E-Paper PDF 26th January 2020 (LHR)

CMYK

26 January, 2020 I 30 Jamadi-ul-Awwal, 1441 I Rs 30.00 I Vol X No 207 I 68 Pages I Lahore Edition

‘PREEMPTIVE ACTION’

Interest rate lIkely to remaIn unchanged g

Imran approaches sc to challenge ecp’s jurisdiction in foreign funding case

AnALysts sAy pOLIcy rAtes wILL be LOwered Once currency stAbILIses, expOrts recOver And InfLAtIOn recedes tO A sIngLe-dIgIt KARACHI

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ARIBA SHAHID

mid concerns about the high policy rate and its adverse impact on the economy, the central bank’s current policy rate of 13.25 per cent will likely remain unchanged in a bid to control rising inflation, predict market experts.

Last changed on July 16, 2019, the policy rate was hiked 100 basis points after a strong cycle of monetary tightening contrasting with the global trend toward rate cuts.

As the new monetary policy is set to be rolled out on monday, market experts predict that the policy rate would remain unaffected due to the upside risks to inflation.

However, the prediction stands in contrast to the claims made by government officials, including President dr Arif Alvi, who had hinted at a possible decrease in the interest rate owing to a “thriving economy”.

The Pakistani economy has the seventhhighest policy rate in the world, which is well above the world average of 4.67%. in addition, Pakistan is one of the few countries that have gone toward tightening in the span of 12 months. Out of 92 countries that have their own policy rate, only 6 moved towards monetary policy hikes. This, however, has given Pakistan the opportunity to take advantage of inflows for its T-bills.

Umer Farooq from AKd Securities stated in a report that an upward trend in the prices of the commodities was bound to take place following the rupee devaluation; however, ample supply kept these prices in check.

Keeping this in mind, headline inflation is likely to witness a jump, therefore, pushing the decrease in the policy rate later this year, he added.

Adnan Sheikh, AVP Research & development at Pakistan Kuwait investment Company, said the SBP will lower the policy rates once the economy is stabilised enough to absorb any unexpected economic consequences.

He referred to the conditions under the international monetary Fund (imF) programme stating, “The SBP will maintain an appropri-

Editorial: Shaking off a bad reputation STORIES ON PAGES 03 & 08

wells lauds pakistan’s role in Afghan peace process STORY ON PAGE 02 ately tight monetary policy to guide inflation and inflation expectations. To this end, it will maintain a positive policy rate in real terms consistent with the SBP’s medium-term inflation objective and the program’s monetary aggregate targets.”

“The current projections suggest inflation would start to taper off after march, but chances of upside risks in the form of utility price adjustment and food shocks leave space for the question of another round of preemptive action,” he added. it is to be noted that higher interest rates are strongly correlated to the number of defaults by businesses, thereby encouraging banks to invest in government paper instead.

This flock to safer havens further hampers business activity as the private sector is crowded out as a result.

Keeping this in mind, pressure groups are lobbying toward a rate cut further along the year, however, they do not remain hopeful for a cut in monday’s announcement.

Commenting on the expectations regarding the next monetary policy announcement, KASB

Securities managing director Asif Arsalan Haider Soomro said, “The SBP needs to maintain the high policy rate in order to curtail imports, live within means, and balance the books, while also attracting foreign inflows and increased imports as cushion for external shocks.”

“One should expect the policy rates to take a downward turn only when the currency stabilizes, exports recover, and inflation recedes to a single digit,” he said.

On the note of T-bills and inflows, Faizan Kamran, a research analyst from AHL said, “i don’t think the government relies on foreign investment in T-Bills as a measure to support reserves. it’s more of a stop-gap arrangement to bolster reserves which it has managed to do.”

Though this reflects increased confidence in the currency due to a recovering economy, the increased growth in exports and Fdi is a more sustainable means to support the reserves, he added.

According to Kamran, the decrease in the policy rates is directly proportional to inflation, so unless inflation reaches an inflection point it is highly unlikely for monetary easing to kick in.

Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 9 wickets, clinch T20 series

Why Transparency International CPI 2019 is not representative of PTI govt STORY ON BACK PAGE

chinese national suspected of carrying coronavirus admitted to Multan hospital STORY ON PAGE 03

Buzdar woos PTI ticket-holders with promise of development funds STORY ON PAGE 03

in today’s issue

STORY ON PAGE 15

Limited internet to be restored in IOK, no access to social media STORY ON BACK PAGE CMYK

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Sunday, 26 January, 2020

02 NEWS

WeLLS LaUdS PakISTan’S roLe In afghan PeaCe ProCeSS ISLAMABAD

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S Deputy Assistant Secretary for South Asia Alice Wells has appreciated the steps taken by Pakistan to advance the Afghan peace process.

The US diplomat, in a media briefing after her visit to three South Asian nations — Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka — said, “Pakistan has important leverage to promote lasting security and stability in Afghanistan.”

She said that she held several meetings in Pakistan with government, military, civil society, and business leaders.

“At the top of the agenda was understanding how we can grow our bilateral relationship commensurate with the cooperation that we are achieving in promoting peace in Afghanistan and regional stability,” she added.

Talking about the Afghanistan peace deal, she said that US Ambassador Khalilzad and his team were in Doha to encourage the Taliban to make a commitment toward a reduction in use of force that would allow Afghans to sit at a negotiating table.

Wells also highlighted progress in US-Pakistan bilateral relations and said,

“We’ve seen obvious progress in our relations with Pakistan, from the highlevel engagement such as the US president’s warm and constructive meeting with Prime Minister Khan at Davos to the restoration of the International Military Education and Training

Three more polio cases emerge in Sindh KARACHI: The Emergency Operation Centre for Polio (EOC) in Sindh on Saturday confirmed three more polio cases in the province, taking the total viral disease cases of 2019 in Sindh to 27 and two in 2020. A spokesperson for EOC Sindh said a 96-month-old male from Kambar has been tested positive for the polio virus. He belongs to a family of farmers. The child had no routine immunization but parents claimed he had got seven doses of the polio vaccine. It may be noted that the child had already expired (not from polio) and the polio case was established through contact sample. The second polio case was reported from Dadu where a 24-month-old male in UC Drigh Bala has been tested positive for the polio virus after he had weakness in facial muscles. The victim’s father is a laborer and according to the parents claims, he had received more than seven doses of the polio vaccine. Investigations into both the children’s vaccination status is ongoing. The spokesperson further said in 2020, two cases had been reported from Sindh, taking the total cases toll in Pakistan to four this year. The 42 months old male child belongs to district Sajawal, UC Koti and his right lower limb is affected. According to parents, he received 7+ doses of the polio vaccine. PPI

programmes.”

“We’re looking forward to welcoming 10 Pakistani buyer delegations to the United States and five regional trade shows in 2020, which will build deeper relationships between US and Pakistani firms.”

She added that Prime Minister Khan’s economic reform efforts contributed to the World Bank identifying it as one of the top 10 reformers globally in 2019.

FATF: Talking about the FATF grey list, she welcomed Islamabad’s efforts to meet its counter-terrorism financing obligations under the Financial Action Task Force.

“We strongly encourage Pakistan to work with FATF and the international community to fully satisfy its action plan commitments. Completion of the FATF action plan is critical to Pakistan’s economic reform efforts, including its IMF programme,” she said.

In response to a question about Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s statement seeking the US help for Pakistan’s removal from the grey list, she said that the FATF is a technical process.

“There has been an action plan that was presented to Pakistan. It’s a question of fulfilling the requirements that have been spelled out and that are asked of all countries in the international system. So it’s not a political process, but we certainly support and stand ready to assist Pakistan as it implements these obligations.”

ECP to hear plea seeking Faisal Vawda’s disqualification on Feb 3 ISLAMABAD Staff RePoRt

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Saturday admitted a petition seeking the disqualification of Federal Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda for allegedly submitting a false affidavit before the election authority.

