Current Affairs

Pakistan’s Internal Issues

Political:
 Civil Military Relations:
- Government planning to raise tax revenue to increase defence budget
 Democracy:
- PAC spending more time on non-issues than audit objections
 18th Amendment:
- KP’s governor formed a body to advise provincial government on issues in
FATA- Does not have constitutional powers to do so
- Senate standing committee on Less Developed Areas objects to distribution of
pool resources on population basis (82pc weightage; 10.3pc poverty and
backwardness and 2.7pc inverse population density) *(71% of areas
undeveloped but receive only 20% of budget)
- Employees old age benefits institution facing erosion after 18th Amendment->
Minimum wage raised to 15000 by PMLN but implemented federally-> Deprived
outside employees from basic right + Majority of employers contributing in the
range 180-480 and only 783 employers are giving 900 to fund as minimum wage
not implemented (Requires 5% contribution from employers + 1% from
employee)
 Bureaucracy:
- Training of politicians to prevents interference
- NAB harassing bureaucrats on mega projects-> Fear of taking initiatives too

Economic:
- IMF-> Fiscal and monetary tightening measures in place-> Stabilisation (Done
previously too but -> Sustained growth only through structural reforms
Social:
 Hajj policy (63 rate hike + end of subsidy)-> Criticism of opposition-> Hard for
people to perform haj while PTI-> Increase in charges by Saudi admin +
devaluation of rupee
 Health:
- Three bodies formed in Sindh to protect disability rights: Redressal of grievances
committee, special medical boards at district hospitals and district recruitment
committee
 Education: HEC chief criticism for absence from Senate Standing Committee on
Education + Decrease in scholarships from students in Balochistan and FATA
from 192 (2018) to 29 (2019)