23-05-06 ISB

Profit

INDIA

GROSSLY

‘INSECURE’ DUE TO FALSE NARRATIVE, LIES AND PROPAGANDA: BIL AWAL

FO R E I G N Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari Friday debunked his Indian counterpart Jaishankar ’s remarks about Pakistan saying that India looked insecure due to its false narrative propaganda and blatant lies I understand there is an insecurity behind this criticism The reason for this insecurity is that a false narrative, propaganda and lie is being spread in India particularly by the BJP By going there and speaking and presenting our stance we break that myth and propaganda Bilawal told a press conference upon return from his India trip where he spoke at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) moot earlier in the day

They try to give the impression that every Muslim is a terrorist so that hatred spreads there (India) and they could win elections They try to prove that every Pakistani is a terrorist, but when Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari sits before them their false narrative and propaganda are negated even if I say nothing he added

Bilawal said the narrative that terrorism was linked to Muslims had become stale across the world and Pakistan s sacrifices in the fight against terrorism were acknowledged by the world

Bilawal went on to say that another lie that India was trying to spread was that the United Nations Security Council s resolutions, international laws and bilateral agreements held no importance, adding that Pakistan’s representatives continued to counter India’s narrative on Kashmir

He said that what frustrated India was the refusal of Pakistanis and Kash-

miris to accept the Indian government s actions of August 5, 2019, when it revoked occupied Kashmir ’s special status, adding that the development had instead given new life to the Kashmir cause As Pakistan s representatives we talk on terrorism and Kashmir counter their (India) propaganda and one-sided message so that is why maybe the Indian

FM seemed so emotional to you in his press conference, FM Bilawal said

He hailed on Friday his trip to India as a “success” saying that the “false propaganda of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that every Muslim was a terrorist had been negated Bilawal said: The BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (a Hindu nationalist

group in India) have been trying to create this myth they declare Muslims across the world terrorists they declare Pakistanis terrorists We made an attempt at breaking this myth I believe that when the son of Shaheed Mohatarma Benazir Bhutto’s son sits before them, no matter how much they try to level such allegations this is a reply enough for them

The foreign minister said his party the PPP forwarded Hindi candidates for provincial and federal legislatures who went on to become ministers, adding that he was “surprised” to learn that the Bharatiya Janata Party had no Muslim candidate despite India having one of the biggest Muslim population in the world Bilawal was also asked about Indian Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar s comments about him, where the dignitary from New Delhi reacted to the PPP chairperson urging SCO members to refrain from weaponising terrorism for diplomatic point-scoring Jaishankar said Bilawal s address reveals the mindset of that country His position was found out and called out

GOA, INDIA: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, on the second day of his visit to India for a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) moot, said that the onus was on India to build a “conducive environment” for talks with Pakistan Speaking to journalists, the foreign minister elaborated that the prospect of dialogue between the two arch-rivals was damaged by New Delhi’s unilateral actions to revoke occupied Kashmir ’s special status in 2019 Bilawal further said that peace was our destiny and the two countries should not be held hostage by their history Earlier today during his address at the SCO moot Bilawal urged nations to collectively eradicate the menace of terrorism and not get caught up in weaponising terrorism for diplomatic point-scoring The foreign minister who is currently on a two-day visit to India said that the collective security of our peoples is our joint responsibility He also highlighted the importance of a peaceful and stable Afghanistan “A peaceful and stable Afghanistan is a key not only to regional integration and economic cooperation but also to global peace and stability,” he added S TA F F R E P O R T

Pakistan to pay $3.7b debt from May- June: Fitch Ratings

As the government struggles to secure a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Fitch

Ratings on Friday revealed that Pakistan faces a total of $3 7 billion of debt payments in the May-June period, Bloomberg reported Hong Kong-based director at Fitch, Krisjanis Krustins, said about $700 million of maturities are due in May and another $3 billion in June

In an emailed response to questions Fitch told Bloomberg that it expects $2 4 billion of deposits and loans from China will be rolled over Pakistan, which has been negotiating to restart a $6 5 billion bailout with the IMF for about half a year, is racing to avert a default as the foreign exchange reserves which currently provide an import cover of nearly one month come under pressure The country has secured financing support from countries in the Middle East and China a key IMF condition Our base case is still that Pakistan and the IMF will reach an agreement on the programme review, Krustins said But the risks are large and the rating cut in February reflected that a default or debt restructuring is an increasingly real possibility he added

The debt payments underscore the crucial need for Pakistan to resume its bailout programme with the Washington-based lender that has been stalled since November last year

The $1 1 billion tranche is part of a $6 5 billion bailout package the IMF approved in 2019 which is due to end in June prior to the budget So far Pakistan has received $3 9 billion

The country is reeling from an economic crisis with inflation surging to 36 4%, the highest in its history and the highest in South Asia, while a bruising political battle is raging between the government and former prime minister Imran Khan

The government has removed caps on the exchange rate imposed taxes raised energy tariffs and scaled back subsidies in an attempt to unlock the IMF funding It has also raised key interest rates to a record 21% Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, since he was sworn in September, has been claiming that “there’s no way Pakistan is going to default”, however, leaders of the ruling alliance and the PTI constantly claim that the country is on the brink of default

Despite a stay order of the Supreme Court and the ongoing tussle between parliament and the judiciary Upper House of the Parliament on Friday passed a crucial bill regarding the right to appeal in the suo motu cases

The bill sailed through the Senate days after the National Assembly had adopted it via a supplementary agenda

The bill titled the Supreme Court (Review of Judgements and Orders) Bill 2023 was tabled by PMLN s Irfan Siddiqui and was passed by a majority of 32 votes The bill was presented amid opposition by the PTI senators, who chanted slogans of disrespect of courts unacceptable and tore its copies

The proposed Supreme Court Review of Judgments and Orders Bill 2023 aims at facilitating and strengthening the Supreme Court in the exercise of its powers to review its judgments and orders

Speaking in favour of the bill, Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar briefly said that the legislation neither disrespected the Parliament nor the courts He explained that the bill encompassed four sections which were in line with Article 188 of the Constitution Parliament won t digress from it by an inch and it won t step back from it as well Tarar added

He claimed the law empowers the Supreme Court subject to the provision of any Act of Majlis-e-Shoora and any rules made by the Supreme Court, to review any judgment pronounced or any order made by it He said the latest legislation is procedural in nature Meanwhile Leader of the Opposition Dr Shahzad Waseem said that the government was trying to hide behind the Parliament Stop playing with the Constitution, he said

“Was the Parliament not supreme when the Qasim Suri’s ruling was thrown out?” he asked “Where were these people back then?

Slamming the coalition leaders for disrespecting the courts, Waseem said, “Pakistan is functioning without any form of government today ” He also questioned how the budget could be passed when “there are no functioning governments in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab

These are just techniques to run away from elections he told the House

The PTI senator stated that party chairman Imran Khan was appearing before courts despite being shot “There is this prime minister before you and then there is the one who is sitting abroad today ”

He then called on the government to show due respect to the judiciary You will have to accept and implement the Supreme Court s order on elections no matter what, Wasim added ‘Books of O-level confiscated’

Meanwhile, taking the floor, Minister for Education Rana Tanveer Hussain said that the books of O-level carrying objectionable material have been confiscated

SC to use constitution if govt-PTI talks fail to resolve polls impasse: CJP

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial said on Friday that the Supreme Court would use the Constitution to implement its verdict regarding holding elections in Punjab on May 14 if the talks between the government and PTI failed

The top judge passed the remarks during hearing of the petition seeking simultaneous elections across the country

The three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar heard the case

At the outset of the hearing Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lawyer Farooq H Naek read out the report submitted over PTI-govt talks on the election date

S

that the issue was wasting a lot of the court’s time

TALKS: CJP remarked court is not interested in the PTI-government dialogue, however, court has left the matter on the political parties

CJP Bandial emphasized the importance of political leadership in resolving political issues and also inquired about ongoing discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) He asked if the budget was formulated under the guidelines of the IMF package T h e C h i e f J u s t i c e n o t e d t h a t t h e c o u r t h a d a l r e a d y i s s u e d a v e r d i c t r eg a r d i n g h o l d i n g p o l l s w i t h i n 9 0 d a y s and further stated that the court would not sit idle with the verdict for the May 1 4 p o l l s i f t h e p a r t i e s i n v o l v e d f a i l e d to reach a resolution He stressed that the matter in court was constitutional, n o t p o l i t i c a l a n d t h a t t h e S u p r e m e Court had left political matters to political parties

At this Naek explained that without the assemblies, it would be impossible to

approve the budget and that this crisis would not have arisen if the assemblies of Punjab and KP were not dissolved

The Chief Justice asked why the approval of the IMF agreement and trade policy were important, to which Naek replied: Getting the IMF loan is key for the budget ” He added that the issue at hand would be resolved if an understanding was reached between the government and the opposition Justice Bandial also asked if the IMF loan would be used for reserves or the repayment of debts, to which Naek responded that only the finance minister could answer this question

The Chief Justice pointed out that even if the assemblies were dissolved the Constitution gave a time period of six months for the budget He also expressed concern

Pakistan bailout review to conclude once financing in place: IMF

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is working with Pakistani authorities to conclude a ninth review of a bailout programme, its mission chief said on Friday of the funding critical to avert an economic collapse Pakistan and the IMF have been discussing fiscal policy measures under review since February to resume the stalled funding that was due in November from a $6 5 billion bailout agreed upon in 2019

The money is crucial for Pakistan, which is facing a balance of payment crisis, to avert defaulting on its external payment obligations Foreign exchange reserves held by Pakistan’s central bank have shrunk to pay just four weeks of controlled imports

Farooq H Naik assured apex court that problems would be solved on which CJ replied he only made tall claims

THE PETITION: In a petition submitted by a citizen named Sardar Kashif Khan, the federal government, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), and key political parties have been named as respondents

The petition argues that holding the general elections of the National Assembly and all four provincial assemblies together would be in the interests of justice, equity, and fulfilling constitutional imperatives The petition further contends that holding simultaneous elections would ensure that they are carried out honestly justly fairly and in accordance with the law

The IMF continues to work with the Pakistani authorities to bring the ninth review to a conclusion once the necessary financing is in place and the agreement is finalised, mission chief Nathan Porter said in a statement to Reuters “IMF supports the authorities in the implementation of policies in the period ahead including in the technical work to prepare the FY24 budget which is to be passed by the National Assembly before end-June Pakistan s finance ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment As part of a series of conditions, Pakistan has given an assurance that its balance of payments gap this fiscal year which ends in June is fully funded P a k i s t a n h a s a n n o u n c e d p l e d g e s w o r t h $ 3 b n i n f i n a n c i n g s u p p o r t f r o m S a u d i A r a b i a a n d U A E b u t t h e f u n d s h a v e y e t t o c o m e t h r o u g h L o n g t i m e a l l y C h i n a h a s r o l l e d o v e r a n d r e f i n a n c e d i t s l o a n s t o I s l a m a b a d

h o r t - t e r m i n f l a t i o n h i t s r e c o r d h i g h o f 4 8 . 3 5 p c

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T

Weekly inflation measured by the Sensitive Price Index (SPI) rose to an unprecedented 48 35 per cent year-on-year (YoY) for the combined income group for the week ending on May 4 the data released on Friday by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) suggested Prior to this the highest-ever percentage of short-term inflation year-on-year was recorded for the week ending on April 19 at 47 23pc

As for the week ending on May 4 PBS data showed that short-term inflation increased by 1 05pc week-on-week (WoW) as a major increase was seen in the prices of chicken, potatoes, powdered milk, pulses, eggs, mutton and bread Meanwhile, nonfood items, including footwear and soaps,

also became costlier

The SPI monitors the prices of 51 essential items based on a survey of 50 markets in 17 cities across the country During the week under review, the prices of 30 items increased, nine decreased and 12 remained unchanged

The year-on-year SPI has been steadily on the rise since August last year and remained mostly above 40pc It rose to 42 31pc on August 18 last year followed by 45 5pc on September 1 that year and 46 65pc during the week ending March 22 before hitting an all-time high of 47 23pc for the week ending April 19 this year

Moreover the SPI has also mostly increased since the start of Ramazan because of record rupee devaluation costly petrol prices a hike in sales tax and higher electricity charges One of the factors for the increase in prices of perishable products is due

to the higher transportation charges

The only tool the government has used so far to tame inflation was a steady increase in the interest rates which rose to 21pc a record level in the country s history

The government has been taking strict measures hikes in fuel and power tariffs, withdrawal of subsidies market-based exchange rate and higher taxation under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme to generate revenue for bridging the fiscal deficit which may result in slow economic growth and higher inflation in the coming months

However, the government has yet to unlock the IMF programme despite taking all inflationary and austerity measures

The increase in the SBP policy rate sales tax on most items and 25pc on more than 800 imported food and non-food items will further increase the retail prices of consumer goods

B i l l l i n ke d t o ‘ r e v i e w ’ i n s u o m o t u c a s e s s a i l s t h r o u g h S e n a t e a m i d r u c k u s