A petitioner had approached the ECP earlier this week in the wake of a news report that claimed that Vawda had dual nationality when he filed his nomination papers to contest the 2018 general elections.

The commission, while issuing notices to all respondents, fixed the case for hearing on February 3.

Faiq Shah, chairman of a little known Amn Taraqi Party, 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 trustworthy) as he filed a “false affidavit” with regard to his

CII says up to govt to decide Zindagi Tamasha’s fate NewS DeSk The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) on Saturday said the body was not responsible to give its opinion about films and dramas, days after the government asked it to determine if Sarmad Khoosat’s film ‘Zindagi Tamasha’ was suitable for public exhibition.

Commenting on the issue, CII Chairman Dr Qibla Ayaz said that the apex religious body would only give its suggestion about the film. “Only concerned authorities should decide about the film’s fate,” he said. In the wake of a recent controversy stirred by the trailer of the film, the government decided to block its release. The issue started after members and supporters of Tehreek-eLabaik (TLP) started an online campaign, demanding to ban the ‘objectionable’ film in Pakistan. The CII chairman said, “The government has consulted us on the film and we will evaluate it, although it does not come under the responsibilities of the body to give an opinion about films and dramas.” “We want to ensure that we do not make any under-pressure decision on the matter. This is the reason why we will take the help of the people who are experts in films and drama fraternities.” The controversy around the award-winning film Zindagi Tamasha started when its trailer was released. The government had to block its release after TLP objected to its portrayal of a struggling cleric. It was to have hit cinemas on January 24. In this connection, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) also invited CII members to preview the film as per government instructions. The TLP started an online campaign, demanding to ban the ‘objectionable’ film in Pakistan. They had also announced a country-wide protest that was later taken back following government intervention. Last week, filmmaker Sarmad wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan, claiming there were attempts to stop his film from releasing despite it being cleared by the central censor board.

He had been clarifying that the film had no objectionable content and had already been cleared by the censor boards.

Woman injured in Indian firing along LoC nationality. Vawda won the National Assembly seat from Karachi’s NA249 constituency in the 2018 polls against PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and was later included in the cabinet of Prime Minister Imran Khan as a federal minister.

However, the news report from last week claimed that the PTI leader was a US national at the time of filing his nomination papers – on June 11, 2018 – and applied for renunciation of his US nationality a week after – on June 18 – after the ECP accepted his nomination papers.

Pakistan’s law prohibits a dual national from contesting election unless he gives up his secondary nationality. The apex court has already disqualified two lawmakers, Haroon Akhtar and Saadia Abbasi, for holding dual nationalities at the time of filing papers to the ECP. According to reports, the minister had a US passport No 530572047 when he filed his nomination papers and a petition would soon be filed against him to the ECP or the Supreme Court under Section 62-1 (C) of the Constitution.

RAWALPINDI: The Indian Army, in yet another incident of ceasefire violation, resorted to unprovoked firing along Line of Control (LoC) on Saturday, injuring an unarmed civilian. Indian forces deliberately targeted the civilian population in Chirikot Sector along LoC, said a statement issued by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).

“A 21-year-old woman from Serian village sustained serious injuries and evacuated to a nearby medical facility,” the military’s media wing added. Ceasefire violations by the Indian troops have increased in frequency and intensity since the February 27 air battle, in which two Indian fighter jets were shot down and the pilot of one downed aircraft was captured – only to be released later as a goodwill gesture last year.

Pakistan declared family station for Britons, says envoy ISLAMABAD Staff RePoRt

British High Commissioner Dr Christian Turner Saturday said that Pakistan had been declared as ‘family station’ for the British diplomats and citizens.

Talking to Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser at a meeting, the British envoy said that the decision had been taken under the new travel advisory issued by United Kingdom about Pakistan.

He added that the travel advisory was upgraded in wake of the improved security situation of Pakistan and the bilateral relations would now improve drastically.

Lauding the decision, Asad Qaisar said that the armed forces as well as the citizens of Pakistan have paid a heavy price for attaining peace and security in the country.

