Al-BAHRIA CSS INSTITUTE

&
Punjab Judicial Officers Academy
DAWN Editorials: 27 February 2024, Tuesday

New funds Sr.# Word

Meaning
in Urdu
Synonyms

PAKISTAN plans to seek a new loan of $6bn from the Pursue,

IMF under its Extended Fund Facility for a period of
1. Seek (V) ‫التشرک ان‬
Search for
three years, Bloomberg reported last week, citing
unnamed officials. Discussions with the lender on the 2. Cite (V) Quote, Name
‫وحاہلدانی‬
new facility are expected to begin in March or April,
following the completion of the last review of the
ongoing nine-month $3bn Stand-by Arrangement. Creditor,
3. Lender (N) ‫رقضدےنیوا ال‬
The latter arrangement with the IMF, which is due to Financier
end soon, had helped the country avert default last
Distract,
summer. However, Pakistan`s other creditors 4. Avert (V) ‫اکٹھبن‬ Divert
multilateral, bilateral, and commercial included have
thus far been reluctant to help the nation shore up its ‫دعم‬
‫ ا‬،‫نددنہیگ‬ Nonpayment,
shrinking foreign exchange reserves and improve its 5. Default (N)
‫وموجدیگ‬ Avoidance
external sector outlook, in spite of the present IMF
programme. Their reluctance is evident from the fact Lenders,
that only $6.3bn in foreign loans, or 35.75pc of the 6. Creditors (N) ‫رقضدےنیواےل‬ Financier
annual budgeted target of $17.6bn, in the first seven
months of the present fiscal year to January, has Unwilling,
7. Reluctant (Adj) ‫نم‬
‫نراض ا‬
materialised. But it was not unexpected as foreign Disinclined
creditors are waiting for a larger and longer
arrangement between Islamabad and the Fund for Support,
8. Shore up (V) ‫اہسرادانی‬
medium to long-term reform policy clarity under the Prop up
elected government. Two of the three top global
rating agencies, Moody`s and Fitch, recently Warned,
9. Cautioned (V) ‫یک‬
‫ربخدار ا‬ Alerted
cautioned that a larger IMF package is crucial to
Pakistan`s longer-term economic stability and to
Crucial (Adj) Important,
unlock other foreign inflows to cover the country`s 10. ‫امہ‬
Significant
annual financing gap of $22-25bn for some years.
Influxes,
An IMF spokesperson recently said the Fund was 11. Inflows (N) ‫م‬
‫آ ا‬،‫ادنرویناہبٴو‬ Arrivals
ready, if requested, to support the post-election
government through a new arrangement to address Nevertheless However,
12. (Conj.) ‫مہ‬
‫ات ا‬
Pakistan`s financing challenges. It, nevertheless, Nonetheless
remains unclear if the authorities have started doing
their homework towards a quicker conclusion of the Flock,
13. Slew (N) ‫اسرے‬
‫ا‬ ‫تہب‬
deal billed as being tougher than the current one with Heap
the global lender. The government was compelled to
Execute,
agree to a slew of measures to cut public expenditure, 14. Impose (V) ‫لوگرک ان‬ Enforcement
impose additional taxes on corporates and salaried
individuals, hike borrowing costs, increase energy Control,
rates, etc, to meet IMF goals under the ongoing loan. 15. Curb (V) ‫اقوبرک ان‬ Limit
Coupled with the unannounced import control to
curb the dollar outflow, these measures have caused Drain,
the economy to contract and kept price inflation up, 16. Outflow (N) ‫اسخرہ‬،‫ارخاج‬ Loss
making matters even more difficult for struggling
low-middle-income households. It is also not Seeming,
17. Apparent (Adj) ‫اظرہ‬
apparent how far the incoming minority set-up will Ostensible
be ready to go to secure the IMF funds. But it is as
clear as day that it would not have much room to Trick,
18. Maneuver (N) ‫اچل‬
manoeuvre while dealing with the lender of last Ploy
resort, given the nation`s vulnerable external
Susceptible,
position and its need for securing financing from its 19. Vulnerable (Adj) ‫زمکور‬
‫ا‬
multilateral and bilateral partners to stabilise and Weak
grow the economy and avoid defaulting on its
Mounting (Adj) Escalating,
mounting debt. It is also clear that the new 20. ‫ئ‬
‫ڑبےتھوہ ا‬
Rising
government will have no choice but to make difficult
and unpopular decisions, no matter what the political
costs.

