Pakistan Dispatch
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa home department has issued security guidelines for political parties in view of the prevailing law and order situation in the province. The guidelines state that all gatherings should be held in broad daylight and should not exceed the assigned time limit. They also prohibit hate speeches, defamatory and derogatory language, and the use of loudspeakers near places of worship, hospitals, and educational institutions. The home department has also warned violators of strict administrative and legal action.
Politics
Foreign Affairs
China’s vice minister for foreign affairs, Sun Weidong, has said that CPEC projects have created 236,000 direct jobs in Pakistan, including 155,000 jobs for Pakistani employees. He also said that CPEC has brought 25.4 billion USD of direct investment to Pakistan, and that many projects under CPEC, including Gwadar port and infrastructure, energy and industry projects, have had important and positive impacts on Pakistan’s development. (Mian Abrar, The Pakistan Today)
H.E. Ms. Jane Marriott, British High Commissioner to Pakistan, met with Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister of Finance and Revenue. The two countries’ long-standing relations were discussed, as well as ways to expand cooperation in various fields. (News Desk, Daily Spokesman)
Pakistan and Iran have declared their commitment to maintaining a peaceful and friendly border while emphasising the completion of the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, which is in the best interest of both nations. Economic cooperation was a major point of discussion, resulting in the establishment of a five-year trade cooperation plan with a target of $5 billion for bilateral trade. The talks covered various aspects of their bilateral relations and the current regional outlook. (Mariana Baabar, The News International)
Greece has cancelled the visas of hundreds of Pakistanis, who had paid large sums of money to obtain them. This has caused anger and frustration among many Pakistanis, who are looking to go abroad due to the country’s economic problems. The Greek and Pakistani governments have been urged to take the issue seriously. (News Desk, Hum News)
National
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif announced that the National Assembly will be dissolved on August 9, three days prior to completing its five-year term. This decision will lead to general elections within 90 days. Shahbaz discussed the political situation with the parliamentary leaders of the allied parties during a dinner. (Khalid Mehmood, The Express Tribune)
The National Assembly (NA) approved 12 more bills on Wednesday, despite outrage from some members of the assembly. The NA also saw a verbal altercation between Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf and South Waziristan MNA Ali Wazir, when the legislator accused Pakistan’s intelligence agencies of “installing” the Taliban government in neighbouring Afghanistan. The speaker warned Wazir not to talk about sensitive matters related to Pakistan’s security forces, and then switched off the mic for Wazir, declaring his words “anti-Pakistan”. (News Desk, The Current)
Judiciary
The Supreme Court of Pakistan has indefinitely adjourned the hearing on a set of petitions challenging the trials of civilians in military courts. The court will not be able to hear the case for at least two weeks due to the unavailability of judges. The Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) has assured the court that no military trials of civilians will be conducted. However, former minister and lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan has raised questions on the credibility of the government’s assurances. The court has also been urged to take suo motu notice on amendments made to the Official Secrets Act, which give intelligence agencies powers to search anyone at any time without a warrant. (Haseeb Bhatti, Dawn)
Economy
President Kissan Ittehad Khalid Mehmood Khokhar has said that corporate farming can attract Rs100 billion investment in the agriculture sector within three years. He dismissed misconceptions about corporate farming, saying it would not negatively impact small farmers. He also urged the government to address minimum support prices for different crops and provide immediate measures to support farming communities affected by recent floods. (News Desk, The Express Tribune)
Multinational firms in Pakistan have asked the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to settle their Rs93bn in pending tax refunds on a priority basis. The firms are under financial pressure due to high tax rates and inflation. (News Desk, Dawn)
Pakistan’s rice exports fell sharply in FY23 due to flooding. However, bumper crop and ban on rice export by India will help achieve all-time high rice exports during FY24. (Rizwan Bhatti, Business Recorder)
Infographic
In March 2023, Pakistan’s tax revenue was reported to be 21.579 USD billion. This represents an increase over the previous figure of 16.769 USD billion for December 2022. (CEIC Data)
Opinion: Causes and solution of radicalisation in Pakistan
The article discusses the causes and solutions of religious extremism in Pakistan. The author argues that the rise of religious extremism can be attributed to multiple factors, including socio-economic conditions, the growth of religious theological schools, and the engagement of Pakistan in territorial disputes. The author also argues that Islam offers a comprehensive framework for addressing religious extremism and cultivating a harmonious society. (Umar Riaz Abbasi, Pakistan Observer)
Bangladesh Dispatch
India has expressed hope that the next national elections in Bangladesh will be held peacefully. The Indian government has declined to comment on the issue of whether the elections should be held under a caretaker government, saying that it is up to the people of Bangladesh to decide. However, India has said that it is closely monitoring the situation in Bangladesh and hopes that the elections will be held as planned. This is the first time that India has officially commented on the upcoming elections in Bangladesh. The comments come amid concerns about the possibility of violence or irregularities in the polls. India is hoping for a peaceful and democratic election that will result in a stable government in Bangladesh.
