VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: 13th December, 2018

PAKISTAN

Saudi to make biggest foreign investment in Pakistan's history: finance minister: Dawn
December 13, 2018

Finance Minister Asad Umar on Thursday said that an incoming investment package from Saudi Arabia, which promises to be "the biggest foreign investment in Pakistan history", will be announced soon. "The ball is in our court. We have to get cabinet approval next week, after which an announcement will be made," he said, addressing an event in Islamabad. He added that he keeps getting messages from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman "through other people to hurry up". Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have been in talks recently over a bailout package for Islamabad. At a time when various foreign countries and business delegations were pulling out of an investment conference in Saudi after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Prime Minister Imran Khan attended the event, inviting foreign investors to put their money into projects in Pakistan. Click here to read.... [2]

Apex court forms JIT in Pakpattan land case after Nawaz Sharif relents: Dawn
December 13, 2018

The Supreme Court on Thursday formed a joint investigation team (JIT) to probe allegations of the illegal allotment of Waqf property attached to a Pakpattan shrine against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. The PML-N supremo is facing a charge that as the chief minister of Punjab in 1986 he had ordered withdrawal of a notification of Dec 17, 1969 and allegedly allotted huge lands of Auqaf around Pakpattan to Dewan Ghulam Qutab in violation of a high court order. Click here to read.... [3]

AFGHANISTAN

HPC Questions Structure Of High Advisory Board For Peace: Tolo News
December 13, 2018

A senior member of the High Peace Council (HPC) on Wednesday questioned the structure of the high advisory board for peace by the Afghan government, saying women’s presence in the board has been “unfair and unjust”. Addressing a national conference on women’s role in peace, the deputy head of the HPC, Habiba Sarabi, said government has not considered a fair role for the women and youth in the high advisory board for peace. “I have objection about this board because women do not have equal representation while they constitute half of the population in the society,” Sarabi said. “It should not be only during the voting. We want participation and we want a board where women have real presence.” Click here to read.... [4]

BANGLADESH

Two dead, dozens injured in Bangladesh clashes as election nears: Channel News Asia
December 13, 2018

Political clashes in Bangladesh left two campaign workers dead and injured dozens more, police said on Wednesday (Dec 12), as tensions soared before a general election on Dec 30. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of the ruling Awami League Party is seeking a third straight term as formal election campaigning got underway on Monday. Click here to read.... [5]

CHINA

Xi reiterates China's adherence to multilateralism, opening-up: Xinhuanet
December 12, 2018

President Xi Jinping reiterated on Wednesday that China will adhere to the path of multilateralism and open its door wider to the world. Xi made the remarks when meeting with foreign delegates attending the just concluded 2018 Imperial Springs International Forum held in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province. He briefed the delegates on achievements of China's reform and opening-up during the past 40 years and important measures of a new round of opening-up at a higher level, expounded on China's relations with the world, and listened to the delegates' remarks. Click here to read.... [6]