Current National And international Affairs

[Manal Shahzadi 5887]

May 01 Current National And
international Affairs
1. EU Parliament move to review trade ties with Pakistan
• The European Parliament this week adopted a resolution calling for a
review of trade relations with Pakistan and ending its eligibility for the
Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) status.
• The resolution linked the review to Pakistan`s blasphemy laws, in particular
the case of Shagufta Kausar and Shafqat Emmanuel, who have been on
death row since 2014 for sending `blasphemous` text messages a charge
they deny.
• It was overwhelmingly passed 662 to 3 with 26 not voting.
• The text called on the European Commission and the European External
Action Service (EEAS) to `immediately review Pakistan`s eligibility for GSP+
status in light of current events`
2. Balochistan Assembly forms committee over award of
exploration blocks
• The Balochistan Assembly on April 30, 2021 set up a special technical
committee to find out details of petroleum exploration blocks awarded to
state-run oil and gas companies without taking the province into confidence.
• Balochistan National Party (BNP-Mengal) lawmaker Sana Baloch, while
speaking on a call-attention notice in the provincial assembly on Friday,
pointed out that the federal government had allocated six blocks to the
companies for exploration of mineral resources in the provinces, including
Balochistan, without taking the provinces into confidence, which was a
violation of the Constitution.He said three big companies were given licences
for exploration of oil and gas in Balochistan, adding that these companies
would spend billions of rupees on exploration work while the province would
get only $30,000 out of the huge investment
3. PTA helps Sri Lanka with mobile number portability
• The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has extended training and
technical support to the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri
Lanka for successful implementation of Mobile Number Portability (MNP) in
the country.
• The Sri Lankan regulator has planned to introduce MNP for mobile phone
users in the country and intends to follow processes adopted by the PTA.
• Pakistan is the first country in South Asia to have introduced this facility for
its mobile phone users in 2007
4. Two-day lockdown in Lahore from today
• Keeping in view the worsening Covid19 situation, the government has
decided to place Lahore under a complete lockdown on Saturday and Sunday
(May 1 and 2).
• The lockdown restrictions will not be applicable to the industry operating
under coronavirus-related standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• On the other hand, the Lahore City District Administration urged the public
at large to wear masks and ensure social distancing protocols to avert the
further spread of the infection as the city witnessed 14,000 news cases out
of which 226 people died during the last seven days
5. Rs2.18bn economic package okayed for South Waziristan
• The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has approved a Rs2.18 billion worth
of project to develop and revitalise economic infrastructure of South
Waziristan tribal district over a period of three years.
• The Special Integrated Area Development Package for South Waziristan
district was approved by the Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP)
in its meeting.
6. First shipment under TIR convention for Uzbekistan leaves
• After a delay of 30 months, the first-ever shipment under the Convention
on the International Transport of Goods for traffic-intransit of goods across
the border has left for Uzbekistan from Pakistan via the Torkham border
customs station.
• Pakistan Customs processed the first-ever TIR consignment from Karachi at
Torkham destined for Tashkent via Afghanistan. The consignment consisted
of herbal medicines and after completion of all Customs formalities at
Torkham it crossed into Afghanistan
7. FBR surpasses revenue collection target by Rs34bn in April
• The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) surpassed its revenue collection target
by Rs34 billion to Rs384bn in April, the second highest collection in the second half of current fiscal year (FY21), provisional data collected by the tax
authorities on April 30, 2021 showed.
• April has emerged as the second consecutive month when the FBR revenue
collection surpassed the projected monthly target despite Covid-19 impact on
all segments of economy.
8. US Senate gets bill for duty-free zones along Pak-Afghan border
• A bipartisan bill was moved in the US Senate on Friday to establish duty-
free export zones along the Pak-Afghan border.
• The Pakistan-Afghanistan Economic Development Act `would serve as an
important instrument to support that outcome,` said an official statement
issued with the proposed legislation.
• `The bill would establish Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) in
Afghanistan and Pakistan`s border regions to allow certain products from
these areas to enter the US duty-free,` the statement added. `This will
generate greater economic opportunity for the people in these war-torn
areas and lay the groundwork for a more stable region
9. Singapore puts curbs on South Asian travelers
• Singapore will block entry to visitors with recent travel history to
Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka from May 2 due to sustained
increases in Covid19 cases in the region, its health ministry announced on
April 30, 2021.
• The entry ban applies to long-term visa holders and short-term visitors.
Singapore has already blocked visitors from India, which is battling a surge
of infections.
10. US State Dept OKs sale of patrol planes to India
• The US State Department has approved the potential sale of six Boeing-
made P-8I patrol aircraft and related equipment to India for an estimated
cost of $2.42 billion.
• India`s potential purchase of P-8 aircraft would help expand its maritime
surveillance capabilities.
• The package would include tactical radio, missile warning sensors, GPS
systems, support equipment, spares and technical support, the Pentagon
said

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