“The world should recognize the sacrifices Pakistan has embraced during the war on terror. Pakistan has relaxed its visa regime for attracting tourists from across the globe and a visa portal has also been established for issuance of online visas to the international tourists,” he added.

Qaiser further said that the United Kingdom should also relax its visa regime for the Pakistani nationals. He said the visa center for Pakistan which is currently based in the United Arab Emirates should be moved to Pakistan. He further added that presently the visa fee was too high and thus there was a need to reconsider the high visa fees.

Referring to the Brexit, the speaker said that it was a challenge for the British government as well as an opportunity, at the same time, for enhancing trade and commercial ties with the friendly countries like Pakistan. Qaiser proposed that the relevant committees in the two parliaments dealing with commerce and trade may collaborate with each other for devising mutually beneficent strategies for promoting trade and commerce between the two countries.

The speaker also informed that British high commissioner that government and relevant agencies of Pakistan have taken numerous steps for countering of terrorism as well as barring financing for the menace. Therefore, he added, the friendly countries like the UK should play

their due role in moving Pakistan from the grey-list of the FATF. Seizing the opportunity, the speaker also highlighted the Indian atrocities in their Occupied territory of Jammu & Kashmir and stated that the world has seen the cruel face of India and the growing fascism in the “so called” largest democracy of the world. Under the slogan of “Hindutva”, the Indian leadership was spreading hatred among its public and resultantly the minorities particularly Muslims in India were threatened.

He also lauded the ongoing projects of the United Kingdom in Pakistan for parliamentary development and said that there was still a need to further expand the scope of the projects for the capacity building of parliamentarians as well as parliamentary officials so that they could be able to cope with the challenges faced in enacting legislation on contemporary issues. He also outlined the need for initiating such parliamentary development projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa so that the capacity of the legislators in that province could also be built for bringing them at par with their

CMYK

counterparts elsewhere. The youth of Pakistan had keen interest in studying in the United Kingdom, the Speaker added. He said that there was a huge potential in the youth of Pakistan and as such the need was to provide them ample opportunities to utilize their skills

for their academic and professional development. The Speaker proposed that the British Council may also establish its Institutions in Pakistan so that the students, not able to study in the United Kingdom, could also receive quality and specialized education from Pakistan.

Sunday, 26 January, 2020

NEWS

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IMran aPProaCheS SC To ChaLLenge eCP’S jUrISdICTIon In foreIgn fUndIng CaSe ISLAMABAD

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AKISTAN Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Saturday filed a petition in the Supreme Court (SC) challenging the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) decision of declaring Akbar S. Babar a part of PTI and reverting the case regarding the party’s foreign funding back to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

A long-winding case — filed by Babar and others — regarding the scrutiny of sources of PTI’s foreign funding has been pending since 2014.

The case had earlier been presented to the ECP. However, the PTI had petitioned the IHC, questioning the ECP’s jurisdiction in the matter.

In February 2017, the IHC had remanded back to the ECP for a fresh review of its jurisdiction. At the time, the court had also declared Akbar S Babar

a part of PTI. On May 8 of the same year, a full bench of the ECP had once again declared its complete jurisdiction over the

matter and stated that the PTI had failed to produce any evidence that the petitioner had been expelled from the party and hence lost the right to question the

PTI’s accounts.

In March 2018, a scrutiny committee had been formed to look into PTI’s foreign funding accounts to ascertain any wrongdoing.

Since then, the PTI sought secrecy in the scrutiny of its foreign funding. A request to this affect was rejected by the ECP on October 10, 2019.

In his petition to the SC, the PTI chief has raised questions about various aspects of the case, including the IHC’s declaration that Babar is a part of PTI. “Babar has not been a part of PTI since 2011. An email in which Babar tendered his resignation is part of the case record,” the petition claimed, while adding that a high court cannot use Article 199 to rule on conflicting facts.

Basing his argument on the fact that Babar is not a part of PTI — which he posed to be in his 2014 petition — the PTI chief has asked the top court to declare that the ECP does not have jurisdiction to hear the case.

