Epaper – June 4-2022 KHI

Saturday, 4 June, 2022 I 4 Dhul-Qadah, 1443 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XII No 335 I 12 Pages I Karachi Edition

Imran ‘set a trap’ for us by lowerIng pol prIces g

shehbaz Vows steps to cut iNflatioN, poVerty ahead of Next polls ISLAMABAD

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staff report

riMe Minister shehbaz sharif on friday blamed the ousted government of pti for the prevailing economic meltdown, saying that his predecessor imran Khan had “set a trap” for his government by decreasing prices of petroleum products after assessing that no-confidence vote against him was going to succeed. “last night, the government increased the prices of petroleum products with a heavy heart,” shehbaz said while addressing the inauguration of gwadar east bay expressway. lashing out at the former government, the prime minister said that it only provided relief to the people after realising that the vote of no-confidence was going to succeed. “they never provided subsidies on wheat and sugar, prices of which affect poor people the most,” he added. shehbaz said that his government tried to manage the petrol price initially but admitted that the government was in no position to continue the subsidies on petroleum products. “we have very limited gas reserves and most of them are depleting… we’re 98 per cent dependent [from outside] to meet our energy needs,” he

said while giving reasons for the price hike, adding that the government was forced to take the drastic measure as it had no other option. the premier said that the government provided rs2,000 relief to 80 million people. “this money can be used for any purpose i.e. to purchase petrol, wheat etc. we have not limited it to any one commodity,” he added. urging the elites to come forward and help out the poor to mitigate the effects of inflation, shehbaz vowed that the government will take a lead and will also adopt austerity measures. “i have called a meeting tomorrow. the austerity measures will be implemented on all government officials and it starts with me,” he added. he said that as a nation, we have to take these drastic steps so that pakistan can be put back on track for prosperity and progress. talking about gwadar and the multibillion-dollar china-pakistan economic corridor (cpec) project, shehbaz said that the east bay link will connect gwadar to Karachi, adding that the government was aware of the needs of people living in the small port town. “for 3,200 families living here, china is providing solar panels. our security agencies are providing excellent security to chinese residing here as well,” he added.

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Notifies isi as sVa for screeNiNg all public office holders

he admitted that the pace of work in gwadar has been slow and not satisfactory. “today, we examined all the development work here. i must admit the pace of development is not satisfactory. gwadar airport could not be made operational yet. in 2017-2018, we inaugurated it.” he said that despite being funded by china 100 per cent, the slow progress on the airport project was regrettable.

Govt welcomes ‘indefinite ceasefire’ with TTP: Marriyum

shehbaz also regretted that the people of gwadar could not be provided sufficient drinkable water yet. “desalination plants should have been built long ago and drinkable water should have been in every household by now.” he informed that many heavy ships cannot come to gwadar port as it needed drilling in some locations. “the negligence from the former government halted the process. i have tasked ahsan iqbal to take this matter on war

ISLAMABAD

ISLAMABAD the federal on friday welcomed the ceasefire announced by the banned tehreek-e-taliban pakistan (ttp) and acknowledged the fact that negotiations have been going on for a peace deal with the outlawed outfit. on thursday, the tehreek-e-taliban pakistan (ttp) announced a ceasefire for an indefinite period after the pakistani tribal jirga visited Kabul and held talks with its leadership. in a statement issued on friday, federal information Minister Marriyum aurangzeb said that talks with the ttp have been taking place at the government level. “talks with the ttp began in 2021 and these negotiations have been taking place at the government level,” the minister said in the statement and confirmed the peace talks with the banned group. the minister also confirmed that the afghan taliban government has been acting as a mediator between the two sides. she said that civil and military representatives are part of the pakistani side holding talks with the ttp. she said the government welcomed the ceasefire announced by the ttp. the information minister clarified that the negotiation committee has been

mandated fully. “whatever decision the team will arrive at would be approved by the government and parliament.” it is important to mention that both sides have been holding talks for the last several weeks but the pakistani side until now remained tight-lipped.

Questions were asked about whether the current government was on board with talks with the ttp as military officials held a series of meetings with the militant outfit in recent days in the afghan capital. the truce was to expire on May 30 but the ttp extended it now for an indefinite period as both sides were trying to reach a peace deal. in return for the ceasefire, pakistan reportedly released certain ttp prisoners and even pardoned some who were convicted in terror cases. there was, however, no official confirmation. the ttp has put forward several demands including reversal of fata merger, monetary compensation and allowing them to keep their arms. the pakistani side, however, wants them to lay down their arms and is also reluctant to restore the status of fata. there were questions asked about whether the pakistani team holding talks with the ttp had the mandate to discuss matters that involve constitutional amendments.

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sc to govt: bring ecl rules changes within ‘legal ambit’ in a week staff report

staff report

footing,” he added. pM shehbaz also announced including 0.5 million families from balochistan in benazir income support programme (bisp) and added that all poor families from gwadar will be covered under it. he said that the local fishermen in the city needed new boat engines, announcing that the government would give them 2,000 engines free of cost via balloting. he further said that funds for gwadar university will be provided in the upcoming budget.

CLEAN DRINKING WATER, SOLAR POWER: prime Minister shehbaz sharif friday said every person in gwadar would be given clean drinking water and free of cost electricity with solar panels. talking to fishermen here at an event, the prime minister said he would chair a meeting on saturday on the issues pertaining to gwadar. progress and prosperity of people of gwadar would be ensured, he added. shehbaz said the government would consider setting up a solar park to provide cheap electricity to the residents of gwadar. china will give 3200 solar panels for the people of the coastal town, he told. the prime minister said about 2000 fishermen would be given free of cost engines in coming weeks for fishing boats.

the supreme court on friday directed the federal government to bring the recent changes in the rules of the exit control list (ecl) within the “ambit of the law” within a week, cautioning that it would issue an order if its directive was not followed. on april 22, the government introduced significant changes to the rules controlling citizens’ exit from the country in an attempt to end the practice of keeping people on the no-fly list for years and even for over a decade, interior Minister rana sanaullah had said. a five-member bench, headed by chief Justice of pakistan (cJp) umar ata bandial, and comprising Justice ijazul ahsan, Justice Munib akhtar, Justice sayyed Mazahar ali akbar Naqvi and Justice Mohammad ali Mazhar, had taken suo motu notice on apprehensions that criminal justice might be undermined by people in authority. in a written order issued earlier this week, the sc had observed that it appeared the amendments in the exit from pakistan (control) rules of 2010 had been enforced with retrospective effect. “this appears to have been done without the au-

thorisation necessary for giving such an effect to amendments in the rules,” it had said. when the hearing resumed on friday, chief Justice bandial said the government should take adequate steps to bring the amendments within the ambit of the law. “we do not want to interfere in executive powers right now.” at the start of the hearing, the cJp grilled attorney general ashtar ausaf about the process to remove names from the ecl. ausaf said freedom of movement and to travel abroad were constitutional rights of every citizen and a person’s name could not be put on the ecl simply because of ongoing investigations by the National accountability bureau (Nab) and the federal investigation agency (fia). the federal government analyses a person’s right to freedom of movement and the allegations levelled against him before putting his name on the ecl, he informed the court. “the government amended the ecl rules after fulfilling all legal aspects. the cabinet has written that the amendments will be applied retroactively. amendment of ecl rules is at the discretion of the federal government.”

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Pakistan doesn’t want spoiler’s role in Afghanistan: FO ISLAMABAD staff report

the foreign office (fo) has reaffirmed pakistan’s commitment to a peaceful, stable and sovereign afghanistan, saying that the country does not want any spoiler’s role in the neighbouring country. addressing a weekly press conference, fo spokesperson asim iftikhar ahmed pointed out that pakistan was constantly raising concerns over rising terrorism and cross-border attacks. speaking about the grand jirga in afghanistan, the fo spokesman said that the purpose to involve tribal jirga in talks with banned tehreek-e-taliban pakistan (ttp) was

to establish peace in afghanistan. asim iftikhar noted that india has always played a spoiler role in afghanistan. however, he said, pakistan would continue to take steps in accordance with the constitution for peace in the region. “everyone is aware of india’s role in afghanistan. we want our neighbouring country to be peaceful and free from negative role and we do not want to see the role of any spoiler here,” the spokesperson added. in response to a question regarding the flow of indian aid from pakistan to afghanistan, the spokesman said that the aid was allowed on humanitarian grounds as the afghan people were facing a

serious food crisis. earlier in april, pakistan extended by two months the time for transportation of indian wheat and lifesaving medicines to afghanistan via attari-wagah border crossing on a humanitarian basis. the foreign office spokesperson in a statement said that the extension manifests islamabad’s sincere efforts towards addressing the humanitarian crisis in afghanistan. pakistan had in November 2021 allowed, as a special gesture to the afghan people, the transportation of 50,000 Mts of wheat and life-saving medicines as humanitarian assistance from india to afghanistan via wagah border on exceptional basis for humanitarian purposes.

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Saturday, 4 June, 2022 | KARACHI

NEWS

SeNate paNel brIefed oN mIlItary’S preparedNeSS agaINSt INdIaN INCompeteNt, hoStIle deSIgNS

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News Desk

HE Senate Standing Committee on Defence met on Friday and was given a comprehensive briefing about the causes behind the India’s missile firing on March 9 last and the circumstances that followed.

The members of the committee expressed concern over India’s

incompetence and bad intention, adding that the failure of the Indian military system could have caused a major tragedy.

“This could have resulted in a very serious accident with a civilian plane or other consequences,” said the committee members, condemning the double standards of the international community, especially the western patrons of India.

They also condemned the silence of the

Court seeks more arguments in Nawaz properties’ auction case News Desk An accountability court (AC) in Lahore on Friday directed the counsels representing parties to the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s properties’ auction case to give more arguments on the next date of the hearing. During the hearing of the petition, seeking a stay order from the court against the auction of properties belonging to the former prime minister, who is also Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo, the judge remarked since one of the judges was on leave; therefore the petition could not be heard today. Qazi Misbah Advocate had filed the petition, seeking ‘stay’ in the case, while seven parties had challenged the court order of the auction of Nawaz’s properties in the AC. The petitioner had argued that the court’s decision would be challenged once the former prime minister returned to Pakistan. “Therefore, it would be better if the auction of his properties is put on hold for the time being,” he had said, and prayed to the court to grant ‘stay’ in the case. Later, the court adjourned hearing of the case until July 1, 2022.

Imran Khan’s police security ‘withdrawn’

international community on this act of India against Pakistan, commending the readiness and preparedness of the Pakistan Armed Forces to protect the motherland from any aggression.

“The armed forces had fully responded to the Indian aggression in Balakot in February 2019,” members of the committee said.

The standing committee on defence

was also briefed about the strategic importance of modern Chinese J-10C aircrafts recently inducted into the Pakistan Air Force (PAF).

“Pakistan is the first country to receive J-10C aircrafts from China,” the military officials told the committee which expressed their gratitude to China for its strategic cooperation and partnership with Pakistan.

“China always supports Pakistan in all fields. Induction of J-10C aircrafts into the PAF will thwart India’s designs in an effective way. Pakistan now has the capability of a strong, strategic deterrence,” it was said during the briefing.

The committee was briefed by Lieutenant General Hilal Hussain, additional secretary defense, and other senior officials.

Imran lambastes govt over yielding to IMF demands News Desk Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Friday came down hard on the federal government for bowing to the demands of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and increasing the prices of petroleum products.

Last night, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail announced a Rs30 per litre increase in the price of petrol to pave way for the revival of the IMF programme. As per the new fuel prices, petrol is available at Rs209.86 per litre, high-speed diesel (HSD) at Rs204.15, kerosene oil at Rs181.94 and light diesel oil at Rs178.31.

Only the price of kerosene oil was increased by less than Rs30.

This is the second increase in the price of petroleum products over the past fortnight. Earlier, the government had hiked the prices by Rs30 as it reduced subsidies on fuel.

Addressing a rally in Buner, the ousted prime minister chided the

government over record inflation and alleged that the government did not care about the nation as the ruling leadership had its money stashed abroad.

He called the government “slaves of the IMF and the US” for complying with the demands of the fund to restore the bailout package.

Imran said the IMF had also asked his government to increase the price of petroleum products but he did not agree to their demands.

“Instead of increasing the prices, we decreased petroleum prices by Rs10 to provide relief to the people,” he said, adding that the funds to provide the subsidy were diverted from elsewhere.

According to Imran, the incumbent government relented to the IMF demands and hiked prices of petroleum products because “they have no stake” in Pakistan as their children and wealth were abroad.

The PTI chairman also compared the three and a half years of his rule with the two months of the current government.

He added that during PTI’s rule, the price of a 20 kg bag of flour increased by Rs326 but during the last two months, there was an increase of Rs422 in the price of flour.

Similarly, Basmati Rice witnessed a

PM arrives in Balochistan on day-long visit

News Desk

APP

The federal government has ‘withdrawn’ security provided to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan as former prime minister despite security alerts being issued previously. PTI leader Shahbaz Gill while taking to Twitter said that the police security given to the former prime minister Imran Khan has been withdrawn. “All personnel of Islamabad police have been withdrawn on Thursday evening,” he said. He lamented that a convict Maryam Nawaz was given prime minister-level security while on the other hand, security has been withdrawn from Imran khan. “These are cheap tactics of the imported government,” Shahbaz Gill said.

Previously, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) central leader Asad Umar said that they received a threat alert regarding Imran Khan’s security. While talking to a private Tv channel, Asad Umar said that PTI chairman’s life is in danger and they will lodge a case against the present government if something happens to the PTI chief. He said that a senior officer had telephoned him that Imran Khan’s life is in danger and a threat alert regarding the security of the PTI chairman was also received. The former minister said that the government had offered a vehicle to him but asked him to make additional security arrangements by himself. He added that he asked Imran Khan to use bullet-proof glasses but he rejected it.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday arrived in Gwadar on a day-long visit to lay the foundation stone for various development projects, including the Eastbay Expressway. The prime minister was received by Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Quddus Bizinjo, provincial minister Muhammad Khan Lehri and senior government officials.

The Gwadar Eastbay Expressway is a six-lane urban motorway that will connect Gwadar port with the city’s free trade zone and the Makran Coastal Highway after its completion.

PM Shehbaz was also expected to address tribal elders, fishermen, and a delegation of Chinese companies and media representatives.

An aerial view of the expressway project was also on the agenda. The trip comes only a day after the prime minister’s visit to Turkey.

It may be noted that the government has called on Turkey to join the CPEC project.

Prime Minister Shehbaz also visited the Command and Staff College in Quetta during his Balochistan visit. On arrival, the prime minister laid floral wreath on Shahuada monument to pay homage to martyrs of Pakistan.

Later, he addressed the officers attending Command and Staff Course 2021-2022, the InterServices Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

Speaking at the occasion, PM Shehbaz said that

hike of Rs55/kg compared to Rs40 during the PTI rule. The price of Ghee increased by Rs200 over the past two months whereas the petrol price was increased by Rs60 per litre by the government, he added.

Centre, province working to resolve people problems: Bhootani QUeTTA APP

Pakistan’s armed forces are guarantors of peace, internal and external security, regional stability and also contributing to global peace efforts.

Paying rich tribute to achievements and sacrifices of Pakistan Army, the PM said that “our successes in war against terrorism are unparalleled, duly acknowledged by the world. The armed forces have always done a commendable job in service of the nation during natural calamities”.

Armed forces of Pakistan, he reiterated, are very important state institution and are pride of the nation. “Country’s defence is sacred and Pakistan’s security, sovereignty and integrity will be ensured at all costs,” the PM emphasised. The nation owes its freedom to monumental sacrifices of our martyrs, the PM concluded.

Balochistan Senior Minister for Local Government Sardar Muhammad Saleh Bhootani on Friday said that the federal and provincial governments are working together to address the problems of people of Balochistan. He also demanded the central government should increase funds of Balochistan in the forthcoming budget keeping in view the backwardness and area of the province so as to ensure the provision of basic amenities to the people at their doorstep. He expressed these views while talking to Central Organizing Secretary of Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) and Political Secretary to the Chief Minister Malik Khuda Bakhsh Long and senior leader Shah Zaman Ghalzai. He said that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has visited Balochistan for the second time today after assuming his office, adding that the PM’s second visit proves that he is taking special interest for development of Balochistan. “Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif will increase funds of Balochistan in the upcoming budget, which will help to develop the province and remove backwardness from the areas,” he added. He said that Balochistan Awami Party is a part of the federal government in the federation and the senators and members of the party are effectively representing the province in the National Assembly.

Tough decisions taken to avoid bankruptcy, revive economy: Musadik IsLAMABAD APP

Minister of State for Petroleum Dr Musadik Malik on Friday said the incumbent government has taken tough decisions regarding subsidies on petrol and diesel in compulsion, giving a special focus on reviving the national economy and steering the country out of the financial crunch.

Addressing a news conference along with senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, he said the previous government of PTI gave unjustified subsidies on petroleum products without any budgetary allocations and approval from the quarters concerned like the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) and the Federal Cabinet.

Terming the subsidies ‘landmines’ installed by the PTI government before facing the no-confidence motion against

Imran Khan, he said it put around Rs 700800 billion extra burden on the national exchequer in three months, if taxes are included.

Drawing a comparison, the minister said around Rs 528 billion expenses are incurred annually to run the affairs of the whole federal government.

Musadik said the previous government also violated the commitments made with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) about the subsidies for getting financial assistance.