Political par ties must resolve problems through dialogue: Kh Saad IS-

ISLAMABAD G h u l a m a b b a S

GI L G I T - B a l t i s t a n s h e a l t h sector has seen unprecedented i m p r o v e m e n t s i n t h e l a s t 1 2 months These improvements include the operationalization o f D i s t r i c t H e a d q u a r t e r H o s p i t a l s ( D H Q s ) i n m a j o r d i s t r i c t s , h i r i n g o f c o n s u l t a n t s t h r o u g h A l - S h i f a , a n d t h e recruitment of doctors and consultants in special pay scales

According to Chief Secretary GB Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani the Health Department of Gilgit-Baltistan has hired the highest number of doctors and consultants in the history of the region

As per details the recruitment of a significant number of doctors and consultants is a positive step towards addressing the region’s healthcare challenges There are 13 chief consultants 60 senior consultants 90 consultants 34 consultants of Al-Shifa, and 60 specialists on a fixed pay scale This brings the grand total of specialists to 267

In addition to the recruitment of consultants the region has hired a total of 468 General Duty Medical Officers (GDMOs) and 89 District Officers/Lady District Officers This brings the grand total of Medical Officers (MOs)/LMOs/DOs/LDOs to 557 With this increased number of medical staff the region can better address the healthcare needs of its population

PTI moves IHC seeking permission for pro-CJP rallies

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Friday moved Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking permission its rallies to express solidarity with Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial PTI chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan has announced rallies in support of the CJP across the country on Saturday (today) In the petition, the PTI pleaded that the Islamabad district administration has denied permission for a public rally in the capital on Saturday (May 6) to show solidarity with the CJP The party requested the high court to orders the DC to give security to the rally and stop harassing peaceful PTI workers On Thursday, former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan asked the masses to express solidarity with the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) on May 6 Saturday as mafia targeting him In a special message to the general public, PTI workers and supporters before leaving for Isl amabad from Zaman Park to appear before the IHC, Imran Khan said the ruling coalition was running away from elections and for this it was going against the Constitution of Pakistan and the CJP Such elements were sparking a divide among Supreme Court s judges he added

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) on a petition filed by Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan’s (SCBAP’s) secretary and additional secretary who were earlier de-seated by the PBC on account of misconduct

A two-member SC bench comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice

Ayesha A Malik heard the SCBA petition seeking setting aside Show Cause Notices

Dated 12 4 2023 issued by PBC to Muqtedir Akhtar Shabbir Secretary and Malik Shakeel ur Rehman Additional Secretary, SCBAP

According to a written order of today s hearing, this constitutional petition had been instituted under Article 184(3) of the Constitution for setting aside show cause notices dated 12 4 2023 issued by Pakistan Bar Council to Muqtedir Akhtar Shabbir Secretary Supreme Court Bar Association (petitioner No 2) and Malik Shakeel-ur-Rehman, Additional Secretary, Supreme Court Bar Association (petitioner

According to a recent report for too long resources in Gilgit-Baltistan have not been utilized where they should have been Instead of investing in the social sector where the actual need exists, resources have been captured for personal use However, the tide is turning, and steps are being taken towards restoring proper order The Provincial HQ Hospital and City Hospital Gilgit have received two vehicles

from the Governor ’s convoy These vehicles will be utilized by doctors and medical staff for their transport The vehicles will be modified to reflect their use, and only medical personnel will be allowed to use them The Governor has pledged to take more steps towards betterment in the future, and he hopes that others will follow in his footsteps

Overall these developments represent a significant improvement in the healthcare sector of Gilgit-Baltistan With more doctors and medical staff and better facilities, the region is taking a positive step towards addressing its healthcare challenges

It may be mentioned here that the misuse of government vehicles in GB has been an issue The Ministry of Finance last year, had turned down the request of the GB government for procurement of over 32 luxury vehicles citing financial constraints The demanded new vehicles included land cruisers Fortuner and Revo for Governor Chief Minister Speaker and other ministers of the regional government

Pakistan to get only 9pc share in Gwadar Por t ’s profit, S enate Body informed

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

The Senate Standing Committee on Maritime Affairs on Friday was apprised by the Ministry that maintenance dredging of Gwadar Port is the responsibility of Pakistan

However, 91pc of the profit from port operations go to Chinese company whereas Pakistan’s share in profit is only 9pc It was apprised that the GPA was unable to carry out this most important obligation on annual basis due to non provision of required funds

While taking briefing on the regular maintenance and dredging facilities of Karachi Port Trust, Senator Saifullah Abro raised questions on the procurement of the hopper Barges in 2013-14 to which the official replied that dredgers were not purchased at that time Presently KPT has four dredgers Senator Saifuallah Abro recommended that a report may be sought on all the tenders issued and advertised and the reason why the tender is not executed and need to re-tender arises The committee observed that re tendering is an expensive process also if the tender is not executed timely the purchase cost increases with lapse of time The committee was also briefed on the designed depth of channel/ berths/Ops/FMs Sanctioned depth Volumes and dredging priority and dredging platforms The chairman committee stressed that the dredgers should be well maintained

The committee was briefed that KPT has sufficient number of dredging platforms only to meet its own maintenance dredging requirements in Karachi Port / Berths

It was also briefed that the existing servers are relatively old and frequently require extensive repair / maintenance works

No 3) In the course of the hearing Abid S Zuberi filed an unnumbered Civil

Miscellaneous Application which showed that during the pendancy of this petition respondents No 2 and 3 have already deseated the petitioner no 2 and 3 and sent the matter to the disciplinary committee of the PBC for further proceedings Abid Zuberi referred to Rule 118 of the Pakistan Legal Practitioner & Bar Council Rules 1976 and argued that under the niceties of this Rule, the only competent authority was the disciplinary committee where a complaint, if any, against petitioners No 2 and 3 should have been filed to take cognizance and decide the matter as per the Rules which was applicable mutatis mutandis even in the cases where PBC starts suo motu disciplinary proceedings against an advocate under Rule 125 The counsel argued that no specific rule or any section of law had been cited in the show cause

notices

The court asked the counsel why the juridiction of this Court under Article 184(3) of the Constitution was directly

resolve

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina

I S L A M A B A D S ta f f R e p o R t Pakistan and China have reaffirmed their r e s o l v e t o w o r k t o g e t h e r f o r p r o m o t i n g regional peace and prosperity and to jointly cope with external challenges B o t h s i d e s e m p h a s i s e d t h e n e e d t o f u r t h e r a d v a n c e a n d d e e p e n b i l a t e r a l cooperation in the areas of trade, economy, culture and defence for the mutual benefit of the two countries The two sides also called for increasing b i l a t e r a l e x c h a n g e s p e o p l e - t o - p e o p l e c o n t a c t s a n d c o o p e r a t i o n i n t h e f i e l d s o f c u l t u r e a n d t o u r i s m t o f u r t h e r c e m e n t bilateral ties

The bilateral matters were discussed at a meeting between President Dr Arif Alvi a n d t h e v i s i t i n g S t a t e C o u n c i l l o r a n d M in is ter o f F o r eig n A ff air s o f C h in a Q in Gang who along with the members of his delegation called on him at Aiwan-e-Sadr

LAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

Federal Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique on Friday underscored that dialogue is the only solution to all problems and political parties should resolve all the issues through dialogue Talking to the media persons outside the Supreme Court he said the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had agreed on one thing that elections should be held across the country on same day “We showed flexibility and are ready for negotiations even today,” Saad Rafique said adding that counsel for the PPP and PML-N Farooq H Naik had appeared in the court and he was here to represent Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) The minister said, Institutions are standing in front of each other due to continuous injustices in the country ” He said Punjab should not be accused of monopoly “Our dialogue with PTI has come a long way ” he added Saad Rafique said that the government was holding negotiations with the PTI and did not want to go beyond the constitutional period for general elections in the country and said that Imran Khan was in a hurry, he must have flexible approach on election date

The minister said that the Provincial Assemblies had been dissolved by the PTI themselves He questions how many times they would continue to protect their assembly seats Saad Rafique emphasized that the upcoming general elections would be conducted according to the constitution and If anyone attempts to bypass the Parliament, the Parliament will intervene,” he remarked

LHC bars police from harassing Buzdar

LAHORE S ta f f R e p o R t

even though it met the annual requirement however requires progressive replacement in next 03 -05 years

While discussing the implementation status of the recommendations made by the committee relating to rewriting the “Pakistan Merchant Marine Shipping Policy” and “Pakistan Merchant Shipping Ordinance 2001” Officials apprised that the committee has been constituted comprising all key stakeholders to review and make amendments in the policy The meeting was attended by Senator Nuzhat Sadiq, Senator Mohammad Abdul Qadir, Senator Muhammad Akram, Senator Saifullah Abro and Senator Nisar Ahmed Khuhro along with officials of concerned departments

invoked rather than filing a writ petition in the High Court under Article 199 of the Constitution?

In response the counsel argued that certain dictums have been laid down by the Court wherein the invoking of High Court jurisdiction was not approved

In support of his contention, he relied on the cases reported as Muhammad Shoaib Shaheen and others vs Pakistan Bar Council and others (PLD 2017 SC 231) and Syed Iqbal Hussain Shah Gillani vs Pakistan Bar Council through Secretary, Supreme Court Bar and others (2021 SCMR 425)

The court also asked the counsel to satisfy the bench on the maintainability of this petition under Article 184 (3) of the Constitution which predominantly related to the question of public importance with reference to the enforcement of any of the fundamental rights conferred by Chapter 1 of Part-II of the Constitution on which the counsel sought time to make submissions on the next date but right now it was contended that the reply to the show cause notices were submitted but without providing any opportunity of a hearing, the

drastic action of de-seating was taken which was a grave violation of Article 10A of the Constitution and after passing illegal order of de-seating the matter had been referred to Disciplinary Committee Counsel Abid Zuberi requested that since the order of de-seating had not been implemented, therefore, its operation could be suspended on the imminent apprehension that if no restraining order was passed the incumbent to the posts would take over the charge from petitioner No 2 and 3 As we have been informed that the order of de-seating had already been passed by the PBC with regard to the offices of the petitioners No 2 and 3 therefore at this stage a mandatory form of injunction cannot be granted without notice to the other side the court order said However, subject to satisfying the maintainability of this Constitution Petition let notice be issued to the respondents as well as the Attorney General for Pakistan for 09 05 2023 at 1:00 p m Meanwhile status quo is to be maintained, read the order

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday barred the police from arresting former Punjab chief minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Usman Buzdar During hearing of a petition filed by Usman Buzdar in the LHC, his counsel expressed concerns over his client’s alleged harassments by the authorities According to the lawyer Buzdar s family members – including wife and children – were present at home when the police surrounded the premises The LHC ordered the police to refrain from arresting the former chief minister of Punjab Usman Buzdar and ordered the authorities to include Usman Buzdar in the investigation The LHC adjourned the case until Monday for the next hearing Moreover the court also directed the case to be sent to the larger bench of the Chief Justice Earlier, Usman Buzdar secured protective bail in corruption and other cases Lahore High Court Bahawalpur bench judge Justice Tariq Nadeem heard the case in which the former Punjab CM appeared in person for protective bail The LHC Bahawalpur bench granted seven-day protective bail to Buzdar after hearing initial arguments from his counsel The former Punjab chief minister moved LHC against the cases of corruption and others The former CM Punjab is facing several cases of corruption assets beyond known sources of income charges and others

Rabbani Khar Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Sun Weidong and senior government officials of Pakistan and China We l c o m i n g t h e F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r o f

C h i n a , t h e P r e s i d e n t s a i d t h a t P a k i s t a n -

China relations were rooted in mutual trust, understanding and goodwill and both sides firmly supported each other on core issues

that the recent opening of Khunjerab Pass w o u l d f a c i l i t a t e t h e m o v e m e n t o f g o o d s from Xinjiang to Gwadar and vice versa The President emphasised the need to i n c r e a s e e c o n o m i c a n d c o m m e r c i a l c o o p e r a t i o n , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t h e I T a n d

a g r i c u l t u r e s e c t o r s a d d i n g t h a t C h i n e s e i n v e s t o r s s h o u l d b e n e f i t f r o m P a k i s t a n ’s

P E C p r o j e c t s H e e x p r e s s e d o p t i m i s m business and investment-friendly policies The President expressed concern over the planned holding of G-20 Summit event by India in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu

of strategic importance

projects

C O U R T D I S C A R D S I M R A N ’ S P L E A F O R

D I S M I S S A L O F D

E

FA M AT I O N S U I T

heard arguments of parties on the previous hearing, April 29, and fixed the matter for orders on Friday, it added In its detailed order, the court noted that respondent’s (Imran Khan) counsel filed the application for dismissal of the suit due to non-prosecution as per Order XI Rule 21 of CPC saying that the plaintiff (Shehbaz Sharif) had failed to file reply of interrogatories in manner required by rules 6, 8 and 9 of Order XI of CPC within the time specified H o w e v e r S h e h b a z S h a r i f ’s c o u n s e l

o p p o s e d t h e a p p l i c a t i o n a n d s u b m i t t e d t h a t i t h a d b e e n f i l e d t o d e l a y t h e proceedings, the court added The counsel s u b m i t t e d t h a t t h e r e p l y o f i n t e r r o g a t o r i e s w a s f i l e d i n s p e c i f i e d t i m e w h e r e a s I m r a n K h a n h a d a l r e a d y l o s t h i s r i g h t t o d e f e n d t h e s u i t i t a d d e d