Politics
Foreign Relations
The Awami League (AL) and US are on the same page regarding the need for a free, fair and peaceful election in Bangladesh. The two sides discussed the issue during a meeting between AL general secretary Obaidul Quader and US Ambassador Peter Hass. Quader said that the AL is committed to holding a fair election, and that the US has not made any demands about the caretaker government system, resignation of Sheikh Hasina, dissolution of Parliament or the Election Commission. (News Desk, The Daily Sun)
The US is providing Bangladesh with military equipment and training, including Blackjack UAS, 35-foot SAFE Patrol Boats, and Zodiac Rigid Hull Boats. The US has also provided modern weapons, ammunition, body armour, advanced radio systems, and first aid equipment to the SWADS and Para Commandos. The two countries are also working together in joint exercises such as Tiger Lightning and Cope South. The US is committed to working with Bangladesh to ensure that the Indo-Pacific region remains free, open, peaceful, and secure. (News Agency, Microsoft Start)
National
Jamaat-e-Islami was denied permission to hold a rally in Dhaka on Friday, August 4. The DMP cited security concerns as the reason for the denial. Jamaat-e-Islami leaders said that they never applied for permission, but for information and cooperation from the police. They said that they have the right to hold peaceful rallies and that the government and administration will face the anger of the people if they do not allow them to do so. (News Desk, The Daily Observer)
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is holding a countrywide protest rally today in protest against a court verdict against party supremo Tarique Rahman and his spouse. BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam accused the government of using the judiciary as a tool to harass the opponents. He said the verdict was given against the person, who is spearheading this one-point movement, only to question his leadership. (News Desk, The Financial Express)
According to Nurul Islam Bulbul, a Jamaat-e-Islami leader, no government has been able to halt the people’s movement for their rights through oppression and torture. He also stated that the government is using law enforcement to achieve their political goals, and that people are protesting in the streets. He demanded the immediate release of Jamaat’s top leaders and activists imprisoned on false charges. (News Desk, The Daily Naya Diganta)
Economy
The European Union has disbursed EUR 44.875 million to support education reforms in Bangladesh. The funds will be used to improve access to education, modernize the curriculum, and increase access to Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET). The EU also expressed concerns about the teachers’ professional development and implementation of the National Skills Development Policy. (News Desk, Prothom Alo)
Deposits in Bangladesh banks increased by Tk31,181 crore in June, the second-highest monthly growth in history. The increase was driven by higher interest rates, remittances, and central bank liquidity injections. (Sakhawat Prince, The Business Standard)
Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserves have fallen by more than $8 billion in the last fiscal year, despite a government crackdown on imports. This has led to a decline in investment and a depreciation of the taka against the US dollar. Economists say that the government needs to reschedule large foreign payments, increase remittances, and boost exports in order to increase the reserves. (Talukder Farhad, The Business Post)
Infographic
Bangladesh’s trade deficit shrank by 48% in FY23, as imports declined and exports grew modestly. The current account deficit also narrowed significantly, to $3.33 billion from $18.64 billion in FY22. (Finance Report, The Financial Express)
Society
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed the “Smart Bangladesh Task Force” to work in spreading technology further among the common people. She said that skilled human resources have to be developed in the country as digital devices are opening up new opportunities. She also laid emphasis on learning the languages of different countries, increasing the quality of education and subject-based studies, as well as skill development. She said that Bangladesh has made significant progress in ICT development and that many developed countries are now lagging behind Bangladesh in this area. (News Desk, Jagonews24)
Opinion: The tangled web of geopolitics and Bangladesh
Bangladesh’s foreign policy has become increasingly complex in recent years as the country has sought to balance its relationships with major powers such as the United States and China. The author argues that Bangladesh must prioritise democracy, human rights, and freedom of expression in order to navigate its foreign policy successfully. The author also calls for a more democratic and transparent foreign policy process in Bangladesh. (Ayesha Kabir, Prothom Alo)
