Nadeem Malik

Monday, December 24, 2007

News Guru on Economic Review

Part-1----IMF Review

 

 

Inflation remains high with wide current account deficit- IMF

 

Pakistan's external financing needs remain large-

 

IMF warns to reduce vulnerabilities in light of recent political uncertainties-

 

Maintenance of high growth remains main challenge-

 

Lowering inflation and reducing deficits major challenges-

 

Sustainability requires tight fiscal and monetary policies-

 

Strengthen fiscal programmes to complement monetary tightening-

 

Reduce energy subsidies and capital spending-

 

IMF regrets central bank financing of budget-

 

IMF stresses need to adjust treasury bills interest rates-

 

Domestic borrowings need to be met through commercial banks or NBFIs-

 

IMF calls greater exchange rate flexibility-

 

Fiscal consolidation required beyond FY08 to have good macro indicators-

 

IMF emphasizes reforms to increase revenues-

 

IMF suggests taxes on agriculture, services sectors

 

IMF wants reduction in tax exemptions-

 

Contingent liabilities should be incorporated in budget-

 

Real effective exchange rate broadly in line with economic fundamentals-

 

IMF welcomes SBP's intention to shift oil imports to inter-bank foreign exchange market-

 

IMF underscores need modernize energy sector regulatory and tariff framework-

 

IMF oppose ad hoc tariff and nontariff barriers-

 

IMF wants parliamentary approval of anti money laundering bill

 

Net international reserves fell by $1 bln-

 

 

Financial Stability Review:

 

Financial sector assets amount to PKR 6.9 trillion-

 

KSE capitalization up 38 pct YoY to 46 pct of GDP-

 

 

 

Part-2-- Election 2008

Transparency on Manifestos of 5 Political Parties-

 

Pakistan performs poorly on corruption rankings

 

Transparency survey response:

 

PML (N), 10/11

 

MQM 9/11

 

PPP 7/11

 

PML (Q) 5/11

 And

 

ANP 4/11.

 

 



-----------------------------------------------------------
N A D E E M M A L I K
CNBC PAKISTAN
BUREAU CHIEF
ISLAMABAD

0321-5117511

nadeem.malik@hotmail.com
16th Floor, Saudi Pak Tower, 61-A Jinnah Avenue, Islamabad. 051-2800113-14, Fax: 051-2800118
 



Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! MSN Messenger

News Guru on IMF Review

Part-1----IMF Review

 

 

Inflation remains high with wide current account deficit- IMF

 

Pakistan's external financing needs remain large-

 

IMF warns to reduce vulnerabilities in light of recent political uncertainties-

 

Maintenance of high growth remains main challenge-

 

Lowering inflation and reducing deficits major challenges-

 

Sustainability requires tight fiscal and monetary policies-

 

Strengthen fiscal programmes to complement monetary tightening-

 

Reduce energy subsidies and capital spending-

 

IMF regrets central bank financing of budget-

 

IMF stresses need to adjust treasury bills interest rates-

 

Domestic borrowings need to be met through commercial banks or NBFIs-

 

IMF calls greater exchange rate flexibility-

 

Fiscal consolidation required beyond FY08 to have good macro indicators-

 

IMF emphasizes reforms to increase revenues-

 

IMF suggests taxes on agriculture, services sectors

 

IMF wants reduction in tax exemptions-

 

Contingent liabilities should be incorporated in budget-

 

Real effective exchange rate broadly in line with economic fundamentals-

 

IMF welcomes SBP's intention to shift oil imports to inter-bank foreign exchange market-

 

IMF underscores need modernize energy sector regulatory and tariff framework-

 

IMF oppose ad hoc tariff and nontariff barriers-

 

IMF wants parliamentary approval of anti money laundering bill

 

Net international reserves fell by $1 bln-

 

 

Financial Stability Review:

 

Financial sector assets amount to PKR 6.9 trillion-

 

KSE capitalization up 38 pct YoY to 46 pct of GDP-

 

 

 

Part-2-- Election 2008

Transparency on Manifestos of 5 Political Parties-

 

Pakistan performs poorly on corruption rankings

 

Transparency survey response:

 

PML (N), 10/11

 

MQM 9/11

 

PPP 7/11

 

PML (Q) 5/11

 And

 

ANP 4/11.