“The PTI government, as a precondition, had signed a contract with the IMF that they will increase the prices and impose petroleum levy and sales tax. But, it violated sovereign commitment with the international financial institutions,” he said.

The minister said the PTI did all this to push the country towards default and bankruptcy for political gains.

Dr Musadik said the coalition government, under dynamic leadership of Shehbaz Sharif, is committed to take due care of poor segments of the society by

extending financial assistance to them.

After thorough deliberations, he said the government would give a monthly stipend of Rs 2,000 to the persons having Rs 35,00040,000 or less monthly income. As per the calculation, he said, almost four families out of six, have Rs 37,000 per month income.

With the corrective measures taken by the government, the minister expressed confidence that in the upcoming few months, there would be financial stability and the country would be on consistent path of progress and development.

He said the stock markets have started performing well and rupee against dollar is getting stability.

He said the required measures have been taken to advance negotiations with international financial institutions, including the IMF. He said the government believes in increasing productivity of industrial units so

that more jobs could be created, besides moving the economic-wheel at a steady pace.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said there is no country in the world that provided fuel to consumers below the purchase price, but in Pakistan it was happening as even the current government did not impose any levy and sales tax.

He said the reasons behind increase in fuel prices are the global inflation and devaluation of rupee against dollar.

“It (increase in fuel prices) was an extremely difficult decision taken after thorough review. If this step was not taken, the national economy would have collapsed,” he said.

Abbasi said the subsidies could not be continued by getting additional loans from international institutions as it could cause extremely negative impact on the economy and unprecedented inflation.

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Saturday, 4 June, 2022 | KARACHI

NEWS

muShaal urgeS World to preSS INdIa to eNSure yaSIN’S releaSe IsLAMABAD

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APP

USHAAL Hussein Mullick, wife of Kashmiri Hurriyat Leader Yasin Malik, on Friday urged the international community to shun duplicity and raise voice against unjust and biased decision of life sentence to her husband in a concocted case.

Speaking at a press conference along with Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Barrister Sultan Mehmood, she said that the UN bodies and human rights organisations observed criminal silence over Indian court’s unilateral decision against the senior Hurriyat leader.

Mushaal, who is also a Chairperson of the Peace and Culture Organisation, said that she was worried about the life

of her husband, who was shifted to a solitary confinement cell in notorious Tihar jail.

ppp proposes cut in petrol of govt officials IsLAMABAD INP

The chairperson went on to say that Indian fascist authorities unleashed a fresh wave of terrorism to silence the dissenting voices in the occupied valley.

She said the notorious Narendra Modi-led Hindutva regime deprived the lion of Kashmir of all fundamental and human rights.

She lamented that the world powers spoke for human rights violations in Ukraine but observed criminal silence over the unabated war crimes being committed by Indian occupation forces in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

Mushaal vowed that though brutal authorities crossed all limits of barbarism and war crimes, they could not defuse the intensity of the freedom struggle that is nearing to the set goals.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government signed Rs791 billion loan agreements with international institutions during its nine year as a result, KP’s external loan volume has exceeded Rs887.97 billion.

Until 2013, the foreign loan burden was just Rs97 billion but after that PTI started borrowing from the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the International Development Agency and other financial institutions for various development projects which will be repaid with high interest rates.

Moreover, loan of Rs233.36 billion will be taken from the Asian Development Bank for various development projects. Agreements have also been signed to borrow Rs319.51 billion from the International Development Agency (IDA) for uplift projects. Similarly, loan of Rs148.32 crore will be obtained from ADB for various projects.

Sources in the KP finance department said that the foreign loans

will not only increase the burden on the provincial exchequer but the government will also increase taxes in the budget of the new financial year 2022-23 to repay these loans along with interest. Thus, there will be a direct burden on the general public.

At the end of the Muttahida Majlise-Amal rule in 2008, the foreign debt of the province was Rs17 billion. From 2008 to 2013, the Awami National Party and the PPP, increased the loan burden to Rs97 billion. During its five-year tenure, the ANP borrowed Rs80 billion from the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and other financial institutions. In 2013, the PTI got the opportunity to rule KP for the first time and in 2018, it was voted into power for the second time in the province. During this time, it has borrowed a total of Rs791 billion.

According to documents, Rs10.71bn has been borrowed from Balakot energy project from ADB till December 31, 2021, Rs2.54 billion for construction of highways, Rs745 million for Peshawar BRT, Rs541

Chinese envoy questions Pak-China media’s fairness AgeNcIes Pang Chunxue, Charge d’affaires of the Chinese Embassy, at the 7th CPEC Media Forum stated that “CPEC cannot progress well in a world full of cold war mentality.

Therefore, media of China and Pakistan have the responsibility of speaking out for fairness and justice” According to Gwadar Pro, Pang Chunxue said at the forum that CPEC cooperation has achieved fruitful results, under which the two sides have initiated or completed 46 of the 70 early harvest projects with a total investment of USD 25.4 billion.

Among the projects, “the East Bay Expressway of Gwadar Port has been completed and will open for traffic soon. This year, China donated another 3,000 sets of solar panels to the Gwadar people, which brings the total number of donations to 7,000 sets. The construction of a desalination plant aided by China will start the construction soon in Gwadar,” she stated.

Pang also added that two units of the Karot Hydropower project have started to provide stable clean power to Pakistan’s power grid since May. After its full operation, its four units will provide electricity for 5 million people. Despite the fruitful CPEC cooperation, false propaganda and disinformation on CPEC are on the increase. “Hostile forces are trying to

undermine the development of CPEC, as well as the unity and mutual trust between the two countries.”

She mentioned the Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative which called for common development and progress of all countries. However, QUAD, AUKUS, Indo-Pacific Economic Framework targeting China are undermining such efforts. In this regard, Pang said that the media of China and Pakistan have the responsibility of speaking out for fairness and justice, and should be a positive force for CPEC, for world peace and stability. She suggested that synergy among media circles should be strengthened. “Chinese media has seven permanent bureaus and one Urdu language studio in Pakistan.

Pakistan is believed to have over 100 television channels and 150 radio stations. Both countries’ media should form in-depth cooperation in terms of exchange of news materials, co-production of programs, personnel training and co-organizing of activities, especially on CPEC,” she said. She also suggested the full mobilization of resources of multiple entities, the strengthening of narrative building, and the two sides should join hands in combating fake news, as some western countries continue to slander China on issues related to Xinjiang, Tibet, Hong Kong, and spread rumors on CPEC.

million for Pekhor High Level Canal expansion project. A loan of Rs160 million has been obtained for cities development, Rs92 million for Revenue Mobilization and Public Resource Management, Rs45 million for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Hydro Power Project, Rs32 million for improvement of highways and Rs7 million for tourism project. Similarly, Rs11.42 billion more will be borrowed for Pekhor High Level Canal, Rs2.876 billion for Peshawar BRT, Rs22.769 billion for energy access project, Rs6.5 billion for rehabilitation of highways, A loan of Rs12.686 billion from French Development Agency for Peshawar BRT. A loan of Rs7.47 billion will be taken for Mardan-Swabi highway and Rs346 million for districts improvement project.

Similarly, Rs 14.476 billion will be taken from IDA for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Revenue Mobilization and Public Resource Management, Rs8.186 billion for KP Integrated Tourism Development Project, Rs26.16 billion for Irrigation Project and Rs54 billion for better development project. Rs81.98

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has proposed cut in petrol of government officials, including president, prime minister, federal ministers and provincial governments, by 50 per cent to provide relief to the people. The PPP Central Secretary General Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari in a statement in Islamabad said that at the government level, 50 per cent of petrol savings should be given to the people on essential items. He said that the increase in petrol prices is the result of Imran Khanled government’s agreements with the IMF. He added that every effort is being made to facilitate the people and trade is the priority instead of aid. The former rulers have left the ailing economy, which will be brought back on its feet and full relief will be provided to the people, he maintained. The PPP leader further said that difficult decisions of self-reliance and self-sufficiency would have to be taken to get out of the clutches of international financial institutions.

North Waziristan confirms eighth polio case IsLAMABAD

KP’s external debt rises by Rs791b during PTI government AzIz BUNerI

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APP

billion for KP Economic Corridor, Rs44.40 billion for energy project and 23.946 billion for human development project. An agreement worth Rs53.54 billion has been signed with IBRD for the energy project.

According to documents, Rs42.83 billion loan from ADB and Rs44.62 billion will be borrowed the AIIB for the Balakot energy project, Rs66.2 billion will be borrowed for urban improvement and development from ADB and Rs34 billion from the AIIB for the same project. A loan of Rs13.22 billion will be obtained from IFAD for rural economic development.

Finance Minister Taimur Khan Jhagra has said that amount of loans taken by December 2021 was Rs331 billion. Jhagra added that agreements worth Rs556.7 billion have been signed but the province has not yet received the funds. The minister said that every government has the right to take loans on easy terms for best financial management. He claimed that these loans have been taken on easy terms for 40 years.

In the second case from Miranshah, a 20-month-old boy was paralyzed due to wild polio, the health officials confirmed on Friday. The child had onset of paralysis on May 15 and is now suffering from disabilities in all four limbs, the Pakistan Polio Laboratory at the National Institute of Health confirmed late on Wednesday. “Following the first two cases in April, the polio programme took immediate steps to ring-fence this area and prevent the virus from spreading further, particularly in the historic reservoirs of Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta.

Pakistan has made tremendous success against polio over the past few years and we are taking all steps to protect the gains made by the programme,” said Federal Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel. The minister added that it is crucial for parents to vaccinate their children every time as every dose of polio vaccine further builds immunity. “To prevent the virus from spreading across borders, Pakistan and Afghanistan had synchronized nationwide polio immunization campaigns from Mat 23 to 27 May,” said Federal Health Secretary Dr Fakhre Alam Irfan.

Polio is a highly infectious disease caused by poliovirus mainly affecting children under the age of five years. It invades the nervous system and can cause paralysis or even death. While there is no cure for polio, vaccination is the most effective way to protect children from this crippling disease. Each time, a child under the age of five is vaccinated, their protection against the virus is increased. Repeated immunisations have protected millions of children from polio, allowing almost all countries in the world to become polio-free, besides the two endemic countries of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

VCs call for protection of higher education sector’s budget News Desk Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal and Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Rana Tanvir Hussain have held out assurance to the heads of public sector universities that the Government will not cut the higher education sector’s budget for the fiscal year (FY) 2022-23.

The Ministers were addressing the Vice Chancellors Committee meeting held at the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Islamabad. Vice Chancellors of all the public sector universities and the Commission (HEC’s governing body) members attended the meeting.

The Vice Chancellors conveyed their concerns about the Indicative Budget Ceilings (IBC) of only Rs. 30 billion for higher education’s recurring grant for the FY 2022-23. However, they welcomed the assurances of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif with regard to protection of the higher education sector’s budget. They emphasized that HEC had presented a rationalized demand of Rs. 104.983 billion for the next financial year worked out together with the Ministry of Finance which needs to be protected.

Mr. Ahsan Iqbal affirmed that the Government is cognizant of the importance of higher education and universities in the development of a nation. He underlined that the country needs to bring the universities to the forefront to help tackle its challenges by fully utilizing the potential of youth. “The States unable to provide education to their youth lose their right to survival,” he stated. He said Pakistan has rich endowments and it will turn around the tide of economic hardships.

The Minister said that the universities carry-out mentoring of almost two million youth, who are the future of this country. He termed classrooms and laboratories of the universities as national security frontiers while calling the Vice Chancellors the corps commanders. He highlighted that it is up to the Vice Chancellors as to how they prepare the youth for future challenges. “We have to provide a platform to our youth to bring Pakistan to the position it deserves and inculcate the principle of unity in diversity” he stressed.

Minister for Federal Education Rana Tanveer stated that he stands by the universities in their valid demand for allocation of Rs.

104.983 billion. He stressed the need for promoting quality of education, innovation, and research activities in the universities to equip the country’s youth with education and skills. He said that the Government will take steps to improve the financial management of universities. He expressed his approval of a recommendation by Vice Chancellors that the budgetary allocation to higher education should be linked to the growth of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Executive Director HEC Dr. Shaista Sohail underlined that the public sector universities are already under a financial stress, as some universities have gone short of funds to even pay salaries and pensions. She said that HEC presented a rationalized demand of Rs. 104.983 billion for the FY 2022-23, while the proposed allocation is 45 per cent less even than the current year’s allocation of Rs. 66.25 billion.

She acknowledged the Prime Minister’s assurance following the issuance of IBC and called it as a welcome gesture. However, she emphasized that the Government must fulfil its promise, in addition to releasing the additional grant of Rs. 15 billion promised by the previous Government for the

current fiscal year. She said that HEC funds 100 public sector universities, 50 Research Centers/Institutes and 18 new universities (eligible for funding).

It will be impossible to run universities if any cut is enforced, she warned.

She said that the Federal Government provides around 34% of the funds needed to run universities and the provinces allocate 6-8 percent, adding that the universities themselves arrange for the rest of its monetary requirements. She said that the public sector universities are bound to keep the semester fee within a limit in order to ensure that the students of low-income families may also acquire education.

Earlier, Engr. Ahmed Farooq Bazai, Commission Member and Vice Chancellors BUEITMS and Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ali, Chair of the VCs’ Committee and Vice Chancellor QAU expressed their concern over serious shortfall in higher education funding and impressed upon the Government to restore the funding to the rationalized demand of Rs.104.983 billion.

Lt. Gen. (Retd.)

Muhammad Asghar Commission Member as well as several other Vice Chancellors expressed their views on the occasion.

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Saturday, 4 June, 2022 | KARACHI

04 NEWS

HEC dirECtEd to EnSurE trAnSPArEnCy in ovErAll ASSESSMEnt ProCESS: SEnAtE

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NEws DEsk

HE Senate was informed on Friday that the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has been directed to involve external examiners in paper setting to ensure transparency in the overall assessment process.

Responding to a question during “Question Hour”, Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training, Rana Tanveer Hussain said that he has asked the HEC to involve a third-party for paper setting to avoid any kind of discrimination and harassment in universities.

Replying to another question, he said Readers Club, run by the National Book Foundation, has been closed as some booksellers were misusing this facility. He said now any

citizen can buy books from the National Book Foundation on 50 percent discount.

Answering a question, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Murtaza Javed Abbasi said that an e-commerce and online transaction project is being initiated to enhance international competitiveness of the Pakistan Post. The Senate was informed that seven more educational institutions are near completion in the Federal Capital and these will be functional from August this year.

In a written reply, the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training said that after the completion, these educational institutions will accommodate 7480 students.

It was told that a total of seventeen public sector universities are imparting higher education in Islamabad Capital Territory in

Pakistan, Azerbaijan express desire to cooperate in diverse fields NEws DEsk Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Pakistan Khazar Farhadov called on Minister of state for Petroleum Dr Musadik Malik at his office here on Friday. As per the details, Pakistan and Azerbaijan have expressed the desire to strengthen cooperation in diverse fields including oil, energy and tourism. The desire was expressed during a meeting between Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Pakistan Khazar Farhadov and Minister of state for Petroleum Dr Musadik Malik here in Islamabad on Friday. The focus of discussion was on strengthening Pakistan-Azerbaijan’s brotherly relations and expand the areas of cooperation to include diverse fields. The partnership in oil and gas sector can enhance to other sectors like tourism. Azerbaijan wishes to transform brotherly relations into economic ties along the lines of Turkey Azerbaijan relations. The Minister lauded the long-standing relations of both the countries and reiterated the resolve of this government to further strengthen them. He has assured his full support to the Working Groups on energy. A focal person will be appointed from petroleum division for all energy sector collaborations. Minister welcomed the investment proposals worth 100 million dollars from Azerbaijan’s state oil company SOCAR in LNG sector varying from terminal establishment to short term loans and deferred payment facility. With increasing energy needs of the country, such investment and partnership is a tremendous opportunity. It was highlighted during the meeting that Pakistan has huge potential for oil and gas exploration. Both countries will discuss avenues of cooperation in this sector. Ambassador praised Pakistan’s unconditional support to Azerbaijan and expressed his desire to take relations to new heights. The direct flights operation from Islamabad to Baku starting in June will boost people to people linkages.

which around six lac students are studying.

It was further informed that the Federal Directorate of Education has 424 educational institutions from Primary to Degree level and over 225,000 students are currently studying in these schools and colleges.

Minister of State for Finance, Dr Aisha Ghaus Pasha said that the government is providing targeted subsidies to 14 million households to protect them from adverse impact of inflation as a result of recent price hike in petroleum the products.

Responding to an Adjournment Motion moved by the opposition regarding hike in petroleum prices, she said anyone, earning less than 40,000 rupees per month can call 786 to avail the subsidy on petroleum and edible items.

She said around 14 million families are

receiving 2,000 rupees as subsidy for buying petroleum products. The Minister of State said the government took tough decisions due to economic mismanagement of the previous government.

She said it is the previous government, which trapped the country into an IMF Programme. She said the last government of the PTI had agreed to raise petroleum prices by four rupees a litre per month as well as the electricity rates. But, it backtracked its commitment, which resulted in suspension of the program.

Dr Aisha Ghaus Pasha said we have not imposed any tax on petroleum products and only passed on the cost of buying. The Minister of State urged the opposition to come up with their suggestions for the cause of Pakistan’s economy and security instead of

playing politics on this matter.