The court observed Imran Khan raised an objection that Shehbaz Sharif failed to file a reply to the interrogatories in the form and manner required by Rules 6, 8 and 9 of order XI of the CPC within the specified time” The court noted that the reply was filed on

court

Pakistan, C hina agree to step up exchanges in ar t, c ulture

ISLAMABAD

aG e n c i e S Pakistan and China have stepped up exchanges in the fields of art and culture, China Economic Net (CEN) reported on Friday “We are discussing with Chinese guest professors about long-term research on various aspects of Chinese and Pakistani arts and crafts The safeguarding of the rock carvings and ancient inscriptions in our northern areas is also possible under such collaboration” Prof Dr Zarawar Khan

Department of Tourism and Hospitality University of Swat said

while attending the China-Pakistan Contemporary Arts Exchange Exhibition

The exhibition is taking place at the University of Education, Lahore from May 3-5 and in tandem at the Lahore Museum from May 3-7

More than 100 pieces of works by Pakistani and Chinese artists including Chinese painting Chinese calligraphy sculpture and other forms of art, are on display

The art exhibition is one of its kind ever held at the University of Education in Lahore in collaboration with the Chinese art historians students and delegates

LG polls: ECP issues schedule for remaining Karachi UCs

KARACHI S ta f f R e p o R t

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued the schedule for local body elections on remaining Union Councils (UCs) seats in Karachi

According to the ECP schedule the polling in the 11 Union Councils will be held on May 07 Elections for the positions of UC Chairman and Vice Chairman will be held in three constituencies of the central district, which includes UC 04, 13, and 06 of New Karachi Town Moreover the polls will be held on three Union Councils of District Korangi including UC Shah Faisal 03 and UC 08 of Landhi as well as in Baldia Town of UC in District West, including UC Orangi 02 and 01, and for UC 02 of District Kemari and UC 02 of District South Liyari

T T P ’ s G a u h a r G r o u p r e a d y t o l a y d o w n a r m s

R AWA L P I N D I S ta f f R e p o Rt

The operations being carried out by the security forces against the terrorists have started bearing fruit as Gauhar Group of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has become ready to lay down arms on Friday Gauhar Group leader Hameedullah alias Gauhar is ready to surrender to the law enforcement agencies ” the informed sources said “The group is suffering from internal disintegration for Gauhar has lost the trust of the terrorists under him due to his unethical activities, they added Due to increasing casualties, financial problems and internal differences, more terrorists of Gohar Group are willing to surrender to the security agencies,” they stated “Gauhar has accused other terrorists especially Shafirullah Group of defaming him and plotting to kill him He has sought help from local tribal elders for his surrender they said It merits a mention here that the security agencies are determined to destroy the terrorists with their day and night efforts

Swat

protest

SWAT

S y e d S h a h a b u d d n

Pakhtun leaders from across the province on Friday expressed disappointment over silence of the parliament and judiciary about the killing of dozens of Pakhtuns in recent terrorism incidents saying it seemed blood Pakhtun was considered cheaper in this country They expressed the views in a massive protest held at Kanju Chowk in Kabal Tehsil of Swat District, where a large number of people from across the province gathered against the recent wave of terrorism including the blast in CTD police station building in Kabal area Lakki Marwat police station attack and the killing of eight teachers in a school in Upper Kurram area

The protest was organized by Swat Olasi Pasoon and prominent among the speakers were PTM chief Manzoor Pashteen JI leader Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan MNA Ali Wazir Mir Kalam Wazir Saeed Khan Sher Shah Khan, Ayoub Asharey, Talemand Khan, Muzamil Shah, Aftab Khan, Izhar Ahmad, Ajab Khan Toyaley, Abdul

The exhibition has added new dimensions to our knowledge about the ancient religious cultural and commercial interaction between China and Pakistan , said Dr Zarawar Khan Post pandemic, Chinese students, art experts and historians are restoring contacts with Pakistan to conduct research on bilateral arts and crafts and enhance cultural interactions The exhibition is also part of the ongoing efforts to mark the ten-year anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative

According to Mr Hao, Director of the International Office Hebei Academy of Fine Arts after the conclusion of the two exhibition areas

March 16, 2022, though it was not in the shape of an affidavit as prescribed in statute In such circumstances, the plaintiff might be required to file an affidavit strictly in accordance with the prescribed form as this defect was curable and on this ground alone the plaintiff could not be non-suited the court held The court observed that it could ask the plaintiff to file the reply in accordance with the prescribed form but the plaintiff had already filed answers to the interrogatories on prescribed form on April 6 2022

the exhibits will continue to be on display at the local art center for more than a week The academy will also donate some excellent works to the University of Education and the Lahore Museum for commemoration

He told CEN that in the Lahore Museum a China Pavilion was built last year but many collections were copies donated by locals This exhibition that showcases original pieces of Chinese artists catches eyes and holds value for further research Along with the exhibition, China Pakistan Culture Art and Education Forum was also held at the University of Education Lahore on May 3

GUJRAT S

A few more things to learn before stumbling upon your dream job, especially if you are an IT graduate and feel it’s always been a near-miss in your case advised the experts at a seminar here at Hafiz Hayat Campus of the University of Gujrat (UoG) on

Friday

Titled “Enhancing

Employability of IT

Professionals the seminar was aimed at helping IT students succeed in their job hunt Prof Dr Sohail Naqvi, CEO of Knowledge Streams, was the chief guest of the seminar organized by the Student Services Centre of the varsity

Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Shabbar

Atiq presided over the seminar Vice Chancellor PUET Prof Dr Rauf Azam, Project Manager HEC Social Sciences Consortium

Murtaza Noor and Mohammad Jamal Qureshi were among the guests of honour

Earlier a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the UoG and Knowledge Streams Lahore to provide the latest training opportunities to the students of Information Technology The MoU was signed by Prof Dr Shabbar Atiq and Prof Dr Sohail Naqvi with a view to further expanding the scope of IT by promoting practical approach among students Another MoU was signed between the UoG and Elite Sports The MoU which was signed by Director SSC Ghafar Mohiuddin and Mohammad

decries

Since the formal defect had already been rectified, therefore, the application was dismissed as it held no ground, the court noted

The court adjourned further proceedings on the suit till May 20 and summoned counsel for parties

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif through the defamation suit had submitted that PTI chief Imran Khan alleged in a TV programme on April 26, 2017, that the Rs 10 billion bribe offer was made to him by Shehbaz Sharif for silence over the Panama papers case He said that allegations leveled against him were not only false but also defamatory

He said that Imran Khan also failed to tender a publicly broadcast apology despite the fact that he was served a legal notice in May, 2017 for the purpose The court has been requested to issue a decree for recovery of Rs 10 billion as compensation for the publication of defamatory content in favor of the plaintiff

FIA requests Interpol to issue red warrants for Farah Gogi

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t T h e F e d e r a l I n v e s t i g a t i o n A g e n c y ( F I A ) h a s a p p r o a c h e d t h e I n t e r p o l w i t h a r e q u e s t t o i s s u e r e d w a r r a n t s f o r F a r h a t S h e h z a d i a l i a s F a r a h G o g i i n a m o n e y - l a u n d e r i n g c a s e A c c o r d i n g t o d e t a i l s t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n a g e n c y f i l e d a n a p p l i c a t i o n w i t h I n t e r p o l s e e k i n g i s s u a n c e o f r e d w a r r a n t s f o r F a r h a t S h e h z a d i a l i a s F a r a h G o g i I n t h e a p p l i c a t i o n t h e F I A p o i n t e d o u t t h a t i t h a s i r r e f u t a b l e e v i d e n c e o f m o n e y l a u n d e r i n g a g a i n s t t h e a c c u s e d D u r i n g t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n , t h e a g e n c y h a s f o u n d a n a c c o u n t w o r t h b i l l i o n s o f r u p e e s i n t h e n a m e o f S h e h z a d i “ S h e h a d m a d e a s s e t s t h r o u g h c o r r u p t i o n b r i b e r y a n d p o l i t i c a l i n f l u e n c e t h e F I A a d d e d F a r h a t S h e h z a d i i s f a c i n g a c a s e r e g i s t e r e d a g a i n s t h e r u n d e r t h e a n t i - m o n e y l a u n d e r i n g a c t T h e c a s e w a s r e g i s t e r e d a g a i n s t h e r o n t h e d i r e c t i v e s o f t h e S t a t e B a n k o f P a k i s t a n ( S B P ) a f t e r a b n o r m a l t r a n s a c t i o n s i n h e r a c c o u n t s , t h e F I A s a i d

SC to use constitution if gov t-PTI talks fail to resolve polls impasse: CJP

CONTUNIED FROM PAGE 01

Jamal Qureshi seeks to promote sports among the students Dr Sohail Naqvi in his address highlighted the importance of sustainable employment in a student s career I n f o r m a t i o n Te c h n o l o g y h a s c h a n g e d t h e c o n c e p t s o f d e v e l o p m e n t a n d e m p l o y m e n t t o a g r e a t e x t e n t D r N a q v i s a i d u rg i n g t h e s t u d e n t s t o adopt international standards to b e s u c c e s s f u l H e u n d e r s c o r e d t h e n e e d f o r t h e m t o d e v e l o p a n d i m p r o v e t h e i r c o m m u n i c a t i o n s k i l l s c r i t i c a l t h i n k i n g a n d t e a m w o r k O p p o r t u n i t i e s a r e g a l o r e f o r our youth in the IT sector They h a v e t h e p o t e n t i a l t o c o m p e t e a n d s u c c e e d i n t h e w o r l d I T market if they fully utilise their a b i l i t i e s a n d d e v e l o p s e l fconfidence ” Dr Naqvi said Dr Shabbar Atiq said that the

indifference

collaboration of universities with industrial and commercial organizations will pave the way for the graduating students in securing their dream job He linked the bright future of the youth with the practical education and training, saying the practical approach in the higher education and training of our youth will go a long way towards achieving the goal of national progress and development Dr Rauf Azam stressed the need for updating universities’ courses and programs to meet the requirements of the world job market Our technology and science teachers should establish a strong rapport with the local industrial and commercial tycoons that the graduating students looking for a job could also benefit from ” Dr Rauf Azam said

The caretaker setups that would be put in place for the elections would help to achieve this According to the petition having political governments in power in the provinces while general elections are being held for the National Assembly has the potential to adversely affect the National Assembly election more than in the inverse situation This is because provincial governments have operational control of all day-today affairs in the respective National Assembly constituencies (other than those in Islamabad Capital Territory) Moreover holding elections simultaneously would save billions of rupees and the expenses could be included in the budget for the upcoming year It would also require the armed forces and police only once instead of multiple times, allowing them to devote more time to their principal duties This would free up law enforcement agencies to focus on improving the country’s law and order situation instead The petition also highlights that elections to the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) assemblies would be held based on the results of the 2017 census while those to the National Sindh and Balochistan assemblies would be conducted on the latest census figures The petition urges that such a situation should preferably be avoided as it could lead to unforeseen complications In addition, the petition notes that the difference in the date previously ordered by the apex court for holding polls in Punjab and the one suggested by the government in October was only a few months so there was no significant harm or delay It further suggests that the parliament could address the issues of delaying the Punjab and KP polls by passing a constitutional amendment

Pakistan bailout review to conclude once financing in place: IMF

CONTUNIED FROM PAGE 01

Pakistan completed a series of actions demanded by the IMF to secure the deal, which included reversing subsidies, hiking energy and fuel prices, raising its key policy rate, switching to a market-based currency exchange rate, lining up external financing and raising over Rs170 billion ($613 million) in new taxes The fiscal adjustments have already fuelled record-high inflation which hit 36 4 per cent in April The IMF programme will disburse another $1 4b disbursement for Pakistan before it concludes in June

to ‘unabated killing’ of Pakhtuns

MNA Ali Wazir Said that the wrong policies of the state turned the beautiful and peaceful Swat into a hell of gunpowder He said that Pakhtuns had no option but to be united against the state s terrorism policies

PTM chief Manzoor Pashteen blamed those who created terrorists and spread modern weapons for the prevailing law and order situation “External forces did not create terrorism in the country and it was strange that despite launching and carrying out more than 20 military operations, a handful of terrorists were not eliminated , he pointed out “Pakhtuns are now well aware about the reality of the terrorism and will not be deceived this time “We warn those who enter Pashtun areas that people enter here with their own choice and designs but they are expelled with our choice They do not go back with respect but with humiliation, he said

The speakers said that no compromise would be made on peace and that Pakhtuns would not be killed in the war for dollars

dead bodies which means the media parliament and judiciary is not for Pakhtuns Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan said He said that the Chief Justice of Pakistan was busy with politics but could not see the

terrorism wave in the Pakhtun belt “More than 22 military operations were conducted in Pakhtun areas and all of them were done for dollars but not for peace, he claimed, adding that from January 1 to April 30, at least 120 policemen were killed in KP

The speakers rejected the claim of the KP police that a short circuit caused the CTD explosion and demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident

They said that if another terrorist incident occurred on Pakhtun land, the next protest would be held in front of cantonments instead of grounds or bazaars

