The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) will meet in Paris for five days to decide on Pakistan’s grey list fate, staring on February 16. In October 2019, the FATF had decided to keep Pakistan on its grey list till February, giving it time to implement the FATF’s 27-point action plan. Pakistan is on its grey list because of deficiencies in the country’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering of Terrorist Financing regulations.
The sale of illegal cigarettes in the country has increased significantly since the imposition of the Federal Excise Duty (FED), according to a quarterly report released by the State Bank of Pakistan. The output of the official cigarette industry declined by 35.5% due to the increase in FED as it pushed the consumers towards cheaper alternatives in the form of counterfeits and cigarettes smuggled from abroad.
Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is all set to receive the first 12 of 26 dual-seat JF-17B Thunder aircraft in the near future, according to the revelation made by Air Chief Marshall, Mujahid Anwar Khan. The delivery of remaining jets will be completed in 2021. Out of the 12, 4 multirole fighters have been built at the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAC) whereas the remaining 8 at Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) in Kamra.
President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan will pay an official visit to Pakistan on February 13th to cement relations between the two countries. The Turkish President will be accompanied by a delegation of Turkish businessmen. He requested that Pakistani businessmen who are interested in B2B with the delegates are requested to contact the Trade and Development Authority of Pakistan.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that he will be inviting Turkey to join the multi-billion dollar CPEC projects. He further added that he hopes to strengthen ties with Turkey. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to visit Islamabad mid-February, which he hopes will build on the brotherly relationship between Islamabad and Ankara as he will be bringing various buisness houses and investors with him.
Pakistan beat Afghanistan by six wickets in the U19 Cricket World Cup to secure a place in the semi-final and will now play against India. Pakistan’s bowlers put on a disciplined performance as they dismissed the Afghan side for just 189. Captain Farhan Zakhil was the top-scorer with 40 (55) with seven boundaries to his name while Muhammad Amir Khan was the pick of the bowlers as he returned with figures of 3-58 in 10 overs.
The government has finally declared national emergency to eliminate attacking swarms of desert locust which have destroyed crops in Sindh and are headed towards Punjab. The four provinces also approved a national action plan (NAP) that requires Rs7.3 billion to overcome the crisis. The PM directed the authorities concerned to make immediate measures on basis of damage of ripened crops.
The government of Kenya has shown keen interest in importing mangoes and citrus fruits from Pakistan. This was said by Waheed Ahmed, Patron in Chief of All Pakistan Fruit & Vegetable Exporters, Importers & Merchant Association from Kenya who is visiting its capital Nairobi. Waheed Ahmed said that they have held several meetings with the government officials in Kenya, convincing them about the varieties Pakistan hold for Mango and citrus.
Nasir Saleem, a Pakistani-American police officer, has become the first man of Pakistani origin to be appointed as deputy chief of the New York Police Department’s volunteer force.With 30 years of service in New York Police, Saleem is also the first Muslim to be named as Auxiliary Deputy Chief of the force. Saleem will lead the 5000-strong force.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has claimed that India is now capable of defeating Pakistan in less than 10 days. In a speech to military personnel on Tuesday, Modi said “our armed forces will not take more than 7-10 days to make Pakistan bite the dust.” “This is ‘youthful thinking’. We carry out surgical strikes and take on terrorists in their homes,” Modi said.