Today’s top Pakistan current affairs August 06,2020. These are the latest breaking news about Pakistan which will be helpful for aspirants in test preparation of current affairs, Pakistan affairs, General knowledge for NTS, PPSC, CSS, FPSC, KPPSC, SPSC, BPSC, AJKPSC, OTS, PTS, and other Govt Jobs, exams & MDCAT, ECAT Entry test preparation.
One Liner
- Pakistan Borrows $1 Billion Chinese Loan To Pay Back $1 Billion Saudi Loan. Pakistan has paid back a $1 billion loan to Saudi Arabia. The country paid back $1 billion out of a $3 billion loan that it secured one and a half years ago to avoid default on international debt obligations.
- Pakistan to reopen restaurants, cinemas and parks on August 10.
- Pakistan contacts India again for Kulbhushan Yadhav’s lawyer: FO
- FC soldier martyred, 2 critically injured in separate incidents of violence from Afghan soil: FO
- Marzia Al-Zahra becomes Pakistan Railways’ first woman Station Manager. Syeda Marzia Al-Zahra has become the first female officer who has been given the additional charge of station manager at Lahore railway station.
- Lebanon gives investigating committee four days to find culprits: minister
- Babar Azam became the seventh Pakistani to score a half-century in five consecutive Test innings.
- Babar at same level as Kohli and Smith, says Nasser
- Army recruits long jumper Asif Magsi. Pakistan Army has decided to recruit and train Asif Magsi, who became a social media sensation after his long jump video went viral.
Spotlight by The NewsRun
1. COVID-19 IN PAKISTAN
- Pakistan reported 727 new cases and 21 deaths in the past 24 hours. Pakistan also conducted 11,915 tests in the span of 24 hours.
- The Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department is letting industries, factories, and establishments operate 24/7, but they have to follow standard operating procedures (SOPs).
2.Pakistan stands with Lebanon
What’s going on? The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party posted a graphic on Instagram that read “Pray for Beirut…Pakistan stands with Lebanon.” Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, also said Pakistan’s prayers and thoughts are with the govt and people of Lebanon.
The details: A powerful blast in Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, killed at least 135 people, and wounded 5,000 (P.S. the casualty toll may rise by the time this newsletter lands in your inbox). Around 300,000 people have been displaced from their homes. There was reportedly an initial explosion in the port area, followed by a fire and small blasts that sounded like fireworks going off. White smoke spewed out of a warehouse next to a grain silo before a huge explosion created a mushroom-cloud shaped shockwave. The explosion flattened entire sections of the city near the Beirut port. The blast could even be felt more than 125 miles away in Cyprus.
Were any Pakistanis harmed? Yes. Pakistan’s Ambassador to Lebanon confirmed the death of a 14-year old Pakistani child, while four other family members were wounded.
The context: Lebanon’s President, Michel Aoun, is blaming the explosion on 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, which he claimed was stored unsafely at a warehouse in the port. In 2013, a similar amount of this material arrived on board a Russian businessman’s cargo ship. The ship docked in Beirut after running into technical problems. The owners reportedly abandoned the ship after it was inspected and banned from leaving. The ship’s cargo was shifted to a port warehouse for safety reasons, but not disposed of or resold. The port’s General Manager and the Director General of Lebanese Customs kept raising red flags about storing ammonium nitrate and wanted it removed, but they didn’t get a response.
Looking ahead: The govt promised a thorough investigation. The Lebanese people believe govt mismanagement played a role in the explosion.
The bottom line: People in Lebanon are outraged. They want to know who let this explosive material remain at the port for so long, and why it wasn’t stored in safer conditions.
3.Grenade attack at a rally
At least 39 people were injured in a grenade attack during a rally in Karachi, which was organized by the religious political party, Jamaat-i-Islami (JI). One person is in critical condition. Two unidentified people on a motorcycle reportedly threw an RGD-1 grenade at the rally and sped off. The banned Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army (SRA) claimed responsibility for the attack. The SRA is a secessionist organization that wants Sindh to break-off from the Pakistani federation. JI organized a rally in connection with the one year anniversary of India revoking India-controlled Kashmir’s special autonomy. JI chief, Sirajul Haq, claimed that Indian agents are still present in the city. Sindh govt spokesperson Murtaza Wahab blamed “anti-state forces.”
4. British-Pakistani joins House of Lords
The UK’s Queen Elizabeth II appointed British-Pakistani businessman, Aamer Sarfraz, as a member of the House of Lords (i.e. upper chamber of parliament) on the recommendation of UK Prime Minister (PM), Boris Johnson. Aamer has a long resume with ‘Conservative Party’ written all over it. He served as advisor to the party’s leadership, and also served as the party’s Treasurer. The 38-year-old will be one of the youngest members of the House of Lords. He wants more British-Pakistanis and Muslims in the UK to join the mainstream political process.
- Backstory: Aamer grew up in Islamabad, studied there till 1999, then came to the UK in 2002. He attended Boston University and the London School of Economics (LSE). He is also an entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and philanthropist who has spearheaded various social projects in Pakistan.
- Side note: Critics are worried that some of PM Johnson’s appointments will damage the credibility of the House of Lords. Very long story short, people are accusing him of simply appointing his close friends, wealthy people, and family members (e.g. he nominated his brother, Jo Johnson).
MARKET RECAP
The benchmark KSE-100 index closed at 39,882.78 after rising 305.16 points as of August 5, 2020.
Check Current Affair Quiz : [Quiz] GK & Pakistan Current Affairs Quiz 05 August 2020
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