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February 15, 2022: National Current Affairs MCQs
1. Govt turns to parliament after Alvi `refuses` ordinance
• Despite its attempt to expedite passage of fiscal measures mandated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the government was forced to head to parliament on February 14, 2023 after President Arif Alvi `advised` Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to take parliament into confidence over the Rs170 billion in new taxes that are being levied.
• Soon after the president`s `refusal`, a cabinet meeting was convened to approve the tax amendment bill Finance Bill 2023 which would be tabled in both houses of parliament on Wednesday (today), as per a statement issued by the PM Office after the meeting. The statement added that an `austerity package` targeting government expenditure was also in its final stages.
• Interestingly, hours before Finance Minister Ishaq Dar was reportedly snubbed by the president, National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf adjourned a joint sitting of parliament until Feb 28
2. Pakistan returns draft MEFP to IMF
• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Pakistan resumed their virtual talks on February 14, 2023 as the government responded to the draft of the Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies (MEFP) shared by the Fund.
• Memoranda of Economic and Financial Policies are prepared by the member country. A memorandum describes the policies that a country intends to implement in the context of its request for financial support from the IMF.
• `The Fund sent us the draft MEFP. We have shared our comments on it and shared with them, Finance Secretary Hamed Yaqoob Sheilch told Dawn. `Though email exchange has continued, virtual interaction will start today (Tuesday)
3. Seven TTP men killed in North Waziristan clash
• Seven militants of the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were killed when cops repulsed an attack on a police van carrying three detained militants to Bannu from North Waziristan, the Counterterrorism Department (CTD) said on February 14, 2023.
• The three detained militants were also among those killed in the Monday night clash, the CTD said.
• The CTD said its officials were shifting the three militants from Miramshah to Bannu when they were ambushed on the Mir Ali Bypass Road, possibly by the militants` accomplices to free them from custody
4. Himayatullah made CM`s adviser on finance
• The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa caretaker government on February 14, 2023 appointed Himayatullah Khan as adviser to the chief minister on finance and energy departments.
• A notification issued from the cabinet wing of the administration department stated that in exercise of the powers conferred by section 3 (1) of the KP Advisers and Special Assistants to Chief Minister (Appointment) Act, 1989, KP governor, on the advice of caretaker chief minister, had appointed Mr Himayatullah Khan as adviser on finance and energy and power departments with immediate effect.
• Mr Khan had also served as the adviser to chief minister on energy and power department in the previous Mahmood Khan`s cabinet
5. Cyber security platform for telecom sector launched
• The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has launched a centralised platform to counter cyber attacks on telecom infrastructure.
• The National Telecom Security Operations Center (NTSOC) has been launched with an aim to improve the security of telecom infrastructure and build a `secure and resilient cyberspace for Pakistan,` according to a statement released by the PTA.
• The NTSOC will be the first-ever sector-focused security operations centre formed after the formulation of the Cyber Security Policy, the PTA added