Earlier, taking the floor, Kamil Ali Agha said the government has increased difficulties of the masses by increasing petrol prices.

Shaukat Tarin said the government should resist IMF’s harsh conditions to revive the programme.

Mushtaq Ahmed Khan said that in view of the difficult economic situation, no government functionary, judge or general should use free petrol. The House will now meet on Monday at 4:00 p.m.

Saudi Arabia starts registration of domestic pilgrims for Hajj 2022 NEws DEsk Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has announced the start of registration of domestic pilgrims for Hajj this year 1443H/2022, effective from Friday.

The ministry said that the registration of Hajj for domestic pilgrims will last for 9 days until Saturday, June 11.

It confirmed that early registration would not be considered as a privilege for the selection for Hajj.

To perform Hajj this year, citizens and residents who are under 65 years required to complete three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, and the definition of an immunized person in Saudi Arabia is

one who has completed three doses of the vaccine, Saudi Gazette reported .

The ministry has instructed that all pilgrims must follow the health instructions and comply with all precautionary measures to preserve their health and safety while performing the Hajj rituals.

It is noteworthy that the General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) has warned that the penalty of anyone caught fingerprinting for Hajj without obtaining a permit will be deportation from Saudi Arabia for a period of 10 years.

Meanwhile, the Jawazat said that the family visit visa cannot be converted into a residency permit (iqama), stressing that the instructions do not allow this.

FPCCI decries unprecedented power tariff hike INP Suleman Chawla, Acting President FPCCI, has expressed the shock and awe of the entire business, industry and trade community at the unprecedented, one-tranche and massive electricity tariff hike of Rs7.91 per kWh; resulting in Rs24.82 per kWh base tariff for the year 2022 – 23, while it was Rs16.91 per kWh for the outgoing year 2021-22.

It is a rate hike of a staggering 47 percent

by NEPRA; and, it will jolt the cost of doing business and ease of doing business indices, he added.

Suleman Chawla explained that the cumulative effect of the fuel and power rate increase may unleash a historical economic stagnation; and, will result in a lot of bankruptcies, inevitable defaults on account of electricity bills, many export orders would not be fulfilled, huge loss of employment opportunities and loss of

tax revenue will follow.

Acting FPCCI Chief added that inflation has already climbed to 13.8 percent, which is a 30-month high; and, with accounting for the latest developments, it is slated to cross 20 percent in a short span of 4 – 8 weeks.

Suleman Chawla apprised that the collective price spirals through combined multiplier effects of fuel and power prices will affect the masses the worst through food inflation; who will be further hit by impending unemployment.

Hence, the government should come up with a protective mechanism for SMEs in consultation with the apex chamber; as SMEs are the real engines of growth and employment generation.

Dissecting the main contributing factors in the power tariff hike, he enlisted rising fuel prices, capacity costs & challenges, transmission and dispatch (T&D) losses and rupee devaluation – which all can be dealt with better management & planning.

Economic meltdown, political crisis draw SAFMA’s cocnerns LAHORE News Desk

The South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) has expressed serious concern over the current economic meltdown and political crises in the country. In its annual meeting held in Lahore SAFMA demanded to raise minimum wage to Rs40,000 and reinstate all journalists retrenched in the past years. SAFMA expressed serious concerns about fake news and ongoing abusive competition among the followers of mainstream parties. The regional media body demanded lifting of restrictions on freedom of expression and media freedom. SAFMA demanded to dispense with all types of censorship and partisanship among the media outlets. The participants called upon media houses to restore those analysts and anchors who have been sidelined. They called upon the Shehbaz govt to amend all prevalent media laws that are prohibitive of media freedom.

Leading journalists participated in the meeting including: Imtiaz Alam, SAFMA Secretary General; Kazim Khan, President CPNE; Hussain Naqi, Senior Editor and Secretary HRCP; Shehzada Zulfikar, President PFUJ; Saida Fazal, Editor Pakistan Observer; Khalid Farooqi, Editor Awaz; Ahmad Waleed, News Director PNN; Shahbaz Mian; Siddique Azhar, senior columnist; Shehbaz Shaheen, President Press club Okara and Advocate Saiful Malook.

NFEH calls for resolution of environment issues in Pakistan NEws DEsk On the eve of the World Environment Day to be observed on June 5, President National Forum for Environment and Health (NFEH) Muhammad Naeem Qureshi said Friday that Pakistan is facing tremendous environment issues, particularly climate change, heatwaves, air pollution, water contamination and deforestation, resultantly, public health and the country’s economy has suffered heavy losses.

In a statement, Qureshi said that Pakistan’s forest cover has massively deforested to 5.01 percent of its total land, which is too low, as UN standard says a country should have at least 25 percent of its total land under forest cover. Qureshi said such deforestation has contributed to warming as mean summer temperature in the country has risen alarmingly.

Sindh’s temperature in 60 years has risen

by 2 degrees centigrade while Karachi has warmed by 3 degrees centigrade in the same period. There is need to reduce this temperature by ensuring mass tree plantation in and out of the city, he added.

He said that the federal as well as provincial government had still not done sufficient work to tackle the environment issues, which was the matter of great concern. He said that Pakistan is among the top 10 countries of the world most affected by climate change in the past 20 years.

He said: “The changes in climate had started around fifty years back due to rapid industrialization with substantial geopolitical consequences. As things stand, we are at a crossroads for a much warmer world; therefore, effective and efficient strategies are required to tackle climate change causing crippling water crisis in the country.”

He said that Pakistan’s climate change concerns include increased variability of

monsoons, the likely impact of receding Hindu Kush-Karakoram-Himalayan (HKH) glaciers due to global warming and carbon soot deposits from trans-boundary pollution

sources, threatening water inflows into Indus River System (IRS), severe waterstressed conditions particularly in arid and semi-arid regions impacting agriculture and livestock production negatively, decreasing forest cover and increased level of saline water in the Indus delta also adversely affecting coastal agriculture, mangroves and breeding grounds of fish.

Pakistan’s water sector remains vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. To ensure that Pakistan is adequately prepared to deal with the changing climatic realities, it is important to understand the nexus between water availability, agricultural productivity and climatic variability, NFEH president said. There is also need to control water losses in rivers, canals, tributaries, and water courses by cementing their canals besides adapting to water conservation measures like drip irrigation system, says NFEH president. He said that 40 percent of

drinking water is lost in Karachi due to leakages and pilferage, so actions should also be taken to stop leakages and water theft.

He said that air pollution in the country is also rising constantly due to lack of solid steps and investments. Lahore and Karachi have featured on the list of the world’s top four most polluted cities by capturing third and the fourth rank respectively. The government needs to ensure action against smoke emitting vehicles across the country, particularly in big cities, stop garbage burning in cities and towns besides reducing industrial emissions as per international standards, says Qureshi.

The NFEH president asked the federal and provincial governments to come forward with long term strategies and effective actions to tackle all environmental issues so as to save people and the country from environmental impacts.

Saturday, 4 June, 2022 | KARACHI

NEWS Imran ‘set a trap’ for us by lowering POL prices continued from page 01 He assured that the government would take steps against illegal trawling in the Arabian sea.

“I will come again to Gwadar in a fortnight to have a detailed discussion to resolve issues of the fishing community,” he added.

ISI MADE AS SVA FOR SCREENING ALL PUBLIC OFFICE HOLDERS: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has notified the country’s premium intelligence agency, InterServices Intelligence (ISI), as a Special Vetting Agency (SVA) for verification and screening of all public office holders.

“The prime minister is pleased to notify Directorate General Inter-Services Intelligence as Special Vetting Agency (SVA) for verification and screening of all Public Office Holders (officers category) for induction, important posting/appointments and promotions,” said the official notification issued by the Establishment Division following the premier’s approval on Friday.

Earlier, Intelligence Bureau was performing as Special Vetting Agency (SVA) for induction, important posting/appointments and promotions of civil servants.

STEPS TO CUT INFLATION, POVERTY AHEAD OF NEXT POLLS: On the other hand, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that next general election in the country will be held within 15 months and his goal meanwhile would be to address the challenges of inflation and poverty.

“My vision is to rebuild Pakistan and try my best to decrease poverty and cut the budget of government sector to ensure austerity,” he said in an interview with Turkish state-television TRT, during his three-day official visit to Ankara.

PM Sharif said his government ahead of elections would take short-term measures to address the problems faced by the general public.

However, he stressed that if the people’s will brings his party to power in next election, a full-fledged development agenda would be launched to deal with issues such as unemployment and poverty.

The prime minister said the global skyrocketing prices of fuel had compelled his government to increase the cost of oil and gas.

Responding to a question about the political situation in Pakistan, he said for the first time in the history, a noconfidence vote had succeeded.

“This is a constitutional and legal transition which has been provided in the Constitution. It is a big step forward, rather a quantum jump,” he said.

From this point onward, he stressed that this would be an acceptable norm in Pakistan that if a majority of parliamentarians feel to have a particular government, they should be allowed to vote freely under the law of land.

He pointed that previously a similar situations witnessed martial laws and military interventions. “But now, this has changed the entire ballgame and must be supported,” he said.

The prime minister said Pakistan and Turkey were pursuing the road map of regional cooperation with immense understanding and unity existed between the two leaderships.

Terming his Ankara visit as “phenomenal”, he said the people-to-people bond between the two nations was grounded in history.

He mentioned the pre-partition time where the Muslims of Indian sub-continent supported the Turkish movement.

“The relationship between our forefathers has become a permanent brotherhood for the days to come,” he said.

On Pak-Turk defence ties, he said Pakistan desired joint collaboration in military projects and added that the launch of MILGEM warship was in line with the same vision.

On setting the target of achieving $5 billion trade with Turkey, he said the objective was to expand the scope of trade and investment in diverse fields for the benefit of two nations.

On Turkey’s anti-terrorism steps against YPG/PKK terrorists in Syria, he said since Pakistan had been a big victim of terrorism, it supported the Turkish leadership on its efforts to eradicate the menace.

PM Sharif emphasized on a trilateral arrangement among China, Pakistan and Turkey to join the China Pakistan Economic Corridor.

“The participation of Turkey in CPEC will translate into regional economic prosperity of the region,” he said, adding that he had proposed the same to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

He said Turkey’s vast expertise in road infrastructure and energy projects could make the multi-billion regional project a win-win.

05

SIndh, fEdEraL GOvErnmEntS tO wOrk In COLLaBOratIOn tO EradICatE POvErty

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news desk

HE provincial government of Sindh and Federal Ministry of Poverty Alleviation & Social Safety have agreed to work together to launch propoor and social protection initiatives through Benazir card.

Under the plan, the initiatives such as cash transfers, scholarships, nutrition, immunization are being planned for eligible women and children.

This was stated by Sindh’s Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah in his meeting with Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation & Social Safety Shazia Marri, here at CM House on Friday.

Those attended the meeting from Sindh government included Minister for Education Sardar Shah, CM Special Assistant Haris Gazdar, Chief Secretary Sohail Rajput, Chairman P&D Hasaan Naqvi, Secretary Health Zulfiqar Shah, Secretary Education Akbar Leghari, Special Secretary to CM Rahim Shaikh, PS Special Protection

Unit Nisar Memon.

The federal minister’s team comprised Secretary Benazir Income Support Program Dr. Ismat Tahira, DG National Socio-Economic Registry (NSER) Naveed Akbar, DG Sindh BNISP Samar Talpur, Director Baitul Mal Dr. Adnan, Poverty Alleviation Group leader Ahmed Ali Khattak.

The CM said that his government’s social protection was aimed at providing income or consumption transfers to the poor, protect the vulnerable against the livelihood risks and volatility and enhance the human capital and rights of the marginalized with the overall objective of reducing the economic and social vulnerability of poor, vulnerable and marginalized individuals, and communities.”

Murad Ali Shah also apprised about the negotiation with World Bank for support to the tune of $200 million over next 5 years were in final stage.

He added that MCSP would be scaled up to rural areas province wide.

CM Special Assistant on Social Protection Haris Gazdar said that the Mother

and Child Support programme offered cash support to women for antenatal and postnatal health check-ups, safe child birth, child growth monitoring, immunization, and child birth registration.

He added that the programme supported mothers from pregnancy till the time their child turns 2-year.

Any expecting woman who wants to avail the said program must visit a selected public health facility, the CM said, and added for each of the prescribed health visit fulfilled, the beneficiary would receive a text message indicating that she may receive her cash support at her nearest payment agent through biometric verification.

According to the CM, so far Rs 16.44 million were disbursed, including Rs 7.55 million.

Federal Minister Shahzia Marri told the meeting that under Benazir Card cash transfer, Rs7,000 quarterly was provided to eligible women beneficiaries.

She added that biometric verification system (BVS) was being fully implemented since 2019.

AJK PM seeks progressive, people-friendly budget Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Tanveer Ilyas Khan has directed the ministry of finance to prepare a pro-people and progressive budget so that maximum relief could be provided to masses. He was talking to Minister for Finance and Inland Revenue Abdul Majid Khan and Minister for Planning and Development Chaudhry Rashid who called on him here on Friday.

He said, “Important projects should be included in the budget and efforts should be made to provide maximum relief to the people”. Special focus, he said, should be given on public welfare projects.

The AJK PM said that the development schemes which could be instrumental in revenue generation should be included in the budget. He directed the ministry of finance and other relevant departments to include such projects in the budget that

will create job opportunities within the state and bring real change in the lives of the people.

“We cannot disappoint the people, we have come to power with the mission of development and prosperity, and Inshallah, an era of progress and prosperity will usher in the state soon and people will experience the real change on the ground”, the PM added.

The Prime Minister also directed the Ministers and Secretaries to monitor ongoing development projects and ensure time completion and disbursement of funds.

Regarding his recent meetings with president Dr. Arif Alvi and Advisor to the Prime Minister on Kashmir Affairs Qamar-ul-Zaman Kaira, the PM expressed optimism that the AJK would get a full share sans any budgetary cuts. news desk

Karachi superstore fire: Man’s first day on job proves to be his last A superstore in Karachi on Jail Chorangi caught fire on Wednesday, and consumed life of a young man who joined the store a day earlier. Although the fire tenders have doused the fire that engulfed after a hectic effort of 37 hours, but the fire consumed the life of a young man who happened to join the retail store just a day before the horrible incident, according to a report on Friday.

The fire which started on Wednesday morning and could not be controlled till Friday presented a great hazard to scores of residential flats on the upper storey of the superstore where as many as 600 people have been residing. The flats were immediately evacuated.

The Sindh Building Authority has lodged a case with Ferozwala police station against the mart owners and the administration. The case was registered as the owners built the store on a space allotted for a parking lot.

A young man was burnt to death while three other persons got injured in the incident.

According to BBC, the rookie who was hired by the store just a day before the fire incident was

identified as Muhammad Wasiuddin. He was just 21 years old.

According to Wasi’s friend Muhammad Tayyab, Wasi was doing his BS and he was a very intelligent student. He said his father had got retired and Wasi was the youngest among his four siblings. news desk

Shazia Marri disclosed that so far Rs425.445 billion were disbursed to 2.95 million enrolled beneficiaries in Sindh.

She also briefed the meeting that Benazir Taleemi Wazaif program was also in progress under Benazir card.

“Cash incentives is higher for girls at all levels,” Ms Marri said and added “a graduating bonus of Rs3000 is also paid to girls on completion of primary education.

According to the federal minister since inception 2,021,595 students of Sindh received stipend under the program.

By 2024, some 1,058,401 more students would be enrolled in the programme.

The chief minister and the federal minister decided to work together so that poverty could be controlled in the province.

The modalities to work together would be developed by both the governments so that duplication in the assistance could be avoided along with expanding the eligible women base.

SC to Govt: Bring ECL rules changes within ‘legal ambit’ in a week continued from page 01 He told the court that cabinet members’ names were removed from the ECL so the government could function smoothly. “There is no law that states discussion with NAB is necessary for removing the names. The chief justice remarked that the court was aware the government had “freed” a person it had instructed to be jailed, without naming that person.

When the attorney general argued that the reference against the said person was from 2018, the CJP noted the SC’s order was from 2021. However, AGP Ausaf contended that the court’s orders had been implemented but the person was freed after the case was concluded.

Justice Bandial said if an agency was investigating someone, the government should hold discussions with it prior to removing the person’s name from the ECL. When the attorney general said names were put on the ECL on NAB’s instructions, the chief justice said it meant the anti-graft watchdog considered the matter prior to issuing instructions. “NAB does not put every suspect’s name on the ECL. According to NAB, the names of people who looted billions were removed.” Ausaf argued that NAB could request re-adding a person’s name to the ECL. “NAB would refer [again] only if it knew of the removal. The name of a suspect, who the SC directed [to be put on ECL], was also removed,” the CJP said.

Justice Naqvi observed that it would have been better for the government to look at each case individually. Justice Bandial said the court desired that justice be done with everyone through implementation of the law. He also questioned why the changes were applied retroactively. However, the attorney general denied that the purpose was to benefit specific people. ‘How can decisions be taken for personal benefit?’ Meanwhile, Justice Akhtar asked whether an amendment should be carried out if the relatives and friends of those who were doing it benefitted from it. He also asked why there was a hurry to remove names from the ECL. “There is no mention of the amendments being applied from past dates. How can ministers whose names are on the ECL decide to remove them?”

Government, UNHCR verify 1.3 million Afghan refugees The Government of Pakistan, with the support of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, completed the verification of some 1.3 million registered Afghan refugees residing in Pakistan.

