Pakistan People’s Party decided against resigning from the assemblies

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has decided against resigning from the assemblies besides also hinting that it would take part in the Senate polls.

“We will challenge the incumbent government from within the assemblies,” he said while addressing a presser at Media Cell of Bilawal House after the Central Executive Council (CEC) meeting of the party earlier in the day.

He further announced that the PPP wants all parties to jointly fight the Senate polls, scheduled in March, in order to give a tough time to the government.

The PPP chairman said that their party policy is to act as per the PDM’s action plan while refusing to either accept or deny the reports being circulated the entire day regarding discussion during the CEC meeting.

He denied that the PDM has decided on resignations and said that any decision on submitting resignations would be taken after consultation.

“A meeting of the PDM will decide on the timings of the resignations,” Bilawal Bhutto said adding that currently all resignations will be submitted to the party leadership by December 31.

“We will attack the incumbent government from all sides,” he said while terming the resignations as an atomic bomb and said that that the CEC had not rejected the option.

The chairman further rejected the approval of the 2017 census by the federal cabinet and said that it should be reviewed. “We will contact with the coalition partners of the incumbent government who have expressed their reservations over the census process,” he said.

Census is the problem of masses and if its figures are improper then there will have issues in distribution of resources, he said.

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Khawaja Asif having inordinate wealth detained by NAB

Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Khawaja Muhammad Asif has been reportedly detained by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for allegedly having inordinate wealth compared to the sources of income.

NAB has confirmed the development of arresting Khawaja Asif earlier today in the case of assets beyond means case.

Asif was present at another PML-N lawmaker Ahsan Iqbal’s residence for a huddle that was scheduled shortly following Pakistan Peoples Party session earlier today.

The accountability watchdog claimed that Asif could not furnish a satisfactory response on his possession of assets amounting to Rs260 million.

NAB said it will present Asif tomorrow before the court to plea a transit remand to take him to Lahore chapter of the bureau.

It has now been confirmed by NAB that the arrest was sanctioned by Chairman NAB Justice retd Javed Iqbal himself after he could not convince the three-member committee of NAB investigation on how he made assets that do not conform to his means of earning.

Asif, according to ARY sources, was arrested as soon as he left Iqbal’s place following a party leadership huddle which was attended by Maryam Nawaz Sharif as well.

 

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President Alvi endorses need for national dialogue on electoral reforms

President Arif Alvi backed on Monday calls for a national dialogue on electoral reforms, but made it clear that Prime Minister Imran Khan will decide when to hold a dialogue and with whom.

He expressed these views in a meeting with senior journalists about persons with disabilities at the President House on Monday.

The president said the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s demand of resignation from the government was unjustified and added that the political system was being destabilised for the last two years.

Read more: Maryam Nawaz has never managed a kitchen in her life but wants to run the country, says Fawad Chaudhry

“There is a need for a national dialogue on electoral reform but the prime minister will decide when and with whom,” President Alvi said.

The Opposition, however, has demanded the prime minister resign and denied to sit with the ‘selected’ regime and hold talks on any issue.

On Monday, federal ministers said that the prime minister is ready for dialogue with serious-minded opposition leaders on public issues minus JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman and PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz.

Addressing the media in the federal capital, Information and Broadcasting Minister Senator Shibli Faraz said neither of the two Opposition leaders were in Parliament, which was the real forum to discuss the public's problems. "Maryam Nawaz and Fazlur Rehman are not in Parliament so the government cannot talk to them," he said.

Faraz was flanked by Water Resources Minister Faisal Vawda and Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry.

The PTI regime would only hold talks with "the responsible individuals who sit in the Parliament", he said, challenging the anti-government PDM to apprise the Centre of what it planned to do once it had toppled the federal government.

The information minister also said the Opposition was geared towards creating chaos in the country to protect their looted money and that those who intended on kicking out an elected government could never favour democracy.

"The PDM's public gathering yesterday neither made any mention of nor praised the soldiers who were martyred in Balochistan," he added, according to the publication.

On the other hand, Vawda, the water resources minister, underscored that "if Maryam uses the word 'fugitive' for [former military ruler] Pervez Musharraf, then why doesn't she call her father with the same name?"

"Please tell us the date or the year [of your arrival in Islamabad] since -[you made the] claim to be coming here to demand resignations" from the PTI government, he added, noting that PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz's frustration was centred in achieving power.

Chaudhry, the science minister, noted that the PDM's platform was being used against the Centre, Punjab, and public institutions. The government would only hold talks with senior and mature Opposition leaders, he added.

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Vaccine overdose puts German care workers in hospital

Germany’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign has been overshadowed by a mishap in the north where eight workers in an elderly care home received an overdose.

Vorpommern-Ruegen district authorities said the workers in Stralsund city received five times the recommended dose of the BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine on Sunday. Four went to hospital for observation after developing flu-like symptoms.

“I deeply regret the incident. This individual case is due to individual errors. I hope that all those affected do not experience any serious side-effects,” district chief Stefan Kerth said in a statement.

The incident came after some German districts declined to use vaccines received over the weekend on suspicion that cold conditions were interrupted during delivery.

Vorpommern-Ruegen authorities pointed to previous statements by BioNtech saying larger doses were tested in the Phase 1 study without serious consequences. There was no immediate comment from the pharmaceutical companies.

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Schools closure may be extended, says Punjab education minister

Schools throughout Punjab may remain closed for an extended time period given the situation of the coronavirus pandemic, said Punjab Education Minister Murad Raas on Tuesday.

The minister was speaking at the opening ceremony of the retirement system for teachers of the province where he touched upon the issue of schools being closed throughout the province.

"I want to open schools," he said. "However, we may have to go with the option of extending the closure of schools, given the current circumstances," added the minister.

