{"id":68893,"date":"2021-02-18T02:07:35","date_gmt":"2021-02-18T02:07:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prepistan.com\/blog\/?p=68893"},"modified":"2021-02-18T02:07:35","modified_gmt":"2021-02-18T02:07:35","slug":"current-affairs-february-17-2021-top-pakistan-current-affairs-for-ppsc-test-preparation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prepistan.com\/blog\/current-affairs-february-17-2021-top-pakistan-current-affairs-for-ppsc-test-preparation\/","title":{"rendered":"[Current Affairs] February 17, 2021 Top Pakistan Current Affairs for PPSC Test Preparation"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Today\u2019s top Pakistan current affairs February 17, 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, <\/strong><strong>KPPSC, SPSC, BPSC, AJKPSC, OTS, PTS, and other Govt Jobs, exams &amp; MDCAT, ECAT Entry test preparation.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>One Liner<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"background-color: #ffff00;\">Secret Operation By Security Forces In Mir Ali Kills Three Terrorists.<\/span> Three terrorists were killed in an intelligence based operation by security forces in Mirali area of North Waziristan.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"background-color: #ffff00;\">PM Imran Khan launches spring tree plantation drive.<\/span> Prime Minister Imran Khan has launched the 2021 spring tree plantation drive during a ceremony after planting a sapling in Islamabad<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"background-color: #ffff00;\">PM Khan Likely Visit Sri Lanka Next Week.<\/span> Prime Minister Imran Khan will be leading a high level delegation on his first visit abroad this year, when he leaves for Sri Lanka at the end of this month.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"background-color: #ffff00;\">Federal govt notifies cut in passport fee.<\/span> Federal government on Wednesday notified a cut in the fee of a 10-year passport after Federal Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed announced the decision a day before<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"background-color: #ffff00;\">Govt hints at lifting Covid-19 restrictions from March 1.<\/span> The federal cabinet meeting on Wednesday decided to lift all restrictions on businesses from March 1 that had been placed last year to curb the spread of coronavirus<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"background-color: #ffff00;\">Pakistanis living in Norway allowed to keep dual nationality.<\/span> In a landmark decision, the Pakistan government on Wednesday has allowed its citizens living in Norway to keep dual nationality<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"background-color: #ffff00;\">Gold prices drop in domestic market.<\/span> Gold prices fall in the domestic market as per tola price of yellow metal registered a decline of Rs900 to 110,300 in the local market<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"background-color: #ffff00;\">Pakistani rupee strengthens against US dollar.<\/span> The Pakistani rupee continued to strengthen against the United States (US) dollar on Wednesday as it appreciated by 28 paisa against the greenback in the interbank.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"background-color: #ffff00;\">South Africa\u2019s Faf du Plessis retires from Test cricket.<\/span> Former South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis announced that he is bidding farewell to Test cricket with immediate effect.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Spotlight by\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenewsrun.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The NewsRun<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: #ffff00;\"><strong>1. COVID-19 IN PAKISTAN<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>24-hour count:\u00a0<\/strong>Pakistan reported<strong>\u00a0958\u00a0new cases<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>47\u00a0deaths<\/strong>\u00a0in 24 hours. Pakistan also conducted<strong>\u00a031,905\u00a0tests\u00a0<\/strong>in the span of 24 hours (P.S. this data was last updated on February 16\u00a0at 10:25am).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"m_-914580176961957821size-18\" lang=\"x-size-18\"><span style=\"background-color: #ffff00;\"><strong>2. IMF and Pakistan revive delayed bailout program<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p><strong>What&#8217;s going on?\u00a0<\/strong>Remember the International Monetary Fund&#8217;s (IMFs) $6 billion bailout program\u00a0for Pakistan?\u00a0IMF staff\u00a0and Pakistani authorities\u00a0agreed on a new package of measures that\u00a0aim to support the economy, ensure appropriate debt management, and improve structural reforms.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p><strong>The details:\u00a0<\/strong>The IMF funds\u00a0have\u00a0been on hold since last\u00a0year, since Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan initially\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/tribune.com.pk\/story\/2284465\/imf-agrees-to-revive-pakistans-stalled-6-billion-bailout-programme\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/newsletter.thenewsrun.com\/t\/j-l-aktuitk-iluykthdp-t\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1613695452508000&amp;usg=AFQjCNF7_PJF40gIa_55Ovc6X5p2eu-FZw\">said &#8216;no&#8217;<\/a>\u00a0to increasing electricity prices and adding more\u00a0taxes\u00a0to raise\u00a0tax revenue (i.e. income the govt makes through taxation). Now, the govt has reportedly agreed to pursue those fiscal measures between February\u00a0and May this year. In fact, the govt\u00a0already raised\u00a0energy prices. These rising prices are coming at a time when\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/us-pakistan-economy-imf\/imf-and-pakistan-agree-conditions-met-to-release-500-million-idUSKBN2AG1UX?il=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/newsletter.thenewsrun.com\/t\/j-l-aktuitk-iluykthdp-i\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1613695452508000&amp;usg=AFQjCNG11Kl_-zLijAmYYJjJDcLHWSmz9w\">inflation<\/a>\u00a0in Pakistan is on the higher side (P.S. high inflation indicates an increase in general prices).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p><strong>The context:\u00a0<\/strong>In 2019, Pakistan requested funds from the IMF&#8217;s Extended Fund Facility (EFF) to help\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/us-pakistan-economy-imf\/imf-and-pakistan-agree-conditions-met-to-release-500-million-idUSKBN2AG1UX?il=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/newsletter.thenewsrun.com\/t\/j-l-aktuitk-iluykthdp-d\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1613695452508000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGLH6uHvDHjIEWFxyICp2fwDygj4A\">stabilize the economy<\/a>, which was struggling with a big\u00a0current account deficit\u00a0and low foreign exchange reserves. Pakistan eventually reached out to the IMF months after PM Khan&#8217;s newly elected govt refused to ask for\u00a0a financial bailout. As a part of the three year loan program, the IMF is working with Pakistan to implement\u00a0economic reforms in the country.