 

 



-----------------------------------------------------------
N A D E E M M A L I K
CNBC PAKISTAN
BUREAU CHIEF
ISLAMABAD

0321-5117511

nadeem.malik@hotmail.com
16th Floor, Saudi Pak Tower, 61-A Jinnah Avenue, Islamabad. 051-2800113-14, Fax: 051-2800118
 



Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! MSN Messenger

Thursday, December 20, 2007

News Guru on US Sets Limits

US Sets Limits

 

Omnibus Bill Withholds $50 Million Until US Confirms Islamabad Is Reinstating Rights

$200 mln cash payments converted into USAID programmes
Use of remaining $250 mln restricted for counter-terrorism and law enforcement activities
Pakistan may not be able to use US military funds to pay for F-16s
Release of $50 mln linked with making concerted efforts against terrorist havens, democratic reforms, freedom of assembly and expression, release of political detainees, ending harassment and detention of journalists, human rights defenders and government critics, and restoring an independent judiciary
Omnibus Bill on Pakistan:
$50 mln may be made available for such purposes after the Secretary of State reports to the Committees on Appropriations that the Government of Pakistan-

(1) is making concerted efforts to prevent Al Qaeda and associated terrorist groups from operating in the territory of Pakistan, including by eliminating terrorist training camps or facilities, arresting members of AI Qaeda and associated terrorist
groups, and countering recruitment efforts;

(2) is making concerted efforts to prevent the Taliban from using the territory of Pakistan as a sanctuary from which to launch attacks within Afghanistan, including by arresting Taliban leaders, stopping cross-border incursions, and countering recruitment efforts; and
(3) is implementing democratic reforms, including -


(A) restoring the Constitution of Pakistan and ensuring freedoms of expression and assembly and other civil liberties guaranteed by the Constitution;


(B) releasing political detainees and allowing inclusive democratic elections;


(C) ending harassment and detention of journalists, human rights defenders and government critics by security and intelligence forces; and


(D) restoring an independent judiciary and ending interference in the judicial process.

(c) Of the funds appropriated by this Act under the heading "Economic Support Fund" for assistance for Pakistan, up to $5,000,000 may be used for administrative expenses of the United States Agency for International Development: Provided, That none of the funds appropriated by this Act may be made available for cash transfer assistance for Pakistan.

 

 

Part I----------- Politics of Sindh

 

 

 

Political parties in Sindh and Punjab demand suspension of local governments and timely resolution of complaints- NDI

 

Parties concerned about use of state resources by local government during elections-

 

Nazims using money and police to support candidates of one party- Opposition

 

Candidates still complain about non-availability of printed voters' lists

 

Representatives of PML (Q) and MQM reject all allegations

 



-----------------------------------------------------------
N A D E E M M A L I K
CNBC PAKISTAN
BUREAU CHIEF
ISLAMABAD

0321-5117511

nadeem.malik@hotmail.com
16th Floor, Saudi Pak Tower, 61-A Jinnah Avenue, Islamabad. 051-2800113-14, Fax: 051-2800118
 



Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! MSN Messenger

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

News Guru on Pakistani Politics

PAKISTANI POLITICS

 

 

Mr. Musharraf's War- WP

 

Only free elections will put an end to the president's fight against the country's courts, media and political parties- WP

 

Picture of Secret Detentions Emerges in Pakistan- NYT

 

Agencies quietly set free nearly 100 men to avoid acknowledging secret detention

 

Election Ban on Sharifs is Upheld- NYT

 

At Least 50 Killed in Pakistan Train Crash- Telegraph

 

Former PM Barred from Standing in Pakistan Vote- Birmingham Post

 

PML (N) describes rejection as politically motivated

 

Rejection of nomination papers conspiracy- Shehbaz Sharif

 

Human Rights Watch says Free, Fair Elections Impossible- HRW

 

Genuine election campaign not on with restriction on media and civil society

 

Muslims across Asia Celebrate Eid

 

Afghan President Hamid Karzai to visit Pakistan on Tuesday

 

Experts Combing Pakistan for Signs of Human-to-human Bird Flu Infection- AP

 

Experts from US Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3 in Pakistan to retest H5N1

 

 

-----

 

 

PML (N) Campaign

 

Revival of Genuine Democracy

To re-establish supremacy of Parliament-

To appoint CEC in consultation with opposition leader

Independent Judiciary and the Rule of Law

PML(N) solemnly pledges to protect independence of judicial system

To appoint judicial commission to restructure, reform judicial system

Police will be made a community oriented service

Freedom and democracy inseparable from rule of law

Appointment of governors, services chiefs and CJCSC to be made by chief executive

Federal Constitutional Court to be set up to resolve constitutional issues

Commission to identify causes and fix responsibility for Kargil crisis

Independence of press and electronic media

Crisis of governance is extensive

Discretionary powers at all levels will be withdrawn

Records of courts, land revenue and police stations will be computerized

Pakistan ranks among seventh most corrupt countries in the world

 

