A deadly car bomb explosion that rocked a hotel, supposedly well-fortified, in Quetta, capital of Pakistan s southwestern Balochistan province late Wednesday, has become the latest material for some Western media to exploit hours after the tragedy and to hype local resentment against the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects in the region, citing the facility was hosting Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong.
INSIGHT
For the first time, after the completion of its three year funding programme, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has admitted that fiscal consolidation has slowed down and that the macroeconomic stability gains made during 2013-16 have begun to erode, which could pose risks to the economic outlook.
Why did the IMF and its executive board remain in denial mode for so long and gave waiver after waiver during their 12 reviews of the Pakistani economy? Why have they chosen this particular time to warn the government by painting such a gloomy picture of the country’s economy?
All this happened recently, when the IMF Executive Board concluded its Article IV consultations with Pakistan. Allegedly, their criticism serves a dual purpose: it warns other multilateral and bilateral creditors to do their homework before offering any fresh loans to Pakistan; and secondly, it reminds the rulers that they cannot survive without looking towards the Washington-based lending agency for
Power consumers to pay Rs1.1tr
Payments to IPPs and idle plants due on account of rising capacity charges
PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The honest power consumers are likely to pay an additional Rs1.1 trillion to the powerful independent power plants (IPPs) including idle generation companies on account of rising capacity payments.
The capacity payments have continued to increase and are expected to touch a high of Rs1.6 trillion in 2023. During the tenure of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, the capacity payments have swelled 53% from 2018 to 2021.
The capacity payments stood at Rs500 billion in 2018, the year when the PTI came to power. This has jumped to nearly Rs950 billion in 2021, registering an increase of 53% or Rs450 billion.
National
April 22, 2021
SLAMABAD: Special Assistant (SA) to the Prime Minister on Political Communication Dr Shahbaz Gill Wednesday said the present government was successfully fulfilling its promises made with the people.
Addressing a news conference along with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader, Sadaqat Abbasi, he said three major projects, being inaugurated by the Prime Minister Imran Khan in Peshawar this day, would serve the masses in true sense. Giving the details, Dr Gill said the ownership rights of 1,320 houses were being awarded to the low income people in Nowshera under Naya Pakistan Housing Authority, in the first phase.
Listing another project, he revealed that the prime minister was inaugurating the newly constructed OPD Block and other state-of-the-art facilities in Khyber Teaching Hospital. The capacity of the hospital had been doubled after restructuring which would facilitate providing medical treatment to the maximum patients especially during the COVID-19
Daily Times Pakistan is fourth largest milk producer in world, with buffalo milk accounting for 60% of total yield
April 22, 2021
Buffalo milk could add to Pakistan’s forex as Chinese entrepreneurs show interest for investment in this sector, it was reported by China Economic Net (CEN) quoting Chen Yiyi, President of China’s Royal Group.
Chen Yiyi told China-Pakistan Agricultural and Industrial Cooperation Information Platform (CPAIC) after a week-long visit to Pakistan that the country is rich in buffalo breeds, buffalo research, and buffalo milk manufacturing. “To leverage its advantages and enhance Pakistan-China cooperation in this field, we hope to set up a dairy processing plant in Pakistan,” Chen added.