World Bank Vice President for South Asia Martin Raiser and Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur
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A World Bank delegation, headed by Vice President for South Asia Martin Raiser, met with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur in Islamabad to review ongoing development initiatives.
As per details, during the meeting, progress on various World Bank-funded projects worth $1.9 billion was discussed. These projects span multiple sectors, focusing on public welfare and infrastructure development.
Both the parties, discuss the key topics included the Chashma Right Bank Lift Canal (CRBC) and the Peshawar-Dera Ismail Khan Motorway projects.
The World Bank team expressed keen interest in collaborative projects on the CRBC initiative for significant enhancement in irrigation and agricultural productivity in the region.
The Chief Minister appreciated the Bank’s continued support and reiterated the provincial government’s commitment to timely project execution for sustainable development in KPK.
PML-N's leader Senator Irfan Siddiqui spokesperson for the government's coalition committee for dialogue with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. Picture Credit : Radio Pakistan
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The federal negotiating team will submit its response to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) demands within seven working days, which is 28 January 2025.
As per details, on Sunday, the government claimed that despite PTI left the dialogue process, the negotiation team will submit its response to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s demands within seven working days, which is 28 January 2025.
Spokesperson for the government’s negotiation team Senator Irfan Siddiqui said in a statement,“We are not ready to be ridiculed (by announcing our replies publicly or before the media). We will present our replies before the committee in the forthcoming meeting”.
Mr Siddiqui quoted Barrister Gohar Ali Khan as saying, “Imran Khan had directed the party to leave the talks as the government was not sincere in forming judicial commissions”.
“We cannot reply (to the PTI’s demands) before the 28th. We will neither give our replies nor make any announcement regarding the [judicial] commissions before [the end of] seven days,” he added.
On the other hand, Barrister Gohar said in a statement that although PTI had quit the dialogue process because he could convince PTI founder Imran Khan to join the talks again if the government agreed to hold talks on the terms of reference (TORs) of the judicial commissions.
By-elections for local government in twenty-five districts of Balochistan are underway.
According to Provincial Election Commission, polling started at 8:00 a.m. and will continue till 5:00 p.m. without any break.
A total of 167 candidates are in the fray for fifty general wards seats, while the total number of registered voters is 43,784.
For this purpose, 60 polling stations and 138 polling booths have been set up across the 25 districts. All necessary electoral and security arrangements have been finalized.
Spokesperson Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Muhammad Saleem Shaikh, Picture Credit: Radio Pakistan
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The Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination has emphasized the urgent need for constructing water reservoirs and restoring wetlands to tackle the increasing threats of recurring and severe droughts across the country.
In a press release issued on Sunday, spokesperson Muhammad Saleem Shaikh highlighted that reduced rainfall has worsened water scarcity in agricultural regions of Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan, with rain-fed areas being particularly affected.
Shaikh stated, “The construction of water reservoirs and the restoration of wetlands to store excess flood and rainwater are critical components of a comprehensive strategy to mitigate drought risks.”
The spokesperson called for immediate action, stressing that addressing water stress in cultivated lands is essential to ensure sustainable agriculture and safeguard food security.
The Ministry reiterated its commitment to implementing long-term water conservation and management solutions to counter the impacts of climate change on Pakistan’s fragile water resources.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi eagerly denied all the accusations of involvement in any anti-China event in the United States. He termed them as “malicious fabrications” and “baseless campaigns” planned to destroy his reputation.
Reportedly, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi is on his official tour to the United States (US). The Indian and local media of the US claim that Naqvi participated in a lobbying group’s event which was involved in campaigning against China’s ruling Chinese Communist Party in the United States.
While speaking to the media in Houston, Naqvi clarified that, “My attendance at a youth event was misinterpreted and blown out of proportion. He did not attend any event against China in the United States”.
He guaranteed that the misinformation and baseless rumors would not distract him from fulfilling his responsibilities.
The interior minister was on a visit to the US this week where he attended various events and meetings with US senators and Congressmen including Thomas Richard Suozzi, Jack Bergman, Joe Wilson, Rob Bresnahan, Henry Cuellar, and Maxine Waters to discuss the effective plan against terrorism and Pakistan-US bilateral ties and regional peace, particularly the situation in neighbouring Afghanistan.
It is worth mentioning here that the interior minister also accused certain elements of instigating the US Congress against Pakistan, urging political opponents not to harm the country for political gains.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa(KPK), security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in the Bagh area of Khyber District.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations(ISPR), security forces killed four militants, including their leaders Aziz ur Rehman (alias Qari Ismail) and Mukhlis and two others were injured during an intelligence-based operation in the Bagh area of Khyber District.
The ISPR confirmed the recovery of weapons and ammunition from the militants, who were involved in multiple terrorist activities against security forces and civilians in the region.
A follow-up search operation is underway to clear the area, as security forces remain committed to eradicating terrorism from Pakistan, ISPR added.
KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur (right) and newly-appointed PTI KP President Junaid Akbar. — X@PTIOfficial/Facebook@JunaidAkbarMNA
CT Newsroom
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan replaced Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) party’s president Ali Amin Gandapur with Junaid Akbar on Saturday.
As per details, after Junaid Akbar was appointed as elected chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) with support from both the opposition and the government, Imran Khan appointed Junaid Akbar party president of KPK replacing Ali Amin Gandapur.
PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja has issued Akbar’s appointment notification, replacing Ali Amin Gandapur
Salman Akram Raja Raj informed the media that Khan also directed the KP chief minister (CM) to focus on terrorism and governance affairs in the province, and even Gandapur himself did not want to remain the party’s provincial president.
According to the private media channel sources, Imran Khan has expressed concerns over corruption issues in the KPK province and PTI founder had instructed Gandapur to come out of Dera Ismail Khan’s politics.
Imran Khan instructed Raja to provide consultation for the party’s reorganization in Punjab and task assigned by the Imran Khan to the Junaid Akbar to address and resolve party matters in KP.
It is worth mentioning here that the PAC is considered one of the most powerful parliamentary bodies, with the authority to summon any individual or record from government departments in financial matters.
Pakistani journalists and civil society activists take part in a demonstration called by the journalists’ union to condemn attacks on journalists, in Islamabad, Pakistan, May 28, 2021. AP Photo
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The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has demanded an open debate on the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act(Peca), 2025 in the Senate.
Reportedly, the HRCP has called the federal government to ensure the open debate on the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025 in the Senate. They termed the latest amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) “disproportionate, non-transparent and anti-free speech” and would lead to a serious risk of silencing dissenting voices and suppressing critical journalism.
The HRCP called on the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led government to ensure that the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025 was openly debated in the Senate after being crushed by the ruling coalition in the National Assembly.
The HRCP also warned that the bill, if it becomes law then it might be used to target political workers, human rights defenders, and journalists for criticizing state institutions.
The HRCP also shows concern over the emphasis on “fake or false news” in Section 26-A of the bill saying “the draft failed to satisfactorily define fake news”.
“[The] HRCP reminds the government that digital freedoms have already been over-regulated,” said the human rights watchdog in a post on X.
If the bill becomes law, it will allow the authority to require social media platforms to register with it in a specified way and pay a set fee, the human rights watchdog added.
The HRCP today said that the proposed legislation refers to unclear outcomes such as public “fear, panic or disorder or unrest”.
It is worth mentioning here that apart from the HRCP, the proposed amendments have also displeased journalist bodies with the Joint Action Committee (JAC)— comprising the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), Association Of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND), and Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) — announcing that they will approach the court against the bill and launch a protest movement.
“The focus of this bill is not just social media, but also electronic and print media’s digital platforms, with the aim of criminalizing dissenting opinions,” said the JAC in a statement.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif chaired the meeting of Nigahban Ramadan Package
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The Punjab Government finalized the Nigahban Ramadan Package to benefit deserving families across the province.
As per details, Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz Sharif chaired the special meeting held in Lahore to finalize the Nigahban Ramadan Package, which will benefit deserving families across the province.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif emphasized the transparency and dignity of the citizens during the distribution process.
It is worth mentioning here that citizens were urged to complete their registration by 15th February via the PSER portal (pser.punjab.gov.pk), local Union Councils, or municipalities.
The Punjab government has also launched a dedicated helpline (0800-02345) for assistance.
National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq Picture Credit : Radio Pakistan
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The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has refused to attend the fourth meeting of the negotiation committee summoned by National Assembly (NA) Speaker Ayaz Sadiq.
Reportedly, PTI leaders have refused to attend the fourth negotiation committee meeting summoned by NA speaker Ayaz Sadiq going to be held on January 28 at 11:45 pm.
Government spokesperson Senator Irfan Siddiqui for the s negotiation committee said that the “PTI has been invited to the negotiation committee meeting. The PTI hasn’t informed [us] in writing about calling off the talks”.
“We have not called off the negotiations, but when one side abruptly ends the talks, whom are we supposed to negotiate with? Should we sit in a room and talk to the walls?” he informed the media.
He criticised,”The issue is that the prison gates open, and someone suddenly makes an announcement without the negotiation committee even being informed.”
“This is not child’s play; they need to move beyond these ‘ifs and buts’,” he added.
Prime Minister’s Adviser on Public and Political Affairs Sanaullah said while speaking to private media channel that the government could not be held responsible for ending the negotiations, “We entered the dialogue and still want to continue, but there is a way of holding talks. It has always been that one of the parties gives their charter of demands and the other responds to it. The issues are then framed and discussed”.
“Those they [PTI] are looking up to won’t have any discussion on any political agenda, as it has been clarified earlier. If they [PTI] still have any kind of confusion, it will be cleared in the coming days”, he added.
However, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan told reporters that the party would not attend the fourth round of talks scheduled for January 28.
