VIF Information Alerts - 26 Mar 2018

Govt likely to relax restrictions for foreigners to visit forbidden areas
Published: Business Standard
25 Mar 2018

Foreign tourists, except those from Pakistan and China, may soon be allowed to visit some of the most pristine locations in the country, kept out of bound so far for them without a special permit. The Union home ministry is examining whether to relax the six-decade-old Restricted Area Permit regime, under which foreigners must obtain a special permission to visit Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and parts Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Jammu and and Kashmir among others. Click here to read... [2]

Balance of payments worsens: Pakistan could knock at IMF’s doors in April
Published: The Express Tribune
26 Mar 2018

The PML-N government has accepted the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) precondition to let the rupee depreciate by over 4% to qualify for any fresh bailout package that is needed to avoid a default-like situation.
Notwithstanding Adviser on Finance Miftah Ismail’s statement that the government is not seeking any IMF assistance, the Washington-based lender is said to have been obliged to steer through highly difficult 2017-18 and 2018-19 financial years. Click here to read... [3]

Pakistan’s largest water reservoirs hit dead level
Published: 24 Mar 2018
Gulf Times
Pakistan’s biggest two water reservoirs are at a dead level after 15 years, according to the Indus River System Authority (IRSA). The experts claim that availability of water in the country is decreasing at an alarming rate with its demand increasing at the same pace.Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted that chances are high that rainfall will remain below normal in April and May and temperatures are likely to increase 1° to 2° Celsius. Click here to read... [4]

Government to utilise water from rivers flowing to Pakistan: Nitin Gadkari
Published: Financial Express
24 Mar 2018

The central government has decided to solve the water problems in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan by utilising water from rivers flowing into Pakistan, Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari said here today. He said the government has also introduced a new scheme where water will reach farmers through innovative technology using pipe system rather than canals, avoiding land acquisition costs to the tune of Rs 6,000 crore. Gadkari made these remarks in his inaugural address at an event organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry here, according to a release issued by the organisers. Click here to read... [5]

India adds firepower at Pakistan border with new air base in Gujarat
Published: International Business Times
23 Mar 2018

Even as India is adding more fighter jets, it is also boosting the infrastructure to deploy these assets quickly in times of combat with Pakistan. Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) Wednesday approved Indian Air Force's long-pending plans to convert a small airport into a forward fighter base in Gujarat. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led CCS has given the green signal to convert Deesa airport in Gujarat's Banaskantha district.http://www.ibtimes.co.in/india-adds-firepower-pakistan-border-new-air-base-gujarat-764687 " target="_blank">Click here to read...

India a brother, China is like a long-lost cousin: Maldives envoy
Published: The Times of India
24 mar 2018

India is a brother, but China is like a long lost cousin found, Maldives ambassador to China Mohamed Faisal has said, asserting that his country would push ahead with Chinese projects despite Delhi’s concerns.
The Maldives will further embrace Chinese investment but is aware it risks getting caught between China and India, Faisal told the South China Morning Post. “China is like a long-lost cousin that we have found, a longlost cousin who is willing to help us,” he said on Thursday. “India is a brother. We are a family, we may quarrel and we may have arguments but in the end, we will sit down and resolve it,” the diplomat said. Click here to read... [6]

Myanmar, India mull building cross-border oil pipeline
Published: The Economic Times
23 Mar 2018

India has proposed to build a pipeline from the country's east coast to deliver oil products, mainly diesel, to Myanmar, a Myanmar government official said on Friday. "We have already connected (oil and gas) pipelines to China and Thailand, and we considered connecting (oil) pipelines to India as well as Bangladesh. This is under consideration to share petroleum products," Zaw Aung, director general of the Ministry of Electricity and Energy's oil and gas planning department, said at the OTC Asia conference. Click here to read... [7]