As Israel and Hamas began a two-day prolongation of a truce that has halted the deadly Gaza war, a fresh batch of Israeli hostages was scheduled to be released on Tuesday in return for Palestinian prisoners. After seven weeks of fighting, the brief end to hostilities and the release of prisoners were welcomed as signs of hope. According to a source close to the Palestinian movement Hamas, in the first exchanges under the extended truce, 30 inmates released from Israeli jails on Tuesday would be exchanged for the release of 10 hostages held in Gaza. “Lists of the 10 Israeli hostages and 30 Palestinian prisoners for the fifth day of the truce were exchanged without objections,” a source told AFP.
Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, the caretaker prime minister, stated on Friday that the interim administration will make a lasting impact on the home front thanks to its reformative approach and strong governance. During a dialogue with the Prime Minister, PM Kakar stated that the interim administration deserves recognition for successfully addressing difficult issues related to the economy, privatisation, and connectivity. In his speech, the prime minister discussed his outlook for Pakistan’s future and described “skilled human capital as the answer to several challenges.” In addition to its abundant natural resources, he claimed that Pakistan, a significant regional member of the ECO, possessed a strategic location at the meeting point of central and south Asia. He said that the 240 million people living in the country, with a large youth bulge under 25, give value to human capital.
Jalil Abbas Jilani, the foreign minister, stated on Friday that Pakistan is prepared to airlift the wounded Palestinians and bring them to Pakistan for treatment, and he added that Jordan and Egypt have also been informed of this. The disclosure was made by the top Pakistani ambassador in response to a Senate calling attention notice. The notification requested a briefing from the foreign minister regarding Pakistan’s efforts to put an end to the atrocities committed against the Palestinian people in Gaza. The minister’s remarks coincided with the Israel-Hamas truce going into force today, following nearly a month of bombing in Gaza that claimed the lives of over 14,000 people, many of them women and children.
A “common citizen cannot even imagine” the comforts being granted to former prime minister Imran Khan in jail, according to interim interior minister Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti. “Imran is a laadla of the courts, so the facilities provided to him are more than those provided to an ordinary prisoner or a prime minister behind bars,” Bugti stated in an interview. “A regular citizen cannot even imagine the kind of facilities being provided to him in jail—they were not given to any prime minister,” he continued. Recalling Imran’s detention on May 9, Bugti asserted that orders to transport the PTI leader to Islamabad Police Lines in a Mercedes were given “within two minutes.” Bugti responded, “Failure is too big,” when asked about the “failure” in handling the fatal confrontations in Kurram district last month that killed over a dozen lives. Without a doubt, “hostile agencies in the fault lines of Pakistan” constantly attempt to escalate bloodshed, according to the interior minister. He continued, “There is an effort to increase fault lines.” Bugti stated that there were “connections of conspiracies” between the disturbance in Gilgit Baltistan in early September and the Jaranwala event in August, referring to “somewhere else.” Bugti elaborated on the nation’s security state, mentioning “planned” social media efforts and said that “our media, especially social media, needs to be regulated by a firewall.”
Imam-e-Kaaba , Sheikh Saleh bin Abdullah bin Muhammad Humaid paid a visit to COAS Gen Asim Munir at the General Headquarters on Friday. Mutually beneficial topics were discussed at the meeting, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The COAS greeted the dignitary and emphasised that the Imam-e-Kaaba’s visit to Pakistan was an honour for the people of this country. He claimed that Muslims all over the world held “Harmain Shraifain” in the highest regard and showed great respect for their caretaker. Islam is a religion of peace and fraternity, according to the Imam-e-Kaaba, and it cannot be misunderstood. The dignitaries showed their support for the people of Palestine and Kashmir and denounced the continued horrors in the Gaza conflict as well as the persecution of Muslims in IIOJK.
The Senate was notified on Friday by Caretaker Minister for Finance and Revenue Shamshad Akhtar that the $3 billion Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) had been authorised by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Board, with $1.2 billion of the amount having already been disbursed. In response to several inquiries during Q&A, she stated that the programme lasted for nine months. She also stated that the SBA would conduct two reviews, one in November 2023 and the other in March 2024. The minister stated that the remaining funds would be disbursed following the conclusion of each review. She also stated that the interest rate was currently 4.198% and that the principal repayment was due in eight equal quarterly installments within 3.25 years of the loan’s distribution.
The Senate was notified on Friday by Murtaza Solangi, the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Information, and Broadcasting, that the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) had deemed 20 bottled water brands unsafe because of certain issues in its quarterly report covering the period of April–June 2023. In response to a query, the minister stated that just two of the entire number of people considered unsafe had PSQCA registrations; the remaining people had none. He said that the registered brands were targeted and that their manufacturing had been halted. He added that the remaining brands were fraudulent and that all of the groups responsible for producing dangerous goods had been hauled to court. But he pointed out that under the PSQCA statute, the maximum penalty for such offenders may be one year in prison and a fine of Rs 50,000.
Muhammad Sami Saeed, the caretaker minister for planning, development, and special initiatives, stressed the value of good governance on Friday and urged civil servants to swiftly adapt to the changing environment in order to successfully handle difficulties that arise. Speaking during the 38th Mid-Career Management Course Certificate Award Ceremony at the National Institute of Management (NIM) in this location, he highlighted the rapidly changing global landscape and provided his ideas on governance. He urged civil officials to excel in this dynamic environment by highlighting the opportunities and difficulties brought about by technology breakthroughs, globalisation, and evolving paradigms of economic integration. The minister praised the institute for its commitment to improving the abilities of government servants in his thought-provoking speech.
The Pakistan Alliance for Girls’ Education (PAGE) received congratulations from Madad Ali Sindhi, the caretaker minister for Federal Education and Professional Training, on Friday for winning the UNESCO Prize for Girls and Women’s Education 2023 in China. During the UNESCO Prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education 2023 Empowering Girls Through Education event at IMSG (VI-X) G-7/2, participants received shields from Minister and Secretary for Education Waseem Ajmal Chaudhry. Speaking at the event, he stated that Fajr Rabia Pasha, one of our sisters, had effectively carried out her responsibility as a daughter of Pakistan, making today’s event extremely meaningful. According to Madad, women make up half of the population and without their support, no nation could reach its full potential.
Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories: After seven weeks of fighting that has claimed thousands of lives, a four-day ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict was declared on Friday. In exchange for prisoners, hostages are expected to be freed. After Hamas launched its deadly raids into Israel on October 7, the two sides in the war decided to put an end to hostilities by silencing weapons and stopping bombings at 7:00 am (0500 GMT). According to Qatari mediators, the agreement calls for the release of 13 women and children who have been kept captive in Gaza at 4:00 pm. A number of Palestinian inmates from Israeli prisons would also be released.
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