Good afternoon,

Today’s news: Globally, Trump’s tariffs on auto imports and North Korean soldiers in Russia. Locally, the water crisis worsens as Irsa limits supply to drinking needs, markets rally after IMF deal, and Islamabad IGP seeks two weeks to recover journalist Ahmad Noorani’s missing brothers.

☕ Grab your chaye (or don’t), let’s go.

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Around The World

Empty tank. US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he was placing 25% tariffs on cars and car parts imports starting on April 2nd, a move the White House claims would foster domestic manufacturing. The White House expects the tariffs to raise $100 billion in revenue annually, which could be complicated as even U.S. automakers source their components from around the world. 

In response, shares in General Motors fell roughly 3% in Wednesday trading, and shares in Stellantis, the owner of Jeep and Chrysler, dropped nearly 3.6%. The US imported about eight million cars last year, accounting for about $240bn in trade and roughly half of overall sales. Mexico is the top supplier of cars to the US, followed by South Korea, Japan, Canada, and Germany.

Kim-possible. According to the South Korean military, North Korea appears to have sent at least 3,000 more soldiers to Russia early this year, demonstrating Pyongyang’s continued support for Moscow’s war in Ukraine. The reinforcements add to the roughly 11,000 troops North Korea has sent to Russia so far. The news comes as Russia prepares for a visit by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Green, baby. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) reported that installation of renewable energy worldwide hit a record high last year, with 92.5% of all new electricity from the sun, wind, and other clean sources. Nearly 64% of the new renewable electricity capacity in 2024 was in China. Overall, the world added 585 billion watts of new renewable power, a 15.1% jump from 2023. 46% of the world’s electricity comes from solar, wind, and green non-nuclear energy sources.

Pakistan

Drying up. With the Kharif season set to begin in April, Pakistan is facing a water crisis, making irrigation planning highly uncertain. Dams have run dry, river flows have drastically declined, and lower-than-normal snowfall has worsened the situation. Officials warn of serious consequences for crop production. In response, the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) decided to allocate water solely for drinking purposes in April. 

The crisis stems from a combination of low rainfall, high temperatures, and reduced snowfall in the areas that feed the Indus and Jhelum rivers. Water discharges at key stations are already 51% below normal, and shortages have exceeded 60% at provincial canal heads. With critical Kharif crops like rice, sugarcane, cotton, maize, and mash at risk, the situation poses a serious challenge for the agricultural sector and overall food security.

Boom, clap. The stock market and currency strengthened on Wednesday following Islamabad’s staff-level agreement (SLA) with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The KSE-100 surged to 118,220 points before closing 1% higher at 117,772, while the rupee edged up to Rs. 280.2 per dollar. Analysts credit the deal for easing market uncertainty, with projections of further stock gains. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif noted Pakistan’s improved tax collection, surpassing IMF targets. With steady remittances and investor confidence rising, experts foresee market stability in the coming months. Read more here. 

A for abduction. Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ali Nasir Rizvi on Thursday sought two weeks from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to recover the two missing brothers of journalist Ahmad Noorani. The day before their disappearance, Noorani had published an investigation on his website alleging that Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir had appointed some of his relatives to high-level posts without adequate qualifications. Advocate Imaan Mazari-Hazir, representing the family, questioned whether intelligence agencies had been investigated, while Noorani’s mother voiced her distress, demanding urgent action.

What else is happening?

💉Doctors in China have successfully transplanted a genetically modified pig liver into a human. The liver was transplanted last year into a brain-dead person, and it “functioned very well in the human body” for 10 days without any signs of immune rejection or accumulation of inflammation.

🚫The U.S. government added over 50 Chinese tech entities to an export blacklist, targeting firms developing advanced AI, supercomputing and quantum tech. China’s foreign ministry strongly condemned the move while urging the U.S. to stop generalizing national security decisions.