Media Tracking Report 6th - 24th January, 2020
Education in Pakistan
‘Teaching by non-doctors to impact medical education’ - DAWN
The association of medical teachers has warned against the decision taken by Pakistan Medical Commission which allows non-doctors to teach basic medical sciences. According to the association, such a change would adversely affect the medical profession, leaving students with substandard education, provided by those without any relevant experience or knowledge. They argued that a shortage of basic medical sciences (BMS) teachers was no longer a concern and could not be used to justify this change, which only revokes the standards established by the previous council.
Engagement is key - DAWN
According to UNDP Pakistan’s National Human Development Report 2017, the Pakistani youth are concerned about educational opportunities, career growth, and their future success, however we’re not particularly hopeful. A key finding was on the negligible youth engagement in their society, with a serious lack of opportunities and a lack of space for making changes to institutions. This inevitably leaves the youth unprepared to make substantial change, as is largely expected of them as future leaders, after they join the workforce.
CPEC in Pakistan
Pakistan rejects US claims regarding CPEC financing - DAWN
Pakistan has rejected US diplomat Alice Wells' claims that the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) lacks transparency and is financed solely through loans or non-concessional financing with sovereign guarantees. During the weekly media briefing on Thursday, Foreign Office Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui sought to set the record straight about a growing impression that Pakistan's economy is under tremendous burden from Chinese debt. She explained that the CPEC debt amounts to $4.9bn which is not even 10 percent of the country's total debt. Pakistan's response comes a day after China issued a strongly-worded statement, with the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan emphatically warning the US against meddling in Pak-China ties and the CPEC.
Govt striving to boost industrial capacity: Asad Umar - DAWN
Asad Umar, Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, while addressing a delegation of Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), said that the government is focused on boosting Pakistan’s industrial capacity through joint ventures in priority areas, relocation of labour-intensive export-led industry, SMEs collaboration and enhancement of vocational training capacity. He noted that in the first phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the infrastructure and energy projects are either completed or near completion, and further focused on establishing four special economic zones (SEZ) in all provinces, urging the delegation to come up with a three-year roadmap for industrialisation and export sector strategy by March 2020.
A. Hafeez Shaikh promises recovery, jobs - DAWN
Prime Minister’s Adviser on Finance and Revenue Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh said that the government is expecting 2020 to be the year of economic recovery and job creation with the support of higher development spending, beginning of the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and revival of investor confidence. Growth recovery and job creation will be supported by higher government Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) spending with the government allocating Rs1.6 trillion in PSDP spending in 2020, an increase of 33pc from Rs1.2tr in the 2018-19 fiscal year. Key investments in CPEC-related projects are being fast-tracked. Similarly, 13 projects worth Rs287bn are being executed under the Prime Minister’s National Agriculture Emergency Programme. The development plan along with the PSDP aims to execute 53 mega projects with Rs5.2tr investment from the private sector to stimulate economic growth and create jobs for the youth.
IMF and Pakistan
Pakistan’s economy: IMF projects low GDP growth, high inflation, unemployment - The News
Improving US-China trade tensions have eased uncertainty and the world economy may have hit bottom but a sharp slowdown in India is creating a drag worldwide, the International Monetary Fund said on Monday. As for Pakistan, the report said that in 2018 the GDP growth of Pakistan was 5.5, in 2019 it was 3.3 in 2020 it will be 2.4. The consumer price index (inflation) in 2018 was 3.9, in 2019 7.3, in 2020 it will be 13. Current account deficit in 2018 was -6.3, in 2019 4.6, in 2020 it will be 2.6. Unemployment in Pakistan in 2018 was 6.1, in 2019 6.1 while in 2020 it will be 6.2.
Davos: IMF President calls on PM Imran - The News
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday met the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) President Kristalina Georgieva on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF). Advisor to Prime Minister Imran Khan on Finance and Revenue Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Special Assistant to the PM for Overseas Pakistanis & HRD Zulfi Bokhari and Governor State Bank of Pakistan Reza Baqir also participated in the meeting.
PTI govt adds Rs565 billion to circular debt - Express Tribune
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has added about Rs565 billion to the circular debt – including Rs100 billion in the past six months alone – missing the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) debt-accumulation reduction target for the second successive time.
Civil Services Reform
New e-governance system: There won’t be any need for clerks - The News Dr. Ishrat Hussain, Adviser to Prime Minister on Institutional Reforms, said that the government was replacing the traditional ACRs system with objective based Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to better evaluate the performance of civil bureaucracy. For achieving 20 percent below average on KPIs for three consecutive years, the concerned officers would be separated from the civil service. While the new system would eliminate the need for clerks, this would not mean abrupt sacking but a gradual change where new hirings will not be made.
Climate Change in Pakistan
LHC CJ orders crackdown on industries creating pollution - DAWN
Lahore High Court Chief Justice Mamoon Rashid Sheikh on Thursday directed the Punjab government to take stern action against the industries violating environmental laws and also sought report about coal power plants’ effects on climate. He also expressed concern over shrinking green belts in urban areas and unchecked expansion of cities. Advocate Abdul Rafay Alam critiqued the performance of the Environment Department, while Additional Advocate General Asif Cheema spoke about the upcoming environment committee and its plan to set a minimum standard of air quality. The meeting closed with the CJ seeking separate reports from all deputy commissioners and adjourned the case for 10 days.
Climate Change Ministry, MoST won’t have any say in EV policy now - Pakistan Today
Despite the fact that the Ministry of Climate Change’s proposal for the first-ever Electric Vehicles (EV) policy was accepted by the federal cabinet, it could not be passed, and was instead overtaken by the Ministry of Industries and Production (MoIP) through its Engineering Development Board (EDB). The MoIP will now be the sole authority on the EV policy, redrafting it in consideration of the technicalities and promotion of the automotive industry. This comes as a relief for stakeholders in the automotive industry who criticizes the initial draft for suggesting taxes and facilities that would hurt auto companies.
State of the Economy
Consumer confidence weakening, latest Ipsos survey shows - DAWN
In its latest survey, Ipsos, a Paris-based market research and consulting firm, showed that the respondents think the country is moving in the wrong direction as consumers fear the economy is likely to become weaker in the next six months. The respondents feel that inflation, job insecurity and additional taxes are the top three most worrying issues faced by the country at the moment.
Pakistan economy to 'recover slightly' from 2021 but reforms critical for growth: UN report - DAWN
According to the United Nations report titled ‘World Economic Situation and Prospects 2020’, Pakistan's economy is expected to recover slightly from 2021 onward as increased government revenues from a tax hike allow expanded public investment and as other government reforms required by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) begin to bear fruit. It emphasised that “continued commitment to reform, combined with productive investment in infrastructure and strategic capacity development, will be critical for the country to find its way back to its previous growth path.”