E-Paper PDF 12th February 2020 (LHR)

CMYK

Wedesday, 12 February, 2020 I 17 Jamadi-ul-Sani, 1441 I Rs 20.00 I Vol X No 224 I 16 Pages I Lahore Edition

IMF brIngs down revenue target to rs4.8tr g

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SOurCeS Say gOvt May InCreaSe PetrOleuM DevelOPMent levy tO Meet revISeD target gOvt tellS IMf It CannOt InCreaSe gaS PrICeS Or IMPOSe aDDItIOnal revenue COlleCtIOn MeaSureS ISLAMABAD SHAHZAD PARACHA

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He International Monetary fund (IMf) has accepted the federal Board of revenue’s (fBr) request to decrease the revenue target from rs5,238 billion to rs4,800 billion, Pakistan today has learnt. according to informed sources,

the IMf team, which held talks with the government’s economic team, slashed down the revenue target, thus making this the second time that the international lender has agreed to the government’s demands. fBr officials told Pakistan today that the department can collect rs4,800bn in the current fiscal year.

In addition to this, sources said that there is a possibility that the gov-

ernment may increase the petroleum development levy to meet the revised target. “according to the government’s estimate, they can collect rs80bn to rs100bn through the imposition of PDl,” sources added.

So far, in the first seven months of the current fiscal year, the tax department has collected rs2,406bn against the revised target of rs2,509bn.

However, the economic team

Govt approves Rs10bn relief package g

feDeral CaBInet BanS Sugar exPOrtS But allOwS IMPOrtS tO enSure a COntInuOuS SuPPly In tHe Market STORY ON PAGE 03

Opp blasts govt over record inflation g

BIlawal HIgHlIgHtS DISCrePanCy In InflatIOn rate, SayS PtI HaS run ‘flOunDerIng’ eCOnOMy IntO tHe grOunD STORY ON BACK PAGE

IHC questions sedition, terrorism charges against protesters STORY ON PAGE 03

IHC restores PMDC, nullifies newly-formed PMC STORY ON PAGE 03 more inside

LHC dismisses Hamza’s bail plea in assets case STORY ON PAGE 05

Shehbaz Sharif not returning to Pakistan anytime soon STORY ON BACK PAGE

Govt used GIDC funds for other expenses, SC told STORY ON PAGE 02

Modi’s BJP bites the dust in Delhi state polls

STORY ON BACK PAGE

has clearly told the IMf that they will not impose additional revenue measures or announce a mini-budget in the coming months. “the government is expecting non-tax revenue from privatisation during the current fiscal year,” sources said.

Moreover, officials of the finance Ministry told the IMf team that they are controlling the government’s expenditures and are likely to reduce the Public Sector Development Programme’s (PSDP) funds from rs701bn to rs601bn. Sources also said that the government’s economic team told the IMf that they cannot increase gas prices at the time as the economic Coordination Committee (eCC) had deferred a summary in this regard last month.

Sources further said that the IMf

team will meet the national assembly’s Standing Committee of finance on wednesday (today). reportedly, the IMf delegation also expressed concerns about the adverse impacts of the coronavirus outbreak on the Pakistani economy. the IMf team was concerned that badly affected the Chinese economy will also have a spillover effect and may slow down Islamabad’s gDP growth.

CONTINUTED ON PAGE 03

Shabbar Zaidi says he's not going anywhere, at least for now STORY ON PAGE 03

Wednesday, 12 February, 2020

02 NEWS

Verdicts in six cases against Hafiz saeed, otHers by weekend LAHORE

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STAFF REPORT

n anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Tuesday accepted for hearing a petition seeking the simultaneous hearing and verdict of six cases against Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed and his associates.

According to Deputy Prosecutor General Abdul Rauf Wattoo, in total six cases against the said individuals were pending before the same court, adding that in four of these cases presentation of evidence was in progress.

Wattoo said hearing of all four remaining cases will be concluded simultaneously at the end of the week, which is when the court will issue its verdicts. The court has already reserved its verdicts in two of the cases. The reserved verdicts, which relate to terror financing cases, will also be announced with those on other cases at the end of the week, he added.

On Saturday, the ATC had delayed announcing its verdict in the terror financing cases and had decided to hear arguments on Feb 11 on the defendants’ application to hear all cases first before announcing the verdict. The application, filed by

the suspects’ counsel, demands that collective verdicts be issued after the completion of trials in all the cases pending against them.

A prosecutor had opposed the application and argued that the court could announce its verdict in cases for which arguments had been closed. The court, however, had deferred the decision and sought arguments on the application from both sides.

Saeed is nominated in 29 cases pertaining to alleged terror financing, money laundering as well as illegal land grabbing. The verdict was reserved

against him in two cases on Feb 6.

The terror financing cases were filed by the Counter-Terrorism Department’s (CTD) Lahore and Gujranwala chapters. The case filed by CTD’s Gujranwala chapter was initially being heard in a Gujranwala ATC but was shifted to Lahore on the directions of the Lahore High Court.

During the trial of both cases, the court recorded the statements of 23 witnesses.

THE CASE: The JuD chief was arrested by CTD in July last year, while he was traveling from Lahore to Gujranwala. Prior to his arrest, 23 first information reports had been registered against JuD leaders, including Saeed and JuD naib Emir (deputy chief) Abdul Rehman Makki, at CTD police stations of Lahore, Gujranwala, Multan, Faisalabad and Sargodha in July 2019.

According to the CTD, JuD was financing terrorism from the massive funds collected through non-profit organisations and trusts including AlAnfaal Trust, Dawatul Irshad Trust, Muaz Bin Jabal Trust, etc. These non-profit organisations were banned in April last year as the CTD, during detailed investigations, found that they had links with the JuD and its top leadership.

IHC orders to review decision of not evacuating Pakistanis from China CJ AtHAr MinAllAH SAyS if StUdentS CAn’t be broUgHt bACk, tHey MUSt be eVACUAted froM WUHAn And kept in iSolAtion ISLAMABAD APP

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to review, within two weeks, the decision of not evacuating Pakistani citizens from China in the wake of coronavirus outbreak.

Chief Justice Athar Minallah remarked that 23 countries, including Bangladesh, had evacuated their citizens from China due to the coronavirus outbreak, and subsequently asked for taking steps to ensure the safety of Pakistanis living there.

The representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs apprised the bench that only 23 countries were evacuating their citizens, out of 194 countries, adding that

Bangladesh had also withdrawn its decision.

He said that India had brought back its several citizens, however, 80 Indians were still in China. He informed the court that a total of 1,000 Pakistanis were in Wuhan city of China.

He said that the government would decide the matter for the benefit of students and the country.

The chief justice remarked that the court did not want the government to take any risk but the state should take the responsibility of its citizens.

He said that the court would avoid issuing any order on the matter, however, if the citizens could not be brought back, then they must be kept in isolation after evacuation

from Wuhan.

He ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to review its decision within two weeks.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan directed Foreign Secretary Suhail Mehmood to maintain constant contact with Pakistani students in Wuhan and keep their families informed about their well-being.

He issued these directives during a meeting with Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza and Special Assistant on Overseas Pakistanis Syed Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari. The foreign secretary was also present during the meeting.

The Prime Minister inquired about the details and the current status of Pakistanis in China, particularly Pakistani students in Wuhan.

Dr Mirza briefed the prime minister regarding the current situation of coronavirus and the special measures being taken in the country to protect people from the virus.

govt used gidc funds for other expenses, sc told ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) was informed on Tuesday that the government spent the money collected through the Gas Infrastructure Development Cess (GIDC) on various expenses instead of where it was meant to be spent. A three-member 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 proceedings, Advocate Makhdoom Ali Khan, counsel for a private company, continued arguments from SC Karachi Registry through video-link and said industry owners considered this cess extra burden. The government did not spend money on projects, he added. Justice Mansoor Ali Shah said that there was only one difference between tax and cess as the amount of latter was collected and spent for a specific purpose.

Makhdoom Ali Khan said that the government collected more than Rs297 billion in 10 years. The government still had Rs266 billion, he added. He said that the government collected an excessive amount through GIDC. Justice Mushir Alam said that under international agreements, Pakistan had to lay the pipeline infrastructure. After the completion of Advocate Makhdoom Ali Khan’s arguments, Advocate Rashid Anwar started his arguments and said that the implementation of cess was unconstitutional. If the gas project starts, the government can re-enforce the cess, he added. He said that in this case, the government collected money and spent on various expenses. Justice Faisal Arab said that the court was determining whether the GIDC was constitutional or unconstitutional. APP

sc for appointing female ios in women's cases ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday expressed annoyance over the appointment of a male investigation officer (IO) in a female oriented case. A twomember SC bench comprising Justice Qazi Faez Isa and Justice Sardar Tariq Masood were hearing the case. During the course of proceedings, the court directed the police to ensure the appointment of female IOs in cases that involve women. The court also directed to display the standard operating procedure (SOP) with Urdu translation in all police stations. The SOP makes it mandatory to have a female IO in certain cases. Justice Isa said asked the superintendent of police (SP) to issue a show-cause notice to his subordinate for not following the SOP, however, the state counsel said that the SP could not issue a show-cause notice according to the law. APP

SHC admits plea seeking Vawda’s disqualification for concealing US citizenship KARACHI STAFF REPORT

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday admitted a petition seeking the disqualification of Federal Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda for allegedly concealing his dual citizenship to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) ahead of the general elections in 2018.

Advocate Qadir Khan Mandokhel pleaded in the petition that Vawda had concealed his dual citizenship at the time of filing nomination papers to the polls’ supervisory body.

“When the matter was taken up by the court, Vawda quietly applied to surrender his US citizenship,” Mandokhel claimed in his petition. “Evidence suggests that Faisal Vawda was a dual citizen at the time of the election, thus he should be disqualified and be ordered to return all perks and privileges.”

Earlier in January, the ECP and Islamabad High Court (IHC) had also admitted pleas that sought Vawda’s disqualification.

Faiq Shah has petitioned the ECP, requesting that the PTI leader be disqualified under Section 62-1(F) of the Constitution.

The petitioner said that the minister is no longer Sadiq and Ameen (truthful and trust-

CM YK

worthy) as he filed a “false affidavit” with regard to his nationality.

Meanwhile, advocate Jehangir Jadoon had argued before the IHC bench, presided

by Justice Aamer Farooq, that the federal minister had submitted a false affidavit while filing his nomination papers to the ECP. “The minister was a dual national when he submitted his nomination papers. According to the Supreme Court’s decision, Vawda was supposed to surrender his US nationality before filing the nomination papers,” Jadoon said.

“He is the federal minister for water resources and is overseeing major projects. He should be stopped from working,” he added. The court directed Vawda to submit a reply by Feb 24.

Wednesday, 12 February, 2020

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goVt aPProVes rs10bn subsidy Package to counter inflation federAl CAbinet bAnS SUgAr exportS bUt AlloWS iMportS to enSUre A ContinUoUS SUpply in MArket ISLAMABAD

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STAFF REPORT

HE federal cabinet on Tuesday approved a subsidy of Rs2 billion per month for a period of five months to Utility Stores Corporation (USC) for the provision of edible items of daily use to the people at affordable rates.

The meeting of the federal cabinet was held in the federal capital with Prime Minister Imran Khan in the chair.

During the meeting, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry, Defence Minister Pervaiz Khattak and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Khan opposed the establishment of new utility stores, saying the government

should reduce petrol prices instead.

The prime minister also took Adviser for Commerce, Textile, Industry and Production and Investment Abdul Razzak Dawood to task over urea prices. He said that despite the abolition of Gas Infrastructure Development Cess (GIDC), urea prices had not been reduced. He directed the Commerce Ministry to ensure that farmers are provided fertilisers on reduced rates.

The global health emergency caused by the spread of the novel coronavirus, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan, also came under discussion during the meeting. The cabinet was briefed on the measures being taken by the health ministry to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus as well as the situation of the Pakistani students currently

shabbar zaidi says he's not going anywhere, at least for now ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Syed Shabbar Zaidi on Thursday refuted reports of his resignation and clarified that he has only “temporarily stopped performing his official duties due to his poor health”. According to details, speculation of Zaidi’s resignation started making rounds on mainstream media, claiming that he has expressed his inability to continue as the top revenue collector and asked Prime Minister Imran Khan to find someone else to head the tax authority. Earlier this month, Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance Abdul Hafeez Sheikh had indicated that the federal government may change the FBR chairman “if he did not recover soon”. In an interview with a private media outlet, Sheikh had stated that the government plans to introduce a mini-budget (which has to be signed off on by the tax chief) and, for that purpose, it needs an active FBR chief.

Speculations had been rife about Zaidi’s resignation after it was reported that he was on an indefinite leave from official duties on grounds of poor health.

He had gone on sick leave from Jan 6 to Jan 19 which had led to rumours that there was a rift in the government’s economic team. STAFF REPORT

iMf brings down revenue target to rs4.8tr CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01 The new coronavirus that emerged in central China at the end of last year has killed more than 1,000 people and spread around the world. The latest figures from China show there are more than 42,600 people infected in the country. Pakistani authorities, however, rejected any negative impact on its economy in totality and argued that there would be no negative impact, which means the GDP growth target of 3.3 per cent and inflation hovering around 11 to 12 per cent must remain intact.Repeated attempts were made to contact the spokespersons of the Ministry of Finance and the FBR but no response was received till the filing of this report. The talks between the government and the IMF will continue until Thursday. After the conclusion of the talks, a comprehensive report will be prepared regarding the government’s performance during the second quarter. Talks between Pakistan and the IMF began last Monday for the disbursement of the third tranche under the $6 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) finalised in May last year.

trapped in Wuhan.

Later, briefing the media about the decisions taken during the cabinet meeting, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said the relief package will help ensure availability of flour, sugar, rice and pulses among other edible items at USC outlets at reasonable rates.

The USC has been further directed that 20 kg flour bag should be sold at Rs800 while pulses at 15-20 per cent lower prices than the market, she added.

Firdous also announced that the USC will issue ration cards before the holy month of Ramzan which would provide a discount of 25-30 per cent on essential items to deserving people.

She said that the government will open 2,000 “youth stores” in collaboration with USC. “The stores will be part of the Kamyab Jawan Programme. The initiative will create jobs and ensure the provision of commodities at cheap prices. It

will provide interest-free loans for the project,” she added.

She further said that USC will also open 12 cash-and-carry stores in major cities of the country to “stabilise prices”.

She said that the government will also devise a strategy to keep a check on the prices of essential edible items.

She said that the government’s economic team, Ministry of Commerce and other institutions, including USC, gave a detailed briefing to the prime minister.

“The cabinet gave the approval to lift the ban on import of sugar to ensure supply of this commodity,” she said, adding that the export of sugar has been banned and a strategy is being devised to remove regulatory duty on this commodity.

It is pertinent to mention here that this development comes a day after the Economic Coordination Committee’s (ECC) ratified PM Imran’s decision to slap a ban on the export of sugar in order to “stabilise domestic prices”.

iHC questions sedition, terrorism charges against protesters ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday summoned Islamabad City Magistrate Ghulam Mudassir, seeking an explanation for including sedition charges in the first information report (FIR) registered against the 23 activists who had been detained for protesting against the arrest of Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) chief Manzoor Pashteen.

During the hearing, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah was told that Mudassir ordered for the FIR to be registered against the 23 individuals, which included activists from the Awami Workers Party (AWP) and PTM. “What is this? How can you first place sedition charges on peaceful protesters and later turn them into terrorism charges?” Justice Minallah questioned, noting: “Today you are saying that the terrorism charges have also been dropped.”

“Why should we not start proceedings against the one who asked for the case to be registered [in the first place]? The magistrate should appear in court and tell us why he gave such orders,” Justice Minallah said. The judge then proceeded to order that the magistrate provide the court his explanation along with a sworn affidavit.

“How about we take away judicial powers from the magistrate?” the chief justice remarked, while once again summoning the Islamabad chief commis-

sioner and the Islamabad police chief to court in the next hearing.

“We will turn this case into an example for everyone,” the IHC chief justice said, as he adjourned the hearing till Feb 17.

POLICE DROP SEDITION CHARGES: In the last hearing, Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Waqar-ud-din Syed had informed the court that Section 124-A (sedition) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) had been replaced with Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997, in the FIR. The court had, at that time, granted port-arrest bail to the activists, and asked for a report on why sedition charges were added to the FIR. The court’s written orders of bail said: “A plain reading of the FIR shows that the offenses mentioned therein are, prima facie, not attracted. There is also no material on the record in support of the assertions made in the FIR.” It was further observed in the order that Additional District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Sohail — who had earlier declined to grant post-arrest bail to the PTM activists by saying that prima facie it was a terrorism case — “appears to have exceeded jurisdiction by making observations [regarding terrorism …] without having regard to the recently enunciated law by the august Supreme Court regarding scope of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997”.

iHc restores PMdc, nullifies newly-formed PMc ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday declared the presidential ordinance which dissolved the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) as null and void and reinstated the employees of the council. In a short order announced in court, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani also ordered the dissolution of the newly-formed Pakistan Medial Commission (PMC) declaring it to be illegal. After the verdict was announced, the reinstated employees, who had petitioned against the government move to dissolve PMDC were seen congratulating each other inside the court premises. In October of last year, President Dr Arif Alvi had promulgated an ordinance that had left the PMDC dissolved and paved the way for the establishment of PMC. The national health services ministry through the Islamabad district administration and police also took over possession of the PMDC building and informed its 220 employees that the office would remain shut for a week. Following this, the IHC admitted a petition against PMDC’s dissolution on Oct 30. The registrar of PMDC, retired Brig Dr Hafizud Din and 31 employees moved the IHC, arguing that an act of parliament gave powers to the government to dissolve the PMDC, but its president, vice president and the executive committee would stay intact till the appointment of newcomers after elections which were to be held within a year. The petition said services of PMDC employees were terminated without giving them a proper opportunity of hearing. It had expressed apprehensions that the PMC may hire the services of new employees on sanctioned and contractual positions through other modes after issuing advertisements which would jeopardise the vested rights to serve the council’s previous employees. It had requested the court to declare the ordinance for the establishment of the PMC as unconstitutional and in the meantime allow PMDC employees to continue working in the newly-formed commission.

