E-Paper PDF 11th February 2020 (ISB)

CMYK

Tuesday, 11 February, 2020 I 16 Jamadi-ul-Sani, 1441 I Rs 19.00 I Vol X No 223 I 16 Pages I Islamabad Edition

Govt looks to curb inflation with rs15bn relief packaGe g

meetIng chaIred By pm Imran decIdes to open 50,000 new utIlIty stores across pakIstan

g

suBsIdIsed Food Items wIll Be avaIlaBle to people From utIlIty stores only

ISLAMABAD staff report

p

rIme minister Imran khan on monday decided to introduce a relief package of rs15 billion for utility stores to tackle rising inflation and provide aid to the poor sections of society. the decision was taken during a meeting of the government’s economic team chaired by the premier. It was decided that the relief will be provided on food items through utility stores while the administration will monitor the food prices at the district level. the meeting was attended by pm’s special assistant on social protection dr sania nishtar, utility stores corporation chairman Zulfiqar ali khan and other senior officials. the meeting also decided to open 50,000 more utility retail stores across the country. the relief package for food items would be limited to the utility stores only and no plan has been devised to subsidies the commodities’ prices at private stores. to set up utility stores, a loan worth rs500,000 would be provided as part of the kamyab Jawan programme. In the initial phase, the government plans to establish 1500 such stores. addressing the meeting, prime minister Imran said that the government would leave no stone unturned to provide relief to the poor and salaried class against inflation. he added that the government cannot act as a silent spectator to the difficulties being faced by the poor people. he also vowed to take stern action against hoarders and profiteers. Inflation rate was clocked in at 14.6 per cent in January from 12.6pc of the previous month, scaling the highest level in 12 years, the pakistan Bureau of statistics (pBs) reported. Inflation, measured by the consumer price Index (cpI), edged up 1.97pc over the previous month. last time, the highest inflation in the country was recorded at 17pc in the year 2007-08.

the data released shows that higher food prices, particularly of wheat and flour, pulses, sugar, gurr and edible oil, were the largest driver of overall inflation in January. It was also observed that the prices of essential food items, especially vegetable and fruits, are higher in rural areas than in urban areas. In rural areas, the prices of lpg cylinders used for cooking purpose have also witnessed highest ever increase since 2013. the pass-through of exchange rate depreciation and higher international commodity prices, in addition to strong underlying demand pressures, started to reflect in higher year-on-year inflation from July 2019. Food inflation in urban areas rose by 19.5pc in January on a yearly basis and 2.7pc on a monthly basis whereas it increased by 23.8pc and 3.4pc, respectively, in rural areas. It clearly shows that food inflation is very high in rural areas where most of the population lives, which is an unprecedented phenomenon. In urban areas, the food items which saw an increase in their prices during January include: pulse moong 19.74pc, pulse gram 18.2pc, chicken 17.53pc, eggs 14.28pc, wheat 12.63pc, besan 12.09pc, fresh vegetables 11.7pc, pulse mash 10.29pc, gur 9.49pc, beans 8.09pc, wheat flour 7.42pc, pulse masoor 7.33pc, condi-

ments and spices 7.15pc, gram whole 6.68pc, sugar 5.07pc, fresh fruits 3.93pc, mustard oil 2.87pc, wheat products 2.64pc, vegetable ghee 2.18pc, rice 1.2pc, fish 1.19pc and dry fruits 1.09pc. on the flipside, items whose prices declined in urban areas include: onion 18.37pc, tomato 8.36pc and potato 3.69pc. In rural areas the food items which saw a price hike include: pulse moong 18.7pc, chicken 17.3pc, fresh vegetables 15.39pc, pulse gram 14.21pc, eggs 12.89pc, gur 12.84pc, besan 9.97pc, wheat 9.07pc, pulse masoor 6.77pc, vegetable ghee 6.55pc, cooking oil 6.48pc, pulse mash 6.31pc, wheat flour 6.16pc, mustard oil 5.13pc, condiments and spices 4.85pc, beans 4.54pc, sugar 4.36pc, gram whole 4.22pc, dry fruits 3.54pc, butter 2.49pc, potato 1.96pc, meat 1.82pc, rice 1.77pc, wheat products 1.67pc and milk powder 1.4pc . with the arrival of crops, especially vegetables, in punjab, it is predicted that the prices of tomato, onion and potato and other vegetables will come down in February and march. similarly, non-food inflation in urban centres was recorded at 10.2pc year-on-year, while it was 10.5pc in rural areas. the rise in non-food inflation is mainly driven by an increase in oil prices over the past few months and a combined impact of depreciation of the exchange rate. the government passed on this increase to domestic consumers. the International monetary Fund has estimated that the country’s inflation may rise as high as 13pc, but the government estimates that it will remain within the range of 11-13pc for the current fiscal year.

Stocks lose 846 points amid lack of triggers STORY ON PAGE 12

Bilawal holds govt responsible for Ehsanullah Ehsan's escape

ptI wins over pml-q after successful talks STORY ON PAGE 03

Indian soldier killed, three others injured in Pakistan's retaliatory firing STORY ON BACK PAGE

ecc ratifies ban on sugar exports to ‘keep prices in check’ STORY ON PAGE 11

Industries should be given tax-free gas, apex court suggests STORY ON BACK PAGE

lhc halts conversion of Ishaq dar’s residence into panahgah STORY ON PAGE 02

Hafeez Shaikh, Reza Baqir are not being replaced g

Imran says FBr chIeF shaBBar ZaIdI only accepted the posItIon For sIx months on hIs request

STORIES ON BACK PAGE & 02

naB summons Bilawal in opal-255 case CMYK

STORY ON PAGE 03

Tuesday, 11 February, 2020

02 NEWS

LHC HALts CONversiON Of isHAq DAr’s resiDeNCe iNtO PANAHgAH LAHORE

t

STAFF REPORT

HE Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday issued a stay order against the conversion of former finance minister Ishaq Dar’s residence into a Panahgah (shelter home). During the hearing, Justice Shahid Bilal Hasan also directed the Punjab government to submit a response within 10 days. According to the petitioner, former finance minister’s wife Tabassum Ishaq Dar, the decision to turn her residence into a shelter home is illegal as the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had already issued a stay order against the auction of the same.

She further added that the government was targeting PML-N leaders in what she said was “political revenge”. Meanwhile, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif condemned the move to

NAB summons Bilawal in Opal-255 case

turn Dar’s house into a shelter and food bank, saying: “Ishaq Dar has served the nation and these backhanded tactics cannot detract from his services.” Shehbaz said: ” The common man

was worried about bread, employment and business while the corrupt, inefficient and revengeful government was busy avenging political opponents”. He further said taking over the homes of political opponents was a negative tradition and this move would not dampen PML-N’s spirits. On Friday, the Punjab government had converted Dar’s home into a shelter that started functioning on Saturday. The Lahore city district government had taken possession of the property last year on July 27 after the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) seized all of his movable and immovable assets in connection with a corruption case. The property in question is built on a nearly five-kanal plot in the Gulberg III neighborhood.

Relief for Hajj pilgrims on the cards as federal cabinet set to meet today

ISLAMABAD

ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

AHMAD AHMADANI

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Monday again summoned Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal BhuttoZardari on Feb 13 in a corruption case pertaining to Opal-255 – a joint venture of the Zardari Group – which is said to be an offshoot of the fake bank accounts case. The accountability watchdog, in its summons, also asked the PPP chairman to bring records of Zardari Group between 2008 and 2019. The bureau has accused Bhutto of transferring billions of rupees to Opal-225 via fake bank accounts. The company also took loans of billions of rupees from banks, according to NAB. During the investigations, Bhutto maintained that he was below the legal age when the transactions were made. However, reports have claimed on multiple occasions that the documents in question bear his signatures. The bureau is investigating the fake bank accounts and money laundering case against the top PPP leadership and on Dec 9 last year, the bureau had filed eight references in the accountability court of Islamabad. On May 29 last year, NAB had served a 32-point questionnaire to the PPP chairperson during his short appearance in the bureau’s headquarters. In December last year, the Bureau had summoned Bhutto in the said case however he had refused to appear before it, saying the call-up notice served to him is “unconstitutional and illegal”. In addition to Bhutto, the case involves 172 important personalities, including PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur, former Sindh chief minister Qaim Ali Shah, Anwar Siyal, Bahria Town owner Malik Riaz and others. Meanwhile, Bhutto’s sister Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari has condemned the development and said it was meant to avenge Bilawal’s stand against inflation.

A 14 point agenda, including the approval of Hajj Policy and Plan 2020, is likely to be taken up by the federal cabinet in its meeting on Tuesday. According to the agenda, the meeting will be held under the chair of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan here at the Prime Minister’s House and will take up summaries of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives, Cabinet, Commerce, Defence, States & Frontier Regions National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination, Religious Affairs & Interfaith Harmony divisions, and Board of Investment (BoI) beside any other item if the premier permits. As per sources, it is also highly probable that important decisions on reducing prices of essential commodities would be taken during the meeting. It may be mentioned here that the Ministry of Religious Affairs & Interfaith Harmony has devised a new hajj policy under which 179,210 a pilgrim will be able to perform the duty of pilgrimage during the ongoing year at a cost of around Rs500,000. According to the new draft available with this scribe, the ratio of pilgrimage quota for this year will be divided between the government and private schemes in a ratio of 60 by 40 per cent which is to remain the same in case of the availability of any additional quota from Saudi Arabia. Similarly, the proposed pilgrimage package bill for people belonging to the country’s northern region will be Rs550,210 while southerners will

be worth Rs542,210; eight thousand less than the northerners. These proposals, however, do not take into account the Rs24,200 expenditure for a sacrificial animal per person. Pakistan Today further learnt that a total of 10,000 seats have been allocated for citizens above the age of 70, while those applicants who could not win seats in the lotteries conducted during the last three years will be declared successful without having to take part in a new lottery. The quota will also reserve 1,000 seats for overseas Pakistanis which may be increased as the government might enter extra applicants into a lottery that might win them a seat to the holy city. On the same pattern, 500 seats have been allocated for employees of the Employees’ Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) and those who are working in registered companies of the Workers Welfare Fund (WWF). According to the Ministry of Religious Affairs & Interfaith Harmony, the Jeddah Directorate Hajj has been

advised to make arrangements for the best accommodations, transport facilities, medical aid and food for pilgrims who will perform the religious duties in Mecca and Madina. Details of this year’s pilgrimage policy further transpire that a separate section to ensure timely guidance to pilgrims will be established in the Ministry of Religious Affairs & Interfaith Harmony while the department’s secretary or his nominee officer of grade BS20/21 will supervise the whole operation in Saudi Arabia himself. In this connection, efforts to initiate the ‘Road to Mecca’ project from Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta airports besides Islamabad airport will also be made by concerned officials. Moreover, those Pakistanis who have not performed hajj during the last five years are allowed to submit an application for Hajj-e-Badal and Nafl Hajj. However, this condition will not be applicable to those who intend to reap benefits from private pilgrimage schemes.

BJP facing defeat in Delhi polls amid controversial citizenship law: Qureshi ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday said India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was facing imminent defeat in New Delhi polls due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “contentious moves concerning new citizenship laws”. Addressing a gathering of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) in Islamabad, the foreign minister said several countries that had deepened their ties with India, were reevaluating their relationships after the government’s questionable movies in occupied Kashmir and its introduction of discriminatory laws. “As for the Delhi elections, where results will be announced tomorrow, it is expected the BJP will face a lot of difficulties and is facing a huge defeat,” Qureshi said.

The foreign minister said there could be several reasons for the BJP facing these setbacks, but particularly highlighted the Indian government’s “cruel” policies in occupied Kashmir and the “countrywide protests that have resulted after the introduction of the CAA and the NRC” as the major reasons. Qureshi said several countries, realising that India is a huge market, were hesitant in going against their economic interests. “However, while it is true that everyone speaks of ethics and doing the right thing, their actions are always in line with safeguarding their own economic interests.” But the foreign minister went on to say that even countries that had deepened their ties with India, were reevaluating their relationship with the country after the government’s questionable moves in occupied Kashmir and its introduction of discriminatory laws.

CM YK

iHC gives NAB three days to submit response in Abbasi, iqbal bail pleas ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has given the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) three days to submit response in two separate post-arrest bail pleas filed by Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) leaders Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Ahsan Iqbal. A two-member bench comprising IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Lubna Saleem Pervez adjourned the hearing of the petitions till February 13 and warned the anti-graft watchdog that the high court will not entertain request for any more delay. Abbasi’s lawyer informed the bench that his client has been detained for over 200 days. “He is being deprived of fundamental rights.” When the bureau asserted that it would submit reply within three to four days, the bench directed NAB to submit response in the next hearing. Raising objections on NAB’s request for time, Iqbal’s counsel Tariq Jahangir lamented that the bureau dismisses need to detain suspects before the courts but “issues warrants” right after. Justice Minallah observed that the investigation agency was empowered by an apex court verdict to detain suspects. “If the suspect believes the NAB chairman is abusing his power then they may claim damages.” The bail plea filed by PML-N lawyer Barrister Zafarullah on behalf of Abbasi maintained that he was a vocal advocate of the supremacy of the constitution, parliamentary democracy, fair electoral process and rule of law. It added that the former prime minister was critical of the incumbent government’s incompetence and emphasised that he was imprisoned due to political views and is a “prisoner of conscience”. In his petition, Abbasi stressed on NAB’s “selective accountability” that led to reopening of the case. Similarly, the bail plea filed by Azam Nazeer Tarar on behalf of Ahsan Iqbal, maintains that the allegations are “false, frivolous and absurd” and the former planning minister has been arrested due to “political victimisation being the secretary-general” of the ruling party’s main opposition. The petition argues that the anti-graft watchdog has “no evidence” against Iqbal. He further said that India’s economic growth has halved since the BJP came back into power. “We are worried that India may try to stage a Pulwama-like false flag operation to move its own peoples’ focus on Pakistan, instead of on its own economic situation,” Qureshi said. Speaking of economic growth and stability, Qureshi said, “The world will take Pakistan seriously when we are financially stable. “That is why I am here today so that we can come up with ways for the foreign ministry to facilitate the finance ministry and other ministries in establishing contact with other countries and forging better ties with them. “This will help us learn from them and also work with them,” Qureshi said while adding that Pakistan has seen deindustrialization in recent years. “The question is about when this process started. If industries are shutting down now, something must have happened in the past few years to have triggered the process. No one sets an industry up with the feasibility of a year or six months in mind, they think years ahead of time. “However, I am not here to place blame or play politics, I am here to find a way forward,” the foreign minister said.

Tuesday, 11 February, 2020

NEWS

Pti wiNs Over PmL-q After suCCessfuL tALks ELAHI SAYS PML-Q WANTS UNION WITH PTI TO CONTINUE TILL NEXT ELECTIONS LAHORE

t

STAFF REPORT

HE Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) government and its key ally, the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), on Monday finally resolved their differences after a five-member government committee held successful talks with coalition partners to resolve pending issues involving development funds and administrative powers. The government committee, comprising Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar, Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar and Defence Minister Pervez Khattak among others held its maiden meeting at Punjab Assembly Speaker Pervaiz Elahi’s residence. Prime Minister Imran’s confidant Jahangir Tareen was, however, missing from the delegation. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Elahi maintained that several issues were discussed with the government committee. “Each government faces a different set of challenges. Therefore,

whatever situation arises, we will face it together, and with mutual consultation and discussions, will try to find a solution,” he said, adding that the PML-Q wants the tabdeeli (change) witnessed during the tenure of Prime Minister Imran Khan to benefit those at the very tail-end. “There has been a lot of talk on where the bottlenecks are and how they can be resolved. But, one thing is very clear, we do not have any doubts about the leadership, intentions, and struggle of Imran Khan. “We [PML-Q] want our union with [the PTI] to continue till the next elections so that we can stand before the people after offering solutions to their problems,” he said, adding that then the people will know that they can deliver. Meanwhile, Defence Minister Khattak stated that the misunderstanding regarding the government’s allies jumping ship had been removed. “None of them are abandoning us,” he said, adding that the issues between the government and the PMLQ were small and “insignificant”, but

were blown out of proportion. “We were in contact throughout this whole process. We were partners before and will continue to be partners,” he said, adding that the purpose of the meeting was to dispel the misunderstandings that there were major differences between the two parties. “There were some issues that were resolved after sitting down. If you don’t take your allies on board, the situation can worsen. Therefore, we will carry out decisions after mutual consultation,” he said. “Issues will keep cropping up, they crop up in our homes too, but we will have to settle them. We assure the people that this partnership will last for the next three years,” Khattak maintained. Meanwhile, talking to Pakistan Today, PML-Q leader and Federal Minister for Housing Tariq Basheer Cheema said that the government team had promised them to implement the decisions taken during the meeting from Tuesday. Commenting on the PML-Q’s demand for another ministerial berth in the federal cabinet, Cheema said that they had dropped their demand for making Chaudhry Moonis Elahi a federal minister because PM Imran was not comfortable with the suggestion. “We did not raise this issue during the talks,” he said. PTI-PML RELATIONS

Hafeez Shaikh, Reza Baqir are not being replaced SAYS JAHANGIR KHAN TAREEN NOT INVOLVED IN RECENT FLOUR CRISIS ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday rejected reports about the removal of Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance Abdul Hafeez Shaikh and State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Reza Baqir. According to sources, during a meeting of government’s spokespersons, the prime minister made it clear to everyone that the government is

not replacing Shaikh or Baqir as they are doing a good job. The premier also devised a strategy against inflation in the country and directed the finance adviser and SBP governor to speed up the implementations of key decisions. He told the participants that Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Shabbar Zaidi, who is seriously ill, accepted the position for only six months on his request. The PM also reiterated strict action against those responsible for wheat

TURN SOUR: The PTI government’s relations with PML-Q had gone sour after PM Imran had abruptly changed the committee, which was led by Tareen, working on addressing the administrative and development issues being confronted by the coalition partners in Punjab and the Centre. It had emerged that the PML-Q wanted to have its administrative share of the districts in Punjab, where it had its political base with winning MPAs and MNAs. Since the change, the PML-Q leadership wanted that several decisions, including a due share in the administrative power through bureaucracy, agreed upon with the Tareen committee, be implemented. The Tareen-led committee had reportedly also agreed to empower two PML-Q ministers in Punjab and one at the Centre and the allied party’s leadership wanted to implement the earlier agreed upon decisions, which were recorded in minutes too. However, the gulf between the partners widened after the prime minister stopped Tareen from holding talks with the PML-Q and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) reportedly on complaints from some PTI leaders that he was more inclined to protect the interest of the alienated partners than the government’s.

and flour crisis. Stressing on the need of keeping the party organised and united, he clarified that Jahangir Tareen was not involved in the recent flour crisis. Last month, it was reported that the FBR chairman was on an indefinite leave from his official duties on grounds of ill health. On February 7, while speaking to a local news outlet, Shaikh had hinted that the federal government may decide to change the FBR chairman if he did not recover quickly as the government was planning to introduce a mini-budget. “The chairman FBR is ill and we hope he recovers quickly,” Shaikh had said in the interview. Earlier, Zaidi had gone on sick leave from January 6 to January 19. This had led to rumours that there was a rift in the government’s economic team. However, those rumours were rejected by the FBR. When asked about the details of the government’s plan to introduce a bill to address the missed tax target, the adviser had also stated that the word mini-budget had become controversial. Shaikh had told the host that economic management was a necessary and continuous process. He had added that it is possible that a finance act can be changed once it has been presented.