UoG seminar seeks to perk up chances of dream IT job

S C O F M s ’ m o o t

A K I S TA N I Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto has returned home from attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Goa As expected, he did not do the impossible, and achieve any sort of breakthrough in Indo-Pak relations, but his contact with his host and Indian counterpart S Jaishankar, who greeted him on his arrival, was a first Though Mr Jaishankar avoided a sidelines meeting, still Mr Bhutto managed to convey Pakistan s concern at the escalation of tensions caused by India s abolition of the special status of Indian-Occupied Kashmir, just as Mr Jaishankar referred disparagingly to Pakistan during his address at the meeting The sideline meetings focused on the heavyweights at the moot, Russia and China Mr Bhutto Zardari met Russian counterpart Mr Sergei Lavrov, while Mr Jaishankar not only met Mr Lavrov, but also his Chinese counterpart India s having hosted the meeting shows that the situation in the region is complex Not only is India an old ally of Russia, it is also an old opponent of China Meeting his chinese counterpart was Mr Jaishankar s way of passing on a message to Pakistan, though his failure to meet him was an indication of how bankrupt his government s policy is, of refusing to engage with Pakistan Mr Bhutto Zardari was correct to speak of the use of the organization not just as a cooperation organization, but a security organization

However, it should be noted that than organization which was conceived as one in which to corporate against terrorism, when the USA was in Afghanistan for this very reason, is in grave danger of losing its direction when one of its most important member, India, not only accuses a neighbour and another member, Pakistan, of fomenting indigenous movements against it, but itself uses its own intelligence operatives (like Kulbhushan Jhadav) to foment terrorism there As long as India goes on behaving irresponsibly, no international organization of which it is a member will be effective against terror, not so long as the size of the Indian market remains a bigger consideration than human lives The SCO does not have to be the forum at which Indo-Pak ties are normalized, as that can only be done at a bilateral level However, India must perceive that its baseless accusations of terrorism, and its own covert back of a neighbour s destablization, will it only not be tolerated any longer, but could lead to consequences It is within this context that Mr Bhutto Zardari s trip must be seen

Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami (Late)

Founding Editor

Yousaf Nizami Editor

M A Niazi

Joint Editor Umar Aziz Executive Editor

Supreme Cour t stands challenged

other, the ECP is asking the bench to eat its words and correct the course in light of the Constitution In other words, the Supreme Court has found two competitors who are determined to guard their respective territories and deny any entry Moreover in the hands of the two competitors the whole Supreme Court stands challenged This point is worrisome for those judges who are not part of the like-minded bench Once challenged is always challenged In a way, the bench has brought the Court to such a pass that its assertions are being defined and its extensions are being questioned The two competitors are out to delimit the Court in light of the constitution

D r Q a i s a r r a s h i D

PO L I T I C S is meant for politicians When serving judges jump into the political arena they get flabbergasted and embarrassed at one issue or the other, as has been happening with the “like-minded bench” of the Supreme Court Coined by court reporters the title “like-minded bench has reduced the Supreme Court from a judicial authority meant for dispensing impartial decisions to a political authority meant for delivering politically biased verdicts The title is reflective of the kind of arrangement the Chief Justice makes to bring about a decision In fact, the title embodies the erosion of the judicious sense of the Supreme Court In a way the title “like-minded bench” offers a prognosis about a case at hand Instead of groping in the dark one becomes more than half certain about the likely outcome The bench also remains busy in setting new precedents– though some of which are irreproducible and irreplicable– falling outside the ambit of the Court, as defined by the Constitution In a way the bench is out on a spree to write a new constitution when and where possible This practice has made the Parliament jealous of rather challenged by the fast expanding scope of the Court This is why the Parliament has decided to halt the march of the Court on the constitutional domain

Where the “like-minded bench” has gone into overdrive is that it is still supported by the Army To elaborate the bench survives in the fallacy that the Army is supposed to reciprocate the favours which had shaped their mutual past In that bygone golden era, the bench was potent enough to trespass on the purview of any body of the state with impunity–which was never challenged Persistent trampling over the territory, constitutionally meant for others, made the “like-minded bench” a habitual trespasser oblivious of the feelings of the sufferers Enough is enough has been the call reverberating in Parliament and the Election Commission alike Both have plucked up the courage to halt any further transgression Nevertheless, in this equation, not only the “like-minded bench”, but also the Court, is about to bear the brunt

Whereas the Parliament is now asking the Supreme Court– precisely the like-minded bench

to give a presentation before it on one issue or the

When the constitution is a criterion there are not many people (in general public) who are ready to side with the SC or who are willing to oppose its two competitors The Army tries to play neutral– to save its own skin– given the mayhem its recently retired leadership produced in politics Some parliamentarians are also asking for calling the two main army generals to the Parliament for messing around with politics in the past Pakistan has faced economic consequences of their messing around Pertinently a renowned journalist Absar Alam asserts that army generals are a salaried class answerable to the people and their representatives sitting in the parliament At this juncture news is coming from India which has resorted to dismantling the colonial arrangement of cantonments by retrieving public land from the possession of the Indian army and by reducing cantonments to mere military stations The retrieved land would be managed by municipal corporations run by civilians What is hidden in the voice of Absar Alam is the voice of journalists who bore oppression and suppression inflicted by the then leadership of the Army The recent past witnessed not only the highhandedness of the Supreme Court towards certain parliamentarians (and politicians) but also the overbearing of the Army towards certain journalists On the one hand, the Supreme Court was delivering biassed decisions against a set of politicians to ensure their exclusion to make space for some chosen ones; on the other hand the Army (and the agencies) was instrumental in picking up and torturing journalists who had been raising a voice against the conceit of the Supreme Court That is, the then leadership of the Army was protecting the leadership of the Court The relationship was hand in

P a k i s t a n ’ s g e o p o l i t i c a l p o s i t i o n i n t h e c h a n g i n g w o r l d

GR E AT powers seek to achieve their political goals by controlling the geography of the world Today the number of political actors seeking influence is increasing, and the domains of political competition and cooperation are expanding Countries are seeking to gain strategic advantages by cooperating to address common technological economic and environmental challenges The world is becoming more interconnected in terms of flows of information, capital, and people, and countries are becoming more dependent on their neighbors and the international community for greater leverage

Pakistan is a country located in South Asia bordered by India to the east Afghanistan to the west Iran to the southwest and China to the north It is strategically located at the crossroads of the Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia, making it a significant player in the changing geopolitics of the region and the world Therefore Pakistan seeks to improve relations with China Russia the USA and other Western countries in this changing world so that it can succeed in geopolitical rebalancing However Pakistan s efforts to restore relations with the West will not succeed unless it accepts the imperatives of economic reform and political stability

In 2011, relations between Pakistan and America were weak due to the killing of two young Pakistanis by a contractor of the Central Intelligence Agency and the unilateral US action in North Pakistan which embarrassed the government and army of Pakistan At the same time, Pakistan s traditionally national security elite moved to deepen its partnership with China already a long-standing partner The two countries stepped up their defense partnership and launched the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) a bilateral part of the Belt and Road Initiative However, poorly negotiated projects and increased imports led to uneven growth, balance of payments crisis, and an unbalanced economic partnership

Since 2011 Pakistan has also expanded its ties with other middle and major powers including Turkey and Russia and its strategic partnership with China However Pakistan s de-

pendence on China in both the economic and military sectors began to burden the Pakistan Army, while efforts to reach the Biden Administration accelerated after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan By the end of the 1960s the USA and Pakistan had begun trying to reset relations but Pakistani officials appear unable to accept the new limited terms of the relationship Pakistan s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari recently completed his fifth visit to the USA in the last year During a visit in December Zardari spent 10 days in the USA and only managed to speak to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the phone, despite both men being in Washington In contrast, India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval made a short scheduled visit to Washington earlier this year meeting with at least three cabinet members as well as senior military officials, including agency heads The Chairman Joint Chiefs was also included Pakistan s military appears eager to get Washington s attention, claiming that it could fall prey to a “Chinese debt trap” due to China’s request to build a port at Gwadar which will serve as the operating station for the port operated by China There has also been speculation that a Chinese naval base may be established in the future However this inconsistent and ambiguous policy could potentially damage Pakistan s relationship with Beijing, as the military may be ignoring the advice of the country’s diplomats Another difficulty in promoting US-Pakistan cooperation is that Pakistani-American advocacy groups and members of Congress have issued statements against human rights violations in Pakistan in response to the crackdown against the party of Pakistani ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan, and they are mobilizing to take action

ever, after India s unilateral annexation of Kashmir, how can Pakistan remain neutral?

Pakistan should focus on domestic economic reforms and human development while avoiding geopolitical and regional political divisions in pursuit of its geopolitical interests Saudi Arabia is flush with cash and while India is a lowermiddle-income country it is a huge market for US investors Both are able to attract Fortune 500 CEOs and titans of finance to forums in their countries even as they clash with the USA on oil prices or human rights In recent years Pakistan has been facing a number of challenges including a struggling economy, internal security threats, and tensions with neighbouring countries such as India and Afghanistan However it has also been seeking to position itself as a key player in the region, particularly in light of the evolving power dynamics and changing geopolitical landscape

PakistanÊs position in the changing g eopolitics of the world is complex and multifaceted, with a rang e of domestic and international factors at play While it faces significant challeng es, it also has the potential to play a key role in shaping the future of the region and beyond. Once Pakistan puts itself on the path of sustainable development,

Pakistan’s rulers must address the imbalance in their relationship with Beijing while also understanding Washington s indifference to their strategic situation For example a new report by the Center for a New American Security recommends that in the event of tensions on the India-China border, the USA should “stand ready to provide full support to India” and Pakistan should be made aware of its “need” How-

One of the key factors driving Pakistan s efforts to increase its strategic importance is its partnership with China, particularly through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

The CPEC is a massive infrastructure development project that aims to connect China s western region to the Arabian Sea through Pakistan and it has the potential to significantly boost Pakistan s economy and regional influence Furthermore, by its partnership with China, Pakistan has also been seeking to strengthen its relationships with other regional and global powers, such as the USA Russia and Saudi Arabia It has also been playing a key role in facilitating peace talks in neighbouring Afghanistan which is another important factor in its regional strategic calculus Pakistan s position in the changing geopolitics of the world is complex and multifaceted, with a range of domestic and international factors at play While it faces significant challenges it also has the potential to play a key role in shaping the future of the region and beyond Once Pakistan puts itself on the path of sustainable development, the world will come to it

com

glove with each other– close collusion Now, the Army has departed from the Supreme Court, leaving the latter to its own devices

L i k e n ev e r b e fo r e t h e C o u r t

i s b e i n g c r i t i c i z e d a n d

h u m i l i a t e d d a i ly w i t h a l l

The departure of the Army was not smooth; it was rough in the sense that in a press conference its representatives experienced hyperhidrosis– excessive face sweating– while explaining their positions, regretting the past and exonerating the name of their institution from the murder allegation of a journalist Arshad Sharif

r u t h l e s s n e s s u n i m p e d e d

D o e s t h e „ l i k e - m i n d e d

b e n c h ‰ n o t k n ow t h e r e a s o n

fo r t h e s a m e ? W hy a r e t h e r e

f ew e r vo i c e s t o s u p p o r t t h e

b e n c h ? A l a rg e p a r t o f t h e

m e d i a i s s i l e n t o n t h e

i n s u l t s h e a p e d o n t h e

b e n c h d i r e c t ly a n d t h e

C o u r t i n d i r e c t ly.

The departure of the slain journalist was a climax in the standoff between the Army (or its associated spy agency) and journalists The Army decided not to afford further antagonism and consequent societal seclusion

The Army was wise enough to withdraw to its original fold defence The Supreme Court however has been left to fight a losing battle

Like never before the Court is being criticized and humiliated daily with all ruthlessness unimpeded Does the “like-minded bench” not know the reason for the same? Why are there fewer voices to support the bench? A large part of the media is silent on the insults heaped on the bench directly and the Court indirectly Now, from almost all corners of society (except one political party), the message is not implicit it is explicit

The message is that “like-minded bench” and its decisions are not acceptable The bench and by extension the Court has to stay within prescribed limits, as enshrined in the Constitution The laid down limit showers respect on the Court, as hardly is there anyone around who is now fearful of the “likeminded bench”, another salaried class, and by extension the Court

The writer can be contacted at qaisarrashid@yahoo com

E d i t o r ’ s m a i l

S e n d y o u r l e t t e r s t o : L e t t e r s t o E d i t o r Pakistan Today, 4 - S h a a re y F a t i m a J i n n a h L a h o re P a k i s t a n E - m a i l : l e t t e r s @ p a k i s t a n t o d a y c o m p k L e t t e r s s h o u l d b e a d d re s s e d t o Pakistan Today e x c l u s i v e l y

Political clout

I T has become a norm in society that a man from the affluent class gets bail before arrest, and a man who belongs to the lower class suffers arrest and unbearable torture This has led to the creation of two classes in society; one that can be tortured, and the other one that cannot be touched

Our history is replete with examples where rich people escaped on the basis of some little loophole in the law by greasing the right palms One such incident happened in Dadu where two boys blinded by their craze for recording a video for a social media platform ran over a poor bystander who was the sole bread-earner of his seven little children

It has been reported that the culprits are roaming freely, and pressure is being applied on the family of the victim to forget about taking any legal action against them To stop the victim’s family from pursuing the case the culprits are using political influence The mother of the victim has died in the meanwhile as she was unable to bear the loss of her son and the pressure from the culprit s family did not allow her to even mourn the death in peace When a poor man is forced to face such an unbearable and heartwrenching situation, where should he go except to the law-enforcement agencies? But given the situation in the interior of Sindh, where the feudal and their wealthy partners rule supreme, the poor man seems hapless

Will the guardians of justice take notice?