Maulana Aziz's wife booked over threatening lal Masjid speech ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

An FIR [First Information Report] has been lodged against former Lal Masjid Khateeb Maulana Abdul Aziz’s wife and Jamia Hafsa Principal Umme Hassan for threatening local authorities, the Islamabad police and the spokesperson for Shuhada Foundation.

The FIR was lodged by Shuhada Foundation spokesperson Hafiz Ehtesham in the Aabpara police station under Section 506-II of the Pakistan Penal Code. According to the FIR, Umme Hassan had issued instructions to kill the local management, police and the Shuhada Foundation spokesperson.

The FIR said that Umme Hassan delivered a provocative speech on Friday at 12:28pm in Lal Masjid, in which she asked extremists to kill the Islamabad police officials, the deputy commissioner and Hafiz Ehtesham.

According to the FIR, Maulana Aziz has been occupying the mosque for the last two weeks with few armed men. It added that Maulana Aziz is using at least 200 students as a shield.

Haroon Ghazi, a spokesperson for Lal Masjid and Maulana Abdul Aziz’s nephew, said that Hafiz Ehtesham registered the FIR because of personal enmity. He claimed that Ehtesham was expelled from the Shuhada Foundation over “financial and moral irregularities”.

He, however, confirmed that such a speech was indeed delivered by Umme Hassan, but he said it was a reaction to the ongoing situation.

Maulana Aziz has been in the mosque for two weeks, despite being deposed at the time of the 2007 siege. Talks between him and the government have been under way for the last two weeks too.

Forty people were killed in the 2007 siege. It ended with a 35-hour military assault on the mosque. Aziz tried to escape wearing a burqa but

was caught.

The Islamabad administration had allotted him and his wife Umme Hassan a 20-kanal plot in Sector H-11 in 2012. The allotment was cancelled by the Supreme Court last year.

They, however, have vacated the building in sector H-11 after negotiations and the city administration has withdrawn police from outside the building. The Islamabad administration has agreed to provide Lal Masjid a plot of 205 square yards in Islamabad for the construction of Jamia Hafsa as per the Supreme Court’s orders, Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqat said.

The Lal Masjid administration has been told that Maulana Aziz would not deliver the Friday sermon in the mosque, Shafqat said. Haroon Ghazi, a spokesperson for Lal Masjid, said that Maulana Aziz will deliver the Friday sermon in the mosque.

He added that the government’s offer of 205 square yard plot was “ridiculous”.

04 LAHORE

Wednesday, 12 February, 2020

WEATHER UPDATES

220C

WEDNESDAY

120C

THURSDAY

230C 120C

FRIDAY

230C

110C

SATURDAY

250C

110C

CM APProves LAunCHing of Anti-PoLio drive every MontH LAHORE APP

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province-wise comprehensive anti-polio campaign would be launched by the Punjab government as Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has approved launching an antipolio drive every month during the current year.

The campaign would start from February 17 to administer anti-polio drops to 20 million children in the province.

Presiding over the meeting of the provincial task force for the eradication of polio at his office, the chief minister directed to give particular attention to

high-risk districts.

The health department, as well as the district administration, should ensure 100 percent implementation on the anti-polio plan and work hard to achieve the desired results, he added.

Active participation of the local community including elected representatives was equally important to achieve the anti-polio targets.

He expressed the concern that surfacing of polio cases in some districts was alarming and emphasized that local administration would have to efficiently deal with it in such areas.

Deputy Commissioners should proactively work for the eradication of polio, he directed.

He warned that no leniency would be tolerated and action would be taken in case of any negligence.

"I would review anti-polio measures every month, "he added.

The chief minister also expressed the displeasure that meetings about anti-polio measures were not regularly held by some Deputy Commissioners and made it clear that such DCs would be held answerable. Administering anti-polio drops to all children should be ensured during the campaign as it’s a national issue which required joint efforts, he said.

Provincial secretary primary and secondary healthcare gave briefing about polio cases, anti-polio measures and campaign targets.

Paragon City case: Court issues arrest warrants for approver LAHORE APP

An accountability court on Tuesday issued bailable arrest warrants for approver Qaisar Amin Butt in Paragon City case against former railways minister Khawaja Saad Rafique and his brother Khawaja Salman Rafique.

Accountability Court Judge Syed Jawadul Hassan conducted the case proceedings, wherein Jail staff produced Khawaja Salman Rafique on expiry of his judicial remand. At the outset of proceedings, the court was informed that Khawaja Saad Rafique was in Islamabad in connection with National Assembly session. The court was further requested to exempt him from personal appearance.

The National Accountability Bureau prosecutor submitted that approver Qaisar Amin Butt could not appear due to his illness, in response to a court query.

At this, the court expressed annoyance observing that he had been summoned many times but he failed to appear. Subsequently, the court issued bailable arrest warrants for the approver and ordered police concerned to ensure his presence on the next date of hearing, February 24. The court also adjourned further hearing while allowing the exemption application of Khawaja Saad Rafique. The bureau had alleged that the Khawaja brothers through their "benamidars" and with the abetment of former MPA Qaiser Amin Butt and Nadeem Zia established a housing project in the name of Air Avenue. The project was later converted into a new housing project namely Paragon City Pvt

Ltd, which NAB said was an illegal society and not approved by the Lahore Development Authority.

The former railways minister and his brother received monetary benefits of Rs 58 million and 39 million, respectively, from the society through proxy firms under the grab of consultancy services, it added.

Khawaja brothers were arrested on December 11, 2018 by the bureau. A Lahore High Court bench dismissed post-arrest bail petitions of the Khawaja brothers on June 18, 2018.

Police arrest three sugar dealers in Lahore LAHORE: In a crackdown, Punjab police on Tuesday arrested three major sugar dealers from their houses. The police have arrested the dealers from Defence and Shahdra areas while the police also carried all records present in their houses. INP

Senior officers of the Information Ministry, Samina Farzeen, Nazia Jabeen and Maliha Shakeel address probationary officers at the 4th Common Training Programme in media workshop at Civil Services Academy, Lahore.

At LeAst eigHt deAd As 3-storey buiLding CoLLAPses in MuzAffArgArH MULTAN: At least eight people lost their lives and seven sustained injuries after a three-storey residential building collapsed in Muzaffargarh on on Tuesday. Several people are feared to be trapped under the debris while a rescue operation is underway to pull out the remaining affectees, including women and children. The dead bodies and injured persons, including a child, in critical condition were shifted to DHQ hospital.

Locals feared a rise in casualties as at least three families were residing in the building. Rescue sources said the building was in dilapidated condition which collapsed after the construction of a market adjacent to it. Several teams have rushed to the site and commenced a rescue operation. stAff rePort

boiLer exPLosion LeAves 3 deAd, 15 injured FAISALABAD: t least three laborers were killed and 15 others sustained injuries when a roof of a mill collapsed following a boiler explosion in a processing mill near Sargodha Road in Faisalabad on Tuesday morning. After the explosion, the rescue team reached the spot and shifted the injured to Allied Hospital. Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Ali accompanied by a police team and other officers reached the site and supervised the relief work. The reason behind the incident was being determined, said officials. INP

Pakistani transgender activist Nayyab Ali wins Gala Award NEWS DESK Transgender activist Nayab Ali on Tuesday bagged an international activism award, the Gala Award, in absentia this weekend.

She was among four nominated by Amnesty International, Frontline Defenders, and the International LGBT Action Foundation.

Although she had travelled in Dublin to accept the award, she fell sick and did not attend the ceremony out of concern for others and instead, opted to record a video thanking the attendees for the award. She shortlisted for her extraordinary

work for the welfare of the transgender community in Pakistan. It may be mentioned here that Nayyab, earlier last month, made history by being the first transgender Pakistani to register a company with Pakistans Securities and Exchange Commission. She was also one of the 13 transgender people who, for the first time in the country’s history, contested in the general elections in 2018. Ali did not win the election but said the act of contesting was itself was a revolutionary act.

For the last 10 years, she has been giving technical support to government institutions to improve the lives of transgender people and pro-

LHC dismisses pre-arrest bail plea of former senator LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday dismissed a pre-arrest bail petition filed by former senator Ammar Ahmad Khan, owner of Pak Arab Housing Society in Lahore, in connection with fraud in his housing society. Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi heard the bail petition filed by the petitioner, who was son of late senator Gulzar Ahmad Khan. A counsel on behalf of Ammar Ahmad argued before the court that it had been alleged that his client received money from people but failed to deliver plots in the society. He contended that all allegations leveled against his client were baseless.

He contended that co-accused had already been granted bail in the case. He pleaded with the court to grant prearrest bail to his client. However, a law officer opposed the plea and submitted that Ammar Ahmad sold plots to EOBI and others in F-block of the society but did not carry out development work despite receiving the money and failed to deliver possession. APP

vide them with basic rights. She has a BSc (Hons) degree in botany from Punjab University (PU) and masters in international relations from Islamabad’s Preston University (IPU).

Wednesday, 12 February, 2020

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LHC dismisses Hamza’s baiL pLea in assets Case LAHORE

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STAFF REPORT

LAHORE High Court (LHC) division bench on Tuesday dismissed a post-arrest bail petition filed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hamza Shehbaz in an assets beyond means and money-laundering case.

The bench, comprising Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Sardar Ahmad Naeem, heard the bail petition.

At the outset of the proceedings, senior lawyer Salman Aslam Butt, on behalf of Hamza Shehbaz, submitted that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had arrested Hamza on charges of money laundering and making assets beyond means.

He stated that the anti-money laundering act was not applicable in the case.

He submitted that all the amounts were

received before the enactment of the act.

He submitted that the first anti-money laundering ordinance was introduced in 2007, but it lapsed after 90 days. He stated that the second ordinance was promulgated in 2009 and the act was passed in 2010.

At this stage, Justice Naqvi remarked that it had been claimed by the defence that the bureau could not proceed under the anti-money laundering act.

Salman Butt replied in affirmative and submitted that the bureau could not look into the money-laundering issue as per Section 5 of the NAB Ordinance. He submitted that the NAB chairman also did not have the authority to issue the arrest warrants.

He submitted that if the bureau wanted to investigate such a matter, it would have to appoint an investigation officer, who could probe and issue the arrest warrants. However, all steps

were taken against the law in Hamza case, he added. In response to a court query, the NAB prosecutor stated that assets owned by Hamza increased to Rs 410 million till 2018.

To which, the Hamza counsel submitted that he wanted to assist the court over the issue whereas the increase took place in the past 15 years. At this stage, the

court observed that it also wanted to know sources for increase in assets, adding that the counsel should satisfy the court on the sources of increase.

Salman Aslam Butt submitted that all assets of Hamza were declared and also mentioned in the tax returns.

However, the court observed that it had been claimed that Hamza received money from his father and brother, then it should be told that how they received the money. The court further noted that it had not been informed about the sources of Hamza’s money.

Salman Butt stated that Hamza never received any kickbacks or bribe, adding that all assets were declared.

The NAB counsel submitted that investigations were started against Hamza over allegations of money laundering and amassing assets beyond means. He submitted that the Shehbaz Sharif family owned assets worth Rs 60 million in

2000, but those increased to Rs 3,000 million in 2018. He stated that Hamza Shehbaz did not file tax returns from 2006 to 2008. He submitted that Hamza’s assets started to increase in 2009 and 23 different transactions took place in his account in 2009. After 2009, the foreign remittances were received in accounts of Hamza’s mother and brother, he added.

To a query, he submitted that amounts were sent from broad into account of Hamza and other family members. He stated that co-accused had stated that their identity cards were misused in the matter. He stated that three ‘benami’ companies were used for money laundering and transactions worth Rs 1.5 billion took place in Salman Shehbaz’s account, whereas Rabia Imran received Rs 550 million in her account and the same amount was transferred to Hamza.

Anxiety grows as Pakistani student in Wuhan misses father's funeral amid virus outbreak NEWS DESK From his dormitory in the locked-down Chinese city of Wuhan, a PhD student, Hassan, spoke to his 80-year-old father in Pakistan for the last time on Thursday who begged him to come home.

The next day, Hassan’s father died of a heart ailment. Hassan is one of more than 1,000 Pakistani students in China’s Hubei province, the epicenter of the coronavirus.

Some say they have been told by the government that it has had to rule out their return home for the moment. “They need me at this time, my mother needs me,” Hassan, a PhD computer architecture student, said.

He asked to be identified only by one name to protect his family’s privacy.

Other Pakistani students in Hubei share Hassan’s concerns and some are critical of the government’s response to the crisis.

Other countries, including India and Bangladesh, evacuated citizens from Hubei province, where Wuhan is located, as the virus death toll rises.

The students and their families, including young children, are stuck indoors most of the day. Four students said depression and anxiety were growing, their feelings worsened by fears of catching the virus and uncertainty as to how long the conditions would last.

“My very dear students in China […] we are intensely discussing the situation @ highest level & will make the best decision in view of all factors with ref to devastating #coronavirus potential global pandemic,” Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza said on Twitter on Sunday.

Hassan has contacted his university, who supported him leaving, and the embassy in Beijing. He said he was told by

Court adjourns hearing in park Lane, fake accounts cases ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

An accountability court on Tuesday adjourned hearing in fake bank accounts and Park Lane Estate cases involving former president Asif Ali Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur and others till Mar 3. The former president skipped court appearance owing to his health issues, while Talpur and other co-accused appeared before the court. Zardari’s counsel, Farooq H. Naek apprised the court that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has not provided them the copies of the references filed against his client.

The court ordered NAB to provide the copies of the references to the accused and adjourned the hearing of the case till Mar 3. Talking to media outside the court, Naek said that Zardari is critically ill and the doctors have advised him against traveling.

Chinese authorities in Hubei that he could be evacuated if the embassy in Beijing contacted them, but that had not occurred.

A Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment.

China’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday that “for those countries that wish to take home their nationals, China will make relevant arrangements and offer necessary assistance consistent with international practices and our domestic epidemic control measures”. Hassan said he had been told by an official on Monday that all students would be evacuated. But following a video conference call with the health and overseas citizens ministers, students in Wuhan said an imminent evacuation had been ruled out.

Officials had suggested the country did not have the necessary quarantine facilities, some students said. A spokesman for Mirza said in a statement the health minister had expressed concern on the call for the students’ welfare and Chinese rules meant no one could leave Hubei, but the situation was being monitored.

Fia summons Gul bukhari over 'anti-state' remarks NEWS DESK The Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Anti-Terrorism Wing on Tuesday sent a notice to journalist Gul Bukhari and asked her to appear before the agency for her alleged defamatory remarks against the state institutions. According to a local media outlet, the FIA asked the social media activist and former Waqt TV host to submit her response within 30 days and warned that she would be booked on terrorism charges in case she skipped the hearing. According to sources cited by the media outlet, the government was likely to contact Interpol for her extradition and seize her property in Pakistan after the court order. Bukhari, a dual Pakistani-British national, was briefly abducted by ‘unknown persons’ in Lahore Cantt ahead of 2018 polls. A day before Bukhari’s abduction, then army spokesperson Major General Ghafoor told a news conference that the military was aware of those making or re-tweeting “anti-state” comments on social media.

Wednesday, 12 February, 2020

06 WORLD VIEW From AFghAnistAn, isrAel should extend olive brAnch to irAn JerusaleM Post

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SaiD m aZam

HE names of Afghanistan and Israel are intrinsically attached to any discourse that pertains to the security in the Middle East and the world at large. Ill-wishing neighbors and their own decade-long struggle for survival make the two countries identical to one other. While their pains and suffering are the same, as nations at conflict, they do not have channels for exchange of experiences and advising remedies, extracted from those experiences, to each other. It is time for the two nations to break the taboos and help each other attain security and peace, for their people. Israeli institutions are in better position to take the first and the most important step in building pragmatic relationships between the two conflict-affected nations.

Israel and Afghanistan do not have a diplomatic relationship with each other.

That should not prevent the two societies from working pragmatically together.

Afghans regard Israeli people to be revered and chosen; as referred to them in the Quran. Nobody has more accurately captured the magnitude of reverence by Afghans to the nation of Israel than the legendary Khaled Hosseini in his novel The Kite Runner, in which an Afghan man admires firmness and consistency, the two prominent national characteristics of the Israelis; qualities according to the same imaginary man, only Afghans, Americans and Israelis enjoy in the entire world. It falls on Israeli civil society groups and other social institutions such as academic centers and religious foundations to take

AN INVITATION FROM THE CHIEF RABBINATE OF ISRAEL TO MEMBERS OF THE TALIBAN POLITICAL OFFICE IN QATAR AND REPRESENTATIVE OF OTHER AFGHAN PARTIES TO HOLD THEIR MEETINGS AT THE AL-AQSA MOSQUE WILL BE WELCOMED BY ALL PARTIES lead in connecting the two nations. For example, an invitation from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel to members of the Taliban political office in Qatar and representative of other Afghan parties to hold their meetings at the al-Aqsa Mosque will be welcomed by all parties. The Taliban have been negotiating with the Americans for almost a year with a hope to put an end to the Afghan war, the longest war in the history of the United States. The next phase of negotiations, which is expected to commence in the near future, will include official talks between the Taliban, the Afghan government and representatives of political parties and members from the civil societies. Israeli institutions can contribute expediting reconciliation process between Afghans.