PTI tops list as ECP releases details of assets owned by political parties ISLAMABAD INP

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday released details of assets owned by the political parties in 2018-19, as out of 125 political parties registered with the commission, only 82 of them submitted the records. As per the details submitted by the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the party owned assets worth up to Rs 225.3 million despite losing assets worth Rs 90 million during the year. PTI Chairman Imran Khan submitted an affidavit in the commission that the party has received no funding from prohibited sources, saying that its expenses have crossed the rev-

enue collection. The PTI submitted expenditures of over Rs 508 million during the year. Similarly, in an affidavit submitted with the ECP, the Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) said that it possesses a bank balance of Rs 160 million which also included Rs 13.5 million of the party funds it received. The total number of assets held by the party is worth over seven million rupees. “The party spent an amount of Rs 20 million as compared to an income of over five million rupees,” the ECP said citing the party’s affidavit. Another top party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML), also claimed that its expenditures remained higher than the income generated during the year as the party disclosed assets worth over Rs 80 million.

03

HAmiD mir CLAims LAwmAkers BeiNg APPrOACHeD tO LegALise HOmOsexuALity NEWS DESK Journalist and analyst Hamid Mir, in his column for a local media outlet, has claimed that students of a reputable educational institution have been contacting lawmakers in the National Assembly (NA) and Senate, urging them to move the house for the legalisation of homosexuality in the country. “They [the youngsters] have been contacting different lawmakers and demanding, that like many other countries, homosexuality should be legalised in Pakistan,” the journalist quoted the senator as saying. In his column, Mir claims that the students are in fact ‘threatening’ lawmakers who have refused to take up their cause.He claimed that one lawmaker, ignoring a youth’s request, advised them to focus on religion and praying five times a day so that “their thoughts do not go astray” but the youngster still urged the senator to at least move the Upper House in this regard. “When the senator strongly turned down the student’s demand, they were threatened by the youngsters,” Mir wrote. He further claimed that some students have also approached parliamentarians belonging to religio-political parties, but they have not responded as yet.

minister suggests referendum on public hanging for child molesters NEWS DESK In reaction to some parliamentarians’ opposition to harsh punishment for child rapists, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan on Monday suggested holding a referendum on public executions. Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, the minister termed the resolution that called for publicly hanging those involved in cases of the sexual assault and murder of minors a correct decision. “If the opposition has any objection to public executions, a referendum be held [on the issue],” he suggested, adding the plebiscite will determine whether the people support public hanging for those involved in heinous crimes or not. Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) MNA Syed Naved Qamar, slamming the resolution, said it was passed without forethought. He said the country is being run through presidential ordinances despite the presence of parliament.

04 ISLAMABAD

Tuesday, 11 February, 2020

WEATHER UPDATES TUESDAY

190C

100C

WEDNESDAY

200C 110C

THURSDAY

220C 070C

CItIzens advIsed to wear masks as aIr qualIty goes unHealtHy ISLAMABAD

t

APP

HE federal capital residents Monday were advised to wear pollution masks to avoid harmful impact of air pollution as air quality was unhealthy due to dry weather and rising vehicular emissions. According to Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) daily air quality report, the hazardous pollutant ratio of particulate matter of 2.5 microns (PM 2.5) was recorded beyond safer limits. The pollution level comprising particulate matter of 2.5 microns (PM2.5) was above the permissible ratio of 35 micrograms per cubic meter (mg/mł) and was recorded 75.87 mg/mł, one of the highest ratio noticed in the federal capital. World Health Organization (WHO) in its reports of 2015 claimed air pollution to cause huge number of premature deaths. PM 2.5 had been found hazardous pollutant which could penetrate into human blood through lungs cells. The report mentioned that the 24 hours average

concentrations of Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and Sulphur dioxide (SO2) were noticed below the permissible limits of National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) whereas concentration of PM2.5 was within safe limit of NEQS. The daily ambient air quality report of the federal capital by Pakistan-EPA, the 24 hours average ratio of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and Sulphur dioxide (SO2) were 25.66micrograms per cubic meter (mg/ mł) and 32.35 mg/mł respectively against the respective Na-

Dept sans permanent heads hindering progress in science sector ISLAMABAD APP

A number of key departments working under Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) are facing hurdles in pursuance of their official and administrative matters due to delay in appointments of permanent heads by the relevant authorities. According to the official source, the departments working under the ministry including Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR), Pakistan Council for Research in Water Resources (PCRWR), Pakistan Council of Science and Technology (PCST), Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF),

Council for Work and Housing Research (CWHR), National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) and National Institute of Electronics (NIE) are without permanent heads for a long time. Science and Technology has never remained priority of the previous governments in term of budget allocation, scientific research and innovation due to which our country is lagging behind in this sector which is a backbone for the progress of any country. The official source revealed that many important projects are lingering in different departments working under the ministry while the administrative matters are also lingering in absence of the permanent heads of the department.

PtI govt committed to providing relief to masses: kP Cm PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Monday while expressing displeasure over performance of patwari system,warned patwaris to mend their ways as this government was committed to extending instant relief to masses. Addressing a joint meeting of commissioners and deputy commissioners from across the province here, the chief minister cautioned those key officials of the district level to keep eye on patawris’ performance and initiate action against those who were involved in malpractices. He underlined the need for the commissioners to make their masses’ welfare-oriented measures more effective and so that people could realize that the government was truly working for their betterment. The chief minister directed for ensuring presence of public representatives at open court (Kuli Kucheries) to resolve masses’ problems on the spot. The chief minister also directed for constitution of a joint team for food checking to provide quality edible items to public. APP

german woman without visa denied entry into Pakistan ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Monday denied clearance to a German woman who landed at the Islamabad International airport without a visa. As per details, the woman, Jennifer, landed at the airport via Qatar airlines flight QR-632. Upon checking her passport, it transpired that she did not possess a Pakistani visa and was denied entry. The sources said she will be deported through the next flight to Doha. INP

tional Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) of 80 mg/mł and 120mg/mł. The data was recorded by calibrated air quality monitors fixed at particular positions with proper readings. However, concentrations of PM2.5 during the day and evening times were recorded slightly high, whereas the overall ambient air quality of the federal capital was not healthier today. Any other data from any source presenting ambient air quality of Islamabad was neither verified nor approved by the PAK-EPA, the report said. Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Spokesperson Dr Waseem Khawaja told APP that pollution masks were necessary to avoid health issues due to air pollution as children, elderly and pregnant women were highly at risk in case of very unhealthy air quality. The students and persons traveling on motorbikes should wear masks and sunglasses as dust and pollutants in air directly affect their respiratory system and eyes. "The situation is not very dangerous, however, preventive measures were necessary to avoid any major health complications," he added. Various departments are being run by those heads having the look after charge of the departments along with their other responsibilities. The officials also do not feel sense of responsibility when they are not having permanent chairman to hold them accountable, the official source said.The performance of majority of the departments working under the ministry is not up to the mark and their projects are even not in full compliance with the latest scientific development and the modern day challenges. The process of appointments was although started with advertising of posts by the ministry but not completed yet, the official source added. When contacted, a senior official of the ministry told APP that the reason behind delay in appointment of heads of various departments was the efforts to choose the most competent persons from the market who can bring positive reform in these departments. The criteria for appointment of heads have been changed from Grade I or II to MP-I or II etc. The summary was approved from the committee headed by Dr.Ishrat Hussain and sent to the Ministry of Finance for approval.

British envoy discusses bilateral ties with PM ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

British High Commissioner to Pakistan Dr Christian Turner met Prime Minister Imran Khan here on Monday, for an introductory call and to discuss matters of mutual interest between the UK and Pakistan. Prime Minister Imran Khan welcomed the British High Commissioner to Pakistan. They discussed a wide range of shared concerns, including bilateral ties, economic affairs, regional issues and climate change at the meeting. The British High Commissioner said that there are

so many opportunities for the UK-Pakistan relationship to become even stronger. He said our bonds are enduring and unique, with the UK and Pakistan exemplifying the very best in international partnership. He said our people to people connections represent our past, present and the future, with over 1.5 million British nationals of Pakistani origin. “I very much look forward to working with the Prime Minister and his team to enhance those ties. We particularly discussed the potential to expand UK-Pakistan trade and investment and the challenges posed by climate change to Pakistan and how we can both work together, including at the international climate change summit hosted in the UK in November, COP26”, he concluded.

FRIDAY

240C 070C

autHorItIes Isolate susPeCted CoronavIrus PatIent In PesHawar NEWS DESK An individual, who recently returned from China, has been moved to an isolation ward in a Peshawar hospital after authorities suspected that he may be infected with coronavirus. The 23-year-old hails from a district in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and has been admitted in Lady Reading Hospital’s isolation ward. According to LRH’s spokesperson, the blood samples of the suspected coronavirus patient have been sent to the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad, for testing. Various suspected cases of coronavirus had emerged in Peshawar, however, none of them had tested positive. Earlier on Thursday, the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) dispatched samples to NIH from three patients for testing who are suspected to have contracted coronavirus. PIMS’ spokesperson Dr Waseem Khawaja said that three people, including a Chinese national and two locals, had arrived at the hospital on Thursday with symptoms similar to those for the virus They join the Chinese national who is already under treatment at the isolation ward set up in PIMS. Dr Khawaja added that lab reports for the admitted Chinese national had come back as negative. Meanwhile, a suspected coronavirus patient landed at the Islamabad International Airport on Thursday. Identified as Sulaiman Khan, he arrived in the federal capital from Kunming in the Yunnan province of China. During a screening, he was found to have a higher body temperature than normal. The staff of the health department immediately shifted him to the isolation ward. After being provided with initial medical attention, he was shifted to the isolation ward in PIMS. The 2019-nCoV epidemic has claimed more than 900 lives and infected at least 40,000 others.

IHC seeks report on missing person ISLAMABAD APP

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Monday sought a detailed report from Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances (CoIoED) within one month regarding missing of a citizen.Chief Justice Athar Minallah conducted hearing on a petition seeking recovery of a citizen Imran Khan. Registrar CoIoED Khalid Naseem and representative from Defense Ministry Khalid Bhatti appeared before the court. During outset of hearing, Khalid Bhatti apprised the bench that missing person was not in custody of any institution under the ministry of defense. However, the petition stated that the law enforcement agencies had not made sufficient measures to recover the disappeared person. The court sought detailed reply from CoIoED within one month and adjourned hearing of the case.

Pakistan to hold international conference on Afghan refugees on Feb 17 ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The government, in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), is convening an International Conference to mark “40 years of Afghan Refugees Presence in Pakistan: A New Partnership for Solidarity”, on February 17 and 18. According to a press release issued by the Foreign Office spokesperson here on Monday, the two-day conference, to be held here, will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Imran Khan. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, ministers and senior officials from around 20 countries, who have been supporting the Afghan refugees across the globe and in Pakistan, will be participating. In addition, senior level participa-

tion is expected from United Nations, multilateral developments banks, civil society and private sector. This Conference is taking place at an important juncture when efforts at consolidating peace in Afghanistan are making progress. Besides providing an opportunity to highlight the exemplary compassion, generosity and hospitality exhibited by Pakistan, in hosting one of the largest refugee populations in the world, the Conference will further identify key developments and milestones in the 40 years long evolution of the Afghan refugee situation; reflect on the lessons learned; identify the challenges; and discuss solutions for voluntary, dignified and sustainable repatriation of refugees to Afghanistan. Pakistan is confident that the Conference will reinforce international ef-

CM YK

forts as agreed to in the UN Global Compact on Refugees and Global Refugee Forum to bring about a renewed focus on the Afghan refugees. It will also help in building a posi-

tive narrative on refugees, especially at a time when borders are being closed on them and millions are being made stateless under nationalistic and ideological pretenses.

Tuesday, 11 February, 2020

pm has handed back control oF three hospitals to sindh: murad KARACHI

s

STAFF REPORT

INDH Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali has said that the Prime Minister Imran Khan during his recent visit to Karachi, told him that the federal government could not run three hospitals, NICVD, JPMC and NICH, and he gave provincial government go ahead to operate them. This he said while talking to media after inaugurating seven-day polio eradication drive by administering polio drop to children at Rural Health Center, Baldia here n Monday. Shah said that he has given two options to the federal government. “Under option one the federal government can give these three hospitals on the pattern of PPP mode to Sindh government. The option two is to hand them over the provincial government to operate under its administration,” he said.

Anti-polio campaign in Karachi to kick off from Feb 10 A polio vaccination drive will be carried out in Karachi starting February 10 and will go on till the 16th of the month. According to an official at the National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio, the drive will be conducted in all six districts of Karachi and will target children less than five years of age. Meanwhile, elsewhere in the country, a five-day polio vaccination campaign, aiming to inoculate approximately 40 million children will begin on Feb 17 and will go on till Feb 21. Dates for the campaign in Karachi were moved up in light of the Pakistan Super League matches scheduled to take place in the metropolis, the official said. The official added that approximately 265,000 polio workers will participate in the nationwide campaign, going door-todoor to inoculate children under the age of five. This will be the first of two nationwide polio campaigns aimed at plugging the immunity gap that emerged in Pakistan during 2019. According to the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme website, 144 cases of wild poliovirus (WPV) were reported in Pakistan in 2019. In comparison, only 12 and eight cases had emerged in 2018 and 2017, respectively. Meanwhile, seven cases of WPV have been reported across the country so far in 2020. Pakistan and Afghanistan are the last remaining countries that have been unable to eradicate polio. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), a lack of infrastructure, remote locations, population movement, conflict and insecurity, and resistance to vaccination are some of the reasons why polio is still endemic in the two countries. Pakistan is also under a polio-linked travel restriction imposed by the WHO due to which, since 2014, every person travelling abroad has to carry a vaccination certificate. Polio is a disease that affects the nervous system, causing paralysis and even death. NEWS DESK

To a question about increase in the polio cases, the chief minister said that a problem was created against polio vaccine in KPK; therefore, the drive had come to standstill and we could not launch it in last March. “The recent increase of 19 cases in 2019 is the result of this stalemate;

otherwise, we had controlled the polio and we had only one case in 2017.” He said that during this year, 2020 so far five polio cases have been detected. He said that 2.3 million children would be targeted in the 7-day campaign. Another campaign from February 17 would be launched in others districts of the province with a target of 6.7 million children. He thanked 13,000 workers participating in polio drive and also thanked to the law enforcement agencies personnel for giving them security. On complaints of citizens, the chief minister directed health department to complete under construction 100-beded hospital in Baldia at the earliest. Talking about IG Police, the chief minister said that he has sent five names to the federal government to appoint of them as new IG Police. “The removal of the IGP was the decision of the cabinet and being chief minister he is bound to honour the cabinet decision.”

Court orders rangers to help police in crackdown on gutka sellers KARACHI STAFF REPORT

The Sindh High Court (SHC) ordered the Rangers to help police pertaining to crackdown on gutka sellers and manufacturers. A SHC bench, headed by Justice Salahuddin Panhwar, heard a petition seeking ban gutka and other harmful substances. The petition was filed by one Naseem Haider. During the hearing, the court was informed that the petitioner seeking ban on Gutka and other harmful substances has already died. The petitioners’ counsel Muzammil Mumtaz Memo, informed the bench that petitioner Naseem Haider died of mouth cancer and his mother and sister have appeared in the court. Naseem Haider’s sister informed the bench that her two brothers died

due to use of Gutka. She pleaded for a complete ban on this harmful substance. The court asked from government official that why the legislation was not carried out as yet? “The bill has been sent to Governor of Sindh after its approval by the provincial cabinet,” the government official replied. The court observed that crackdown on gutka, mainpuri, mava and other harmful substances is slowed

down in the city. The bench ordered for a strong operation against the selling and use of Gutka and other substances in Karachi. Gutka is being made and sold in Jodia Bazaar area of the city, petitioner’s counsel said. However, the Police in its report claimed that a crackdown has been launched on Gutka across the province. The bench ordered the IGP to enhance the operation and the court should be informed in the next hearing about the number of raids and cases registered against the offenders. The court also ordered the Rangers to help police in crackdown on selling of Gutka. Later, the court adjourned hearing till 3rd March by directing the government to submit its final report about the legislation matter in next hearing.

