Pakistan urges UN action on Kashmir and Palestine, reaffirms OIC support

Pakistan on Monday emphasised the need to resolve the conflicts in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and Palestine by allowing their peoples to exercise the UN-promised right to self-determination. “The principles of self-determination and the non-acquisition of territory through the use or threat of force are fundamental to maintaining world order,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar during a special meeting of OIC Ambassadors at the UN. “Respect for these principles is critical to achieving just solutions for both Palestine and the Jammu and Kashmir dispute,” added Dar, who had arrived on Sunday afternoon to participate in the UN Security Council’s high-level meeting on global governance and multilateralism. He further stated that in both conflicts, the implementation of these principles is crucial to ending foreign occupation and ensuring freedom. At the outset, Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to advancing the common goals of the OIC at the UN. He specifically expressed that Pakistan would continue to advocate for a just and lasting peace in Palestine, calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, unhindered humanitarian assistance, and firm opposition to any efforts aimed at displacing the Palestinian people. Dar reiterated Pakistan’s full support for the two-state solution, envisioning a viable, sovereign state of Palestine based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. The DPM also reaffirmed Pakistan’s steadfast support for the just struggle of the Kashmiri people, urging the international community to seek a peaceful resolution to the IIOJK dispute in line with relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people. In addition, Dar voiced concern over reported Israeli threats to conduct further attacks against Iran, emphasizing that such actions would pose a severe threat to regional and international peace and security. “Despite the hostile rhetoric, it is our hope that all parties will seek to revive the JCPOA (Iran nuclear deal) on equitable terms. This should contribute significantly to achieving durable peace and security across the Middle East,” he added. The FM reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for the peaceful resolution of conflicts affecting Muslim countries in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter. He also stressed the urgent need to combat Islamophobia and called for the prompt appointment of a UN Special Envoy, in line with the OIC’s collective efforts to counter this growing global trend. Dar concluded by underscoring Pakistan’s strong commitment to working closely with OIC member states during its Security Council term on all issues of mutual interest.

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Pakistan calls for global debt restructuring

Pakistan has called for reforming the international debt architecture to make it more equitable, sustainable, and responsive to the needs of developing countries. "In the absence of a predictable global system for restructuring debt, most countries facing debt-distress are opting to continue servicing their debts, at the cost of diverting resources from areas critical for long-term growth and development, such as health and education," Senator Syed Faisal Ali Sabzwari told the Annual Parliamentary Hearing, a joint initiative of the President of UN General Assembly (UNGA) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

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Pakistan's skilled labour can support Saudi Vision 2030: Finance minister

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has highlighted the country’s potential to export skilled labour to Saudi Arabia in alignment with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 development framework. Speaking on the sidelines of the Emerging Market Economies Conference in AlUla, Aurangzeb emphasised the growing opportunities for Pakistan to support Saudi Arabia’s economic transformation. “We do think there is big potential in terms of exports from Pakistan, especially with respect to skilled labour, in terms of everything that Saudi Arabia requires in terms of executing Vision 2030,” he said, adding, “So, there are a number of opportunities for the two countries to work together.” Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 aims to reduce the Kingdom’s reliance on oil and boost sectors such as health, education, infrastructure, recreation, and tourism. The initiative has created an increasing demand for skilled workers, which Pakistan hopes to meet. With over two million Pakistanis already working in Saudi Arabia, the country remains a major source of remittances for Islamabad. While most Pakistani workers in the Kingdom are employed in blue-collar jobs, demand for skilled labour is expected to rise as Saudi Arabia modernises its economy. Pakistan’s Education and Professional Training Ministry has been working on a new education policy to train at least a million young people annually with technical skills suited for employment in the Gulf region, including Saudi Arabia. Additionally, the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) has proposed a partnership with the Pakistani government to provide training programmes to equip Pakistani youth with “modern and relevant skills” required by the Saudi job market, according to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office.

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Imran Khan orders to expel lawmakers absent on 26th Amendment poll day

In a decisive move, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has ordered the expulsion of lawmakers who were absent during the vote on the 26th Constitutional Amendment, sparing only Zain Qureshi. According to PTI insiders, Imran Khan has directed the senior leadership to issue formal notifications expelling all absent members except Zain Qureshi. He has made it clear that those who failed to show up on a crucial constitutional amendment vote have no place in the party. Khan has also sent a message to the party’s senior leadership, emphasizing that action must be taken against the absentee members without delay. The party has begun issuing show-cause notices to those who failed to participate. PTI sources revealed that Zarqa Suharwardy, Senator Faisal Saleem, and Zain Qureshi were among those absent on the day of the amendment vote. Meanwhile, Aslam Ghumman, Riaz Fatyana, Zain Qureshi, Miqdar Ali Khan, and Aurangzeb Kachhi were already served show-cause notices. Additionally, PTI-backed lawmakers Zahoor Qureshi, Usman Ali, and Mubarak Zaib were reportedly unreachable by the party leadership on the day of the vote. In light of these developments, Imran Khan has now ordered the formal expulsion notification for all absent lawmakers. His move signals a zero-tolerance approach toward internal dissent and reinforces PTI’s stance on party discipline.

