24-06-22 ISB by Pakistan Today

PM ORDERS FORENSIC AUDIT OF POWER DISCOS OVER OVERBILLING, MDI MANIPUL ATION

A plan for implementing technological interventions such as transformers and smart metering will be submitted for consideration at the next meeting The meeting also reviewed the status of the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) and the progress on its restructuring and winding up A committee comprising the Minister for Economic Affairs, Ahad Khan Cheema, the Minister for Power, Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, and former MD NTDC Dr Faiz Ahmad Chaudhry has been formed to finalise the recommendations for the winding up of NTDC The Prime Minister has directed the Power Division to prepare a summary for the bifurcation of NTDC into the Pakistan Transmission and Dispatch Company (PTIDC) and the National Transmission Management Company (NTMC) after due diligence Additionally, the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA-G) and the National Power Control Center (NPCC) will be restructured to create an Independent System and Market Operator (ISMO)

The

Nepra

charges

Amid PTI’s protest call, Punjab imposes Section 144 for seven days

the drive of the party founder s followers Imran Khan will triumph People will triumph Pakistan will triumph Nothing can stop their momentum to realise their dream,” Hasan added

s Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and other

In par tnership with Profit S a t u r d a y, 2 2 J u n e , 2 0 2 4 I | 1 5 Z i l - H a j j , 1 4 4 5 R s 2 0 0 0 | Vo l X I V N o 3 5 1 I 8 Pa g e s I I s l a m a b a d E d i t i o n PR OFIT M O N I T O R I N G D E S K P R I M E Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the Power Division to initiate a forensic audit and inquiry into the issue of overbilling by power distribution companies (Discos) and the manipulation of Maximum Demand Indication (MDI) by the industrial sector According to a news report, these directives were issued during a meeting addressing load shedding power theft power tariffs and the restructuring of the power transmission system According to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), certain consumer categories do not have their actual load/MDI recorded Discos have suggested using either a fixed charge per connection or kilowatt of sanctioned load for recovery of fixed charges for these consumers NEPRA has decided to initially impose fixed charges at a fixed rate per month for such consumers, as outlined in the Schedule of Tariffs (SoT) NEPRA has instructed that by the next tariff petition adjustment request MDI for all consumers at all levels should be properly recorded To minimize the impact of increased fixed charges on these consumers, their variable rate (Rs/kWh) has been adjusted accordingly

meeting also discussed the delay in bill payments amounting to hundreds of billions of rupees by federal and provincial governments The

Power Division highlighted that the non-payment of bills by the public sector is exacerbating the already troubled power sector ’s financial situation

LAHORE S TA F F R E P O R T Ahead of the PTI s planned nationwide protests the Punjab government on Friday imposed Section 144 in view of the prevailing law and order situation , banning all kind of protests and public gatherings across the province The imposition of Section 144 in Punjab coincides with the PTI’s plans to carry out nationwide protests on Friday to press the demand for the release of incarcerated leader Imran Khan According to an order issued by the Home Department, Section 144 has been imposed with immediate effect and will remain in effect for seven days The Punjab Police say that Section 144 empowers authorities to issue orders in the public interest that may place a ban on an activity for a specific period The order states: “It has been observed that given the prevailing law and order situation and security threats any gathering/ assembly is likely to provide soft targets to terrorists and miscreants which not only pose serious security threats but is also likely to cause threat to public at peace and order as well as inconvenience to public at large Although the notification fell short of mentioning a specific reason for the imposition of Section 144 Home Secretary Noorul Amin Mengal wrote in the order that pressing and adequate grounds exist for proceeding under Section 144 as an immediate prevention and speedy remedy to ban forthwith certain activities in Punjab Assemblies gatherings sit-ins rallies processions demonstrations jalsas, dharnas, protests and other such activities have been prohibited effective immediately the order stated According to one post on social media platform X multiple illegal police raids were conducted on the houses of PTI leaders in Khanewal The party also claimed that the office of PTI leader PP-209 Khanewal Humayun Khan was raided and ransacked by the police Speaking in the National Assembly Leader of the Opposition Omar Ayub condemned the imposition of Section 144 and asked NA Deputy Speaker Ghulam Mustafa Shah to rule that the ban was a constitutional violation Condemning the ban PTI spokesperson Raoof Hasan described it as a shameful act on the part of the entire form 47 criminal government Posting on X, he claimed that imposing Section 144 demonstrated how “mortified” the government was of Imran adding that it would only spur

ISLAMABAD N E W S D E S K The World Bank s (WB) Board of Executive Directors approved $535 million in financing for Pakistan to support two projects a statement from the institution said Friday The additional financing for the Crisis Resilient Social Protection (CRISP) Programme aims to strengthen the country s social protection system and build shock resilience among poor and vulnerable households At the same time the Sindh Livestock and Aquaculture Sectors Transformation (LIVAQUA) Project will promote climate-smart and competitive small and medium producers in the livestock and aquaculture sectors in Sindh The catastrophic floods that hit Pakistan in 2022 were a tragic reminder of the importance to build resilience to such disasters including by strengthening both social protection and sectors that support economic growth and recovery said Najy Benhassine World Bank Country Director for Pakistan It is also imperative to help the vulnerable absorb climate shocks through innovative climate-smart technology and contingency planning ” The additional financing for CRISP ($400 million) will build on the programme s ongoing efforts to equip Pakistan s social protection system with the policy and delivery system foundations necessary for more effective and rapid responses to future crises The programme will focus on longer-term policy actions to further improve the national cash transfer program’s effectiveness coverage and federalprovincial coordination Since its inception the CRISP program has achieved significant results with regular safety net support to more than 9 million families and a demonstrated capability of quickly reaching 2 8 million families during the recent floods,” said Amjad Zafar Khan, Task Team Leader for the Project The additional financing would not only assist families in becoming more resilient to climate and economic shocks but also encourage the use of provincial capacities to take up a larger role in social assistance LIVAQUA ($135 million) will finance interventions to promote climate-smart production value addition and inclusive access to markets and help create opportunities for growth in the livestock and aquaculture sectors These will include improving sector policy and strategic frameworks, as well as evidence-based decision-making It will also contribute to strengthening the capacity of public and private providers to deliver essential knowledge inputs and services such as disease surveillance and control diagnostic laboratory services, breeding programs, food safety, and the development and transfer of green technologies LIVAQUA will cover all districts in Sindh using a phased approach It is expected to directly benefit more than 940 000 farm families including 930 000 livestock households and 10 000 aquaculture producers The project also includes measures to ensure female farmers’ participation in the project and narrow gender gaps “The project will improve the livelihoods of small and medium livestock and aquaculture producers increase their resilience to animal health and climaterelated shocks strengthen the overall growth of these two sectors in Sindh, and more broadly improve food and nutrition security and reduce the sector s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions,” said Myriam Chaudron Task Team Leader for the project WB approves $535m for Pakistan g DIRECTS POWER DIVISION TO PREPARE A SUMMARY FOR BIFURCATION OF NTDC INTO PTIDC, NATIONAL TRANSMISSION MANAGEMENT COMPANY AFTER DUE DILIGENCE ISLAMABAD M I A N A B R A R A senior Chinese minister on Friday urged Pakistan s political leadership to uphold unity and shun differences as internal stability is imperative for any nation to develop , saying that Pakistan is China’s “iron brother and time-tested friend” and China accorded a special place to Pakistan in its foreign policy and desired to strengthen the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership In a turbulent world of rising uncertainties, stability within the country is essential for development Faced with complex internal and external challenges Pakistan is navigating carefully through turbulent rivers ” Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC) Liu Jianchao said as he co-chaired the third meeting of the Pakistan-China Joint Consultative Mechanism (JCM) of the Political Parties on the CPEC alongside Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar This is the second time with a year China has publicly warned Pakistan against threats of internal split and instability as political discord and polarisation keep hurting Pakistan It was former Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang on May 6, 2023 had advised Pakistan to uphold unity and bring in stability to meet rising challenges “We sincerely hope the political forces in Pakistan will build consensus uphold stability and more effectively address domestic and external challenges so it can focus on growing the economy, Qin had said, addressing a press briefing

political

were present during the event PTI’s Barrister Ali Zafar and Raoof Hasan PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam s Emir Fazlur Rehman Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan

attendance

Chinese official said that there can be sustainable development only when all political parties in a country join hands to ensure political and social stability And for all these years China has always been striving hard to maintain a good balance of reform, development, and stability each of the three fundamentals is indispensable ” The minister noted that over the years, CPEC has boosted Pakistan’s economic and social development However, he said that more efforts need to be made, especially when it comes to security We are ready to build the upgraded version of CPEC [ ] we need to improve security and business environment Security threats are the main hazards disturbing CPEC cooperation, he highlighted In the case of Pakistan, he said, the primary factor shaking the confidence of Chinese investors is the security situation “Without security, the business environment cannot really improve which can undermine development in the long run At the same time he also appreciated the Pakistani security forces for their services in this regard Moving on, the senior official said that due to the wholehearted support of the people of both nations, Pakistan and China have become “iron friends” “Public support is the bedrock of the China-Pakistan relationship ” However voicing fears he said that the mutual affinity between the people of the countries is still not commensurate with the iron-clad friendship of the countries In particular, there s a rising risk of Western social media which has a huge impact on the younger generation, eroding the foundation of the China-Pakistan friendship Liu Jianchao said He said the Chinese government was ready to promote exchanges between the youth, media, think tanks, academics, and local governments, and help the public understand the friendship better He said the determination of both countries leaderships sent a clear message to the world that the China-Pakistan friendship was unbreakable He said Pakistan s government introduced 5Es to focus on five key areas presenting an important opportunity for two peoples to work together to promote the community of shared destiny Calling party-to-party relations an integral part of bilateral relations it was high time the parties contributed their wisdom to turn the blueprint into reality by understanding each other ’s development philosophy Po l i t i c i a n s s h o w r a r e u n i t y o v e r C P E C a s C h i n a u r g e s i n t e r n a l s t a b i l i t y f o r Pa k i s t a n’ s d e v e l o p m e n t PR OFIT M O N I T O R I N G D E S K The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has introduced a new electricity tariff structure which includes fixed monthly charges for all consumer categories effective from July 1 2024 The News reported that Nepra has also increased fixed charges by up to 300% for commercial consumers and up to 355% for industrial consumers These changes are aimed at helping distribution companies (Discos) boost revenue through fixed charges For residential consumers those using 301-400 units per month will pay Rs200 401-500 units will pay Rs400, 501-600 units will pay Rs600, 601-700 units will pay Rs800, and those using above 700 units will pay Rs1 000 per month Residential consumers with timeof-use (ToU) meters will also pay Rs1 000 in fixed charges monthly As per report, commercial consumers with a load less than 5kW will pay Rs1,000 per month, while those with a load of 5kW and above will now pay Rs2 000 up from the previous Rs500 reflecting a 300% increase For industrial consumers in the B1 category (using up to 25kW under ToU metering), the fixed charge will be Rs1,000 B2 category consumers (using up to 500kW) will see a 300% increase paying Rs2 000 instead of Rs500 per month B3 category consumers (using 5 000kW) will experience a 335% increase, paying Rs2,000 instead of Rs460 per month B4 category consumers (all loads) will also see a 355% increase with fixed charges rising to Rs2 000 from Rs440 C u r r e n t l y t h e c o s t s t r u c t u r e o f e l e c t r i c i t y c o m p r i s e s 7 2 % f i x e d charges and 28% variable charges, b u t f i x e d c h a rg e s o n l y c o n t r i b u t e 2 % t o r e v e n u e w i t h v a r i a b l e c h a rg e s m a k i n g u p 9 8 % T h i s d i screpancy has prompted the new tari ff d e s i g n t o b e t t e r a l i g n c o s t a n d revenue structures The government is set to submit a petition to Nepra seeking a uniform tariff for FY25 Nepra has determined an increase in the base tariff for FY25 at Rs5 72 per unit The proposed changes in fixed charges are part of this petition