Buzdar woos PTI ticket-holders with promise of development funds

Chinese national suspected of carrying coronavirus admitted to Multan hospital

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Saturday sought to allay concerns of lawmakers and ticket-holders belonging to his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) by assuring them of allocation of development funds for their constituencies.

Over 20 MPAs have formed a forward bloc in Punjab because they are not happy with Buzdar who, they say, reshuffled the provincial bureaucracy without taking them into confidence and did not release development funds either. Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry had also recently rebuked the Buzdar-led government for its “below-par performance”. Addressing the lawmakers elected to the National Assembly and the Punjab Assembly from Punjab, Buzdar said that development work in the constituencies would be carried out with the consultation of the ticket holders. The assurance comes amidst reports that the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PMLQ), a key ally of the PTI in Punjab, had been given discretionary powers to appoint bureaucrats of its choice in five districts as well as huge development funds. This has led to a perception that Buzdar is gradually losing control of his office. Addressing the PTI members, senior party leader Jehangir Khan Tareen said that the ticket-holders were assets of the party as winning or losing was part of the game. Staff RePoRt

A Chinese national suspected of being infected with the coronavirus has been admitted to the Nishtar Hospital in Multan, the National Institute of Health (NIH) stated in a press release issued on Saturday.

According to Multan and South Punjab’s Focal Person for Epidemic Diseases Dr Atta ur Rehman, 40-yearold Feng Fen was shifted from the Chinese camp in the Industrial Estate to Nishtar Hospital on Friday night. The man had returned to Pakistan from Wuhan 10 days ago.

“One suspected case is admitted in isolation in Multan right now. His clinical condition is stable and it does not seem to be a case of novel coronavirus. Relevant samples have been taken,” the NIH press release said.

The statement clarified that no case of corona virus has been confirmed in the country yet.

Earlier, Special Assistant to the PM on Health Dr Zafar Mirza said that Pakistan will send relevant samples to international labs if cases of the virus surfaced in the country. The respiratory virus has claimed 41 lives since emerging from a seafood and animal market in Wuhan.

It has infected hundreds of other people in China and been detected as far away as the United States.

Animals are suspected to be the primary source of the outbreak, with Chinese health officials saying the virus originated from a market where wild animals were illegally sold. Studies published this week suggest that the virus may have originated in bats or snakes.

The virus has caused alarm because of its similarity to SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), which killed nearly 800 people across mainland China and Hong Kong in 2002-2003. Like SARS, it can be passed among people through the respiratory tract. The first case of the new virus was confirmed on December 31, 2019.

NewS DeSk

Foreign Office Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui has said there are approximately 28,000 Pakistani students all over China. Furthermore, around 1,500 Pakistani traders travel to China frequently.

“In Wuhan alone, there are close to 500 Pakistani students. While making these estimates, the embassy has to take into account the fact that many of our students come to China either on self financing or on the scholarships offered

by China and they don’t always register with the embassy.

“Similarly our traders and other visitors from Pakistan also don’t always register with the embassy, which is why we have an approximate estimation of the number of Pakistani citizens in China,” she said.

With the growing risk of the virus spreading to Pakistan, PIA had announced on Thursday that it has begun screening prospective passengers for the virus at Beijing Airport. Thermal scanners have also been installed at four major airports within Pakistan. The scanners — installed at airports in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar — are intended to check passengers arriving at international terminals. Passengers are facing similar screening measures at airports around the world.

Imran says Modi’s ‘anti-democratic, fascist ideology’ biggest threat to region NewS DeSk Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday said the world was acknowledging the anti-democratic and fascist ideology being imposed in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K) and in mainland India.