NAB to be replaced with an independent accountability commission

 

Civil Military Relations

National Security Council will be abolished

Defense Committee of the Cabinet to be reconstituted

Defense budget to be brought within the purview of the National Assembly

Supremacy of Constitution to be restored

 

1973 Constitution as on 12 October 1999 to be restored

 

LFO and 17th Amendment to be repealed


NFC award by consensus to be announced regularly at 5 yearly intervals

 

FATA to be brought into the mainstream

 

Local body's elections to be held on party basis

 

Truth and Reconciliation Commission to be established

 

Extremism complex phenomena

Use of force is and will remain necessary against foreign and local terrorists- PML (N)

PML (N) supports process of political engagement

To strengthening capacity of law enforcing agencies

Taking steps to mainstream the tribal areas

Education in public sector institutions upto higher secondary will be free of cost

 

100 % enrollment in middle schools by 2012

 

National Education Corps to be set up to employ all graduates without jobs

 

PML (N) to seek national reconciliation

 




-----------------------------------------------------------
N A D E E M M A L I K
CNBC PAKISTAN
BUREAU CHIEF
ISLAMABAD

0321-5117511

nadeem.malik@hotmail.com

16th Floor, Saudi Pak Tower, 61-A Jinnah Avenue, Islamabad. 051-2800113-14, Fax: 051-2800118

 



Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! MSN Messenger Download today it's FREE!

News Guru Election 2008

Election 2008

 

Election Commission rejects Sharifs' appeal

 

7949 contest for 1070 assembly seats

 

482 women in the run for 188 seats

 

132 non-Muslim for election on 33 reserved seats

 

2252 contesting for 272 General National Assembly Seats

 

Restoration of judges key election issue

 

Political parties question transparency of election process

 

Political campaign needs to take place in conducive atmosphere for free, fair elections- Condoleezza Rice

 

International community is going to be closely watching elections in Pakistan- Condoleezza Rice

 

It needs to be an election that moves Pakistan forward on the democratic path- Condoleezza Rice

 

Obviously US stands for a free and independent judiciary in Pakistan- Rice

 

We shouldn't support Musharraf. We should support Pakistan- Biden

 

We need a consistent Pakistan policy- US Presidential hopeful Joe Biden

 

 

APDM Boycotts

 

APDM says Nov 3 actions illegal

 

APDM demands restoration of judiciary

 

APDM demands restoration of Constitution to Oct 12, 99 position

 

APDM demands independence of media and Election Commission

 

Election Commission rejects Sharifs' appeal

 

Pakistan Seeks End to Commonwealth Ban

 

Mild Quake Jolts Pakistan: Officials

 

5.1-magnitude earthquake jolts central Pakistan on Tuesday

 

Epicentre of quake 300 KM southwest of Peshawar

 

We shouldn't support Musharraf. We should support Pakistan- Biden

 

We need a consistent Pakistan policy- US Presidential hopeful Joe Biden


-----------------------------------------------------------
N A D E E M M A L I K
CNBC PAKISTAN
BUREAU CHIEF
ISLAMABAD

0321-5117511

nadeem.malik@hotmail.com

16th Floor, Saudi Pak Tower, 61-A Jinnah Avenue, Islamabad. 051-2800113-14, Fax: 051-2800118

 



Don't just search. Find. MSN Search Check out the new MSN Search!

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Constitution Amended

Constitution Amended

 

 

Clause (3) of Article 41 amended

 

Two-year bar on civil servants removed

 

 

High Court to be established in Islamabad

 

Age of High Court Judges reduced to 40 years

 

Judges who refused oath under PCO cease to hold office

 

President promulgates judges pensionary benefits order

 

President revokes PCO, Emergency

 

Judges take fresh oath under 1973 constitution

 

Validity of such actions can not be challenged in any court

 

One of us chairs a House of Representatives subcommittee tasked with oversight of US foreign policy, and one of us languishes under house arrest after transfer from a Pakistani jail for the heinous and seditious crime of representing, in legal proceedings, the sacked chief justice of Pakistan's Supreme Court- John F. Tierney and Aitzaz Ahsan

 

9,000 candidates to contest for 1070 parliamentary seats

 

 

CHRONOLOGY OF CRISIS

 

March 9: Musharraf suspends Supreme Court Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry

 

July 10: Troops storm Red Mosque

 

July 20: Supreme Court reinstates Chief Justice Chaudhry

 

July 27: Musharraf meets former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in Abu Dhabi

 

 

Sept 10: Former PM Nawaz Sharif is arrested at Islamabad airport and deported to Saudi Arabia

 

