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September 09, 2022: National / International Current Affairs
1. $450m package to maintain Pakistan`s F-16s
• The US government has notified Congress of a proposed foreign military sale of $450 million to Pakistan to sustain the Pakistan Air Force`s F-16 programme, a US State Department spokesperson told on September 8, 2022.
• Another official statement said the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) delivered the required certification of this possible sale to Congress, on Wednesday.
• The agency clarified that `the proposed sale does not include any new capabilities, weapons, or munitions` The agency also informed Congress that `the proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region` and `there will be no adverse impact on US defence readiness as a result of this proposed sale` `Pakistan`s F-16 programme is an important part of the broader US-Pakistan bilateral relationship. The proposed sale will sustain Pakistan`s capability to meet current and future counterterrorism threats by maintaining its F-16 fleet,` the spokesperson told Dawn
2. World Bank `repurposes` $300m for flood victims
• The World Bank has informed Pakistan that it`s `re-purposing` about $300 million of its funds for the relief and rehabilitation of flood victims.
• Martin Raiser, the bank`s vice president, conveyed the decision to Pakistan`s Ambassador Masood Khan during a visit to the Pakistan embassy in Washington.
• The ambassador apprised him of the flood situation and of the government`s efforts to deal with this unprecedented catastrophe, an embassy press release said.
• The statement, however, did not explain which funds had been re-purposed or redirected. On June 9, the World Bank had approved $300m for upgrading rural roads in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
3. UNESCO mobilises $350,000 to save heritage sites
• The unprecedented floods which have killed at least 1,300 people and left vast areas of the country submerged have also taken a toll on Pakistan`s cultural heritage sites, prompting the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to muster up emergency finances to restore these cultural treasures.
• In a statement on Thursday, the UN body said it had mobilised an emergency fund of $350,000 to help flood-damaged cultural heritage sites in Pakistan, particularly Moenjo Daro which dates back to 2,500BC, and historical monuments at Makli, Thatta, in Sindh
4. WHO official hands over medicines to Swat DHO
• World Health Organisation`s representative for Pakistan Dr Palitha Gunarathna Mahipala visited the flood-affected areas of Swat district on September 8, 2022.
• District health officer Dr Mohammad Saleem Khan accompanied him and his delegation in Swat.
• During the visit, Dr Mahipala handed over medicines to the Swat DHO for the flood victims and visited the health centres in Matta and Madyan areas
5. ECC approves wheat supplies to provinces
• The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet on September 8, 2022 ordered the import of 300,000 tonnes of urea and decided to provide the federal government`s wheat stocks to the provinces with a 50:50 mix of local and imported quantities.
• The meeting of the ECC presided over by Finance Minister Miftah Ismail also approved immediate disbursement of Rs3 billion for emergency relief measures and compensation to people affected by floods.
• The meeting was informed that Fertiliser Review Committee early this week concluded that the government should arrange the import of 300,000 tonnes of urea for the upcoming Rabi season on a government-to-government basis after a review of the demand and supply position by all the stakeholders including federal ministries and agencies concerned, provincial agricultural departments and fertiliser manufacturers