In a tweet, featuring the cover of The Economist, the prime minister said the fascist ideology of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the biggest threat to regional peace and stability. He also pointed out that already eight million Kashmiris and Muslims in India were suffering because of Modi’s fascist policies. An article which appeared in the weekly magazine read that Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in India had “stoked divisions in the world’s biggest democracy.” The cover of the magazine showed the BJP’s election symbol, a saffron lotus flower, growing out of barbed wire. The article addressed the recently passed controversial citizenship law and the growing intolerance in the country. “Last month India changed a law to make it easier for adherents of all subcontinent’s religions, except Islam, to acquire citizenship. At the same time BJP wants to compile a register of all India’s 1.3bn citizens, as a means to hunt down illegal immigrants,” says the article. The article rightly recognises that the law targets the Muslims of India specifically as “many of the country’s 200m Muslims do not have the papers to prove they are Indian, so they risk being made stateless”. Referring to the law as part of a “decades-long project of incitement”, the Indian publication rightly recognises that the incumbent ruling party has used it as “electoral nectar”. “What has been electoral nectar for BJP is political poison for India.” The Indian publication further adds that Modi’s latest initiatives threaten Indian democracy and is “likely to lead to bloodshed”.

Tareen sends defamation notices to two anchors for calling him ‘corrupt’, part of ‘sugar mafia’ LAHORe Staff RePoRt

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Jahangir Khan Tareen on Saturday sent out defamation notices worth Rs1 billion each to TV anchorpersons Shahzeb Khanzada and Waseem Badami for making “false imputations” in their news programmes that have or are likely to cause “serious harm and injury to his reputation”.

According to the notice sent to him, Khanzada in his programme Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath, which aired on Geo News on January 21, had given the im-

pression that Tareen was part of a “sugar mafia” and was “collusively involved or complicit in causing artificial inflation” of refined sugar across the country.

Furthermore, the notice said, Khanzada had suggested that Tareen was “managing or deciding” the federal and provincial governments’ policy pertaining to the production, sales, import or export of refined sugar which had led to an increase in the commodity’s price. It was also implied that Tareen’s interest in the sugar industry was “obstructing the due regulation of sugar mills and the price of sugar” by authorities.

The notice pointed out that Tareen was not a part of the federal or provincial governments and therefore, cannot influence the policy-making process. It also insisted that the PTI leader had “no nexus with or any authority over regulatory institutions” such as the Competition Commission of Pakistan.

Khanzada was addressing the rising sugar prices in his programme and had said that Tareen, “who is looking at matters of the import and export of agricultural products, owns sugar mills”.

In a separate notice sent to Badami, Tareen took exception to being referred

to as “corrupt” in the anchorperson’s show 11th Hour, aired on ARY News on January 23. According to the notice, Badami had offered “no proof or evidence of the alleged corruption of or corrupt practice(s)” against Tareen.

In his programme, Badami, while talking about Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2019 report, had said that the prime minister had surrounded himself with people who had been accused of corruption. In both the notices, Tareen complained that Khanzada and Badami had not sought his response to the “highly malicious,

defamatory and damaging” statements.

Terming Khanzada and Badami’s statements as “unfounded and concocted”, Tareen’s counsel demanded that the anchorpersons withdraw their “defamatory imputations”, tender a “proper public apology” in their respective programmes as well as “publish a contradiction of the said defamatory statement(s)”. The notices warned that if the anchorpersons did not take the above measures, legal proceedings would be initiated against both of them for damages amounting to Rs1bn each under the Defamation Ordinance, 2002.

04 LAHORE

Sunday, 26 January, 2020

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Saniya’S Culture expreSS : event highlightS pakiStan’S touriSm potential LAHORE

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ceremony was held in Lahore on Saturday to highlight the tourism and cultural potential of the country to attract visitors from all over the world. The launch party of Saniya’s Culture Express was organized by Saniya Kamal in collaboration with the Lahore Biennale (LB02).

Speaking at the event, art historian Faqir Syed Aijazuddin talked about the rich history of the city and its landmarks, such as Lahore Fort, Wazir Khan Mosque, Shahi Mosque to name a few.

“The culture and heritage of Lahore provide the

visitors to enjoy their stay in all aspects,” he said.

British High Commissioner Dr. Christen Turner along with dignitaries from across the world graced the event.

“Our gathering here as a testament to the fact that Pakistani has immense tourism potential and that it is a safe country to travel to,” event organizer Kamal said in a comment to Pakistan Today.