The Documentation Renewal and Information Verification Exercise, known as DRIVE, was aimed at updating and verifying the data of Afghans holding a Proof of Registration (PoR) card. The exercise was a joint effort conducted by the Ministry of States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON), the Chief Commissionerate Commissioner for Afghan Refugees (CCAR), and UNHCR with the technical assistance of

the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).

“The data of Afghans was not updated in the last 10 years, therefore it was imperative to verify and update records which will enable us to better understand existing needs in the refugee communities,” said Mr. Saleem Khan, Chief Commissioner for Afghan Refugees in Pakistan.

Close to one million new smart identity cards have been issued to date with a validity until 30 June 2023, with children under the age of five included in parents’ cards.

DRIVE also provided an opportunity for Afghan refugees to flag specific protection

needs or vulnerabilities. More detailed information about refugees’ socioeconomic circumstances will allow to better assist them for their self-reliance in Pakistan and more tailored support, for those who express their intention to return to Afghanistan, when conditions allow.

Key findings of DRIVE exercise revealed that more than half (52 percent) of the registered refugee population are children, including 197,428 (15 percent) being four years of age or under. Only 4 percent of those registered are 60 years of age or older.

Women, children and older represent 76 percent of the population. Over half of regis-

cmYk

tered Afghan refugees reside in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Ms. Noriko Yoshida, UNHCR’s Representative to Pakistan underscored that the smart cards are an essential protection tool for Afghan refugees. “They provide proof of identity, entitlement to temporary stay in Pakistan, and freedom of movement. They facilitate access to certain essential services, including education, healthcare, banking, property rental and allied facilities.”

The DRIVE exercise also allowed for the registration of some 267,000 newborn children of PoR holders, an important step for the protection of the youngest members

of the refugee community.

DRIVE is part of a wider effort to assist and protect Afghan refugees, including as part of efforts under a Support Platform for the Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees (SSAR). The Support Platform was launched in 2019 to promote international burden and responsibility sharing for refugees in hosting countries, while also seeking to boost investments in refugee return areas in Afghanistan.

Going forward, registered Afghan refugees will be able to update their registration data on an ongoing basis through 11 dedicated centres across the country. news desk

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Saturday, 4 June, 2022

06 COMMENT

The Islamic touch

NAB after Javed Iqbal And a modified accountability law

M

R Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal’s controversial tenure as chairman of the National accountability Bureau (NaB) came to an end on Thursday. Mr Justice (retd) Iqbal was appointed as the NaB chairman for four years during the tenure of the previous PML(N) government. In October last year, his tenure was extended for six months by the PTI government. The NaB Chairman was widely criticized for misusing his power of arrest. Besides politicians he also went after civil servants and businessmen who too were subjected to harassment.

Pakistan has a fairly long history of accountability laws mainly targeting politicians beginning with PRODa enforced in 1949. Ten years later, it was followed by ayub Khan’s PODO and EBDO. The purpose behind these laws was to punish politicians who happened to be on be on the wrong side of the government or the establishment.

Notorious as these laws were, NaB attracted much more criticism than most of its predecessors. The NaB law gave too much power to its functionaries who used them with abandon. Fear of media trial and prolonged interrogation led Brigadier (retd) asad Munir and Controller General of accounts (CGa) Khurram Humayun to commit suicide The former was acquitted three years after his death. Later, courts set free several political leaders who had been arrested arbitrarily. While bailing out two PML(N) leaders a supreme Court judge remarked these laws were being used as a tool to ‘armtwist and pressurise’ political opponents into submission and ‘fracturing political parties’. NaB, which was avowedly created “to put the fear of God in the corrupt”, turned into a symbol of tyranny The Parliament has passed amendments to NaB law to address major grievances. Federal and provincial tax matters and regulatory bodies’ decisions have been removed from NaB’s purview; Draconian provisions have been modified; cases will henceforth be decided within a year; NaB has been bound to ensure availability of evidence prior to arrest; an arrested person will have to be produced before an accountability court within 24 hours; the period of remand would also be reduced from 90 days to 14 days and If convicted, a person would be able to file an appeal till 30 days instead of 10 days previously.

The amended law will remove some of the serious grievances. It remains to be seen however if it can deal with white collar crime more successfully.

Playing the religion and nationalism cards

DR QAIsAR RAsHID

P

aKIsTaN’s political system is marred with exploitation done sometimes in the name of religion and sometimes in the name of ethnicity. The choice rests on the doer. Even the catchphrase of nationalism is abused to serve one’s political purposes. Examples are in abundance.

On 26 May, on the occasion of the Long March on Islamabad, former Deputy speaker of the National assembly Qasim suri whispered in the ear of Pakistan Tehreek-e Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan to give an Islamic touch to the speech to entice the listeners, who were the party’s supporters. Incidentally, the media’s microphones captured the whisper and revealed the way the political pulpit had been playing with the sentiments of the listeners. Khan acted accordingly by configuring a sentence on the spur of the moment proclaiming his affection for the Prophet (PBUH). The episode took place just before Khan called off the March.

Religion has been the refuge of many, especially the desperate who are bent on manipulating psychoemotional imperfections of the masses. Failings are figured out in faith to make one feel insecure spiritually. The orators have an axe to grind. Every political opportunist has his own toolbox and modus operandi to wear away at the listener’s confidence. Certain religious figures also do the same publicly. as a principle, if a fault line is present, it is meant for utilization. If it is not present, it can be created by sheer demagoguery. Driven by ignorance and goaded by the fear of the unknown, the masses mostly submit

Second petrol bomb

to the imaginary projected trepidation in an effort to propitiate gods of heaven or demigods of the earth.

The more the listeners are acquiescent to desires, prejudices and superstitions, the more they are amenable to exploitation. a rational argument finds no space to stand on. a rational argument cannot convince the gathering. This was what suri articulated subconsciously in a delicate tone: his desire to move the masses, near and far, by employing an Islamic touch. The same happened effectively.

The problem with politics in developing countries like Pakistan is that orators resort to raising religious or ethnic cards to befool the masses into believing that the underlying haunting spiritual or politico-economic insecurity would engulf them. Only the orator can rescue them and can offer a magic potion.

Feeble in faith, the masses tend to believe in the words, overlooking the fact that their plight cannot be ameliorated unless the governments put in place sound workable policies. Politicians wooing voters are supposed to do that.

Unfortunately, the PTI failed to perform on the touchstone of laying mega-developmental projects. Instead, the PTI remained focused on paperwork performance while in power. Now, however, it has been trying to turn the tables on anyone opposed to its narrative meant for retrieving the lost authority.

Related to the much touted Long March, it is now evident that the PTI was ill-prepared, as it was ill-prepared in 2018 to run the country. Even PTI’s followers shied away from weathering the sizzling heat of the summer. Its leadership of the second and third tier seemed to be not convinced of the flaunted narrative of a foreign conspiracy overturning the Khan’s government.

People generally know the deficiencies in the PTI as a ruling party. Out of the corridors of power, it can make numerous claims that remain unfounded. Now, in an attempt to weaken the nascent government of the former opposition, the PTI has been trying to disrupt the even tenor of life especially in Islamabad.

The intent is to create a ruckus that could force the military to intervene as a mediator. The final objective could be elections that would shorten the interval

of disgrace of waiting for more than a year on the opposition benches.

The actual encumbrance is the remorse that the PTI leadership did not dissolve assemblies and call fresh elections, before the opposition tabled the noconfidence motion. The PTI overestimated its strength and missed the opportunity. The party now regrets publicly having lost the occasion. Conceit drove the party into believing that it could not be removed from the corridors of power, as all the hidden influences (extended from the military and the judiciary) were on its side.

In the same vein, the PTI believed that it would be helped to sabotage the no-confidence motion to unnerve the opposition. The belief got shattered. april 10 found the party mired in disbelief. To the utter dismay and surprise of the party, the hidden main helping hand– the military– turned neutral, leaving the PTI to its own devices. Neutrality was sought in the name of constitutionalism. Interestingly, the neutrality of the second main players, the higher judiciary, is yet to be seen. sheer smugness foundered on the stone of reality: incompetence rendered the PTI irrelevant.

Further, in the eyes of the masses, the PTI had lost not only popularity. The masses lost faith in its competence.

In a hope to catch at a straw, the party has been making use of all available cards, including those of religion and nationalism, that it could use to reach out to the masses to stage a comeback. The party has to learn that democracy is another name of patience: wait for your turn. Let the ruling government falter on some serious account, which could provide the PTI with an opportunity to mobilize the masses and heat up the streets.

The tyranny is that not enough leeway has been left behind both politically and economically to rely on. The supreme Court (sC) is now the last resort to seek a face saving, but then the sC has also its limitations. Extending any undue favour or resorting to any misinterpretation of law to support the PTI, as happened from 2014 to 2018, would be thrown to public scrutiny. The disastrous tendency in the sC to constitute a bench of like-minded judges every time to issue an expected ruling on the issues concerning the PTI is also known in the public. It is yet to be seen when the sC exercises palpable neutrality, as stipulated in the constitution, and avoid giving any judicial touch to legitimize or justify unlawful acts of the PTI.

Sheer smugness foundered on the stone of reality: incompetence rendered the PTI irrelevant.

Further, in the eyes of the masses, the PTI had lost not only popularity. The masses lost faith in its competence.

The writer can qaisarrashid@yahoo.com

be

reached

at

Power tariff also goes up

The shattered myths

C

OMPLIaNCE with IMF conditions seems to have led the government to take the most inflationary steps possible. Petrol and other fuel prices have been raised Rs 30 a litre, Thursday’s raise, to Rs 209.16, was the second such hike in a week, with last Thursday’s Rs 30 being the first raise since then. Prime Minister Imran Khan, trying to fight off the noconfidence move which ultimately toppled his government, had announced an open-ended subsidy. To maintain the price of petrol where it was until the budget.

The subsidy did not keep Mr Khan in office, but it derailed the IMF EsaF and forced the incoming government to maintain the subsidy.

The effects of removing the subsidy will be horrendous, with the delay in removing it showing that the shehbaz sharif government is only too aware of the consequences. as it is, as Finance Minister Miftah Ismail pointed out, the government is still paying a subsidy of Rs 9 per litre on petrol, and Rs 24 per litre on diesel. It was perhaps the government’s ill-luck that the cap on fuel prices was placed at a time when oil prices were going through the roof, with no end in sight to the RussiaUkraine war which had caused them to go up. Keeping the subsidy in place would have meant the government having to print money in such large quantities to pay it, that the currency could have been rendered valueless. The government is not levying taxes yet; when it does, there will be another round of painful fuel increases.

The cost of transportation will go up, and thus that of all goods, but a more direct weight on production costs, and thus on export competitiveness, will be the power tariff hike, of Rs 7.91 a unit, which nullifies the subsidy announced by Mr Khan at the same time as he subsidized fuel. The problem that the government has not solved is how to avoid the political cost of what will be an unpopular decision.

A learning opportunity for the PTI

DR IMRAN KHALID

H

as the Long March proven to be the PTI’s Waterloo? It is too early to say anything on this question at this moment. However, without any shadow of doubt, the Long March has cruelly exposed two myths about the PTI at both the level of leadership and of workers or supporters. For several years, Imran Khan has been diligently nurturing two myths about PTI; one, the PTI supporters and workers are truly revolutionary– inqilabi– and would create a “tsunami” of millions on his call whenever needed, and two, PTI has an honest, mature, courageous, educated and well-disciplined leadership structure that can sail the party through any crisis. Both the myths were palpably shattered on May 25 and 26. The Haqiqi azadi March was the first real test for the PTI leadership and supporters to register their metamorphosis from a bunch of like-minded emotional individuals into a genuine political party that can face all kinds of challenges. Ever since his departure from the Prime Minister House on april 9, Imran Khan had generated a fabulous momentum through his daily massive gatherings, video messages and press conferences. The fiery speeches, catchy slogans and highly-charged crowds were apparently all the right ingredients to motivate Imran Khan to announce the Long March with a hope to give a climatic final push to the fragile ruling alliance to force early elections announcement.

But the fiasco of the much-touted Haqiqi azadi March has certainly exhorted Imran Khan to re-evaluate the capabilities and commitment of his core team.

The misanthropic tone of Imran Khan’s speech in the morning of May 26, while announcing the re-sched-

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uling of his protest campaign, is a reflection of the disappointment that has suddenly enveloped Bani Gala.

Interior Minister Rana sanaullah Khan had resorted to all traditional and non-traditional methods to quash the azadi March. He had made it clear from the very beginning that the government would not let the PTI have a free run this time. Expectations of high-handedness by the government had actually demoralized the PTI leadership and its supporters from the very outset.

With the exception of Dr. Yasmin Rashid, very few leaders of the core team of Imran Khan were seen physically leading the crowds. Instead of mobilizing the crowds from their base towns, all the stalwarts of PTI preferred to join the king’s party from Mardan in the comfort of the air conditioned container. shah Mahmood Qureshi, asad Umar, ali Zaidi and Imran Ismail did not play any physical role to lead the processions from their respective constituencies. They preferred the safe havens of the air conditioned container in the shadow of their leader. None of them was ready to face the tear gas and batons.

In the absence of the main leadership, the people from other parts of the country kept themselves showing the similar enthusiasm as the PTI supporters from the KPK. This was one of the key factors that seriously discouraged the participation from sind, Balochistan and the Punjab. shaikh Rasheed was also conspicuously absent from the scene. Fawad Chaudhry joined a small procession from his town and then preferred to be the guest of his friends in aJK, instead of moving towards the “unsafe” GT road towards Islamabad. Murad saeed and Fayazul Hassan Chohan’s videos of running in the streets to escape the police batons were the subject memes on the social media. The same horrorstruck attitude was evident among the general workers and supporters of PTI. although there were small protest gatherings in almost every town, they could not produce the kind of impact that Imran Khan was expecting from his supporters.

This was perhaps the first time that PTI had to stage a protest campaign on its own, without the support of the ‘powerful’ quarters. and it exposed the vulnerability of the PTI in the face of real challenge– the blatant usage of formidable state machinery by Rana sanaullah. so far, the PTI supporters had been

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attending jalsas of their party without any resistance or restriction by the government. all the PTI jalsas had more the flavour of a musical concert than of a political gathering.

Particularly, the supporters from the urban middle class had started the trend of family participation in the PTI gatherings. This trend was initiated during the 2014 dharna, when the PTI was enjoying patronization and financial support from the “friends”. This time, however, the preventive crackdown by the government on the PTI office-bearers and local leaders– and the unfortunate incident of death of a police constable in Lahore– had literally scared the leadership and supporters of PTI. some families tried to participate in the Long March, but the tear gas, batons and the resultant chaos was a big shock for them who were used to having musical evenings and family galas at the PTI gatherings in the past. all other political parties, including the PPP, PML(N), aNP, MQM(P), JUI(F) and JI, have routinely faced such state machinery at various times in the past. Their workers are well acquainted with such tactics by the law enforcement agencies. For the PTI supporters, the bulk of which comprises middle class families and educated professionals, the tear gas, batons, fire and arrests are a totally new ball game. These PTI supporters have suddenly realized the bitter difference between the social media politics on the mobile phones and the tough realities of street politics.

This is a learning point for Imran Khan to rethink about the actual strength of his power base and to have a thorough appraisal of the capabilities and commitment of his core team and his supporters. Realpolitik has its own perils and pitfalls, and every political party passes through evolutionary phases while facing intense adversities to become a mature political force.

Though the PTI has been in existence for more than 26 years, it has never faced such a tough situation in the past. The vulnerability of the PTI, despite being a populist outfit, must be the most troubling point for Imran Khan, who is hoping to generate a massive public pressure to force the powerful circles and government to yield to his demand of early elections.

The writer is a freelance columnist

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

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Control of carcinogenic and mutagenic smoke

Digital democracy: Beyond the single story People must be made ready by being given the necessary skills

MuHAMMAD sHARIf

T

HE emergence of technology has given birth to digital democracy in digitallydriven society. Many developed countries have opted for the digital democratic model and are progressing leaps and bounds. Estonia, a northern European state, was one of the countries that introduced an e-voting system in her democratic practices. Estonia not only started practicing the e-voting system but also introduced e-licensing, e-services, e-banking and e-commerce at the larger level. as a result, Estonia, on the one hand, saves its time and resources at the larger level and on the other, she also achieves the standard of transparency and accountability in its state.

In this digital age, countries which have sound digitalized infrastructure and mechanisms, perform well in all spheres of life. From e-voting, e-banking, e-government system, ecommerce to online complaint submission, each and everything has been practised in a digital way in today’s digital world. adaptation of digital democratic practices to ensure the transparency, accountability, performativity and mass participation in socio-political and economic practices or processes is the core strength of a digitally well-equipped state.

In this regard, information communication technology (ICT) is involved in each sphere of life. From e-vote, online discussion, e-commerce and decision making to online tax paying, obtaining a driving licence through the internet, each and every corner of life revolves around technology in a digital democracy. The supporting wheel, in a digital democracy, is the media which plays a key role in changing the regime, toppling government or bringing social change in a society. The cases of the arab spring in the Middle East, the Twitter revolution in Iran and the 2016 election of the Usa, which was criticized by the CIa that Russian spies were involved in election through the media, were glaring examples in this regard. social media plays a drastic and groundbreaking role on the socio-political and economic fronts.