Raas said that personally he was not in favour of closing schools, adding that the pandemic had wreaked havoc on children's education. "A joint meeting of all education ministers will take place on January 4 where the decision to extend schools closure or not will be taken," he added.

The minister said that the provincial government suspended examinations for grade V according to the assessment policy. "When it came to the exams of fifth graders, teachers were helping students cheat," he said, explaining the Punjab government's decision.

The minister said that the Private Schools Act will be sent to the cabinet for approval. He said that the legislation will get the government's nod within three months.

Raas said that private schools can now get registered with the provincial government online, adding that 31,000 private schools had done the same.

Speaking more about Punjab government's measures for education in the province, he said that a "Child Education Book" had been launched which met international standards in quality of education.

He told participants of the gathering that from next year, teachers' retirement cheques will be deposited directly into their accounts.

Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood had announced earlier that schools across the country will remain closed until January 10, 2021, in the wake of the rising coronavirus cases.

"All ministers have mutually decided that to keep all educational institutions, including schools, colleges, universities, and tuition centres closed. However, online classes will continue from November 26 to December 24 after which winter break will start. Schools will reopen on January 11, 2021," Shafqat Mahmood had said.

The decision was taken during the Inter-Provincial Education Ministers Conference (IPEMC) convened last month to discuss school closures.

Shafqat Mahmood had said that children's health and safety is the top-most priority of the government, adding that examinations scheduled to take place in December will be postponed, with the exception of a few professional exams.

During the meeting, it was decided that micro-decisions regarding examinations and other matters will be taken by the respective province.

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President Alvi endorses need for national dialogue on electoral reforms

President Arif Alvi backed on Monday calls for a national dialogue on electoral reforms, but made it clear that Prime Minister Imran Khan will decide when to hold a dialogue and with whom.

He expressed these views in a meeting with senior journalists about persons with disabilities at the President House on Monday.

The president said the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s demand of resignation from the government was unjustified and added that the political system was being destabilised for the last two years.

Read more: Maryam Nawaz has never managed a kitchen in her life but wants to run the country, says Fawad Chaudhry

“There is a need for a national dialogue on electoral reform but the prime minister will decide when and with whom,” President Alvi said.

The Opposition, however, has demanded the prime minister resign and denied to sit with the ‘selected’ regime and hold talks on any issue.

On Monday, federal ministers said that the prime minister is ready for dialogue with serious-minded opposition leaders on public issues minus JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman and PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz.

Addressing the media in the federal capital, Information and Broadcasting Minister Senator Shibli Faraz said neither of the two Opposition leaders were in Parliament, which was the real forum to discuss the public's problems. "Maryam Nawaz and Fazlur Rehman are not in Parliament so the government cannot talk to them," he said.

Faraz was flanked by Water Resources Minister Faisal Vawda and Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry.

The PTI regime would only hold talks with "the responsible individuals who sit in the Parliament", he said, challenging the anti-government PDM to apprise the Centre of what it planned to do once it had toppled the federal government.

The information minister also said the Opposition was geared towards creating chaos in the country to protect their looted money and that those who intended on kicking out an elected government could never favour democracy.

"The PDM's public gathering yesterday neither made any mention of nor praised the soldiers who were martyred in Balochistan," he added, according to the publication.

On the other hand, Vawda, the water resources minister, underscored that "if Maryam uses the word 'fugitive' for [former military ruler] Pervez Musharraf, then why doesn't she call her father with the same name?"

"Please tell us the date or the year [of your arrival in Islamabad] since -[you made the] claim to be coming here to demand resignations" from the PTI government, he added, noting that PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz's frustration was centred in achieving power.

Chaudhry, the science minister, noted that the PDM's platform was being used against the Centre, Punjab, and public institutions. The government would only hold talks with senior and mature Opposition leaders, he added.

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After major blow for January, Pakistan secures two LNG bids for February 2021

Pakistan got bids from five LNG trading companies for two LNG cargoes for February 2021 at the highest price of up to 32.4888% of Brent, as the country's gas crisis continues to grow.

The development comes after no bids were received for the first time from LNG suppliers for the first half of January. At the time, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Petroleum, Nadeem Babar had brushed aside concerns and had said that the government has a plan to avoid a gas crisis.

But Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) obtained the lowest bids for February 15-16 and February 23-24, 2021 at a price of 20.8483-23.4331% of Brent.

PLL had sought bids for two LNG cargoes and it secured five bids from LNG trading companies out of which Total Company stood disqualified. The remaining four LNG trading companies that qualified for the bids included SOCAR, Trafigura, GUNVOR, and ENOC.

LNG trading company SOCAR gave the lowest bid for February 15-16 for $10.5 per million British thermal unit (mmbtu), while ENOC appeared with the lowest bid for February 23-24 for $11.70 per mmbtu.

GUNVOR - 25.5666% of Brent for February 15-16 and 23.5666% of Brent for February 23-24

ECNOC - no bid submitted for February 15-16. For February 23-24, it offered a bid at 20.8483% of Brent.

Trafigura - two bids submitted for two time slots with highest prices. It deposited its bid at 32.4888% of Brent for February 15-16 and 25.9777% of Brent for February 23-24, 2021.

A report by the The News quoted independent industrial sources as saying that better prices could have been attracted by the government if it had arranged the bidding for spot cargoes for winter in September 2020.

“The government obtained the LNG prices at more than the diesel price as LNG cargoes are already booked across the globe," the source said.

Australia's Gorgan company which produced an estimated 16.5 million tons to 18 million tons of LNG per year has shut down, sources said. This had created an LNG shortage in the international market so trading companies are unable to submit bids at reasonable prices.

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