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Pakistan Likely To Get USD 700 Million From IMF As Next Tranche Of Bailout This Month: Report

editor January 2, 2024Leave a comment

Islamabad, Jan 2: Low on funds According to a media report on Tuesday, Pakistan is anticipated to receive USD 700 million as the next installment of the IMF's bailout when the global lender's Executive Board convenes on January 11. According to the Dawn newspaper, the board of the International Monetary Fund, based in Washington, is scheduled to discuss and possibly approve the disbursement of the next USD 700 million tranche for Pakistan under the current USD 3 billion Stand-By Arrangement (SBA).The IMF Executive Board calendar shows that meetings will take place on January 8, 10, and 11, with a discussion of Pakistan's case on the final day. The USD 3 billion current IMF programme is scheduled to end in the second week of April, with about USD 1.8 billion still to be disbursed. In July, the first installment of USD 1.2 billion was made available. Regarding the first review under Pakistan's SBA, a Staff-Level Agreement was reached in November 2023 between IMF staff and Pakistani authorities.The Executive Board of the IMF must approve this agreement. Although the board was supposed to approve the process in December, it appears that January 11 has been set aside for it. This is a significant development for Pakistan's economy because the next tranche's disbursement may offer much-needed financial support. The future course of Pakistan and the IMF's continuing economic cooperation will be determined by the results of the next meeting. In a separate statement, the IMF stated that "significant progress has been made over the FY23 budget, and discussions between the IMF staff and the authorities on policies to strengthen macroeconomic stability in the coming year continue."The IMF also updated its data and projections for Pakistan's economy, which showed a difficult future for the nation in 2024. The real GDP is expected to contract by 0.5% this year, according to the IMF's most recent estimates, suggesting possible economic challenges. Concurrently, a notable rise is predicted for the Consumer Price Index in 2024. This points to a significant increase in inflation, creating more difficulties for the stability of the national economy. Even though the State Bank's reserves unexpectedly increased by USD 853 million in the week ending December 22, 2023, Pakistan is eager to get the second tranche, which will demonstrate that Islamabad has complied with the IMF's demands for economic recovery.The Ministry of Finance recently declared that it had successfully exceeded the IMF's target of collecting Rs 4.425 trillion in revenue between July and December by Rs 43 billion. Pakistan is more likely to get the remaining USD 3 billion SBA funding in March after obtaining the second tranche of USD 700 million this month. But, the country has already been informed by acting Finance Minister Shamshad Akhtar that in order to boost the economy, a new deal with the IMF must be signed.Pakistan will never be able to bid the lending agency farewell. Pakistan continues to experience extremely high inflation despite difficult circumstances; in December, it was 29.7%, up from 29.2% in November. According to the most recent data, Pakistan has participated in 24 agreements with the IMF since joining on July 11, 1950. Dawn claims that this demonstrates the nation's historical reliance on IMF assistance to handle economic difficulties.Pakistan has entered into 23 agreements with the IMF in the last few decades as a result of its ongoing balance-of-payments issues, which are primarily caused by a growing trade deficit. When the nation encountered yet another balance-of-payments crisis in 2019, the current programme with the lender was agreed upon. Since then, Pakistan has received payments from the IMF totaling approximately $4 billion, leaving a $2.6 billion balance. [caption id="attachment_8188" align="alignnone" width="300"] Pakistan Likely To Get USD 700 Million…

MHA Declares Canada-Based Absconding Gangster Goldy Brar A Terrorist Under UAPA

editor January 1, 2024Leave a comment

New Delhi, Jan 1: According to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) designated Canadian-based absconding gangster Satwinder Singh, also known as Goldy Brar, as a terrorist on Monday. The MHA cited his involvement in the smuggling of high-grade weapons, ammunition, and explosive materials from across the border through drones, which he then used to carry out killings and provide sharpshooters. Brar's name was added by the MHA as the 56th terrorist in the Fourth Schedule of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, in light of his involvement in terrorism.The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967's clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 35 grants the MHA the authority to take this action. Brar, who was born on April 11, 1994, and has a permanent address in Adesh Nagar, Muktsar Sahib City, Punjab, is currently residing in Brampton, Canada. According to the MHA's notification, Brar is a member of the terrorist group Babbar Khalsa International. Known by another alias, Satinderjit Singh, the MHA claimed that Brar, who is supported by a cross-border agency, has a radical ideology, has been involved in several killings, and has made threats against pro-nationalist leaders. He has also been known to post claims of killings on various social media platforms and to demand ransom.According to the Ministry, Brar has also been involved in the smuggling of high-grade weapons, ammunition, and explosive materials across the border using drones. These items are supplied to kill people and to provide sharpshooters. According to the Ministry, Brar and his allies have been planning nefarious schemes, such as sabotage, the creation of terror modules, carrying out targeted killings, and other anti-national activities, to upset the peace, communal harmony, and law and order in the state of Punjab. The Brar has received a Red Corder notice from the INTERPOL Secretariat General (IPSG), located in Lyon, France.Brar is the subject of the Look Out Circular that was issued on June 15, 2022, and a non-bailable warrant was issued against him on December 12, 2022. [caption id="attachment_8152" align="alignnone" width="300"] MHA Declares Canada-Based Absconding Gangster Goldy Brar A Terrorist Under UAPA[/caption]

Dhangri Terror Attack Anniversary: Villagers Remember Victims Vow To Foil Terrorists’ Designs

editor January 1, 2024Leave a comment

Rajouri, Jan 1: Dheeraj Sharma, the sarpanch of Jammu and Kashmir's Dhangri village, which witnessed five of its citizens being shot dead by terrorists on this day last year, vowed that people are determined to thwart the evil plans of the enemy. A day later, tragedy struck Dhangri in the Rajouri district once more. When an IED that the terrorists had left behind detonated, two village children perished. "No one can understand how much that attack hurt me; in a matter of minutes, my life changed. The 50-year-old widow Saroj Bala said, "I was a proud mother of two sons, Prince and Deepak, and now I am all alone."Terrorists killed Deepak Sharma (age 24), his brother Prince Sharma (age 21), Pritam Lal (age 57) and his son Shishu Pal Sharma (age 32), and an ex-serviceman named Satish Kumar (age 45) by firing randomly. Vihaan Sharma, 4, and Samiksha Sharma, 13, both perished in the explosion of an improvised explosive device (IED). The terrorists' gunfire also caused numerous injuries. "We never imagined an attack like this." Terrorists profited from our lax attitude. We are determined to thwart the evil plans of the enemy forces, and we have now taken countermeasures," Dheeraj Sharma stated.He gave an explanation of the actions, saying that a company of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is currently guarding the village and that Village Defence Guards (VDGs) are on guard. VDG members are on guard around-the-clock to protect the village, according to Bal Sharma, one of the members who had fired on the terrorists and forced them to flee. In the border district of Rajouri, this was the first attack of that kind in more than sixteen years. As a result, the CRPF company was sent to the village.In connection with the incident, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has detained two terror associates from Gursai village in Poonch's Mendhar. This is despite the fact that two Pakistani terrorists, including the mastermind of the January 1 attack, were killed in two separate encounters with security forces in Rajouri in May and November of last year. But Saroj Bala expressed his dissatisfaction with the investigation conducted after the attack. As per her statement, "we are waiting for justice" and the investigative agencies have not concluded yet.Why did our houses become the target of an attack without any of our fault? Why were the members of our innocent family so brutally murdered? Saroj Bala questioned, "Why was the IED placed in front of my house?" She asserted that the people who helped the attackers in this area have not yet been found. In addition, she insisted on the construction of a memorial for the victims of the shooting and IED explosion. Nita Devi, 30, who lost both her father-in-law and her husband Shishu Pal in the January 1 attack, recalled that she was cooking when a terrorist broke into her home, demanded Aadhaar cards, and then opened fire on the men."While my husband passed away from his wounds at the Government Medical College-affiliated hospital in Rajouri, my father-in-law passed away immediately. "They were workers," she remarked. "My two children, Sakshi in class 4 and Parvas in class 1, are the only ones left in the family. With their father gone, I worry about their better future," Devi remarked. She said, "I live in constant fear." Shubh Sharma, 18, who was injured but survived the shooting, claimed that despite his survival, he lost his father, Satish. He was shot multiple times, and in order to preserve his life, doctors performed two operations on him. In five months, he will have more surgery.A local resident named Rajat Kumar stated that people still remember the incidents. He stated that on that particular day, "it took us about ten minutes to realise what was going on because at first we thought the gunshots were coming from someone breaking crackers to celebrate the new year." Shashi Bala, a relative of Saroj Bala who had come to offer condolences on the first anniversary of the attack, said that although the people of Dhangri are brave, there is undoubtedly fear among them because the attack was lethal and resulted in the deaths of innocent civilians. "Dhangri used to be just another village to us, where our relatives lived, but now it's associated with killings of innocent bystanders, including children," the woman remarked. [caption id="attachment_8136"…

J&K Court Declares 23 Terrorists Based In Pakistan, PoJK Proclaimed Offenders

editor January 1, 2024Leave a comment

Jammu, Jan 1: 23 terrorists from the Kishtwar district, who operate out of Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), were proclaimed offenders by a court in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, according to police. They have one month to appear before the Doda special Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) court in relation to cases filed against them; if they don't, officials said, their properties will be attached. They said that with the court order on Monday, there are now 36 proclaimed offenders in Kishtwar.Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Kishtwar, Khalil Poswal, told reporters, "In a significant move to address security challenges within the district, the UAPA special court in Doda has declared 23 terrorists from Kishtwar operating from Pakistan and PoJK as proclaimed offenders." On September 16, the court declared thirteen terrorists to be proclaimed offenders, he said. "Pakistan and PoJK are home to 36 Kishtwar-born terrorists who conduct their operations there. They are the subject of two FIRs, he continued.Poswal stated that the Kishtwar police's hard work in gathering vital information, filing FIRs against these terrorists, and painstakingly presenting all of the evidence in court made this possible. He said that these terrorists have been given a month by the court to appear before it. "Their properties will be attached under Section 82 of the Criminal Procedure Code if they don't surrender before the law," he said, adding that police had already identified the properties of 12 of them.The SSP stated that the court process to attach the properties of seven of the thirteen terrorists who were proclaimed offenders in September has been started. He declared that maintaining the safety and security of the district and following the law are the top priorities of the Kishtwar police. Poswal stated, "We are collaborating closely with law enforcement agencies to uphold due process and bring these people to justice." [caption id="attachment_8133" align="alignnone" width="300"] J&K Court Declares 23 Terrorists Based In Pakistan, PoJK Proclaimed Offenders[/caption]

Soldiers, Locals Celebrate New Year Over Cups Of Tea, Dance In Village Near LoC

editor January 1, 2024Leave a comment

CHURUNDA, Jan 1: Soldiers celebrate the new year here at the Line of Control (LoC) hours before the rest of the country does on Sunday night. They were forced to resume their nighttime responsibilities of patrolling and policing Pakistan's border. However, at a short celebration arranged by the army and the locals to commemorate the occasion, they exchanged greetings over hot cups of tea, food, and a dance before heading back to their posts. In this quiet village in the Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir, the celebrations began at 4 p.m. on a chilly Sunday. The villagers and the army assured one another that they will stick by each other through good times and bad."The army has always been the first to help when a civilian has an issue. Local social activist Lal Hassan Kohli added, "And in times of need, civilians have stood shoulder to shoulder with soldiers." The army planned the programme for the New Year's celebration. I commend and express gratitude to the army for this. The army supports us in our most trying times, he said, if we encounter any difficulties. According to Kohli, the people in the area are grateful to the army for preventing the enemy from invading "our territory." "The army commemorates all significant days together. Republic Day is fast approaching, followed by Independence Day in August. In the village, the soldiers also show up to weddings. Like brothers, we live here. We hope and pray that our relationship with the army endures," he continued. The village sarpanch, Lal Din Khatana, claimed that such occasions enable everyone, even the soldiers, to forget about their troubles and have fun. At the Line of Control's zero point, we celebrate the new year with the army. It's a great programme, and we hope that this custom will carry on in the future. These events allow us to forget about our everyday problems while also allowing the soldiers, who are serving overseas, to enjoy themselves, Khatana said.A local school teacher named Jehangir Lateef expressed gratitude to the army for guaranteeing a peaceful 2023 along the LoC in their neighbourhood. "I hope that we continue to live in harmony and that 2024 will be peaceful," he continued. Following the brief celebrations, the soldiers returned to their jobs of patrolling the Line of Control while the civilians retired to their homes. [caption id="attachment_8130" align="alignnone" width="300"] Soldiers, Locals Celebrate New Year Over Cups Of…

Magnitude 7.4 Earthquake Strikes Japan, Tsunami Warning Issued

editor January 1, 2024January 1, 2024Leave a comment

TOKYO, Jan 1: According to public broadcaster NHK, an earthquake struck north central Japan on Monday with a preliminary magnitude of 7.4. A tsunami warning was issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency along the coasts of the prefectures of Niigata, Toyama, and Ishikawa. According to NHK, Hokuriku Electric Power stated that it is examining any anomalies at its nuclear power facilities. [caption id="attachment_8121" align="alignnone" width="300"] Magnitude 7.4 Earthquake Strikes Japan, Tsunami Warning Issued[/caption]

ISRO Successfully Launches Its Maiden X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite

editor January 1, 2024Leave a comment

SRIHARIKOTA (ANDHRA PRADESH), Jan 1: With the successful launch of its first X-Ray Polarimeter satellite on Monday, ISRO will be able to learn more about astronomical objects such as black holes. Launched at the scheduled time of 9.10 am from the first launch pad here, ISRO's always dependable Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) successfully completed the C58 mission, putting the primary X-Ray Polarimeter satellite XPoSat into a 650 km Low Earth Orbit as planned. This spaceport is located approximately 135 km east of Chennai. As the 25-hour countdown came to an end, the 44.4-meter-tall rocket lifted off majestically to thunderous applause from spectators who had gathered here in large numbers.The goal of the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) is to study how polarised intense X-ray sources are in space. It is the first specialised scientific satellite from ISRO to conduct studies on space-based polarisation measurements of X-ray emission from celestial sources, according to the space agency. When analysing the radiation mechanism and geometry of celestial sources, X-ray polarisation is an essential diagnostic tool. POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-Rays), developed by the Raman Research Institute to measure polarimetry parameters, and XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing), constructed by the U R Rao Satellite Centre, Bengaluru, are the main payloads of XPoSat. The average missionary stays for five years. [caption id="attachment_8118" align="alignnone" width="300"] ISRO Successfully Launches Its Maiden X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite[/caption]

55 Foreign Terrorists Among 76 Neutralised In J&K In 2023: DGP

editor December 30, 2023Leave a comment

Jammu, Dec 30: Director General of Police R R Swain said on Saturday that 76 terrorists, including 55 foreigners, were neutralised in Jammu and Kashmir this year under the Public Safety Act. According to Swain, 201 overground employees were booked and 291 more terrorist associates were taken into custody. According to Swain, there are currently only 31 local terrorists in the Union Territory, which is a record low. According to him, there were 14 civilian deaths at the hands of terrorists in 2023; incidents linked to terror decreased by 63% from the previous year; there was also a decrease in terrorist recruitment, with fewer calls for strikes and acts of stone-throwing.According to Swain, four police officers—including a DSP and an inspector—have died in terror attacks. In Jammu and Kashmir, according to the police chief, 89 terrorist modules were dismantled, 18 terrorist hideouts were discovered, 99 properties valued at over Rs 170 crore—including buildings, land, orchards, and commercial establishments—were attached, and 68 bank accounts were frozen. He went on to say that more than 8,000 phoney social media profiles endorsing terrorism and separatism had been found and shut down. [caption id="attachment_8035" align="alignnone" width="300"] 55 Foreign Terrorists Among 76 Neutralised In J&K In 2023: DGP[/caption]

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Home Ministry declares Canada-based gangster Lakhbir Singh Landa as terrorist

editor December 30, 2023

NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) designated Canada-based gangster Lakhbir Singh Landa as a terrorist. The move comes amid the continuing strain in diplomatic ties between New Delhi and Ottawa over PM Justin…

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India Seeks Extradition Of Let Founder Hafiz Saeed

editor December 29, 2023

NEW DELHI, Dec 29: Hafiz Saeed, the founder of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), is wanted in India for a number of terror attacks, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks. India has requested that Pakistan extradite Saeed. According to Arindam Bagchi, a spokesman for the External Affairs Ministry, Islamabad recently received the request for the terrorist's extradition along with a few supporting documents. In response to a question during his weekly media briefing, Bagchi stated that an extradition request had recently been sent. Saeed is a terrorist that the UN has banned. [caption id="attachment_7972" align="alignnone" width="300"] India Seeks Extradition Of Let Founder Hafiz Saeed[/caption]

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