She said the foreigners who attended the event today visited Lahore and they were delighted by the hospitality and the cuisines the city has to offer.

Following the tour, many for-

Special funds to be acquired for Multan development: Qureshi MULTAN: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi Saturday said that special funds would be acquired from the Punjab government for development of Multan. While chairing a meeting to review uplift projects across the district, he said that all local parliamentarians would try their best to get more funds for the city of saints. Sewerage was one of the main issue of the city, he said adding that the funds would be used effectively. He also expressed annoyance over poor performance of Water and Sanitation Authority's officers. He lamented that funds to the tune of Rs 2 billion were returned due to lack of capacity in Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa). He said that Wasa officers should review their performance, as they would have to improve their capacity to serve masses, Qureshi warned.

He said that all parliamentarians were committed to bringing funds for the city.

Approval of 12 unapproved projects would be sought from the Punjab government, added Qureshi. The sewerage lines were outdated and funds would be earmarked in annual development budget for replacement of the sewerage lines. Sewerage water was also being added to canals, which was affecting not only crops but fertile land also, he added. aPP

eigners’ perception of the country has changed, she said, highlighting how tourism plays an important in portraying the positive image of a country locally and abroad. According to Saniya Kamal, this is the first step and many more such events and tours will be arranged in the future to further Pakistan’s positive image.

Sunday, 26 January, 2020

NEWS

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PAKIStAn DevISeS MultI-PRongeD StRAtegy to CounteR InDIA’S PotentIAl fAlSe flAg oPeRAtIon OFFICIAL SAYS PAKISTAN READY TO THWART ANY MISADVENTURE BY INDIAN FORCES ISLAMABAD

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N wake of intelligence reports suggesting that Indian intelligence is planning another false flag operation on or around the Indian Republic Day (falling today) to put blame on Pakistan, the federal government has fine-tuned its strategy to deal with the issue on various fronts.

A well-informed official told Pakistan Today that all federal agencies and foreign office were keeping their channels open to deal with the possibility of any false flag operation planned by Indian intelligence. “We are ready to deal with any emergency situation. We have been informing our friendly countries about our intelligence and will take immediate action if and when needed,” the official said requesting not being identified due to sensitivity of the matter.

The official said that after the recent successes of Pakistan on diplomatic and international forums, Indian designs stand

frustrated and hence there was a possibility for a false flag operation to shift media focus from situation developing in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) or the protests being held in across mainland India after CAA and NRC legislation.

“Our success at the recent meeting of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has defeated the Indian attempts to push Pakistan into sanctions. Hence, our (intelligence) reports suggest a false flag operation,” the official claimed.

The official added that the lockdown in IOK by almost one million soldiers of the Indian army and leAs has developed a threat for a human disaster as severe restrictions have been enforced on the movement of people and flow of information.

“In these circumstances where each and every yard and the street is guarded

by Indian Army and paramilitary forces, the movement of so-called jehadi groups is questionable. The media reports in India have regularly talked of encounters between freedom fighters and the Indian Army with the bogey of Pakistan as the

main narrative. Taral encounter that took place between 24-25 January is one such example,” the official said.

The official said that India seems to be frustrated due to the outcome of the FATF meeting held in Beijing and Indian intelligence is hell-bent to turn the tide against Pakistan. The official said that Pakistan was mulling a proposal to raise the matter of Indian false flag operations at the FATF forum due to terrorist funding by Indian leAs. “We need to expose the link of RSS with Indian Military, Indian Intelligence, and Indian Police, also highlight the role of UP police in killing and rioting in NRC protests. The role of RSS and its surrogates in BJP needs to be brought under the spotlight,” the official said.

However, the official said that the recent arrest of Indian DSP Dalvinder Singh from IOK and his startling disclosures have once again raised questions on the role of Indian law enforcement Agencies (leAs) and false flag operation against people of Kashmir.

“India Today report of 13 Jan suggests that the nexus between a decorated J&K Police officer and the terrorists is likely to ruffle many a feather as the past of the DSP is going to haunt the intelligence agencies for long. Interestingly,

this DSP was awarded Police Medal for gallantry by the Occupied State of J&K and was awaiting his promotion to the rank of SP,” the official said.