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p><strong><em>In case you need a quick economics refresher, and don&#8217;t have time to Google what these terms mean:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li><em><strong>Current Account Deficit:\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>When a country spends more money on what it imports than what it exports, meaning, more money is leaving the country, instead of coming into the country.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li><em><strong>Foreign Exchange Reserves:<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0Central banks hold foreign exchange reserves (i.e. any foreign money). If a country has low foreign reserves, and there is excess demand for\u00a0foreign currency (e.g. dollars), then the price of the foreign currency could go\u00a0up, causing\u00a0the country&#8217;s own currency to decrease in value. Basically, when a country&#8217;s currency is low in value, that country&#8217;s goods become cheaper. At the same time, a devalued currency makes foreign goods more expensive for domestic residents to purchase, which sucks if you are a person or business that relies on imported products. Also, central banks use foreign reserves to meet external payment obligations, like paying debts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p><strong>Looking ahead:\u00a0<\/strong>The IMF Executive Board still needs to do a final review and give its stamp of approval before releasing\u00a0$500 million in IMF Funds to Pakistan &#8211; a segment of the total $6 billion. Finance Minister,<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/a_hafeezshaikh\/status\/1361679319471448069\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/newsletter.thenewsrun.com\/t\/j-l-aktuitk-iluykthdp-h\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1613695452508000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHh20xkG9CrLhZkw2fRPMwGFPWcNw\">Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh<\/a>, said\u00a0this is &#8220;a good development for Pakistan.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p><strong>The bottom line:\u00a0<\/strong>It was unclear where Pakistan and the IMF stood regarding the bailout program.\u00a0The latest agreement between Pakistan and the IMF reportedly ended a long period of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/9eaad504-fc01-4158-9f69-a7336dc8598e\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/newsletter.thenewsrun.com\/t\/j-l-aktuitk-iluykthdp-k\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1613695452508000&amp;usg=AFQjCNEF5iB4DMKLfVNIhF8Q_7SYyshbWQ\">uncertainty<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"m_-914580176961957821size-18\" lang=\"x-size-18\"><span style=\"background-color: #ffff00;\"><strong>3. Pakistani doctor&#8217;s book featured in<em>\u00a0Book Authority<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>Dr. Zubaida Sirang&#8217;s book,\u00a0&#8220;Optics Made Easy,&#8221;\u00a0ranked #2 in\u00a0<em>Book Authority&#8217;s\u00a0<\/em>list of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/bookauthority.org\/books\/new-optics-books\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/newsletter.thenewsrun.com\/t\/j-l-aktuitk-iluykthdp-a\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1613695452508000&amp;usg=AFQjCNEguINIMwYX-WjtOWvQUZqbpYNLoQ\">\u201c23\u00a0Best New Optics Books to Read in 2021\u201d<\/a>.\u00a0<em>Book Authority\u00a0<\/em>reportedly<em>\u00a0<\/em>identifies and rates the best books in the world, based on recommendations by thought leaders and experts.\u00a0<em>Book Authority<\/em>\u00a0also featured\u00a0Dr. Sirang&#8217;s book in three other\u00a0lists:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/bookauthority.org\/books\/best-ophthalmology-ebooks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/newsletter.thenewsrun.com\/t\/j-l-aktuitk-iluykthdp-f\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1613695452508000&amp;usg=AFQjCNH9KIvdCLssGbypMX0cPZxlRy6qfA\">&#8220;64 Best Ophthalmology eBooks of All Time,&#8221;<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/bookauthority.org\/books\/best-optics-ebooks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/newsletter.thenewsrun.com\/t\/j-l-aktuitk-iluykthdp-z\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1613695452508000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGb6yZQT6XwyBGRUJz5HdvTVGnKTQ\">&#8220;72 Best Optics eBooks of All Time,&#8221;<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/bookauthority.org\/books\/new-ophthalmology-books\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/newsletter.thenewsrun.com\/t\/j-l-aktuitk-iluykthdp-v\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1613695452508000&amp;usg=AFQjCNEusU_njONhsgLvU_aBI9cOv_pxKw\">&#8220;25 Best New Ophthalmology Books to Read in 2021.&#8221;<\/a>\u00a0Dr. Sirang is an eye surgeon from Chitral, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. She completed her MBBS from Aga Khan University in Karachi, and is\u00a0pursuing a specialization\u00a0in Surgical Ophthalmology from\u00a0Ireland.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>[dkpdf-button]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Today\u2019s top Pakistan current affairs February 17, 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 &amp; [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":52815,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-68893","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-current-affairs"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/prepistan.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68893","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/prepistan.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/prepistan.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prepistan.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prepistan.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=68893"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/prepistan.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68893\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prepistan.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/52815"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/prepistan.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=68893"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prepistan.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=68893"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prepistan.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=68893"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}