Thus, digitalization is rising leaps and bounds in digitally well-equipped states. Nonetheless, democracy interplays with technology which ensures the space for sound digital democratic cul-

ture. But the problems fall in countries which have poor technological infrastructure.

Pakistan, being a developing country, has a poor technological infrastructure owing to which it is confronting myriad challenges to practise digital democracy across the country in the true sense. In Pakistan, on the one hand, there is a paucity of wide-ranging technological networks or availability, and on the other, the country has a poor digital literacy rate. similarly, cyber security and cyber-related crimes are a major threat for a country which has poor technological expertise and digital literate people. according to the Digital Pakistan report and Global overview report, Pakistan with the population of 220 million has only 61 million internet users. Kepios, an internet analysis organization, reveals that in Pakistan there are only 20 million females who have access to internet service. additionally, there are various backward and far-flung areas which still don’t have 3G service; while 4G and 5G are a far cry.

In this regard, Balochistan, Gilgit Baltistan, Kashmir and Frontier regions are the glaring examples. as a result, these regions not only suffer at the education front, but also become deprived of the ability to exercise the democratic rights to use the internet and participate in democratic process. The irony of fate was such that in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic, the students of Balochistan, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan suffered the most due to unavailability of internet when all the institutions shifted their mode of instruction to online teaching. as a result, their educational performances got affected owing to the unavailability of internet.

It is a bitter irony that there are various regions in Pakistan where internet services have been blocked owing to security issues. In these cases, various districts of Balochistan, since the emergence of the security issue, still have no internet service. 3G and 4G services are blocked. similarly, some of the regions of Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir are also in this list of no-internet service.

These regions not only get affected on the sociopolitical grounds but also they are compelled to suffer on the education and economic fronts.

The question arises here, whether in such a haphazard situation, digital democracy can function effectively. However, digital democracy would take time to flourish in Pakistan. Because it is hard to interplay technology with democracy in a country which is confronting disparity

at the digital and technological levels.

Nanjala Nyabola, a political analyst, author based in Kenya, wrote a book titled Digital Democracy, Analogue Politics: How the Internet Era is Transforming Kenya, in which she claimed that Third World countries are not at that position to opt for digital democracy as a whole.

This is so because Third World countries are facing various bottlenecks on myriad fronts. On the one hand, there is a massive illiteracy rate, grinding poverty, miserable socio-economic conditions, and on the other, there is zero knowhow about the usage of the internet among those who have the ability and means to use it. There is a large population in developing countries which are deprived of very basic necessities. In this regard, digital literacy and internet accessibility is a far cry. at the same time, those who have the availability of the internet and use social media are less aware about the true, effective and productive usage of the internet. as a result, a number of people with naïve political ideology get exploited. It is a pathetic condition for the developing country’s masses, in the epoch of digitalization, who still neither have realized the worth of digitalization, nor have the effective accessibility of internet and technological infrastructure.

However, it goes without saying that, for Pakistan, opting or exercising actual digital democracy demands sincere efforts. Implementing the digital Pakistan Policy 2021 at the grassroots level would be the first initiative. This digital Pakistan policy should be implemented across the country if Pakistan wants to adopt the real digital democracy. From Balochistan to GilgitBaltistan, there ought to be internet accessibility, connectivity, and a chain of technological infrastructure at an equal level. similarly, in this regard, the provision of digital skills and training services would play a groundbreaking role in digitalization process. But first, for digital democracy, it is indispensable there should be a digital and technological chain or network across the country. There should be cyber security cell like cyber troops mechanism to contain cyber related crimes and issues. all in all, in this whole process and practice, the web of technology matters the most to support the flourishment of democratic culture if country is serious to take timely measures.

However, it goes without saying that, for Pakistan, opting or exercising actual digital democracy demands sincere efforts. Implementing the digital Pakistan Policy 2021 at the grassroots level would be the first initiative.

This digital Pakistan policy should be implemented across the country if Pakistan wants to adopt the real digital democracy.

The writer is based in Islamabad

POLYCYCLIC aromatic hydrocarbons (PaHs) are the hazardous chemicals that contaminate the atmosphere both in the vapour phase and condensed form, deposited on water, soil and plants. Their accumulation and persistence in the environment can produce harmful effects because of their mutagenic and carcinogenic properties.

The potential health impacts of PaHs on human and animals necessitate the conduction of toxicological assessment studies regarding the prevalence of PaHs in conjunction with the application of successful remediation techniques for the degradation of PaHs. Dr. abdul Muqeet Khan, a PhD scholar, Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, UVas, Lahore under supervision of Dr. Muhammad Imran, associate Professor (Tenured) carried out research to address the said dilemma. soil, water and blood samples of humans, as well as animals from suspected areas such as industry-linked areas (Pharmaceutical, Textile, Leather tanneries), areas near high-ways, and waste combustion areas, were collected around Lahore city, Punjab, Pakistan to quantify six selected PaHs (Phenanthrene, Biphenyl, Biphenanthrene, Naphthalene, anthracene and P-ansidine). The highest average concentration of Naphthalene was detected in samples from industrial areas. Meanwhile, the lowest average amount of Biphenanthrene was found in samples from highways. Human and animal plasma samples were also found to carry PaHs in comparatively lower levels than soil and water.

Different treatments were applied for the degradation of PaHs in soil and water samples by using Bacillus bacterial specie, Corncob, pomegranate peels and Rice husk. Organic acids (citric acid, acetic acid, oxalic acid, lactic acid) were also employed for the degradation. Overall results were fruitful but Hydrolysis with organic acids (lactic acid, citric acid and acetic acid) was quite satisfactory. Filters were prepared to control or minimize the exhaust of PaHs. after the Biochemical degradation was completed, a technique was selected which shows maximum degradation for the development of an absorbent filter.

DR ABDUL MUQEET KHAN AND DR MUHAMMAD IMRAN LAHORE

Importance of reading THE national literacy rate of the country is 62.3%. Generally, every citizen is familiar with the quality of education in Pakistan and in its respective provinces; among which the province of Balochistan suffers the worse literacy rate. The province has about 3,500 governmental ghost schools that exist but are non-functional, due to ghost employees. annual funds from PsDPs are still allocated for those ghost schools which get divided among the employees. The quality of education is a secondary concern in Balochistan when the educational institutions do not even have employees.

Moreover, the literacy rate of both males and females in Balochistan is worse compared to Punjab, sindh and KPK. Due to the recent pandemic, Pakistan’s educational sector has been brutally hit. Balochistan’s educational sector suffered a much greater impact after the pandemic as well and went back to the darker side.

The majority of the citizens in Balochistan province are not familiar with the official language; they cannot even write nor they formally can speak Urdu. Those who know Urdu a little bit do not have the courage to speak publicly. On 25 October 2020 Jalsa of PDM, in Quetta city headed

by Maryam Nawaz, half the crowd on the spot could not understand what Maryam Nawaz was trying to convey. It is the high time and moment to courage up the people of Balochistan province towards education and a prosperous Pakistan. Let’s start a campaign to promote reading for a prosperous Balochistan and a more successful Pakistan. For an instant boost-up in the education sector of Balochistan, the Education minister sardar Yar Muhammad Rind is requested to promote such a campaign.

HABIB ULLAH AMAN ISLAMABAD

Lyari expressway LYaRI Expressway is constructed over the Lyari River which is 38 km long in length. Commuters travel on the Lyari expressway with great comfort without traffic jams and reach their destination hassle-free. The wide and long space between Lyari expressway can be utilized smartly. an artificial stream can be developed where boats can be floated from one end to another end and people of the metropolis might travel on boats as well for excursion. The stream can be developed on half-space while a long park can be developed on another half-space which would definitely beautify the Lyari Expressway while different trees should be planted on both sides of the space which would make the overall environment of the Lyari Expressway pleasant.

FAISAL ANSAR KARACHI

Barriers to jobs PaKIsTaN is blessed with a young and energetic population i.e. 18 to 28 years of age, according to international reports. We have good graduated doctors, engineers and social science students. However, it is a state of sorrow that our young population is being victimised by joblessness.

Jobless are social insecurities which give birth to many domestic crimes.

This state has mentally tortured every young citizen of Pakistan. For example, a few months ago sTs IBa announced BPs 5 to 15 scale jobs; later on those jobs were stalled by stay orders by respective courts. after this, we filled BPs 16 & 17 application forms against Town Officer and Municipal officer posts in the sindh Public service Commission (sPsC).

Resultantly, sPsC also temporarily suspended allocation due to stay orders by courts. The last hope was for federal jobs when the FBR announced different jobs in its department some months ago but the process was plagued with nepotism.

No one cares about us. The jobless ratio is increasing day by day, especially in sindh. If any job advertisement is announced by sindh Government, it falls victim to nepotism. The higher authorities are requested to enforce transparency and meritocracy.

ANEES LATEEF KALWAR KARACHI

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Friday, 3 June, 2022

08 WORLD VIEW

‘Hindutva pop’: tHe singers producing anti-MusliM Music in india BEHIND THE RISING ISLAMOPHOBIA IN INDIA LIES A NETWORK OF HINDU RIGHT-WING ARTISTS COMPOSING SONGS PLAYED DURING HATE CAMPAIGNS Al JAzeerA QurAtulAin rehbAr

“i

nsaan nahi ho saalo, ho tum kasaayi; Bahut ho chuka Hindu-Muslim bhai bhai” – You are not human, you are butchers; it’s enough of Hindu-Muslim brotherhood.

These are the lyrics of a ‘bhajan’ (devotional song) that singer Prem Krishnavanshi posted on YouTube three years ago and has been viewed thousands of times since.

Triggered by contemporary hate politics, Krishnavanshi’s song is a part of a new mass culture in india where anti-Muslim songs are played in rallies by Hindu supremacist groups, mainly in what is called the country’s “Hindi belt” northern states.

Dozens of such music videos can be found on YouTube and other social media platforms, with the supporters of the Hindu far-right loving and sharing them for their messages of hate, abuse and even threats of genocide targeted at the Muslim minority.

Krishnavanshi, an engineering graduate from lucknow, capital of Uttar Pradesh state, wanted to be a Bollywood singer. But it was too competitive. so he turned to live shows and events to make a living.

The turning point came in 2014 when the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power.

The arrival of a new government headed by Prime Minister narendra Modi saw an unprecedented polarisation of indian society, with hate attacks on india’s minorities, mainly Muslims, becoming a near-daily affair since. in such a scenario, cultural products such as music, poetry and cinema also became the tools by which this politics of hatred is sustained. in the past few months, india witnessed religious violence in several states during Hindu festivals when right-wing groups held marches in mainly Muslim neighbourhoods and played loud music laced with islamophobic lyrics outside mosques.

Krishnavanshi sings in Hindi and Bhojpuri languages. His fan base is mainly in Uttar Pradesh, india’s

most populous state with nearly 205 million residents, governed by the BJP’s saffron-robed Hindu monk, Yogi adityanath, who is known for his anti-Muslim rhetoric and policies. in many of his songs, Krishnavanshi suggests Muslims are “anti-nationals who should go to Pakistan”. One of his songs says: “Muslims will eventually force Hindus to pray namaz if they don’t wake up soon”. But the singer claims they are not hate songs.. “i don’t think my music is islamophobic. My music signifies truth and if someone thinks it’s islamophobic, i can’t stop them from feeling that way,” he told al Jazeera. recently, the Uttar Pradesh government gave him an award for his song praising the state’s hardline chief minister, adityanath. Many of these hate songs are also tributes to Hindu nationalist politicians such as Modi, adityanath and other top BJP leaders.

The songs also talk about the Mughals and other Muslim rulers of the subcontinent, calling them “invaders” who spread islam through violence and threats. Their music videos feature Hindu men sporting vermillion on their foreheads and brandishing swords, tridents and pistols.

‘HINDUTVA POP’: Born in a middle-class family in Bhopal, the capital of central india’s Madhya Pradesh state, laxmi Dubey grew up listening to Hindu devotional songs from her late grandfather who was a musician.

Back then, she said she used to sing songs of Muslim-Hindu brotherhood and religious coexistence in school events.

Dubey, 31, started her career as a part-time reporter in a local newspaper she did not want to name. But, like Krishnavanshi, things changed for her with Modi’s rise as prime minister in 2014. “i don’t belong to any party, but i thank Modi for everything he has done for the Hindus,” Dubey told al Jazeera.

When Dubey performs with vermillion on her forehead and a marigold garland around her neck, the listeners groove to her “Hindutva pop” songs. “Hindutva” is a Hindi word that refers to the Hindu supremacist movement.

One of Dubey’s more popular songs says: “agar Hindustan mein rehna hoga, To vande mataram kehna hoga” (if you want to stay in india, praise the motherland).

“Vande Mataram”, a song written in sanskritised Bengali by writer Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, is patronised by india’s Hindu right for its nationalist imagination that borrows heavily from the Hindu religious pantheon.

Brahma Prakash, a professor at new Delhi-based Jawaharlal nehru University, told al Jazeera the music of hate has changed the pattern of religious violence in india.

“We know the historical patterns of riots and massacres in india: the leader will give a speech and the riots will spill into the streets. But it seems that the pattern has changed. You don’t need a leader. What you need is a ‘Bhakti vibrator’,” said Prakash. ‘Bhakti’ in Hindi literally means devotion, but is also used to refer to the BJP’s supporters. “You just play the DJ [disc jockey] and it will fulfil its task. it will move the mobs and make them participate in massacre. You don’t need an instigator to incite violence. You set the tone, you set the track and the hate will rock,” he said.

Prakash said this form of music has “shocking” parallels with those produced under the nazi regime in Germany in the 1930s. “March band, processional music, repetitious slogans, communal singing, repeated cries of Jai shri ram [Hail lord ram] like ‘Heil’,” he said.

“Music stirring the crowds into an emotional frenzy are not just a few resonances. The similarities are shocking.”

Dubey’s YouTube channel has nearly 300,000 followers, and her songs have millions of views and hundreds of provocative comments against india’s Muslims. she is often invited by BJP members to perform in their cities.

But the singer says she “does not have anything against the Muslim community” but only against those “who are enemies of the country and support Pakistan”.

“Will someone from Pakistan just come and attack our country unless they are getting massive logistical support or shelter from anti-nationals of their religion?

We have anti-nationals in countries who eat in india but support the neighbour,” she said. in her team, Dubey has a manager, background singers and other people who help her perform. she earns handsomely and claims she spends all her money on the welfare of Hindu widows and the poor.

What troubles Dubey, she told al Jazeera, is “love jihad” – an unproven conspiracy theory propagated by the Hindu far-right that alleges that Muslim men form relations with Hindu women in order to marry them and then convert them to islam.

Dubey also believes in another right-wing conspiracy theory: that a large number of Muslims practice polygamy to have “a lot of children” and “increase their population”. “Why would they [Muslims] marry Hindu girls and convert them? The minority communities are

doing 5-10 marriages and have 20-50 children. Their population is growing heavily. if our country didn’t support them, would their population grow to this extent?” she said. Uttar Pradesh-based lawyer areeb Uddin says such “hateful songs amount to hate speech”. “it is time that hate speech jurisprudence should take its place and it is time for the courts or the concerned legislative organs to frame guidelines for such cases where hatred is being poured and no action is being taken,” he told al Jazeera. But Dubey claims her songs “spread awareness” among the Hindu community – a work that “makes her proud”.

“The youth who used to wear hoodies and torn clothes now proudly wear saffron. They are ready to sacrifice themselves for Hinduism,” she said. “i want to bring Hindus together to create an army.”

Dubey lauds Modi for abrogating the semi-autonomous status of indian-Occupied Kashmir in 2019. “We had almost lost indian-Occupied Kashmir, it’s because of Prime Minister narendra Modi that we still have it,” she said. she also thinks the 1947 partition of the subcontinent to form india and Pakistan was not done properly.

“When the partition was done on the basis of religion by then stakeholders, Pakistan should have been given to one religion and india to another religion. Then this fight could have been avoided.” india is home to more than 200 million Muslims, the third-largest population after indonesia and Pakistan. But Dubey thinks india should be declared a Hindu nation. singer and songwriter Upendra rana, from Uttar Pradesh’s city of noida on the outskirts of the indian capital, has more than 370,000 subscribers on YouTube. rana used to record devotional music through audio cassettes with a local label. When he started getting fame, he decided to do songs independently and created his own channel. rana’s journey in “Hindutva pop” began in 2017 when he began writing mostly songs about history in which he praised the Hindu rulers of the past, despite historians insist it is incorrect to use the prism of religion to understand pre-modern history.

One of rana’s songs says: “Dharm ke naam zameen gayi, islami mulk banaye” (in the name of their religion, we lost our land; they made it an islamic nation).

The video of the song was shot at Dasna Devi Temple in Ghaziabad, a district neighbouring noida. The temple is managed by Yati narsinghanand, a controversial Hindutva leader who was recently arrested for his hate speeches against Muslims. The music video features narsinghanand brandishing swords with rana. “Hindu mythology is missing from school curriculum. Through my songs, i want the children to remember Hindu warriors,” he said. academic Prakash says the mass production of “Hindutva pop” is a new phenomenon. “Earlier it used to be done by political organisations. The danger is that now it is becoming a part of the mass culture,” he told al Jazeera.

lula leads, but Bolsonaro could still win re-election in Brazil

Intercept Andrew FishmAn

B

razilians are preparing for the most consequential and dramatic presidential election in recent history. left-leaning former President luiz inácio lula da silva, known universally as lula, has seen his lead in the polls waver. He still maintains a comfortable edge of 18 percentage points, according to aggregate polling data compiled by the Estadão newspaper, after slipping to 12 points in early May. With months to go before voters turn out in October, the election is far from the guaranteed victory that many of his supporters hoped it would be.