CMYK

NEWS

05

First dengue death oF year reported as 35year-old woman dies

KARACHI: A 35-year old woman died of dengue fever at a private hospital of Karachi, sources at Sindh Health Department confirmed here on Monday. The woman was brought to a private hospital with dengue related complications and later died during treatment. She was resident of district West Karachi. This was the first death of dengue fever this year; however, 46 people had died of dengue fever in Sindh last year. Separately, at least 20 more dengue fever cases were reported throughout Karachi city in a week, taking the reported cases toll to 262 since 1st Jan 2020. Prevention and Control Program for Dengue (PCPD) Sindh has recorded 27 more dengue fever cases across the province in a week out of them 20 were detected in Karachi and seven in other districts. In 2020, a total of 289 dengue cases emerged in Sindh province till date out of which 262 happened in Karachi and 27 in other districts of province. PPI

alleged killer oF noted clerics arrested KARACHI: The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) officials on Monday claimed to have arrested alleged killer of two prominent religious clerics, Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai and Mufti Jameel Ahmed Khan, in Karachi. A team of CTD Civil Line arrested the alleged terrorist, identified as Haider Zaidi alias Saleem Bhai, during a raid near Mausamiyat area of the metropolis. CTD in-charge told media that Zaidi is involved in a series of terrorism incidents including murder of religious clerics and bombing on mosques. He detailed that Haider Zaidi is associated with a banned outfit and he had killed Mufti Shamzai, Mufti Jameel and foreigners. “The accused had murdered Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai in 2004. In the same year, he had also killed Mufti Jameel and involved in motorcycle bomb explosion outside Jamia Binoria. Zaidi carried out attacked on mosques and processions in 1993 and 1995. He had also carried out a bomb attack on Maulana Ziaur Rehman in Lahore.” “Haider Zaidi is listed in Red Book who had received terrorism training from Parachinar.” STAFF REPORT

Tuesday, 11 February, 2020

06 WORLD VIEW

A new nucleAr deAl won’t secure the Middle eAst IRAN’S CHIEF RIVAL, SAUDI ARABIA, STANDS OPPOSED TO INCLUDING IRAN IN A REGIONAL ORDER

Foreign AFFAirs

u

VALI NAsr

s President Donald trump has steered Middle East policy into a quandary. He has made clear since assuming office that his goal is to reduce the u.s. presence in the region, but his policies have not engendered the stability that would make such a withdrawal feasible. Rather, Washington has sought with singular focus to replace the 2015 Iran nuclear deal with one that would also curtail tehran’s missile program and regional activities. And the pursuit of such an agreement as the nub of the united states’ Middle East policy has served only to destabilize the region and to put u.s. interests there at risk. trump has relied on a “maximum pressure” campaign that strangles Iran’s economy in order to bend its leaders’ will. But rather than capitulate, Iran has reduced its compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, shot down an American drone, brazenly assailed tankers and oil facilities in the Persian Gulf, and attacked u.s. interests in Iraq. the united states retaliated with a strike that killed General Qasem soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp, on January 3. A crisis ensued, making it clear that trump had miscalculated if he imagined that maximum pressure would be easy and cost free. Iran, too, has the capability to deter attacks on its interests—and trump’s policy risks a war that the united states does not need or want. Containing Iran was once central to Washington’s approach to security in the Middle East. today, that objective is neither prudent nor sustainable. It vies with other u.s. priorities, such as competing with China and Russia, and it has failed to yield lasting stability in the region. Nor can containment count on unwavering domestic support: public restlessness with openended commitments in the Middle East once prompted trump to promise to end them. the united states should rethink its approach to the Middle East. Instead of trying to contain Iran, Washington should invest in forging a regional order that will reduce tensions and encourage stability. A SHARED NEIGHBOURHOOD:

Even if the trump administration were to succeed in striking a new nuclear deal with Iran, the region would likely be little more stable for it. Rather, trump would come to see that a nuclear deal is an arms control agreement. As such, it can address one major international concern, but it cannot ultimately resolve the Middle East’s broader security issues or change Iran’s strategic calculus. In today’s Middle East, Iran, Israel, saudi Arabia, turkey, and all of their respective allies are entangled in zero-sum competitions. the scramble for primacy is growing more intense, fueling a dangerous arms race in everything from conventional weapons, missiles, and militias to cyberarmies and advanced technological weapons. A new nuclear deal alone will not end this competition, set the region on a different course, or alter Iran’s perception of its security. But by removing one urgent threat from the scene and opening a door to diplomacy with Iran, a deal could allow the united states to reduce its presence in the region. that prospect makes a viable regional order all the more necessary. u.s. policy has long started from the assumption that to address the region’s dangerous spiral into insecurity the united states must address Iran’s destabilizing behavior. to wit, Iran is a revisionist power. It sees the current regional order as one that excludes it, and so it directs its energies at defying that exclusion. Its behavior will change only if it finds a place in that order, which would start with the recognition by external actors that Iran—like Israel, saudi Arabia, and turkey—has legitimate interests in developments in the Arab world. Former u.s. President Barack Obama once told Arab critics of the 2015 nuclear deal that Iran and saudi Arabia should “find an effective way to share the neighbourhood and institute some sort of cold peace.” At the time, Arab leaders dismissed Obama’s counsel, but it now sounds prescient. Building a new regional order will be difficult. Deep distrust divides Iran from its Arab neighbours. But the Middle East now faces pressures that should lead its players to take the prospect seriously: the united states’ long-term commitment to the region is in doubt, tensions between Iran and the united states have reached a standoff, and threats loom. Iran’s chief rival, saudi Arabia, stands opposed to including Iran in a regional order. Riyadh has long insisted that Iran has no legitimate interest—and

hence no business—in the Arab Middle East. It holds the same view of turkey. tehran rejects this exclusion. And these days, fissures running through the Arab bloc that the saudi worldview envisions belie the kingdom’s assumptions. the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which saudi Arabia leads as the regional bulwark against Iran, is now deeply divided in its view of the region’s security. under saudi tutelage, multiple Middle Eastern countries have blockaded Qatar since 2017, in part because of Doha’s perceived closeness with tehran. As a result, Qatar sees Iran as a necessary counterweight to saudi Arabia and turkey as the counterweight to them both. Kuwait and Oman share Qatar’s worries about saudi Arabia’s heavy-handed role in the region and now advocate engaging with Iran as a hedge against saudi hegemony. Hence the united states will have trouble unifying the GCC against Iran, let alone expanding it into an “Arab NAtO” by adding Egypt and Jordan, as Washington has said it intends to do. Rather than bolster an Arab bloc, the united states should embrace a definition of the Middle East that does not exclude Iran and turkey. READY BROKERS: Iran sees opportunity in Arab discord. Having exposed the limits of the united states’ commitment to the Middle East and demonstrated its own ability to destabilize the region, tehran now offers a diplomatic initiative to reduce tensions through collective security measures. Iran has suggested that the united Nations take the lead, using the security Council resolution that marked the end of Iran-Iraq War as a framework and working with regional governments to come up with a mutually agreeable plan. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has been making such overtures for several months now. In september, he announced a plan that he called the Hormuz Peace Endeavor as a first step toward collective security for the Persian Gulf, and he sent official letters to the leaders of Persian Gulf countries, inviting them to support the initiative. He also offered nonaggression pacts to Persian Gulf monarchies and gave Yemen’s Houthis the green light to conduct peace talks with saudi Arabia. Russian President Vladimir Putin sees a similar opportunity to shape the Middle East’s security architecture. Keen to expand Russia’s footprint in the Middle East and fill the diplomatic vacuum left by the united states, Putin has offered to broker

regional talks culminating in a security agreement. Iran already participates in such Russian-led arrangements for the Caucasus and Central Asia. As the only outside power with warm relations with all the Persian Gulf states, Russia can serve as the diplomatic go-between for Iran and its Arab neighbours, thereby institutionalizing Russia’s role in the region—something Putin has long wanted to do. Regional actors have already taken tentative steps on their own toward building trust and resolving conflicts. senior Emirati and Iranian security officials began talks last summer with the aim of reducing tensions. Kuwait is mediating between Qatar and saudi Arabia, and Oman is facilitating talks between saudi Arabia and the Houthis. these steps are modest, but they still represent progress compared to a year ago, when there were no regional diplomatic efforts to resolve any of these conflicts. A regional security arrangement for the Middle East is still a long way off. But in the short run, even before negotiations for such an agreement can begin in earnest, the region stands to gain a great deal from confidence-building measures and talks, whether formal or informal, bilateral or multilateral. As a basis for collective security, Middle Eastern states are unlikely to coalesce around a common threat, but they could agree on some principles. the principle to start with, as the emir of Kuwait has suggested, should be nonaggression and non-interference in one another’s internal affairs. Every regional government sees outside aggression and political interference as national security threats—even Iran, which has accused external actors of provoking the protests that recently rocked the country. From agreement on shared principles, the region’s governments could build toward agreements on matters of shared interest, such as the management of environmental crises, economic cooperation, people-to-people ties, and maritime and energy security. through bilateral and multilateral pacts, the region’s parties could lay out the means for resolving disputes, set the boundaries to which all states must adhere in the name of collective security, and establish institutions that would put these new mechanisms into practice. A EUROPEAN PRECEDENT: Washington may be skeptical, with some reason, about the prospects for collective security in the Middle East. But it should not stand in the way of the ambition. Rather, as tensions rise and the united states’ commitment wavers, Washington should encourage the region to act like its counterparts elsewhere in the world and work to improve regional security on its own. And rather than seek to endorse any

specific outcome, the united states should recognize the benefits of the process. surely, the united states would welcome nonaggression pacts and promises of non-interference among Iran and its neighbours. If Iran were to follow through on such commitments, the united states’ security burden in the region would not disappear, but it would lessen. that Iran and its neighbours can reach and honour such agreements is not unfathomable. In 1995, Iran and saudi Arabia hammered out a bilateral security accord covering economic cooperation and regional security, among other issues. that agreement improved Persian Gulf security for ten years. In 2015, Iran signed the nuclear deal with six world powers. Many in the foreign policy establishment in Washington cautioned that Iran would not comply with its terms. But Iran did abide by the deal, and it was only in 2019, two years after the united states had withdrawn from the accord, that Iran started to back away from full compliance. If the Persian Gulf countries do make progress toward their collective security, the united states should not see those improvements as an excuse to withdraw from the region. to the contrary: a more stable region will demand less of the united states, making its commitment more sustainable. the united states should continue to backstop the security of its allies, thereby sustaining the region’s balance of power and building its actors’ confidence in the pursuit of regional security arrangements. For a successful example of just such a process, u.s. leaders need look no further than the Organization for security and Cooperation in Europe. that organization began with low-level contacts and confidence-building measures among European nations that spanned an ideological divide. Over time, these modest efforts evolved into bilateral and multilateral negotiations, then broad-based agreements on discrete issues, and then finally, a fully-fledged European security institution. the Middle East can only benefit from trying a similar process. Obama understood that if the united states wished to do less in the Middle East, it had to encourage regional actors to cooperate and invest in shared security. the wisdom of that vision is now undeniable. Policymakers would do well to recognize the need for such an effort and to support it. the alternative is greater chaos and endless war. Vali Nasr is Majid Khadduri Professor of International Affairs and Middle East Studies at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University.

Why it’s time to scrap OPEC+ THE EXPANSION OF OPEC INTO OPEC+ HAS ADDED A NEW LAYER OF COMPLEXITY TO THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS WHILE CONTRIBUTING LITTLE IN THE WAY OF REAL OUTPUT CUTS BloomBerg

J

JULIAN LEE

ust when OPEC needs all the agility it can muster in the face of an oil demand shock of uncertain severity and unknown duration, it’s bogged down in protracted negotiations and a 60-year-old mechanism for deciding output allocations that’s far too cumbersome in a time of crisis. the 13 oil-exporting nations in the cartel, and their partners in what’s called OPEC+, have to be able to react quickly to the rapidly-changing world around them. Instead, they are locked in a debate over whether they should even meet, and what they should agree on if they do. By the time they get answers to those questions, it may already be too late. A week ago saudi Arabia, OPEC’s biggest producer, was pressing for meetings scheduled for March to be brought forward so everyone could agree on deeper output cuts to halt the slide in oil prices triggered by the outbreak of a new coronavirus in China. Russia, the largest of the wider group’s non-OPEC members, was pushing back, arguing that more time was needed to assess its impact on oil demand. since then, the cartel’s Joint technical Committee met over three days and put

forward a proposal to remove a further 600,000 barrels a day in the second quarter of the year. that proposal is still sitting on the table waiting for action. Russia said it would respond to the suggestion in days, but the world is still waiting. Oil ministers from the combined 23 countries have yet to agree if they will meet before March. As each day passes, there is less point in moving the gathering. But if the group doesn’t act soon, it will find the decision taken out of its hands. Having floated the idea of further cuts they now need to deliver. Anything less will likely send prices down again. the thirst for oil in China, the world’s biggest crude importer, is drying up rapidly as the response to the virus outbreak has seen industry shuttered and travel restricted. Data intelligence firm Kpler notes that imports averaged about 8 million barrels a day in the week through Jan. 29, down 27% from the first half of the month. the Lunar New Year holiday may have contributed to that slowdown, but the virus has slashed demand by about 20%, according to people with inside knowledge of the country’s energy industry, and China’s refiners have cut the amount of crude they are processing by at least 2 million barrels a day. Consultants have slashed forecasts for oil demand growth for China and for the world as a whole. Energy Aspects now see China’s demand

falling year on year in the current quarter and no increase at all in oil use worldwide. the three big oil forecasting agencies will publish their monthly outlooks this week. Demand projections are sure to be cut. If OPEC+ doesn’t agree output cuts, China may force them upon it. Persian Gulf producers are currently taking nominations from buyers for the volumes they want in March. China seems to be pushing the flexibility of its term contracts to the hilt, seeking reduced volumes from all of its main suppliers. the four big Persian Gulf exporters could see requests from China down by 10%. that would cost them more than half a billion dollars a month at current oil prices of about $55 a barrel — no wonder they’re in a panic. their added worry is that there are other forces at work that could drive up the global supply of oil in the coming weeks. More than 1 million barrels a day of shut-in production from Libya could return rapidly if a united Nations conference in Cairo that is due to conclude later today brokers a deal allowing the country’s ports to reopen. A breakthrough remains a slim possibility, but the return of Libyan exports would put further pressure on the rest of the cartel, as the country is exempt from the current output cuts. Meanwhile, OPEC’s attempt to talk oil prices higher isn’t working. In early January, Brent was

around $65 a barrel. By the final week of the month it was trading in a range between $58 and $60 a barrel as the group hemmed and hawed about bringing forward the March meeting. Last week, as the OPEC+ technical committee met but the prospect of a ministerial gathering receded, prices took another step down to between $54 and $57 a barrel. If China asks for less oil, or tensions in Libya ease, prices are likely take another tumble next week. the expansion of OPEC into OPEC+ has added a new layer of complexity to the decision-making process while contributing little in the way of real output cuts. several non-OPEC members, including Mexico and Azerbaijan, are merely dressing up natural output declines as cuts, while others are ignoring their pledges. Russia remains a difficult friend, as my colleague David Fickling notes. Wider membership is undermining the producer group’s ability to respond quickly to crises like the coronavirus. Let’s be honest, the only countries that really count in terms of being able to boost supply in times of shortage or being willing and able to cut production in a glut are saudi Arabia, the united Arab Emirates and (perhaps) Kuwait. A smaller, more focused group of countries whose actions can have an immediate impact may serve as a better regulator of oil market balance than an expanding gaggle of small producers who add little but noise.

Tuesday, 11 February, 2020

FOREIGN NEWS 07

China'S prESidEnt MakES rarE viSit to MEEt viruS workErS, patiEntS BEIJING

C

AGENCIES

HINESE President Xi Jinping donned a face mask and had his temperature checked Monday while visiting medical workers and patients affected by the deadly coronavirus that has killed more than 900 people. The Chinese president, who has called the virus a “demon”, made a rare visit Monday to meet frontline medical staff at a hospital treating infected patients. Xi has largely kept out of the public eye since the virus outbreak spiralled across the country from the epicentre in Hubei province to infect more than 40,000 people. He appointed Premier Li Keqiang to lead a working group tackling the outbreak, and it was Li who visited ground zero in Wuhan last month. On Monday Xi donned a blue mask and white surgical gown to meet doctors at Beijing Ditan hospital, observe the treatment of patients and speak via video link to doctors in Wuhan, state media said. He then visited a residential community in central Beijing to “investigate and guide” efforts to contain the epidemic, state broadcaster CCTV said. Video footage showed Xi having his temperature taken with an infrared thermometer, then speaking with community workers and waving at smiling residents leaning out of their apartment windows.

The outbreak has prompted unprecedented action by the Chinese government, including locking down entire cities in Hubei province as well as cutting transport links nationwide, closing tourist attractions and telling hundreds of millions of people to stay indoors. STRIKE A BALANCE: Roads in Beijing and Shanghai had significantly more traffic and the southern city of Guangzhou said it would start to resume normal public transport. However, for those at work, it was not an easy balance to strike.

“Of course we’re worried,” said a 25-year-old man surnamed Li in a Beijing beauty salon that reopened Monday. “When customers come in, we first take their temperature, then use disinfectant and ask them to wash their hands.” The Shanghai government suggested staggered work schedules, avoiding group meals and keeping at least one metre away from colleagues. Many were encouraged to work from home and some employers simply delayed opening for another week. State media reported that passenger

numbers on the Beijing subway were down by about half on Monday compared to a normal work day. Large shopping malls in the capital were deserted and many banks closed. One bank employee in Shanghai was heading to work for a half-day, with other workers due to take over in the afternoon. The rest of the day he would work from home. “It makes our work more difficult because we need to access the systems in our office,” he told AFP. Schools and universities across the country remained shut.The toll has overtaken global fatalities in the 2002-03 SARS epidemic when China drew international condemnation for covering up cases — though it has drawn praise from the WHO this time. INFECTIONS SOAR ON CRUISE SHIP: “We may only be seeing the tip of the iceberg,” he tweeted, as a team of WHO experts departed for China. Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, thousands of people stranded aboard the World Dream cruise ship for five days were allowed to disembark Sunday after its 1,800 crew tested negative for the coronavirus. But another 65 people aboard the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship moored off Japan have been diagnosed with novel coronavirus, the health ministry said Monday, bringing the total number of known infections to 135.

US Democrats trade barbs as New Hampshire vote nears NEW HAMPSHIRE AGENCIES

Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg locked horns in their fight for the US Democratic presidential nomination Sunday as they scrambled for votes with just two days to go before New Hampshire’s closelywatched primary. The 78-year-old Vermont senator and the 38-yearold former mayor of South Bend, Indiana came top of the first contest in Iowa — marred by messy confusion about the result — giving each momentum as Democrats seek a candidate to take on Donald Trump in November. Sanders, a leftist who won the New Hampshire primary by a landslide in 2016, led in four polls released Sunday, each of which had the moderate Buttigieg in second followed by Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and then former vice president Joe Biden. “I think we have an excellent chance to win,” Sanders told CNN as he started a final push on the ground in the small northeastern state. With the primary season underway in earnest, earlier collegiality among Democrats has fallen away. “I am running against a candidate, Pete Buttigieg, among others, who has raised contributions from more than 40 billionaires,” Sanders told CNN. “Our support is coming from the working class of this country.” His campaign, based heavily on small donors, says it raised $25 million last month.

Buttigieg, appearing separately on CNN, turned aside the billionaire charge, quipping, “Well, Bernie’s pretty rich, and I would happily accept a contribution from him.” Turning serious, he said he was “building the movement that is going to defeat Donald Trump,” boosted by donations from some two million people. INCREDIBLY MOREE DIFFICULT: Both Buttigieg and Biden — whose status as national frontrunner for the nomination was shaken by taking fourthplace in Iowa’s caucuses — said it would be much harder for the party to defeat Trump with Sanders. The senator’s position at the very left of the American spectrum — with programs like extending the Medicare program to all Americans — have been seized on by the president, who told an interviewer last week, “I think he’s a communist.” Buttigieg said it would be “a lot harder” for the party to win with Sanders than a more moderate candidate, with Biden similarly telling ABC it would be “incredibly more difficult”. But the senator has shrugged off criticism he is too radical to beat Trump, pointing to his enthusiastic support among young voters. The president, fresh from being acquitted at his Senate impeachment trial, will hold a large rally in New Hampshire for his devoted supporters on Monday as he seeks to overshadow the Democratic primary on Tuesday. BUTTIGEIG ON THE TOP: As Buttigieg has risen from practical anonymity, he has faced criticism —

including in a cutting ad by the Biden camp — for his lack of national experience and his supposed difficulty connecting with black voters, a key demographic. “He’s not been able to unify the African-American community,” Biden said, adding the eventual nominee would have to perform well in states far more diverse than predominantly white Iowa and New Hampshire. Buttigieg responded on ABC that “I’ll have to work to earn that vote, just as I did in South Bend. I was returned to office by a multiracial coalition.” After listening to Buttigieg at a rally in Nashua, New Hampshire on Sunday, Katie Morgan, 20, told AFP that he was “interesting and smart.” But she added, “I personally prefer a candidate with a little more experience.” In Iowa, Buttigieg won 14 delegates and Sanders 12 to carry to the Democratic convention that will choose which candidate will take on Trump — though the Iowa count is still mired in disputes. Recent history shows it is near-impossible for a Democrat to win the party’s nomination without placing in the top two in Iowa or New Hampshire. The results shape candidates’ images and media narratives, just as voters nationwide are beginning to focus on the race. Both Biden and Warren said they could be the exception to that rule. But Biden’s campaign was further shaken Sunday when a young woman attending his campaign event asked him about his poor performance at Iowa.

Storm Ciara sows trail of destruction across Europe NICE: Storm Ciara caused travel chaos on Monday, severely disrupting commutes and grounding hundreds of flights as swathes of Europe were left without power by torrential rain and winds of up to 180 kilometres (110 miles) per hour that also caused flash flooding and the cancellation of sporting fixtures. In one of the most violent storms for years, one man died and another was reported missing in southern Sweden when their boat capsized, while three people were seriously injured in Germany by falling trees and branches. Parts of northern France were put on orange alert and 130,000 homes had electricity cut off. The Netherlands closed one of its big storm surge barriers as the tempest approached on Sunday night. Police said it caused Monday morning traffic jams over 600 kilometres of roads. Around 220 flights were cancelled during the morning at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport — Europe’s third-busiest — most destined for other European cities. Around 240 never took off on Sunday. Another man was injured by a tree in the Czech Republic, where winds reached up to 180 kph on the country’s highest mountain, Snezka. The storm left 100,000 without power there and even toppled over a truck. Tiny Luxembourg cancelled school classes and morning rush hour traffic ground to a halt in Brussels due to street closures and flooding. AGENCIES

Barrage of mysterious bomb hoaxes plagues Moscow MOSCOW: Moscovites are mystified by a flood of bomb hoaxes forcing the evacuation of courts, schools and malls while authorities appear unable to find the culprits even after months of disruption to public life. The warnings of planted bombs, all of them false, have been sent to numerous Russian cities, but particularly targeted the capital, where around 16 million live and work, with up to 1,000 threats per day. Since late November, more than 1.6 million people have been evacuated from buildings in Moscow, the Interfax news agency said citing sources. Yet, both the authorities and Kremlincontrolled television channels stay mostly clear of the topic. Yulia Olshanskaya, a local government official, said her daughter Maria’s school was evacuated “sometimes several times a day” throughout December. “We can’t keep count of how many times it’s happened,” she said. “Sometimes our lessons were cancelled or postponed on those days and they also evacuated people,” said 13-yearold Maria Olshanskaya. Another Muscovite, Yulia Grebenchenko, said her daughter’s school has been evacuated 13 times since the start of December. “Some parents even hired a dog handler to check the school more quickly because you never know how long the sniffer dog units will take,” said the office worker. AGENCIES

Grief swells as Thais mourn 29 killed in mass shooting BANGKOK AGENCIES

Grieving relatives of 29 people murdered by a rogue soldier in Thailand held tearful Buddhist prayer ceremonies Monday, as fresh details emerged of shoppers cowering in terror while the gunman stalked the mall. Holding portraits of their relatives and dabbing away tears, families of the victims arrived on Monday morning at a city morgue in Nakhon Ratchasima, better known as Korat, in the morning to carry home coffins bearing their dead. The gunman — Sergeant-Major Jakrapanth Thomma — was shot dead by a commando unit Sunday morning, ending a rampage that left 29 dead and scores more wounded. The killer started his killing spree on Saturday afternoon with weapons stolen from a barracks’ arsenal, where he gunned down Mehta Lertsiri, 22, who was guarding the depot. “I don’t know what to do next,” Mehta’s grief-stricken grandfather, Udom Prapotsang, said outside of the morgue

waiting to claim his body. “His four-yearold son keeps asking why he can’t call his dad.” After seizing the weapons, the shooter drove to a Buddhist temple, where blood splatters and bullet holes attested Monday to the horrors that unfolded. Narissara Chotklang, a 52-year-old Pharmacist, was among nine people to die there. Her funeral rites began late Monday a few kilometres away, where hundreds of mourners lined up to pour water over a jasmine garland placed delicately over her outstretched hand. The attacker then moved to the town centre mall, where a terrifying siege unfolded late Saturday. Armed with automatic weapons, the gunman held out overnight as hundreds of shoppers sought refuge in toilets, storerooms and under tables — staying silent or making a break for the exits when they could. Pressed to the ground in an office inside a Japanese home goods shop, Partiya Aree, 29, tried to control her breathing as she watched the masked soldier stop just yards away on the shop’s own CCTV.

“He was carrying a gun, looking left and right constantly,” Partiya told AFP. Alongside 21 others, they disabled location services on their phone fearing the social media-obsessed gunman might be able to find them. Her group escaped several hours later, flanked by police in a

sprint for the mall entrance “which felt like forever.” But others were not so fortunate. Flowers and messages of condolences including one saying “R.I.P. Korat, we will not forget” piled up outside the bullet-riddled mall. A Buddhist monk in orange robes led

a prayer ceremony on a grass verge outside the mall for Peeraphat Palasan, shot dead as the gunman sprayed bullets into traffic, killing the 25-year-old engineer. His father, Witoon, was among a dozen mourners crying, kneeling, hands clasped — some holding incense sticks — in prayer. “My son had just finished work and came here to go shopping,” Witoon told AFP. “I never thought I would lose him so soon.” PM CRITICISED: As Korat — and the country — mourned, there were growing questions about why the gunman went on a killing spree over an apparent private debt to a senior officer and how he was able to steal weapons, including an M60 machine gun, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Divisive Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha was hammered on social media for a tone-deaf response to the crisis during a visit to the city on Sunday where he posed for selfies, high-fived a crowd and smiled before shutting down questions from the media at a press conference.

Tuesday, 11 February, 2020

10 FOREIGN NEWS

iran SatEllitE launCh failS, in Blow to SpaCE prograMME TEHRAN

i

AGENCIES

RAN said it “successfully” launched a satellite Sunday but failed to put it into orbit, in a blow to its space programme that the US alleges is a cover for missile development. The attempted launch of the Zafar — “Victory” in Farsi — comes days before the 41st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution and crucial parliamentary elections in Iran. Arch foes Iran and the United States have appeared to be on the brink of an all-out confrontation twice in the past seven months. Long-standing acrimony between Tehran and Washington was exacerbated in 2018 when US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from a deal that froze Iran’s nuclear programme, before issuing new demands that Tehran curtail its development of ballistic missiles. Washington has also raised con-

cerns in the past about Tehran’s satellite programme, saying the launch of a carrier rocket in January 2019 amounted to a violation of limits on its ballistic missiles. Iran maintains it has no intention of acquiring nuclear weapons, and says its aerospace activities are peaceful and comply with a UN Security Council resolution. On Sunday, it launched the Zafar satellite at 7:15 pm (1545 GMT) but it fell short of reaching orbit, the defence ministry said. A ministry spokesman said initially that the satellite was “successfully” launched and went “90 percent of the way”, reaching an altitude of 540 kilometres (335 miles). “The Simorgh (rocket) successfully propelled the Zafar satellite into space,” said Ahmad Hosseini of the ministry’s space unit. “Unfortunately, in the final moments the carrier did not reach the required speed” to put it into orbit, he told state television. “God willing with improvements

made in future launches this part of the mission will be done as well,” he added. “We achieved most of the goals we had and data has been acquired, and in the near future, by analysing the data, we will take the next steps.” Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi admitted in an English-language tweet soon after that the launch had “failed”. “But We’re UNSTOPPABLE! We have more Upcoming Great Iranian Satellites!” said Jahromi. Tweeting in Farsi, he added: “I would have liked to make you happy with #good_news but sometimes life does not go the way we want it.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacted on Twitter, writing: “Iran failed to launch a satellite today. They also fail to send arms to Syria and Lebanon because we operate there all the time.” NEW GENERATION: Iran on Sunday also unveiled a new a short-range ballistic missile and its “new generation” of en-

Solar Orbiter launches on mission to reveal Sun's secrets DALLAS AGENCIES

The US-European Solar Orbiter probe launched Sunday night from Florida on a voyage to deepen our understanding of the Sun and how it shapes the space weather that impacts technology back on Earth. The mission, a collaboration between ESA (the European Space Agency) and NASA, successfully blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral at 11:03pm (0403 GMT Monday) and could last up to nine years or more. At 12:24am Monday (0524 GMT) the European Space Operations Centre in Darmstadt, Germany, received a signal from the spacecraft indicating that its solar panels had successfully deployed. Space Orbiter is expected to provide unprecedented insights into the Sun’s atmosphere, its winds and its magnetic fields, including how it shapes

the heliosphere, the vast swath of space that encompasses our system. By journeying out of the ecliptic plane — the belt of space roughly aligned with the Sun’s equator, through which the planets orbit — it will acquire the first-ever images of our star’s uncharted polar regions. Drawing on gravity assists from Earth and Venus, Solar Orbiter will slingshot itself into a bird’s eye view of the Sun’s poles, reaching its primary science orbit in two years’ time. “I think it was picture perfect, suddenly you really feel like you’re connected to the entire solar system,” said Daniel Muller, ESA project scientist, shortly after the launch. “You’re here on Earth and you’re launching something that will go close to the Sun.” “We have one common goal and that is to get the good science out of this mission. I think we’re going to succeed,” added Holly Gilbert, director of NASA’s heliophysics science division.

LOS ANGELES AGENCIES

South Korean social satire Parasite won the Oscar for best picture on Sunday, making history as the first film not in the English language to win the movie industry’s highest honour. Parasite, about the gap between rich and poor in modern Seoul, won a total of four Oscars, including best director and screenplay for Bong Joon Ho and best international feature. “I never thought I would win,” Bong said while accepting his best director Oscar. Paying tribute to his four fellow director nominees he said, “I would like to get a Texas chainsaw and split the Oscar into five and share it all with you.” Joaquin Phoenix won his first Oscar, for best actor, for playing a failing clown who finds fame in violence in the dark comic-book tale Joker, and gave an impassioned speech about climate change and animal rights. Renee Zellweger won the best actress Oscar for her performance as an ageing Judy Garland in the musical biopic Judy. World War One movie 1917 won three Oscars, for its stunning “one-shot” feel cinematography, for visual effects and for sound editing, while Once Upon a Time in Hollywood brought the first acting Oscar for Brad Pitt, who played a supporting role as a laid-back stunt man. Laura Dern took the supporting actress Oscar, her first Academy Award, for playing a ruthless divorce lawyer in Marriage Story. Netflix movie The Irishman a costly Mafia saga directed by Martin Scorsese that had 10 Oscar nominations, came away empty- handed. Following is a complete list of winners from the 92nd Academy Awards, which were held Sunday at the Dolby Theatre: BEST PICTURE: Parasite BEST ACTOR: Joaquin Phoenix, Joker BEST ACTRESS: Renée Zellweger, Judy BEST DIRECTOR: Bong Joon Ho, Parasite BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Brad Pitt, Once

SPACE WEATHER: Ten state-of-theart instruments on board will record myriad observations to help scientists unlock clues about what drives solar winds and flares. These emit billions of highly charged particles that impact the Earth, producing the spectacular Northern Lights. But they can also disrupt radar systems, radio networks and even, though rarely, render satellites useless. The largest solar storm on record hit North America in September 1859, knocking out much of the continent’s telegraph network and bathing the skies in an aurora viewable as far away as the Caribbean. “Imagine if just half of our satellites were destroyed,” said Matthieu Berthomier, a researcher at the Paris-based Plasma Physics Laboratory. “It would be a disaster for mankind.” TITANIUM HEAT SHIELDED: At its closest approach, Solar Orbiter will be nearer to the Sun than Mercury, a mere 42 million kilometers (26 million

gines designed to put satellites into space. The Revolutionary Guards’ website said the Raad-500 missile was equipped with new Zoheir engines made of composite materials that make them lighter than previous steel models. It also unveiled Salman engines made of the same materials but with a “movable nozzle” for the delivery of satellites into space, allowing “manoeuvrability beyond the atmosphere”. In January 2019, Tehran announced that its Payam — “Message” in Farsi — satellite had failed to reach orbit, after authorities said they launched it to collect data on the environment in Iran.

miles) away. With a custom-designed titanium heat shield, it is built to withstand temperatures as high as 500 Celsius (930 Fahrenheit). Its heat-resistant structure is coated in a thin, black layer of calcium phosphate, a charcoal-like powder that is similar to pigments used in prehistoric cave paintings. The shield will protect the instruments from extreme particle radiation emitted from solar explosions. All but one of the spacecraft’s telescopes will peep out through holes in the heat shield that open and close in a carefully orchestrated dance, while other instruments will work behind the shadow of the shield. Just like Earth, the Sun’s poles are extreme regions quite different from the rest of the body. It is covered in coronal holes, cooler stretches where fast-gushing solar wind originates. Scientists believe this region could be key to understanding what drives its magnetic activity. Every 11 years, the Sun’s poles flip: north becoming south and vice versa. Just before this event, solar activity increases, sending powerful bursts of solar material into space. Solar Orbiter will observe the surface as it explodes and record measurements as the material goes by the spacecraft.

Joaquin Phoenix bags best actor for Joker as Parasite makes Oscar history

Upon a Time … in Hollywood BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Laura Dern, Marriage Story ANIMATED FEATURE: Toy Story 4 ANIMATED SHORT FILM: Hair Love ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Parasite, Bong Joonho and Jin Won Han ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Jojo Rabbit, Taika Waititi LIvE ACTION SHORT FILM: The Neighbors’ Window PRODUCTION DESIGN: Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood COSTUME DESIGN: Little Women

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: American Factory DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT: Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl) SOUND EDITING: Ford v Ferrari, Don Sylvester SOUND MIxING: 1917, Mark Taylor and Stuart Wilson CINEMATOGRAPHY: Roger Deakins, 1917 FILM EDITING: Ford Vs. Ferrari vISUAL EFFECTS: 1917 INTERNATIONAL FILM: Parasite, South Korea ORIGINAL SCORE: Hildur Guðnadóttir, Joker ORIGINAL SONG: ‘(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again’, Rocketman (Music by Elton John, lyrics by Bernie Taupin)

CMYK

CYBER ATTACKS: Tehran confirmed in September that an explosion had taken place at one of its satellite launch pads due to a technical fault, and slammed Trump for “gleefully” tweeting about it at the time. Trump said the US had nothing to do with what he called a “catastrophic accident” at Semnan Space Centre, also tweeting a high-resolution picture pointing to apparent damage at the site. Sunday’s developments come at a time of heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington, after a January 3 US drone strike killed top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad.

China'S inflation riSES aS CoronaviruS diSruptS Supply ChainS BEIJING: China consumer prices rose at their highest rate in more than eight years, official data showed Monday, with inflation more than expected on the back of Lunar New Year demand and a deadly virus outbreak. Beijing had already been battling a slowing domestic economy before the new coronavirus emerged, disrupting businesses, travel and supply chains. The consumer price index (CPI), a key gauge of retail inflation, came in at 5.4 per cent last month on-year, up from 4.5 per cent in December — with prices of pork and fresh vegetables pushing up costs. Food prices spiked 20.6 per cent. The overall monthly figure exceeded the 4.9 per cent forecast by analysts in a Bloomberg survey and is the highest since October 2011. “The year-on-year increase has been affected not only by Spring Festival-related factors but… by the new coronavirus as well,” said the National Bureau of Statistics on Monday. Analysts expect China’s struggle to contain the spread of the virus over the Lunar New Year holiday, which started in late January, to keep prices higher than usual. “Some food supplies may spoil before shipping to large cities due to the disruption of transportation and other lockdown measures, especially for fruits, vegetables and livestock,” said Lu Ting of Nomura in a research note last Thursday. “People also tend to hoard food and other supplies in this kind of situation. The hoarding will most likely push up prices.” The virus has so far claimed more than 900 lives in China. The rise in January was the highest since October 2011 when CPI inflation was 5.5 percent, . UOB’s head of research Suan Teck Kin told AFP that while prices tend to fall after the Lunar New Year break, “this year, prices may continue to stay high” because of supply chain disruptions. Over the past year, a spike in pork prices due to African Swine Fever, which ravaged pig herds across the country, had also driven up CPI. The rise slowed in December as officials released pork reserves to ease the strain on supplies ahead of the holidays, a peak period for consumption. Last month, pork prices rose 116 percent from a year ago, up from the 97 percent rise in December. The onmonth rise for pork was 8.5 percent. TOO SOON: The producer price index — an important barometer of the industrial sector that measures the cost of goods at the factory gate — rose 0.1 percent in January. It had fallen 0.5 percent in December. But analysts expect factory-gate prices to take a hit the following month. The coronavirus outbreak seems to have had little impact on producer price inflation last month, said Julian Evans-Pritchard, senior China economist at Capital Economics. “But it may simply be too soon to see the impact of the hit to demand on prices as factories were closed during the last week of the month due to the Chinese New Year holiday,” he added. AGENCIES

Tuesday, 11 February, 2020

08 COMMENT

Sham of the century

With ratings falling like a stone How long can PTI continue like this?

n

ever in the past had a ruling party faced internal dissensions or challenges from allies within less than a year and a half of its coming to power. never had it encountered shortages of the basic most commodities of daily use with people pointing finger at government related figures calling them a mafia responsible for the shortages. never in the past had a government with an agenda to put the economy on rails had mismanaged it in a way that was to force all sections of population from factory workers, peasants, urban middle class and the entire spectrum of business community to cry out in agony. Prime Minister Imran Khan had promised everyone a pie in the sky: South Punjab province to be carved out for those in Seraiki areas; 10 million jobs for the unemployed; 5 million housing units for the needy; massive cut in taxes on electricity, gas and petrol; declaration of agricultural emergency, provision of certified seeds, subsidies on electricity and action against the sugar mills mafia to provide relief to the farmers and provision of all resources required to strengthen the capacity of the armed forces. A year and a half later every section of society feels it had been led down the garden path. What worries everyone is that there is no light at the end of the tunnel. With the economy badly mismanaged, tax revenue targets remain elusive whereas on the external front the export sector has witnessed an insignificant growth. With industries reducing production or closing down, there is rise in unemployment. the stagflation characterised by high inflation and lowest rate of production and employment effects every segment of society, civilian as well as military Confident of getting unending support from those who helped him to reach the corridors of power, the situation has so far bothered the PM the least as he continues to revel in throwing more and more of his political opponents into the slammer. But it must be testing the nerves of his allies and patrons who have all along supported the PtI. the PM may continue to retain political allies through concessions at the expense of good governance but would it be as easy to persuade the third umpire not to raise his finger?

Crisis averted Now for some introspection

A

nother violent incident, involving Islamabad’s Lal Masjid, somewhat similar to what transpired in 2007, has been successfully averted. Maulana Abdul Aziz, who had illegally entered and taken the mosque hostage two weeks ago, has been offered a 20Kanal plot for the establishment of Jamia hafsa in return for his withdrawal. Although this is a verbal agreement at the moment, hopes are it will be the end of a rather unnecessary and avoidable impasse that the federal government unintentionally invited by not hiring a new khateeb (prayer leader) back in June of 2019 when it removed Aziz from the post. the repugnant cleric known for making anti-state statements in his sermons, inciting revolt and rebellion saw an opportunity to reenter the mosque and lay siege from inside. one can appreciate the handling of the matter on the part of the district administration and law enforcement authorities of the capital but someone needs to be held accountable for how far things got. It is not uncommon for bigots to get their way, dominating from a relative position of power, in the past. tLP’s Khadim rizvi pulled this off at Faizabad in 2017, disabling the capital for over a month, leaving only after getting the government to agree to his ridiculous demands. once over, the protesters were sent home with a reward of rs1000 each in neat white envelopes distributed by the DG rangers Punjab at the time. the same tLP, fresh off its Faizabad victory, pushed those very envelopes by staging countrywide protests the following year, calling for a rebellion within the army and violence against judges over the acquittal by the Supreme Court of Aasia bibi in the blasphemy case against her. this time they were dealt with a heavy hand with cases registered against tLP’s leadership, some convictions and jail time as well. Maulana Abdul Aziz is of the same breed of zealots who will test the state now and then to get the maximum out of each misadventure. that he has been given land after a two-week putsch will surely inspire others to try the same strategy. the government and its apparatus have to be more efficient and vigilant to preempt and stop such nefarious efforts so that it does not have to negotiate and cede to the demands of diabolical extremists.

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

Umar Aziz

Asher John

Joint Editor

Executive Editor

Deputy Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

I

Trump’s attempt to resolve the contention of the Middle East Syed zaiN abbaS Rizvi

T

he Israel-Palestinian conflict has been the epicentre of one of the most bloodridden clashes the world has seen and continues to witness. After the annexation of the utterly significant Jerusalem by Israel back in 1967, the discourse had transitioned to a face off between the Israeli proponents and opponents; the demarcation of each group being quite blur due to the territorial differences. Although the skirmishes have been quite common throughout the span of the last 50 Years, the recent turmoil has stepped up due to the United States’ relentless yet absolutely biased efforts to resolve the conflict altogether. A quick look at the historical framework bordering the nerving situation; it becomes apparent to even a layman of how the innocents were troubled by the unjustified stand of the International community. Since the independence of the state of Israel, the territory has stemmed an undulating relation between the Palestinians, the residents of the region and the pouring in of Jews from across the globe, though still tormented by the after shocks of the notorious holocaust, entering a paradox of who deems to be the rightful resident of the domain. With the years that followed, the Israeli regime backed by the so called ‘Unbiased’ International community, repressed, tortured and occupied the settlements of the Palestinians to the point that only a fraction exists now in totality. In 2017, president Donald trump recognised the State of Jerusalem as the official capital of Israel much to the dismay of the Palestinian community along with the muslim countries in conglomerate. With the significance attached to the old city in the heart of east Jerusalem, the ethnic importance of the masjid-e-Aqsa and the millions of residents living in the region under a constant overarching terror, the conflict is anything but simplistic to resolve overnight. the new formed and ever anticipated plan of Donald trump, self-hailed as ‘Plan of the Century’, has been celebrated by the Israeli fanfare yet thrashed by the Palestinians and thoroughly rejected by the muslim states as ‘the fraud of the Century’. the plan outright emanates a serious

disarmament of illegal bias towards the state of weapons being produced Israel while treating Palesin Palestine. tine as the lesser of the nethis unnecessary step gotiators. Firstly, the plan With the significance by the US regime emotes stands a firm ground of acdesperate the nation is knowledging the Undiattached to the Old city in how to incite another convided Jerusalem as the the heart of East Jerusalem, tention between the two rightful capital of Israel sides. With clear violations while suggesting Palestine the ethnic importance of of United nations’ resoluto establish its metropolis in the outskirts of the east the masjid-e-Aqsa and the tions regarding the safety of Palestinian refugees, wall separating the two millions of residents living breaching the international disputants; cities like Kafr law of their return and Aqab and Abu Dis. this in the region under a even being as naive as not stand not only comes constant overarching terror, suggesting the aftermath across as a radical sham their release but more but also overlooks some of the conflict is anything but of so, the fate of their famithe primitive facets of the lies left behind, the future discord; including the simplistic to resolve of the conflict and the incarefree transfer of the old overnight. tentions of the powers city to Israel, a place that harkening a solution is holds esteem citing the quite apparent now. the ‘Dome of rock’, a place ironic part congregating revered as the initial destithe entire plan proffered is nation of holy Prophet’s (PBUh) journey of Mairaj. Secondly, the plan that even with stating as non-promissory of a starkly condones the fate of about half a million note as Israel not being liable to guarantee a Palestinian Jerusalemites post the implementa- 100% pre-1967 territory, trump’s proposal is tion of this crude plan. the plan disregards the still being claimed as a win-win for both parties. agrarian as well as the residencial security of the The author is currently pursuing an underPalestinians yet prioritises the national security of Israel; allowing the Israeli state to enter the graduate degree at Institute of Business AdminPalestinian territory at all times for the sake of istration, Karachi

Who is afraid of Kashmir? Out of fear to lose what can’t be India’s, the Kashmir question remains unanswered

Shah Nawaz Mohal

L

ASt week, once again, Pakistan celebrated the 20th Kashmir Solidarity Day. Beyond all the bells and jingles, the speeches and marches, the outpouring of emotions the issue stands unresolved, it simmers, dies, rises like a phoenix and perishes. And it repeats, all of it all over again. they say the land and things you don’t have are always more beautiful, more splendid than the land you possess and the things you own. this good old ‘grass is always greener on the other side of the fence’ mindset still sways our kind. India doesn’t ‘possess’ all of Kashmir. Pakistan too hasn’t emancipated the whole of Kashmir. the Kashmiris live and die to own their motherland. the fences and barbed wires along the LoC has made the grass turn bloodier on the other side. Familiarity breeds contempt, goes another ancient axiom. however, it too is subject to certain exceptions. Pakistanis of all ilk spread over multiple generations have been acutely familiar with the Kashmir issue and endless travails its inhabitants brave day in and day out. the world at large has apparently developed a ‘be that as it may’ attitude and lost interest in the freedom struggle of more than 14 million people. Yet the folks of Pakistan haven’t taken a step

Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

I

back from supporting their brethren under siege. the familiarity to bloodshed, terror and fear in Kashmir has only bred empathy during past seven decades. Since the calendar, our machination of keeping track of time marks days of festivities and mourning. For the past 28 years, February 5th has been earmarked to be observed as Kashmir Day to show the world that Pakistan stands with the Kashmiris and supports their right for self-determination. the banners by the roadside, speeches of politicians and scholars on the television, massive rallies in the capital, and conferences and seminars inundating the width and breadth of Pakistan reiterate what needs to be reiterated over and over again. Last year, I had an opportunity to meet fellow journalists from Kashmir. they arrived in Pakistan when the high tempers after the martyrdom of Burhan Wani and the Uri incident were smothered to some extent. ‘Among the stone pelting youth, many hail from well to do families. they run their family businesses and are well educated. they are politically enlightened but frustrated with the occupation. they are neither extremists nor being paid by anyone to confront the Indian army,’ said one of them over a cup of tea. I sensed from the conversation that the infinite distress has drained even those of fear, the foremost weapon in any oppressor’s quiver. ‘they fight like the young Palestinians, with stones. Many have lost their fear of death; they will not surrender, cheated by politicians at home, they are developing the independence of spirit that comes with isolation, and it will not be easily quelled,’ is how tariq Ali, notable historian, journalist and intellectual summed up the struggle in his essay ‘not Crushed, Merely Ignored’. the realization among the intellectual, literary and political circles of India too has reached the consensus that Kashmir has become a lost cause and if things don’t change the valley will be India’s Waterloo. Writers like Arundhati roy, tariq Ali, Angana P. Chatterji and of late leader

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

I

Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

I

of ruling party BJP Yushwant Singh, former finance minister and present outcast, all concur that people of Jammu and Kashmir have lost their fear of Incredible India that has ‘done everything it could to subvert, suppress, represent, misrepresent, discredit, interpret, intimidate, purchase, and simply snuff out the voice of the Kashmiri people’. Arundhati roy, the author of the God of Small things and the Ministry of Utmost happiness, has aptly summed up the dilemma of India who raises the slogan ‘Doodh maangogey to kheer dengey! Kashmir maangogey to chiir dengey! When in reality it ‘needs azadi from Kashmir just as much, if not more, than Kashmir needs azadi from India’. the death of Burhan Wani in July, 2016 brought back the Kashmir issue in the mainstream 8 to 11 slot on prime time television. every talat, Doctor and hassan jumped on the bandwagon and there was much discussion and debate. Aimed at local audiences who are already convinced of the cause, the analysts and pundits contributed barely a new perspective to an endless conflict. they jumped to the next sensational happening and once again, it was put on the back burner. As long as the memory serves and as far as one can gaze back in the annals of history, the Kashmiris have shared the fate of ancient bondmen; there has been change of tyrants at the helm of power and nothing else. the tally of martyrs from just 20 years- 1990 to 2019- falls around 70,000 Kashmiris. they are those who won’t tell us their story. We are left to listen to the tales and travails of the disappeared and tortured individuals with a sinking heart. reminds me of a melancholic line from roy’s novel the Ministry of Utmost happiness where a note reads: KhADIJA SAYS… In Kashmir when we wake up and say ‘Good Morning’ what we really mean is ‘Good Mourning’. Shah Nawaz Mohal is a law graduate and journalist based in Islamabad. He can be reached at mshahnawazmohal@gmail.com.

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Tuesday, 11 February, 2020

COMMENT 09 Editor’s mail

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

Social media curse?

Relief measures for the poor Commendable efforts but more needs to be done

Malik MuhaMMad aShRaf

T

he unprecedented hike in the prices of perishable food items like tomatoes, onions and other vegetables followed by phenomenal increase in the prices of sugar, flour, ghee and pulses has undoubtedly made the life of the poorer sections of the society miserable beyond imagination. the plight of the people could be judged from the fact that sixty percent Pakistanis ended up spending more than sixty percent of their incomes on food items leaving very little for their other needs. What transpired during the last sixteen months was, to some extent, attributable to the inevitable steps that the government had to take to revive the economy which was in complete shambles when the PtI government was installed but the situation was further aggravated by hoarders, profiteers, middlemen and the mafias which manipulated the markets to their unjustified advantage. Unfortunately we are a society with a very low level of morality and societal solidarity. It is common knowledge that the prices of food items and vegetables suddenly go up during the month of ramadan due to the reason that the unscrupulous businessmen, middlemen, hoarders and mafias within the society try to mint money, not caring about the sanctity of the holy month, whereas against this, on the eve of X-Mas the prices are drastically reduced in the western countries. nevertheless, the onus of saving the masses from the machinations of these unscrupulous elements and providing relief to them lies with the government. Prime Minister Iman Khan was right on money when while presiding a meeting regarding hike in the prices of commodities including sugar, flour, cooking oil and pulses on Saturday he said that the government had no right to rule if the people were not given relief. he also said that the government would go to any extent to check price hikes making sure that the prices of flour, sugar, ghee and pulses were brought down. he also ordered deduction of funds from other sectors to help those having no purchasing power. Later in a tweet he said “I understand the difficulties, ordinary people including salaries class are confronting and have decided, come what may, my government will be announcing various measures that will be taken to reduce prices of basic food items for the common man in the cabinet meeting on tuesday” he also revealed that relevant government agencies had begun an in-depth probe into the flour and sugar price hike and those found involved would

face punishment. reportedly with a view to aged a subsidy of rS.50-60 on 20-Kg flour bag, bringing the prices of sugar down by ensuring rs.30-40 on one kg of ghee and rs.20-30 on per adequate supply in the market, the Prime Minis- Kg of rice, which are the basic food items. It was quite a substantial relief for the poor ter has also approved a summary for halting the export of 350,000 tons of sugar besides allowing masses. to make sure that this relief was not abused by some unthe import of 300,000 tons scrupulous elements the of sugar through private government also made it sector. A vigorous camobligatory for the conpaign against the hoarders It is common knowledge sumers to present their ID has also been launched. honestly speaking, that the prices of food items cards while making purchases from the Utility keeping check on the and vegetables suddenly go Store outlet. this makes prices and checking unethit convenient for the conical and illegal practices is up during the month of sumers to buy their the responsibility of the Ramadan due to the reason monthly ration in one go provincial governments and nobody would be and the district administrathat the unscrupulous able to abuse the system tions. the accentuation of the present price spiral for businessmen, middlemen, due to biometric record of purchasers with Utility other than the justifiable hoarders and mafias within Stores. the relief packeconomic factors repreage, apart from providing sented their failure in asthe society try to mint relief to the targeted sessing the emerging money, not caring about the groups, was also desituation and taking timely to contribute tomeasures to protect the sanctity of the holy month, signed wards stabilization of masses against the debilitating impact of unprecewhereas against this, on the prices in the open market. It is an undeniable dented increase in the eve of X-Mas the prices are fact that the PtI governprices of food items and under the stewardperishable commodities. drastically reduced in the ment ship of Prime Minister nevertheless, the inwestern countries. Imran Khan has shown retervention by the federal markable concern for the government to rectify the less privileged sections of situation, particularly by the society. In spite of ecothe Prime Minister is a nomic difficulties it took welcome initiative and indicates his sensitivity to the difficulties of the appreciable step towards poverty alleviation and poorer sections of the society. hopefully as a providing relief to the people. ehsas programme result of the steps that are likely to be taken and the initiatives taken under its umbrella like within the next few days, as indicated by the distribution of health and ration cards, Kamyab Prime Minister, the prices of food items would Jawan, hunarman Jawan and the launch of ehsas come down providing much needed relief to Kafalt card on 31st January under which rs.2000 monthly cash payments will be made to seven the poor people. the federal government justifiably has been million women are an irrefutable testimony of the focusing more on economy and now after hav- concern of the PtI government for ameliorating ing gone through a successful year of stabiliza- the lot of the poor. they will not only help in altion of economy, has rightly shifted its attention leviation of poverty but would also generate to providing relief to salaried and low and mid- tremendous economic activity in the country. the dle income groups who have been bearing the PtI government, particularly, the Prime Minister brunt of the burgeoning inflation in the country has exhibited unruffled determination and comdue to the combined effect of the foregoing fac- mitment to provide relief to the poor masses. tors. Last month the government announced rs7 therefore the credit must be given where it lies. billion subsidies on 1000 items available at 4000 Malik Muhammad Ashraf is an academic. outlets of the Utility Stores Corporation throughout the country. the announced package envis- He can be contacted at: ashpak10@gmail.com.

In the Pakistani society it isn’t unprecedented to feel that internet based life is a threat which has spread especially among youths to destroy their lives. Frequently seen as the best issue of our age, web based life is intensely scrutinized. however, there are sure benefits of online networking which can refute this manner of thinking. this conviction springs from what online life sites have been named as. Destinations, for example, Facebook and twitter have gotten incredible analysis starting late normally being seen as a path for youngsters to squander their days on their electronic gadgets. this to a degree can even be viewed as obvious yet just in the event that one contemplates over the outside of the ocean that is present day media. While indeed, web based life may have expanded the utilization of electronic gadgets, the benefits accompanying it are much more than that of a silver coating. In the electronic age of the 21st century, online life is the best stage to make mindfulness. We would now be able to see works pioneers, scandalously Donald trump, running their administration of web based life locales, for example, twitter. this mass mindfulness has demonstrated to really be a gift. the #BlackLivesMatter and #WeArethe1% for the Fergeunson and occupy Wall Street Movement individually have been more prominent occasions of social developments which did make mindfulness about critical issues as well as tackled these issues. All however the two issues conflicted with the standards which had been set a state as incredible as the United States of America, when mass familiarity with an issue becomes even the best countries need to pay regard. Along these lines, internet based life costs to be a crucial resource. Internet based life has additionally allowed each person to voice their conclusion. the #Metoo is the best case of this where not just have ladies at long last had the capacity to talk about a predominant issue in the public arena yet have had the capacity to join to neutralize it. through thusly a solitary post via web-based networking media makes numerous ladies feel less alone. thus, the ongoing down disorder displaying program on Facebook have made it conceivable to maintain kids with the affliction and not make them feel segregated. AbbAS FAtEH-uD-DIN ASIM Lahore

Defining Pakistan MArtIn LUther KInG Jr once said ‘almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made the world a better place’. Jinnah wanted the Pakistanis to respect our minorities. I want to reiterate that Prime Minister Imran Khan had promised to give minorities their due rights. he envisioned following the model of the state of Medina. Mr Khan’s zeal was witnessed when he proposed that Dr Atif Mian was the panacea for the economic calamity of Pakistan. he desired to see Dr Atif as the Finance Minister in his ‘naya Pakistan’. the desire was a rhetorical. nevertheless, Mr Khan coerced Dr Atif to resign from the economic Advisory Council, owing to his faith; which is indifferent to our economy. Consequently, Dr Imran rasul resigned in protest. this robbed our economic Council of competent members. however, Jinnah would have daunted the government’s decision because he guaranteed justice, equality, and opportunities for the minorities. Jinnah was a protagonist of minority rights. he stood for the Muslims when they were a minority in the colonial India. Jinnah must have been disenchanted following this inauspicious decision. the premier idealises Jinnah and pledged to withhold the values of the father of our nation. the white part of our flag denotes Pakistan’s minority. one need not be a Muslim to serve this country. Any person regardless of their religion is capable of serving his/her state without prejudice. Unfortunately, our government has unceasingly disdained almost every other Pakistani, who had the audacity to choose a dissimilar trajectory since the demise of Mr Jinnah. Pakistan loses her chance to prosper when every Joginder nath Mandal, Sir Zafarullah Khan, Abdul Salam and in this case Dr Atif is left to the mercy of the bigots in the country. bArrIStEr ArSALAN CHAuDHry Narowal

Banning plastic bags PLAStIC bags had been a huge indication of apocalypses since 1950s and it is very much notorious of being the fountainhead of enhancing the mortality rate of people in Pakistan. Plastic bags are being manufactured with various hazardous chemicals which are very much dangerous for every individual surviving in Pakistan, because in every corner of Pakistan plastic bags are being used to carry out the eatable goods without being aware the causes and health risk and sometimes it is very much spoiler for the lands because the plastics would make a timber land into a barren land. According to the expert scientists that plastic takes more than 500 years to break down in a landfill. Moreover, the scientists have claimed that the plastic bags have been the source of numerous deadliest diseases such as cancer endometriosis, neurological damage, endocrine disruption, birth effects and developmental disorders, immune damage, asthma, and cause multiple organ damages. Furthermore, the Minister of Climate Change Senator had evaluated that more than 55 billion plastic shopping bags are being used in Pakistan where the utilisation had been increased to 15 per cent per annum. In Pakistan approximately 8,021 production units are available whose production of average is nearly 250-500 kilograms per day and the result more investigated that more than 160,000 were directly and 600,000 were indirectly dependent on the industry. I request to the government to conduct surveys to create awareness among the residents about the health risks of applying plastic bags. MEHrAJ ALtAF turbat

Tuesday, 11 February, 2020

BUSINESS 11

ECC ratIfIEs ban on sugar Exports to 'kEEp prICEs In ChECk'

CORPORATE CORNER

ISLAMABAD

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan recently with SAP Co-CEO Christian Klein to discuss SAP’s “Building in Pakistan, for Pakistan” on the sidelines of World Economic Forum. prESS r E l E A S E

LAHORE: Karandaaz Pakistan has signed grant agreements with two fintechs, Oraan Tech Pvt Ltd and Techlets Pvt Ltd, with funding from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and a separate one with NRSP Microfinance Bank, with funding from UK’s Department for International Development (DFID). p r E S S r E l E A S E

f

SHAHZAD pArACHA

Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet on Monday endorsed the prime minister's decision to impose a ban on sugar exports. However, the ECC meeting, chaired by Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, did not approve the premier's decision to import sugar through the private sector, noting that "adequate stocks" of the commodity were available in the country. Prime Minister Imran on Friday had approved a summary to ban sugar exports and to allow the import of 300,000 tonnes sugar through the private sector in a bid to control price hike. While briefing the current situation of sugar supply, the Ministry of Industries and Production informed ECC that adequate stocks of sugar were available in the country but prices in both domestic and international markets were show-

LAHORE: The Federal Board of Revenue organised an event at Packages Mall to create awareness among people about its Point of Sale (linked invoicing) system. p r E S S r E l E A S E

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has found no insider trading in the shares of the Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), thus clarifying rumours regarding its privatisation at a discounted price. In a news statement, the regulator said it had probed the allegations of manipulation in the shares of OGDCL on 22nd January 2020. The commission investigated the data at order and trade level in ready and future markets, scrutiny of volume leaders, day traders, profit makers, and all categories of investors and brokerage houses. Based on the analysis, it was observed that the individ-

uals and mutual funds contributed to 38 per cent and 24pc of the total selling volume, according to the SECP. On the buying side, individuals contributed to 49pc and brokers to 24pc of the buying volume. The total amount of profit-taking by top 10 traders aggregated to Rs1.7 million, it said. Among them, the maximum profit of Rs307,381 was made by an institution. “Hence, the analysis didn’t reveal any irregular patterns, abusive market practices or insider trading,” the SECP’s statement further said. “Moreover, the trading activity of 22nd January 2020 was reviewed to rule out any possibility of abusive market practices carried out with an objective to realizing any undue future gains.”

The regulator said it was fully committed to promoting integrity and efficiency of the capital market by making it more disciplined and transparent. The regulator said it had adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards offences and market abuses and accordingly strengthened its surveillance capabilities and systems. Over the past six months alone, it said, 17 prohibitory orders were issued and two criminal complaints were filed related to violations of securities laws. The SECP has advised the investors to avoid speculative trading based on rumours and disinformation. “Investment decisions should rather be made considering the fundamentals of a company,” it added.

Indian inflation likely to hit six-year high in January BENGALURU AGENCIES

ISLAMABAD: Khushhali Microfinance Bank Limited has signed an agreement to acquire Audit Management System by SAP. This acquisition aims to boost the quality and effectiveness of audit process at KMBL. prESS rElEASE

ing an upward trend. The meeting was informed that 1.719 million tonnes of sugar stocks were available with the mills. According to a press release issued by the finance ministry, the meeting decided that in case there was "considerable decrease" in the available stock, the ECC "would be willing to reconsider the proposal" for import of sugar as well as the removal of tariff and taxes on the subject import. The ECC also directed the Ministry of Industries and Production to communicate with the provincial governments to control sugar prices

SECP sees ‘no insider trading’ in OGDCL shares BUSINESS DESK

LAHORE: The liver transplant team of Bahria International Hospital (Orchard) organized a one-day workshop on Surgical Critical Care under the supervision of Dr Faisal Hanif, Head of Liver Transplant Surgery at BIH. prESS rElEASE

CommIttee reJeCts Pm’s deCIsIon to ImPort sugar through PrIvate seCtor, as ‘adequate stoCks’ are avaIlable In the Country

Indian retail inflation likely rose to a near sixyear peak in January as food prices stayed high, according to a small majority of economists in a Reuters poll, which may persuade the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to keep interest rates on hold in the coming months. The Feb. 5-7 poll consensus of more than 40 economists showed India’s annual consumer price inflation is expected to have risen to 7.40pc in January, a touch above December’s 7.35pc and the highest since May 2014. While nearly half of the economists polled

predicted price pressures eased in January, none expected it to have fallen within the RBI’s medium-term target range of 2pc-6pc, suggesting a significant decline in inflation over the coming months was unlikely. The RBI kept its repo rate unchanged at 5.15pc on Thursday, despite slowing growth, and revised up its inflation projections, estimating it would range between 5.0pc and 5.4pc in the first half of the upcoming fiscal year. “Headline consumer price inflation is likely to have edged up in January, in large part due to a continued increase in food inflation,” said Darren Aw, Asia economist at Capital Economics.

in the country "as it was [a] provincial subject". Meanwhile, the ECC considered and approved a technical supplementary grant for release of funds amounting to Rs3,300 million for "Prime Minister's Special Package to Implement 'Skill for All' Strategy as a Catalyst for TVET Sector Development". The ECC also approved the continuation of funding facility to ISGS. It was decided that the loan agreement between ISGS and GHPL be approved for a period of one year. Any extension thereafter be subject to progress on the undertaken projects and as soon as the first project reaches closure, ISGS needs to become financially self-sustaining and after closure of the project it will also put forward a business plan how it will return the loan. Moreover, the committee approved the law ministry's request for a technical supplementary grant of $1 million as legal and miscellaneous expenses in the Reko-Diq case. The ECC also directed the ministry to give a detailed briefing on the case details during the next meeting.

Indian inflation likely to hit near sixyear high in January BENGALURU AGENCIES

Indian retail inflation likely rose to a near sixyear peak in January as food prices stayed high, according to a small majority of economists in a Reuters poll, which may persuade the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to keep interest rates on hold in the coming months. The Feb. 5-7 poll consensus of more than 40 economists showed India’s annual consumer price inflation is expected to have risen to 7.40pc in January, a touch above December’s 7.35pc and the highest since May 2014. While nearly half of the economists polled predicted price pressures eased in January, none expected it to have fallen within the RBI’s medium-term target range of 2pc-6pc, suggesting a significant decline in inflation over the coming months was unlikely. The RBI kept its repo rate unchanged at 5.15pc on Thursday, despite slowing growth, and revised up its inflation projections, estimating it would range between 5.0pc and 5.4pc in the first half of the upcoming fiscal year. “Headline consumer price inflation is likely to have edged up in January, in large part due to a continued increase in food inflation,” said Darren Aw, Asia economist at Capital Economics. “Weekly data indicate that vegetable inflation has peaked, but remains very high. And supply constraints have also caused milk producers to raise prices.” However, recent data showed a decline in some vegetable prices, including onions - the primary driver for the latest inflation surge - while oil prices, India’s biggest import, plunged over 10pc last month after the coronavirus outbreak in China raised concerns about global economic growth. The RBI, which cut interest rates by a cumulative 135 basis points last year, is now expected to stay on hold until late this year, putting the onus on the government to boost the flagging economy. But the latest annual budget fell short of expectations for fiscal expansion. “Any future rate cut can happen only after CPI comes down to around 5% and transmission of past rate cuts is more complete.

Punjab govt mulls abolishing 50 taxes to facilitate businesses LAHORE STAFF rEpOrT

Punjab Finance Minister Makhdoom Hashim Jawan Bakht said on Monday that in order to facilitate businesses across the province, an internal study of the provincial government has identified more than 50 taxes for abolishment. “The abolishment of such taxes will not harm the exchequer or ease of doing business (EODB) index. The National Tax Council has been asked to play its role for tax harmonization,” the minister said while talking to businessmen at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI). “We want to enhance tax-to-GDP ratio but not at the cost of economy,” he

stated, adding that an inspection-less regime and digitalization would further improve the country’s EODB rankings. He said work on an e-payments system was on the way. “A major part of the Annual Development Plan (ADP) was being spent on those projects that would promote trade and economic activities.” Bakht said the provincial government would prepare next budget in consultation with the stakeholders as economic revival was not possible without their due participation. He said the revival of construction sector was a must as 16 per cent tax was imposed on this sector last year which was replaced with a flat rate. “We are looking into property tax,

DC rates, stamp duty and FBR rates and will give you good news in this regard,” the minister added. LCCI President Irfan Iqbal Sheikh drew the attention of the finance minister to the unexpected slash in the ADP’s expenditure over the time from Rs576 billion in 2017-18 to Rs350 billion in budget 2019-20. He was of the view that it had negatively impacted the ongoing infrastructure projects and other development activities in the province and had also resulted in an economic slowdown. Sheikh said there should be a considerable increase in the ADP size for the year 2020-21 to stimulate economic activity in the province. The LCCI president said the Sales

Tax on Services was being charged at different rates by the Punjab Revenue Authority (by 16pc) and Sindh Revenue Board (by 13pc), which created an environment of competition among the provinces. “A uniform rate of ST on Services should be charged by all the provinces,” he suggested. Sheikh said Punjab holds paramount importance in Pakistan’s EODB and Lahore accounts for 35pc in the calculation of overall ranking, adding there was a tremendous potential of improvement in the ‘Paying Taxes’ ranking as Pakistan stood at 161st position in this indicator. “There is also a need to reduce provincial tax payments, which are more than 120 in number, according to the an-

nual budget statement of the Punjab government. Many of these taxes have small collection amounts i.e. less than Rs1 million and can easily be abolished or clubbed into other taxes,” the LCCI president added. He said some steps must also be taken to separate tax collection from service provision so that departments like PESSI etc. stop sending inspectors for tax collection and better focus only on delivery of services like hospitalization, pensions, injury/death grants etc. He said that to give boost to the pace of industrialization, there should be “Tax Holiday” announced for all Provincial taxes and levies for at least 3 years for the newly registered companies, especially for SMEs.

Tuesday, 11 February, 2020

12 BUSINESS Market Daily

stocks lose 846 points amid lack of triggers KARACHI

pakIstan to sow oIlsEEDs aCross 500,000 aCrEs thIs yEar

STAFF rEpOrT

LAHORE

Bears surrounded the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Monday, with the benchmark kSE-100 Index slipping below the 40,000-mark for the first time since 3rd December 2019. Foreign investors sold equities worth $9.26 million during the outgoing week (Feb 3-7, 2020). On the economic front, Pakistan's imports contracted by 15.95pc while exports inched up by 2.13pc during the first seven months of FY20. This resulted in the country's trade deficit narrowing by 28pc. On a monthly basis, Pakistan's exports failed to rise in the month of January, recording a decline of 3.19pc. On the other hand, imports reduced by 9.60pc during the month under review, helping the trade deficit contract by 15pc. Shedding 947.44 points or -2.36pc, the kSE-100 Index recorded its intraday low at 39,196.19. The index settled with a loss of 846.93 points at 39,296.70. The kMI-30 Index declined by 1,660.97 points or -2.60pc to end at 62,250.69, while the kSE All Share Index decreased by 522.47 points, closing at 27,520.35. Out of the total traded shares, only 38 advanced while 276 declined. Sectors responsible for the index's fall included oil & gas exploration (-139.67 points), banking (-124.94 points) and oil & gas marketing (-86.03 points). Engro Corporation Limited (ENGRO -53.57 points), Nestle Pakistan Limited (NESTLE -47.30 points) and Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDC -44.72 points) dented the index the most. The overall market volumes fell from the previous session and were recorded at 180.77 million, with Hascol Petroleum Limited (HASCOL -6.00pc), Unity Foods Limited (UNITY -7.11pc) and Maple Leaf Cement Factory Limited (MLCF -2.02pc) leading the volume chart. The scripts had exchanged 15.36 million, 11.65 million and 9.62 million shares, respectively. In a notification to the exchange, Sazgar Engineering Works Limited (SAZEW -5.76pc) announced the production and sales' figures of its three wheelers for the month of January. A total of 1,974 units were produced during the month review, whereas 2,524 units were sold.

HASSAN NAQVI

thai delegation invited to explore pakistan's energy sector BUSINESS DESK Power and Petroleum Minister Omar Ayub khan said on Monday that the government was offering investment opportunities worth $80 billion in the subsectors of power generation, transmission and distribution. The minister disclosed this during a meeting with a delegation of the Global Power Synergy Thailand that called on him here. The minister apprised the delegation about the developments in the power sector and asked them to invest in the generation, transmission and distribution sectors. He said that the new renewable energy policy would open new avenues in the power sector. khan said a competitive bidding regime would ensure maximum transparency in all transactions and provide relief to the electricity consumers.

p

AkISTAN will cultivate oilseeds, including sunflower, canola and sesame, across 0.5 million acres this year, which would most likely reduce the import bill of edible oil by $345 million. Pakistan's import bill of edible oil and oilseeds currently stands at around $4 billion, sources said, adding that this is the third most expensive commodity that the country spends on. Edible oil is one of the most important commodities of everyday use. Since its inception, Pakistan has been constantly falling short in terms of edible oil production, as about 88pc of domestic requirements are met through imports, whereas the local production stands at a meagre 12pc. Since the early 1970s, Pakistani imports have increased by 12.5pc per annum and this trend would get worse with the increase in population, sources feared. YIELD POTENTIAL: National Agriculture Research Centre (NARC) Oilseed Programme Leader Nazakat Nawaz told this scribe that there existed a massive gap between average and po-

govt aIms to reduCe ImPort bIll of edIble oIl by $345m tential yield of various oilseed crops. "About 78pc of the yield potential is yet to be achieved in sunflower, while the country is still to realise 74pc potential of rapeseed-mustard, 75pc of groundnut, 80pc of sesame, 76pc of linseed, 79pc of soybean and 74pc of safflower." Nazakat shared that progressive farmers in the country are achieving more than 70pc of yield potential, which shows that there exists a huge potential to vertically increase oilseed production if proper crop management practices by the farmers are undertaken. SHARE OF OILSEED: According to oilseed experts, in domestic production, major share comes from cottonseed, as it contributes 76pc to the overall production; rapeseed-mustard contributes 14pc, while sunflower and canola contribute 9pc and 1pc, respectively. "Canola, rapeseed-mustard and sunflower have the potential to overcome the deficiency of edible oil in the country to some extent," Naza-

ogra notifies hike in rlng prices ‘thIs wIll ultImately result In InCreasIng the PrICe of eleCtrICIty, as rlng Is a maJor ContrIbutor to Power generatIon’ ISLAMABAD AHMAD AHMADANI

The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) on Monday notified an increase in the prices of re-gasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) for February 2020, which in result would jack up the per-unit prices of electricity in the country. The oil and gas regulator has set the new price at $11.1975 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) for Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and $11.1943 per unit for Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC). In the previous month, the same for SNGPL was $10.4822 per MMBtu, while it was $10.4602 per MMBtu for SSGC. In absolute terms, RLNG prices have been increased by $0.7153 per MMBtu for SNGPL and $0.7341 per MMBtu for SSGC. The cost of RLNG at the transmission stage was computed by OGRA at $10.0644 per MMBtu for SNGPL. The authority has allowed SNGPL to charge extra $1.1331 per

unit at the distribution stage. Similarly, the cost of RLNG at the transmission stage was computed by the regulator at $9.6589 per MMBtu for SSGC. The authority has allowed SSGC to collect an extra $1.5354 per MMBtu at the distribution stage. Sources in the energy sector informed this scribe that the notified hike in RLNG price would add insult to the injuries of masses, who were already suffering at the hands of rising inflation. They said that the increase would ultimately reflect in the per-unit price of electricity, as RLNG was a major contributor to power generation. It is pertinent to mention that the new prices also included LNG terminal charges, transmission losses, port charges and margins of importers i.e. Pakistan State Oil (PSO) and Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL). The new weighted average sale prices of RLNG was computed based on the eight cargoes imported in the month, including six cargoes by PSO and two by PLL.

kat maintained. Talking to this scribe, Punjab Agriculture Department Assistant Director (Information) Najaf Abbas informed that in order to become self-sufficient in the production of oilseeds and edible oil, Prime Minister Imran khan's National Agriculture Emergency Programme had launched its National Oilseeds Enhancement Programme aimed at increasing oilseed production across the country. The total cost of this fiveyear project was Rs5,115 million, of which Punjab's share was Rs3,069 million. In addition, the Punjab agriculture department had also introduced different schemes for oilseed growers, including 50pc subsidy on machinery to them. The assistant director said that the government was providing Rs5,000 per acre subsidy to farmers cultivating sunflower, canola and sesame. "In the next five years, we are planning to provide subsidy against 0.36 million acres of sesame, 0.278 million acres of sunflower and 0.211 million acres of canola cultivation," Najaf said. "The ultimate aim behind introducing these schemes is to encourage farmers to grow oilseeds as that will decrease our dependence on foreign countries."

‘pakistan post to become country’s largest banking network by Dec’ The National Assembly was informed on Monday that Pakistan Post would "become the largest banking network of the country" by December this year. Replying to a question in the lower house of the parliament, Communications Minister Murad Saeed said the network of Pakistan Post has been linked with 15,000 kiosks of NADRA for biometric verification, adding that it would be helpful in disbursing remittances, Ehsaas programme payments and other essential services. "In the last week of February, a home delivery service will be introduced by Pakistan Post. In addition, 125,000 franchise post offices will be set up in the next two years to provide employment opportunities to the masses." Murad Saeed maintained the overall loss of Pakistan Post (Rs52 billion) has been brought down due to reforms undertaken by the incumbent government. "These include introduction of live tracking of shipments, EMS survey to send parcels to any destination in the world within 72 hours, entry into e-commerce sector, tapping the Rs200 billion financial tech market, using the network of 12,000 post offices in the country to deliver remittances at no charge, same-day delivery in major cities of Pakistan, and improvement in UMS Service." He said so far, no private courier company was registered with Pakistan Post but "a bill in this regard has been passed in Senate and presented in National Assembly to bring these organizations into the mainstream". BUSINESS DESK

D&B survey finds Pakistani businesses to be optimistic about future KARACHI MEIrYUM AlI AND ArIBA SHAHID

Pakistani businesses are optimistic about the overall outlook in the first quarter of 2020, according to the newly launched Business Optimism Index for Pakistan by American data company Dun & Bradstreet. As per the index that covers the fourth quarter of 2019, business optimism clocks in at an overall for 144.6 points. Larger companies are more optimistic than small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with their index position standing at 149.5 and 137.3 respectively. In addition, there is greater optimism within the services sector in comparison to trading and manufacturing, despite the trading sector anticipating an increase in selling prices and profits in the upcoming quarter. Exporters have shown greater confidence, as compared to non-exporters in the wake of the rupee devaluation. Based on the survey, D&B states that a large proportion of businesses anticipate a growth in sales revenue, thus signifying that demand is likely to rebound. About 42pc of businesses believe that the current business situation is good, while 66pc believe it will get better in the next quarter.

In terms of challenges faced by the business community, a major obstacle as per the survey is government fees and taxes (with 42pc of respondents indicating so), followed by other factors such as exchange rate fluctuation, political instability, and the economic slowdown. Furthermore, based on the survey results, net balance for all parameters except profits is positive for the fourth quarter of 2019, indicating that business costs increased during the quarter Amongst SMEs surveyed, top export destinations included USA (48pc of SMEs), UAE (25pc of SMEs), Uk (19pc of SMEs) and Canada (19pc of SMEs). 28pc of SMEs expressed willingness to export to new markets in the next quarter (Q1, 2020). 19pc respondents wished to export to the US, whereas 15pc in the Uk and 14pc in the UAE making these the most prominent destinations. Exporters are optimistic with respect to all the parameters of the survey with a positive Net Balance in each parameter. This is widely due to optimism with regards to Sales Revenue, Volumes Sold and Profits. 68pc of exporters expect an increase in their export performance in the upcoming quarter. Top three export

destinations included USA (43pc of exporters), UAE (24pc of exporters) and Uk (17pc of exporters); however, 67pc businesses wish to expand beyond into newer markets. Having been introduced for the first time in the early 1900s, and carried out in ten other countries around the world, the index has now made its way to Pakistan where it will be released every quarter in order to quantify the pulse of the business community and assess the business environment. The BOI surveyed around 400 to 500 companies in Pakistan. When asked about sample methodology by Profit, Shoaib Rizi, Associate Consultant at D&B, said there are around 108,000 companies in Pakistan with the Securities and Exchange Commission Pakistan (SECP). Based on this, a sample of 408 companies will give an accuracy reporting 95pc. It remains to be seen if this is a truly accurate representation, considering that many companies in Pakistan are not registered with the SECP. D&B IN PAKISTAN: D&B acts as an intermediary between two companies, providing data and analytics for businesses. The company’s database has over

300 million company records and operates in over 200 countries, thus signifying their access to data. According to Nauman Lakhani, Country Head of D&B Pakistan, there has been a growing interest in Pakistan and Pakistani business for the last two years. In particular, there has been an IT boom in the country. The company decided in 2019 to have a physical presence in the country to provide more data. D&B has around 50 to 60 clients in Pakistan. Though they did not name their clients, most are banks, AMCs, insurance companies, and importers and exporters. Lakhani gave three examples of where D&B could be potentially useful in the Pakistani context. First, only D&B companies verified companies can exist on the App store – which would be helpful due to the recent IT boom in Pakistan. Secondly, many textile manufacturers in Pakistan often look to sell to Walmart – which only accepts D&B verified companies. Finally, USAID financing – which is significantly important to Pakistan – can only be received by D&B verified companies. More broadly speaking, Lakhani also

talked about creating a cultural shift in Pakistan regarding data. “Many Pakistani companies want to keep their data hidden, when in fact they should be more open, and create a culture of transparency.” Similarly, he compared SECP website to Companies House website, a similar body in the United kingdom, saying it is much easier to access company information abroad. FUTURE PLANS: D&B is also planning on getting a Credit Bureau license of Rs225 million from the State Bank of Pakistan. “We feel the capital requirement of Rs225 million is not very high, but there are certain matters we are concluding on internally before going ahead. The letter of intent has already been given to the SBP,” said Lakhani. Thereby, it can be said D&B is only looking to increase their presence in Pakistan. Going forward, Lakhani said D&B will be offering quarterly Business Optimism Index and Consumer Confidence Index (CCI). D&B has collaborated with Gallup Pakistan on the CCI, and will be releasing it in April. The sample size will be 200 individuals.

Highlights from #TheSkye’s Grand launch, the highest rooftop restaurant in Lahore

IN 1889, THE QUEEN OF ITALY, MARGHERITA SAVOY, ORDERED THE FIRST PIZZA DELIVERY.

YOU CAN BUY EEL FLAVORED ICE CREAM IN JAPAN.

THE KOBLUMPI MUSIC FESTIVAL ROCKED THE CAPITAL CITY WITH OVER 8 HOURS OF NON-STOP PERFORMANCES!

HOLLYWOOD BOLLYWOOD

Music icon Mekaal Hasan, event experts Origami and live sound extraordinaire Imran Mirza proudly hosted the second edition of The Koblumpi Music Festival - powered by Nescafe Basement, in the capital city of Islamabad in Bani Gala on 9th February 2020, featuring over 8 hours of non-stop power-packed live performances. The Koblumpi Music Festival’s Islamabad Chapter featured 16 amazing artists and bands from across Pakisan including Takatak, Karakoram, Maanu, Natasha Noorani, Mekaal Hasan Band, Poor Rich Boy, Keeray Makorey, Ali

Noor, Jasim and The Pindi Boys, Ali Suhail, Sikandar Ka Mandar, Saakin, Amena Farooq, Haniya Alsam, Natasha Humera Ejaz and Uzair Jaswal. In attendance were

music enthusiasts from Islamabad along with celebrities and personalities such as Ahmed Ali Akbar, Ali Rehman Khan, Asim Azhar and Ayesha Omar to name a few.

Organized in partnership with Lotus PR, The Koblumpi Music Festival, powered by Nescafe Basement, was an all afternoon family and community festival, from 12 noon to 9 pm, featuring a wide range of independent and mainstream artists from across the country with a focus on original music, added activities for kids and families, as well as a huge array of food stalls and refreshments. The Koblumpi team aimed to provide an atmospheric experience bringing people together to enjoy a great, music-filled afternoon with their friends and families.

IT'S CONSIDERED RUDE TO WRITE IN RED INK IN PORTUGAL.

Oscars 2020: Leonardo DiCaprio and Aditya Narayan-Neha Kakkar are not Kartik Aaryan feeds Sara Ali Khan in girlfriend Camila Morrone bring their getting married new candid photo, says she has romance to awards show become ‘quite thin’ Veteran singer Udit Narayan has denied any knowledge of his Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio has kept his relationship with 22-year-old Camila Morrone largely out of the public eye. However, on Sunday night, the couple was seated next to each other at the 92nd Academy Awards. While Leonardo and Camila arrived separately on the red carpet, they were spotted sitting next to each other in the front row, when Janelle Monáe walked up to audience members during her opening performance. Leonardo’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood co-star Brad Pitt was seated on Camila’s other side. At the Oscars 2020, Leonardo was nominated for Best Actor, for his performance in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time In Hollywood. However, he lost out to Joaquin Phoenix, who won for his role as Arthur Fleck in Joker. Leonardo, who has been in a relationship with Camila since 2017, is 23 years older than her. There has been a lot of talk about their age difference and she opened up about the same in an interview with Los Angeles Times last year.

son Aditya Narayan’s wedding with singer Neha Kakkar. In an interview with Bollywood Hungama, Udit said that it is just a gimmick to boost the ratings of Indian Idol 11, which is hosted by Aditya and has Neha as one of the judges. “Aditya is our only son. We’re waiting for him to get married. If these wedding rumours were true, my wife and I would be the happiest parents in the world. But Aditya has not shared this with us,” Udit told the website. However, Udit wished that the marriage rumours were true, and said that they would love to have Neha as a part of their family. “I suspect this link-up and marriage rumours with Neha are just to boost the TRPs of Indian Idol where she’s a judge and my son is the anchor. I wish the marriage rumours were true. Neha is a wonderful girl. We’d love to have her as our bahu (daughter-in-law),” he said. Udit said that when Aditya actually gets married, they would announce the news. “We’d like the whole world to share that moment with us,” he said.

CMYK

Sara Ali Khan and Kartik Aaryan continue to fan the flames of romance rumours with their displays of affection. In a new picture shared by him on Instagram, he is seen feeding her what looks like a home-cooked meal. He captioned it, “Kaafi dubli ho gayi ho. Aao pehle jaisi sehat banayein (You have become quite thin. Let’s get you back to your original weight).” Sara, who once weighed 96 kgs, lost oodles of weight before she made her Bollywood debut with Abhishek Kapoor’s Kedarnath in 2018. She will share screen space with Kartik for the first time in Imtiaz Ali’s Love Aaj Kal, which releases this Friday (February 14). Recently, Sara discussed her transformation when she appeared on Kareena Kapoor Khan’s radio show What Women Want. Kareena said that she misses the old Sara, as she has become “really boring” after the weight loss and only wants to eat healthy.

Tuesday, 11 February, 2020

14 SPORTS

PSG aidEd by own Goal for ThE aGES in win ovEr lyon PARIS

P

AGENCIES

ARIS Saint-Germain survived the absence of Neymar and a Lyon fightback to win Ligue 1 clash 4-2 at a stormy Parc des Princes, helped by Fernando Marcal's truly stunning second-half own goal on Monday. Runaway leaders and defending champions PSG were cruising at halftime with Angel Di Maria and Kylian Mbappe giving them a two-goal advantage against a Lyon side enduring a disappointing season. Then Marcal comically blasted the ball into the roof of his own net just after the break, leaving Lyon looking at another heavy defeat in Paris, where they lost 5-0 in this fixture last season. However, Martin Terrier and Moussa Dembele quickly pulled goals back, and PSG needed a late strike by substitute Edinson Cavani to secure the points. "Normally after a goal like that the game is over," said coach Thomas Tuchel of the own goal. "But we were not disciplined enough and it was a lesson for us that it's never over." PSG's performance showcased why they can ill afford to be complacent heading into their Champions League last 16, first leg match away to Borussia Dortmund on February 18, even if sporting director Leonardo insisted to Canal Plus that the tie was "not life or

death" for the Qatar-owned club. They will hope to have Neymar back by then. The world's most expensive player sat out a second consecutive match here due to a rib complaint. "We play a lot of games and errors happen but I don't know if it's the time to be too critical," Tuchel added. "The team was great and we can't forget we were without lots of key players." Without Neymar -- as well as his injured compatriots, Thiago Silva and Marquinhos, in defence -- Tuchel's side made it eight straight wins and stretched their unbeaten run to 21

Storm Ciara lashes sports events across Europe LONDON: The unusually high winds that Storm Chiara blew up on Sunday played havoc with sports events across Europe as football and rugby matches were cancelled and a London road race was called off. Top tier football matches in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and England were called off as 140kmph gusts (87 mph) were recorded. Manchester City's Premier League clash with West Ham was among the more high profile events called off as howling winds disrupted transport links and travellers were advised only to make journeys if absolutely necessary. The women's Six Nations clash between Scotland and England was also postponed after Saturday's Calcutta Cup clash between the two countries' men's teams in Edinburgh had been marred by terrible conditions. Much of France was lashed by the storm Sunday but all three Ligue 1 matches were played, as was the blustery Six Nations rugby clash between France and Italy at the Stade de France outside Paris. A 10km London road race was also called off due to the weather as the 25,000 expected runners were advised not to travel. Storm Ciara did help one new record get set, but not in sports. A British Airways 747 set the fastest flight by a conventional airliner from New York to London thanks to powerful tailwinds. The flight took off from John F Kennedy airport and had been scheduled to land at Heathrow at 0625 GMT on Sunday, but arrived 102 minutes early at 0443 GMT. AGENCIES

games in all competitions. Lyon, meanwhile, have not won in three and this result leaves the seventime former champions in ninth place. They are eight points adrift of the Champions League qualifying spots and their upcoming European doubleheader against Juventus looks certain to be a step too far for them. How Rudi Garcia's side must have wished this match had been postponed due to the swirling wind and rain caused by Storm Ciara -- which left ticker-tape from pre-match fan displays strewn all over the pitch -- as they struggled to keep up with PSG in

the first half. PSG broke forward to open the scoring midway through the first half as Idrissa Gueye fed Di Maria to cut in from the right and beat Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes with a low strike at his near post. Thomas Meunier then squared for Mbappe to score his 15th league goal of the season in the 38th minute after fine work by Mauro Icardi, and both Icardi and Mbappe also had goals disallowed for offside before the interval. Then, two minutes after the break, came what looked like the coup de grace. An attempted cutback by Julian Draxler was going nowhere before Thiago Mendes intervened, allowing Draxler to keep the ball in play and return it to the edge of the six-yard box, where the hapless Marcal slammed it into the roof of his own net. Nevertheless, Lyon hit back with Terrier's shot squirming under the body of Keylor Navas before Karl Toko Ekambi teed up Dembele to convert his 13th in the league this season just prior to the hour mark. Mbappe had another effort ruled out and then hit the woodwork, and it was not until the introduction of Cavani -- the fans' favourite reduced to role of bit-part player -- that the home side made sure of the points. Di Maria set up the Uruguayan to complete the scoring 10 minutes from time with what was his 199th goal for PSG. They are 12 points clear of Marseille, who beat Toulouse 1-0 on Saturday with a Dimitri Payet goal. Elsewhere on Sunday, Montpellier beat struggling Saint-Etienne 1-0 and Strasbourg won 3-0 against Reims, with both sides staying in touch with the European places.

Hamilton and Mercedes is 'obvious pairing' says F1 team boss Wolff LONDON AGENCIES

Mercedes Formula 1 boss Toto Wolff said on Monday that his team's tie-up with Lewis Hamilton is the "obvious pairing", with the future of the six-time world champion still unclear on the eve of the new season. Hamilton, 35, is out of contract at the end of the year and the British driver has been linked with a move to Ferrari. "It is the obvious pairing going forward," said Wolff as Mercedes unveiled a five-year partnership with Jim Ratcliffe's chemicals company Ineos in London. "We would like to have the fastest man in the car and I know Lewis wants to be in the fastest car. There is an obvious mutual outcome." Wolff revealed he had not spoken to Hamilton since the team's Christmas party in December. "We travel for 10 months of the year and what we do over the winter is that we leave each other in peace," he said. "We said we would continue our discussions when he is back from America and we have kicked off the season. "Lewis has proven he is the best current driver,

and on the mid and long-term. I would hope we can continue to provide technology to the best driver." Hamilton will attempt to equal Michael Schumacher's record of seven drivers' world titles this year while Mercedes are attempting to win a seventh straight constructors' championship. The F1 season gets under way on March 15 in Australia.

McTominay says Man Utd determined to end season on high MaNchester: Scott McTominay says Manchester United are "fully focused" on ending their troubled season on a high note, with silverware still on offer in the FA Cup and Europa League as he nears a return from injury. United have found it hard to establish any momentum in a challenging campaign that has threatened to spiral into disarray at times. They are six points adrift of the Premier League's top four but could still qualify for the Champions League through another route if they win the Europa League. United face Club Brugge in the last 32 later this month, while their next FA Cup assignment is a fifth-round tie at second-tier Derby. Despite distracting speculation about Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's future as manager, combined with fan protests against United's owners the Glazer family and the club's executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward, McTominay is adamant there is still a possibility of a happy ending for everyone at Old Trafford. "It would be nice to come back and have a massive push with the rest of the boys to get into some finals, get some trophies under our belts and really set the bar for next season, set a bar that we don't step underneath," McTominay told United's website. "All of the boys are fully focused on doing that and hopefully we can do it as well." McTominay's performances have been one of the few bright spots for United this season, but the 23-year-old Scotland midfielder has been sidelined with a knee injury since late December. He will be out until early March but has stepped up his recovery during United's warm-weather training camp in Spain. "It has been going well," he said. "Obviously, it is never nice watching football matches when you have been playing. You want to be involved and you want to be helping the team as well." When he finally gets back on the pitch, McTominay will find United's new signing Bruno Fernandes adding his creative talents to the midfield, an ideal foil for the industrious Scot. "In the brief moments that I have seen him in training, he has looked really good," McTominay said of the former Sporting Lisbon playmaker. "He has looked like every type of player that the manager wants as well, so hopefully that can come to us on the pitch and he can show us what he can do. I can't wait to play alongside him." AGENCIES

Kabaddi World Cup 2020: Arrival of ‘unofficial’ Indian team stirs controversy NEWS DESK

E Team Jubilee Insurance wins the 4th edition of the Indus Hospital Golf Tournament. PR

The arrival of an allegedly unofficial kabaddi team of India in Pakistan for the World Kabaddi Championship has kicked up a controversy amid claims by the Ministry of Sports and the Pakistan Kabaddi Federation that they have not given clearance to any athlete. A contingent from India reached Lahore on Saturday via the Wagah Border to take part in the championship, being hosted by Pakistan for the first time. The athletes were welcomed by Punjab Minister for Sports Rai Taimoor Khan Bhatti. The pictures and footage of the players arriving in Lahore have surfaced in social media. The tournament opened on Monday at the Punjab Football Stadium in

CM YK

Lahore and will be followed by some matches in Faisalabad and Gujrat. An Indian sports ministry spokesman said the government has not granted permission to any athlete to travel to Pakistan for the event. “The Sports Ministry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) have not granted any permission to any team, which is mandatory while representing the country at any international event,” India Today reported citing sources. The administrator of Amateur Kabbadi Federation of India (AKFI) Justice (r) SP Garg also said that the national body has not cleared any such team. “We have no information about any Kabbadi team which has gone to Pakistan. No permission was ever granted by AKFI to any team to go to Pakistan and play any Kabbadi match

there,” he said. “We came to know about it only after the information was sought. AKFI does not support any such activity. Legal action may be taken against the defaulters,” he added. The procedure for participation at overseas events is that India’s national federation will communicate to the sports ministry which in turn will write to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for political clearance and Home Ministry for security clearance, irrespective of whether the government is funding the contingent or not. All the six previous editions of the World Kabbadi Championship took place in India between 2010 and 2019. India have won all six championships, defeating Pakistan in 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014 editions.

Tuesday, 11 February, 2020

PakiSTan CrUSh banGladESh by inninGS in firST TEST DHAKA

P

AGENCIES

AKISTAN completed a crushing innings-and-44-run victory over Bangladesh on the fourth morning on Monday, taking a 10 lead in the two-Test series. Bangladesh were bowled out for 168 in their second innings after resuming the day on 126-6 as Pakistan's pace and spin attack was too hot to handle despite a flat Rawalpindi stadium pitch. Fast bowler Naseem Shah, who at 16 years and 359 days became the youngest bowler to take a Test hat-trick on Sunday, finished with 4-26 and was declared man of the match. Despite Naseem being unavailable to bowl on Monday with rib pain, Pakistan mopped up the last four wickets in 90 minutes, inflicting their 10th defeat on Bangladesh in 11 matches with one draw. Pakistan skipper Azhar Ali said home wins -- only possible in recent months, after the resumption of Test cricket in Pakistan following a decade's isolation over security concerns -- were important to boost confidence. "It's an important win and home wins always increase confidence within the

team," said Azhar. "We have to play important away series including one in England (July-August this year) so we will carry this confidence. "Naseem and other bowlers bowled

superbly and it was an outstanding batting display, so all in all it was a complete team effort." Bangladesh skipper Mominul Haque started the day by square-driving paceman Shaheen Shah Afridi for his fifth

SPORTS 15

11.5 overs before Mohammad Abbas trapped Rubel leg-before for five. Leg-spinner Yasir Shah dismissed Das lbw and had Abu Jayed for three to finish with 4-58 and complete the win. DIsaPPOINtING BattING: Haque rued Bangladesh's low first-innings total. "Disappointing batting on a flat wicket (in the first innings) and no team can come back from such situations," said Haque, who has now lost all three Tests as skipper by an innings. "Pakistan bowled superbly and exploited our weaknesses and that hat-trick changed the game completely to open Pakistan's victory path." With the victory, Pakistan gained 60 points in the World Test Championship, taking their tally to 140 points. India lead the nine-team championship table with 360 points followed by Australia (246) and England 146. Top two teams on the championship PAKISTAN table will play the final at Lord's in June 445 (AZAM 143, 2021. Pakistan's victory was on the cards after they bowled Bangladesh MASOOD 100, SOHAIL 75, out for 233 in the first innings and SHAFIQ 65, ABU JAYED 3-86, RUBEL then piled up 445 in reply, with Babar Azam smashing 143 and 3-113) BEAT BANGLADESH 233 Shan Masood 100. This becomes (MITHUN 63, SHANTO 44, AFRIDI 4-53, Bangladesh's sixth defeat in 14 months, including their fifth by an SOHAIL 2-11) AND 168 (MOMINUL innings. They have yet to score a 41, SHANTO 38, NASEEM 4-26, championship point in three Tests. The second Test starts in Karachi -YASIR 4-58) BY AN INNINGS after a two-month break -- from April AND 44 RUNS 5-9. Bangladesh, who played a threeboundary match Twenty20 series with Pakistan last in the first over, month, insisted on splitting their tour into but then fell leg-before in the same over three phases over security concerns. They for 41. Liton Das (29) and tail-ender will also play a one-day international in Rubel Hossain kept Pakistan at bay for Karachi (April 3) before the second Test.

Boucher hails de Kock's captaincy potential JOHANNESBURG AGENCIES

Mark Boucher has given Quinton de Kock's captaincy a thumbs-up after his first series as the permanent ODI skipper, and expects former 50-over and current T20 captain Faf du Plessis to be back for the next series against Australia. De Kock will lead South Africa in three T20s against England next week before Australia visit for three ODIs and three T20s that will end on March 7. Du Plessis and Kagiso Rabada have been given extended rest for the England matches but Boucher expects both to return as South Africa continue to plan for the T20 World Cup and beyond. "Faf is still one of our best T20 players," Boucher said. "We feel at this point in time he needs a bit of a break away from the game. It's always good to have a bit of a rest. There is going to be a lot of cricket for them leading up to a World Cup so any opportunity we get to give guys a bit of rest and give other guys opportunities to see what they're all about. I would like to think against Australia, the rest will be enough and they can come back and play." De Kock, however, is having entirely the opposite experience and has played in all South Africa's matches of the summer so far. Since being promoted to ODI captain he also now plays a treble role in leading the side, opening the batting and keeping wicket, something de Kock embraced pre-series and then ex-

celled in, giving Boucher good reason to say he thinks "it is sustainable" for de Kock to have so much to do. "A lot of people questioned [MS] Dhoni when he was captaining India and he had a great captaincy record," Boucher said. "Quinny enjoys being in the game. Sometimes he sits in the dressing room during Test-match cricket and he gets really irritated because he wants to be doing something all the time. I think he really enjoys it. The off-the-field stuff is the stuff that

might get to him a bit. We're going to have to help him in that regard. But certainly, on the field, he leads well." De Kock also finished as the leading run-scorer in the series, with a match-winning century in Cape Town and a fifty at the Wanderers and was named player of the series. He was also innovative as captain, most notably when Tabraiz Shamsi was bowling. De Kock kept a slip in place in Cape Town, which resulted in the dismissal of Eoin Morgan and a legslip at Johannesburg, who aided in getting rid of Joe Root, and Boucher was impressed with de Kock's ability to read the match situation and respond accordingly. "We always knew that Quinny has got a very smart cricketing brain. He had a couple of different field placings which I thought were good and he was thinking out of the box," Boucher said. "Quinny is unique and I think the uniqueness of him can work wonders in a dressing room like this because we've got a unique set-up as well." At the same time, Boucher acknowledged that South Africa still have a lot of work to do before they are ready for the T20 World Cup and will use the Australia series to experiment further. "All the white-ball cricket from now up until the World Cup is giving guys opportunities and seeing what they can do in pressure situations," he said. "We are trying to look ahead to a World Cup in Australia and we are looking at different options that we've got. We will use the next three games against Australia to find some answers and ask some questions."

Williamson set to return as New Zealand eye 3-0 sweep MOUNT MAUNGANUI AGENCIES

As if injuries to Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry weren't enough, New Zealand were hampered by absence of Scott Kuggleijn and Mitchell Santner for the second ODI. Tim Southee, too, battled an illness while Ish Sodhi had been released to play a four-dayer against India A in Lincoln. Southee soldiered on and meticulously took down India captain Virat Kohli, but had to leave the field after finishing his ten overs. So depleted were New Zealand that they had to call their assistant coach Luke Ronchi as a substitute fielder. Yet, they dug deep enough to overcome a batting collapse and a late scare from Ravindra Jadeja to sew up the series. But problems - even outside fitness reasons - persist. Ross Taylor has fired in both the ODIs, but the rest of the middle-order has faltered. Williamson's return at Bay Oval, his home ground, could remedy some of those issues. He had a proper workout on the eve of the game, and is set to resume his mouth-watering tussle against Jasprit Bumrah. Santner and Kuggleijn are also coming along well, according to bowling coach Shane Jurgensen, while Sodhi has flown back to Mount Maunganui and rejoined the squad along with fast bowler Blair Tickner. After India had conceded the series in Auckland, Kohli reckoned that the team management might use

this dead rubber to test out their bench. Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, who hasn't played a single match so far on tour, might get a look-in on Tuesday. Will there be some room in the middle order for Manish Pandey too? Allrounder Shivam Dube is also among India's reserves and hasn't played in India's last nine ODIs. Colin de Grandhomme din't bowl in two of the three T20Is he played, but has been pretty tidy with the ball in the two ODIs. After removing Prithvi Shaw with an outswinger in the first game, he tricked

KL Rahul into cutting a ball that was neither short or wide enough for the shot. His batting form, though, has cooled off and he has floated down the order as the hosts have looked to maintain a left-right combination. Can he land the mighty blows with the bat on Tuesday? There has been plenty of scrutiny over Kedar Jadhav's role in the current set-up. He has played some charming cameos while coming in with just a few deliveries left, but has bowled all of one over with the ball since the World Cup. Jadhav has one more opportunity in Mount Maunganui before the new selection panel picks the squad for the three-match ODI series at home against South Africa in March. Having been severely depleted by injuries and illness, New Zealand have called in reinforcements in the form of Sodhi and Tickner. Having given Mohammed Shami a break at Eden Park, India might look to rest Bumrah ahead of the Test series and bring back Shami. And it remains to be seen whether Pant will take over the gloves from Rahul. PItch aND cONDItIONs: The Bay Oval rolled out a fairly slow track the last time these two sides met in an ODI at this venue in 2019. The T20I game that the Bay Oval had hosted last week was also similarly slow and provided some assistance to the bowlers. The weather is likely to be nice and pleasant for the duration of the match.

CM YK

waqar hasan, last link to Pakistan's inaugural Test Xi, dies at 87 LahOre: Waqar Hasan, the last surviving member of Pakistan's inaugural Test team, which played India in Delhi in October 1952, has died in Karachi at the age of 87. A middle-order batsman, Waqar's first outing in Test cricket wasn't too auspicious, as he scored 8 and 5 in an innings defeat, but he ended the five-Test series as Pakistan's highest run-maker, with 357 runs at an average of 44.62, including three half-centuries. Waqar went on to play 21 Test matches during the course of a first-class career that spanned more than a decade and a half, from 1948-49 to 1965-66. He finished with 1071 runs in 35 Test innings, an average of 31.50, and hit a century and six half-centuries. His first-class average was 35.64. "Waqar Hassan was an attractive strokemaker, who was ideal in a crisis and and a fine field either at cover or further out," Christopher Martin-Jenkins wrote of Waqar in World Cricketers: A Biographical Dictionary (Oxford, 1996). "It gives me immense satisfaction to have achieved many firsts for Pakistan: first to score a halfcentury in each innings of a Test [Bombay, 1952-53], first Test half-century in England [Lord's, 1954], first Test half-century at home, and first to score two half-centuries in a home Test [Dacca, 1954-55], first century partnership [with Hanif Mohammad, Bombay, 195253], first double-century partnership [with Imtiaz Ahmed, Lahore, 1955-56]," Waqar recounted in an interview with The Cricket Monthly in November 2012, by which time he had started splitting his time between Karachi and London. Originally from Lahore, Waqar shifted to Karachi in 1945 after being offered a job with the Public Works Department, and by the early 1960s, he launched a textile machinery business. The reason, as he explained, was financial. "I had lost my regular place in the Test team but my main reason for quitting cricket after the 1959-60 season was financial," he said. AGENCIES

Tuesday, 11 February, 2020

NEWS

IndIan soldIer kIlled, three others Injured In PakIstan's retalIatory fIrIng FO PROTESTS ‘UNPROVOKED’ INDIAN FIRING THAT INJURED 10 PAKISTANI CIVILIANS, INCLUDING WOMEN AND CHILDREN RAWALPINDI

t

STAFF REPORT

HE Pakistan Army said on Monday it had killed an Indian soldier and injured three others in response to “unprovoked” firing from across the Line of Control (LoC) in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), which seriously injured 10 civilians, including women and children. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the injured Indian soldiers included a major. During the last 24 hours, the Indian army fired across the LoC into Jandrot and Nikial sectors using mortars and heavy weapons, deliberately targeting the civilian population in Jabbar, Sandhara, Sumbal Gali and Dabsi villages of Kotli district. Ten people, including two children and as many women, sustained serious injuries. They were evacuated to a nearby medical facility for necessary care, the ISPR said. Pakistani troops “responded effectively” to Indian ceasefire violations and “substantial damage [was] inflicted on the Indian posts which initiated the fire”,

the press release added. FO SUMMONS INDIAN ENVOY: The Foreign Office (FO) summoned Indian Charge d’Affaires Gaurav Ahluwalia to register Pakistan’s strong protest over the ceasefire violations by Indian forces along the LoC in several villages of Kotli. According to a press release, the “the indiscriminate and unprovoked firing” by the Indian army caused serious injuries to Muhammad Shabbir, Jamila Bibi, Muhammad Amin, Muhammad Yasin and Muhammad Safin in Jabbar village; Muhammad Haleem, Muhammad Zeeshan and Muhammad Junaid in Sandhara village; Zubaida Bibi in Sumbal Gali village; and Zaheer in Dabsi village. Condemning the targeting of innocent civilians by the Indian troops, FO Director General (South Asia & Saarc) Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri underscored that “such

senseless Indian acts, in clear violation of the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding and complete disregard for international human rights and international norms, further vitiate the tense atmosphere along the LoC and are a threat to regional peace and security”, the statement said. He said that by raising tensions along the LoC and the Working Boundary (WB), India could not divert attention from the worsening human rights situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir. Chaudhri called upon the Indian side to respect the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding, investigate this and other such incidents of deliberate ceasefire violations, and maintain peace on the LoC and the WB. He also called on India to permit the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to play its mandated role as per United Nations Security Council resolutions, the FO said.

Industries should be given tax-free gas, apex court suggests ISLAMABAD APP

Ali Geelani vows to stick to 'mission Pakistan' SRINAGAR: All Parties Hurriyat Conference Chairman Syed Ali Geelani on Monday said that Pakistan is the mission of Kashmiris and they will continue to stick to this mission throughout their life. The APHC chairman, in a video statement from his Hyderpora residence in Srinagar, where he continues to remain under house arrest said Pakistan is their objective; it is their slogan and it is their path and destination. The veteran leader said that the Kashmiris are striving to find the land of their dreams, which is Pakistan and they are making efforts to associate their future with the country. “This is our mission and it is our global mission”, he said and added that Pakistan was a great blessing of God, and the effort to join it is a pious mission. “We should spend our entire life in achieving this mission.” He called upon all Muslims to be dutiful to their duties to God, as it is essential for the creation of a society based on justice and equality. “Pakistan will be the centre of justice, and this is what our mission is,” he added. AGENCIES

China virus deaths rise past 900, overtaking sars toll BEIJING: The death toll from the novel coronavirus surged past 900 in mainland China on Monday, overtaking global fatalities in the 2002-03 SARS epidemic, even as the World Health Organization said the outbreak appeared to be stabilising. With 91 more people dying in Hubei, the province at the centre of the outbreak, the toll is now higher than the 774 killed worldwide by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The latest data came after the WHO said the last four days had seen “some stabilising” in Hubei, but warned the figures could still “shoot up”. At least 39,800 people in China have now been infected by the virus, believed to have emerged late last year in Hubei’s capital Wuhan, where residents are struggling to get daily supplies. The epidemic has prompted the government to lock down whole cities as anger mounts over its handling of the crisis — especially after a whistleblowing doctor fell victim to the virus. With much of the country still not back at work after an extended Lunar New Year holiday, cities including financial hub Shanghai ordered residents to wear masks in public. Michael Ryan, head of the WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme, said the “stable period” of the outbreak “may reflect the impact of the control measures”. A WHO “international expert mission” left late Sunday for China, the agency’s director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Twitter. The mission is led by Bruce Aylward, a veteran of previous health emergencies. While the death toll has climbed steadily, new cases have declined since Wednesday’s single-day peak of nearly 3,900 people nationwide. PUBLIC ANGER: Millions of people are under lockdown in Hubei in a bid to stop the virus spreading. “The local government asked people to stay at home as much as possible, but there are not enough goods in shops each time we get there, so we have to go out frequently,” a woman in Wuhan, surnamed Wei, told AFP. AGENCIES

Qureshi says using 'quiet diplomacy' over Uighurs’ treatment in China Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday said that his government was using “quiet diplomacy” to express its concerns over the treatment of Uighur Muslims in China’s Xinjiang province. “It is not necessary to condemn everything publicly,” the foreign minister said while speaking at a ceremony at the Institution of Business Administration (IBA) in Karachi. Exiled Uighur activists in November 2019 released evidence of nearly 500 camps and prisons being used against the ethnic group in China, saying the overall number of inmates could be “far greater” than the one million usually cited. Beijing initially denied their existence when news of these camps first emerged in 2017. Later, it claimed they were “voluntary” vocational centres aimed at combating extremism by teaching people

Mandarin and job skills. Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government has been reluctant to comment on alleged human rights violations in China. “At the moment, I don’t know enough about it and if I have we will speak to the Chinese privately,” PM Khan told BBC in an interview last week. PM Khan’s government has been struggling to stabilize the country’s economy since the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf came to power in 2018. Foreign Minister Qureshi, however, said the government’s policies had a positive impact on the economy and Pakistan’s share in the world export had increased from 0.6% to 0.12%. He added that his government had also managed to shore up the country’s foreign reserves. The minister said that it

was important to open Pakistan for the world and the government had devised policies to facilitate foreign investors, he added. Qureshi said Pakistan has been declared a leading tourist destination and the government is encouraging foreign investors to invest in the country’s tourism sector. He said they are seeking assistance from Turkey and Malaysia to strengthen the tourism sector in Pakistan. Commenting on India’s ongoing crackdown on people of occupied Kashmir, the foreign minister said the Indian government had deprived Kashmiris of their fundamental rights. New Delhi is being criticized for implementing RSS designs in Kashmir and their image of a shining India has become that of an intolerant India, he added. NEWS DESK

The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday said that the agriculture sector and industries should be provided tax-free gas. A threemember bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Mushir Alam and comprising Justice Faisal Arab and Justice Mansoor Ali Shah heard the case. During the course of the proceedings, Advocate Makhdoom Ali Khan, counsel for a private company, continued arguments from SC Karachi Registry through video link and stated that the government imposed Gas Infrastructure Development Cess (GIDC) for completion of different gas projects. He said that the purpose for which money was collected was not used for that purpose. He also said that the Peshawar High Court (PHC), in its decision, declared that the cess would benefit the nation. The cess money was to be spent on only three projects, he added. He further said that the government had collected Rs295 billion in this regard. Khan said that the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline project had been stopped due to sanctions and Pakistan had already paid its share on the TAPI project. He said that the government had spent only Rs487 million from Rs295 billion. He also said that the government did not spend a single penny on the LNG from cess fund. Two private companies set up terminals for LNG, he added. He further said that the PHC did not consider the facts. He added that the PHC, in its decision, had stated that only the federal and its units could challenge the act. Justice Mansoor Ali Shah asked could Pakistan not start its own beneficial project despite the sanctions. Sugar mills were also charged for the construction of roads, he added. Justice Faisal Arab asked the counsel to inform the court whether it was a tax or cess. Advocate Makhdoom Ali Khan said that in his view this was not a tax. Justice Faisal Arab said that agriculture and other industries should be provided tax-free gas. He asked whether the industry did not want gas. He asked why LNG was not being considered in this cess as LNG was being transported through ships and terminals had been established in this regard. The court then adjourned the case until Tuesday.

Bilawal holds government responsible for Ehsanullah Ehsan's escape ISLAMABAD INP

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Monday held the government responsible for the escape of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leader Ehsanullah Ehsan and said that he would raise the issue in the parliament on Tuesday. Talking to the media at Parliament House, the PPP chairman said that the PMDC ordinance was forcibly extended on Monday and the parliament was wounded. “If the government wants to use executive powers and forcibly make laws then the parliament should be shut down. Every political party should have the opportunity to present its stand in the parliament. The opposition wanted to convey why young students are opposing the PMDC ordinance. The ordinance is against the interest of the doctors and medical students are worried about this ordinance and we want to become the

PPP CHIEF SAYS PARLIAMENT BEING MISUSED, DEMANDS SUMMONING OF NA SESSION FOR DISCUSSING ECONOMIC SITUATION OF COUNTRY voice of the students. The country is hurt and institutions are weakened by such ordinances,” he said. The PPP chairman demanded that a National Assembly (NA) session should be summoned to discuss the economic situation of the country. “Tomorrow we will talk on the issue in the parliament but just one day's discussion will not solve the problem. We think that the duration of the session should be extended to discuss about the economic situation of the country,” he said. On the issue of the transfer of Sindh inspector general of police (IGP), he said that 18th Amendment is being violated on the issue. The federation is contaminating administration's role for establishing law and order in the province, he added.

“PPP had improved law and order in Sindh but because of the federal government, the law and order situation is made to be worse than before,” he said, and asked how the problems will be solved by this attitude of the federal government. Bilawal said that from day one, PPP was against the connivance of government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). “The failed and incapable government has made an agreement with the IMF which is against the people of Pakistan which hurts the interests of Pakistani people. The government will have to review the deal with IMF,” he added. Regarding Maryam Nawaz’s plea for being allowed to travel abroad, he said that he hopes that Maryam is fulfilling the demands of her political po-

sition. “Maryam’s primary focus at the moment is her father’s health. This is a violation of human rights that she is not being allowed to meet her father,” he said, while demanding of the government to allow the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice president to go to visit her father. He said that he will give his stand on Ehsanullah Ehsan in his speech in the NA. “The escape of Ehsanullah Ehsan is a proof of the government's incapability and failure. Imran Khan and other political parties in the past did not support PPP's stance against terrorism and extremism. How did a person responsible for APS tragedy and attack on Malala Yousafzai fled the country. If the government can imprison a former president in Adiala jail then why not can it keep Ehsanullah Ehsan there?” he asked. He also asked why no JTI was formed for the Army Public School (APS) Peshawar tragedy. “The affectees of the tragedy are still demanding a judicial commission. How can we tell the in-

Published by Arif Nizami at Plot # 7, Al-Baber Centre, F/8 Markaz, Islamabad. Ph: 051-2204545. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk

CMYK

ternational community that we are combating terrorism when the biggest terrorist of the country has fled the country?” he asked. He said that whenever he raises his voice against the government, he is sent a notice by NAB and the people now have begun to realise that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) tool for political victimisation. “If NAB is an impartial institution then how is it investigating a one-year-old child. If NAB is impartial then it should probe the people in the government and have created a crisis of wheat. NAB should investigate BRT project and the names of the people involved in Panama Papers and the friends of the prime minister,” he said. Bilawal said that the Supreme Court (SC) had declared him innocent. He also said that PPP will continue its struggle against PTIMF government and its economic policies. “We vow to fight for the economic rights of the people of Pakistan despite notices by NAB,” he added.