The visit will open a new chapter in relationship between Israel and Afghanistan and Israel with other Muslim countries. It will send a strong message to all nations that Israel values peace and security not only for itself but for all nations, including the Muslim nations. Israel can work with countries like India and Jordan to arrange visa and travel facilities for the Afghan visitors. India and Jordan, for example, can issue visas to Afghan delegates with a special code which will make them eligible for travel to Israel. The symbolic visit will make people all around the world admire Israel for facilitating negotiations between warring sides in Afghanistan; an achievement major Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia,

Iran, Pakistan and Indonesia have come short to score for themselves.

Israel can further contribute in institutionalizing and underpinning peace in Afghanistan by using its soft power of lobbying and mediation for improving the welfare of Afghans. The country can help Afghanistan to attain a Sanctions Filter Zone (SFZ) status from the United States’ economic sanctions on Iran. That will contribute phenomenally in turning Afghanistan into an economic hub for the entire region, because any firm or institution involved in building a gas pipeline from South Pars gas field to Urumqi, for example, will be exempted from American sanctions because that pipeline passes through the territory of Afghanistan. Sanctions are foreign policy tools that are usually applied to punish and inject pain within certain polities. They can be used, given that Israel and Afghanistan succeed in their mission, to convince the government of the United States to render SFZ status to Afghanistan, to reward and inject prosperity to a friendly nation.

Afghanistan has a long border with Iran and a relatively very short border with the Xinjiang province of China. Unlike the Pakistan-China Economic Corridor, which passes through disputed territories in Kashmir, an energy corridor from Iran via Afghanistan to China, which could be extended to India, will serve as the most confident inland route for India, in addition to China, to connect with oil and gas reserves in the Middle East and Central

Where have the Arab masses gone?

Asia. Though the construction work might be more difficult and more expensive, the energy security that can be attained by China, and more so by India, more than makes up for the expenses.

Iran learned the hard way that having a failed and collapsed state in its neighborhood is dangerous, even worse than having a hostile neighbor, consequent to its experience with Saddam Hussein’s hostile regime in the 1980s – and collapse of that regime in 2003. Israel does not need to try that same experience for itself.

Israel can use its influence over American policy making institutions to not push the Iranian state too much, as a result of which it could collapse. Iran has effectively blocked flow of terrorist groups from central Asia and Caucasus as well as South Asia to the Middle East. Though the Islamic regime has recruited and deployed its own proxies – such as the Fatemiyoun Army – to the war in Syria in support of Bashar Assad’s regime.

The Islamic Revolution in Iran has been a product of domestic historical socioeconomic and political developments.

Any disruption to its life-cycle, through insertion of pressure from without, will have negative consequences for Iran and the entire region. Iranians are among the most pragmatic, highly educated and politically vigilant and aware people in the world. Their right to choose the best form of regime and course of policies, serving their needs and wants, need to be respected by other members in the society

Middle east Monitor Dr amira abo el-Fetouh

Donald Trump dropped a bombshell with his “deal of the century”, which eliminates what remains of historic Palestine and completely liquidates the Palestinian cause.

The Arab countries should have risen up as one against this. The Arab masses should have taken to the streets in their millions as a natural reaction to the deal. Neither happened, not even in the occupied Palestinian territories in the West Bank. Those who did take to the streets, somewhat timidly, were in Jordan, Algeria and Morocco.

What has happened to the Arab people? Where have the masses gone? Have their feelings towards the central Arab cause, Palestine, faded? We saw mass demonstrations in years gone by when, for example, Ariel Sharon desecrated Al-Aqsa Mosque; when 12-yearold Mohammad Al-Durra was killed; when Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, Abdel Aziz Al-Rantisi and others were martyred. The masses also took to the streets during the frequent Israeli attacks against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The latest weak response mirrors the reaction to Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as the “undivided” capital of the State of Israel. Even the US President himself said at the time that he ex-

said that he had given the Israelis information that they could only dream of having, but now he is stopping and they will need to fend for themselves. He also said that he believed the Palestinians do not need guns and will seek to make the State of Palestine a demilitarised entity. It is a fact that the Arab rulers see Israel as a lifeline for them, which is why they rush to please it in any way possible in order to ensure that they remain on their thrones.

It is thus shameful that the Chairman of the Transitional Military Council in Sudan, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Uganda after the announcement of Trump’s deal of shame, and announced that he had agreed to normalise relations with the Zionist state. Incredibly, he claimed that his visit to Entebbe will benefit the Palestinian people.

After Al-Burhan’s trip — which was treacherous to both our religion and the Arab people — we can say without exaggeration that the entire Nile Valley is now under Israeli domination. It completes the comprehensive Arab siege of the Palestinian people, who are now being asked to give up everything as part of the surrender document masquerading as a “peace plan”.

However, this will not happen.

The heroic Palestinian people will never surrender and will never give in. They have already started individual action, but we want them to stage a collective uprising led by a unified leadership that shakes the earth from under the feet of the Zionists. We want a united resistance and a return to the struggle of the past. The historical land of Palestine, from the river to the sea, will only be restored through legitimate resistance of all kinds.

The writer is a recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship from the US State Department. He is an alumnus of the American University of Afghanistan (AUAF) and the Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University and former Afghanistan correspondent of Agence France Press (AFP).

How AAP beat BJP at its own game

THE HISTORICAL LAND OF PALESTINE, FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA, WILL ONLY BE RESTORED THROUGH LEGITIMATE RESISTANCE OF ALL KINDS pected more of a reaction from the Arabs. I am sure that it is the lack of a furious reaction that encouraged him to make so many unjust moves in favour of the Zionist enemy which should have provoked the Arabs, as he is assured that, as a single nation, they are moribund. Such moves include the green light for Israel to annex the Syrian Golan Heights and the illegal Zionist settlements, as well as cutting off US donations to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), all of which were the prelude to the ill-fated deal.

Instead of street protests, the Arab masses are apparently content with declaring their anger via social media, no doubt because they are themselves oppressed by dictators who rule with an iron fist and do not allow any kind of publiclyexpressed dissent. When they did take things into their own hands, during and after the Arab Spring revolutions, Palestinian flags flew in the public squares in solidarity with the people of Palestine.

In Egypt after the revolution, for example, one man climbed the walls of the tower block where the Israeli Embassy is located on the 12th floor, and took down the Israeli flag, which was thrown to the ground and burned; the act was applauded by witnesses. Compare this with the fate of the young man who held up a Palestinian flag while watching a football match a few months ago. He was arrested and sent for trial.

That is what has happened to the Arab people, and why Israel conspired against the Arab Spring with its agents in the region so that national leaders controlled by Israel could be appointed as proxies to guard their borders. The President of security coordination with Israel, Mahmoud Abbas, admitted his own betrayal in his speech before the so-called Arab League. He

of nations. Iranians have raised their voices against mismanagement of their public goods in the past and definitely will do so in future.

Israel can use the holiest sites in its territory, soft power of mediation and lobbying and the sharing of its knowledge to conduct and successfully conclude peace talks that can help Afghanistan to attain peace, security and prosperity for its citizens. In addition, Israel can extend its olive branch and bucket of roses to Iran by discouraging the United States from seeking regime change in Tehran and by helping Afghanistan to attain SFZ status.

The SFZ status of Afghanistan will lessen pain in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Furthermore, Israel will present its image as a peaceful nation to the entire world, particularly to Muslim countries. It will also pave way to develop a friendly and conducive environment for Israeli businesses and industries in the entire region. We should keep hopes alive that Afghan groups, now in conflict with one another, might soon host peace and reconciliation talks between Israel and the Palestinians in Kandahar and Kabul.

Print Shekhar Gupta

The history of democracy tells you that nationalism and (majority) religion is an unbeatable combination. What light does the Delhi result throw on this?

Let’s expand the argument. If you can also deftly throw in socialism, it makes for a proposition cast in titanium. Nothing can challenge or hurt it. We’ve been living through this reality since 2014, the Narendra Modi-Amit Shah era.

This has awed pundits on all sides. Arun Shourie had famously called the BJP, Congress plus cow. Another eminent friend of mine in Kolkata, who has followed the politics of the Left closely for decades, suggests a rewrite after the latest budget.

Now, he says, Narendra Modi is nothing but Prakash Karat plus CAA, or the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. Now you can see why the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has a 92% (seats won in May 2019) success record against the Congress, with a 23% lead in votes.

When Rahul Gandhi goes templehopping, it looks like a spectacle, unconvincing, and worse, defensive. As if to say, see, I am Hindu too. This is also why the Left died in West Bengal. Then, Congress leaders ask for evidence of surgical strikes and Balakot, are ambivalent on Article 370, triple talaq and Sabarimala and call Modi a “chor”.

Mamata Banerjee took away their socio-populism, and unlike them, she is happy to dress in any religion’s colours — even the hijab — on its festivals and be as nationalist as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. India’s older parties are either not getting this change, or are unwilling to accept this reality.

How does a tiny and young party like the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) then defy these odds to seal its second near-clean sweep in Delhi, within nine months of finishing a distant third behind the BJP and Congress in the May 2019 Lok Sabha elections?

Because, while nationalism plus religion and socialism is a killer combination electorally, none of these are beyond the reach of any of your rivals. No one party has a copyright on Bharat Mata, Lord Ram, Ram Charit Manas or socialism/welfarism/populism. Watch the victory speeches by Kejriwal and his key leaders today. There’s been plenty of Bharat Mata ki Jai, Vande Mataram, praise for Lord Hanuman and temple visits without pomp and bandobast.

For months now, Kejriwal and his party have faced woke condemnation over their silence on Jawaharlal Nehru University (which Rahul Gandhi visited in 2016), Jamia Millia Islamia, Shaheen Bagh, the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and other such issues. Also, over their “teerth yatra”, pilgrimage-type schemes.

Their success lies in the fact that they held their nerve. If they had succumbed to this pressure even a little, to come up to the standards set for liberalism/secularism on Twitter, Amit Shah would have sent them not just a box of mithais, but the entire halwai shop.

They would then have lost both, the gods and the nation, and let these be the BJP’s monopoly.

Not only did they not do it, Kejriwal himself sang the Hanuman Chalisa on TV, sounded sincere and

THE PARTY GOT THE MIX OF RELIGION, NATIONALISM, AND SOCIALISM RIGHT. NOT RELYING ON TWITTER HELPED convincing, and a bhakt of the Hindu gods, rather than that of the two-member ruling pantheon today.

If you are a non-bigoted, godfearing Hindu, which is a large majority of Hindus, this is a more convincing expression of religiosity and faith than a “Jai Shri Ram” shouted menacingly or in anger and resentment. Further, it gives no offence to other religions, including Islam. Just as a Muslim cannot be “judged” for looking, sounding, praying like a Muslim, this is merely a mirror image of a Hindu publicly expressing his religiosity. None is setting a code of conduct for the other and insisting that it be followed, on the threat of, who knows, even citizenship.

And on nationalism, please do remember that among the first steps the Kejriwal government took was to announce ex-gratia payments to the families of soldiers killed in action at a scale unprecedented in India. It voted with the BJP government on Article 370, welcomed the surgical strikes and Balakot rather than express any scepticism at all about the armed forces’ claims.

On welfare, they devised their own giveaways and, just like Modi and his Ujjwala and other schemes, ensured efficient and leak-proof delivery. The combination of nationalism-welfarism-religion was established. The most important tactical approach lay in not attacking Modi or the BJP on any of these.

The big takeaway from this election is that the larger ModiShah method has been, and can be gamed. Nobody can take Modi away from the BJP. No leader seems to be rising anywhere at this point who could conceivably challenge Modi even in 2024. But you can surely deny them the exclusivity over their winning formula, and make the contest much less one-sided.

Wednesday, 12 February, 2020

syRiAn, tuRkish foRces in new deAdly clAsh in idlib IDLIB

s

AGENCIES

yRIAN and Turkish forces exchanged fire on Monday in another deadly clash in northwest Syria, where nearly 700,000 people have fled escalating violence in the last major opposition bastion.

Turkey, which backs Syrian rebel factions, said five of its troops were killed by Syrian regime fire in Idlib province, and that it had “neutralised” 101 Syrian soldiers in response.

It was not possible to verify that claim and neither Syrian state media nor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, immediately reported casualties among Syrian army ranks. The exchange was the second in eight days and took place in the area of Taftanaz, where Turkey recently sent in troops, the Britain-based Observatory said. Regime shelling a week earlier killed eight Turkish soldiers, prompting

a deadly response by the Turkish army.

The clashes are further straining relations between Damascus and Ankara, while also increasing tension between Russia and Turkey — the conflict’s chief foreign protagonists.

Syrian government forces backed

tearful thai general says 'don't blame army' for soldier's rampage BANGKOK AGENCIES

An emotional Thai army chief on Tuesday urged a nation in mourning over a mass shooting “not to blame the army” after a soldier gunned down at least 29 people in a rampage linked to a debt dispute with a senior officer. General Apirat Kongsompong, an arch-royalist more commonly prone to rants against pro-democracy figures, broke down in tears as he apologised during a televised press conference on behalf of the army to the victims of the shooting. The gunman — Sergeant-Major Jakrapanth Thomma — was shot dead by a commando unit Sunday morning, ending a 17-hour rampage that left 29 dead and scores more wounded. The Thai army has been at pains to portray him as a rogue soldier rather than a product of the army system. Apirat said he would not stand down from his post in charge of an army which has seeped into all aspects of Thai life, from politics and business to conscription, with a mega-billion budget that has surged since the last coup in 2014. “The army is a huge organisation comprising of hundreds of thousands staff… I cannot focus on every subordinate,” he said. “There are people who criticise the army, I urge them not to blame the army… because the army is a sacred organisation,” adding “blame me – General Apirat.” Instead he pledged to open a “special channel” to investigate all future complaints from junior officers about their superiors, blaming the attack on a debt dispute between the gunman and his commanding officer. The gunman “did not receive justice from his commander and his relatives who promised him financial returns”, Apirat added, apparently from a commission over the sale of house. Jakrapanth killed his commander and the commander’s mother-in-law first as he embarked on an around 17-hour shooting spree. Serving army top brass sit on the boards of stateenterprises, while many declare assets in their millions of dollars despite their meagre soldier’s wages. Army Chiefs routinely flip to become civilian prime ministers – often following coups – while barracks are accused of being hives of grey-zone businesses, such as real estate agencies and private security firms. Senior officers often use conscripts as effective private butlers in taxpayer-funded grace and favour homes. “I guarantee between February and April there will be many – from generals to colonels – who will be jobless,” Apirat said, also promising to throw out retired army officers from government housing.

by Moscow have pressed a blistering assault against the last major rebel bastion in Syria’s northwest for more than two months. Violence in the provinces of Idlib and Aleppo has displaced 689,000 people, said David Swanson, spokesman for the United Nation’s hu-

FOREIGN NEWS 07

manitarian coordination office, OCHA. “The number of people being displaced in this crisis is now spiralling out of control,” he told AFP on Monday.

The exodus is one of the largest of the nine-year civil war and risks creating one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes of the conflict.

It has sparked alarm from Turkey which already hosts some 3.7 million Syrian refugees and fears another influx. Turkey’s defence ministry said the troops targeted on Monday had been sent “as reinforcement to the region with an aim to prevent clashes in Idlib, ensure our border security, and stop migration and human tragedy”.

The ministry warned that Ankara would respond “in the strongest possible way” to any new attack. In a sign of growing tensions, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday night held a meeting in Ankara with ministers, the army chief of staff and intelligence chief to review the situation in Idlib, local media said.

All at stake as New Hampshire votes in consequential Democratic primary ROCHESTER AGENCIES

US Democrats braced for a volatile, consequential primary on Tuesday in New Hampshire as leftist Bernie Sanders and youthful challenger Pete Buttigieg fight for pole position in the race for who faces Donald Trump in November’s presidential election.

Tensions have risen steadily as Granite Staters, notoriously independent-minded and astute voters, headed to polls across the northeastern battleground with just 1.3 million people — but plays a hugely influential role in the American political landscape.

New Hampshire hosts the nation’s first primary, eight days after Iowa kicked off the nomination process, and it could narrow the Democratic field of 11 current candidates. White House hopefuls have been courting votes in the state’s small cities, rolling farm country, lake-side towns and snow-covered mountain hamlets, seeking a spark that could ignite a presidential run that carries them to the Democratic nomination.

Tiny Dixville Notch — population five — traditionally votes first at one minute after midnight.

“There’s a certain amount of pride to being here,” said Tom Tillotson, managing the midnight vote.

“We take this seriously,” he told AFP. “We were humbled and honored to be… basically the starting gun for the primary election process.” In a surprise, billionaire Michael Bloomberg won in Dixville Notch with one Republican and two Democratic votes.

Buttigieg and Sanders each earned one vote.

As New Hampshire endures its quadrennial closeup with candidates making last-gasp campaign swings, an anxious Democratic Party is struggling to find the

right path to defeating Trump.

Will it be the “political revolution” espoused by Sanders, a self-declared democratic socialist? Or the more moderate tacks from either Buttigieg, a 38-yearold former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, or former vice president Joe Biden?

Complicating Tuesday’s vote, independents — who outnumber both Democrats and Republicans in the state — are can vote in either primary, potentially tipping the scales in a tight race. Looming over the primary, Trump jetted to New Hampshire on Monday night aiming to steal the limelight with a large Manchester rally. “Remember this: Washington Democrats have never been more extreme,” Trump told cheering supporters. “We are saving your health care while the socialist Democrats are trying to take away your health care.” The remark appeared aimed at Sanders, buoyed by a strong showing in Iowa last week and a poll that claimed he was the national frontrunner for the first time.