The race is now essentially a two-way dispute with far-right incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro, who has gained ground in recent months but is being held back by rising prices and unemployment. The matchup between the hard-line former soldier and the ex-labor leader once imprisoned for leading a strike in defiance of Brazil’s military dictatorship will be a referendum on two substantially different visions for Brazil’s future: Bolsonaro’s embrace of right-wing populist culture wars and unbridled neoliberal economics versus lula’s pitch for a return to social spending to improve conditions for average citizens. if no candidate wins an absolute ma-

jority of votes, a second-round runoff will be held at the end of October.

Bolsonaro benefits from the power of his office, his motivated base, and influential political allies. He hopes to sway undecided and anti-lula voters now up for grabs after right-leaning candidates like former Justice Minister sergio Moro and former são Paulo Gov. João Doria dropped out of the race. The president is determined to appeal to Brazilians’ conservative sensibilities, as he successfully did in 2018, and distract from the economic downturn and 666,000 Covid-19 deaths that occurred under his leadership. Most voters said that their economic situation has deteriorated under Bolsonaro and that the economy will have a significant influence on their vote.

Bolsonaro’s three and a half years in office have been politically polarizing, defined by his dismantling of many of the most successful social and economic policies that defined lula’s tenure and the acceleration of bloody social conflicts that trace back to Brazil’s colonial days. as president, he has supported illegal mining and deforestation on protected indigenous lands; applauded police and vigilante violence against the poor, minorities, and political foes; and pushed deregulation, privatization, and lucrative tax cuts for corporate backers, arguing that these measures would jumpstart the economy. since 2019, Brazil has had one of the worst performing economies globally in terms of GDP growth, unemployment, and investment. Tens of millions of Brazilians have become food insecure, a problem now affecting more than half the country. Under Bolsonaro, inflation has tripled to over 12 percent, and the country’s currency has performed poorly against the dollar, raising prices on everything from gasoline to beans.

By contrast, from 2003 to 2010, lula presided over a period of exceptional economic prosperity and championed measures that reduced inequality. The former union organizer and metalworker left office with an unprecedented 80 percent approval rating. lula’s reputation suffered damage as the economy soured under his successor and a now-discredited anti-corruption crusade by prosecutors saw him jailed for 580 days. still, he remained the most popular politician in Brazil and was leading polls in 2018 before the convictions, which have

since been vacated, made him ineligible to run for office.

Four years later, he is campaigning on a message of a return to normalcy, decency, and the good years of his presidency. Or, as he prefers to put it, when average workers could afford to “eat steak and drink beer” on the weekends. regional trends also point in lula’s favor. Dramatic swing elections in argentina, Chile, Mexico, Bolivia, and Peru ended a brief conservative wave that coincided with Bolsonaro’s parabolic rise, and left-leaning presidents now predominate across latin america. leftist Gustavo Petro is favored to win a runoff election in Colombia in two weeks against a radical right-wing populist. in an effort to signal moderation to economic elites, centrists, and repentant Bolsonaro voters, lula has brought on former são Paulo Gov. Geraldo alckmin as his vice presidential running mate. alckmin ran to the right of lula in the 2006 elections. now, he has joined a unity coalition meant to appeal to a broad swath of anti-Bolsonaro voters — a partnership that has rankled some on the left. “i am calm and i am sure that we have all the conditions to win,” lula said in a radio interview last month.

But that confidence may have veered into complacency.

The 76-year-old candidate decided to fire his two top communications staffers in april after a series of missteps and a sudden decrease in his polling lead. Bolsonaro’s 2018 win was bolstered by an innovative digital communications strategy and, critics have argued, lula’s party has failed to keep up. lula’s lead is most dramatic among women and younger, poorer, and less educated voters, as well as Catholics, unemployed people, and Black Brazilians, who are a demographic majority. Bolsonaro’s highest approval ratings are among business leaders and the wealthiest voters. He has invested heavily in courting the growing conservative evangelical Christian population, but recent polls show the two candidates in a statistical dead heat among these voters. nearly 1 in 5 Bolsonaro voters from 2018 now plan to vote for lula, according to a recent poll.

Bolsonaro, however, has locked in political alliances with powerful friends. in Brazil’s complex system, these partnerships increase a candidate’s access to publicly funded radio and TV advertising time, campaign cash, and well-oiled local political machines with established

patronage networks. last-minute party switching among elected officials earlier this year turned Bolsonaro’s liberal Party into the largest bloc in the lower house of Congress, a sign of his continued strength.

Meanwhile, in an effort to delegitimize the electoral process, Bolsonaro is again ramping up attacks on the supreme Court and unsubstantiated claims that the country’s electronic balloting system is susceptible to hacking and fraud. new polling found that the majority of Brazilians now have no or little trust in the country’s voting infrastructure. Bolsonaro has repeatedly suggested that if he does not win in October, it would be due to voter fraud and he would not accept the outcome — a position that has earned direct rebukes from Cia Director William Burns and U.s. national security adviser Jake sullivan, as well as criminal investigations ordered by Brazil’s supreme Court and superior Electoral Court. Bolsonaro’s unsubstantiated conspiracy theories mirror Donald Trump’s refusal to accept his 2020 loss in the United states.

The threat of violence also looms. “i want every good citizen to have their firearm to resist, if necessary, an attempted dictatorship,” Bolsonaro told a crowd at an agriculture expo last month, repeating a common refrain.

His administration has slashed restrictions on gun ownership, causing the number of legal firearms in Brazil to triple since 2018. like Trump, even if Bolsonaro is voted out of office, his influence and ideas will continue to hold sway over a large segment of the electorate and political elite. last month, a group of influential reserve generals with ties to Bolsonaro’s inner circle released a detailed plan for right-wing governance over the next 13 years. “nation Project: Brazil in 2035” proposes to end free universal health care and tuition-free public universities; “limit the interference of the Globalist Movement” in Brazil; and “remove the radical restrictions of indigenous and environmental legislation in areas attractive to agribusiness and mining.”

These military hard-liners and their civilian allies are keeping busy across Brazil to elect ideologically aligned candidates to Congress this October, in hopes of keeping Bolsonaro’s agenda alive and lula’s at bay whether or not their president is reelected.

Saturday, 4 June, 2022 | karachI

newS corporate corner

US DoLLAR STRiKeS bACK, GoeS STRoNGeR

T

FF Steel in collaboration with Bank of Khyber hosted a friendly-cricket match at Islamia University Cricket Ground Peshawar.

This friendly event was graced by Mr. Amir Zafar, Chairman BOD PESCO, Mr. Nauman Wazir, Chairman FF Steel, Mr. Zarak K. Khattak, CEO FF Steel and other sport lovers. pr

PARC working for self sufficiency in major food items

ISLAMABAD: Addressing to a ceremony organized by employees association of PARC (EAPARC) held at NARC Auditorium, Dr. Ghulam Muhammad Ali Chairman PARC, said that PARC has the outset focused on agriculture as 70% of the country's population is dependent on agriculture as well as 45% of the employment is related to agriculture. The Chairman in addition said that owing to the hard-work of these scientists Pakistan is now self -sufficient in its major food items like wheat, rice, sugarcane, maize etc. He assured that our scientists are always ready to take any challenge faced by the agricultural sector in Pakistan.

The Chairman also viewed the steps taken to resolve the issue of contract employees regarding their regularization.

Dy. Director General NARC Dr. Imtiaz Hussain, Muhammad Ishaq Secretary PARC, PARC’s technical Members including a large number of PARC’s scientists / employees were also present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Director General NARC Dr. Imtiaz Hussain said that under the patronage of Dr. Ghulam Muhammad Ali, PARC would play its outstanding role in agricultural research and development. Together with the scientists of PARC, they will be engaged in achieving the agricultural goals of the country under modern agricultural research system so that the country can move towards agricultural self-sufficiency.

The President of EAPARC Mr. Liaqat Ali Wahla assured that the association will continue its efforts to promote the scientific research and disseminate knowledge at the doorstep of farmers. pr

SNGPL MD inaugurates Customer Services Kiosk

Managing Director SNGPL, Ali J. Hamdani inaugurated 1st Customer Service Kiosk as pilot project at Head Office Lahore. The project is one of the projects designed to bring a modern change to the company’s image. The kiosk is designed as one window operation project where customers / consumers will be provided services without visiting SNGPL offices.

On the occasion, SNGPL MD Ali J. Hamdani said that SNGPL is trying to provide instant and quality services to its consumers in this era of digitalization. This pilot project is designed on “CUSTOMER FIRST” approach. The young people are brought at front as the youth is the bright face of a society and a company. They always strive for the best. He further said that initially this project is launched at Head Office but will be rolled out at different public places like shopping malls and airports. This will save the time of our consumers as they can approach the Kiosks for their complaint resolution instead of visiting offices. He added that these Kiosks will be equipped with modern technology to provide services like e-Payment, e-billing, duplicate bill, application for new gas connection and complaint registration etc.

Managing Director SNGPL Mr. Ali J. Hamdani congratulated Senior General Manager Distribution (North) on the completion and launch of this project before given time.

At the end Senior General Manager Distribution (North) Mr. Saqib Arbab said that he is thankful to the Managing Director for having this trust in him and his team. pr

09

news desk

HE US dollar did not have to wait long to display its superiority as the greenback struck back at the Pakistani rupee on Friday, reversing the rupee’s winning streak.

The US dollar started the day with marginal loss against the Pakistani currency as it shed four paisas in the interbank trading. According to forex dealers, the greenback failed to break the Pakistani rupee’s upward trajectory during the Friday morning activity as the US currency was traded at Rs197.55, down by four paisas.

But a few hours later the tables have turned. The greenback struck back at the Pakistani rupee and made a

handsome gain of 26 paisas and was being traded at Rs197.85.

According to parity figures provided by the State Bank of Pakistan yesterday, the US dollar was closed at

197.59 after a gain of 14 paisas from Wednesday.

In a drastic move, the rupee was able to stop the upward trend in the US dollar’s value during one week as the

PSX sheds over 900 points after govt hikes petrol price The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Friday shed over 900 points, depicting a lack of confidence from investors in the market, just hours after the government raised the prices of petroleum products.

The KSE-100 index shed 925 points and plunged to 41,312.11 points against the previous day’s close of 42,237.91.

According to analysts, the bearish trend in the stock market is a result of the government’s decision to increase the prices of petroleum products by Rs30 per litre and raise in electricity prices.

The confidence of the investors was boosted after the government previously raised fuel prices on the directions of the International

Monetary Fund (IMF) for the revival of the loan programme, but the delay in an agreement between the fund and Pakistan is again creating uncertainty among the investors.

SBP reServeS decline to $9.7 Billion: Foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) declined by $366 million to $9.723 billion during the week ended on May 27.

According to the central bank’s weekly report, the SBP reserves were recorded at $9,722.9 million, down $366 million compared with $10,088.6 million on May 20.

The country’s total reserves declined to $15.771 billion while the holdings of commercial banks were $6.048 billion. Monitoring report

SPI based weekly inflation goes up by 2pc

The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) based weekly inflation for the week ended on June 2 for the combined consumption group, witnessed an increase of 2 percent as compared to the previous week.

The SPI for the week under review in the above mentioned group was recorded at 178.12 points against 174.62 points registered in the previous week, according to the latest data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) released here Friday.

As compared to the corresponding week of last year, the SPI for the combined consumption group in the week under review witnessed an increase of 20.04 percent. The weekly SPI with base year 2015-16 is covering 17 urban centers and 51 essential items for all expenditure groups.

The Sensitive Price Indicator for the lowest consumption group up to Rs17,732 witnessed 1.02 percent decrease and went up from 183.98 points in last week to 185.86 points during the week under review.

Meanwhile, the SPI for the consumption

groups from Rs17,732-22,888; Rs22,88929,517; Rs29,518-44,175 and above Rs44,175 increased by 1.27 percent, 1.41 percent, 1.70 percent and 2.44 percent and 0.15 percent respectively.

During the week, out of 51 items, prices of 28 (54.90%) items increased, 05 (9.81%) items decreased and 18 (35.29%) items remained stable.

The items, which recorded increase in their average prices on WoW basis, included potatoes (9.08%), eggs (6.38%), vegetable ghee 1 kg (4.59%), bread (2.72%), mustard oil (2.65%), pulse masoor (2.33%), cooking oil 5 litre (2.18%), pulse gram (1.99%), sugar (1.93%), cooked beef & pulse mash (1.69%) each, vegetable ghee 2.5 kg (1.51%), bananas (1.35%), hi-speed diesel (20.69%), petrol super(19.91%) and toilet soap (1.40%).

The commodities that witnessed decrease on WoW basis included, chicken (4.68% ), garlic (2.75%), wheat flour (1.91%), tomatoes (1.26%) and LPG (0.74%).

On year-on-year basis, the commodities that witnessed increase in prices included onions (177.62%), tomatoes (152.57%), mustard oil (70.50%), vegetable ghee 1 kg (68.02%), garlic (67.44%), pulse masoor (66.92%), petrol (64.78%), cooking oil 5 litre (64.72%), vegetable ghee 2.5 kg (62.43%), LPG (60.14%), diesel (56.45%) and washing soap (42.92%).

The commodities that witnessed decrease in prices included chillies powdered (43.42%), pulse moong (21.62%), electricity charges for q1 (11.71%), sugar (11.16%), bananas (9.95%), potatoes (6.89%) and gur (1.46%). App

local currency has been recovered by Rs4.46 after hitting an all-time low at Rs202.01 on May 26.

The otherwise feeble rupee has been resuscitated on the expectation that Pakistan would be able to get $1 billion tranche from the International Monetary Fund as the government has withdrawn the fuel subsidy and hiked petrol prices by Rs60 per litre within a week, besides raising electricity tariff

by Rs7.91 per unit – two main conditions the Fund has been asking the government to fulfill for the revival of its loan programme.

However, the economic experts are of the view that government’s decision to ban import of all luxury and non-essential items has done the wonders and reduced traders’ demand for rupee.

More than 100k students registered for MDCAT 2022 in the first 10 days The Pakistan Medical Commission envisions improving standards of healthcare delivery in Pakistan by fostering an environment that produces healthcare practitioners who imbibe the values of compassion, commitment, and excellence. The Pakistan Medical Commission strives to improve healthcare education through the advancement of quality medical and dental education in Pakistan. Pakistan Medical Commission successfully implemented and conducted the single largest computer-based MDCAT examination in Pakistan to ensure that every student entering the field of medical study has the necessary aptitude, knowledge concepts, and analytical skills required for a rigorous medical and dental training program. During the current year right after PMC announced the registration for MDCAT 2022 in the first ten days of the registration over 100,000 students have already registered and selected their center of choice from among 22 centers in Pakistan and 10 international exam centers and also selected their preferred date for taking the exam.

Spokesperson PMC stated that PMC has devised a comprehensive complaint management system (CMS) to facilitate students/stakeholders having any issue and for the prompt redressal of their concerns and queries, if any student having registered or wanting to register has any queries or issues please contact us through the online Complaint Management System at https://cmspmc.com/registerComplaint.aspx. Students can edit their profile, change their selected center or check the status of the payment clearance. pr

Medicine prices increase by 20pc within week The pharmaceutical companies have increased the prices of medicines for diabetes, eye disorders, blood pressure and other diseases by 20 per cent within a week, it was reported on Friday. The medicines’ distributors have said that the price of insulin has increased from Rs1049 to Rs1,142 and that of eye drops from Rs875 to Rs955. Similarly, the pill used for psychological disorders has increased from Rs2,800 to Rs3,150, whereas, the price of milk cartons has increased by Rs1,000. The medicines’ distributors have also stated that the prices of medicines would further increase by another 50 per cent. People at pharmacy stores have expressed their concerns over the skyrocketing prices of medicines, stating that the prices of medicines were going beyond their reach. They pointed out that they were forced to buy medicines at exorbitant prices, for they could live without petrol and electricity but not without medicines. inp

Pakistan-Canada trade will be encouraged: High Commissioner The High Commissioner of Pakistan to Canada Zaheer Aslam Janjua has said that bilateral trade between Pakistan and Canada will be increased and private sector would be encouraged in a push to boost trade ties.

Pakistani business community should focus on Canada for exports which offer excellent business opportunities, he said.

High Commissioner Zaheer Aslam Janjua said this while speaking at a ceremony held in connection with the inauguration of the new premises of the Consulate General of Pakistan in Vancouver.

Consul General Janbaz Khan, President of the Pakistan-Western Canada Trade Association

(PWCTA) Bushra Rehman, former Chairman of POF Wah Lt. Gen (Retd) Farooq Durrani, leading businessmen and Secretary-General of the US-Pakistan International Chamber of Commerce (USPICC) Malik Sohail Hussain were also present at the occasion.

He said that the political leadership of Pakistan want to capitalize on the trade potential between Pakistan and Canada and we will extend cooperation to the private sector of both the countries in this regard.

Zaheer Aslam Janjua said that both countries enjoy exemplary ties but the bilateral trade needs to be increased for which linkages, information, exchange of trade delegations and holding exhibitions

are of vital importance.