Arranged by: Prof Naveed Sabri

21 Babar Block, New Garden Town, Near Barkat Market Lahore
0333-4438610 0300-4469650 0300-1905555 042-35911609
 Al-BAHRIA CSS INSTITUTE
&
Punjab Judicial Officers Academy
DAWN Editorials: 27 February 2024, Tuesday

Missing link Sr.# Word

Meaning
Synonyms
in Urdu
WITH most of Punjab and KP now accessible via Reachable,
motorways, which have greatly eased road 1. Accessible (Adj) ‫ئ‬
‫اقلِبِ َراس ا‬ Available
travel for the bulk of the citizenry, it is a shame
that the fate of the M-6 Hyderabad-Sukkur Majority,
2. Bulk (N) ‫اھبریدعتاد‬ Most
Motorway a major bottleneck in seamless
north-south connectivity still remains Blockage,
uncertain. Progress on this missing link seems 3. Bottleneck (N) ‫ُراکوٹ‬
Hold up
to be stuck in a start-stop rewind loop since
2016, with the latest setback dealt by the recent Unified,
4. Seamless (Adj) ‫ومہارا‬
termination of a contract given to TECMC a Continuous
joint venture of local and international Twist,
companies to build the 306km motorway. The 5. Loop (N) ‫دارئہ‬
Circle
contract was terminated last month over the
contracted parties` inability to demonstrate Hindrance,
6. Setback (N) ‫راکوٹ‬
they had sufficient funding by an extended Obstacle
deadline. The NHA`s revised estimates place the Distributed,
cost of the project at considerably more than 7. Dealt (V) ‫یگ‬
‫میسقتیک ا‬
Allocated
what the tender originally given to TECMC was
for. It may be recalled that TECMC had been one ‫وصخًاص‬
‫ا‬ ‫رطخےاکاکم‬ Undertaking,
8. Venture (N)
of only two bidders for the project in January ‫اجتریتوسداہ‬ Scheme
2022. It was reported in local media last year
Substantially Considerably,
that the Italian partner in the joint venture had 9. ‫ت‬
‫اکیفدح ا‬
(Adv.) Largely
been greatly disturbed after the surfacing of a
multibillion-rupee scam in land acquisition for Buyers,
10. Bidders (N) ‫ےل‬
‫وبیلاگلےنوا ا‬
the project, following which the process had Purchasers
been suspended. It seems it never resumed.
Gaining,
11. Acquisition (N) ‫ص‬
‫اح ا‬
The opportunity cost of the PML-N`s various Attainment
motorway projects can be debated, but it cannot Restart,
be denied that they have thrown open myriad 12. Resume (V) ‫دوابرہرشوعرک ان‬ Recommence
opportunities for trade, commerce and tourism
that had existed at a much more restricted scale Countless,
13. Myriad (Adj) ‫ےبامُش ار‬
before. Apart from their logistical utility, the Numerous
motorways have also had a significant Directorial,
sociocultural impact: they have made travel 14. Logistical (Adj) ‫لعتم‬
‫لقنولمحےس ا‬ Supervisory
between different parts of the country much
quicker, safer, easier and, in some respects, Usefulness,
15. Utility (N) ‫اافدتی‬
affordable than before. It is unfortunate, Practicality
however, that the building of these motorways Follow,
was not pursued under a consistent, long-term 16. Pursue (V) ‫احصرکن‬،‫التشرکن‬ Chase
policy if it were, the country`s largest city and
Constant,
economic engine would have been connected to 17. Consistent (Adj) ‫لقتسم‬
Steady
other urban centres via a motorway long ago.
Still, we are now at a stage where one last ‫ن‬ Basic,
18. Foundation (N) ‫باد‬
‫ُ ی‬
connection is all that is left. The foundation Groundwork
stone of the Sukkur-Hyderabad portion was
Spell,
laid by Shehbaz Sharif during his last stint as 19. Stint (N) ‫دوراہین‬
Period
prime minister. Now that he is expected to
return to that position soon, it is hoped that he Lower,
20. Drag (V) ‫انٹیسھگ‬
will push to have the project resumed at the Pull
earliest. There is no justification for
stakeholders to continue dragging their feet
and delaying it further.

