1. Father of PTI’s MNA Alamgir Khan among the 13 dead in Karachi blast
What happened: A blast near Karachi’s Shershah area underneath the building of a private bank killed 13 people including the father of the ruling party’s MNA Alamgir Khan. The local police had said that the blast took place in a drainage located near the Shershah Paracha Chowk, causing damage to the private bank’s building. Details: At the same time, the people were trapped in the debris as rescue officials helped. Subsequently, Sindh Rangers and police were called before the heavy machinery was called to the site to remove the debris. However, the local authorities have cordoned off the area. CM Sindh Murad Ali Shah has taken notice of the blast, but the authorities are yet to determine the cause of the explosion. 2. Education Ministry launched digital service to verify equivalence certificate
What happened: The Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood on the 17th of December launched the digital equivalence certificate service. Speaking at the launching ceremony, Shafqat Mahmood said that all organisations working under the education ministry are digitalising processes in order to facilitate the public and highlight Imran Khan’s vision. Details: It is pertinent to mention here that previously, IBCC digitalised the equivalence process, but now the verification has also been digitalised. The online service would help the public to reduce the cost, time spent in getting the certificate. An IBCC official is quoted by Dawn, “Due to this new security feature the IBCC will also have millions of rupees annually by removing old and traditional manual security features from the certificate.” 3. Armed forces and judiciary exempted from declaring assets under new IMF conditions 
What happened: The Federal government has the option to exempt the members of the armed forces and judiciary from declaring their assets, as a report by Dawn suggests. A new legal amendment to be introduced in the ITO through Supplementary Financial Bill 2021 ensures the compulsory filing and disclosures of asset declarations. Details: In a bid to implement the conditions provided by the IMG and approval of another loan, the government has decided to disclose the asset declarations filed by politically exposed civil servants and their spouses. 4. After 41 years, Pakistan hosts OIC’s Council of Foreign Ministers in Islamabad
What happened: Pakistan will host the 17th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of OIC(Organization of Islamic Cooperation) on the 19th of December. Different dignitaries are arriving in Pakistan to attend the session talking about the evolving situation in Afghanistan. Details: It is pertinent to mention that the interim Afghan government would also be attending the session. Whereas, Imran Khan will also address the OIC members. Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister had also said, “The OIC Extraordinary session in Islamabad would prove to be a stepping stone in finding solutions to the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.” Shah Mehmood Qureshi also claimed that this session would be an opportunity for world capitals to know the ground realities about the evolving Afghan situation from the Taliban representatives. 5. LHC ordered to fix minimum academic qualification for a Nikah Registrar
What happened: The Lahore High Court on the 18th of December has ruled for fixing the minimum academic qualification for a Nikah Registrar, and proper training would be required for the Nikah Registrar. On the other hand, the LHC has also ordered amendments in the Haq Mehr column in the Nikahnama. Details: The LHC has directed the local as well as the federal government to form separate columns by the name of “cash” and “movable & immovable” in the Haq Mehr column of the Nikahnama. Whereas, the dowry column has been made part of the column related to Haq Mehr. According to the ruling quoted by a publication, “The parties if intend to write something other than alimony, it should be written separately in the marriage deed.”