Oct 19: Suicide bomber tries to assassinate Bhutto in Karachi

 

Nov 2: Supreme Court reconvenes to decide if Musharraf was eligible to stand for re-election while army chief

 

Nov 3: Musharraf imposes emergency rule

 

Nov 15: Musharraf appoints Senate chairman Mohammadmian Soomro as caretaker PM

 

Nov 25: Sharif returns from exile

 

Nov 28: Musharraf hands over army command to General Ashfaq Kayani

 

Nov 29: Musharraf sworn in as civilian President

 

Dec 15: Musharraf lifts state of emergency and restores constitution

 

 

 

 

Declaration by Ambassadors

 

 

Former Ambassadors demand immediate restoration of judges

 

Neutral caretaker set ups demanded

 

Reconstitution of Election Commission key to fair elections

 

All persons imprisoned or detained under emergency must be released

 

Restrictions imposed on media should be removed

 

Former Ambassadors demand accountability of holders of public office

 

 

 

Atta Crisis

 

 

 




-----------------------------------------------------------
N A D E E M M A L I K
CNBC PAKISTAN
BUREAU CHIEF
ISLAMABAD

0321-5117511

nadeem.malik@hotmail.com

16th Floor, Saudi Pak Tower, 61-A Jinnah Avenue, Islamabad. 051-2800113-14, Fax: 051-2800118

 



Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! MSN Messenger Download today it's FREE!

Friday, December 14, 2007

News Guru on Opinion Polls

 

Election 2008

 

Nawaz pledges to restore deposed judges, if voted to Power

Nawaz Sharif promises stable political set up

 

 

PPP to win 142 NA seat- Bhutto

 

Muttahida Majlis Amal won 11 pct votes in 2002

 

Musharraf to lift emergency on Dec 15

 

Musharraf amending charter to protect acts- AP

 

President will lift emergency to restore constitution and fundamental rights- Malik Qayyum

 

No single party can steer Pakistan out of present crisis- Bhutto

 

Bhutto seeks security for election campaign- AP

 

Musharraf weighing key concessions to smooth fraught elections- AP

 

Musharraf may suspend local mayors and scrap a two-term limit for PMs- AP

 

 

 

65,000 polling stations will be set up

 

550,000 polling staff assigned to polling stations

 

430,000 tamper-proof ballot boxes brought from China

 

81 mln registered voters compared to 72 mln in 2002

 

50,000 special cards will be issued to media/ NGOs

 

2000 foreign media persons to cover the elections

 

 

 

 

Opinion Polls

 

 

 

Voters overwhelmingly oppose emergency- IRI

 

70 percent oppose emergency

 

71 percent oppose the suspension of the constitution;

 

77 percent oppose detainment of judges

 

76 percent oppose closure of TV channels

 

70 percent oppose ban on political rallies

 

76 percent oppose crackdown on civil society

 

62 percent support boycott of election under emergency

 

70 percent say country heading to wrong direction

 

60 percent oppose deal between Musharraf and Bhutto

 

Bhutto tops the list in head-to-head match-ups, with Sharif coming in second

 

31         pct say Bhutto, 25 pct Nawaz and 23 pct say Musharraf is the best leader to lead Pakistan

 

Bhutto leads field in Sindh with 51 percent and Balochistan 43 percent

 

Nawaz Sharif leads Punjab with 35 percent and NWFP with 26 percent

 

67 pct want Musharraf to resign- IRI

 

-----

 

VIEWS IN PAKISTAN

 

60 pct say Pakistan's economy better now- VIP

 

56 pct say there are more job opportunities- VIP

 

32         pct say education is major concern

 

29 pct give credit to Musharraf and 16 pct to Nawaz for progress- VIP

 

34 pct favour Musharraf to fight terrorism

 




-----------------------------------------------------------
N A D E E M M A L I K
CNBC PAKISTAN
BUREAU CHIEF
ISLAMABAD

0321-5117511

nadeem.malik@hotmail.com

16th Floor, Saudi Pak Tower, 61-A Jinnah Avenue, Islamabad. 051-2800113-14, Fax: 051-2800118

 



FREE pop-up blocking with the new MSN Toolbar MSN Toolbar Get it now!

NADEEM MALIK LIVE

NADEEM MALIK LIVE

Nadeem Malik Live is the flagship current affairs programme of Pakistan. The programme gives independent news analysis of the key events shaping future of Pakistan. A fast paced, well rounded programme covers almost every aspect, which should be a core element of a current affairs programme. Discussion with the most influential personalities in the federal capital and other leading lights of the country provides something to audience to help them come out with their own hard hitting opinions.

http://youtube.com/NadeemMalikLive