
5-Jalal Sons
Jalal Sons is not just a well-known name for quality food products in Pakistan but also a favourite destination for delicious round treats.
Their donuts are loved for their freshness and variety, making them a popular choice among sweet lovers.
Stepping onto a new set can make anyone feel nervous, but the cool and friendly seniors in Duniyapur made it easier for younger actors in the cast.
Recently, Khushal Khan, Ali Raza and Shamyl Khan appeared on Gloss Etc by Maliha Rehman, where they shared their experience working with senior actors.
The host asked the actors about their experience of working with veterans Naumaan Ijaz and Manzar Sehbai.
Khushal Khan said, “They are cool people, they are not like the senior types, they just blend in and make you feel so easy and comfortable. Manzar Sahab. Because throughout the scene, he was just there, giving cues without moving even an inch. He would give cues to every actor, and even when it was a master shot with someone else’s close-up, he would just be there in the background.”
Talking about Naumaan Ijaz.
“Noomi Bhai’s health wasn’t great, but he would travel and shoot in Sargodha. Hats off to him, Manzar Sahab, and Noomi Bhai. Because, I mean, we wouldn’t even consider ourselves in that category we would just be sidelined. We couldn’t complain because there was no heat or anything,” Khushal Khan added.
Ali Raza added a lighthearted note about the makeup process, sharing,
“There’s a requirement for makeup because we need to come on screen, but there’s no makeup in this. It was just a get-up for Ashraf Bhai. I told him that there’s no makeup because we need a raw feel; we don’t want to com e with makeup. Everyone looks good, that’s true, but we didn’t apply makeup. The hair wasn’t done; the jeans and hair were a bit messy.”
The drama is written by Radain Shah and directed by Shahid Shafaat.
The cast of the drama includes Ramsha Khan, Nayyar Eja, Hussain Shah, Yousaf Bashir, Sami Khan, Saima Qureshi, and Erum Akhter.
Five people were arrested in India for the killing of a seven-year-old boy in an alleged ritual sacrifice aimed at bringing good fortune to a public school, police said Friday.
The victim was found dead in his bed on Sunday night at the hostel where he lived in the city of Hathras, not far from the country’s famed Taj Mahal.
Instead of alerting authorities, police said that school director Dinesh Baghel hid the body in the trunk of his car.
Police officer Himanshu Mathur told AFP that the boy was killed before a black magic ceremony conducted by Baghel’s father.
“The boy was meant to be taken to an altar as part of a ritual but got killed before the ceremony could be completed,” he said.
Baghel and his father were arrested along with three other teachers at the school, Mathur added.
Mathur did not give further details on how the child had died, and local media reports said the body was undergoing a post-mortem examination.
India’s National Crime Records Bureau lodged 103 cases of human sacrifice in the country between 2014 and 2021.
Ritual killings are usually conducted to appease deities and are more common in tribal and remote areas, where belief in witchcraft and the occult is widespread.
Last year, police arrested five men for the 2019 murder of a 64-year-old woman who was killed and decapitated with a machete after visiting a temple in India’s remote northeast.
Police said the alleged ringleader had been conducting a religious rite to mark the anniversary of his brother’s death.