Education isn’t a priorit y in A JK

A Z A D Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) a territory located in the northern part of Pakistan, is facing a major crisis in its education sector The government schools in the area lack basic infrastructure, including buildings and roofs, which is causing severe hardship to the students studying there

Despite the pressing need for better educational facilities the government has allocated a hefty sum of money for the purchase of luxury cars for the AJK president This situation has sparked widespread outrage and criticism from the public with people demanding more investment in the education sector The lack of proper infrastructure in schools is a significant issue in the region The harsh weather conditions, especially during the winters, make it extremely difficult for students to study in open-air classrooms without proper roofs overhead Many schools also lack basic facilities such as clean water toilets and electricity which makes it challenging for students to concentrate on their studies

This situation has led to a high dropout rate particularly among girls who are more vulnerable to the harsh weather conditions Given the gravity of the situation, it is shocking to see the AJK government allocating a massive amount of money for the purchase of luxury cars This move raises serious questions about the priorities of the government and its commitment to improving the lives of its citizens especially the children who are the future of the country The purchase of luxury cars for government officials is not a new phenomenon in Pakistan but it is particularly disturbing to see such spending in a region where basic facilities like education are sorely lacking

The money that is being allocated for luxury cars could be better spent on improving the infrastructure of schools in the region This would go a long way towards improving the quality of education and creating a more conducive environment for students The government may also invest in providing better training and resources for teachers to enhance the quality of education and improve learning outcomes Such investments in education would have long-term benefits for the region s economy and society The issue of the lack of infrastructure in schools in AJK is not an isolated one It is a reflection of the larger problem of neglecting education in Pakistan, which has one of the lowest literacy rates in the world

The government must take urgent action to address this problem and prioritise education as a key area of investment

Dr MuhaMMaD akraM Zaheer

the world will come to it

a p a n ’ s d e m o g r a p h i c d i l e m m a

The cultural and social fac tors contributing to Japan’s population decline

ucation employment or training

JA PA N ’ S prime minister Fumio Kishida has warned that the country is on the brink of not being able to function as a society because of its falling birth rate With the number of yearly births falling below 800,000 for the first time in 2022, Japan is currently experiencing one of the most severe demographic crises in the world According to data from Japan’s health ministry the number of newborns decreased to 799 728 in 2022 the lowest number since records began to be kept in 1899 At the same time period it was reported that deaths increased 8 9% to 1 58 million

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida s recent speech to Parliament brought Japan s dropping birth rate into sharp relief “It’s “now or never” to address the nation’s population decline ” he said in the 45-minute speech adding that Japan is standing on the verge of whether we can continue to function as a society

He said that he eventually wants the government to double its spending on child-related initiatives In April, a new government agency to focus on this problem would be established

Dropping birth rates are a result of a number of reasons such as growing living expenses an increase in the number of women in the workforce as well as easier access to contraception which encourages women to have fewer children

The declining social and cultural values are a major factor in Japan’s low birth rate Family, marriage, and having kids were very important in traditional Japanese society The emphasis has changed recently though moving more towards independence and individualism

Many young individuals place greater importance on their professional and personal objectives than starting a family Furthermore, because of the high expense of living and the demanding nature of contemporary lifestyles, some Japanese see children as a burden

Individualism has played a significant role in Japan’s declining birth rate Japan is a country with a collectivist culture where individuals are expected to prioritize the group s interests over their own However in recent years, there has been a shift towards individualism, where young people are more interested in pursuing their personal goals and ambitions rather than settling down and starting a family One of the main ways in which individualism has affected Japan’s birth rate decline is through the rise of the Freeter and NEET phenomena Freeter refers to young people who are not in full-time employment but are working part-time or temporary jobs, while NEET refers to young people who are not in ed-

Many young people in Japan prefer this lifestyle because it allows them to have more freedom and flexibility to pursue their personal interests rather than being tied down to a traditional 9-to5 job and family responsibilities Another way in which individualism has affected Japan s birth rate decline is through the rise of the “Konkatsu” trend, which refers to the pursuit of marriage as a personal goal Many young people in Japan are more interested in finding a partner who shares their interests and values rather than settling down with someone their family approves of This trend has led to a delay in marriage and a decrease in the number of children being born

In summary, individualism has contributed to Japan’s declining birth rate by encouraging young people to prioritise their personal goals and interests over traditional family values and responsibilities

The difficulties of balancing work and family life is another significant factor in Japan s low birth rate In the industrialised world, Japan has some of the greatest working hours and fewest vacation days, making it difficult for parents to raise kids and have a full-time job Additionally, there aren’t many affordable childcare options which discourages people from having kids

Japan is ranked one of the world s most expensive places to raise a child Housing prices and education costs are particularly high which can make it difficult for families to afford children Japan s high cost of living, limited space, and lack of city-based child care services make it challenging to raise kids, which results in fewer couples having kids The declining marriage rate financial strain childcare load later childbearing and infertility are also some of the variables influencing Japan s declining birth rate

This decline in Japan s birth rate has several significant consequences for the country, including an ageing population which has put a significant strain on the country’s healthcare system, social security system, and economy Japan today has a rapidly ageing population and a declining labour force The nation s finances are being drained by the soaring expense of caring for its elderly residents who make up a larger percentage of the population Japan now has the world s second highest proportion of people aged 65 and over, according to World Bank data The nation’s ageing population and declining birthrate which are both happening at a greater rate than anywhere else in the globe will have a significant influence on the economy and society at large There is even concern that if the scenario persists Japan will lose its status as a developed nation and revert to merely being a little country in the Far East

The schools in Japan are shutting down due to population decline As the number of children decreases, there are fewer students to fill the classrooms and some schools

T h e D r e a m J o u r n e y :

become economically unsustainable Additionally, some families choose to move to larger cities where there are more job opportunities, leaving behind fewer children in rural areas The schools that are most affected by population decline tend to be in rural areas with smaller populations In these areas there may be only one or two elementary and junior high schools serving the entire community When the number of students drops below a certain threshold, the schools are forced to close, as it becomes difficult to maintain the facilities and provide adequate education with limited resources According to a report by the Ministry of Education Culture Sports Science and Technology more than 40 percent of elementary and junior high schools in Japan had fewer than 50 students as of 2020 This trend is expected to continue in the coming years as the population continues to decline

It will be very difficult for Japan to sustain the world’s third largest economy in coming years with a smaller workforce and a small amount of taxpayers The government should promote work-life balance by encouraging companies to offer more vacation days flexible working hours and work-from-home alternatives

To make it easier for parents to balance work and family life, the government should increase support for childcare facilities and introduce financial incentives to encourage people to have children Otherwise by 2050, Japan could lose a fifth of its current population

The writer is a freelance columnist

M e e t t h e f r i e n d s b r i n g i n g

P a k i s t a n i m u s i c b a c k

Their channel has amassed over 36 million views and 169,000 followers, and has launched several c areers

its own kind of joy So heartening to see a young qawwal party deliver a performance that would make the old maestros proud, writes one YouTube commenter by the name of Talha Khan Thank you for sharing and giving these artists the recognition they deserve!”

The launch of The Dream Journey channel came at a time when Pakistan’s classical music scene was stagnant leaving many performers struggling to make a living The job of the artist is not to go around begging people to listen to them We are supposed to practice and perform says Akbar Ali a classical vocalist based in Lahore Musicians who were millions of times more talented than I am have left this world in a state of destitution

It will be ver y difficult for Japan to sustain the worldÊs third larg est economy in coming years with a smaller workforce and a small amount of taxpayers. The government should promote work-life balance by encouraging companies to offer more vacation days, flexible working hours, and work-from-home alternatives To make it easier for parents to balance work and family life

T h e ‘ c l a s h o f

c i v i l i z a t i o n s ’ i s a l r e a d y

u n d e r w a y a s t h e w o r l d

r e s i s t s W e s t e r n i z a t i o n

C h i n a’s j u d g m e nt i s s o u n d i n at te m p t i n g to ra l l y

n o n -We s te r n n at i o n s a g a i n s t i m p o s e d va l u e s

IN the short interlude between musical pieces Tuqeer Ali Khan looks suspiciously at his harmonium Has someone tried to tune this? he asks, his eyes squinting in disapproval

No one has touched it but you, replies his brother and musical partner, Khurram “Are you sure?” says Mr Khan, raising an eyebrow “It sounds a little off to me ”

If it is no one in the small audience seems to have noticed

Though he is only 10 minutes into the mehfil-e-samaa – a concert given in an intimate setting – he has created a mood of rapture He resumes the performance with one of the numbers that made him famous Spring has come but my beloved has not, he sings My heart cries in anguish ”

Though he comes from a family of musicians and is now considered one of Pakistan’s most promising classical vocalists up until a couple of years ago Mr Khan was virtually unknown outside of Dipalpur Then he and his brother were featured on The Dream Journey

Now in its ninth year the audio-visual project is helmed by a small group of friends who record Pakistani musicians and publish their material on a dedicated YouTube page The Dream Journey aims to promote traditional, Sufi-style music, the popularity of which has declined in recent decades due to geopolitical pressures Their channel has amassed over 36 million views and 169 000 followers and has launched several careers But above all else it serves as a source of joy not just for international audiences but also for the project s music-loving founders and featured musicians My brother and I used to go around begging music producers to give us a chance, Mr Khan says “It was only when we were featured on The Dream Journey’s YouTube channel that our careers began to flourish ” “I pray for them every day ” adds Khurram who is himself an accomplished singer and tabla player All of our success is due to them

A JOYOUS SURPRISE: The Dream Journey project was started by eight music enthusiasts We basically got to know each other online, says Musab bin Noor, a medical doctor It was always a desire to someday get together and listen to music as a group and that finally happened in 2014 when everybody’s schedules aligned ”

They decided to visit musicians in their homes – the place where they practiced and felt most comfortable There s nothing made up about it explains Arif Ali Khan a founding member who lives in Canada but regularly travels to Pakistan to work on The Dream Journey Project The focus is only on the music After the group s first trip to Karachi, team member Mahera Omar, a documentary filmmaker by profession, published her concert recordings online “YouTube was becoming quite big in Pakistan at that time ” she remembers The response we would get and people s comments would just blow us all away Asif Hasnain another founding member describes the success of the YouTube channel as miraculous

When you put up a video and it gets 10,000 hits, you say Oh my God, it s huge! Then suddenly it gets 50,000 hits, and you say, It s huger!’ And then suddenly you find that something has hit 3 million,” he says “I think the beauty of it is the surprise ” And for

According to Dream Journey member Vaqar Ahmed, the decline of classical music was a direct consequence of the Islamization policies instituted by military dictator Zia-ul-Haq who took over in a 1977 coup d état What he started no one has been able to reverse he says He vocally and practically suppressed art music and writing Those were the dark ages of Pakistan s culture Yet veteran performer Babar Niazi credits The Dream Journey with helping to revive the genre, saying “they’re basically filling the gap left by state institutions who have stopped doing their jobs ”

For Vienna-based team member Asif Hasnain those political events were manifestations of a much deeper issue The problem is that in Pakistan since independence there s been an eternal debate on your cultural identity he says

Specifically, is it more of a subcontinental nation, drawing from the cultures and musical traditions of India, or a Middle Eastern nation? “From the beginning of Pakistan, this tension was there, and its implications are very profound ” he adds “If you start talking about a Middle Eastern identity you’re talking about a certain aridity If you re talking about the subcontinent you re talking about a certain explosion of cultural influences which all crystallized into qawwali and Sufi music and art

GLOBAL AUDIENCE: It is no surprise then that a large proportion of The Dream Journey’s audience comes from neighboring India In the view of Dream Journey member Mian Shaukat Hussain this is clear evidence that the joy of music can bring the people of these two historically antagonistic countries together I definitely believe that music goes to the soul not to the body and that the soul has nothing to do with politics and has to do with some higher values, he says Even the devotional Islamic music published on The Dream Journey’s YouTube channel has a large audience across the border receiving praise not just from Indian Muslims but also from Hindus Sikhs and Christians “Our ancestors came from there and we still sing the way they did says Tuqeer Ali Khan the harmonium player and qawwali singer So when people in India listen to our music, they feel a connection with what we re doing Chicago-based team member Saad Alvi credits the channel s success to the team’s high standards “A good thing is always a good thing; it’s timeless,” he says “We are very careful in what we choose ” As part of this process the Dream Journey team encourages musicians to perform their more obscure works We don t want to listen to the famous few pieces that everyone is performing says architect and music lover Mushtaq Ahmed who is credited with discovering many of the Dream Journey s lesser-known performers We ask them to perform the music that is unique to their household ” He says artists often tell them that these become some of their most requested pieces

Though the COVID-19 pandemic has meant the team hasn’t been able to travel since 2020 their next listening tour is planned for the end of this year and at some point the group plans to release a feature documentary on Pakistan s classical music scene Till then, there is the small business of sifting through hundreds of hours of material to select the music to publish on their YouTube page, which continues to gain subscribers year after year

