Today’s top Pakistan current affairs December 24,2020 with download link available in pdf. 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 Army soldier martyred in Indian firing from across LoC. A soldier of the Pakistan Army on Wednesday embraced martyrdom in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) due to the unprovoked ceasefire violation by the Indian troops along the Line of Control (LoC)
- PM, COAS, ISI chief meet to discuss security situation of Pakistan. The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa called Thursday on Prime Minister Imran Khan to brief him on the security situation on both internal and external fronts of Pakistan
- Pakistan Army soldier martyred, seven injured in North Waziristan attack. A soldier of the Pakistan Army was martyred and seven others injured in a terrorist attack on the security forces in North Waziristan
- PIA set to fire 300 unfit flight attendants, pilots. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has executed an introspection drive wherein it was reported on Wednesday that at least 300 flight attendants, either physically unfit, incapable, or both, are set to be fired
- New gas reserves found in Pakistan, announces OGDCL. The Oil & Gas Development Company Ltd (OGDCL) has announced to discover of new reserves of gas in Pakistan
- The decision on school reopening on January 4. An inter-provincial education ministers conference slated for December 30 (Wednesday) has been postponed and rescheduled for Jan 4.
- First cargo of Euro-5 diesel reaches Karachi. In line with Prime Minister Imran Khan’s initiative of ‘Clean and Green Pakistan’ program, the first cargo vessel of Euro-5 diesel on Thursday reached Karachi
- Pakistani rupee strengthens against the US dollar. The Pakistani rupee appreciated by Rs0.23 against the United States (US) dollar in the inter-bank market on Thursday.
- Gold price rises in the domestic market. The per tola gold price on Thursday witnessed an increase of Rs200 to Rs112,800 in the domestic market
Spotlight by The NewsRun
1. COVID-19 IN PAKISTAN
- 24-hour count: Pakistan reported 2,256 new cases and 111 deaths in the past 24 hours. Pakistan also conducted 37,173 tests in the span of 24 hours (P.S. this data was last updated on December 24 at 8:44am).
2. Pakistan and the US COVID-19 relief bill
What’s going on? There was some confusion surrounding the $900 billion COVID-19 relief package in the US, which Congress passed on Monday, December 21. It includes a new round of direct payments (i.e. $600 per person for individuals earning $75,000 a year, and married couples earning up to $150,000, plus $600 more for each dependent under 18). The bill also includes extended unemployment benefits, loans for struggling businesses, money for testing and vaccine distribution, and money for colleges and schools.
The details: US President Donald Trump slammed the legislation, claiming it didn’t have anything to do with the pandemic. He also thinks payments to average Americans are too low and recommended increasing direct payments to $2,000.
Something to know: Congress passed the COVID-19 relief bill, and included a $1.4 trillion spending bill as a separate measure. Lawmakers attached the spending bill to fund the govt through next September, and avoid a govt shutdown on December 21. The spending bill is where Pakistan comes into the picture, since it allocates $25 million for democracy and gender programs in Pakistan.
Tell me more: While President Trump trashed the COVID-19 relief bill in a video, calling it a “disgrace,” he brought up money being set aside for Pakistan and other countries, such as Cambodia, Burma, Egypt, Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. However, these expenditures are actually listed in the spending bill, and not a part of the COVID-19 relief bill.
The bottom line: It sounds like President Trump was merging the COVID-19 relief bill with the spending bill while criticizing the legislation. His son, Eric Trump, did the same on Twitter.
3. News channel reportedly airs hate speech about Pakistan
UK regulator, Ofcom, slapped a 20,000 pound fine on Worldview Media Network Limited because its service, Republic Bharat, allegedly broadcast hate speech about Pakistan. Worldview gave Republic Bharat a license to broadcast in the UK. Republic Bharat is the Hindi-language version of right wing Indian news channel, Republic TV. On September 6, 2019, Republic Bharat broadcast an episode of its show, Poochta Hai Bharat, a daily current affairs program. During the show, news anchor Arnab Goswami, and some of the guests reportedly suggested that all Pakistani people are terrorists. In its defense, Republic TV said the show doesn’t feature hate speech, but includes “figures of speech” that shouldn’t be taken literally.
- Backstory: Republic TV is one of the most watched channels in India. Goswami hosts aggressive debates about current affairs. The channel is known to be a big supporter of India’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata party (BJP), and Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.
4. Police comment on death of Baloch activist
Prominent political activist, Karima Baloch, was found dead in Toronto on Monday. She was reported missing a day earlier. She often campaigned for Baloch rights, and Balochistan’s independence from Pakistan. She left Pakistan in 2015, and applied for political asylum in Canada after facing threats due to her political views. Canadian police said her death appears to be “non-criminal,” meaning, they don’t suspect “foul play.” However, rights groups are demanding a more thorough investigation. Baloch’s husband, Hamal Haider, claimed that Baloch had been receiving threats.
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