ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday ordered authorities to remove the names of Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and Chief Minister Sindh, Murad Ali Shah, from the country’s exit control list (ECL).
The court issued the directive while hearing a suo motu case in which Pakistan’s former president, Asif Ali Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur, and several high-profile individuals were accused of siphoning off billions of rupees by using fake bank accounts.
The country’s top court also ordered the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to probe the case within a period of two months in the light of a report submitted by a Joint Investigation Team (JIT).
The JIT had shared its findings after investigating several fictitious bank accounts which had been opened using identity details of ordinary laborers, without their knowledge or consent.
These accounts were allegedly used for money laundering, with each one of them reflecting frequent transactions involving huge sums of money.
During Monday’s hearing, the court observed that the JIT needed to clarify why Bilawal’s name was on the list of suspects when he had been pursuing his studies abroad and was not involved in his father’s business operations.
It may be recalled that the top court had expressed surprise after finding Shah’s name on the no-fly list too.
Meanwhile, a banking court in Karachi has extended the interim bail for Zardari and Talpur, until January 23.
SC orders removal of Bilawal and Sindh CM’s names from ECL
SC orders removal of Bilawal and Sindh CM’s names from ECL
- Asks NAB to probe money laundering case in light of investigating team’s report
- Former president Zardari’s interim bail extended until January 23
ADB, Pakistan sign over $300 million agreements to undertake climate resilience initiatives
- Pakistan ranks among nations most vulnerable to climate change and has seen erratic changes in weather patterns
- The projects in Sindh and Punjab will restore nature-based coastal defenses and enhance agricultural productivity
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed more than $300 million agreements to undertake two major climate resilience initiatives, Pakistan’s Press Information Department (PID) said on Tuesday.
The projects include the Sindh Coastal Resilience Sector Project (SCRP), valued at Rs50.5 billion ($180.5 million), and the Punjab Climate-Resilient and Low-Carbon Agriculture Mechanization Project (PCRLCAMP), totaling Rs34.7 billion ($124 million).
Pakistan ranks among nations most vulnerable to climate change and has seen erratic changes in its weather patterns. In 2022, monsoon floods killed over 1,700 people, displaced another 33 million and caused over $30 billion losses, while another 1,037 people were killed in floods this year.
The South Asian country is ramping up climate resilience efforts, with support from the ADB and World Bank, and investing in climate-resilient infrastructure, particularly in vulnerable areas.
“Both sides expressed their commitment to effectively utilize the financing for successful and timely completion of the two initiatives,” the PID said in a statement.
The Sindh Coastal Resilience Project (SCRP) will promote integrated water resources and flood risk management, restore nature-based coastal defenses, and strengthen institutional and community capacity for strategic action planning, directly benefiting over 3.8 million people in Thatta, Sujawal, and Badin districts, according to ADB.
The Punjab project will enhance agricultural productivity and climate resilience across 30 districts, improving small farmers’ access to climate-smart machinery, introducing circular agriculture practices to reduce residue burning, establishing testing and training facilities, and empowering 15,000 women through skills development and livelihood diversification.
Earlier this month, the ADB also approved $381 million in financing for Pakistan’s Punjab province to modernize agriculture and strengthen education and health services, including concessional loans and grants for farm mechanization, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, and nursing sector reforms.