the revised base tariff, the power sector, managed by the government, expects to generate over Rs3 763 trillion in revenue for FY25 For FY24

base tariff was set at Rs29 78 per unit with an increase of Rs4 96 per unit

C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 03

alongside his then Pakistani counterpart, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari after the closed-door strategic talks Leaders belonging to all major

parties including the Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP),

top leaders were in

The

With

the

The new base tariff for FY25 is expected to rise to Rs35 50 per unit

AGAINST OUTAGES IN KP

Medical repor t reveals Sanghar camel suffering from severe blood deficiency

KARACHI

s ta f f r e p o r t

The medical report of the injured camel whose leg was chopped off in Sanghar, has been issued by the Medical Board According to a report the camel is apparently normal but suffering from severe blood deficiency The Director General of the Institute of Health Sciences, Dr Nazir Hussain headed the medical board According to the medical report, the camel should get therapy continuously until its blood parameters return to normal In addition the report also recommended giving the camel a balanced diet, fresh grass, and animal feed until its wounds heal The report also suggested giving camels multivitamins and iron supplements The camel needs to be regularly cared for and supervised under animal observation,” the report read The report also recommended transfusions of blood of the camel A landlord in Sindh s Sanghar district allegedly chopped off a camel s leg as punishment for scavenging into his field for fodder According to

Pakistan’s

c urrent account records $270m deficit in M ay 2024

g Throughout eleven months of fiscal year FY24, current account registered a deficit of $464m

S eries of unidentified bodies discovered across L ahore during Eid holidays

LAHORE N p

During the Eid holidays a disturbing discovery of 26 unidentified bodies was made across various locations in Lahore The Lahore police reported multiple incidents, including the recovery of a 50-year-old woman’s body near Qainchi Stop in Kot Lakhpat area and two bodies in the Millat Park area

Additional discoveries include the bodies of a 70-year-old man in Green Town, a 45-year-old man near the Nawab Town Expo Centre, and a 55year-old man in the Ghalib Market area

Further reports noted a 35-year-old man found near the Sabzazar Metro Orange Line station in Allama Iqbal Town, with another body in the same market area The body of a 60-year-old inmate from Camp Jail was reported deceased during hospital treatment

Other recoveries include bodies in the Shahdara, factory area, Naseerabad near the Railway gate, High Court Chowk Mazang, Ichhra near Pakistani Chowk Qaiser Town Nishtar Colony on Ashiana Road Township near Chandni Chowk Australia Chowk Mughalpura Ali Park in Tibby City Gawalmandi, and the Sabzi Mandi on Ravi Road This series of incidents has raised concerns about public safety and law enforcement efficacy in the city

Politicians show rare unity over CPEC as China urges internal stability for Pakistan’s development

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

He said the affinity between the two peoples was not commensurate with the iron-clad nature of friendship and announced that IDCPC would invite 300 Pakistani parliamentarians to China in three years besides providing scholarships and vocational training to Pakistani youth

Highlighting the adverse impacts of Western social media on the young generation regarding bilateral relationships, he said China would also invite people from media on a yearly basis to better understand each other In his remarks Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Dar

reaffirmed Pakistan s commitment to enhance people-to-people linkages with China to deepen the sentiments of mutual respect, trust and understanding between the two countries

Dar said Pakistan-China friendship is a relationship of the past the present, and the future He said the strategic trust between the nations is unshakeable and nothing can undo it

The deputy prime minister said this meeting is a manifestation of a shared commitment to preserve and protect this relationship from the vagaries of national regional and international politics

Dar said there is complete

unanimity amongst all political parties in Pakistan on CPEC s importance for Pakistan s economic growth and sustainable development

The deputy prime minister said the CPEC is not merely a symbol of Pakistan-China friendship It is a shining emblem of a new vision for international cooperation He said the people of Pakistan will never forget China’s support in crucial times

Referring to Prime Minister

Shehbaz Sharif ’s recent visit to China

Dar said there was renewed consensus on upgradation of the corridor project

He said we are prioritising industry modern agriculture, Information Technology and mining and minerals

PESHAWAR s ta f f r e p o r t K HYBER-PAKHTUNKHWA (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Friday warned that prolonged load-shedding is making life unbearable for residents and could lead to an uncontrollable public backlash The chief minister chaired a meeting on Friday to review electricity loadshedding, which was also attended by the chief secretary, additional home chief secretary, principal secretary to the CM secretary of energy and senior police officials The meeting reviewed the situation of power outages in the province especially during Eid ul Adha, following discussions with federal authorities Officials briefed the CM on the latest load-shedding situation and other related issues They reported that with the provincial government s support nearly one billion rupees were recovered from high-loss areas in the last month PESCO installations and staff have been provided full security by the police, with dedicated teams deployed in each district It was disclosed in the briefing that despite promises of zero load-shedding during Eid ul Adha the commitment was not honoured PESCO statistics indicated that most areas in the province experienced 12 to 18 hours of load-shedding during the holiday Since May 1, there have been 81 different protest demonstrations against unscheduled load-shedding in the province For the first time women have also participated in protests against power outages The briefing warned that if the situation does not improve, there could be serious law and order problems in the province CM Gandapur stated that the provincial government is fully cooperating to resolve power-related issues as per their commitments He expressed disappointment that the federal government has not fulfilled its promises Despite significant recoveries from high-loss areas unscheduled loadshedding continues He highlighted that the severe loadshedding is making life unbearable for the residents of the province The public’s reaction to unscheduled load shedding is intensifying he added Protests against load-shedding are not driven by any political party or provincial government but are a genuine public issue People are struggling to get water for drinking at home and for ablution in mosques,” he added Gandapur warned that if the situation persists public reaction might spiral out of control He urged the federal government to take the matter seriously Earlier this week on Wednesday, the simmering feud between the K-P government and the federal government boiled over after CM Gandapur took matters into his own hands by storming into a grid station in Dera Ismail Khan and flipping the switch himself igniting a heated confrontation 03 NEWS Saturday 22 June 2024 | ISLAMABAD

BACKL ASH’

Gold price per tola soars by Rs1,600 in Pakistan PR OFIT N e w s D e s k Gold prices in Pakistan saw a significant rise on Friday tracking an upward trend in the international market In local markets the price per tola of gold reached Rs242 900 marking an increase of Rs1 600 within a single day According to data from the All Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA), the price for 10 grams of gold stood at Rs208 248 after a rise of Rs1 372 On the previous day Thursday the price per tola had remained steady at Rs241 300 in Pakistan Internationally the price of gold also saw an uptick reaching $2 363 per ounce with an additional premium of $20 following a $28 increase during the trading day, as reported by APGJSA Meanwhile, silver prices remained unchanged at Rs2,750 per tola Earlier in April gold had reached its peak price of Rs252 200 per tola in the local market reflecting fluctuations in global precious metal markets Former PML-N leaders unite to form ‘Awaam Pakistan’ par t y under Miftah KARACHI I N p Miftah Ismail, the former Finance Minister and ex-leader of the Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) has announced the launch date for his new political party Awaam Pakistan (AP) set to debut next month The announcement revealed that former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will serve as the first convener of the Awaam Pakistan Party Notable former PML-N members including Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan Abbasi Javed Abbasi Syed Zaeem Hussain Qadri Rana Zahid Tauseef Zahid Binnouri and Sardar Anwar Soomro are set to join the new party The group will also include former Health Minister Dr Zafar Mirza and ex-MQM MNA Sheikh Salahuddin The official launch ceremony for Awaam Pakistan is scheduled to take place in Islamabad on July 6 Karachi’s outskir ts to receive rain in coming days KARACHI s ta f f r e p o r t As the country expects “exceptional rains” this year Chief Meteorologist Sardar Sarfaraz said on Friday that rain was likely lash suburban areas of Karachi on June 22 or 23 Sarfaraz said that rain is expected in areas surrounding Super Highway, adding that there is a possibility of “more than normal” rains in Sindh including Karachi The weather in Sindh including Karachi remained dry and hot for the last few weeks but the spell has now been broken as Larkana Shikarpur Shahdakot Jacobabad and other parts of province received rain with thunderstorm today The rain brought the temperature down providing a much needed relief to the locals from the hot weather Furthermore the chief meteorologist said that the monsoon is likely to begin in Sindh after July 5 or 6 while it may begin in Punjab and Kashmir from June 29 or 30 Earlier this week a weather analyst told Geo News that the the monsoon season may begin from June 27 to July 4 across Pakistan Experts have predicted that the southern areas of Sindh including Karachi may experience “more than usual rains this year Munir Ak ram highlights anti-Pak istan disinformation at UN debate NEW YORK I N p Duringa High-Level Open Debate on Maintenance of International Peace and Security: Addressing Evolving Threats in Cyberspace” held by the Security Council on Friday Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Munir Akram called attention to widespread disinformation and cyber warfare affecting several countries, including Pakistan Ambassador Akram emphasized the need for a legally binding international agreement based on guidelines provided by the Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) He cited the 2019 and 2020 reports by EU DisinfoLab, which revealed extensive anti-Pakistan propaganda campaigns These reports uncovered a 15-yearlong massive disinformation operation involving over 10 fake NGOs accredited to the UN Human Rights Council more than 750 fake media outlets and 550 fraudulent websites The 2019 report provided evidence of resurrected deceased individuals being used to spread falsehoods against Pakistan stated Akram Highlighting the global ramifications of such disinformation campaigns Ambassador Akram underscored the need for comprehensive international attention He also spoke about a Pakistansponsored UN General Assembly resolution titled Countering Disinformation for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms This resolution stresses the responsibility of states to combat disinformation to preserve peace and promote cooperation among nations Furthermore Akram advocated for the framework of legal documents to align with the principles of the UN Charter, such as sovereignty, territorial integrity, and non-interference He proposed confidence-building measures to combat cyber threats including voluntary information exchange and international cooperation to bridge the digital divide The ambassador praised the recent launch of the Global Points of Contact Directory for ICT Security as a significant step toward building trust among states in cyber realms R e i t e r a t i n g P a k i s t a n s commitment Akram concluded With over 240 million people and a growing d i g i t a l l a n d s c a p e , P a k i s t a n i s k e e n o n utilizing digital technologies for socioeconomic advancement and improving g o v e r n a n c e a n d p u b l i c s e r v i c e e ff i c i e n c y PR OFIT M o N to r I N g D e s k Pakistan s current account showed a deficit of $270 million in May 2024 contrasting sharply with April s revised surplus of $499 million, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Friday Throughout the eleven months of fiscal year FY24 the current account registered a deficit of $464 million a significant improvement from the $3 76 billion deficit reported in the same period last year The country’s economic growth remained subdued while inflation remained high, contributing to a reduced current account deficit Increased exports and remittances further supported this trend Government policies such as high interest rates and import restrictions also aimed to narrow the current account gap In May 2024, Pakistan’s exports of goods and services amounted to $3 69 billion whereas imports totaled $5 93 billion Remittances during the same period reached $3 24 billion For the period of 11 months ending FY24, Pakistan s total exports of goods and services were $35 81 billion, while imports stood at $57 63 billion according to SBP figures Worker remittances totaled $27 1 billion marking an almost 8% increase from the previous year The current account balance is critical for Pakistan a nation heavily reliant on imports to sustain its economy A widening deficit strains the exchange rate and depletes official foreign exchange reserves Currently Pakistan is in negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a new extended bailout program aiming to bolster the country s foreign exchange reserves, which currently stand at $9 13 billion

CM GANDAPUR WARNS AGAINST ‘SEVERE PUBLIC

he said Sanghar SSP took notice of the incident after the video of camel with chopped leg went viral on social media Police officials said the peasant had refused to identify the culprit and press charges against him, hence police lodged an FIR on behalf of the state against unknown persons under sections 429 and 34 PPC Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Murad Ali Shah also took notice of the of the gruesome incident wherein a camel s leg was chopped off by a landlord in Sanghar, with the wounded animal set to receive an artificial leg Soomer Khan owner of the camel narrated the incident along with his camel at Sanghar press club “I have no enmity with anyone I don’t know why this was done to my camel ” he said Rivals gun down three brothers at their Shikarpur house SHIKARPUR s ta f f r e p o r t Armed men killed three brothers of a rival group after entering their house in Shikarpur district on Friday The tragic incident occurred in Darai Brohi village a suburban area of Tehsil Lakhi Ghulam Shah in Shikarpur Local police reported that in Darai Brohi village, three brothers were killed due to a longstanding rivalry between two groups of the Brohi tribe According to the police armed men entered a house in Darai Brohi village and opened fire on the residents, who died on the spot The attack resulted in the deaths of three brothers: 50-year-old Habibullah Brohi 42-year-old Amanullah Brohi and 39-year-old Nasrullah Brohi Local police reached the crime scene and transported the dead bodies of three brothers to a hospital for post-mortem examination

police the incident occurred in Mund Jamrao village in Sanghar district on Friday Soomer Khan owner of the camel, narrated the incident along with his camel at Sanghar press club “I have no enmity with anyone I don t know why this was done to my camel

The mayhem at Madyan shows the distrust in the justice system

TH E events at Madyan in Swat district of KP initially proceeded as they were to A tourist was accused of desecrating the Quran by burning it Those who apprehended him very properly handed him over to the Madyan police who took him into custody After that, things began to go haywire Announcements were made from the mosques A crowd gathered, which then attacked the police station and burnt it It is not clear whether the alleged desecrator was burnt alive, but his body was certainly burnt This is a level of cruelty which has been specifically forbidden by the Islamic Sharia Burning is a punishment that the Almighty has reserved for Himself, and has forbidden His creatures from administering Bodies are to be disposed only as the heirs prescribe, and there is no indication that the deceased was a Hindu or a follower of any religion prescribing cremation This is not the first time in KP that an alleged blasphemer or desecrator has been taken away from the police in KP That such an incident could occur indicates not just some private animus but the ability of the crowd to gather in numbers sufficient to overcome the defenders of the police station

However it appears that blasphemy against the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) is now receding as a vehicle for venting spleen, and desecration of the Holy Quran is now coming to the fore The Jaranwala church attack last August and the Sargodha attack in May were both over allegations of desecration of the Quran Is it purely a coincidence that such incidents have started taking place after the burning of the Quran Eidul Azha before last (last July) outside the main mosque in Stockholm?

Whether or not that is a contributing factor, or whether the rising temperature has anything to do with it the point is that the justice system has such a bad impression in the public that people are not prepared to trust it with blasphemy or desecration Islam prescribes a system of laws, one which even takes in such an emotive issue as blasphemy or desecration and deals with it It is not supposed to result in what amounts to rebellion, which is what the attack on the police station means The provincial government has primary responsibility for maintaining law and order but the federal government also has a responsibility to make sure that no one, no matter the excuse, takes the law into his or her own hands

Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

M A Niazi

Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit

in Pakistan have become

Vto budget shocks and aftershocks The ever rising inflation rate and lurking fears of ever increasing taxes have muffled all citizens alike In such a stressful and unpredictable environment it becomes more challenging for nonprofit organizations to continue their services at the same pace because they rely mainly on donations and charity for their functioning When the financial situation is unstable it negatively impacts the donation inflow, making things difficult for nonprofits This is why in recent times, measuring and reporting success of an NGO to stakeholders and donors becomes all

marily focus on sales reports financial matrices and key performance indicators Nonprofit organizations on the other hand adopt a more community-oriented approach This is why unlike most corporate workers, the NGO staff works for the cause beyond the call of duty by advocating for the cause after working hours and even on weekends The community-oriented approach strongly reflects in the organizational culture The teams work for shared goals having a strong feeling that they are contributing towards organizational vision and mission Over the years I have observed that once people develop a commitment with the mission of a nonprofit organization, they tend to spend longer years there which contributes to the credibility and quality of that organization A seasoned and dedicated team is a catalyst in the sustainability and long term impact of a NGO Corporations usually have a well-defined audience and target customers On the contrary NGOs have to engage on multiple levels with a wide range of stakeholders and audiences including but not limited to government departments, donors, funding agencies beneficiaries academia researchers policy makers advocacy agencies media and so on Therefore nonprofit leaders and team members require strong communication skills and empathy along

tion calls for a delicate balance between financial management and unconditioned commitment towards the service delivery of the organization The operational heads mostly get far less remuneration than in the corporate organizations but their affiliation with the mission of a nonprofit keeps them committed This vast difference in objectives management approach and leadership style eventually reflects in the institutional culture Corporate organizations pri-

The significance of Putin-Kim summit

TH E longstanding alliance between Russia and North Korea is built on a robust partnership, orchestrated by mutual respect shared goals and historical ties Over seven decades this relationship has been rooted in a shared struggle against Japanese militarism during WWII and the quest for national sovereignty President Vladimir Putin s recent state visit to North Korea signifies the commitment of both nations to deepen their cooperation and face global challenges together

The friendship between Russia and North Korea began in the aftermath of World War II when Soviet soldiers alongside Korean patriots, defeated the Kwantung Army and liberated the Korean peninsula This victory is immortalized by the monument on ‘Moranbong Hill’ in Pyongyang which commemorates the Red Army’s role in Korea’s liberation The USSR was the first to recognize the Democratic People s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and established diplomatic relations in 1948 Thereafter, this relationship marked the beginning of a partnership that would shape the region’s geopolitical landscape In the early years the USSR played a pivotal role in helping North Korea build its national economy healthcare system and educational infrastructure The Fatherland Liberation War (1950-1953) further cemented this alliance, with the USSR providing crucial support to North Korea in its fight for independence This assistance continued in the post-war period aiding in the restoration and strengthening of North Korea s national economy

The bilateral relations saw significant milestones with Vladimir Putin s first visit to Pyongyang in 2000 and subsequent interactions with North Korean leaders These meetings laid the groundwork for multifaceted cooperation, encompassing economic cultural and strategic dimensions The mutual visits and agreements reflect the commitment of both nations to a shared vision of sovereignty and development Today, Russia and North Korea s partnership extends beyond historical ties to active collaboration on contemporary global issues North Korea’s unwavering

united against what they perceive as Western attempts to impose a rules-based order which they view as a guise for neo-colonialism and double standards The USA s efforts to isolate Russia have met with resistance, as both Russia and North Korea continue to develop their economic capabilities and strategic alliances This partnership is bolstered by a shared commitment to defending national sovereignty and opposing external pressures North Korea s ability to withstand years of economic pressure, military threats, and diplomatic isolation speaks to its resilience and determination The DPRK’s leadership under Chairman Kim Jong Un has achieved significant advancements in defense technology science and industry Despite external challenges, North Korea remains committed to peaceful resolution of differences, although it faces continued obstacles from the USA’s shifting demands Russia’s support for North Korea’s right to self-determination and development is unwavering Both nations are poised to collaborate on creating alternative trade mechanisms, opposing unilateral restrictions, and promoting a multipolar world order based on justice and mutual respect This collaboration is aimed at enhancing the stability of international relations and ensuring equal security across Eurasia Cultural and educational exchanges are integral to strengthening the bonds between Russia and North Korea Plans to promote academic mobility, mutual tourism, and youth and sports exchanges are in place to foster deeper understanding and cooperation These initiatives reflect a commitment to people-centred diplomacy enhancing confidence and mutual respect between the two nations The joint efforts of Russia and North Korea are aimed at elevating their bilateral interaction to new heights This partnership is expected to facilitate mutually beneficial cooperation, enhance trade and economic ties and improve the well-being of citizens in both countries The shared vision includes developing mechanisms for joint opposition to illegitimate restrictions and fostering a stable and democratic international order The recent changes in North Korea’s foreign policy are indicative of a strategic shift under Chairman Kim Jong Un s leadership The

covid-19 pandemic and Russia s invasion of Ukraine have prompted North Korea to reassess its diplomatic and ideological stance The declaration of South Korea as a hostile entity and the dismantling of symbols of inter-Korean unity mark a significant departure from previous policies Kim Jong Un’s pragmatic approach reflects a recognition of the changed geopolitical landscape The emphasis on self-reliance and autarky during the pandemic has reinforced North Korea s ideological cohesion and reduced dependence on China The renewed military partnership with Russia provides North Korea with much-needed economic support and strategic benefits

The evolving partnership between Russia and North Korea is a response to the shifting dynamics of global power Both nations are united in their opposition to Western dominance and are working towards a multipolar world order This collaboration is not just a reaction to external pressures but a proactive effort to shape a future based on mutual respect and shared interests

The USA s approach to North Korea has remained largely unchanged, focused on containment and de-escalation However, the strategic alignment of Russia and North Korea presents new challenges and opportunities for global diplomacy The renewed focus on ideological and military cooperation between these nations requires a reassessment of US policies and a more flexible approach to international relations

The deep-rooted friendship and strategic partnership between Russia and North Korea are testament to their resilience and shared vision for the future As both nations navigate the complexities of modern geopolitics their alliance stands as a symbol of mutual support and cooperation President Putin s visit to Pyongyang underscores the commitment to strengthening this partnership and addressing global challenges together

In a world marked by shifting alliances and emerging power dynamics the bond between Russia and North Korea is a beacon of steadfastness and shared purpose Through continued collaboration and mutual respect both nations are poised to achieve greater heights and contribute to a more balanced and just international order

The writer can be reached at: writetomahossain@gmail com

In a world marked by shifting alliances and emerging power dynamics, the bond between Russia and Nor th Korea is a beacon of steadfastness and shared purpose . Through continued collaboration and mutual respect, both nations are poised to achieve greater heights and contribute to a more balanced and just international order

Universit y’s apathy

Water needs

Literar y woes

Minimum no more

04 Saturday 22 June 2024 COMMENT Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965 I K arachi – Ph: 021-32640318 I Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545 I Web: www pakistantoday com pk I Email: editorial@pakistantoday com pk B u r n i n g b l a s p h e m e r s

S H A H Abdul Latif University (SALU), established in 1976, appears to be waiting for some miracle that will set things right, as the administration has completely failed to solve the issues that have ensnared the university for long Unfortunately the students have been the prime victims of the apathy One can only hope that after the recent declaration of education emergency the university will also be enabled to have better days ahead ZEHRA RASHDI KHAIRPUR MIRS

A couple of years ago a private company in Mirpurkhas in view of the needs of the locals, had installed water taps along the entire stretch of Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas highway, providing fresh and potable drinking water to all the commuters However, the taps started to vanish one after another, depriving the commuters of what used to be an essential facility MUHAMMAD AWAIS HYDERABAD

T H E Jinnah Library in Lahore is struggling to cope with the growing number of students that throng the library every day The library is the central place where thousands of students especially those planning to appear in competitive examinations, come to study However, with the passage of time and increased number of students, the provision of basic facilities has seen a sharp dip in recent times NASRULLAH KHADIM KANDHKOT

T H E minimum wage is no longer valid It is not practical to expect a dailywage earner to manage a family life within the confines of the so-called minimum wage In the face of rapidly increasing inflation the minimum wage cannot ensure the survival of even a single person The daily-wage earners deserve to have a better quality of life which is simply not possible with the current level of minimum wage in Pakistan SARA KHAN KARACHI Banking facilities T H E Jhal Magsi district in Balochistan lacks proper banking facilities There is only one branch of the NBP, and that is located in Gandawah, which is one of the remotest areas of the district More frustrating is the fact that even that branch does not have an ATM to facilitate the customers MOULA BAKHSH TAREEN JHAL MAGSI Dengue in Turbat T H E mosquitoes it appears have spiralled out of the control of the local health authorities in Turbat with dengue fever and its complications having affected almost every resident of the ill-fated city Unfortunately, till date, more than 15 people have lost their lives owing to the deadly virus SIRAJ UMRANI TURBAT E d i t o r ’ s m a i l Send your letters to: Letters to Editor Pakistan Today 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah Lahore Pakistan E-mail: letters@pakistantoday com pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively

support for Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine exemplifies this solidarity Both nations stand

M a hossaiN

ERY

is significantly different from for profit organizations Corporate entities are basically concerned with manufacturing products, making consumers satisfied and generating profits On the contrary NGOs are concerned with extending services addressing social issues and advocating for the unrepresented Their goal is to achieve the highest level of services to the disadvantaged population in the most efficient and transparent way In corporate entities the efficiency of executives is measured in terms of sales and profits Usually, they also have a share in the profit in the form of bonuses or incentives therefore they put in their best efforts to increase the profits On the other hand in NGOs leaders connect with the organization through passion The leadership role in a charitable organiza-

hot summers

even harsher due

the more crucial Before we discuss the success parameters for an NGO it is important to understand that management and functioning of nonprofits

practical experience of working in a charitable organization find it hard to fit in the environment of an NGO Therefore, they fail to grasp the scope of work, objectives, working environment, roles of team members and meaning of “SUCCESS” in a charitable organization This leads them to suggest disoriented and inappropriate measures of success Marc J Esptein has written a book named Measuring and Improving Social Impact: a guide for nonprofits companies and impact investors In this book he argues that the first step for measuring success is to clearly define the objectives of different activities If nonprofits are clear about the objectives of different projects and activities, measures of success can be devised logically and quite easily Staff retention and training are among the most effective strategies that lead to success Experienced satisfied and well-trained staff is more efficient and positively contributes to improved quality of services Therefore, when measuring success of a nonprofit, use staff retention and satisfaction as an important organizational key performance indicator In nonprofit quarterly Richard Larkin wrote about use of outcomes to measure nonprofit success While talking about measurement conundrum he emphasized that inputs, outputs and outcomes can be used as three measures to evaluate the effectiveness of an NGO Inputs include both financial and non-financial resources used for activities, outputs describe the quantity and scale of activities while outcomes are relevant to the satisfaction of target beneficiaries April Anthony a senior advisor at Armstrong McGuire consultancy has been working on nonprofit success for years She wrote in an article that measuring success for a nonprofit organization has become more important in recent years but it is not the same as evaluating success of a corporate organization Every nonprofit has its own scope of work and mission Although it is not possible to suggest universal success measures for all nonprofits the following organization key performance indicators (KPIs) can be adapted according to organizational needs The KPIs include approval of clients or service users, satisfaction of donors and supporters, making more friends through donors and supporters volunteer programs organizational transparency engagement of government agencies relationships with other nonprofit organizations innovation & research and awareness raising activities I remember when I was studying public management at LUMS, one of my teachers once said that despite all efforts for sustainability nonprofit organizations will always need support from community and donors Firstly because they work for the most marginalized segments of the society secondly the corporate sector would already have taken over the sector if there was any margin to make a profit This is why NGO management is a highly specialized area that requires passion, patience, team building, in fact it requires an altogether different management approach for success In the end I would like to quote Robert Louis Stevenson because I feel that his following lines actually represent a nonprofit success model – Don t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you plant ” The writer is a freelance columnist

with other characteristics If for-profit and nonprofit organizations are so different, how can both be run or evaluated in the same fashion by the same professionals? As chief executive officer of a well-established nonprofit organization I am faced with this challenge quite frequently I have seen that those management professionals who lack

I r e m e m b e r w h e n I w a s s t u d y i n g p u b l i c m a n a g e m e n t a t L U M S , o n e o f my t e a c h e r s o n c e s a i d t h a t d e s p i t e a l l e f f o r t s f o r s u s t a i n a b i l i t y, n o n p r o f i t o r g a n i z a t i o n s w i l l a l w a y s n e e d s u p p o r t f r o m c o m m u n i t y a n d d o n o r s .

o f

r o f i t o r g a n i z a t i o

When profits do not count It’s not just about the USA

Nabila Chaudhry

M e a s u r e s

s u c c e s s

o r a n o n p

Combating corruption and inefficiency in Pakistan’s power sector

An AI-Powered B lueprint for Reform

FAiZAn QUrEsHi

A K I S TA N S government-owned electricity companies are grappling with rampant corruption and inefficiency, leading to substantial financial losses and unreliable service Despite the pressing need for reform efforts to combat corruption and enhance operational efficiency have been stymied by entrenched interests and systemic challenges Through the innovative use of AI, there can be formulated a comprehensive plan that outlines a strategic approach to transforming the electricity companies This plan addresses corruption at its roots modernizes infrastructure and fosters a culture of transparency and accountability By implementing these measures, the company can improve its financial health, ensure reliable electricity supply, and contribute to Pakistan’s sustainable energy future

AUDIT AND ASSESSMENT

INDEPENDENT AUDIT: Engage reputable international auditing firms (e g , Deloitte, PwC, Ernst & Young) to conduct a comprehensive audit This should include financial, operational and procedural reviews to uncover corruption inefficiencies and theft

DIAGNOSTIC STUDY: Perform a detailed diagnostic study of the electricity grid from generation to distribution Identify points of technical and non-technical losses

STAKEHOLDER ANALYSIS

MAPPING STAKEHOLDERS: Identify all key stakeholders including government officials board members management employees, unions, and customers Understand their interests, influence, and potential resistance points

ENGAGEMENT PLAN: Develop strategies to engage each stakeholder group For instance gain the trust of honest employees and customers while preparing to counteract the influence of corrupt officials

BOARD RESTRUCTURING

REPLACE CORRUPT MEMBERS: Politically advocate for the replacement of corrupt board members with individuals of high integrity and proven track records in the energy sector

MERIT-BASED APPOINTMENTS: Ensure that new board members are selected based on merit and are committed to transparency and accountability

MANAGEMENT OVERHAUL

NEW LEADERSHIP: Appoint a new CEO and top management team with expertise in turning around failing organizations, preferably from successful private-sector companies

PERFORMANCE-BASED CONTRACTS: Implement performance-based contracts for the new management to ensure accountability and drive results

SMART METERING

IMPLEMENTATION PLAN: Roll out smart meters to all customers in phases Start with high-theft areas to quickly reduce losses

VENDOR SELECTION: Select reliable vendors through a transparent bidding process Ensure meters are tamper-proof and can be remotely monitored

GRID MODERNIZATION

INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT:

Secure funding for upgrading the electricity grid, focusing on reducing technical losses and improving reliability

TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION: Incorporate advanced technologies such as SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems for real-time monitoring and control

ANTI-CORRUPTION MEASURES

STRICT ENFORCEMENT

ZERO-TOLERANCE POLICY: Imple-

ment a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption with clear consequences for

violations Ensure swift and publicized disciplinary actions

ANTI-CORRUPTION TASK FORCE:

Establish an internal task force to investigate and act on corruption reports Collaborate with national anti-corruption agencies

WHISTLEBLOWER PROGRAMME

ANONYMOUS REPORTING: Create secure and anonymous channels for employees and customers to report corruption Protect whistleblowers from retaliation INCENTIVES FOR REPORTING: Offer financial rewards for information leading to successful actions against corruption

REGULAR INSPECTIONS

SURPRISE AUDITS: Conduct unannounced inspections of facilities and operations to deter corrupt practices

EXTERNAL REVIEWS: Periodically engage third-party inspectors to ensure impartiality and thoroughness

LEGAL AND POLICY FRAMEWORK

LEGISLATION

STRICTER LAWS: Work with lawmakers to enact stricter Islamic penalties for electricity theft and corruption ensuring these laws are enforced

POL I C Y S U PPORT: Advocate for supportive policies that enhance transparency, such as mandatory public disclosure of financials

INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT

REGULATORY BODY: Establish or strengthen an independent regulatory body to oversee the electricity sector Ensure it has the authority and resources to enforce compliance

TRANSPARENCY MEASURES: Implement transparency measures such as publicly accessible audit reports and regular performance reviews

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT AND UNION NEGOTIATION INCENTIVE PROGRAMMES

PERFORMANCE BONUSES: Introduce

bonuses and promotions based on performance and adherence to anti-corruption policies

RECOGNITION PROGRAMMES: Create programmes to recognize and reward honest employees, fostering a culture of integrity

UNION COLLABORATION

DIALOGUE WITH UNIONS: Engage union leaders in discussions about the longterm benefits of reducing corruption Highlight how a more profitable and stable company benefits all employees

NEGOTIATED AGREEMENTS: Negotiate new collective bargaining agreements that align employee interests with company goals Consider offering profit-sharing schemes

CUSTOMER EDUCATION AND INVOLVEMENT PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS

EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH: Launch campaigns to educate the public about the impacts of electricity theft and the importance of paying for electricity

MEDIA ENGAGEMENT: Use media outlets, social media, and community meetings to spread awareness and garner public support

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

LOCAL MONITORING: Involve community leaders in monitoring and reporting electricity theft Establish community committees to oversee local electricity distribution

CUSTOMER FEEDBACK: Create channels for customers to provide feedback on services and report issues ensuring prompt responses and actions

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT COST CONTROL

EXPENSE AUDIT:

BUDGET DISCIPLINE:

REVENUE COLLECTION

BILLING SYSTEM UPGRADE: Mod-

In France, some Muslims vote Le Pen, others go into exile

foremost Modi has built for himself a reputation of being a great communicator, one who can mesmerise any audience with his demagogic prowess and sell them any slogan or jumla, if you like; he was declared by many to be the invincible vote-catcher The ultimate measure of a leader in a democracy

Second with this reputation very often exaggerated Modi was able to convert the entire BJP into a tamed house-cat Senior leaders were packed off into some exotic advisory role None of the remaining leaders neither Sushma Swaraj nor Arun Jaitley nor Nitin Gadkari

decision Not just the BJP, Modi used his “popularity” to browbeat those self-important men in Nagpur into submission even tactical surrender The allpowerful sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat was happy to be palmed off with a z plus security and an occasional use of the Vigyan Bhavan auditorium The middle rung functionaries were made to make their peace with the new Shenshah in exchange for contracts for the “viksit” Bharat Third a basic ruthless unheard of and unemployed before to knee-cap all sources of Opposition and Resistance – the Congress and other parties, civil society, and other assorted dissenters The coercive powers of the state were unleashed against those who refused to fall in line The same rough hand was shown to the media and was given a choice: my way or high-

around the man And the Modi coterie used the aura of that personality cult to use the governmental paraphernalia to elevate him beyond questioning criticism or critique; never had the country been subjected to such a comprehensive exercise in mass hypnosis Suddenly we were a nation of one- hero-worshipers A civilisation that takes pride in having the luxury of choosing from as many 84 lakhs devis and devatas was now being asked to worship only one god This was too much for this ancient land with its new god under the Constitution the voter Modi thoroughly exposed himself on the campaign trail A man whom the aspirational Indians thought was a leader of maturity and sagacity turned out to be unworthy of our collective respect, leave alone reverence He thought he had the license of his cult: that he can say anything distort facts fabricate history deliberately mis-quote and misread the others and people will still believe him and vote for him And then when he finally claimed to have had a kind of a non-biological birth he came across as totally unhinged The voter saw through Narendra Modi, a man who could not be respected as a statesman or a wise ruler or a dharmic king The voter has taken away his ball his invincibility as a votecatcher Modi himself barely made it in Varanasi Of course, it would be useful to remember that these last ten years the Modi Personality Cult has developed an infrastructure of vested interests as well as created its own ecosystem The Modi cheerleaders are pretending that nothing has changed or will change; they are betting that the truncated prime minister will continue to use money power and the danda to climb back into our national esteem This is elitist arrogance, already rejected by the voters

A Personality Cult is the very anti-thesis of a democratic constitutional arrangement But sadly the judiciary seems to have settled for a strange jurisprudence that any questioning or criticism or even insult to the prime minister was a crime against the nation and that the offender had to be put away in jail This judicial indulgence has perhaps been the source of deepening of this Personality Cult in its most unhealthy manifestations The democratic forces would devoutly wish that the judicial leadership will have the sagacity and the courage of Article 32 to heed the voter s yearning for an accountable governance More than the judiciary, it is for the 200strong Opposition in the Lok Sabha to insist that the prime minister will answer questions, in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha Though Modi has returned to the South Block as a truncated prime minister he has lost his most precious asset: his trustworthiness For now he has surrounded himself with familiar faces, who want to reassure him that the old order has not changed And, then, there is the compromised media displaying advance stages of Stockholm Syndrome After ten years of false narratives fudged statistics and forged achievements a kind of national emptiness overwhelms us A decade long infatuation with the Leader-knows-the-best has petered out into a glorious uncertainty A country of one billion people cannot achieve any national greatness just on One Leader ’s whims and fancies Harish Khare is a former editor-in-chief of The Tribune

For a long time to come in France, Arabs, Muslims and other immigrants will remain in the crosshairs of par t of the elec

E RTA I N dates are etched into French political history In addition to July 14, 1789, they include May 10, 1981, when Francois Mitterrand was elected to the Elysee and April 21 2002 when Jean-Marie Le Pen defeated the Socialist Lionel Jospin in the first round of voting in the presidential election For the first time, the National Front had won the right to compete in the second round, challenging Jacques Chirac Twenty-two years later on June 9 2024 a tsunami shook the country: the National Rally won the European elections Nearly a third of voters chose Jordan Bardella s list, twice as many as President Emmanuel Macron’s party A severe slap in the face In truth it was expected “Macronia” has paved the way for the National Rally So remember a big jolt in December 2023, when Marine Le Pen s group smilingly voted for the Macron 2 government’s immigration bill, delighted to see how the ideology of the National Front had irrigated the country with “national preference and the incessant demonization of immigration A year before reelected ahead of Le Pen Macron swore to the French people that he would oppose her and her ideas He failed The dissolution of the National Assembly will finish disqualifying him France is morally and politically bankrupt The far right is relishing the fact it is no longer viewed as diabolical Today, it is commonplace to hear that you have to try this party or that party and, in any case, the others are all rotten, worn out; they have let France go down the drain facilitated the Great Replacement theory sold off the French identity Muslims are everywhere and they want to impose Shariah halal mosques, wokeism, etc , on us For many years now, this frustration, distilled by the media, notably the outlets of fervent Catholic billionaire Vincent Bollore has effectively contributed to normalizing the racist ideology against Arabs and Muslims Let s face it, a synonym for immigrants in

France is Muslims It is they, the eternal scapegoats, who will suffer the most from the National Rally’s ascent to power What is most surprising is that this racist ideology cuts across ethnic lines For example, the day after the National Rally s victory in the European elections, a neighbor of Algerian origin, a Qabayli named Mohannad, aged in his 50s and born in France told me that he had voted for the far right Seeing me surprised he justified himself and added that Bardella is in fact Qabayli through his grandmother and that this common origin had moved him As the son of North African immigrants, he argued that French society is in such a state of disrepair that it urgently needs to be cleaned up: there are too many immigrants too much insecurity too much insalubrity, too much disrespect, too much banditry, too many bicycle and scooter thieves, too many car breakers, too much anti-police hatred among young people, and too much drug dealing

The rise in Le Pen s popularity in France is the story of a drip that irrigated a nation that had become glacial over time The drops filled the republican basin In the 1970s, Jean-Marie Le Pen inaugurated the National Front to defend “France for the French;” 50 years later his daughter Marine is on the doorstep of the Elysee Palace With 88 deputies in the last National Assembly and now 30 in the European Parliament, she is writing the destiny of the republic Dressed as the future president, she now lays down the law quite literally In broad daylight Mohannad my Qabayli Muslim neighbor voted for her and her party His gesture speaks volumes A question of image, he pleads He does not know that, in 1965, in the US, the Black American leader Malcolm X deciphered the way in which whites create the image of Blacks: Whatever they (white racists) do they always need the support of white public opinion they manipulate the press When it comes to stifling or oppressing the Black community, what do they do? Through the newspapers, they feed the public a series of statistics The public will learn that the crime rate is higher in the Black community than anywhere else They label the Black community as criminals The mere fact of belonging to the Black community makes you a criminal In other words, they use a process that is a science to create an image and this image of you paralyzes you It makes you ashamed of who you are so bad is it Some of us, who have assimilated, who have integrated, who have absorbed this negative image, end up not being able to stand life in the Black

community They cannot even stand the company of Black people ” This analysis is still relevant today Hatred of Muslims is still based on

Saturday 22 June 2024 COMMENT 05

torate

Conduct a detailed audit of all expenses and identify areas where costs can be reduced without compromising service quality

Implement strict budget controls and regular financial reviews to ensure expenditures are necessary and justified

the billing system to ensure accurate and timely billing Use automated systems to reduce manual errors and opportunities for manipulation DEBT RECOVERY: Implement robust debt recovery mechanisms, including legal action against non-paying customers and installment plans for overdue payments POLITICAL SUPPORT LOBBYING AND ADVOCACY

SUPPORT: Lobby for strong political backing to ensure reforms are supported at the highest levels Highlight the economic and social benefits of a reformed electricity sector

AID: Seek technical and financial assistance from international organizations like the World Bank ADB and donor countries that have successfully tackled similar issues INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: Partner with countries and organizations that have successfully modernized their electricity sectors to gain insights and technical support FUNDING PROGRAMS: Explore funding programs and grants to support infrastructure upgrades and anti-corruption initiatives MONITORING AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT PERFORMANCE METRICS KPIS: Develop key performance indicators (KPIs) to track progress in reducing theft, improving efficiency and increasing profitability REGULAR REPORTING: Establish a regular reporting mechanism to review performance against KPIs Use this data to make informed decisions and adjustments FEEDBACK MECHANISMS CONTINUOUS FEEDBACK: Create systems for continuous feedback from employees, customers, and stakeholders to identify issues and opportunities for improvement ADAPTIVE STRATEGIES: Be flexible and adaptive, willing to adjust strategies based on feedback and changing circumstances By implementing this comprehensive plan the electricity companies can address the root causes of corruption, improve operational efficiency, and ultimately become profitable This will require commitment, perseverance and the collaboration of all stakeholders The writer is a freelance columnist

ernize

GOVERNMENT

INTERNATIONAL

new haze of normalcy has settled down on the national capital At least for now There are no Narendra Modi visage staring down at you from every petrol pump station The ubiquitous reminders of a cult leader are gone; though the bookshop at Terminal 3 still displays in its “new arrival” shelf at least seven Modi books, obviously penned by the cunningly calculating authors much before the voters decided to deny his party the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) a clear parliamentary majority A truncated prime minister is not entitled to any personality cult Simple The first and foremost democratic task before the nation is to honor the voters’ preference and dismantle the Modi Personality Cult The Modi cult that got institutionalised these last ten years had three elements to it First and

get

the picture frame; everyone had to walk a few steps behind him

could change chief ministers

same ease

his

party

raise his

her voice at

choice

way Revenue calculations by the media barons and careerism compulsions of the editors won over professionalism and public duty For ten years, the Modi cabal used the taxpayers money to manufacture a Personality Cult

nor Rajnath Singh were allowed to

into

with the

as he changed

kurtas; and,

one in the

dare

Saheb’s

T i

M o d i p e r s o n a l i t y c u l t

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

THE WIRE H A r s H K H A r E

the image we have created of them If Mohannad voted National Rally it is because he feels that the behavior of some Arab Muslims in France is compromising his own integration His is not an isolated case Admittedly, we know that two-thirds of Muslims chose France Unbowed in the European elections because of its pro-Palestinian stance on the war in Gaza but as the rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris, Chems-Eddine Hafiz, acknowledges, many chose the National Rally, in fact in a proportion close to the national average This is a new development The fact remains that despite the context there is still a chance that the left with the New Popular Front, will win the legislative elections However, for a long time to come in France, Arabs, Muslims and other immigrants, those from sub-Saharan Africa in particular will remain in the crosshairs of part of the electorate Once an opportunity for France immigration is now seen as a real problem It is at the heart of the political stakes Those who do not like France had better watch out They can leave if they find a better life elsewhere Some have not waited to do so Unlike Mohannad who chose to stay in France with Bardella, many children of North African origin have been going into exile for years, in a movement that has gained momentum since the 2015 Paris attacks and even more so since Oct 7 following the Hamas attack on Israeli territory On this theme the recent release of a book La France tu l aimes mais tu la quittes, (France, you love it but you are leaving it) sheds light on the issue of Islamophobia It relates a survey of young French Muslims who have gone to live in London Dubai Doha Jeddah New York Casablanca and Montreal These graduates of higher education, technicians, executives, engineers and doctors settle in countries where only their professional talents and merits are recognized In France the stigmatization they suffer in the workplace because of their religion their name or their address has for 68 percent of them destroyed their love of France In the years to come, Gulf countries will benefit from the European know-how of these young people who are in search of sister countries where their identity is respected as much as their qualities Azouz Begag is a writer and former minister (2005-2007) researcher in economics and sociology He is a researcher at the CNRS

ARAB NEWS A Z O U Z B E G AG

a pattern of

pression

of the Modi administration Dias s work highlights various instances of censorship including the forced removal of videos covering sensitive topics like the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar She also shared experiences of receiving threats from Indian authorities after such content was deleted Over its decade-long rule the Modi government is accused of consistently targeting foreign journalists as part of a broader crackdown on dissent

The documentary also sheds light on the systematic actions against minority groups, specifically Sikhs and Muslims, citing the involvement of organizations like the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) in training operatives for violent

acts against these communities Furthermore the report connects the Indian government to severe international incidents including the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nagar in Canada and the attempted assassination of Gurpatwant Singh Pannu in the United States with investigative findings from these countries implicating the Modi government

NINGXIA

S ta f f C o r r e S p

Chinese President Xi Jinping has underscored the ecological conservation and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin during an inspection tour in northwest China s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region

Xi also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) came to Ningxia on Wednesday after wrapping up his inspection in Qinghai Province Situated in the Yellow River Basin, Ningxia is surrounded by deserts on three sides and faces the daunting task of conserving and restoring ecosystems Xi asked Ningxia to coordinate high-quality development with highlevel environmental protection further reform and opening up advance new urbanization and rural revitalization, and promote ethnic unity and common prosperity Chinese President Xi Jinping also general secre-

Saturday 22 June 2024 | ISLAMABAD 06 NEWS WASHINGTON ag e n C e S F ORMER US president Donald Trump said he wants to grant green cards to foreign graduates from US colleges in an apparent softening of his typically hard-line view on immigration a key election issue The Republican candidate made the remarks in a podcast published on Thursday, days after President Joe Biden announced a citizenship pathway for immigrants married to US nationals counterbalancing his recent crackdown on illegal border crossings What I want to do and what I will do is you graduate from a college I think you should get automatically as part of your diploma a green card to be able to stay in this country,” Trump told the All-In podcast A green card is the commonly used name for a permanent resident card in the United States and a step toward citizenship Trump said this should include “anybody who graduates from a college including those who complete two-year programs, known as junior colleges, and doctoral graduates Asked initially on the podcast if he would promise to help import the “best and the brightest around the world to America” Trump replied: I do promise He added: I know of stories where people graduated from a top college or from a college, and they desperately want to stay here and they can t “They go back to India, they go back to China They do the same basic company in those places and they become multi-billionaires employing thousands and thousands of people Trump said He also said that US companies need smart people , adding that they can t even make a deal with a company because they don’t think they’re going to be able to stay in the country” “That is going to end on day one ” Trump added During Trump s 2017-2021 presidency he ordered the construction of a wall on the US-Mexico border and implemented a travel ban on people from mostly Muslim countries His comments came after Democrat opponent Biden on Tuesday relaxed visa rules for around half a million spouses of US nationals making it easier for them to obtain citizenship The president also simplified the process for migrants who came to the United States illegally as children known as “Dreamers” to get work visas if they’ve graduated college and have a high-skilled job offer Biden often accused of being soft on immigration by Republicans earlier in June signed an executive order barring migrants who enter the United States illegally from claiming asylum when numbers surge past 2 500 in a day T R U

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C A R D S F O R F O R E I G N G R A D U AT E S I N S H I F T O N I M M I G R AT I O N P O L I C Y China firmly opposes Japan’s illegal unilateral sanctions BEIJING S ta f f C o r r e S p o n d e n t China strongly deplores and firmly opposes Japan s unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law against China-based companies, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday Spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks at a regular press briefing when asked to comment on Japan s trade restrictions on China-based companies Japan’s foreign ministry announced on Friday that it has imposed trade restrictions on China-based companies as part of the fresh round of sanctions against individuals and groups doing business with Russia We noted the reports Lin said adding that China firmly opposes unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law and it is China s lawful right to carry out normal trade and economic cooperation with Russia on the basis of equality and mutual benefit Such cooperation shall not be disrupted or undermined by other parties Lin said Japan in disregard of China’s just position followed certain country s suit by imposing illicit unilateral sanctions We will take all measures necessary to firmly safeguard our legitimate and lawful rights and interests, Lin said BEIJING S ta f f C o r r e S p o n d e n t China s Ministry of National Defense on Friday urged the U S to implement its commitment to not support “Taiwan independence ” stop arming China’s Taiwan region in any form and take practical actions to maintain stable relations between the two countries and the two militaries According to the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the U S State Department has approved the potential sale of drones and missiles to Taiwan for an estimated $360 million In response at a press briefing Wu Qian, a spokesperson for the ministry, said the U S arms sales to China s Taiwan region seriously violate the oneChina principle and the three China-U S joint communiques particularly the August 17 Communique Such acts also damage China s sovereignty and security interests, seriously undermine the relationship between the two countries and the two militaries, as well as peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits and pose a threat to the safety and well-being of Taiwan compatriots Wu said China strongly opposes such acts and has lodged solemn representations with the U S side, he said Wu said the biggest threat to peace a n d s t a b i l i t y a c r o s s t h e S t r a i t s i s Ta iw a n ’s D e m o c r a t i c P r o g r e s s i v e P a r t y a u t h o r i t i e s a t t e m p t i n g t o u s e f o r c e t o s e e k i n d e p e n d e n c e a n d t h e U S i ns i s t i n g o n u s i n g f o r c e t o a s s i s t i n d ep e n d e n c e T h e U S h a s s o l d a r m s t o Ta i w a n t i m e a f t e r t i m e a n d u s e s t h e h a r de a r n e d m o n e y o f p e o p l e i n Ta i w a n t o f e e d i t s m i l i t a r y - i n d u s t r i a l c o m p l e x t u r n i n g Ta i w a n i n t o a p o w d e r k e g s a i d Wu He said the Chinese People s Liberation Army will comprehensively strengthen military training, aiming to resolutely crush all separatist forces seeking “Taiwan independence ” C h i n e s e d e fe n s e m i n i s t r y u rg e s U S t o s t o p a r m i n g Ta i wa n re g i o n Armenia recognises state of Palestine amid Gaza conflict GAZA n p Armenia on Friday officially recognized the State of Palestine, amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza, expressing opposition to “violence towards civilian populations ” This move follows similar recognitions by other countries during the current war between Israel and Hamas which has provoked strong criticism from Israeli officials Armenia affirms its adherence to international law, the equality of nations, sovereignty, and peaceful coexistence through its recognition of the State of Palestine,” stated officials in Yerevan The Armenian government also expressed a strong interest in fostering enduring peace and stability in the Middle East Having experienced prolonged conflict with Azerbaijan Armenia criticized Israel s military actions in Gaza and condemned the use of civilian infrastructure as shields in armed conflicts Moreover, Armenia criticized Hamas for holding civilians captive and aligned itself with international calls for their release Hussein Al-Sheikh, a senior official from the Palestinian Authority hailed Armenia s recognition as a victory for right justice legitimacy and the Palestinian people s fight for liberation and independence sharing his remarks on social media NEW YORK I n p A new documentary by ABC News, spearheaded by reporter Avani Dias has unveiled serious allegations against the Modi government concerning its treatment of journalists and minority communities, extending both within India and on an international scale The documentary details how Dias alongside other foreign journalists such as French reporter Vanessa Dougnec and several

visas denied

country

M P P R O

S G R E E N

from Al Jazeera, faced significant obstacles while reporting in India, especially during election times These journalists reportedly had their

or were expelled from the

indicating

re-

towards critics

o n d e n

tary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission visits a residential community in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 19, 2024 /Xinhua Chinese President Xi Jinping also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a residential community in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region June 19 2024 The autonomous region has a large ethnic minority population On Wednesday afternoon Xi visited a multi-ethnic residential community in the regional capital, Yinchuan Of the more than 18,000 residents in the community, 38 percent belong to ethnic minority groups such as Hui Manchu Mongolian and Tibetan Xi first went to the community service center and an activity room, where he watched residents practice paper-cutting and dancing and talked with them He called for thorough detailed and concrete efforts to address the urgent needs and concerns of the residents and deliver high-quality services to them Xi then visited the home of resident Zhao Shoucheng, where he chatted with the Zhao family to learn more about things related to employment income medical insurance reimbursement and children s education I am concerned about the well-being of every family of all ethnic groups, Xi said, extending his best wishes to the Zhao family At the community square, Xi spoke to the residents who gathered there to greet him Xi said he was delighted to visit Ningxia again and meet with local people of various ethnic groups The Chinese nation is a big family, Xi said, calling for continued efforts to foster a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation and pool strength from all sectors to advance Chinese modernization News documentar y exposes Modi govt ’s crackdown on press, minorities President X i stresses Yellow River Basin ecologic al conser vation, high- quality development

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference Azad Jammu and Kashmir (APHC-AJK) chapter Convener, Ghulam Muhammad Safi, has said that the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to Srinagar of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) is tantamount to rubbing salt on the injuries of the oppressed people of the territory Narendra Modi, who arrived in Srinagar on Thursday evening, and on Friday he officially managed 10th International Day of Yoga celebrations in Srinagar city under a ring of foolproof security He said Modi s visit was a political drama aimed at promoting Hindutva agenda by communalising the situation in the territory He said by such political gimmick Indian government is trying to cover up the military rule and grave situation in occupied Jammu and Kashmir He along with Amit Shah is the mastermind of Articles 370 and 35A abrogation, which snatched away

07 NEWS Saturday 22 June 2024 ISLAMABAD

CORNER PESHAWAR A Z I Z B U N E R I The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has spent over Rs 33 billion from its own resources to meet the current expenditure of the tribal districts over the past two years According to documents from the KP Finance Department, the provincial government has been transferring funds from the settled districts to meet the expenses of the tribal districts since the financial year 2021-22 In the financial year 2022-23 the provincial government spent over Rs 13 billion from the settled districts' funds on the tribal districts Similarly in the financial year 2023-24 the tribal districts' expenditure are estimated to be around Rs 86 billion with Rs 78 billion allocated for salaries and pensions However, the federal government has only allocated Rs 66 billion leaving a shortfall of Rs 20 billion to be met from the provincial government s own resources The federal government has increased the salaries of government employees by 25% in the budget for financial year 2024-25 but the grant for the tribal districts remains unchanged at Rs 66 billion forcing the provincial government to divert funds from the settled districts to meet the expenses of the tribal districts This situation has arisen due to the federal government s failure to increase the grant for the tribal districts in proportion to the increase in expenses The KP government has been urging the federal government to increase the grant, but so far no action has been taken As a result, the KP government has been forced to transfer funds from the settled districts to meet the expenses of the tribal districts which has put a strain on the provincial government s finances The situation is likely to continue in the future, with the KP government facing a shortfall of Rs 20 billion in the financial year 2024-25 The tribal districts which were previously known as the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), were merged with KP in 2018 Since then, the KP government has been responsible for meeting their expenditure which include salaries pensions and development projects However the federal government still provides some grant to the KP government for the tribal districts, which the provincial government says, is not sufficient to meet the rising expenditure KP spends over Rs33b on merged distric ts S&P Global Pakistan celebrates 19 years of excellence and innovation I S L A M A B A D: S&P Global, a provider of credit ratings benchmarks analytics and workflow solutions in the global capital commodity and automotive markets is proud to celebrate its 19th anniversary of operations in Pakistan this month Since its establishment in 2005 S&P Global Pakistan has been at the forefront of providing essential intelligence that enables governments, businesses, and individuals to unlock new opportunities, solve challenges and accelerate progress for the world Over the past 19 years S&P Global Pakistan has built a strong reputation in Powering Global Markets and delivering impact for its people customers, and communities On this momentous occasion, Mujeeb Zahur, Managing Director of S&P Global Pakistan, said, “S&P Global Pakistan’s continuous growth is a testament to our shared commitment to Accelerate Progress and live by our values of Discovery Partnership and Integrity PR PR OFIT M O N I T O R I N G D E S K T H E federal government, led by PML-N, has made a decisive move to close down the financially struggling Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) and allow the Sindh province to utilize its vast land for broader industrial purposes In addition to scrapping PSM plans are underway to potentially establish a new steel mill in partnership with the Sindh government on the same site These steps have garnered support from the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) Under the leadership of Shehbaz Sharif, the Ministry of Industries and Production has been instructed to draft a comprehensive proposal for not only shutting down PSM but also exploring the feasibility of a new steel mill on the existing premises Furthermore the Sindh government is set to gain control of the PSM land earmarking it for general industrial use, including the mutation of the remaining 1,683 acres The Ministry of Industries and Production has been tasked with reclaiming encroached PSM land and formulating plans for potentially transforming the entire area into an Export Promotion Zone (EPZ) or Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Additionally, the SIFC has directed the ministry to reserve land for the prospective joint venture steel mill with the Sindh government The PSM which ceased operations in 2015 under the PML-N administration despite plans for record production and settlement of gas debts, has been receiving minimal gas supply to maintain its infrastructure Recent developments saw a notice from Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) threatening disconnection due to unpaid bills prompting the Ministry of Industries to appeal to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) To prevent significant infrastructure damage, crucial gas supply is required, with proposals to clear outstanding bills until June 2024 gaining support from the Petroleum and Finance Divisions pending ECC approval With a committee already formed to advise on PSM s future, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has intervened decisively opting to shut down the struggling entity and repurpose its valuable land G O V T P L A N S T O S H U T D O W N PA K I S TA N S T E E L M I L LS , R E P U R P O S E I T S L A N D g P L A N S A R E U N D E R W AY TO P OT E N T I A L LY E S TA B L I S H A N E W S T E E L M I L L I N PA R T N E R S H I P W I T H S I N D H G O V E R N M E N T O N S A M E S I T E ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T

CORPORATE

the basic rights of people and gave a free hand to the Indian forces to si-

the political voices in Jammu

with brute force The

made it clear that the illegal detention of thousands of people of Jammu and Kashmir including APHC leadership, attachment of properties and land and other antiKashmir moves of Indian government and his collaborates in IIOJK would be frustrated He added that no one would be allowed to suppress the Kashmiris righteous political demand for right to self-determination “We will not let them succeed at any cost Even in the presence of more than 11 Lakh Indian Army police and paramilitary personnel India can never change the ground realities by forcing people out of their homes, and by creating an ‘all is well’ impression before the world community ” he added Modi’s visit bid to cover up militar y rule in IIOJK: APHC-A JK Keytaab and Health S er vices Ac ademy host groundbreaking digital healthc are seminar L A H O R E: Keytaab, a digital learning platform dedicated to making knowledge and skills accessible to all, in collaboration with Health Services Academy (HSA) Islamabad hosted a transformative Digital Healthcare Seminar at Serena Hotel The event attracted a diverse audience including doctors healthcare professionals trainers policy makers, government officials, technology leaders, CEOs of pharma companies, medical faculty, and high-profile figures from the healthcare sector The seminar featured keynote addresses by distinguished speakers including Chief Guest Lieutenant General (R) Nigar Johar Khan HI (M) TI (M) Guest of Honor Mr Shahzad Ali Khan Dean & Vice Chancellor of HSA and Key Note Speaker Mr Zamurrad khan (Hila-i-Imtiaz) Founder & CEO Pakistan Sweet Home, Guest of Honor, Mr Saeed Ahmed Sheikh Director General Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) and Honorable Mr Nasir Mehmood Elia Director BIC Health Services Academy PR IESCO crackdown on power pilferers, defaulters in full swing: CEO Dr Muhammad Amjad Khan, Chief Executive Officer of Islamabad Electric Supply Company IESCO said in a statement that crackdown against electricity theft and the recovery of dues continues across all operational circles including Islamabad Rawalpindi City, Rawalpindi Cantonment, Attock, Chakwal, and Jhelum, with the cooperation of the FIA, police, and other law enforcement agencies In the light of Government of Pakistan and the Ministry of Energy Power Division directives 131 0874 meters have been checked since the operation began on September 7 2023 Fines of amounting to 627 75 million rupees have been imposed 1872 FIRs have been registered against electricity thieves, resulting in the arrest of 1450 individuals IESCO recovery teams have successfully recovered a total of 3338 66 million rupees from over 130 019 running and dead defaulter Dr Muhammad Amjad Khan urged consumers to pay their electricity dues on time and to support IESCO in this national campaign against electricity theft PR Mahnoor Ali takes home her 2nd gold medal at Penang Malaysian Junior O pen 2024 L A H O R E: Mahnoor Ali, an 11-year-old Pakistani squash sensation has once again made headlines for her exceptional talent and achievements The young star won a gold medal in the PBA 20th Penang Malaysian junior Open 2024 U-13 category with an astounding score of 3-1 The tournament was generously supported by The Bilquis and Abdul Razak Dawood (BARD), which has been a steadfast pillar behind her achievements and growth The PBA 20th Penang Malaysia Junior Open an ASF Platinum tournament in the Asian Junior Super Series is recognized as one of the toughest competitions in Asia PR S i n d h g ove r n o r c r e ate s h i s to r y a g a i n

lence

and Kashmir

APHC-AJK Convener

Mohammed Kamran Khan Tessori, Governor of Sindh known as Awami Governor (Public Governor) once again created history in the Governor House during the Eid get together when Consul General of China and United States sat together with Consul General of Russia at the front Turkiye Japan and France with Middle East s Peace Mediator Kuwait s Consul General next to Governor The topic of discussion of diplomats remained International Politics and efforts of Governor Tessori who made history in Governor House with Sacrificing of 100 Camels and distribution of it s meat along with 20 000 grocery (Rashan Boxes) during the three days of the Eid ul Adha at the Governor House Foreign Diplomats also appreciated governor Sindh s effort for the promotion of I T in Pakistan specifically in the province of Sindh through the I T courses program for thousands of the underprivileged students who can earn thousands of dollar for their family after completing their courses PR SCO leads digital revolution in A J&K’s capital city Muzaﬀarabad with new Software Technology Park In a landmark event, the capital city of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K) Muzaffarabad witnessed inauguration of a state-of-the-art Software Technology Park established through collaborative efforts of Special Communications Organization (SCO) and Read Foundation The inauguration ceremony was graced by Major General Umar Ahmed Shah, HI(M), Director General SCO, who officially opened the park in a glittering ceremony The newly established Software Technology Park in capital city of AJ&K is set to revolutionize region s IT landscape The park is expected to create job opportunities for youth in AJ&K and facilitate local workforce to learn niche skills in information technology It will also contribute towards country’s economic growth and bring prosperity in region PR E n g r o Fe r t i l i ze r s c o m p l e te s l a r g e s t - eve r E n Ve n P l a n t t u r n a r o u n d w i t h U S D 5 0 m i l l i o n i nve s t m e n t KARACHI: Engro Fertilizers has completed the largest-ever (55 days) scheduled maintenance activity of the EnVen Plant as planned on June 18 2024 Established in 2011 with an investment of USD 1 1 billion, the EnVen Plant has an annual production capacity of 1 3 million tons and is the most energy efficient fertilizer plant in Pakistan, with the lowest consumption of gas per ton of urea The project scope of the turnaround included over 5 000 technical activities including the first-ever replacement of the waste heat boiler overhaul of the furnace convection section, ammonia storage tank inspection and a comprehensive overhaul of six major turbo trains and gas turbines At peak, more than 6,000 people were engaged round-the-clock at the Plant site for these turnaround activities Engro Fertilizers has invested approx USD 50 million in the Plant turnaround to improve its reliability and operational efficiency According to Ali Rathore – CEO of Engro Fertilizers The safe and successful completion of this major turnaround, despite extreme weather conditions, showcases the engineering excellence of the Engro Fertilizers team in executing large-scale projects within planned schedules and budgets while prioritizing the safety of everyone involved in the activity PR Ad a m j e e L i fe r e c o g n i s e d at Pa ki s t a n D i g i t a l Awa r d s 2 0 2 4 K A R A C H I: For the second consecutive year Adamjee Life a leading provider of life insurance solutions, has been honored at the Pakistan Digital Awards 2024, with the "Best Digital Campaign" Award This prestigious recognition underscores Adamjee Life's innovative and effective use of social media to engage with its audience and deliver impactful messages Expressing his gratitude Mr Manzar Mushtaq CEO of Adamjee Life, stated, We are immensely honored to have received this accolade We understand the importance of a robust digital presence and an enhanced user experience " Adamjee Life s awardwinning digital campaign was strategically crafted to address the diverse needs and preferences of its audience on a modest budget Through engaging content interactive posts and targeted advertising the campaign successfully reached and resonated with a broad spectrum of users The campaign further emphasized the importance of life insurance and showcased Adamjee Life's comprehensive range of products and services PR ISSI hosts roundtable on ‘Astana Summit2024: Solidifying SCO’s Partnerships’ China Pakistan Study Centre (CPSC) at Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) hosted a roundtable discussion titled, Astana Summit2024: Solidifying SCO’s Partnerships” The event was moderated by Dr Talat Shabbir Director CPSC The speakers at the roundtable included Ambassador Sohail Mahmood Director General ISSI; Ambassador Khalid Mahmood Chairman BoG ISSI; HE Yerzhan Kistafin, Ambassador of Republic of Kazakhstan to Pakistan; Ambassador Babar Amin, Pakistan’s first National Coordinator of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO); Dr Syed Hussain Shaheed Soherwordi Professor University of Peshawar; and Mr Marghoob Saleem Butt Pakistan s National Coordinator for SCO MOFA DG ISSI Ambassador Sohail Mahmood stressed the significance of the upcoming Astana Summit within the SCO framework, underscoring SCO's role as a pivotal trans-regional platform committed to stability, economic development and cooperative multilateralism PR

KARACHI:

T S PA K I S TA N

RAWALPINDI I N P

Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC) Liu Jianchao met with Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Syed Asim Munir at the General Headquarters on Friday The meeting focused on topics of mutual interest such as regional peace and stability and the progress of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), according to an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) release General Munir reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to its strategic partnership with China expressing full support for the successful execution of CPEC a key

component of China s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Liu Jianchao

Sadiq honored the soldiers’ bravery and dedicated service This tragic event follows recent increases in terrorist activity in Pakistan particularly in KP and Balochistan The Centre for Research and Security Studies noted in its latest security report that 2023 witnessed a surge in violence marking a six-year peak in fatalities and injuries due to terrorism and counter-terror measures

LHC orders police to impound smoke emitting vehicles to combat smog

LAHORE S TA F F R E P O R T The Lahore High Court (LHC) has issued an order for police to impound vehicles emitting smoke in an effort to combat the escalating smog threat in Lahore This directive was part of a ruling announced during a hearing by an LHC bench, which is addressing multiple pleas for judicial intervention to mitigate smog levels Justice Shahid Karim, presiding over the case brought forth by citizen Haroon Farooq among others instructed the traffic police to

WASHINGTON A G E N C I E S

The United States has said that it supports Pakistan and India having a direct discussion with each other, but it believes the two countries should decide the pace scope and character of the talks At a daily news conference in Washington on Thursday, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said that the US values its essential relationships with both Pakistan and India “As we have said we support direct discussions between Pakistan and India but the pace scope and character should be determined by those two countries, not by us, he added Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had initiated a move recently by sending a congratulatory message

to his Indian counterpart on his third straight election victory and expressed the desire to improve sour ties between the two neighbouring states

The US official also commented on a recent statement by Pakistan s US Ambassador Masood Khan who pointed out that TTP terrorists were using American weapons against Pakistan, acquired in Afghanistan He urged Washington to provide weapons to Pakistan to effectively combat these terrorists

The United States and Pakistan have a shared interest in combating threats to regional security, said Miller when asked to comment on the ambassador ’s statement “We partner with Pakistan in security through our high-level counterterrorism dialogue includ-

ing several counterterrorism capacity-building programmes and we support a series of US-Pakistan military-to-military engagements, he added

The United States he said also maintains regular communication with Pakistani leaders as part of a bilateral partnership on counterterrorism issues And we will continue to discuss regional security in detail, including through our annual counterterrorism dialogue and other bilateral consultations ” he added Relations between the two countries worsened after India revoked Article 370 on August 5 2019, removing Jammu and Kashmir s special status and splitting it into two Union Territories Pakistan strongly reacted by downgrading diplomatic ties and expelling the Indian envoy

PHC seeks PTA’s reply to plea seeking ban

R T The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Friday sought a reply from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) while hearing a petition seeking a complete ban on video-sharing app TikTok for blasphemous and immoral content Advocate Imran Khan filed the petition, requesting the court to direct the respondents to the PTA, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and Ministry of Information to ban TikTok in Pakistan permanently for persistent breach of guidelines and violation of the Constitution A bench consisting of Chief Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Justice Sahibzada Asadullah heard the request of the peti-

Published by Asad Nizami at Plot # 7, Al-Baber Centre, F/8 Markaz, Islamabad, for PT Print (Pvt) Limited Ph: 051-2204545 Email: newsroom@pakistantoday com pk PRAYER TIMINGS FA J R S U N R I S E Z U H R A S R M AG H R I B S H A 4:00 4:58 1 30 5:30 7:13 9:15 Saturday 22 June 2024 NEWS SWAT S Y E D S H A H A B U D D I N A day after the killing of a blasphemy accused by a mob in Madyan, the Swat police on Friday registered two different FIRs nominating the person guilty of blasphemy and mob for damaging a police station and vehicles on Thursday night DPO Swat Dr Zahidullah confirmed the development, saying that the police have found important evidence regarding the blasphemy He said that the police have registered two different FIRs – one registered against the deceased Sulaiman a resident of Sialkot for the alleged blasphemy and the other one against the mob for attacking and damaging government property The Swat DPO further informed that currently the situation in Madyan was completely peaceful and all markets and bazaars were opened and life was going on as usual He denied that tourists were not allowed to come to Swat or they were being stopped clarifying that during the incident the police had stopped some tourists for their safety and later they were released, According to the police officials, 37year-old Muhammad Sulaiman, son of Qamar Aziz, a resident of Mohallah Park Pura Sialkot district rented a room in Skyways Hotel in Madyan on June 18 On the second day of his stay the news of his committing blasphemy spread like wildfire in the area and a mob of people surrounded him According to SHO Madyan Islamul Haq as soon as they got information the police reached the spot and rescued Sulaiman from the crowd shifting him to the safety of the police station Meanwhile, announcements were made from local mosques through loudspeakers, calling local people to reach the police station Soon a huge crowd gathered outside the police station who besieged the building During the rioting the police resorted to firing to disperse the mob pelting the building with stones Resultantly eleven local people and five police officers were injured, the police officer recalled The mob managed to snatch the accused from police station after setting blaze the building and vehicles They tortured Sulaiman, dragged him on road and later set him on fire on Kalam Road” the police officer added According to the police, some of the remains of the deceased s body, charred beyond recognition, have been seized by the police and sent to the laboratory for forensic and DNA On the other hand the local people have made it clear that if the police take any action any one on charges of this blasphemy incident, they will be forced to protest on the streets again The police have also started an investigation to ascertain as to why did Sulaiman commit the blasphemous in Swat where he had come for spending vacations? Meanwhile, the police have registered a case but no action has been taken against the nominated accused so for Meanwhile Malakand division’s Regional Police Chief Mohammad Ali Gandapur told Reuters that the authorities have begun an investigation to identify and arrest members of a mob that killed a man accused of blasphemy, after they ransacked a police station holding him in protective custody in Swat Gandapur said the situation was under control and a case registered against the organisers of the mob He added the man had been visiting Swat which is a popular tourist destination, for Eidul Azha ‘ M a d ya n b l a s p h e my k i l l i n g ’ : Po l i c e l o d g e t wo c a s e s a s l i fe r e t u r n s t o n o r m a l c y RAWALPINDI S TA F F R E P O R T P A K I S TA N Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan on Friday said that any negotiations with the PML-N could result in the downfall of its government saying he want to negotiate for Pakistan not for myself or the government Look I am willing to step back if it benefits the country, and plz convince me it benefits the country, and I will step back,” the PTI founder during an informal media talk at the hearing of the £190 million reference case The incarcerated former PM expressed his desire to negotiate for Pakistan s benefit not for personal or governmental interests He criticised the current government for not reducing expenses and failing to create an investment-friendly environment “The country is in crisis,” the exPM said The government has not reduced its expenses which is troubling The current government has failed to create an environment for investment Imran argued that Pakistan needs a mandate-driven government for necessary reforms pointing out that the current budget highlights the limitations of a non-mandated government He condemned heavy taxation on professionals and the public predicting severe impacts from the upcoming electricity bills Imran lamented the broken promises on load-shedding in KhyberPakhtunkhwa (KP), where power cuts are extensive He criticised the ongoing issue of electricity theft in various regions questioning where the public should turn for solutions Electricity theft is an old issue It happens in Hyderabad Sindh and Quetta as well, he said Imran also complained about being barred from meeting Ali Amin Gandapur despite not refusing a meeting himself He noted the lack of unity within political parties and criticised Maryam Nawaz for extravagant spending on selfpromotion Imran announced plans to file cases against major and colonel officials in Adiala Jail, accusing Ahsan Iqbal of contempt for suggesting he be jailed for five years He questioned the rule of law, criticising recent judicial and administrative actions He also criticised amendments to NAB laws alleging they were made to conceal corruption How can someone who conducted fraudulent elections deliver justice?” Imran asked He warned that further borrowing would be needed to pay off the national debt and urged the judiciary to support the weak rather than the powerful PPP leaders, workers commemorate Benazir Bhutto on 72nd birthday SUKKUR I N P Sukkur celebrated the 72nd birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto with enthusiasm on Friday A commemorative ceremony was held at Sukkur House, where PPP workers cut a birthday cake The event saw the participation of prominent PPP figures including Senator Islamuddin Sheikh, Mayor of Sukkur Arslan Sheikh MNA Noman Islam Sheikh Deputy Mayor Dr Arshad Mughal and Abid Gul Mahar along with a large number of party workers Participants paid tribute to Benazir Bhutto s enduring contributions Senator Islamuddin highlighted the PPP s history of sacrifices for democratic stability in Pakistan and described Benazir Bhutto as a champion for the poor and oppressed Mayor Arslan Sheikh echoed these sentiments emphasizing her visionary policies on women s rights and national unity Deputy Mayor Dr Mughal praised her global stature and her efforts to advance Pakistan s progress and prosperity The ceremony also included prayers for Benazir Bhutto’s eternal peace and reflections by PPP leaders and workers on the legacy of their martyred leader Five Army soldiers mar t yred in Kurram IED attack RAWALPINDI N E W S D E S K An improvised explosive device (IED) attack in Kurram District Khyber Pakhtunkhwa resulted in the deaths of five Pakistan Army soldiers on Friday as confirmed by the military s media wing Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) The explosion targeted a security forces vehicle near Sadda area, claiming the lives of Havildar Aqeel Ahmed, 33, from Okara; Lance Naik Muhammad Tafeer 30 from Poonch; Sepoy Anosh Rufun 24 from Attock; Sepoy Muhammad Azam Khan 26 from Haripur; and Sepoy Haroon William 29 from Islamabad The ISPR declared that efforts to sanitize the area and eradicate terrorist threats were underway, vowing justice against those behind the attack In response, President Asif Ali Zardari and other officials strongly condemned the attack and praised the commitment and sacrifices of the fallen soldiers President Zardari reaffirmed the nation s resolve to continue anti-terrorism operations Similarly Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, and National Assembly Speaker Ayaz

initiate a stringent crackdown on vehicles contributing to air pollution Additionally the Motorway Police were tasked with combating stubble burning a significant contributor to smog The court also issued a stern warning to the Inspector General of the Motorway Police, stating that failure to enforce these measures could lead to contempt of court proceedings PESHAWAR

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tioner for interim relief seeking removal of all the objectionable material from TikTok till final disposal of the petition The court on Friday issued a written order of the last hearing saying that Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) is not a regulatory authority PTA is the regulatory authority which looks after such cases said the PHC while issuing notice to the telecommunication regulator and seeking its response within seven days The high court had adjourned the hearing till June 26 (Wednesday) The petition also prayed the court to direct the respondents to not allow such applications in future which affect moral and ethical values of the people in Pakistan He said that there were benefits of social media, but some social media platforms had opened the way to express anything disregarding decency morality and the values of Islam in countries like Pakistan The petition said that TikTok being a publicly accessible application, has failed to adequately optimise its system to proscribe such criminal, hateful, unethical, and vulgar content

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stated his visit was a continuation of the fruitful discussions between the leaders of the two nations held in China He lauded the enduring brotherly relations between China and Pakistan and was pleased with the ongoing success of the CPEC projects confirming China s dedication to their timely completion Liu also praised Pakistan s role in maintaining regional peace and stability and appreciated the Pakistan Armed Forces’ efforts in ensuring the safety of Chinese nationals and projects within Pakistan C h i n e s e I D C P C m i n i s t e r m e e t s a r my c h i e f t o d i s c u s s C P E C p r o g r e s s I M R

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PR OFIT I N P Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly is pushing for a significant reduction in electricity prices for the province A resolution submitted by government member Fazl Elahi to the provincial assembly secretariat calls for the federal government to provide KP with electricity at Rs 10 per unit The resolution highlights KP s dual role in the country s energy sector The province not only generates electricity but also contends with loadshedding alongside other provinces Fazl Elahi argues that this situation is unfair The resolution emphasizes that KP-generated electricity is sold by the federal government at a much higher rate (Rs 70-80 per unit) while the province faces power outages The resolution proposes a two-pronged solution as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa demands the federal government significantly slash electricity prices for the province, bringing the cost down to Rs 10 per unit The resolution calls for KP to be prioritized in electricity distribution Ideally KP would receive its electricity needs first with any remaining surplus being distributed to other provinces This proposal by the KP Assembly underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Pakistan s energy sector It remains to be seen how the federal government will respond to the demands set forth in the resolution K P d e m a n d s s i g n i f i c a n t r e d u c t i o n i n e l e c t r i c i t y p r i c e s f r o m f e d e r a l g o v t g THE RESOLUTION HIGHLIGHTS KP'S DUAL ROLE IN COUNTRY'S ENERGY SECTOR

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