C“H I N A S latest attempt to rally the world against Western values, reads a headline in The Economist, an outlet which is well known for its Anglo-capitalist outlook The article begins by citing Samuel Huntington s clash of civilizations thesis which argues that a clash between East and West would define the post-Cold War future as a form of cultural and religious identity conflict In presenting this theme, the article then dives into what Xi Jinping has touted as his ‘global civilization initiative’ based on the premise that civilizations can live in harmony The catch as interpreted by The Economist, is that the West must stop promoting its values, or Huntington will be proven right ” Arguably, the world has been in a cultural conflict for a while now and it didn’t start with US-China competition The rise and surge of political Islam after all pursuing hard-line interpretations of Sharia law and even going as far as terrorism and insurgency, was a reaction to Westernization in the Middle East, an attempt to try and enforce an Islamic identity against it To some extent the War on Terror was a ‘clash of civilizations as much as it was a clash of ideologies and cultural identities which saw each other as mutually existential threats

For the past 400 years or so, Western nations have dominated the world European empires, as well as the United States, subjugated nations and built colonial states across the globe This was done primarily for economic reasons allowing these countries to enrich themselves at the expense of colonies and creating vast commercial empires which were enforced by military power Such imperialists framed themselves as benevolent guardians who represented a higher form of civilization and values which they were bringing to the colonized Thus as they spread their empires throughout Africa

Latin America, the Indian subcontinent, Asia, and elsewhere Westerners also sought to expand their ideology and value systems

It is because of this that “Westernization” and “globalization” have effectively meant the same thing as the empires of old were the ones that brought the world together through the economic and trading system they created But starting in the 20th century, many of the countries which were colonized by the West started to resist their oppressors and movements for independence and liberation surged One such movement of course was the rise of the Communist Party in China led by Mao Zedong, and every movement he inspired

While the US triumphed in the original Cold War and ushered in a new wave of globalization, styled as Pax-Americana, that era has now come to an end This is because the world has changed specifically through the emergence of China as a global power The concept of globalization has shifted from being a West-dominated phenomenon no longer synonymous with Westernization, to a more diverse one in which the US and collective West realize they no longer control In other words “globalization” is no longer a one-way road whereby the West imposes its values unilaterally on the rest of the world in conjunction with economic dominance Countries such as China, as seen through programs such as the Belt and Road Initiative, are able to benefit from it too

This is where the new “clash of civilizations” comes in precisely because China has gained the ability to challenge the West s vision for the world on a scale never seen before and even surpassing that of the former Soviet Union Contemporary China frames itself as a model within a multipolar order, seeking to reject the Western-centric version which has dominated the world for centuries and allowed these countries to exploit and change others In doing so China refuses Westernization and positions itself as its own civilizational pole

Of course, it is not alone, and Beijing finds support from many nations that have similarly been “net losers” and subject to colonialism and who all seek a fairer international system For example this has great appeal to countries in Africa the Middle East, Latin America, South Asia and, of course, Russia Many of these countries see the onslaught of Western values not only as historical threats to their national sovereignty but also to their own cultural identity Why for example is a country such as the United Arab Emirates a traditional Western partner, now so pro-China?

As a highly conservative Arab state, it views the pursuit of Western liberalism as a threat to its own Islamic values, and sees support in a Chinese state which even espousing a different ideology encourages plurality and respect for different civilizations as opposed to Western evangelism

Apart from very subservient countries such as Japan, the rest of the world has never wanted to be dominated by the West That doesn’t mean they are hostile to the West but it does represent a longing to be treated as equal and to exist on their own terms as opposed to being at the bottom of an economic and value hierarchy which only benefits a small group of countries As such, the new Cold War could very much be built on a “clash of civilizations ” because it is Western liberalism up against those who elect not to live by its premises

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR

S C O : C H I N A I S S U E S F I V E - P O I N T P R O P O S A L T O C O U N T E R

H E G E M O N I S M , U P H O L D M U LT I L AT E R A L I S M

CHINESE State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang called on the members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to build a closer SCO community with a shared future at a time when the world faces challenges and crisis including the resurgence of the Cold War mentality, surging unilateral protectionism and rising hegemonism while proposing a five-point suggestion at the SCO Foreign Ministers Meeting in Goa India on Friday Chinese experts hailed the SCO meeting as a success that fully demonstrated the attraction of the SCO philosophy, namely, promoting regional stability and development through equality and mutually beneficial cooperation openness and inclusiveness This is in stark contrast to the confrontational mindset and bloc politics of some Western politicians

In the context of the intensifying game between major powers, maintaining the momentum of SCO solidarity and cooperation is of great significance to global governance

as well as the process of multi-polarization they said During the two-day event SCO members agreed to further strengthen security cooperation and jointly fight terrorism separatism, drug trafficking, and cyber crimes They also agreed to promote cooperation in the fields of transport, energy, finance investment free trade and digital

economy as well as environmental protection and jointly deal with climate change according to a readout from the Chinese Foreign Ministry

On regional issues, SCO members support Afghanistan in achieving national stability and reconstruction, support the SCO in strengthening cooperation with the UN and

BRICS safeguard the principles of the UN Charter and uphold multilateralism They agreed to strengthen the establishment of a regional anti-terrorist structure

All parties agreed to advance the SCO enlargement process in an orderly manner and further enhance the international influence of the SCO According to reports Iran and Belarus are expected to be the newest SCO members in the future

The SCO Foreign Ministers Meeting has made comprehensive preparations for the SCO summit to be held in New Delhi in July according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry Li Yongquan director of the Eurasian Social Development Research at the Development Research Center of the State Council, told the Global Times on Friday that the consensus reached by SCO foreign ministers showed that the SCO member states are as committed as ever to cooperation in security, and at the same time hope to make breakthroughs in new areas such as cyber space and supply chains

The consensus shows that the SCO s philosophy and development prospects have been fully recognized by its member states, and reflects the SCO’s role as an important

Russia accuses US of ‘masterminding’ Kremlin drone attack

MOSCOW Ag e n c e s

Moscow accused the US of masterminding a drone attack on the Kremlin, a charge denied by Washington, and said

Ukrainian sabotage on Russian territory had reached “unprecedented momentum” Moscow said President Vladimir Putin was working from the Kremlin the day after the attack which it said was a Ukrainian attempt to kill him Decisions on such attacks are not made in Kyiv, but in Washington,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said “Kyiv only does what it is told to do Washington should understand clearly that we know this he said

Ukraine has denied responsibility with President Volodymyr Zelensky saying We do not attack Moscow or Putin

The United States has also denied any involvement “Peskov is just lying there pure and simple ” John Kirby spokesman for the White House National Security Council said on MSNBC

Throughout its more than year-long offensive in Ukraine, Moscow has maintained that Kyiv is taking orders from the United States accusing the West of

leading a war against Russia by proxy

Another Ukraine ally, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, warned Moscow “not to use this alleged attack as an excuse” to escalate the conflict The Kremlin attack came as Russia prepares to mark one of its main holidays on May 9 celebrating the Soviet victory over

that caused fires

And early Thursday evening, Russiainstalled authorities in Crimea a peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014 said their forces had downed a drone near an airbase in the region

The Kremlin has insisted Moscow s May 9 parade will go ahead despite the attacks in border regions and in the heart of Russian power but under “strengthened” security Russian television on Thursday showed Putin in the Kremlin for the first time since the drone attack

The Russian leader does not plan any address on this topic , said his spokesman Moscow did however acknowledge that the country was facing an “unprecedented” wave of sabotage

multilateral platform for practical cooperation and communication among countries Zhao Huirong, an Eastern European studies expert from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Friday ‘SHANGHAI SPIRIT’:

On Friday Qin stressed the need to carry forward the Shanghai Spirit or the undergirding values and guidelines for the SCO featuring mutual trust mutual benefit equality, consultation, respect for diversity of civilizations, and pursuit of common development

With that premise Qin called on SCO members to uphold strategic autonomy strengthen unity and mutual trust and oppose external forces meddling in regional affairs and instigating color revolutions

Qin also suggested continuing to deepen security cooperation and resolutely cracking down on all forms of terrorism, drug trafficking and transnational organized crime H e a l s o s u g g e s t e d t h a t S C O m e m b e r s r e s o l u t e l y r e s i s t a n y a c t i o n t h a t u n d e rm i n e s t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l e c o n o m i c a n d t r a d e o r d e r a n d m a r k e t r u l e s , a n d t h a t t h e s t a b i l i t y o f i n d u s t r i a l a n d s u p p l y c h a i n s b e m a i n t a i n e d

People in IIOJK rally against opening of wine shops

It has not released official images of the attack Unverified social media images showed a drone hitting the Kremlin Senate building Peskov said two copper sheets on the dome of the 18th-century building had been damaged by fire

US

can’t use Philippine militar y bases for China offensive: President Marcos

MARCOS

Ag e n c i e s

Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr has said the U S can t use military bases in his country for “offensive action” against China in the event of a future military conflict over the Taiwan region Marcos made a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington D C saying that the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) that allows access to bases in the Philippines was conceived to deal with the effects of climate change Marcos said he told U S President Joe Biden the military bases are not intended to attack anyone or any country including China He said use of EDCA bases for offensive action would be outside the parameters of what Manila had discussed with the U S and added that the U S had never brought up the possibility that they would be used as staging areas for offensive action against any country Manila’s ties with Washington have deepened under Marcos and he granted the U S military access to four more military bases in February U S Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said after a meeting of the defense and foreign ministers of the U S and the Philippines last month that it was too early to discuss what assets Washington would like to station at Philippine bases Marcos came to Washington D C for a summit with Biden seeking clarity on the extent of the U S commitment to protect his country under a 1951 security pact amid rising tensions in the South China Sea Biden said after their meeting on Monday the U S commitment to the defense of its ally was ironclad,” including in the South China Sea Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that the South China Sea is the common home of regional countries and should not become a hunting ground for forces outside the region

the Nazis in World War II with a traditional military parade in Red Square

It came after five days of apparent sabotage attacks, including trains derailed by explosions and massive fires in annexed Crimea On Thursday Russia’s southern Krasnodar and Rostov regions both near Ukraine reported drone strikes

“They have been or will be replaced everything will be like new There is no other damage As Moscow accused the United States of planning the Kremlin attack, Ukraine s Zelensky arrived on a surprise visit to The Hague

S ehrai paid glowing tribute on second mar tyrdom anniversar y in IIOJ&K

SRINAGAR Ag e n c i e s

In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K) All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) leaders and organizations have paid glowing tributes to senior APHC leader and Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Jammu and Kashmir Chairman Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai on his second martyrdom anniversary According to Kashmir Media Service senior APHC leader Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai died in Indian police custody in Jammu on May 5, 2021

T h e A P H C l e a d e r s , i n c l u d i n g A b d u l A h a d P a r r a G h u l a m M u h a m m a d K h a n S o p o r i Z a mr o o d a H a b i b Ya s m e e n R a j a F a r i d a B e h a n j i S y e d B a s h i r A nd r a b i , J a v e d A h m e d M i r, J a m e e l A h m a d M i r, D r M u s a i b , Te h r e e ke - H u r r i y a t J a m m u a n d K a s h m i r, J a m m u a n d K a s h m i r D e m o c r a t i c Yo u t h F o r u m a n d J a m m u a n d

K a s h m i r P i r P a n j a l F r e e d o m M o v e m e n t C h a i r m a n I s r a r A h m e d i n t h e i r s e p a r a t e s t a t em e n t s i s s u e d i n S r i n a g a r s a i d t h a t t h e m a r t y r d o m o f A s h r a f S e h r a i a n d s a c r i f i c e s o f o t h e r K a s h m i r i m a r t y r s s h o u l d n o t b e f o rg o t t e n a n d t h e i r m i s s i o n f o r r i g h t t o s e l fd e t e r m i n a t i o n w o u l d b e a c c o mp l i s h e d a t a l l c o s t s

The statements said the people who were responsible for his custodial death are yet to be brought to justice and reiterated that the people of Kashmir would continue their true demand of right to self-deter-

mination till complete success It said that the Indian government was directly responsible for Sehrai s custodial murder It added that there was dire need to have a credible investigation into the incident to ascertain the real facts that led to the tragic death of the Kashmiri leader Meanwhile APHC-AJK chapter paid homage to Shaheed Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai on the occasion of his second death anniversary APHC-AJK chapter Convener Mahmood Ahmed Saghar General Secretary Sheikh Abdulmatin and Information Secretary Imtiaz Wani in a joint statement issued in Islamabad strongly condemned the custodial killing of senior APHC leader Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai in Udhampur jail by the Modi-led fascist Indian government They called the death of Shaheed Muhammad Ashraf Sahrai as an act of deliberate custodial killing for which full responsibility rests on the fascist Modi-led Indian government

Iran, Syria vow to cement ties as Raisi wraps up Damasc us visit

tries The pair also expressed a “willingness to take any action to develop commercial-economic

He also praised Syria for “achieving victory” in the country’s war and invited Assad who farewelled him at Damascus airport to officially visit Tehran

The Syrian conflict was sparked by the repression of peaceful protesters in 2011 and has killed more than 500 000 people and displaced millions

Large parts of northern Syria remain outside of government control

Raisi s visit comes weeks after Iran and arch-rival Saudi Arabia agreed to restore ties prompting regional capitals to re-engage with the internationally isolated Damascus and Tehran governments

