Sharif makes first provincial visit under emergency rule

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reached Peshawar on Thursday, making his first visit to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since the federal government imposed emergency and governor’s rule in the province on October 11, Dawn reported, citing sources in the Prime Minister’s Office. The sources said Sharif was expected to chair the apex committee on terrorism during the visit.

The federal government said the measures were prompted by what it called the PTI-led provincial administration’s deliberate withdrawal from counterterrorism efforts. Parliament subsequently endorsed the decisions amid opposition protests. The federal authorities also authorised the deployment of Pakistan Army personnel and assets to support the civil administration in the province.

Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, who is now responsible for running the province, previously chaired an apex committee meeting with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. Kundi said counterterrorism would be a priority and called for closer coordination between provincial and federal authorities. PTI has said it was excluded from security decisions affecting the province, a claim denied by the federal government.

Sri Lankan panel examines Procurement Act

Sri Lanka’s parliamentary Committee on Public Finance has discussed work on a new Procurement Act as the government struggles to use its capital expenditure allocation. EconomyNext reported that about Rs385 billion had been spent from an allocated Rs1.38 trillion.

According to a statement from Parliament, the committee examined procurement delays, registration difficulties, gaps in the legal framework and operational problems involving digital systems. Members also considered higher financial thresholds for procurement committees, longer-term arrangements for recurring purchases and guidelines tailored to individual sectors. Reducing delays in purchases of pharmaceuticals and other essential goods was also discussed.

The committee reviewed the Procurement Management Information System, which is being used to monitor procedures across 394 active procurement units in 19 ministries. Plans call for its expansion to all provincial councils and government departments by 2027. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has said accumulated regulations have made the existing system excessively restrictive and has pledged more flexible, modern procurement mechanisms.