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Government announces reduction in petrol, diesel prices

The government has announced a reduction in fuel prices by up to Rs5, effective from February 16, 2025. High-speed diesel (HSD), which is widely used in agriculture and transport sectors, will see a price drop of Rs4 per litre. The new price for HSD will be Rs263.95, down from the previous rate of Rs267.95 per litre. In addition to HSD, the price of petrol has also been reduced by Rs1 per litre. The new petrol price will be Rs256.13, following a similar decrease in the second fortnight of February 2025. Furthermore, the prices for kerosene and light diesel have been lowered by up to Rs5 per litre. Kerosene will now be available at Rs171.65 per litre, while light diesel will cost Rs155.81 per litre.   In a statement, the finance ministry said that the Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) had reviewed and adjusted consumer prices for petroleum products in light of recent fluctuations in the international oil market. It further stated that the prices of these products had been fixed for the next fortnight of the current month. Earlier, it was reported that the price of diesel was expected to be significantly reduced by Rs9.11 per litre for the fortnight beginning on February 16, in line with fluctuations in global oil prices. Pakistan is a net importer of petroleum products therefore any reduction in their prices is attributed to movements in global markets. Local prices are calculated while considering the existing tax rates and the inland freight equalisation margin. There is no adjustment in terms of rupee-dollar exchange rate. The government is currently charging Rs60 per litre in petroleum levy on petrol and high-speed diesel each. The levy was supposed to be invested in the development of oil sector like setting up storages but it has never been utilised for the intended purpose. The government used the revenue to meet its current expenditures.

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3,000 utility store employees laid off in a single day amid restructuring

In a major move, the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) has initiated a large-scale restructuring, resulting in the termination of nearly 3,000 employees in a single day. According to reports, the layoff orders were issued on a holiday, with the first phase of the restructuring focusing on the dismissal of daily wage workers. Reports indicate that most of the dismissed employees had been with the corporation for over 10 years. In the next phase, thousands of contract workers are also expected to face termination. This restructuring follows a recent decision by the federal government as on January 22, the federal cabinet formed a committee to review the potential closure of USC operations. Government sources revealed that the committee will be led by the Federal Minister for Industries and Production, and will include key figures such as the Minister of State for Finance and Revenue, the Minister of State for IT, as well as senior officials from the ministries of Finance, Industries, Privatization, and the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP). In August 2024, the federal government made the decision to shut down the Utility Stores Corporation (USC). Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sought proposals regarding the closure, and as part of this process, the government also discontinued a Rs 50 billion subsidy for USC. Additionally, in a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister, a decision was made to reduce administrative costs and streamline the state machinery, leading to the closure of 28 departments across five ministries. These included the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, the Ministry of States and Frontier Regions, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications, the Ministry of Industries and Production, and the Ministry of National Health Services. The Ministry of Industries and Production also included USC in the privatization list in August 2024. The Privatization Commission hired a financial advisor, with plans to privatize the corporation in stages. On November 15, 2024, during a Senate Standing Committee meeting on Industries and Production, Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain revealed that 3,000 of the USC's 11,000 employees had been hired during the tenure of former Punjab Chief Minister Manzoor Watto, who recruited them from the Tehsil of Dera Ghazi Khan. Minister Tanveer confirmed that, while discussions had taken place about closing USC, the Ministry of Industries and Production had opposed the move. He also noted that many stores in Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan were operating at a loss, with 2,400 out of 4,300 stores reporting financial deficits.

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No plans for new taxes, govt to focuse on meeting revenue targets

Parliamentary Secretary on Finance, Saad Waseem Sheikh, reassured the National Assembly on Friday that the government has no plans to impose additional taxes. Speaking during the National Assembly's question hour on Friday, Sheikh clarified that the government has no plans to introduce additional taxes, underscoring efforts to meet the year's revenue collection targets. Meanwhile, Minister of State for Information Technology, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, expressed confidence that new telecom entities will soon enter Pakistan's market. She confirmed that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has already begun issuing virtual network licenses, paving the way for increased competition in the telecommunications sector. She added that a spectrum auction is scheduled for mid-year, further strengthening the telecom landscape. In other updates, Parliamentary Secretary for Planning and Development, Wajiha Qamar, announced the completion of the first phase of the seventh Agriculture Census, which aims to support informed decision-making for the agricultural sector's growth. Furthermore, Parliamentary Secretary for Education, Farah Naz Akbar, shared that the Cambridge Education System will be introduced in four public sector schools in Islamabad starting in April, marking a pilot project for future expansion.

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