Arranged by: Prof Naveed Sabri

21 Babar Block, New Garden Town, Near Barkat Market Lahore
0333-4438610 0300-4469650 0300-1905555 042-35911609
 Al-BAHRIA CSS INSTITUTE
&
Punjab Judicial Officers Academy
DAWN Editorials: 27 February 2024, Tuesday

Tragedy averted Sr.

#
Word
Meaning
in Urdu
Synonyms

IN a distressing episode that recently unfolded in Prevented,

1. Averted (V) ‫ئگ‬
‫روکیل ا‬
Lahore`s Ichra Bazaar, a young woman found Stopped
herself the focal point of a dangerous accusation. Dress,
2. Attire (N) ‫س‬
‫ابل ا‬
She was dressed, to her misfortune, in attire Outfit
featuring Arabic calligraphy. It was gravely Intensify,
misinterpreted by some as religious verses and the 3. Escalate (V) ‫ڑبانھ‬ Worsen
incident nearly escalated into deadly violence an
Saneness,
all-too-familiar occurrence in Pakistan. It was 4. Sanity (N) ‫لقع‬
Rationality
only through the timely efforts of the Punjab
police and the sanity demonstrated by some Expose,
5. Debunk (V) ‫ھک انل‬
‫وپل ا‬
traders who debunked the allegations that a Show up
tragedy was averted. The incident, reminiscent of Reminiscent Evocative,
the lynching of Sri Lankan Priyantha Kumara, 6. ‫ایددلےنوا ال‬
(N) Suggestive
underscores a perilous mob mentality prevalent in
Pakistan, where the merest insinuation of ‫یتخرےکریغبا‬
‫اقونینا ا‬ Execution,
7. Lynching (N)
disrespect for religion can ignite violent fervour. ‫یسکوکامر ان‬ Killing
For instance, at least 85 people are reported to Meagre,
have been murdered in Pakistan on blasphemy 8. Merest (Adj) ‫ی‬
‫مکرت ا‬
Trifling
allegations since 1990. This readiness to believe
Insinuation Implication,
the worst, without due diligence or a moment`s 9. ‫ااشرہ‬،‫ہیبنت‬
(N) Hint
pause for rational thought, represents societal
degradation that calls for much-needed Burn,
10. Ignite (V) ‫ڑھباکن‬
introspection. Pakistan must shed the layers of Explode
intolerance that have been allowed to permeate Pervade,
11. Permeate (V) ‫انلیھپ‬
society. For too long the state has allowed such Infuse
elements to fester.
‫رخاب‬،‫احتلاگبڑن‬ Irritate,
12. Fester (V)
‫وہن‬ Aggravate
Although critics often call attention to how laws
pertaining to sacrilege are misused to settle Pertaining ‫ل ل‬ Related,
13. ِ ُ
‫تُما‬
personal scores, the problem runs deeper. It is not (Adj.) Refered
just about reforming laws, but transforming
Blasphemy,
societal attitudes. Here, mobs rarely wait for the 14. Sacrilege (N) ‫یہ‬
‫وت ا‬
Violation
said laws to kick in before they unleash their
Release,
bloody fury on victims. To combat such a 15. Unleash (V) ‫وھچڑد اانی‬
Unbridle
dangerous mentality, urgent efforts by the ulema
are essential. They should denounce such Frenzy,
16. Fury (N) ‫اپلگنپ‬
behaviour and actively advocate for tolerance, Anger
coexistence, and the sanctity of life. At the same Battle,
time, the heroism of the Punjab police and the 17. Combat (V) ‫نٹمن‬
‫ا‬ Fight
traders who defended the woman must be
Denounce Condemn,
celebrated. These instances of courage and 18. ‫رکن‬
‫دیقنت ا‬
(V) Criticize
rationality demonstrate that there are elements
within society ready to stand against the tide of Holiness,
19. Sanctity (N) ‫س‬
‫دقت ا‬
intolerance. Much blood has been shed to this Sacredness
madness. It must stop now. Wave,
20. Tide (N) ‫رہل‬ Surge

Arranged by: Prof Naveed Sabri

21 Babar Block, New Garden Town, Near Barkat Market Lahore
0333-4438610 0300-4469650 0300-1905555 042-35911609