Malik Sohail Hussain said that the Pakistani business community should explore opportunities in Canada and students should try to get higher education in Canadian universities with would-class education in various subjects.

The Ambassador also inaugurated the official website of the Consulate General and PWCTA and hoped that the trade association will try its best to promote the cause of Pakistan.

He also gave away a certificate of appreciation to Ms Bushra Rehman, founder and first President of PWCTA who is a dynamic businesswoman with a lot of experience and is well known in business circles. inp

Saturday, 4 June, 2022 | karachI

10 ForeIgn newS

CHIna, PaKIsTan TO sTrEnGTHEn COOPEraTIOn On dIsasTEr rIsK rEduCTIOn BeiJinG

C

AFP

HINA and Pakistan should strengthen cooperation on natural disasters prevention and mitigation to build a China-Pakistan community with a shared future.

This was stated by Cui Peng, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in an exclusive interview to China Economic Net (CEN).

“Building a beautiful homeland is a common dream for mankind. In face of climate change, disaster prevention and mitigation and other global issues, no country can manage alone or stand aloof. Only through joint efforts can we address them in a scientific way,” said Cui, who is also the Director-General of China-Pakistan Joint Research Centre on Earth Sciences (CPJRC).

According to Cui, the annual frequency of extreme weather and major natural disasters caused by global climate change is about 320 times on average in the past four decades. Similar situation prevails in Pakistan.

Unusual heatwave has been striking Pakistan from March to May 2022, it is most likely by human-caused climate change, a rapid analysis finds. The peak temperatures reached 51C in March.

Since the start of May, Balochistan province has been engulfed in ever growing forest fire. China and Iran both assisted Pakistan in putting out the blaze.

As an expert on disaster risk reduction, Cui shared his opinion with CEN on China-Pak cooperation in this regard.

Cui called to establish a China-Pak cooperation mechanism on disaster information sharing and cooperation in disaster prevention and mitigation, to

facilitate bilateral collaboration.

With reference to international practices on investments, the two nations should accelerate establishing a disaster risk assessment and prevention mechanism for major projects under the framework of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), to guard against and defuse major investment and engineering disaster risks.

Cui advised to advance the compilation of the disaster prevention and mitigation action plan under CPEC for closer people-to-people bonds and the building of China-Pakistan community with a shared future.

In terms of disaster prevention and mitigation cooperation, Cui advanced the application of the new generation “space-sky-ground” stereoscopic monitoring technology by using satellites, UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) and ground-based real-time monitors in disaster identification and monitoring.

Cui thought it is necessary to strengthen disaster monitoring cooperation and carry forward the building of a monitoring network applicable to multiple disasters including earthquake, sleet and snowstorms, geohazards, flood and tsunami, to improve the monitoring and early warning capacity.

China and Pakistan could conduct regular disaster risk assessment of the key areas along CPEC in order to guarantee the people’s livelihood and major projects’ construction.

Cui encouraged various government departments and organizations to launch talents training program on disaster prevention and mitigation, and youth exchanges and cooperation plans under CPEC. Cui hoped to train professionals on disaster prevention and mitigation for Pakistan by special program of inter-

Harry, Meghan join royals at jubilee service for Queen Elizabeth II

national students, skill training on disaster prevention and mitigation, international cooperation program and talents exchanges program.

“As a scientific researcher, it is my responsibility and obligation to make efforts to mitigate and/or reduce the damage to nation and people’s safety and property,” Cui said.

Cui has been doing scientific research for almost 40 years at Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment (IMHE), Chinese Academy of Sciences.

He is dedicated to mountain hazards (specializing in debris flow and landslide), disaster risk reduction, water and soil conservation and fluvial geomorphology.

Cui insists that scientific researchers on geological disasters should make field trips to get the firsthand data as the direct scientific basis for creating better methods and technologies on disaster prevention and mitigation.

“After investigating many disaster events, I was shocked by their damages to the safety of life and property, and the environment, which hardened my resolve to engage in debris flow and landslide research and disaster prevention and mitigation,” said Cui. Cui has been to many geological disaster sites home and abroad in the past over 30 years.

His dedication and love to disaster risk reduction also makes great contributions to the construction of CPEC and brings benefits to the Pakistani sisters and brothers.

Professor Asif Khan from University of Peshawar and Cui led a team to investigate geological hazards along Karakoram Highway (KKH) in 2006.

Since then, IMHE and the Pak-

istani national scientific research institutes have persistently carried out cooperation on disaster prevention and mitigation for the renovation and expansion project of KKH. On 4 January 2010, a massive landslide occurred at Attabad Village in Hunza of northern Pakistan, which created a barrier lake.

Part of KKH, about 24 kilometers, was submerged by the Attabad barrier lake, which almost cut off the commerce and trade route between China and Pakistan.

To help the contractor of KKH make emergency response program, IMHE set up a team with Cui as the leader to make field trip and make a scientific analysis about the barrier lake.

Cui and his team’s analysis report was highly appraised by the contractor of KKH. Their further mountain hazard risk assessment and prevention program was adopted by the contractor of KKH. The project was constructed successfully and it opened to traffic three years ahead of the original plan, which also boosted the increase of bilateral trade volume.

“It’s our duty to indeed mitigate and reduce disasters for people. The work can make closer people-to-people ties and conforms to the ides of a community with a shared future for mankind,” Cui said.

With such a calling, Cui takes the whole world in view. Under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Cui wants to build an international scientific platform to help countries and regions involved effectively respond the natural disaster and safeguard people’s livelihood.

Among them, Pakistan caught Cui’s attention as it is prone to all kinds of natural disasters.

Deepening defence ties: Israel’s minister meets Indian PM Modi, others neW deLHi

BerLin Agencies

At least three people were killed and several others injured on Friday as a train derailed near a Bavarian Alpine resort in southern Germany, police said. “In the serious train accident, as of 1:55 pm (1155 GMT), three people were fatally injured and an undetermined number of other train passengers hurt,” said police in a statement. Images published by local media showed several crumpled train carriages on their sides. A rescue operation was ongoing, a police spokesman said. The train had just left GarmischPartenkirchen for Munich, when the accident took place in the Burgrain district of the resort town. Part of the route between Munich and Garmisch-Partenkirchen has been blocked off and traffic diverted, German rail operator Deutsche Bahn said. Popular mountain resort GarmischPartenkirchen and its surrounding regions are gearing up to host the G7 summit of world leaders later this month. From June 26-28, the heads of state and government including US President Joe Biden are due to meet at Schloss Elmau — about 11 kilometres (seven miles) from GarmischPartenkirchen. Police and soldiers who had been deployed to prepare and secure the site ahead of the summit have now also been diverted to help in the rescue operation.

Three helicopters from Austria’s Tyrol region have been scrambled to the scene to provide first aid, according to media reports. Germany’s deadliest rail accident happened in 1998 when a high-speed train operated by state-owned Deutsche Bahn derailed in Eschede in Lower Saxony, killing 101 people. The most recent fatal crash took place on February 14, 2022, when one person was killed and 14 others injured in a collision between two local trains near Munich. In 2017, a collision between a passenger train and a stationary freight train near the western city of Duesseldorf injured 41 people.

India deploys extra paramilitary companies in IIOJK neW deLHi

Agencies

London

Three dead as train derails near German resort

Agencies

Agencies

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan on Friday joined the royal family for their first public appearance in Britain in two years, at a Platinum Jubilee service for Queen Elizabeth II’s record-breaking 70 years on the throne.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, as they are formally known, arrived mostly to cheers from the crowd outside St Paul’s Cathedral.

Former British Army captain Harry, 37, was dressed in a morning suit, complete with military medals, while Meghan, 40, was in an off-white dress and matching hat.

They took their seats inside among the 2,000strong congregation, for the Church of England service, which ended with trumpet fanfares and the national anthem “God Save the Queen” plus a rare peal of the country’s biggest bell, Great Paul. The 96-year-old monarch, said to have watched the service on television, has been dogged by difficulties standing and walking that have forced her to cancel a slew of engagements since last year.

On Thursday, she made two public appearances on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in front of huge crowds.

New Delhi and Tel Aviv have agreed to deepen defence ties as Israel’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Benjamin Gantz met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and held bilateral talks with Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi.

Israel’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Benjamin Gantz arrived in India on his first official visit on Thursday. Gantz also met India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval during the day.

During his meeting with Modi on Thursday, Gantz told the Indian PM, “We have a great opportunity to deepen defence cooperation between our countries and to build on our shared values.”

Israel is among the top exporters of arms to India – together with Russia, France and the United States — and India has bought weapons worth US$ 2.9 billion from Israel in the last decade. The main purchases include missiles, radars and UAVs. Earlier in the day, Gantz held discussions with Rajnath Singh on deepening defence ties. The two sides adopted the India-Israel Vision on Defence Cooperation with the “intention to further strengthen the existing framework of the Indo-Israeli defence cooperation architecture,” the Indian Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

The two ministers exchanged a Letter of Intent on enhancing cooperation in the field of futuristic

defence technologies.

In addition, the Ministers discussed partnerships within the government-to-government framework, military training, and technological cooperation with a focus on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) and defensive capabilities, the statement added.

“The two Ministers presented a joint declaration marking 30 years of Israel-India relations and reiterated their commitment to deepening defence ties,” a statement from Gantz’s office said. “India and Israel share similar and common challenges, including border security and fighting terrorism. By working together, we may increase our capabilities and ensure the security and economic interests of both countries,” Gantz said.

The Indian Home Ministry has reportedly advanced deployment of remaining companies of Indian paramilitary forces and has directed strengthening of forces’ systems at police stations, police and Indian troops posts in Kashmir valley. According to Kashmir Media Service, Indian Home Minister Amit Shah, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, RAW chief Samant Goel and senior officers of the Home Ministry met in New Delhi on Thursday and discussed the situation arising out of targeted killings in the Valley. Reports said out of 350 additional companies of Indian paramilitary forces sanctioned by the Indian Home Ministry what they claim for Amarnath yatra while 150 Indian paramilitary forces have already reached the IIOJK while 200 others were to be deployed between June 10 and 20. Deployment of these companies is now being advanced and they will be in place well before June 15 which will also help the aggressive operations and designs of antiKashmir agendas of Modi regime, reports said. The Indian Home Ministry is reported to have called for more military and aggressive policy of Indian troops in the territory.

Hindutva BJPs Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha in IIOJK, Indian NSA Ajit Doval, Army chief Gen Manoj Pande, Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, Principal Secretary Home RK Goyal, DGP Dilbag Singh and heads of all paramilitary forces and Central Intelligence agencies are expected to attend the second meeting, today, in New Delhi.

Some Indian officials ignoring or supporting attacks on minorities: US Some officials in India are ignoring or even supporting rising attacks on people and places of worship in the country, a United States official said late on Thursday after the release of a report on religious freedom globally in 2021.

The report said attacks on members of religious minority communities, including killings, assaults, and intimidation, had occurred throughout last year in India. These included cow vigilantism — assaults on nonHindus for allegedly slaughtering cows or trading in beef.

Most Hindus, who account for about 80 per cent of India’s 1.3 billion people, consider cows sacred.

Many states ruled by Prime Minister

Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist party have enacted laws or toughened old ones against slaughtering cows.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the report showed religious freedom and the rights of religious minorities were under threat around the world.

“For example, in India, the world’s largest democracy and home to a great diversity of faiths, we’ve seen rising attacks on people and places of worship,” Blinken said.

Rashad Hussain, who leads the US State Department’s efforts to monitor religious freedom around the world, said some Indian officials were “ignoring or even supporting rising attacks on people and places of worship”.

India’s foreign ministry said the country

values religious freedom and human rights, and that it had noted the “ill-informed comments by senior US officials”.

“It is unfortunate that vote bank politics is being practiced in international relations,” ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a statement.

He also said Indian officials have regularly highlighted “racially and ethnically motivated attacks, hate crimes and gun violence” in the United States. Disputes between religious communities in India over places of worship have flared ever since the country won independence from British rule in 1947, but they have become more common in recent years. Muslims make up around 13pc of India’s population. ReuteRs

11 Sports 4 JUNE_Layout 1 6/3/2022 11:59 PM Page 1

saturday, 4 June, 2022 | KArACHI

sPOrts 11

Birthday Boy Nadal eyes '14th FreNch opeN FiNal' PARIS

r

AFP/APP

AFAEL Nadal hopes to celebrate his 36th birthday on Friday by reaching a 14th French Open final which by his own admission could be the last of his record-breaking career in Paris. Nadal, the 13-time champion, faces Germany's Alexander Zverev but is clear his chronic, long-term foot injury has put him on borrowed time.

"The last three months and a half for me, the only thing that I can say is haven't been easy", said the Spaniard after his epic four-set win over old rival Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals.

"But I have to keep going". Nadal, chasing a recordextending 22nd Grand Slam title to move two in front of Djokovic and Roger Federer, is working constantly to find a cure for the foot issue.

"If we are not able to find an improvement or a small solution, then it's becoming super difficult for me".

"I am just enjoying every day that I have the chance to be here, and without thinking much about what can happen in the future".

FInD SOluTIOn: "I'm going to keep fighting to find a solution, but for the moment, we haven't". Nadal's win

Norway marks opening victory over serbia in UeFa Nations league BELGRADE XiNhuA/APP

over defending champion and world number one Djokovic was the 110th of his 17-year Roland Garros career.

He has had to dig deep into his resources to reach his 15th semi-final in the French capital. It took him four hours and 21 minutes to defeat Felix Auger-Aliassime in the fourth round in a tie which saw him stretched to five sets for only the third time at the tournament.

Against Djokovic, he needed four hours and 12 minutes, saving two set points in the fourth set to avoid an-

other five-setter. Djokovic is the man responsible for two of Nadal's three losses at the French Open.

With his career-long rival out of the way, and world number two Daniil Medvedev and fourth-ranked 2021 runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas eliminated, Nadal remains favourite to lift the trophy on Sunday.

If he succeeds in what would be his 30th Grand Slam final, he would become the oldest men's champion in Paris. Against Zverev, he boasts a 6-3 winning record, capturing four of the pair's five clay court meetings.

Zverev, 25, is still searching for a maiden Slam title.

He is into a second successive French Open semi-final.

'SuppOSED TO WIn': He defeated teenage sensation Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals but had to save a match point in a five-set win over Argentina's Sebastian Baez in the second round.

He has also never defeated Nadal or Djokovic at the majors. "I'm not 20 or 21 years old anymore; I'm 25. I am at the stage where I want to win, I'm at the stage where I'm supposed to win", admitted the third seed who is aiming to become only the second German man after Michael Stich in 1996 to make the final.

In Friday's other semi-final, Marin Cilic takes on Casper Ruud with both men having made the semi-finals at Roland Garros for the first time.

England debutant Potts strikes again in New Zealand series opener LoNDoN AFP/APP

Norway national football team edged Serbia 1-0 in an away match to kick off their UEFA Nations League Group B4 compaign at the Rajko Mitic stadium here on Thursday. The visitors led in the 27th minute thanks to Erling Haaland who received a well-timed pass by Joshua King and checkmated Serbia's keeper. Despite several attempts by Serbian footballers, the guests managed to defend their lead. With the victory, Norway is now second in Group B4, behind Sweden, followed by Serbia and Slovenia. In the second match of Group B4 played Thursday evening, Sweden defeated Slovenia 2-0 at the Stadion Stozice in Ljubljana. The biennial UEFA Nations league was established in 2018, populating dates that were previously reserved for international friendlies.

special olympic games: tanzeemul lisan wins 12 medals FAISALABAD News Desk

The Tanzeemul Lisan Faisalabad, an institute of special children, has won 12 medals in Special Olympics National Games-2022. The four special athletes – Muhammad Luqman, Abdul Saboor, Azmeer Javed and Moeez Javed -- won the medals in the games held at Qayyum Stadium, Peshawar. Over 150 special athletes from Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan, KhyberPakhtunkhwa, Federal Area and Gilgit-Baltistan participated in 100-metre, 200-metre ad 400-metre Relay Race, spear throw, long jump and other contests. Abdul Saboor won three gold medals and one bronze medal.

Muhammad Luqman won one gold medal and two silver medals, Moeez Javed won a bronze medal, Azmeer Javed secured one silver and two bronze medals.

German olympian oliver Korn visits Nhs LAHoRE stAFF RePoRteR

German hockey great, Olympian Oliver Korn, visited Khwaja Junaid Hockey Academy at the National Hockey Stadium (NHS) and played hockey with the children here on Friday. Twice gold winner at the summer Olympics 2008 and 2012 Oliver Korn was accompanied by CEO Adidas Hockey Christian Cohors and they were received by Director Operations Khwaja Junaid Hockey Academy Junaid Chattha. Korn admired the hockey skills of the boys and girls and expressed the hope that these children would prove themselves an asset to the Pakistan hockey in future. He also frankly interacted with the coaching staff and shared important tips with them. “Pakistanis are a sports loving nation and I am amazed to watch immense hockey talent of the young boys and girls at the academy,” he said while talking to journalists. The Olympian said "I miss playing hockey in this beautiful hockey-loving country and at the world’s largest hockey stadium in Lahore", adding that he wished to see Pakistan hockey reclaim its lost glory at the international level. CEO Adidas Hockey Christian Cohors said that Pakistan's young players have tremendous talent in hockey, adding that he could still recall the crowd in this world's biggest hockey stadium during the 1992 and 2004 Champions Trophy Hockey Tournament at this venue.