SRINAGAR Ag e n c i e s I n I n d i a n i l l e g a l l y o c c u p i e d J a m m u a n d K a s h m i r p e o p l e s t a g e d p r o t e s t s a g a i n s t a u t h o r i t i e s d e c is i o n t o o p e n w i n e s h o p s i n B a r a m u l l a a n d D o d a d i s t r i c t s R e s i d e n t s o f t h e L a g a m a a r e a o f U r i i n B a r a m u l l a d i s t r i c t h e l d a p r o t e s t d e m o n s t r a t i o n a g a i n s t t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a l i q u o r s h o p o n t h e S r i n a g a r- M u z a ff a r a b a d r o a d T h e p r o t e s t e r s s a i d o n o n e h a n d t h e o c c u p a t i o n a u t h o r i t i e s a r e s a y i n g t h a t t h e y a r e m a k i n g e ff o r t s t o e l i m i n a t e t h e d r u g m e n a c e f r o m s o c i e t y, w h i l e o n t h e o t h e r, t h e y a r e m a k i n g t h e d r u g s e a s i l y a c c e s s i b l e b y o p e n i n g w i n e s h o p s i n t h e a r e a A p r o t e s t e r m e n t i o n e d t h a t a m o s q u e i s s i t u a t e d r i g h t o p p o s i t e t o t h e p r op o s e d s i t e o f a l i q u o r s h o p w h i c h s p e a k s v o l u m e s a b o u t t h e a u t h o r i t i e s d i s r e g a r d t o w a r d s t h e p e op l e s r e l i g i o u s s e n t i m e n t s T h e r e s i d e n t s s a i d t h a t t h e h i g h e s t a u t h o r i t i e s m u s t i n t e r v e n e a n d p r e v e n t t h e d e p a r t m e n t c o n c e r n e d f r o m o p e n i n g w i n e s h o p s i n t h e a r e a A s i m i l a r p r o t e s t w a s h e l d b y t h e r e s i d e n t s o f G a n d o h a r e a i n D o d a w h e r e t h e p r o t e s t e r s b l o c k e d G a n d o h - J i e r o a d a g a i n s t t h e o p e n i n g o f w i n e s h o p s i n D a d a r G a n d o h n e a r p r iv a t e s c h o o l s a t S u b - D i s t r i c t H e a d q u a r t e r s G a nd o h T h e p r o t e s t e r s e s p e c i a l l y w o m e n r e s i d i n g i n G a n d o h a n d D a d h a r, w e r e c h a n t i n g s l o g a n s a g a i n s t t h e o p e n i n g o f t h e w i n e s h o p s i n t h e r e s id e n t i a l a r e a s T h e y s a i d t h a t t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n w a s d e l i b e r a t e l y i n d u l g i n g t h e y o u t h i n d r u g a dd i c t i o n b y o p e n i n g s u c h s h o p s i n p o p u l a t e d a r e a s I t i s d i ff i c u l t f o r w o m e n g i r l s a n d s c h o o l g o i n g c h i l d r e n t o p a s s f r o m t h e f r o n t o f t h e w i n e s h o p w h i c h w a s e s t a b l i s h e d n e a r t h e t w o p r i v a t e s c h o o l s , t h e y s a i d T h e y a l s o s a i d t h a t t h e a ut h o r i t i e s w e r e v i o l a t i n g r u l e s a n d r e g u l a t i o n s b y o p e n i n g t h e w i n e s h o p s i n p o p u l a t e d a r e a s a n d n e a r r e l i g i o u s a n d e d u c a t i o n a l p l a c e s w h i c h w a s n o t a c c e p t a b l e P e r t i n e n t l y a f t e r t h e r e v o c a t i o n o f I I O J K s s p e c i a l s t a t u s i n A u g u s t 2 0 1 9 t h e M o d il e d I n d i a n g o v e r n m e n t i s f o r c e f u l l y i m p l e m e n t i n g i t s a n t i - M u s l i m a g e n d a i n t h e o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r y, a n d o p e n i n g o f w i n e s h o p s i n M u s l i m i n h a b i t e d a r e a s i s p a r t o f i t s n e f a r i o u s p l a n a s d r i n k i n g a n d s a l e o f l i q u o r i s s t r i c t l y p r o h i b i t e d i n I s l a m DAMASCUS Ag e n c i e s Iran and Syria agreed to boost ties and d e v e l o p e c o n o m i c r e l a t i o n s , w i t h a focus on reconstruction, as the Islamic r e p u b l i c ’s P r e s i d e n t E b r a h i m R a i s i o n F r i d a y c o n c l u d e d a l a n d m a r k v i s i t t o Damascus Te h r a n h a s b e e n a k e y a l l y t o D a m a s c u s t h r o u g h o u t S y r i a s l o n gr u n n i n g w a r, o f f e r i n g v i t a l e c o n o m i c a n d m i l i t a r y a s s i s t a n c e t h a t h a s h e l p e d t h e S y r i a n g o v e r n m e n t c l a w b a c k m o s t o f t h e t e r r i t o r y i t l o s t a t t h e s t a r t o f t h e c o n f l i c

On Sunday Arab League foreign ministers will hold an emergency meeting discussing the conflict in Sudan and Syria s readmission to the bloc after it was suspended in 2011 for its brutal crackdown on protesters

CORPORATE CORNER Bank Alfalah par tners with Q istBazaar

k a r a c h i: Bank Alfalah one of the largest commercial banks in Pakistan has made a significant entry into the venture capital ecosystem as it has signed an agreement to acquire a 7 2% equity stake worth PKR 140 million in QistBazaar, a fast-growing, Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) licensed Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) non-bank financial company (NBFCs) platform The acquisition marks a breakthrough in the country s fintech landscape as it is the first time a commercial bank has taken an equity stake in a BNPL fintech With this collaboration, the Bank aims to transform the BNPL landscape in Pakistan and pave the way for more collaboration between commercial banks and fintech P R

Dawlance wins ISO/IEC 17025

Revival of Railway system key to boost Pak-afghan tRade: fCa a PResident

tH E Frontier Customs Agents Association (FCAA) has urged for the activation of the railway system between Afghanistan and Pakistan to boost trade between the two brotherly neighbor countries According to FCAA President Ziaul Haq the absence of a functioning railway line since past two decades has led to the failure of the Afghan Trade Transit Port in Chaman This has resulted in exporters from the province resorting to using private trucks to transport their goods to Karachi, leading to a significant setback for the province s largest industries including gems marble handicrafts furniture honey carpet and matches

Japan CG speaks at ceremony to mark World Press

Freedom D ay

k a r a c h i: Pakistan Japan Literature Forum and Pakistan Print and Electronic Media Foundation jointly celebrated World Press Freedom Day This event was held at Japan Information and Cultural Center, The Consulate General of Japan, Karachi, which was hosted by Japanese Consulate and Pakistan Japan Literature Forum Among the main speakers of the event were ZH Khurram President of Pakistan Print and Electronic Media Foundation, Khurram Sohail, Founder of Pakistan Japan Literature and Deputy Consul General by The Consulate General of Japan in Karachi, Mr Nakagawa Yoshishi On this occasion, all the speakers discussed the aims and objectives of the day celebrated globally The services and sacrifices of journalists in Pakistan were acknowledged Along with this; the struggle of Japanese journalists was also mentioned On this occasion, both private organizations Literary and journalistic activities were also introduced and mentioned, which were presented by Khurshid Haider and Syed Naseem Shah P R

COMSATS, Syndesis Health Inc. join hands for Genomic S equencing Programs

Haq emphasized that it is crucial to utilize the Afghan Transit Trade Port instead of booking goods through Karachi Port Additionally the replacement of

Afghan Transit Trade Cargo by private trucks has caused unemployment for more than 200 custom clearing agents in the province Therefore the activation of the

Abdullah Nasser Lootah c alls on Ac ting S indh Governor Agha S iraj D urrani

T

Mr Abdullah Nasser Lootah Vice Chairman Nasser Abdulla Lootah Group, a prominent businessman from UAE and a Sponsor of Summit Bank, called on the acting Governor of Sindh, Agha

Siraj Khan Durrani at Sindh Governor s House on Friday Board of Director Mr Salman Fazli and President Summit Bank Jawad

Majid Khan were also present on the occasion Discussion on promotion of mutual trade, investment opportunities in health education and other issues of mutual cooperation were discussed in detail on the occasion

Talking to the delegation, the acting Governor Sindh Agha Siraj Durrani said that there are favorable investment opportunities available in Sindh

Acting Governor Sindh said that investments in health, education and energy sectors in Karachi, the economic hub of the country are available with incentives under ease of doing business

He assured that all possible help and support would be provided to the investors

Mr Abdullah Nasser Lootah outlined the transformation of his bank into a full-fledged Islamic

Bank, complete overhaul of bank s operational capabilitiies and oward digitalization in accordance with the modern banking practices and rebranding of the bank to give a new outlook and identity to the customers Mr Lootah, also expressed his company intentions to install a power plant in Karachi while establishment of a university is also under consideration

Ahsan Iqbal c alls for peace promotion in society

the youth from hatred and terrorism He said that the virus of hatred in the human mind destroys intelligence and its ability to think in a positive way

railway system is essential to revive the Afghan Trade Transit Port and create job opportunities for custom clearing agents

In a meeting with the newly-appointed Chief Collector Customs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Fiaz Anwar a four-member delegation led by President Ziaul Haq presented recommendations to address the challenges in the way of a smooth trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan

The delegation highlighted that the issuance of provisional licenses for customs stations in Torkham Ghulam Khan, Kharlachi, and Angoor Adda has led to ongoing illegal incidents The delegation’s recommendations will be instrumental in ensuring the smooth flow of trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan and addressing the issue of illegal activities at customs stations

PAF makes wish come true for child suffering from thalassemia

i s l a m a b a d: The Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Syndesis Health Inc USA, for Genomic Sequencing Programs

The MoU will provide a broad framework for collaborative activities aimed at providing better healthcare to the citizens, supporting curative drugs development and devising guidelines to help in managing pharmaceutical products

Ambassador Dr Mohammad Nafees Zakaria

Executive Director COMSATS and Mr Kamil Mehmood, Co-Founder & Director Syndesis Health Inc , signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organizations The signing ceremony held at COMSATS Secretariat in Islamabad was participated by Heads / Representatives of diplomatic missions of COMSATS Member States in Islamabad

Secretary Incharge Ministry of Science & Technology – focal ministry of the host country for COMSATS, Mr Usman Akhtar Bajwa, senior officials of relevant ministries, as well as representatives from print and electronic media P R

E P O R T Federal Minister for Planning Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal said hatred, extremism and intolerance are major obstacles in the way of peace, national unity and sustainable economic development in the country He was addressing an interna-

tional Islamic peace conference on national accord for peace inclusive education social reconstruction and sustainable economic development organized by the Islamic Research Institute (IRI) of the International Islamic University (IIUI) held here at Faisal Masjid

He said that after escaping a terrorist attack I decided to save

A h s a n I q b a l s a i d t h a t t h e base of conflict and violence is p r e j u d i c e a n d i n t o l e r a n c e a s i t leads to extremism The federal minister said that the success of a n y n a t i o n d e p e n d s o n t h e u t il i z a t i o n o f c o l l e c t i v e c a p a c i t y He further said that polarization is the biggest enemy of national u n i t y H e s a i d i n v e s t m e n t m u s t be continuously provided with a favorable environment R e f e r r i n g t o t h e t e r r o r i s m ’s i m p a c t o n t h e c o u n t r y h e s a i d P a k i s t a n h a s l o s t t h o u s a n d s o f l i v e s a n d b i l l i o n s o f d o l l a r s d u e t o e x t r e m i s m A h s a n I q b a l s a i d d e v e l o p m e n t a n d p r o g r e s s i s i m p o s s i b l e w i t h o u t p e a c e a n d s t a b i l i t y

Beaconhouse launches Pakistan’s first Inc ubator S parkTank for school-going students

LAHORE

P R

Beaconhouse, Pakistan s has launched the country s first business incubator for students aged 10-19 years SparkTank by Beaconhouse is a unique platform for students from all public and private schools of the country This ground-breaking initiative aims to develop the values of innovation and entrepreneurship from an early age

After successful events in Lahore and Karachi the launch of SparkTank concluded on its third day with an exciting event in Islamabad Hundreds of applications had been received from across Pakistan and shortlisted students got the unique opportunity

to showcase their business ideas products and services to a diverse audience including entrepreneurs investors industry experts and members of the startup community

i s l a m a b a d: While showing extreme compassion for Master Abdullah Naveed, a bright child suffering from thalassemia, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force made possible his life time dream come true by making him a PAF pilot for one day at an operational base of Pakistan Air Force It was a dream of Abdullah Naveed to become a PAF fighter pilot which in indicative of the traditional affiliation of entire Pakistani young generation with PAF This activity which was sponsored by Make a Wish Foundation, Pakistan, Master Abdullah visited an Operational Base of PAF where he was given an honorary rank by Air Officer Commanding Southern Air Command Air Vice Marshal Khalid Mehmood and Base Commander Air Commodore Asim Rana in a customary way used in PAF The child was also given a simulated experience of a fighter aircraft and visited various units / wings of the base Parents of Abdullah and founding President of Make- A-Wish Foundation Mr Ishtiaq Baig also accompanied him Abdullah was elated and jubilant and showed extreme joy upon undergoing this unique and unprecedented experience P R

PARC hosts national dialogue on agric ultural research

i s l a m a b a d: Organized by Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), the three day National Dialogue on Agricultural Research successfully concluded at the National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad At the closing ceremony of the Dialogue the Chief Guest Honorable Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Rana Tanveer Hussain commended PARC for organizing a comprehensive and goal-oriented dialogue that involved all stakeholders The Minister emphasized that the agriculture sector is crucial to Pakistan's economy and stressed the importance of maximizing its potential to ensure food and nutritional security He urged all the researchers to establish a purely indigenous and self-reliant agricultural research which is aligned with the international standards of food and nutritional security He added that the government is fully committed to consistently provide financial support for research and scholarships to the researchers and encouraged them to engage with the international scientists community in order to attain latest knowledge and expertise P R

Canton Fair: Pakistani entrepreneurs bridging trade relations with the World

BEIJING

A G E N C I E S

Canton Fair paves the way bridging trade relations of Pakistani entrepreneurs with China and the rest world, according to a report published by China Economic Net (CEN) on Friday

“When I heard that there will be an international booth here and a lot of international visitors will be participating I feel like it s a must to come here to find out the possibility of doing business with China as well as the whole world,” Rana Javed Akhtar, Chief Executive, M K Sons (Pvt ) Ltd told CEN while attending the 133rd China Import and Export Fair held in

fairs in China, so we are eager to come here and hopefully more coordination will be seen in the future he pinpointed As one of the largest manufacturers of writing instruments and stationery items and one of the leading exporters to the globe, Piano Exports FZCO showcased its dazzling products with price & quality combination to international visitors

Though it is the very first time being here Fayyaz was quite confident about the future performance of products coming from an old brand established in 1965

As Pakistani entrepreneurs see it, their Make-in-Pakistan products can make its way in the Chinese market, and even beyond it Pakistani textile products have their own edges here Akhtar told China Economic Net As China is a fast developing country, Pakistan with its specialization in making certain textile goods will be able to break into this market with retailers “There should be more visits and exchanges between both countries he suggested

ADB pl Ans increAseD climAte portfolio in pAkistAn through next 5-yeAr pArtnership pl An

tH E Asian Development Bank (ADB) is planning to increase

transition mechanism and to prepare a regional climate change strategy and action plan for central and West Asia

The ADB is targeting delivering at least $100 billion in climate financing across Asia and the Pacific for 20192030 and committed $6 7bn in climate financing in 2022 including over $890 million in central and West Asia

Meanwhile, a new study from the ADB has warned that water scarcity, heatwaves, shrinking glaciers, droughts, and floods are the largest climate changerelated problems facing Pakistan which is also at risk from rising sea levels

Chinese FM Qin Gang arrives on two - day official visit

ISLAMABAD M I A N A B R A R

gov t decides probe against pti-era social media influencers

ISLAMABAD

The government on Friday decided to launch investigation against the social media influencers recruited during the tenure of the Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) government

According to official sources as many as 1 100 accounts have been sent to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for investigation of being used against the state and state institutions

The social media influencers were recruited by the PTI government under the Annual Development Scheme for publicising the government’s initiatives the informed sources said Rs242 6 million had been spent on the social media influencers in terms of salaries The current caretaker government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has terminated the project, they added The social media influencers had been accused of spreading propaganda against the state and state institutions

China’s State Councillor and Foreign Minister, Mr Qin Gang arrived here on Friday on a two-day official visit to Pakistan to attend the Pakistan-China Strategic Dialogue the Foreign Office said

This is the first official visit of Qin Gang to Pakistan after taking over as China’s State Councillor and Foreign Minister The Chinese foreign minister will participate in the 5th China-Pakistan-

Afghanistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers Dialogue scheduled to be held on Saturday

A high-level Afghan delegation led by Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has already arrived in Islamabad The fourth round of the PakistanChina Strategic Dialogue will be co-chaired by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and his Chinese counterpart, Qin Gang

The structured mechanism is designed to review bilateral cooperation in key areas The Foreign Office said that during the strategic dialogue both sides will reaffirm the abiding vitality of the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between Pakistan and China

Furthermore they will develop a roadmap for multidimensional cooperation and discuss the evolving regional and global land-

scape according to the FO The third round of the Pakistan-China Strategic Dialogue took place in July 2021 in Chengdu, China

The visit by Qin underscores the importance of Pakistan and China’s relationship and their commitment to further strengthening their strategic partnership

Meanwhile China s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, in a statement highlighted the significance of Qin’s visit to Pakistan, stating that it was an important aspect of the recent close and frequent interactions between high-level officials of China and Pakistan

The spokesperson also added that during this visit, both sides will engage in in-person and indepth communication regarding bilateral relations as well as the international and regional situation

The spokesperson reiterated that China and Pakistan shared an allweather strategic cooperative partnership and were ironclad friends

In this context, the spokesperson recalled Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ’s “successful visit to China” in November last year during which the leaders of both countries charted a course for bilateral relations

Additionally, the premiers of China and Pakistan also had a phone call on April 27 to further strengthen their strategic partnership ”

“China hopes that this visit will follow through on the impor-

marriyum felicitates nation over improvement in press freedom index

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T

Minister for Information and Broadcasting

Marriyum Aurangzeb has expressed satisfaction over Pakistan s improvement in the World Press Freedom Index by seven points In a statement on Friday she said this is a reflection of tolerating difference of opinion and indicates also that we are on the right direction with good intent

tant common understandings between the leaders of the two countries, further deepen strategic communication and practical cooperation, promote the building of an ever closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era and contribute positive energy to the region and the wider world the official added

Meanwhile, Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi also arrived in the country on a four-day official visit

According to the Foreign Office spokesperson Muttaqi will lead a high-level delegation which includes Acting Afghan Minister for Commerce and Industry Haji Nooruddin Azizi, and senior officials from the Afghan Ministries of Foreign Affairs Transport and Trade

Apart from holding bilateral meetings the minister will also participate in the 5th China-PakistanAfghanistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue on Saturday

The visit of the Acting Afghan Foreign Minister is a continuation of Pakistan s political engagement process with Afghanistan which includes the visit of Pakistan s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar to Kabul on November 29 last year and the visit of a high-level delegation led by the Defence Minister Khawaja Asif to Kabul on February 22 this year

PM interac ts with King Charles III, British PM

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif

Friday interacted with King Charles III and Prime Minister of Britain Rishi Sunak on the sidelines of the meeting of leaders of Commonwealth countries

The prime minister felicitated both the British dignitaries for the excellent arrangements made for the elaborate two-day ceremonies being held to celebrate the coronation of the new king

He also expressed deep appreciation for the generous assistance of the United Kingdom in the wake of the disastrous floods that struck Pakistan last year

A district and sessions court in the federal capital will frame charges against former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in Toshakhana case on May 10 (Wednesday)

Islamabad Additional District and Sessions Judge

Humayun Dilawar rejected both PTI petitions and summoned former premier Imran Khan on May 10 in person for indictment Imran s counsel Khawaja Haris had filed a petition in the court against the admissibility of the Toshakhana case under the Elections ACT

The reference alleges that Imran failed to share details of the gifts he retained from the Toshaskhana during his tenure as the prime minister

The prime minister suggested that both countries needed to enhance bilateral relations in various fields In this regard he proposed the establishment of a joint commission that would be headed by the leaders of the two countries King Charles III and the British PM Rishi Sunak also showed their interest in further strengthening the bilateral relations between the two countries and praised the Pakistani community based in the United King-

The Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA) the only representative of the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) on the other hand claimed that the Ministry had not addressed their reservations about NSC PAMA argued that the constitution of NSC is clearly spelled out in section 4 of the Pakistan Standards Rules 2008 and any lawfully constituted body needs to follow these rules

dom, for its role in the development of the UK

On the occasion PM Shehbaz called upon leaders of the Commonwealth countries to mark the accession of King Charles III as the dawn of a new era and the opening of new vistas and fresh avenues for the remarkable family of nations of Commonwealth

While speaking at a meeting of Commonwealth leaders here he urged the leaders to re-imagine and reinvigorate the Common-

wealth and infuse it with ever greater synergy and an even stronger sense of purpose The prime minister also spoke of his government s commitment to equipping the Pakistani youth with the right kind of skill sets and opportunities

He added that his government was empowering women and mainstreaming the marginalized youth religious and ethnic minorities persons with disabilities and the transgender community

She said the report by Reporters Without Borders shows that the government is pursuing a democratic path vis-avis the media This report she said manifests the difference between a democratic government and the undemocratic imposed government

The Information Minister said efforts are afoot to erase the stigma of ‘Media Predator ’ on Pakistan’s face She pointed out that Imran Khan was declared Media Predator in 2022 and during the last year of that dark reign the country dropped 12 points on World Press Freedom Index During the four year of Imran Khan s government Pakistan s overall ranking fell by eighteen points The Information Minister said Imran Khan s four year of mess is gradually being cleared She said the world is also recognizing that the era where different oppressive tactics were used against the media is gradually coming to an end

The Information Minister felicitated Pakistani nation and the media over improvement in Pakistan s ranking in Press Freedom Index She said it is welcoming that this progress on the media front has been achieved during the one year leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif

Marriyum Aurangzeb expressed her gratitude to God Almighty that the country has yet again earned a good name after exit from FATF grey list Paying glowing tributes to the journalists and their associations who waged a struggle for the freedom of expression and braved all sorts of oppression, the Information Minister said this journey of improvement will be continued with their cooperation and guidance She expressed the commitment to give further impetus to this constitutional right of freedom of expression and media

in a first , pakistan become number one oDi cricket team

LAHORE S TA F F R E P O R T

Pakistan has achieved the number one position in the ICC ODI rankings for the first time since the introduction of ICC’s official team raking system in 2005 after a comfortable win in the fourth ODI against New Zealand in Karachi on Friday Pakistan were fifth on the ODI rankings before the fivematch series started with a rating of 106 but jumped to the first position after winning four consecutive games against New Zealand who were in 2nd place before the series started in Rawalpindi last month

Babar ’s men are now on top of the ODI teams’ chart with 113 483 rating points followed by Australia with 113 286 and India with 112 638 They’ll further cement their place if they win the 5th ODI and complete the series clean sweep The ICC official ODI ranking system was introduced in 2005 and since then, Pakistan s previous best-ever was 3rd position The method of ICC ranking was developed by renowned statistician David Kendix The formula was also applied retrospectively to know the teams’ position before the ranking was officially launched According to the retrospective application of Kendix s formula in historical position Pakistan was last on top of ODI rankings in August 1991 However, that historical ranking stands no official status

standard of vehicles produced in Pakistan

consensus for implementing the approved standards An official at the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) claims that the automotive firms are even reluctant to accept the formation of the National Standard Committee (NSC) a body formed under the Pakistan Standards Rules 2008 The reluctance of the automotive firms to accept NSC is causing delays in the execution of the standard, an initiative taken for the first time in Pakistan to ensure the quality and standard of vehicles

Through a letter sent to the ministry recently, PAMA further argued that Pakistan Association of Auto Parts and Accessories Manufacturers (PAAPAM) is the only representative body of the large and vibrant vending industry of the country which is also duly registered with the Director-General of Trade Organizations (DGTO) The vending industry is subject specialists and has long been recognized in this role and has been accorded their rightful place on the NSC over the years as subject specialists

According to the letter of PAMA NSC was unilaterally reconstituted by the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) and the rightful representation was denied to PAMA and PAAPAM members The issue of constitution of the NSC was taken up with PSQCA time and again Various letters and emails on the subject are on record A meeting was arranged on July 04 2022 with Mohammad Ashraf Palari Director Standardization Ali Bux Soomro Director Conformity Assessment and Eng Benazir Faizi, Assistant Director Incharge Automotive Division BT QCA A breakthrough was achieved in this meeting between PAMA and PSQCA whereby PSQCA agreed to accommodate only four members in NSC while three others were agreed to be co-opted to NSC

On July 06, 2022, PAMA received an official notice of NSC meeting from PSQCA in which the members participated as de-

cided in the said meeting However the attitude of NSC was extremely hostile towards PAMA members who joined the meeting

They were told by the NSC members that since there was no notification of membership of OEMs, therefore, they should not be allowed to attend the meeting It was also said that in the presence of PAMA members things of importance cannot be discussed

The derogatory behavior displayed by the NSC members was prohibitive for any constructive and technical discussion The hostile attitude of the infirmly constituted NSC also spoke volumes about how the highly technical matters would be treated going forward ” the association claimed

The lack of consensus between the government and automotive companies on forming NSC has been causing delays in implementing national standards for locally produced cars and their parts The issue needs to be resolved soon to ensure the quality and

It may be mentioned here that early this year the Cabinet Committee on Legislative Cases (CCLC) had approved the proposed safety standards for locally manufactured and assembled vehicles Following the development, Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) in consultation with all stakeholders which included the manufacturers/assemblers parts manufacturers Engineering Development Board (EDB) an arm of the Ministry of Industries, Ministry of Climate Change and others had developed the standard of some parts of the vehicles

Keeping in view the fact that the Government of Pakistan has acceded to the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP 29) of United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) it was decided to either formulate local standards based on UN Regulation or directly adopt relevant international regulations

imran to be indicted in toshakhana case

on may 10