At leAst 15 deAd As RohingyA boAt cApsizes in bAy of bengA VISAKHAPATNAM: An overcrowded boat carrying about 138 Rohingya refugees from Bangladeshi camps sank on Tuesday in the Bay of Bengal, leaving at least 15 confirmed dead, mostly women, Bangladeshi officials said. The coast guard, navy divers and other rescuers recovered the bodies after the wooden boat capsized off St. Martin’s Island, the top elected official on the island said. Noor Ahmed said by phone from the scene that 71 refugees on the boat survived. It was unclear how many remained missing. The passengers were enticed by traffickers to board the boat from various points as it headed for Malaysia, he said. Iqbal Hossain, a police superintendent in Cox’s Bazar, said by phone the overcrowding of the boat, which may have also been carrying additional cargo, caused it to capsize. Hossain said the rescue operation was continuing, but could not say exactly how many people were still missing. AGENCIES

trump, us first lady will travel to india in late february WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump will visit India on February 24-25 and travel to New Delhi and Ahmedabad, the White House said on Monday. The latter city is the largest in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state of Gujarat and played an important role in Mahatma Gandhi’s life and leadership of the Indian independence movement.

Press secretary Stephanie Grisham said Trump and Modi spoke by telephone over the weekend and agreed the trip would strengthen the strategic partnership between the two counties and highlight the strong bonds between the American and Indian people. The leaders have developed a warm relationship over the past few years. During their first White House meeting in June 2017, Modi bear-hugged Trump several times following a joint news conference in the Rose Garden. Last September, Trump travelled to Houston to speak at a rally for Modi before an audience of 50,000 Indian Americans. The visit comes as Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) faces mass protests at home against a recent controversial citizenship law and a possible defeat in a key regional election. AGENCIES

Thousands of Iranians mark revolution anniversary amid peak tensions with US DUBAI AGENCIES

Tens of thousands of Iranians poured into the streets of Tehran and other cities on Tuesday morning to commemorate the 41st anniversary of the Islamic revolution, against a backdrop of escalating tensions with the United States.

State TV showed video footage of rallies in at least half a dozen cities outside the capital, including Mashhad, Ahvaz and Kerman, with people holding signs that read, “Death to America” and “Death to Israel”.

Iran almost got into a full-blown conflict with the United States last month after a US drone strike killed top Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad on Jan. 3,

prompting Iran to retaliate with a missile barrage against a US base in Iraq days later. Tensions spiked between Iran and the United States after US President Donald Trump withdrew from a multilateral nuclear deal with Iran in 2018 and reimposed sanctions in a bid to pressure Tehran to negotiate over its ballistic missile program and ties with regional proxy groups.

Missiles were put on display as part of the anniversary celebrations, according to the Tasnim news agency. Iran’s state TV showed archival footage of missile launches and underground missile storage facilities as part of its anniversary coverage.

The missile program is not intended for attacks on neighboring countries, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said

on Monday.

NO LEGAL BASIS FOR CANADA’S PLANE CRASH COMPLAIN: Canada’s complaint about a Ukrainian passenger plane that was mistakenly shot down by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in January has no legal basis, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Tuesday, according to Iranian media reports.

“Iran’s actions are based on international rules,” Zarif said, according to the Khabaronline website.

Iran has rejected Canadian Prime

Minister Justin Trudeau’s call to send the “black box” flight recorders from the plane abroad to be decoded.

Many of the 176 who perished in the disaster were Iranians with dual citizenship, which is not recognized

by Iran. Canada had 57 citizens on board.

Canadian lawyers, who previously successfully sued Iran, are seeking class action status in a lawsuit on behalf of victims aboard the plane, looking for at least C$1.5 billion ($1.1 billion) in compensation.

Wednesday, 12 February, 2020

08 COMMENT

Geo-politics and flawed economics

Targeted subsidy Another band-aid solution to a deeper malaise

F

or months the pti spokespersons accused the media for creating a scare about shortages of essential items. Some of the ministers went a step further by issuing made up figures. at long last prime Minister imran Khan has felt the need to seek a second opinion about the performance of his economic team. the briefing given to him by some of the economists who are not on the government’s payroll regarding the FBr’s performance, the country’s overall economic situation, business revival, struggling exports and troubles brewing in the banking sector, did not corroborate the rosy picture presented by his own economic team regarding the economy and the plight of the common man.

Mr Khan has taken note of the issue at a time when inflation is at a nine-year high and the prices of essential goods, already beyond the common man’s reach, continue to increase. He has decided to provide a targeted subsidy to those belonging to lower income groups. While one appreciates the measures being taken by Mr Khan to reduce the common man’s sufferings, the number of those affected is so large that the relief being provided will reach only a part of the millions affected. What is more, it will be temporary.

Within months of being sworn in, Mr Khan had appealed to the philanthropists to contribute to help the government set up shelters where the homeless could have food and shelter. only five such panahgahs could be set up in lahore, the second most populous city of the country. as no one can stay for more than three days at any of these shelters, there is no room here for the homeless. the panahgahs still serve a purpose, albeit limited, as some of those coming to the city in search of jobs or to see a relative in hospital, or attend an ‘urs’ can have free meals and accommodation.. unless the wheels of industry start running at full speed, agricultural output gets a boost, exports go up, nondevelopment expenditure is drastically curtailed and development activity gathers momentum, any hope of a significant rise in jobs or decline in poverty will remain a dream. there is little to show that the pti government possesses the competence to turn the economy around.

Alliance saved PML-Q’s demands accepted, who will be next?

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peculationS that had surrounded the future of the pti government due to its deteriorating relationship with its key ally, the pMl-Q, have been, for the most part, put to rest. the two parties have announced that all outstanding issues have finally been resolved and that there is a clear intention now to carry on the union into the next general election. However, the pti has had to leave a lot at the negotiating table to end the conflict, most importantly, agreeing to amendments to punjab’s local government law, disbursement of development funds to pMl-Q strongholds where its candidates won in 2018 and allowing the party to make bureaucratic changes in those areas, as it pleases. as far as the last accepted demand is concerned, it is quite a departure from prime Minister imran Khan’s no compromise policy of empowering bureaucrats and minimizing political interference in administrative affairs– another day, another reality check. and another u-turn. Similar demands, especially with regards to development funds, were made by 20-odd punjab Mpas who had formed a forward bloc within the provincial government. although they have been temporarily pacified, seeing the pMl-Q’s demands being met by an under-pressure weak pti government would surely encourage them to try their luck as well, perhaps even with more intense blackmailing to achieve the desired result. Similarly, there is the MQM-p, pti’s ally in Sindh that remains disgruntled and unwilling to rejoin the federal cabinet, as according to them Karachi’s issues remain unresolved despite promises being made.

For now, the pti can consider itself safe in punjab and therefore by extension in the centre. But it should not forget that in both assemblies it has razorthin majorities, so they will be walking on eggshells from here on in. there is a clear intent to keep the coalition intact come what may, but a myriad of challenges that face the pti government, ranging from an economy in pretty bad shape to foreign policy problems, will require more than just the coalition’s support to resolve effectively. prime Minister imran Khan should heed, rather than arrogantly ignore aJK pM’s advice to seek some sort of national reconciliation, as it will make things easier for him in the long run. But he is adamant to “never shake hands with the corrupt”. there was a time not too long ago when the chaudhrys of punjab were labelled the ‘biggest thieves’ of the country by none other than imran Khan himself.

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

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Teetering on the edge SherAz zAkA

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ecent developments have had a profound impact on international affairs. With the recent assassination of iranian general Qassem Sulaimani, the relations between iran and the uSa have become tenser than before. in retaliation iran attacked a uS air base in iraq but no casualties took place. However, experts believe the uS position, and its presence in iraq, Syria and afghanistan is likely to weaken, as iran will most probably retaliate and launch an attack through proxy war. the entire volatile situation is likely to herald a domino effect on pakistan, due to its geo-strategic position and its economic interests. the recent iranian attacks on aramco oil facilities in Saudi arabia provide an example. iran’s influence in afghanistan, Yemen, Syria and iraq and its connections with militias has increased wit the passage of time and this is one of the reasons experts think uS interests and its exertion of influence is likely to face a backlash. as for the relationship between iran and the uSa, it has always been strained since 1953 when the democratic Mossadegh government was toppled through a coup by raza Shah in connivance with the cia. the increasingly cold relations between the uSa and iran, if not contained, are likely to create a disastrous impact on global financial markets. there is also a likelihood that if this volatility continues, the supplies of oil containers through Strait of Hormuz will be affected if iran blocks their passage as over 20 percent of oil supplies passes through it. as a result, oil prices will likely escalate and developing countries, especially oilimporting countries like pakistan, will face a scourge of inflationary pressures to the dismay of the masses. after the arab Spring, the entire Middle east has so far gone through cataclysmic situation, deeply affected by civil war, strife and anarchy. in case there are spillover effects in iran’s

territory from the recent protests witnessed, the situation is going to become more chaotic as the oil supply chains will be affected, which will result in the escalation of cost-push inflation exponentially. iran’s revolutionary ideology no longer entices iranians who are tired of economic hardship and international isolation. iranians welcomed the 2015 nuclear deal and recently have taken to the streets against the regime which has convinced the uS administration that exerting more pressure on the iran can bear fruit and bring about an end of the islamic republic. in this scenario, pakistan opted to remain neutral and did not take any side. recently the foreign policy of pakistan faced a setback when it refused to attend the Kuala lumpur summit owing to the pressure of Saudi arabia. it demonstrated that Muslim countries are divided and pakistan had to step back despite the fact that Malaysia and turkey openly gave their support on the Kashmir issue at the un General assembly. Second, pakistan’s response to the recent killing of General Qassem Sulaimani has been neutral, which is a bit disappointing. pakistan’s government should have been direct and categorically condemned such attack by the uSa. on one hand, as a nuclear power pakistan vowed to act as a mediator between Saudi arabia and iran, and on the other it refused at the last minute to attend summit at Kuala lumpur and showed its neutrality in the wake of recent strike of the uSa against iran. on the economic front, after the 18-month period, government’s performance has proved out be extremely dismal and day by day it’s position has weakened. the deteriorating situation has been further exacerbated by the recent wheat crisis which has resulted in creating shortage and spike in prices. although the performance of previous governments has also not been impressive at all, leaving the country deep in crisis, the present government’s policy of keeping the interest rates high at over 13 percent, just to attract ‘hot money’ from foreign entities to keep the rupee value afloat, also seems to be not working as well. Due to the high interest rates, entrepreneurs are not willing to invest and businesses are moving towards closure which is further giving rise to unemployment. the high interest rates would further increase the debt

burden of the government. it is also due to the fact that the present government lacks direction which is evident from the fact that after the lapse of 18 months, the government has not been able to formulate agricultural policy. Farmers are facing problems in getting access to credit at low interest rates.

Moreover they do not have funds to buy certified seeds and there is no support-price mechanism for cash crops provided by government to the farmers. the whole agricultural support has been provided to cater to the needs of sugar barons, who are always a part of every government and influenced it for their vested interests; then how can we expect from such a government to formulate a fair and equitable agricultural policy? now it has not remained a secret that cottongrowing areas are being converted into sugar plantations over the past few years because farmers get a better support price for the sugarcane crop, which is one of the main reasons behind the damage being caused to textile industry. textiles are one of the major sources of our exports, but the government is not bothered about it while it caters to the interests of the sugar barons. the government is not paying attention towards the lack of access to credit of farmers. if banks start giving cheap credit to the farmers, only then would they use certified seeds and fertilizers to increase their yield. the current monetary as well as fiscal policy of pakistan will not allow it to generate economic growth. at present pakistan is going through a phase of stagflation in which both unemployment and inflation are surging upwards, which is a grave cause of concern. Without securing at least six percent economic growth, people’s real income would continuously fall and the poverty levels would show rising trends. Growth of merely 2.8 percent, high inflation, high energy tariffs, further compounded by cartelization and anti-competitive practices, will not help in any way and instead the economy will further stagnate. the common man is suffering, and businesses are closing. at present the impoverished condition of our people is akin to what we read in John Steinbeck’s Grapes Of Wrath. it’s time to wake up now!

Sheraz Zakacan be sheraz.zaka@gmail.com

contacted

at

Coronavirus: Simplistic remedies?

India has the answer: cow dung Amjed jAAved

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KHil Bharatiya Mahasabha (allindia Hindu council) leader chakrapani Maharaj claims “consuming cow urine and cow dung will stop the effect of infectious coronavirus and other problems such as migraine or depression.” earlier Mr Justice Mahesh chandra Sharma of the rajasthan High court told journalists in 2018, “all doctors are frauds and we could have all been cured of diseases with nothing more than cow dung and urine.” the judge discussed benefits of cow, its dung and urine, in simple remedies for coronavirus (2019-ncoV) and other ailments.

His judgment, a mélange of scriptures and law, glistens with gems like ‘cow is a Surgeon’,’a complete pharmacy’, and cow is a ‘national animal’. later, in a tV interview, the judge said that “When lord Krishna came to earth, he brought down a cow with him to Vrindavan. and he knew that the cow could suffice for doctors and surgeons because cow’s milk is medicinal in nature, and cures all kinds of ailments” (except insanity). the judge’s reflections are not the first-ever “scientifically inaccurate and outright asinine” outbursts earlier, rajasthan education ministerVasudev Devnani proudly proclaimed, defying all boundaries of human knowledge about mammals, that the holy cow is the only animal that inhales as well as exhales oxygen. Speaking at the Hingonia Goshala during an event organised by the akshay patra foundation on January 14, the minister said, “Gai ekmatra prani hai jo oxygen grahan karta hai, aur oxygen hi chhorhta hai (the cow is the only animal that takes in oxygen and also releases oxygen).”… “it increases religiousness and piousness. this is what makes cow’s milk so important”. in thailand, a chinese coronavirus patient’s test-result turned negative within 48 hours when treated with HiV and influenza drugs. thailand has 19 confirmed cases for coronavirus infection.

Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

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of them, 11 are still hospitalized and the rest samples of the new coronavirus. Johnson & have returned home. it is also monitoring 311 Johnson on Wednesday joined a growing list of drug makers to begin work on developing a vacpossible cases in hospitals.

Meanwhile, a World Health organisation cine for the virus. the WHo says the fatalities are only ‘tip of (WHo) advisory has declared the epidemic a global emergency. Some coronavirus-affected the iceberg’. coronavirus kills nearly 100 in a patients, in 27 affected countries, never travelled day in china. the number of deaths, 1018 by to china. antibiotics do not work against the Sunday afternoon, and infections, 43,104, by the viruses, like corona, but only bacteria’. there is same time has crossed the toll of the 2002-03 Severe acute respiratory yet no evidence that the Syndrome (SarS) epicompanion animals like demic. the WHo chief, dogs and cats can be intedros adhanom Ghefected with the virus. However, one should wash A rumour is afloat in India breyesus says, “there’s been some concerning inhands with water and soap that China wants to kill stances of the coronavirus after coming in contact (abroad) from peowith pets. it helps staying 20,000 patients. India needs spread ple with no travel history protected against common to china. the detection of bacteria like e.coli and salto curb rumours and small number of cases monella. advertisement of fake drugs amay indicate more wideSesame oil or garlic mouthwash can’t cure counder its Drugs and Magic spread transmission in other countries; in short, rona virus.

Remedies (Objectionable we may only be seeing the the WHo also listed the iceberg.” remedies that it said Advertisements) Act, 1954, tip ofchina has allocated weren’t effective, and were 71.85 billion yuan (about potentially dangerous like which prohibits ads of billion) to support smoking, vitamin c, tradidrugs and remedies (cow- $10.3 the control of the novel tional herbal teas, multiple masks, self-medication dung and urine) that claim coronavirus outbreak. about 31.55 billion yuan like antibiotics (which to have magical properties have been spent. only work against bactea rumour is afloat in ria). an australian neuroindia that china wants to scientist said there’s no kill 20,000 patients. india evidence that homeopathy needs to curb rumours and can cure viral infections or that the unani drugs prescribed by the indian advertisement of fake drugs under its Drugs and Magic remedies (objectionable advertisegovernment can reduce virulence. a drug tamiflu was effective against respi- ments) act, 1954, which prohibits ads of drugs ratory Syndrome and Middle east respiratory and remedies (cow-dung and urine) that claim to Syndrome. But the drug remdesivir, originally have magical properties. tested on ebola, is being experimented on coAmjed Jaaved is a freelance journalist, has rona. Gilead Sciences inc says it provided its experimental ebola therapy for use in a small served in the Pakistan government for 39 years number of patients with the coronavirus . the and holds degrees in economics, business company said it was also expediting laboratory administration, and law. He can be reached at testing of the antiviral drug, remdesivir, against amjedjaaved@gmail.com.

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Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Wednesday, 12 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

Coal mining in Balochistan MininG is one of the province’s most profitable industries. the coal miners faces are covered with a black layer of coal dust, they work hard and put their lives in danger. coal mining has historically been fraught with dangers with aftermath of natural disasters, suffocation, gas poisoning, injury or death, gas explosions the workers enter dangerous zone for mining. the miners are working in semi-darkness and breathing in corrosive air, the coal miners of Balochistan risk their lives daily for a meagre income just to be able to support their families and feed their children. the miners do not even have access to social security, old age benefits, proper housing, health and water facilities or education for their children.

Many miners have lost their lives or suffered a physical disability in frequent accidents in the mines. poor working conditions inside coal mines in Balochistan claim the lives of miners on almost daily basis. Facilities in the coal mining sector in the country are becoming commonplace highlighting the need for better labour protection. the government should focus on this issue and provide protection and facilities to the miners of poor Balochistan.

BAnAdi Ali Turbat

Water shortage

VPN is latest security threat to India A view from out of the Held Valley virtual private network valley. i was looking at programming that creates this old lady, she was lost safe, encrypted connecin her thoughts. reading tion over a less secure her facial expressions, i The central government network, such as the pubt was a sunny afternoon. the weather could guess that she uses every platform and lic internet. Vpn apps was quite pleasant and i was at Dalgate, wanted to know all about are used to bypass the heading towards lal chowk, i waited for Vpn , and in a very low delivers speeches to say firewall to access social few minutes at Ghat 9 and i saw a cab tone said, “Gubra yeh that after scrapping Article media websites. with only one seat left stopping next to VPn-CPn kya hovai? ( more deme and the Driver shouting, “lal chowk, lal My son, what is this Vpn370 in Kashmir nothing has tails,toi learn took my phone chowk”. i sat in the cab and after few minutes cpn) is it something very a man sitting on my right got a call and while dangerous. happened, people live free and called my friend who is from South Kashmir’s the man replied, he was talking to the other person, he uttered there and have access to pulwama district and these words: “they have made our lives hell, “no, my Mother, it is the whole incinow they have started this to disturb us, it is nothing like that,” and exeverything, and are happy narrated dent to her. She started their strategy to irritate us, Don’t worry, we plained to her in Kashmiri giggling and replied, with this decision. So have been facing this for the last two decades.” what Vpn was and why it “Yes i also heard about was use. this old lady got then he dropped the call. obviously the central such incidents taking “i was very curious to know what this man an idea about Vpn and in was talking about, what are we going to witness a very sarcastic tone said, government would not want place in South Kashmir.

So what? this is not new, this time, My mind was going all through this “Who are they? How can the truth to come out as we are used to it,” she and suddenly someone started to ask from the they check our cell said. back of the cab, “What happened man?”, i turned phones?” social media is the most “are you going to the conversation back and saw a woman who seemed in her 60s. powerful entity and if it is uninstall this applicaShe enquired from this young man, “What was about to take a new tion?” i asked. has happened, you seem to be disturbed after turn, when the driver of free, the world will get to She answered very the call, is everything alright? Do you want to the cab said, “We’ve share? She started posing a lot of questions to reached Jahangir chowk.” know of the atrocities upon confidently, “no, my dear. i will use it, they do We all got off his cab this young man. i smiled and said to myself, the Kashmiri people all this just to irritate us.

“She is more curious than me to learn the de- and left for our destinaotherwise using Vpn is tions. as i crossed the tails from this man.” not a big deal. i’ve downafter sometime this man replied in a very road and looked at the loaded many Vpns and low voice, “What should i tell you? nothing new faces around me, sudhas happened as usual. £the same story, but this denly i saw some crpF men toting guns. i had when one is blocked i simply jump to the next time the issue is quite different,” replied this man. to cross them to reach my final destination, and one,” she added. it is pertinent to mention that this is not the i started feeling very “i am from anantnag anxious and various first time that Kashmiris are using Vpn. Back [a district in South Kashthoughts were striking in 2016, when militant commander Burhan mir 53 km away from Srinagar city]. i came to the I reached home but I was me, like what if they Wani was killed and the authorities shut down check my cell phone, the internet, people started using Vpns in order city this morning for lost in my thoughts, “Why how will they react? to to bypass the censorship. some personal work and i don’t think it is a crime. using a Vpn console myself i said to the person who was calldo we live in fear? Why myself, “Don’t worry, so doesn’t make you different from others. it’s ing me is my wife and she don’t we have the right to what if they did some- simply an attempt to have free access to the was quite worried about like that? it’s just a outer world. Why do i not have freedom to me. She was telling me do whatever we want to do? thing browse whatever i wish and want to on the inVpn,” and i walked on. that our nextdoor neighi reached home but i ternet? are they going to tell us what to do and bour Ghulam nabi’s son Why are we Kashmiris was lost in my thoughts, what not to, which application we can use and was been beaten up by sebeing threatened, beaten up “Why do we live in fear? which not? curity forces only for By beating my people, irritating them, they Why don’t we have the using Vpn. they found , abused every time by right to do whatever we think that by using Vpn the world should know Vpn in his phone when everybody? Why do I live want to do? Why are we the atrocities committed by them on us. as peohe was returning back being threat- ple must have taken pictures and shot videos in from pampore. My wife here where the air is full of Kashmiris ened, beaten up , abused their mobile gadgets about what happened to called me, as she knows that i also had installed terror.” Why was I behaving every time by everybody? the Valley after august 4. the central governWhy do i live here where ment uses every platform and delivers speeches Vpn in my phone last quite differently in front of the air is full of terror.” to say that after scrapping article 370 in Kashweek, so she was urging Why was i behaving quite mir nothing has happened, people live free there me to delete that first and the security forces as if I differently in front of the and have access to everything, and are happy then head towards home.” was carrying a weapon security forces as if i was with this decision. So obviously the central govHe said this with a broad carrying a weapon al- ernment would not want the truth to come out smile. although I had only though i had only in- as social media is the most powerful entity and as he was still smilstalled Vpn in my cell if it is free, the world will get to know of the ing, the other passengers installed VPN in atrocities upon the Kashmiri people. phone. in the cab raised their my cell phone Vpn is not a weapon voices “they can do anySadaf Aijaz is a freelance journalist in inthat can cause damage to thing, it was accepted, someone, it is simply a dian Administered Kashmir what has happened to our

SAdAf AijAz

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tHrouGH the columns of your reputed newspaper. i want to draw attention towards the poor water supply in our society and to raise the water table for future use. there is a great scarcity of water in our society. We are receiving water for only 3 to 4 hours the whole day. the pressure of the water is very low, it is very difficult to finish the household work in time and the water supply is also very dirty and unclear. So i request the concerned authorities to improve the quality of water supply in our areas and creases the power supply so that the people of our areas do not face the problem. everyone is aware that water is our basic necessity and we can not do without it. We use it properly. no one is conserving water. Water resources and reduces at a high level. it is our duty to save water. all of us must understand the urgent need to save water. We should not waste water. in the rainy season we should harvest water. the government and public must take urgent steps to solve this serious problem. i hope some positive action will be taken by the authorities at the earliest. i hope you will publish this letter in your esteemed newspaper so that some actions can be taken in this matter.

RAmeSH nAZ Karachi

Kech jobs uneMploYMent is the root of crimes that creates instability in a society. it destroys the basic principles of a peaceful society. unemployment compels the people to do such activities that are harmful for the society. it is a wellknown fact that Kech is the most famous and educated district of Balochistan. every year thousands of students pass their M.a or M.phil and remain jobless. the increasing population of district Kech is creating less job opportunities for the people and unemployment is increasing rapidly. it is important to noted that every year a number of students get free but unfortunately a single post cannot be announced for them. according to a report Balochistan has the highest number of poor people with 48 percent and 51 percent are living under poverty in rural areas of the province. the students spend their age in getting education and due to lack jobs they will be compelled to start working as labour, hotel, even join criminals gangs which are burden on society. education is the only hope for poor parents to send their children for a bright career but unfortunately they sacrifice their all life to fulfill the educational facilities of their children. When they pass, they are jobless. the parents are totally disappointed to send their children for higher education. corruption is the main reason that creates inequality among people of the area. Most of the jobs are taken by leaders and nothing remains for the poor.

SHAmeelA SAleH Turbat

Coronavirus needs preventive measures coronaViruS, designated 2019, ncoV, which is the burning issue in pakistan after its nature was identified in Wuhan, Hubei province, china. recently, countries like australian, cambodia, canada, France, Germany and many more have confirmed new cases of coronavirus. china has officially confirmed at least 4500 people infected and 106 people have died across the country, most of them in and around Wuhan. as a resident of Gilgit-Baltistan, i consider it essential to pen my views on the decision of the provincial Government of Gilgit-Baltistan related to the reopening of pakistan-china border crossing point in a drastic situation when a coronavirus has severely surrounded the entire china. particularly, yesterday, patients, residents of Sinkiang, were diagnosed as Victim of coronavirus. the Sinkiang is bordered with Gilgit-Baltistan. Most importantly, this virus transfers from one person to another person when an infected person coughs, sneezes and touches. once the flow of traveler executes then it is hard to stop the virus. it is an alarming situation for the inhabitants of Gilgit-Baltistan because the people who will be traveling in and out the border will carry the virus unknowingly.

SiBTAin Ali islamabad

Wednesday, 12 February, 2020

10 FOREIGN NEWS

Time To neGoTiaTe 'veRy seRiously' wiTH eu on TRade, says TRump WASHINGTON

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AGENCIES

RESIDENT Donald Trump said Monday the time has come to pursue trade negotiations with the European Union which he said imposes “incredible” barriers to US goods.

“Europe has been treating us very badly,” Trump said at a White House event with US state governors.

After reaching a series of trade deals with Canada, Mexico and Japan, and a phase-one agreement with China, Trump said, “The next thing could be Europe, where we talk to them very seriously.”

Relations between the two major economies have lingered for months in a tense truce. Trump has imposed punishing tariffs on EU goods like French wine in disputes over steel imports, govern-

Global stocks mixed on coronavirus but S&P 500, Nasdaq hit records BEIJING AGENCIES

Major US stock indices finished at fresh records Monday, shrugging off worries about the coronavirus that pressured other equity markets and drove oil prices lower. As the outbreak continued, Chinese President Xi Jinping donned a face mask while visiting medical workers and patients affected by the deadly coronavirus that has killed more than 900 people.

Although parts of China remain shut down, roads in Beijing and the financial hub of Shanghai had significantly more traffic Monday, while the southern city of Guangzhou said it would start to resume normal public transport.

“Some of the larger Chinese manufacturers seem set to return to work this week,” noted senior market analyst Edward Moya at the online broker Oanda.

On Wall Street, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq ended at fresh records, while the Dow won solid gains and pulled to within 100 points of a record of its own.

“At least, we have an idea that the government has done a very good job at taking action and trying to contain it,” said JJ Kinahan, chief market strategist at TD Ameritrade.

“It may get worse, but we feel good about what we know right now.” Equity markets in Europe retreated, while oil

prices fell decisively on worries about loss of petroleum demand due to the outbreak.

Investors worldwide have been watching with concern as China, the world’s second-largest economy, battles the novel coronavirus, which emerged at the end of last year in the central city of Wuhan, prompting authorities to impose lockdowns and quarantine measures.

The domestic impact was reflected in China’s inflation figures released Monday, which showed the highest rise

in consumer prices in more than eight years, with food prices spiking more than 20 percent.

It has also disrupted the supply chains of major global firms such as Apple supplier Foxconn and auto giant Toyota as key production facilities across China have been temporarily closed, and major airlines have halted service.

Investors are looking ahead to key US data releases on retail sales and consumer pricing, as well as two days of

ment subsidies for Airbus, and a tax on digital giants like Google and Amazon.

But so far he has held off on threatened punitive duties on European cars aimed at forcing a change in trade policy.

Trump reached a ceasefire with the EU in mid-2018, when the sides agreed to pursue negotiations — talks that have not yet resulted in anything concrete.

Trump said he focused first on the dispute with China and renegotiating the continental free trade pact with Canada and Mexico because he “didn’t want to do the whole world at one time.”

READY FOR A DEAL: But Monday he renewed his complaints about EU trade policy, even claiming improbably that the economic bloc “was really formed so they could treat us badly.”

“They have barriers that are incredible,” Trump said, adding, “They’re ready for a deal.”

congressional testimony with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell starting Tuesday.

In New York, HP Inc. gained 0.8 percent as Xerox said it was raising its offer for the computer and printer maker to about $36 billion.

The new offer from the imaging and copying giant is around 10 percent higher than the bid launched last year and rejected by the HP board of directors. Xerox climbed 1.4 percent.

KEY FIGURES AT 21:45 GMT: New York – Dow: UP 0.6 percent at 29,276.82 (close) New York – S&P 500: UP 0.7 percent at 3,352.09 (close) New York – Nasdaq: UP 1.1 percent at 9,628.39 (close) London – FTSE 100: DOWN 0.3 percent at 7,446.88 (close) Frankfurt – DAX 30: DOWN 0.2 percent at 13,494.03 (close) Paris – CAC 40: DOWN 0.2 percent at 6,015.67 (close) EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 0.1 percent at 3,793.18 (close) Tokyo – Nikkei 225 – DOWN 0.6 percent at 23,685.98 (close) Hong Kong – Hang Seng: DOWN 0.6 percent at 27,241.34 (close) Shanghai – Composite: UP 0.5 percent at 2,890.49 (close) Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0916 from $1.0946 at 2200 GMT Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2911 from $1.2892 Euro/pound: DOWN at 84.50 pence from 84.91 pence Dollar/yen: FLAT at 109.75 yen Brent Crude: DOWN 2.2 percent at $53.27 per barrel West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 1.5 percent at $49.57 per barrel.

Half-a-million insect species facing extinction, scientists say HELSINKI AGENCIES

Half of the one million animal and plant species on Earth facing extinction are insects, and their disappearance could be catastrophic for humankind, scientists have said in a “warning to humanity”.

“The current insect extinction crisis is deeply worrying,” said Pedro Cardoso, a biologist at the Finnish Museum of Natural History and lead author of a review study published Monday.

“Yet, what we know is only the tip of the iceberg,” he told AFP. The disappearance of bugs that fly, crawl, burrow, jump and walk on water is part of a gathering mass extinction event, only the sixth in the last halfbillion years. The last one was 66 million years ago, when an errant space rock wiped out land-based dinosaurs and most other life forms.

This time we are to blame.

“Human activity is responsible for almost all insect population declines and extinctions,” Cardoso told AFP. The main drivers are dwindling and degraded habitat, followed by pollutants — especially insecticides — and invasive species. Over-exploitation — more than 2,000 species of insects are part of the human diet — and climate change are also taking a toll. The decline of butterflies, beetles, ants, bees, wasps, flies, crickets and dragonflies has consequences far beyond their own demise.

“With insect extinction, we lose much more than

species,” Cardoso said. “Many insect species are vital providers of services that are irreplaceable,” including pollination, nutrient cycling and pest control.

BIO’DIVERSITY’ HOTSPOTS: These “ecosystem services” are worth $57 billion (52 billion euros) a year in the United States alone, earlier research has found.

Globally, crops that require insect pollination have an economic value of at least $235-577 billion annually, according to the UN biodiversity science panel, known as IPBES. Many animals rely on abundant insects to survive. A sharp drop in bird numbers across Europe and the United States, for example, has been

linked to the collapse of insect populations decimated by pesticide use.

Scientists estimate the number of insect species at about 5.5 million. Only a fifth of them have been identified and named.

“The number of threatened and extinct insect species is woefully underestimated because so many are rare or undescribed,” Cardoso said.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species has evaluated only some 8,400 species of insects out of one million known to exist.

Five to 10 percent of all insect species have died out since the industrial era kicked into high gear some 200 years ago.

Half of indigenous species of plants and vertebrates are found exclusively in some three dozen biodiversity “hotspots” that cover on 2.5 percent of Earth surface.

“These hotspots likely harbour a similar percentage of endemic insect species,” said the study titled “Scientists’ warning to humanity on insect extinctions,” published in Conservation Biology.

A quarter century ago conservation scientists issued a “Warning to Humanity” about the collapse of Nature. In 2017, they issued a second warning, signed by 15,000 scientists.

The new study, titled “Scientists’ warning to humanity on insect extinctions”, was published in the journal Conservation Biology.

Trump has focused on reducing the US trade deficit with the EU which amounted to $178 billion last year, excluding services, where American firms have an advantage.

While Washington and Brussels have agreed to pursue an ambitious deal to remove trade barriers and reduce tariffs, no details have emerged from the few meetings. And a major sticking point remains, since the EU has not agreed to include agricultural goods.

EU leaders were surprised last month when European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced following a meeting with Trump that she was expecting to sign an agreement “in a few weeks.”

She said the deal would be a “new approach” from a previous attempt towards a transatlantic trade deal announced in 2017.

EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan made a surprise visit to Washington last week to meet his US counterpart Robert Lighthizer, which followed another meeting last month.

An EU spokesman said the meetings “are part of the regular bilateral contacts” between the EU and the US “for a positive bilateral transatlantic trade agenda,” without providing further details.

Google HR chief stepping aside as worker activism rises MOUNTAIN VIEW AGENCIES

Google on Monday confirmed that head of human resources Eileen Naughton was stepping away from her job as “vice president of people operations” at the internet company. “We’re grateful to Eileen for all she’s done and look forward to her next chapter at Google,” Sundar Pichai, the head of Google and its parent company Alphabet, said in a statement. Google added more than 70,000 employees during Naughton’s time as head of human resources, according to Pichai. Naughton said that she would work with Pichai and chief financial officer Ruth Porat to find a successor. “My husband and I have decided — after six years on the road, first in London and now San Francisco — to return home to New York to be closer to our family,” Naughton said. In recent years, the Google workplace has been disrupted by employee opposition to top-level decisions ranging from forging contracts with the US military to tailoring a version of the search engine for China.

Google in November fired four employees on the grounds they had violated data security policies, but the tech titan was accused of persecuting them for trying to unionize staff. The dismissals of the quartet — dubbed the “Thanksgiving Four” on social media — deepened staff-management tensions at a company once seen as a paradigm of Silicon Valley freedoms but now embroiled in numerous controversies. One of the workers fired was connected to a petition condemning Google for working with the US customs and border patrol agency, which has been involved in President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration. Google employees have also openly opposed the company pursuing contracts to put its technology to work for the US military. In 2018, Google employees poured out of premises at its Mountain View campus and around the world to protest the company’s handling of sexual misconduct allegations.

Wednesday, 12 February, 2020

Govt to sooN DECiDE fAtE of its suboRDiNAtE oRGANisAtioNs ISLAMABAD

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MERGER OF 35 ORGANISATIONAL ENTITIES, TRANSFER OF 43 TO SARMAYA-E-PAKISTAN ON THE CARDS

AHMAD AHMADANI

HE federal government would soon take some important decisions regarding the fate of its subordinate organizational entities (OEs), as it intends to keep only 324 out of the total 441 OEs under the federal domain.

These decisions are likely to be taken in the light of recommendations of a report titled 'Progress Report on Institutional Reforms', which was prepared by Adviser to Prime Minister on Institutional Reforms and Austerity Dr Ishrat Husain-led committee to ensure the implementation of institutional reforms in the country.

The report was presented in a federal cabinet meeting held on 28th Jan 2020 under the chair of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

According to documents, "If the government approves the proposed recommendations, then 117 OEs, which are currently functioning under the federal government, will not be able to continue their work. Resultantly, only 324 OEs will be retained by the federal government as executive departments

and autonomous bodies."

As per the break-up figures, out of the total 441 OEs, 43 would be privatised or transferred to Sarmaya-e-Pakistan, 14 would be transferred to the provinces, eight would be liquidated, 35 would be merged, 17 training institutes would be consolidated, whereas 87 executive departments and 237 autonomous bodies would be retained by

China's first-quarter smartphone sales may halve due to coronavirus SHANGHAI: China’s smartphone sales may plunge by as much as 50pc in the first quarter, as many retail shops have closed for an extended period and production has yet to fully resume due to the fast spread of a new coronavirus, according to research reports. The virus outbreak, which has killed more than 900 people and roiled China’s manufacturing industry, comes as top smartphone vendors such as Huawei had hoped China’s 5G rollout plans this year would help the world’s biggest smartphone market rebound after years of falling sales. “Vendors’ planned product launches will be canceled or delayed, given that large public events are not allowed in China,” research firm Canalys said in a note last week. “It will take time for vendors to change their product launch roadmaps in China, which is likely to dampen 5G shipments.”

Canalys expects China’s smartphone shipments to halve in the first quarter from a year ago, while IDC, another research firm that tracks the tech sector, forecasts a 30pc drop. Apple Inc said last week it is extending its retail store closures in China and has yet to finalise opening dates, as Foxconn, which assembles iPhones, struggles to fully resume work. Foxconn received government approval on Monday to resume production at a plant in the city of Zhenghzou, and reopened a major plant in the southern city of Shenzhen.

But many others of its factories have yet to resume operation. Huawei, China’s biggest smartphone vendor, said its manufacturing capacity is “running normally” without specifying further.

But like many other local peers, Huawei relies heavily on third-party manufacturers for production. If factories cannot resume production to full capacity on time, this could delay brands’ ability to bring their newest products to market, analysts said. Xiaomi Corp, Huawei, and Oppo, three of China’s top Android brands, are all expected to announce flagship devices in the first half. Oppo told Reuters that while the impact of the virus will affect operations at some local factories, “manufacturing capacity can be guaranteed effectively” thanks to its plants overseas. Xiaomi did not respond to requests for comment. “The delays in reopening factories and the labour return time will not only affect shipments to stores, it will also affect the product launch times in the mid- and long-term,” Will Wong, an IDC analyst, said. AGENCIES

the federal government.

Sources privy to the development said besides deciding the fate of OEs, the government would also take decisions regarding amendments in the laws of State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), restructuring of Capital Development Authority (CDA), establishing a full-time secretariat for the Council of Common Interests (CCI), reorganization of Evac-

uee Trust Board, three-year security tenure for federal secretaries, and an integrated Human Resource Management Division within the federal government.

They said recruitment of statistics chief and members for the governing board of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics would be done in the near future, while a decision to revitalize and modernize the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) would also be taken soon to make it effective and professional.

Sources said the Civil Aviation Authority would be divided into distinct organizations; one would be responsible for regulatory oversight and enforcement of the aviation industry while the other would manage the commercial operations of the airports, besides encouraging the private sector to enter into concession agreements.

As per the documents, the formation of a Corporate Restructuring Company for the revival of sick industries was on the cards. Similarly, the policy board of Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) would be revamped through the involvement of eminent members. The policy board would be chaired by a private sector expert rather than the finance secretary.

Market Daily

Stocks stage 417-point comeback rally KARACHI STAFF REPORT

After a lacklustre performance in the previous session, the Pakistan Stock Exchange staged a rally on Tuesday, with the indices ending in the green zone.

Foreign investors remained net sellers on Monday with a net outflow of $0.345 million. The benchmark KSE-100 Index, which opened the day at 39,408.62, sunk to its intraday low at 39,084.86 after losing 211.84 points. The index then changed its direction and headed south to reach its intraday high at 39,985.96 (+689.26 points). It finally settled higher by 417.76 points at 39,714.46.

Among other indices, the KMI30 Index gained 1,036.84 points to end at 63,287.53, while the KSE All Share Index appreciated by 344.81 points, closing at 27,865.16.

Sectors that added positivity to the index included power generation & distribution (+91.09 points), oil & gas exploration (+88.87 points) and cement (+73.44 points). Among the companies, Hub Power Company Limited (HUBC +85.95 points), Lucky Cement Limited (LUCK +31.26 points) and Pakistan Tobacco Company Limited (PAKT +29.37 points) remained the top positive

contributors of the day.

Market participation for KSE All Share Index clocked in at 161.53 million (-10.6pc). Daily traded value stood at Rs5.27 billion.

Hascol Petroleum Limited (HASCOL +4.72pc), Unity Foods Limited (UNITY +12.58pc) and TRG Pakistan Limited (TRG +11.37pc) led the volume chart. The scripts had exchanged 12.85 million, 12.58 million and 11.37 million shares, respectively.

The cement sector added +2.51pc to its cumulative market capitalization, with Maple Leaf Ce-

ment Factory Limited (+5.62 pc), D G Khan Cement Company Limited (DGKC +3.03pc) Lucky Cement Limited (LUCK +2.40pc) and Fauji Cement Company Limited (FCCL +3.00pc) closing positively.

On the market front, Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTC +0.33pc) declared its financials for FY19. The company’s revenue inched up by a meagre 0.39pc while its cost of sales increased by 1.94pc. As a result, the company's earnings per share decreased from Rs1.46 in FY18 to Rs1.24 in FY19.

BUSINESS 11 Petroleum Division’s new method to determine gas prices opposed ISLAMABAD: The Senate’s Standing Committee on Petroleum on Tuesday opposed a proposal, being considered by the quarters concerned, to introduce the ‘Weighted Average Cost’ method for determining the gas price under slab-mechanism.

The committee, chaired by Mohsin Aziz, was of the view that the proposed formula shouldn’t be applicable on the provinces producing gas as it would hurt their interests and increase concerns. The Senate body was informed that currently, there were around four different tariffs of gas in the country that needed to be streamlined for better efficiency of the sector. The committee members expressed annoyance over delay in setting up Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) air-mix plants in Balochistan and not calculating consumer tariff/subsidies in their feasibility reports. The parliamentarians were informed that the gas price under the air-mix plants would be higher than the piped gas, and now the matter was being taken up with the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) for deliberation. Petroleum Division Secretary Mian Asad Hayauddin said there should be a special energy package for Balochistan keeping in view its different dynamics. APP

NEPRA defers decision to increase power tariff ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) on Tuesday deferred its decision to increase electricity price for the month of November 2019 following a request by the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA). During the NEPRA hearing, the CPPA requested to postpone the proposed 98-paisa per unit hike in power tariff for the consumers of exWAPDA power distributing companies (DISCOs). The agency also advocated that it was not faced with financial problems and that all information in this regard was incorrect. However, it maintained, problems faced by the power sector were not a secret.

Speaking on the occasion, the NEPRA chairman said the authority would leave no stone unturned to safeguard the consumers’ rights, adding that NEPRA has so far not received any proposal regarding changing the mechanism of fuel charges adjustment. As per details, 39.01pc of the total power in the month of November 2019 was generated through hydel sources, while 27.31pc was generated with coal, 11.55pc with nuclear source, 9.34pc with local gas and 9.20pc with imported liquefied natural gas. Earlier, the CPPA had requested the NEPRA to jack up the power price by 98-paisa per unit for ex-WAPDA DISCOs on account of fuel charges adjustment for November 2019. It is pertinent to mention that NEPRA’s hearing on fuel charges adjustment for November 2019 was earlier scheduled to be held on January 29, 2020. However, this hearing could not happen and NEPRA issued another public notice, informing all stakeholders and general public that a hearing on fuel charge adjustment for the said month would be held in NEPRA headquarters on February 11 (Tuesday).AHMAD AHMADANI

‘Govt, exporters committed to exploring untapped pharma markets’ LCCI PRESIDENT URGES GOVT TO REVISIT INTEREST RATE AND WITHHOLDING TAX TO FACILITATE BUSINESSES LAHORE STAFF REPORT

Pakistan's pharmaceutical industry has enormous potential to grow its global share from existing three per cent and the incumbent government is extending a supporting hand to the exporters to explore untapped markets in the world.

"The local pharma industry can tap markets like Africa and all stakeholders need to work together in this regard," said Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Irfan Iqbal Sheikh after inaugurating the 10th Pak Pharma and Healthcare Expo at the Lahore Expo Centre on Tuesday.

The three-day exhibition-cum-con-

ference is being organized by the Prime Event Management and is supported by the Pakistan Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Association (PPMA). Irfan Iqbal Sheikh told reporters that Pakistani exporters could especially tap African region where Pakistani exports stood around $1.67 billion as compared to the Indian exports volume of $25 billion and China's $91 billion. "Joint efforts by the government, business community, exporters and national drug regulator could help Pakistan grab a greater global market share in pharma exports."

Sheikh said Pakistani pharmaceutical entrepreneurs have the capability to manufacture quality products, adding that Pakistan's total exports, which

stood around $24.8 billion, are much below than the exports of Vietnam and India. "Although the government wants to support the pharma industry, it needs to revisit the interest rate and withholding tax (WHT) to further facilitate businesses," the LCCI president maintained.

"We urge the government to rationalise and reduce the ratio of interest rate, duties and taxes so that more people could do their businesses in an investorfriendly atmosphere."

The LCCI president also asked the government to fix its policies by taking all stakeholders on board. Speaking on the occasion, Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) Chairman Muhammad Zakaur Rehman said the business community and the government are working together on an export-led growth programme. "We are updating the government about the problems faced by the export-led industry," he added.

Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) Director Dr Obaid Ullah noted that Pakistan is far behind other countries in the exports of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), despite the country being a potential market for it.

He said a joint working group comprising officials of FBR, DRAP and API manufacturers is working in the FBR to figure out export opportunities.

Prime Event Management Director Kamran Abbasi said that around 70 local and international companies were participating in the three-day expo.

These include companies from Japan, Turkey, Malaysia, Taiwan and Korea.

He said although some Chinese entrepreneurs were unable to attend the trade show because of the coronavirus outbreak, their representatives are participating. Kamran Abbasi hoped a good number of industry people would be visiting the exhibition in the coming days.

Wednesday, 12 February, 2020

12 BUSINESS

PRomiNENt tuRkish iNvEstoRs to ACComPANy ERDoGAN oN PAkistAN visit LAHORE

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SHAHAB OMER

URKISH President Tayyip Erdogan would be accompanied by a delegation of 34 prominent Turkish companies during his upcoming visit to Pakistan.

As per sources privy to this development, both sides would mull agreements pertaining to bilateral trade and investment, as some Turkish companies had already expressed their keen interest to invest in the major sectors of Pakistan.

The visiting delegates would belong to leading companies including CocaCola Beverages, Turkish Airlines, Ozpak JV, Albayrak Group etc., they added.

According to an official of the Punjab Industries, Commerce & Investment Department, a delegation of 16 companies, led by Turkey Pakistan Business Council Chairman Atilla D Yerlikaya, had visited Pakistan in 2018.

At that time, he added, the Punjab government and the Punjab Board of Investment (PBIT) had discussed with them ways to intensify and further expand trade

Corporate Corner

and economic corporation between the two countries.

"The same companies are again coming to Pakistan with the delegation... they are now coming to execute their plans to enhance bilateral trade," the official claimed.

Meanwhile, talking to this scribe, PBIT Chief Operating Officer Muhammad Haroon Shaukat, who was the former ambassador of Pakistan to Turkey, said Turkey and Pakistan enjoyed a mature and friendly relationship and that both countries wanted to work together.

Wheat flour crisis: CCP seizes record from PFMa office ISLAMABAD PPI

ISLAMABAD: United Bank Limited President & CEO Sima Kamil and UBL Group Executive (Compliance) Sajid Hussain being presented the ISO 9001:2015 Certification by SGS Managing Director Abdul Razzaq Lakhani. pr

LAHORE: Leading businessmen Almas Hyder and Mian Kashif Ashfaq address a seminar in relation to Export Business Development 2020. pr

KARACHI: Planning & Development Minister Asad Umar chaired the signing ceremony of a historic MoU between the Finland and Pakistan to launch an initiative to train one million students on disruptive technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IOT), Gaming-Tech, Health-Tech, etc. pr

This visit of the Turkish president would provide a great opportunity to Pakistan, as it would hopefully bring a huge amount of investment, he added.

He said there were around five to six major Turkish companies that had already invested heavily in Pakistan. "The Coca-Cola Beverages has an investment of approximately $600 million in Pakistan and they have established two factories in Multan and Faisalabad.

Similarly, as our automotive industry is growing and new companies from China are establishing their factories in Pak-

The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) on Tuesday seized important documents during a search and inspection of the Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA)’s premises in Lahore.

The raided was conducted following a discovery of fresh information made available vis-à-vis prima facie collusion in the wheat flour sector, a news statement issued by the commission said. The CCP, in its recent order on December 13, 2019, had imposed a penalty of Rs75 million on the association for taking decisions with respect to fixing the price of wheat flour and the quantities of production of wheat flour by its member mills.

The commission, in its order, had issued directions to the PFMA that discussions, deliberations and decisions regarding current and future pricing, pro-

duction and marketing were anticompetitive and should be avoided at all costs by the associations. Despite the foregoing directions, based on the information received by the CCP, the PFMA and its members were apparently involved in prohibited conduct under the Competition Act. Through its various enforcement orders, the CCP had issued guidelines with reference to conduct/role of associations in any sector. The association may engage in activities that increase awareness of standards and technologies and may also make effort to develop consensus amongst its members regarding public policies.

However, the association should not, at any cost, indulge in any activity which may violate the act. The rule of thumb is that the association is not allowed to discuss, deliberate or share sensitive commercial information that may allow its members, who are competitors, to co-ordinate business policy, the statement concludes.

oil rises from 13-month low as new virus cases slow NEW YORK: Oil gained more than 1 per cent on Tuesday, recovering from a 13-month low as the number of new coronavirus cases slowed in China, easing some concern over the potential for lengthy oil demand destruction. The death toll climbed above 1,000 on Tuesday, though the number of new confirmed cases fell. The epidemic could peak in February and then plateau before easing, said the Chinese government’s top medical adviser on the outbreak. Brent crude LCOc1 was up 90 cents, or 1.7pc, at $54.17 a barrel by 12 pm EST (1700 GMT), having dropped on Monday to its lowest since January last year at $53.11. US West Texas Intermediate CLc1 crude was up 53 cents, or 1.1pc, at $50.10. “Oil prices are rallying on the fact that less coronavirus cases were reported today compared to yesterday,” said Andy Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates.

“However, I still think that OPEC+ needs to take some action because there has been a serious dent in oil demand here in February.” Investors remain wary that China’s oil demand could take a further hit if the coronavirus cannot be contained and if OPEC and its allies, known as OPEC+, fail to agree on further steps to support prices. AGENCIES

istan, Turkey is also interested to establish their plants in the country."

On a query regarding the activities of the business delegation, PBIT Director Marketing Fatima Khan said business-tobusiness sessions would be organised between investors from both sides.

"We will provide opportunities to our local business industries to interact with them for joint ventures and green-fields projects. As the Turkish investors are already working in Punjab, they know this province is the ideal destination for investment," she maintained.

HUBCO-FFC’s 330MW thar energy limited reaches financial close Thar Energy Limited (TEL), a subsidiary of Pakistan’s largest Independent Power Producer, the Hub Power Company Limited (Hubco), has reached its financial close.

HUBCO, in collaboration with Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited (FFC), established Thar Energy Limited (TEL) to set up a 330MW mine-mouth lignite-fired power plant, one of the first power project to utilise the local lignite at Thar Coal Block II for power generation. While Hubco currently holds 60pc of the equity in TEL, FFC is the second major investor with 30pc equity stake while CMEC TEL Power Investments Limited (CTPIL) hold the balance 10pc equity in the project. BUSINESS DESK

US business delegation apprised of Pakistan's economic policies ISLAMABAD: A delegation of the American Business Council called on Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh at the Ministry of Finance on Tuesday. The adviser informed the delegates about the government's policies, which, according to him, are aimed at facilitating the business and investment climate in the country with a focus on the ease of doing business. He said the government would provide them with a level-playing field as the government believed in investment and export-led growth, which is more durable and sustainable. The delegation praised the efforts made by the government to promote investment in the country. They shared a number of recommendations related to taxation, sale of IT products, tariff rationalization of imported goods, ports and shipping and registration processes. APP

PtCl’s net profit decreases 14.5pc to rs6.3bn LAHORE HASSAN NAQVI

LAHORE: In continuation of its efforts for women empowerment, Telenor Pakistan has joined forces with the World Bank for ‘Girls Learn Women Earn (GLWE)’ initiative. pr

tfCL launched to facilitate lowcost private schools in Pakistan Taleem Finance Company Ltd. (TFCL), a Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC) set up with a license from Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), has been launched with the objective of providing education finance services to low and middle cost private schools in Pakistan, making it the only dedicated financial institution in the country to cater to infrastructure and working capital needs of such schools. With financial backing as well as technical expertise and experience from US-based impact investor Gray Matters Capital (GMC) in facilitating school improvement initiatives across the globe, TFCL will strive to improve the quality of learning outcomes in its partner schools by enabling infrastructure improvements and establishing best practices. “Access to customized financial products has been seen as a critical success factor around the world for the improvement of education services in developing countries” said Ms. Erika Norwood, President and Chair of the Board, Gray Matters Capital, at the launch event. PRESS RElEASE

The Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has posted PTCL Group and PTCL’s net profit at Rs2.4 billion and 6.3 billion, respectively.

The company’s financial results for the year ended December 31, 2019, were announced by PTCL Group President and CEO Rashid Khan and PTCL Group Chief Financial Officer Nadeem Khan at a media briefing on Tuesday. PTCL Group (subsidiaries Ufone, UBank and DVCom) has posted operating profit and net profit of Rs6.7bn and Rs2.4bn for the year 2019 respectively, which were Rs9.5bn and Rs5.7bn in 2018 with a decrease of 29pc and 58pc, respectively.

PTCL’s operating profit and net profit decreased by 24pc (Rs4.9 billion) and 14.5pc (Rs6.3 billion) respectively. The PTCL’s Board of Directors also declared a final cash dividend of 5pc i.e. Re0.50 per share, which is in addition to the interim cash dividend of 5pc i.e.

Re0.50 per share. The total dividend for the year thus stands at 10pc i.e. Re1 per share.

According to the CFO, the PTCL Group’s revenue has shown a year-on-year (YoY) growth of 2.1pc to reach at Rs129.5 billion. All group companies have contributed positively towards this growth.

Ufone continued its acquisition drive in 2019 to cross 23 million subscribers that resulted in an improved market share. U Bank, a microfinance banking subsidiary of PTCL, has shown a significant growth of 48pc in its revenue over the last year as a result of a rapid expansion in its branch network.

Nadeem said Ufone’s revenue increased by 0.8pc YoY due to the enforcement of suspended GST/FED by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. “Normalised revenue increased by 6.8pc YoY mainly due to growth in data,” he added. The CFO said a decrease in profits was attributable to higher inflation, significant rupee devaluation, an increase in interest rates and hike in power tariffs.

The PTCL revenue of Rs71.5 billion for the year 2019 is slightly higher than 2018.

The PTCL’s flagship fixed broadband services posted a revenue growth of 5pc YoY. Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH), installed in 11 major cities of Pakistan, has enhanced the value proposition of PTCL brand.

Nadeem said the PTCL’s operating profit for 2019 has decreased by 24pc from the preceding year. “It remained under pressure mainly due to an increase in the operating cost on account of inflation, significant hike in power tariffs and currency devaluation.”

PTCL has posted a net profit after tax of Rs6.3 billion for the year, which is 14.5pc

lower than last year. CEO Rashid Khan told reporters that VIS Credit Rating Company Limited has reaffirmed the entity rating of PTCL of “AAA” (Triple A) and short term rating of “A-1+” (A-one Plus).

He added that the medium to long-term rating of ‘AAA” denotes highest credit quality, with negligible risk factors, being only slightly more than for risk-free debt of the Pakistan’s government.

Rashid further said the short term rating of ‘A-1+’ denotes highest certainty of timely payment; liquidity factors are outstanding and safety is just below risk free short-term obligations of the Government of Pakistan.

“Outlook on the assigned rating is ‘stable’,” the CEO added. He also said the recent upgrade in its fixed line network infrastructure has enabled PTCL to significantly reduce customer complaints and offer high speed internet packages to its customers.

“In addition to the network upgrade, PTCL has also taken other customer centric initiatives like experience management, implementation of customer-care systems and adoption of related best practices.”

Corporate and wholesale businesses continued their growth momentum from 2018 and achieved 13pc overall revenue growth by securing new and strategic ICT and cloud projects, the CEO added.

Aleesa Tahir, Anum Tahir Rasees, Fouzia, Nargees, Hira Shah

Amir Khan and Kashif Qadri

Ali Rehman Khan

Pakistani Hollywood Producer Habib Paracha, brought his movie “The Last Full Measure” to Pakistan with a star studded premeire in Nueplex DHA, Karachi which was attended by some of the biggest names of the Pakistani entertainment industry including Ali Rehman Khan, Sarwat Gillani, Humaima Malik, Adeel Husain, Anoushey Abbasi; fashion designers Sana Safinaz, Asim Jofa, Humayun Alamgir along with the members of the business & the diplomatic community.

ALTHOUGH THE BOBCAT IS RARELY SEEN, IT IS THE MOST COMMON WILDCAT IN NORTH AMERICA.

Anoushay Abbasi

Fouzia Zardari, Shaheera Abbasi and Sahar Paracha

Fatima Danish

Hira Shah

A CAT'S TAIL CONTAINS NEARLY 10 PERCENT OF ALL THE BONES IN ITS BODY. Humaima Malik

Momal Sheikh

Habib Paracha & Ahmed

‘‘Amna Ilyas all set to come to theatre with Hasina Moin’s Hit Ankahi’’

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HOLLYWOOD BOLLYWOOD

ctress and model Amna Ilyas, will now be dabbling in theater with one of Hasina Moin's classic character "sana" from her famous drama "Ankahi". the 90's hit drama will see its revival in the form of a theater play directed and scripted by KopyKats production, famed for bringing plays like "Pawnay 14 August", "Aangan terha", and others on stage. remembered as one of the most popular dramas on tV in Pakistan, the emotionally hard hitting drama will see Amna Ilyas as one of the leads in the remake. the Baaji actress will be seen essaying the role of sana, originally played by the popular

Natalie Portman wears cape with names of snubbed female directors to Oscars 2020 Natalie Portman has made a real statement at the 92nd Oscars’ red carpet as she chose to wear a cape embroidered with the names of women who directed movies last year, and were snubbed for this year’s ceremony. the names of the directors on the gown include -- Lorene scafaria (Hustlers), Lulu Wang (the Farewell), Greta Gerwig (Little Women), Marielle Heller (A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood), Melina Matsoukas (Queen & slim) Alma Har’el (Honey Boy), celine sciamma (Portrait of a Lady on Fire) and Mati Diop (Atlantics), Variety reported. this is not the first time that Portman has made such a statement at an award ceremony. In 2018, while presenting the best director award, the actor made a comment, saying “here are the all the male nominees” before announcing the names.

Only, one woman -- Kathryn Bigelow for the Hurt Locker - has managed to win the prize at the ceremony.

actress shehnaz sheikh. talking about this new step, Ilyas said, "I am both extremely thrilled and a little nervous about performing theater. this would be a completely new territory for me, but I am really looking forward to it, and I hope I can do justice to the role!" the play will be staged in Karachi by mid of March this year.

Amna Ilyas has proved her mettle as an actress with her performance in hit films including Zinda Bhaag, saat Din Mohabbat In, Baaji, and ready steady No. From a supermodel, to an acclaimed actress in both film and television, the versatile Amna Ilyas is all set to take over theater now.

Esha Deol announces ‘good news’, Tara Sharma thinks she is pregnant again Actor esha Deol is all set to make her debut as an author with a book on motherhood titled Amma Mia. she announced the news with a video shared on her Instagram account, which also featured her elder daughter radhya and her friend and actor tara sharma. the clip begins with tara telling viewers that esha has invited her home to share some exciting news. When esha says that she has some “good news” to tell her, tara touches her belly, thinking that she is pregnant again.

“I had just had Miraya (younger daughter). come on, yaar!” esha says, to which tara replies, “You never know!” esha then tells tara that it is a “new role” and calls daughter radhya out, introducing her as “the inspiration behind my effort”. the cover of esha’s book Amma Mia is then unveiled and tara tells viewers that it will be available in bookstores from March 23. the book will have “stories, advice and recipies from one mother to another”.

CMYK

GECKO FEET HAVE MILLIONS OF TINY HAIRS THAT STICK TO SURFACES WITH A SPECIAL CHEMICAL BOND AND LET THEM CLIMB WALLS AND HANG ON BY JUST ONE TOE.

Troll asks Kamya Punjabi why she is remarrying despite having daughter, gets epic reply from Kavita Kaushik television actor Kamya Punjabi was a happy bride as she tied the knot with shalabh Dang on Monday (February 10). As she took to Instagram to share pictures from her haldi and mehendi ceremonies, several congratulatory messages poured in from her colleagues as well as fans.

However, one Instagram user questioned Kamya’s decision to remarry, despite having a daughter. “You already have 2 children so why you do it ? I mean phir shadi ?” the user asked in the comments section of one of her wedding posts.

Kamya, who was earlier married to Bunty Negi, has a 10year-old daughter Aara with him. shalabh also has a son named Ishan from his previous marriage.

While Kamya did not respond to the troll, her best friend and television actor Kavita Kaushik jumped to her defence. she replied to the comment, “@lima418 cos you get married so you have a partner/companion/best friend /soulmate..

Wednesday, 12 February, 2020

14 SPORTS

VICtoRy foR MelBouRne As VIRus-hIt ChAMPIons leAgue gRouPs stARt MeLbourne

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ELBOURNE Victory got off to a winning start as the virus-disrupted AFC Champions League East zone began with a curtailed schedule on Tuesday.

Ola Toivonen's first-half penalty secured a 1-0 home win for Victory against Thai debutants Chiangrai United, while Ulsan Hyundai and FC Tokyo drew 1-1.

The Group E games between Beijing Guoan and FC Seoul, and Shanghai Shenhua against Perth Glory in Group F, have both been postponed until April because of travel restrictions aimed at halting the coronavirus.

A swathe of countries have barred arrivals from China to fight the outbreak, which has killed more than 1,000 people in China and infected more than 42,000 in 25 countries.

Most Champions League games involving Chinese clubs have been put on hold for two months, extending the group stage and shunting the East zone's round of 16 back to June 16-24.

Also on Tuesday, Asia's secondtier AFC Cup postponed its East zone games until April, affecting teams from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau and Mongolia.

Victory's 1-0 win was far from convincing against Thai champions Chiangrai, who had a man sent off late on as their tournament debut ended on a sour note.

Ronaldo, Ibrahimovic set for Italian Cup clash MiLan agencies

But it was welcome for Carlos Salvachua's side, who have won just four of their 17 A-League fixtures this season to sit third from bottom on the 11-team domestic table.

"They made us work for it," said Toivonen. "We controlled the first half but we were a little bit anxious in the second. But it's always important to get a good start in the group."

Victory have only once advanced beyond the group stages in seven previous campaigns -- when they were eliminated in the round of 16 under then coach Kevin Muscat.

After a slow opening period at AAMI Stadium in Melbourne, Victory began pressing and Toivonen's curling shot was well saved after 22 minutes.

The deadlock was broken three minutes later when Toivonen was pulled down off the ball in the box and the Swedish striker stepped up to convert the penalty.

Despite the match being largely played in the Chiangrai half, few other chances were created against a stubborn opposition.

However, Chiangrai's night ended badly with Thirayu Banhan sent off in

the dying minutes for a dangerous tackle.

In the later kick-off in Ulsan, the hosts had FC Tokyo's Adailton to thank as he headed a late own goal to leave the scores all square at 1-1.

Ulsan striker Bjorn Johnsen smashed a volley against the bar early on, and had a fierce shot tipped over nine minutes into the second half.

Diego Oliveira put FC Tokyo ahead with a neat finish on 64 minutes but with eight minutes to go, Adailton gifted Ulsan a point when he headed past his own goalkeeper from a hanging free-kick.

Under-fire Woodward eyes summer 'opportunity' for Man Utd Manchester agencies

Ed Woodward admits the summer transfer window will be an "important opportunity" for Manchester United to bolster their squad with significant investment after a troubled season at Old Trafford.

United are languishing in eighth place in the Premier League as they struggle to secure a top four finish.

Both United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and executive vice-chairman Woodward have been under fire from frustrated fans, with some throwing flares and vandalising the outside of the latter's house recently. Woodward points to the signing of Portugal playmaker Bruno Fernandes from Sporting Lisbon during the January transfer window as proof United can still attract quality players despite failing to win the Premier League since 2013.

But, while Solskjaer's team are still in the Europa League and FA Cup, Woodward conceded

United's struggles so far have left them short of the pre-season targets. "The signing of Bruno Fernandes and return of key players from injury will be a boost to Ole and the squad as we head into the second half of the season," Woodward said in introductory remarks made at a recent fans' forum.

"We remain in contention in the Europa League and the FA Cup, as well as for Champions League qualification, so there is still lots to play for.

"However, as a club and a board, we do recognise that we are not yet where we want to be.

"It is the overwhelming priority of everyone at the club to get us back to regularly challenging for Premier League and Champions League titles.

"Although progress may not always be smooth, everyone across the club is focused and committed on playing their part in helping achieve those aims."

The emergence of youngsters Mason Greenwood and Brandon Williams has offered hope for the future and Woodward wants to blend those promising talents with the more established stars.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are set to go head-to-head in Thursday's Italian Cup semi-final, first leg between Juventus and AC Milan at the San Siro. Both Ronaldo and Ibrahimovic scored at the weekend in defeats as Juventus fell 2-1 at Hellas Verona, while AC Milan threw away a two-goal lead in a 4-2 defeat by city rivals Inter. "It wasn't the result we wanted," said the 35-year-old Ronaldo despite becoming the first Juventus player to score in 10 successive league games, just one game short of the Serie A record. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has scored 23 goals in all competitions this season. Ibrahimovic, 38, has scored three goals since returning to Milan last month. The Swede headed in the second goal on Sunday after setting up the first, but Inter hit back with four second-half strikes. "I showed that I can still make a difference, even at 38," he said. But Inter striker Romelu Lukaku will be looking to upstage the two other former Manchester United players against Napoli in the other last-four first leg on Wednesday.

PCB, WAPDA to organise exhibition cricket match at Mohmand in March Lahore Press release

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) will jointly organise a cricket-exhibition match in Tribal District Mohmand of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The match is scheduled to be played in March as part of ‘Pakistan Day’ celebrations at Mohmand Dam Hydropower Project.

Renowned players of the Pakistani cricket team will feature in the match along with other national and local cricketers. This was decided in a meeting held at WAPDA House between WAPDA Chairman Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain (Retd) and PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan.

The match at Mohmand will tremendously contribute in creating soft image of Pakistan – the erstwhile FATA in particular – in addition to promoting sports in far-flung areas of the country. The match will also help bring into lime light the peaceful environment of the area, which passed through serious security issues couple of years ago. Now peace and normalcy prevail in the area due to sacrifices made by the Pakistan Armed Forces, police and people of the area. The conducive environment enabled WAPDA to commence construction work on Mohmand Dam in May last year.

Ighalo in United squad for Chelsea clash London agencies

Odion Ighalo will be in the Manchester United squad for the Premier League clash with Chelsea next Monday despite missing a training camp in Spain due to fears he could be denied re-entry into Britain if restrictions against the outbreak of Coronavirus are tightened.

The 30-year-old Nigerian international striker joined United on loan until the end of the season on deadline day last month from Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua.

The British government called the novel coronavirus a "serious and imminent threat", and said anyone with the disease can now be forcibly quarantined if they are deemed a threat to public health as the number of cases in Britain doubled to eight.

The death toll from the coronavirus outbreak surged past 1,000 on Tuesday.

Most cases overseas have involved people who had been in Wuhan, the quarantined central Chinese city where the virus emerged late last year, or people infected by others who had been at the epicentre.

United said Saturday in a statement that Ighalo had been left out of the Spain squad to avoid any potential problems related to the killer virus on re-entry to Britain.

However, United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer told the club's website Ighalo will be in the squad for a match that could have a crucial bearing on who finishes in the top four this term and qualifies for the Champions League next season.

"Yeah, he is going to travel with

us," said Solskjaer.

"We will just see his fitness work this week and I think we will get him sharp.

"We want to integrate him as quickly as we can because, of course, he is desperate to play for us."

Ighalo, who has played his club football in China for the past three years after joining Changchun Yatai from Watford, was signed as emergency cover for the injured Marcus Rashford.

Chelsea presently occupy the fourth and final Champions League spot and are six points clear of eighth-placed United.

The other three Champions League places look destined for Liverpool, Manchester City and third-placed Leicester, who have a 10 point advantage over fifthplaced Sheffield United and a game in hand to boot.

CMYK

Wednesday, 12 February, 2020

SPORTS 15

InDIA suffeR oDI CleAn sWeeP In neW ZeAlAnD Mount Maunganui

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EW Zealand consigned India to their first bilateral ODI whitewash in more than 30 years, riding on the efforts of a second-string attack missing Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry. Hamish Bennett's four-for and some tight bowling around him made sure India managed only 296 despite their biggest gain of the series: a middle-order core of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer.

New Zealand made the chase seem more difficult than it should have been after a 106-run opening stand between Henry Nicholls and Martin Guptill. Regular wickets, though, brought back memories of the T20I series debacle, but Tom Latham and a charmed Colin de Grandhomme saw them through from 220 for 5.

India might have lost the ODI series, but in Rahul they have solidified a No. 5 to fill the hole left by Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni.

Rahul had already shown he could hit hard, hit from ball one and hit for a long time, but on Tuesday, he rescued India from 62 for 3 to score his fourth ODI century. And he did so without eating up balls at the start of his 113-ball 112.

Rahul stayed at the wicket for 34.3 overs during which time India scored 207 for 2. Around that stay, though, New Zealand - not great in the field, mind you - managed to cause enough damage to restrict India to 296 for 7 despite the score reading 269 for 4 in the 47th over.

If the similarities were not enough already, Rahul joined Rahul Dravid as the

New Zealand 300 for 5 (Nicholls 80, Guptill 66, de Grandhomme 58*, Chahal 3-47) beat India 296 only India wicketfor 7 (Rahul 112, Iyer 62, keeper with Bennett 4-64) by an ODI century outside five wickets Asia. Both were naturalised wicketkeepers who batted below their preferred position to suit the team's needs. Incidentally, the last time an India batsman scored a hundred from No. 5 or lower was when Dhoni and Yuvraj were batting together, in January 2017 against England. That Cuttack ODI was also the last time India had crossed 290 with the top three's con-

tribution being under 20%. Not just Rahul, Nos. 4 and 6 around him played their role: Iyer scored a near-run-a-ball 62, and Manish Pandey made sure the runs kept coming with his 42 off 48 from 162 for 4.

The day, though belonged to the New Zealand bowlers. Kyle Jamieson continued his impressive beginning by bowling Mayank Agarwal early, beating the outside edge after having gone past the inside one in the previous game. Virat Kohli played an uncharacteristic innings, getting beaten by wide deliveries early before hitting out to only the seventh ball he faced. This was the earliest he had hit a

six in India's innings. Kohli's innings didn't continue for long, though, as he cut Bennett straight to third man. Prithvi Shaw, looking in great touch once again, gave it away by running himself out, bringing in Rahul to join Iyer.

During their last partnership, in the first ODI of this series, Rahul had sort of carried Iyer, but here Iyer was in better touch. He still kept hitting the ball in the air but never fell too far behind the 100 strike rate. Rahul looked imperious from the time he walked in, square-driving the second ball he faced for four. New Zealand turned to de Grandhomme and James Neesham soon after the early ex-

Steyn sets sights on World Cup

changes just like they had done in the first ODI. Runs kept trickling with a Neesham short delivery stopped at Iyer, who could only pop up a catch to short midwicket.

The two added 100 in 110 deliveries.

Mitchell Santner missed a run-out of Rahul on 64, and Pandey on 35 but did a good job of keeping a lid on the scoring.

From the 39th to the 46th over, India hit only one boundary. There was a slightly strange element of risk aversion for a side only four down.

When Rahul took the risk in the 47th over, Jamieson dropped him at long-off.

Bennett, though, got his due reward with a similar chance next ball, with Jamieson hanging on this time. Pandey chose the next ball to try to hit a six, and even he could go only as far as long-on. Bennett's mix of wide lines, hard lengths and knuckle balls worked well and only 86 came in the last 12 overs.

It took New Zealand a little over 12 overs at the start to score those 86.

Guptill took apart Navdeep Saini and also took a ten-run over off Jasprit Bumrah, who went wicketless in the series. It was eventually the legspin of Yuzvednra Chahal that dragged India back into the contest. Guptill fell to a ripper, but Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor chipped up soft catches to give India a look-in. Nicholls, consistently impressive as a naturalised opener, failed to convert yet again and fell 20 short of a hundred. Neesham took a fair go at a half-volley from Chahal but found Kohli at midwicket. Against the run of play, it was 77 runs required with the last recognised pair in.

With Latham rock solid at one end, de Grandhomme chanced his arm as soon as he came in. A mis-hit fell short of a deep fielder, two less-than-ideal hits just about cleared the fence, and New Zealand were off again. Latham remained unbeaten on a soothing 32 off 34.

Warner mulls quitting t20Is to prolong career MeLbourne

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David Warner has flagged his likely retirement from T20Is following the two T20 World Cups to be played in consecutive years, and also explained why he has chosen to skip the Big Bash League for much of his international career. On an emotional Australian Cricket Awards night for Warner, he took out the Allan Border Medal as the national team's best player across all three formats despite an abominable Ashes series in which Steven Smith and Marnus Labuschagne scored the runs that allowed Tim Paine's team to retain the urn in England for the first time since 2001. He fared far better on home soil after adopting the belligerent, aggressive batting approach that Australian cricket followers have grown used to, and also made runs on the brief India ODI tour last month that was the last series that featured in the medal's voting period. At 33, Warner is starting to consider how to approach the remainder of his career, and the dropping of T20Is from his schedule appears the next step he will take to prolong it - albeit only after the T20 World Cups in Australia later this year and in India in 2021. "I don't have a BBL team; I took a break during this period, and that was about my body and my mind, making sure I'm getting ready for the next series that comes up," Warner said. "If you look at T20 internationals, we've got back-to-back World Cups as well, that's probably a format that could be one I'd probably drop in a few years. "I have to look at the schedule; it's going to be very difficult [for me] to play all three forms, and good luck to all the guys who want to keep playing that. You talk to guys like AB de Villiers and Virender Sehwag, these guys who've done it for a long time, it does become challenging.

Dale Steyn is determined to be part of South Africa's squad for the T20 World Cup in Australia in October and November after switching his focus from Test cricket to the shortest form of the game.

South Africa’s all-time leading Test wicket-taker will be 37 by the time the global showpiece starts and has not played international cricket since last March.

But he said on Tuesday he was looking forward to his comeback in the first Twenty20 international against England at Buffalo Park on Wednesday.

"I love playing cricket," he said.

"I wake up every day and I can't see myself doing anything else right now." Steyn said he had discussed some options for life after cricket but that was something for the future.

"As long as that drive is still there to play at the highest level, to get batters out, fox them and outsmart them and that kind of stuff, if I can do that I’m going to continue to do that."

Steyn was selected for the 2019 Cricket World Cup in England and Wales but didn’t play a game before returning home with a shoulder injury. He announced his retirement from Test matches in August and said he would devote the rest of his career to limited overs cricket.

But he didn’t play in the threematch one-day series against England which ended on Sunday and he indicated on Tuesday that his focus had narrowed to the 20-overs format.

Steyn said that he planned to play in T20 leagues in Pakistan and India in the coming months.

"After that it will be the Proteas and I will give it everything I’ve got until the World Cup." He said his decision to quit Tests, after taking a South African record 439 wickets in 93 matches,

5 players charged by ICC after under-19 W Cup final

was because of the workload.

"If you’re playing Test cricket you could bowl 20 overs in a day. I could play about five T20s in that space." He said that in Test cricket he had prided himself on being able to bowl at high pace throughout a long day. The requirements for T20

cricket were different, "but guys need to know that it’s still there and that you can bowl a 90 miles an hour bouncer or yorker."

Steyn said he hoped to perform well himself but also to impart some of his knowledge to the young bowlers in South Africa’s line-up.

"I want to guide them," he said.

"I want to stand at mid-off and say, ‘what are you thinking, what ball are you thinking of bowling?’.”

England stars Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Mark Wood return for the three-match T20 series after being rested during the one-day matches.

CMYK

DUBAI: Three Bangladesh players and two of their Indian opponents have been charged by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after unsavoury scenes following the Under-19 World Cup final on Sunday. Bangladesh claimed their maiden global trophy with a three-wicket victory on DLS method in Potchefstroom, before tensions spilled over between the two sides. Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain and Rakibul Hasan, who struck the winning run, were all found guilty of a Level 3 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct for the newly-crowned champions, while Indians Akash Singh and Ravi Bishnoi were also sanctioned. Hridoy, Hossain and Singh were all handed six demerit points, with Rakibul and Bishnoi given five for the post-match incidents. agencies

Wednesday, 12 February, 2020

NEWS

Opp blasts gOvt Over recOrd inflatiOn KH ASIF SAYS ECONOMY HAS SHRUNK FROM $230BN TO $189BN AMID INCREASING INFLATION ISLAMABAD

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AWMAKERS belonging to the opposition and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday engaged in a heated debate over inflation that touched 14.6 per cent earlier this month. Taking the floor on the House, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Asif said the government had failed to tackle inflation. Corruption has also increased manifold during the PTI government, he added.

He also blasted the senior ministers for their absence from the NA session, saying: “The people of Pakistan are suffering, but look at the seriousness of government officials, the very people who “enjoy the trappings of power” are absent. “The country’s current rulers have made the country a ‘shelter’ for those involved in the wheat and sugar shortage. Those benefiting the most from the current situation are within the government or are associated with them in some manner.”

“Are the current prices [of any item] within the reach of citizens,” he questioned, adding that the country’s economy has shrunk from $230 billion to $189bn.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)

Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari criticised the government, saying it ran a “floundering economy” into the ground. Unemployment and poverty [in the country] existed before this government but they have increased since the PTI took to power. These are the facts,” he said.

“According to the Bureau of Statistics, inflation during the past 18 months surpassed that recorded during the past 10 years. Food inflation, from 1.5 per cent in 2019, has reached 25pc.”

Listing the increase in the prices of essential commodities, the PPP leader highlighted the discrepancy in the general inflation rate and that faced by the general rural population.

On top of all this, the government has increased gas prices by 55pc, motor fuel by 76pc, and electricity charges by 14pc, said Bilawal, adding: “We are answerable to the people, and the people are asking whether we should feed our children or pay our electricity and gas bills.”

“It is beyond me, I don’t understand how a majority of members of this House face their constituents,” he added. He said the government doesn’t have to care about people because it is the “selected one” and that’s the very reason it bowed down in front of the International Monetary

china’s virus death toll passes 1,000 WHO NAMES DEADLY VIRUS FROM CHINA AS ‘COVID-19’

Fund (IMF) at the expenses of the people’s economic rights. “In the past 15 months, the government has taken loans worth Rs11,000bn,” Bilawal said, recalling the statement made by Imran Khan, before he became the prime minister, that he would commit suicide before taking loans .

We do not want Imran to commit suicide, but we demand that he accepts that he is wrong, he said, questioning why there was currently a tax shortfall.

“The IMF deal is a bad deal for the people and for Pakistan. It is a poor deal which was negotiated poorly by those who have compromised on the rights of the people of Pakistan, and the economic sovereignty of Pakistan,” Bilawal said.

Acknowledging that Pakistan needs to document its economy, the PPP chairperson maintained that the government made a mistake by trying to document the “entire economy, all in one go, by hook or by crook”.

Bringing up the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), initiated by his late mother and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, Bilawal termed the initiative the first social security net for the people of Pakistan.

“But how can politicians such as Imran, whose entire career can be credited to an ISI [Inter-Services Intelligence] chief tolerate [such a thing],” he said, prompting a raucous in the House.

The statement was expunged by the NA speaker amid ruckus in the House. Calling out Bilawal, Minister

for Communications and Postal Services Murad Saeed said that how can someone who was handed his political career in his mother’s will, call the prime minister “selected”. They [PPP} were giving aid to government officials through BISP. They did nothing for the people of the country living below the poverty line, he said.

Defending the economic progress made during the PTI government’s tenure, Minister for Economic Affairs Division Hammad Azhar said the country had embarked on a journey to progress and development after stabilising the economy.

He said the current account deficit had come down by 84 per cent and that the market-driven currency rate was stable at Rs 155 against the US dollar since June last year. He said the PMLN government had wasted about $20bn to artificially stabilise the rate of the dollar. He said due to effective policies of the government, the foreign exchange reserves were improving and the current account deficit was shrinking. He said the government had also cleared short term liabilities worth Rs400bn, recalling that the country was heading to default when the PTI came to power.

The minister said the government was all set to enter the higher growth trajectory in next fiscal year. He said the price of wheat had been stabilised in three provinces while efforts were being made to reduce the commodity price in Sindh.

shehbaz sharif not returning to pakistan anytime soon SOURCES SAY PML-N PRESIDENT WILL WAIT FOR LHC’S VERDICT ON MARYAM NAWAZ’S PLEA BEFORE PLANNING COMEBACK EWS DESK Contrary to claims being made by some private news channels regarding the return of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) President Shehbaz Sharif to the country “within the next few days”, Pakistan Today has learnt on Tuesday that the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly is unlikely to come back before March. Informed sources have confided to the newspaper that the Sharif family is waiting for the Lahore High Court’s ruling on Feb 18, on a petition filed by Maryam Nawaz seeking one-time permission to fly to London to be with her ailing father, Nawaz Sharif. “Nawaz has stopped Shehbaz from returning till the LHC verdict comes out. The doctors want to carry out his angiography at the earliest but Nawaz is adamant that he won’t undergo the procedure till his daughter is by his side,” the sources said. Earlier, several news outlets had claimed that Shehbaz will return to Pakistan in the next few days to take charge of the party. Meanwhile, speculations of a rapprochement between the Sharifs and disgruntled PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan were rife on Tuesday after it was reported that the latter has left for London to meet Nawaz Sharif. Nisar flew to London via Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA) flight PK-785 from Islamabad. He is likely to return to Pakistan on Feb 25. According to reports, Nisar is also expected to undergo medical examination during the visit. Nisar had distanced himself from PML-N after developing differences with the party’s supremo, Nawaz. The former interior minister had also refused to accept Maryam Nawaz as PML-N’s leader. The senior politician had been advising the former prime minister to avoid a war of words with state institutions, cautioning him that it was not in the interest of the country.

At least 5 dead in suicide attack on Afghan military academy KABUL AGENCIES

BEIJING AGENCIES

The death toll from a new coronavirus outbreak surged past 1,000 on Tuesday as the World Health Organization warned infected people who have not travelled to China could be the spark for a “bigger fire”. The rise came after President Xi Jinping made a rare visit to a hospital in Beijing, wearing protective gear as he chatted with medical workers and patients. An advance team for a WHO-led international expert mission arrived in China as the country struggles to contain a viral epidemic that has now infected more than 42,000 and reached some 25 countries. Another 108 deaths were reported on Tuesday — the first triple-digit rise since the virus emerged. The first death was reported on January 11. The number of deaths has increased a thousandfold in just one month, reaching 1,016, though the mortality rate remains relatively low at 2.4 per cent. Chinese authorities have locked down millions of people in a number of cities while several governments have banned arrivals from China, and major airlines have suspended flights to keep the disease away from their shores. But the case of a British man who passed on the virus to at least 11 other people — without having been in China — has raised fears of a new phase of contagion abroad.

NEW DELHI AGENCIES

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday failed in his promised goal of taking over Delhi State’s legislature as his Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost the key state election in India’s capital to its rival Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) with a huge margin.

The election results came in the background of the deadly protests against contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, which erupted across the country in mid-December, after the ruling BJP passed the new law which, critics said, violated India’s secular constitution and discriminated against minority Muslims. At least 25 people have been killed in the protests so far.

In counting for state polls held in New Delhi, data from election commission showed the liberal AAP, led by the city’s chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal, leading 63 out of 70 seats.

The BJP ran a campaign accusing protesters of “supporting Pakistan”. Cabinet ministers campaigned with starkly sectarian language, implying that support for the incumbent AAP was like supporting so-called “Islamist terrorism” or committing treason. In the two weeks since one deputy minister implored crowds to “shoot the traitors,” there have been two cases of guns being fired at protesters, The New York Times reported.

BJP was projected to win 13 seats, up from three in 2015 but far below its own expectations. Despite its warmongering rhetoric, it managed to bag 7 seats

A suicide attack targeting a military academy in the Afghan capital killed at least five people early on Tuesday, the first major assault in the city in months.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, which comes after nearly three months of relative calm in Kabul. The ministry of defence said five people were killed and at least six injured in the attack. The interior ministry, however, said six people died — two civilians and four military personnel —after the suicide bomber detonated the device at around 0230 GMT. Twelve others were wounded, spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said in a statement.

The blast happened near the Marshal Fahim military academy, where the country’s security officers are trained.

“It was a big explosion that rocked our house. We also heard gunfire afterwards.

Ambulances rushed to the area quickly,” resident Samiullah, who like many

Afghans goes by one name, told AFP. A security source speaking on the condition of anonymity told AFP that the attacker was on foot when he targeted a vehicle near a checkpoint as it was entering the academy.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani slammed the attack, calling the bombing “a crime against humanity” while repeating his call for a nationwide ceasefire.

“The great nation of Afghanistan wants an end to violence, a ceasefire and a lasting peace,” he said in a statement.

Modi's BJP bites the dust in Delhi state polls only. A total of 36 seats are required to form the government. As the results arrived this morning, Chief Minister Kejriwal won a comfortable majority to start his third tenure in office as his AAP obtained an unassailable lead over the BJP, NDTV reported.

The main opposition party Congress has failed to open an account yet again with all its heavyweights trailing.

The campaign for the election 2020 has been bitter and polarised, the political discourse bogged down by threatening slogans and foul language.

The ruling AAP has sought to retain power on the work done in the field of education, health, and in providing cheap electricity and water, while the main opposition BJP conducted a massive campaign, roping in most of its 70 union ministers, 270 MPs and leaders and chief ministers from various states, to deliver its campaign message on anti-CAA protests and nationalism. Delhi election 2020 was held on Saturday, with 62.59 percent of the city’s voters coming out to exercise their democratic right. The voter turnout in the previous assembly election in 2015 stood at 67.5 percent. Exit polls released after the conclusion of voting predicted as many as 56 of the 70 assembly seats for AAP, leaving 14 for the BJP and zero for the Congress.

Published by Arif Nizami at Qandeel Printing Press, 4 Queens Road, Lahore. Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk

CMYK