Cilic, 33, and the 2014 US Open champion, is only the fifth active player along with Nadal, Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray to have reached the semi-finals of all four Slams.

Cilic, ranked 23 in the world, is in his first semi-final at the majors since 2018 when he was runner-up to Federer at the Australian Open.

Ruud is the first Norwegian man ever to make the last four of a Slam with the eighth-ranked 23-year-old one of the form players on clay.

His testy quarter-final win over 19-year-old Holger Rune was his 65th on clay since the 2020 season. Seven of his eight titles have come on clay.

Ruud has a 2-0 edge over Cilic, including their only meeting on the surface in Rome.

Former world number three Cilic knocked out Medvedev in straight sets in the fourth round, without facing a break point, and seventh-ranked Andrey Rublev in the quarter-finals on the back of 33 aces and 88 winners. Only two of his 20 career titles have come on clay courts, the most recent of which was at Istanbul in 2017.

Also on Friday, women's singles finalist Coco Gauff can seal a place in a second championship match when she and Jessica Pegula tackle fellow Americans Madison Keys and Taylor Townsend in the doubles semi-finals.

England debutant Matthew Potts removed New Zealand captain Kane Williamson for the second time in the match as his dream start to Test cricket continued at Lord's on Friday. Potts, who took a superb four wickets for 13 runs in New Zealand's meagre first innings 132, dismissed both star batsman Williamson and opener Tom Latham on Friday, with the World Test champions 38 for three in their second innings at lunch on the second day -- a lead of just 29 runs.

After Will Young had fallen for his second score of one in this match, caught behind off the recalled James Anderson, Williamson started to build an innings, driving England great Anderson down the ground for four in typically stylish fashion. But Potts proved his undoing once again in the first Test of a three-match series. The 23-year-old Durham quick, who dismissed Williamson with just his fifth ball in Test cricket on Thursday, produced a fine lifting delivery that the Black Caps skipper

could only edge to Jonny Bairstow at third slip.

Williamson was out for 15 and New Zealand's 30 for two soon became 35 for three when Potts had Tom Latham (14) caught behind off such a thin edge that wicketkeeper Ben Foakes did not even appeal.

Earlier concussion substitute Matt Parkinson, like Potts making his Test debut, helped England into a slender first-innings lead of nine runs. Parkinson, who travelled down from Manchester on Thursday as England's first concussion substitute after fellow spinner Jack Leach was injured fielding, walked out to bat with the hosts 130 for nine.

He got off the mark with a clipped two off Tim Southee before driving him down the ground for four -one of the best shots of the innings. He was last man out, caught in the slips off Trent Boult, with England having made 141. Veteran quick Southee took four for 55.

England resumed on 116 for seven, still 16 runs behind, after an extraordinary start to all-rounder Ben Stokes's reign as Test captain on the opening day of this three-match series.

They had reduced New Zealand to 45 for seven before the Black Caps recovered to 132 all out. England were then well placed at 59 without loss only to suffer one of their familiar collapses as seven wickets were lost for just 41 runs.

PCB announces affordable ticket prices for Pak-West Indies ODIs MULTAN News Desk

To mark the return of international cricket to the City of Saints Multan, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has set affordable ticket prices for the fans to watch their superstars in action during the upcoming three ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League One-Day Internationals against the West Indies.

The ticket prices range from PKR300 to PKR500 for the three matches to be played on 8, 10 and 12 June at the Multan Cricket Stadium. The Fans can book their tickets online and physically for the ODI series. Online tickets will be available on www.Bookme.pk whereas physical tickets will be available at designated stores of M&P and mobile vans located at Fatima town, Guslhat town and Kacheri chowk.

The General tickets which include Elahi Brothers, Hanif Mohammad, Mushtaq Ahmed and Wasim Akram enclosures will be available for PKR300.

The Premium category tickets for the Fazal Mahmood Enclosure, Imran Khan Enclosure, Javed Miandad Enclosure and Zaheer Abbas Enclosure are set at PKR500.

A high-profile commentary panel will call the action with Ian Bishop and Jeff Dujon joining Bazid Khan, Sana Mir and Urooj Mumtaz, and Zainab Abbas taking the presenter’s responsibilities.

The action from the three ODIs will be produced by 21 full high-definition cameras. The production includes full version of Hawkeye with all the DRS enhancements.

The matches will be telecasted around the world through SKY UK (United Kingdom), Sky NZ (New Zealand), Fox Sports (Australia), SuperSports (Sub-Saharan Africa), Flow Sports (Caribbean), Sony (South Asia excluding Pakistan), Willow Sports (North America), Etisalat CricLife (Middle East & North Africa) and ICC TV (Non Broadcast Territories).

Fans in Pakistan will be able to watch Babar Azam’s and Nicholas Pooran’s sides on PTV Sports and ARY ZAP, who are the live-streaming partners.

Gauff has 'nothing to lose' against Swiatek in French Open final PARIS AFP/APP

Coco Gauff says she has "nothing to lose" in Saturday's French Open final against world number one Iga Swiatek, with her opponent on a 34-match winning streak and looking for a second Roland Garros title.

Teenage star Gauff is the youngest Grand Slam finalist since Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon 18 years ago and only graduated from high school while in Paris.

The 18-year-old has yet to drop a set in the tournament and showed little signs of nerves in her first major semi-final with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Martina Trevisan.

But she is the underdog against Poland's Swiatek, who will equal Venus Williams' record for the longest women's unbeaten run in the 21st century if she lifts the trophy.

"I think going in I have nothing to lose and she's definitely the favourite going into the match on paper," said American Gauff, who burst onto the scene by making the Wimbledon fourth round as a 15-year-old in 2019.

"I'm just going to play free and play my best tennis. I

think in a Grand Slam final anything can happen.

"If I do lift the trophy, honestly, I don't think my life is going to change really. I know it sounds kind of bad to say that, but the people who love me are still going to love me regardless if I lift the trophy or not."

RED-HOT SWIATEK: Swiatek, who herself only turned 21 on Tuesday, has enjoyed a remarkable season and is looking for a sixth successive title.

The 2020 French Open champion's 6-2, 6-1 semi-final thrashing of Daria Kasatkina saw her draw level with Serena Williams' career-best winning streak from 2013.

"It's going to be tough (for her opponent)," said Russian Kasatkina after seeing her run comprehensively ended by the top seed. "I think the mental part is going to, especially at the beginning, make a big difference.

"It's difficult when the player is moving good and then she can transition to attack mode. Then it makes it really, really tough." Four of Swiatek's five tournament victories this year have come at the prestigious WTA 1,000 events, but she says she still has to battle nerves before big matches.

National judokas' training camp in full swing ISLAMABAD APP

Pakistan judokas’ training camp is in full swing at Kunj Football Stadium Abbottabad under the supervision of Iranian coach Sajjad Kazmi, Pakistan Judo Federation (PJF) said on Friday. “Kazmi had joined the camp in the middle of last month in Islamabad.

However, on May 23 we shifted it to Abbottabad where it will continue till June 22.

After that we are considering to move it to Peshawar till our judokas departure for Commonwealth Games,” Masood Ahmed, the PJF vice-president told APP. According to Masood, besides Commonwealth Games, the national judokas will feature in the Islamic Solidarity Games, Asian Games and some grand slam events. He said initially the federation was focused on Commonwealth Games, scheduled to be held in venues all across Birmingham and the West Midlands from July 28 to August 8. “The top-notch judokas from across the world will be competing in different divisions of judo in the Commonwealth Games. Hence, we are preparing for the event accordingly,” he said. He said the participation of Japanbased judoka Olympian Shah Hussain and the country’s ace judoka Qaiser Afridi was confirmed in the Games. “Afridi will be fighting in -100kg division, while Shah, who used to fight in the same division [-100 kg] has reduced his weight to compete in the -90kg division for the first time,” he said.

He said the federation would provide chances to the promising judokas to showcase their talent in the major international events. “Currently around 30 judokas from our different affiliated units are getting training at the camp. We want to ensure that every talented judoka gets a fair chance to represent the country at the international level,” he added.

Saturday, 4 June, 2022

prayer TiminGs

NEWS

FAJR SUNRISE

ZUHR

ASR MAGHRIB ISHA

4:10

1:30

5:15

5:00

7:08

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oPPoNENTS WANT To gET RId of mE ThRu ‘TREASoN’ CASE: ImRAN BUNER

P

aGencies

AKISTAN Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has said that his opponents are planning to get rid of him by filing a treason case.

“The opponents are talking about the treason trial against Imran Khan and they want to get rid of me through a treason case.”

PTI Chief Imran Khan made the revelations while address a huge public gathering in Buner, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), on Friday.

Imran raised a question that whether Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif will file a treason case against him – the people who are owning assets abroad?

“They (opponents) must keep this fact in their mind that I will never surrender before any superpower like this “imported government.”

Imran Khan said he wants to ask something from the ‘neutrals.’

The PTI chairman criticised that being apolitical is a good thing but national security is also important. “I had warned them about a major economic dent if the conspiracy succeeds against

my government.”

“I have always given the examples of the Soviet Union and the United States (US) having the strongest military powers. The Soviet Union had fallen just after the economic collapse.”

Khan alleged that Shehbaz Sharifled government is preparing to rig the upcoming elections and fixing the match with the nexus of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

The PTI chief alleged that they

(rulers) are filing fake cases to spread fear among the people with the nexus of police forces for bulldozing the opposition. “I am sure that they will not win the elections as the nation will always remember them as traitors and thieves. I want to give a message to the nation that we have to fight for real independence.”

Imran Khan said that India, Israel and the US had hatched the conspiracy to weaken Pakistan. He added that celebratory moments were witnessed in Indian

electronic media and newspapers after the ouster of the PTI government in Pakistan.

He said that the Sharif family has strong ties with the business community of India. “[Indian Prime Minister] Narendra Modi is the person who is involved in atrocities against Muslims but he had been invited by Nawaz Sharif at a wedding ceremony.”

The former prime minister criticised that Nawaz Sharif had never talked about Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav just to appease India.

Imran Khan said that the PTI government had borne the pressure of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and reduced petrol price up to Rs10 per litre.

He added that the PTI government had protected the nation from inflation but the ‘US slaves in the shape of the current rulers’ hurled petrol bomb at the nationals. He censured the incumbent government for hiking the petrol and diesel prices up to Rs60 in just one week.

The former prime minister also expressed suspicions that the current rulers are going to dissolve their corruption cases by shutting down the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). He asked Buner people to be prepared for his call to fight for real independence in the country.

FM draws UN secretary general’s attention to malicious conviction of Yasin ISLAMABAD app

Pak-Turkey to negotiate on PTA for promoting bilateral trade Pakistan and Turkey reviewed the proposed Preferential Economic Agreement (PTA) in products on Thursday in order to promote trade liberalisation and bilateral trade.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Commerce, both parties stressed the necessity of completing the PTA in goods as soon as possible since it would open up new chances to expand bilateral trade across all sectors and would be mutually beneficial.

Speaking with Pakistani and Turkish business persons, Commerce Minister Syed Naveed underlined the importance of increasing business-to-business interactions in order to develop trade and investment links between the fraternal countries of Pakistan and Turkey.

During Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Turkey, the Ministry of Commerce co-hosted a business-to-business meeting attended by about 150 Pakistani and Turkish business people, dealers, and investors.

The delegation of Pakistani business people, assembled by the Ministry of Commerce and Trade Development Authority of Pakistan, represents sectors with significant export potential to Turkey, including engineering, agrofood, pharmaceuticals, rice, information technology (IT), textiles, and others. Syed Naveed Qamar, Federal Minister for Commerce, who is accompanying the Prime Minister, also met with his Turkish counterpart, Dr. Mehmet Mus, Minister of Commerce, and discussed how to improve bilateral trade. Ghulam abbas

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, as part of Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to draw attention of the international community to the alarming situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), has addressed a letter to United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

The letter apprises the secretary general of the circumstances of Yasin Malik’s conviction in a manifestly dubious and politically motivated case filed by the Indian National Investigation Agency, his chronic ailments and the ruthless treatment meted out to him in Indian jails.

It also highlights that the incarceration of Yasin Malik, his sham trial on concocted charges, his malicious conviction and the attempt to portray the legitimate freedom struggle of the Kashmiris as terrorism illustrate India’s blatant disregard of its international legal obligations, a press release issued by the ministry of foreign affairs said.

The foreign minister underscored that the malicious trial and conviction of Yasin Malik was a part of Indian government’s ongoing attempts to persecute and repress the Kashmiris and their leadership and to implicate them in fictitious and motivated cases.

He noted that by denying a fair trial to Malik, arbitrarily detaining him and meting inhumane treatment to him in jail since 2019, India is in contravention of international human rights law, in particular the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

He also cautioned that in line with the well-documented pattern of Indian behaviour, there was credible risk of “custodial murder” in case of Yasin Malik.

The foreign minister urged the secretary general to play his role in promoting a peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UNSC resolutions and called upon the international community to: i. Take immediate cognizance of India’s outrageous targeting of indigenous Kashmiri leadership through motivated cases;

Sepoy martyred in terrorists attack on NWA military post: ISPR RAWALPINDI inp

A Pakistan Army soldier was martyred during an exchange of fire with terrorists who attacked a military post in the Datta Khel area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s North Waziristan district on the night between June 1 and June 2, the military’s media affairs wing said.

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) late Thursday night, Pakistan Army troops “initiated a prompt response and effectively engaged the terrorists location” after the attack on the military post. During an “intense exchange of fire” with the terrorist, 28-year-old Sepoy Hamid Ali, a resident of Sargodha, embraced martyrdom after fighting “gallantly”, the ISPR said. It added that the sanitisation of the area was being carried out to eliminate any terrorists found there. “[The] Pakistan Army is determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers will not go unpunished,” the ISPR statement said. The incident comes merely days after two security personnel and as many children were injured when a suicide bomber struck a vehicle of the security forces parked at a checkpost in the Razmak subdivision of North Waziristan district on May 30.

According to officials, the suicide bomber riding a motorcycle had rammed his two-wheeler into the security forces’ vehicle. As a result, two security personnel were injured and two children playing nearby had also suffered injuries.

ECC allows levy of 10pc regulatory duty on import of motor spirit ShAhzAD PARAchA

ii. Prevail upon India to dismiss all the baseless charges against Yasin Malik and ensure his immediate release from prison; iii. Urge India to release all other Kashmiri leaders incarcerated on trumped-up charges and allow the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir to determine their own future through a free and impartial UN-sponsored plebiscite as prescribed in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions; iv. Compel and counsel India to end its egregious violations of human rights against the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and implement the recommendations of the two OHCHR Kashmir Reports; v. Prevail upon India to repeal draconian laws, including UAPA, accept a UN-supervised investigation into the human rights situation in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, and allow access to independent monitors for assessment of the ground situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet allowed a levy of 10% regulatory duty on the import of Motor spirit.

As per the details, Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Miftah Ismail presided over the meeting of the ECC of the Cabinet at the Finance Division.

Ministry of Commerce submitted a summary on levy of regulatory duty on import of Motor Spirit.

It was informed that the import of Motor Spirit (MS) is subject to 10% Customs Duty under the 5th schedule of the customs Act, 1969, but it is subject to 0% under China Pakistan Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA). That availing of the FTA exemption pays zero customs duty while others pay customs duty at the rate of 10%.

The ECC after discussion, in order to address this anomaly, allowed a levy of 10% regulatory duty on the import of MS. However, where customs duty at the rate of 10% is paid on import of MS, it will be exempted from the levy of regulatory duty.

Ministry of Industries and Production submitted a summary for release of funds for SSGC for gas supply to Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM). It was submitted that due to closure of the production activity in Pakistan Steel Mills(PSM), low flame gas of 2 MMCFD is being supplied to PSM primarily to preserve the Coke Oven Batteries and refractories kilns with an average monthly bill of Rs80 million (Approx.). The ECC after discussion allowed release of Rs620.85 million for making payment of 8 months outstanding gas bills i.e.

July 2021 to Feb 2022.

Armed Forces guarantee to peace, security: PM QUETTA news Desk

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said that Armed Forces of Pakistan are the guarantors of peace, internal and external security, and regional stability, besides contributing to the global peace efforts.

The prime minister, while addressing the officers attending the Command and Staff Course at Command and Staff College Quetta

here, paid rich tribute to the achievements and sacrifices of Pakistan armed forces.

On arrival, he laid a wreath at the Shahuada Monument to pay homage to martyrs of Pakistani Armed Forces, according to ISPR. The prime minister said that Pakistan’s successes in war against terrorism were unparalleled and duly acknowledged by the world.

He said the armed forces had always done a commendable job in service of the

nation during natural calamities.

The armed forces of Pakistan are very important state institution and are pride of the nation, he reiterated.

Shehbaz Sharif said that the country’s defence was sacred and Pakistan’s security, sovereignty and integrity would be ensured at all costs.

“The nation owes its freedom to monumental sacrifices of our heroes and our martyrs, the prime minister remarked.

Published by Arif Nizami at Plot No 66-C, 1st Floor, 21st Commercial Street, Phase-II (Extension), DHA Karachi and printed at Ibn-e-Hassan Printing Press, Hockey Stadium, Karachi, for PT Print (Pvt) Limited. Ph: 021-35381208-9. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk