Today’s top Pakistan current affairs February 26, 2021 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
- PM lays foundation stone for Central Business District in Lahore. Prime Minister Imran Khan has laid the foundation stone of the Central Business District in Lahore.
- Sri Lanka Finally Allows Burial of Muslims Dying of COVID-19 After PM Imran’s Visit. The government of Sri Lanka has lifted a ban on the burial of COVID-19 corpses after Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s successful visit, and a gazette notification to this effect was issued on Thursday.
- OGRA Recommends Hike In Petrol Price By Rs 20. The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) on Friday sent a summary to the Petroleum Division, suggesting an increase in the prices of petroleum products from March.
- High-profile Terrorist Killed In Intelligence Based Operation In South Waziristan. Security forces on Friday killed a high-profile terrorist in South Waziristan in an intelligence-based operation (IBO), said a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
- New LNG Contract With Qatar Is 31% Cheaper: Babar. Special Assistant on Petroleum Nadeem Babar has said the ten year LNG contract signed with Qatar is thirty one percent cheaper compared to the previous agreements.
- PMSA Arrests 17 Indian Fishermen. Pakistan Maritime Security Agency has arrested 17 Indian fishermen and confiscated their three boats for violating Pakistani territorial waters and illegal fishing.
- Pakistan Air Force celebrates ‘Surprise Day’. In order to pay tribute to valiant Shaheens’ for their brave defence of the motherland while retaliating to Indian air force violation of its sovereign territories on 27th of February, 2019, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is celebrating Surprise Day on Saturday in connection with the second anniversary of Operation Swift Retort
- Multan Sultan Get First Victory In PSL By Defeating Lahore Qalandars. Multan Sultan got first victory of the sixth edition of Pakistan Super Leauge after beating Lahore Qalandars by seven wickets.
Spotlight by The NewsRun
1. COVID-19 IN PAKISTAN
- Pakistan reported 1,541 cases and 32 deaths in 24 hours. Pakistan also conducted 41,849 tests in the span of 24 hours (P.S. this data was last updated on February 26 at 7:07am).
- Is now the time to relax COVID-19 restrictions? Even though many people decided to relax COVID-19 restrictions on their own (judging from what we saw in the news, and on social media), the govt is making it official. The National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) said it will ease some restrictions due to a downward trend in COVID-19 cases. There won’t be a time limit on commercial activities anymore. Workplaces can operate at more than 50% capacity. As for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) cricket tournament, the spectator capacity limit will increase from 20% to 50%. The NCOC will also allow full attendance during the PSL playoffs, with standard operating procedures in place. The NCOC will re-evaluate its decision if the infection rate goes up again.
- Starting on March 15: People can have indoor weddings. Cinemas and shrines will reopen. There’s no word on when indoor dining will open again – we might have an update on March 10.
- What’s the latest on schools reopening? Federal Minister for Education, Shafqat Mahmood, said all schools will “go back to regular five day classes from Monday, March 1.” Reminder: Schools in urban areas like Karachi, Hyderabad, Lahore and Peshawar didn’t have a regular five day school week. The NCOC only allowed a three day school week in these cities due to a spike in COVID-19 cases. However, Mahmood’s announcement applies to all schools, meaning, cities with restrictions can resume a regular five day school week on March 1. Mahmood said educational institutions still need to implement COVID-19 prevention strategies (e.g. wear masks, practice physical distancing, wash hands).
2. A renewed ceasefire pledge with India
What’s going on? Pakistan and India reportedly agreed to a ceasefire. According to a joint statement by the militaries of both countries, top officials agreed to observe a truce along the highly militarized Line of Control (LoC). This truce emphasizes the importance of communication to settle potential misunderstandings. Talks between the two countries reportedly happened behind the scenes.
Wasn’t there already a ceasefire? Sort of, but no one paid attention to it. Since 2019, cross-border firings have escalated between both countries. These skirmishes took place along the LoC, which runs between Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and India-controlled Kashmir. Pakistan and India frequently accused each other of violating a 2003 ceasefire agreement. This latest ceasefire is supposed to be a “renewed commitment.”
Tell me more: What made 2019 particularly special? On February 14, 2019, a suicide bombing in Pulwama (i.e. India-controlled Kashmir) killed 40 Indian soldiers. Pakistan-based militant group, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack. India accused Pakistan of helping the bombers, but Pakistan said ‘not true.’ Later on, India launched an airstrike in Pakistan’s town of Balakot, claiming it struck a terrorist training camp. Pakistan responded with its own airstrikes, shot down an Indian fighter jet, captured that jet’s pilot, and released the pilot later on.
The context: Pakistan and India have been feuding over Kashmir for 70+ years. Both countries claim Kashmir in full, but only control parts of it. Existing tension between the nuclear-armed neighbors intensified over the past two years.
The bottom line: Communities living near the LoC are especially relieved about the renewed commitment to a ceasefire. They dealt with the biggest brunt of the conflict. People had to endure displacement, damaged homes, and fatal casualties.
3. Re-election announced for N-75 constituency
On February 19, a by-election took place in the Sialkot Daska NA-75 constituency, because the previous Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate who filled the seat passed away. Yesterday, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said the election was “null and void.” The ECP ordered a re-election in the constituency on March 18, due to the possibility of “falsified results” from 20 polling stations. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders were convinced their party’s candidate won, but the ECP said ‘not so fast.’ PML-N leaders were pushing for a repoll, so this is good news for them.
- Backstory: Nine candidates from different parties were competing for the NA-75 seat, including PML-N’s Nousheen Iftikhar Shah and PTI’s Ali Asjad Malhi. Staff members at 23 polling stations apparently disappeared while the votes were being counted. PML-N Secretary General, Ahsan Iqbal, claimed his party’s win was pretty clear, but some sore losers ran off with the votes to cover up the results. Even though the missing polling staff showed up a few hours later, the ECP is suspicious about the delayed results. PTI leaders shot back and said PML-N only complains about rigging when they lose an election.
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