The official said that there has been a track record of involvement of Indian Military, Police and Intelligence agencies in false flag operations to gain international attention and there is a need to carry out an analysis of how deep is this network and why the international community needs to raise the issue.

“The Indian intelligence has been badly exposed after the arrest of Davinder Singh and reportedly NSA Ajit

India can’t celebrate Republic Day after snatching Kashmir’s rights, says AJK PM

PTI govt faces no threat from ‘inactive’ Opp, says Rasheed LAHORE Staff RepoRt

Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed said on Saturday that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government is responsible for its own sufferings as an “already inactive” opposition posed no threat to Prime Minister Imran Khan’s office.

The statement from the veteran politician and close ally of Prime Minister Imran comes amid increasing disgruntlement and internal squabbling in the ruling party, especially in Punjab.

Over 20 MPAs have formed a forward bloc in Punjab because they are not happy with Chief Minister Usman Buzdar who, they say, reshuffled the provincial bureaucracy without taking them into confidence and did not release development funds either.

Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry recently rebuked the Buzdar-led government for its “below-par per-

formance”. The disgruntlement, however, is not limited to Punjab as similar situation appears to be emerging in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan as well.

Speaking to reporters after the inaugural ceremony of a freight train from the newly-restored dry port to Karachi, Rasheed ruled out any possibility of a deal with former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz or the Sharif family.

“Why the government would make any deal with an already inactive opposition,” he commented, adding that there was no threat to the government from any opposition party. On recent allegations of rampant corruption, the railways minister said the corruption rate has reduced under the current regime and termed the Transparency International’s report “fake”.

To a question about the belowpar performance by provincial governments, especially in Punjab, he said there was no need to listen to

rumours as nothing was going to change in the provincial setups, adding that the prime minister was happy with Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar.

“So rumours about 2020 as election year are wrong,” he said.

Ruling out possibility of corruption in ongoing wheat and flour crisis in the country, he said “mismanagement and miscalculations in data could be the reason of shortage of flour”.

Price control committees, he said, should be formed to monitor prices of the commodities, adding that the issue of surge in sugar price would be discussed in the forthcoming cabinet meeting.

The minister said Prime Minister Imran is an honest politician and does not tolerate corruption at any level. He said the prime minister is the voice of poor and wants to provide more employment opportunities. “He (PM Imran) was working to uplift the country’s economy as strong economy means more em-

ployment,” he added.

The national exchequer, he maintained, had been badly plundered before PM Imran took over the charge of his office, adding that the prime minister has worked hard for the economy during the last 17 to 18 months at the helm.

Rashid hoped that 2020 would be the year of prosperity and development for the country. Commenting on Kashmir issue, he said the Kashmir day on February 5 would be observed not only in solidarity with Kashmiris but also with the people of India who, he added, are protesting against the controversial anti-Muslim citizenship law.

Firdous calls for roadmap to address difficulties faced by media fraternity ISLAMABAD

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app

PeCIAl Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan Saturday underlined the need for devising an effective mechanism to ensure protecting rights of media workers in collaboration with all stakeholders.

She was talking to media persons after visiting the residence of a private TV’s deceased cameraman Fayyaz Ahmed here, who was passing through financial crisis and died of heart attack a few days ago. Appreciating professionalism and dutifulness of the deceased in hard time, she sympathized with members of the bereaved family and assured the government’s full assistance in mitigating their financial woos.

The SAPM said the private TV management and the government had decided to give a compensation of Rs 1 million to the bereaved family.

Besides, a brother of deceased would be given employment in the Ministry of Information and

Broadcasting, while the government would also arrange a residence under the media workers/government housing scheme and enroll the family in the Benazir Income Support Programme.

“Now, the time has come to revisit the comprehensive and long term implementation plan for resolving the issues faced by media workers like Fayyaz,” the SAPM said, adding it was a collective responsibility to protect rights of all media workers including journalists. “Protecting their

Doval is angry at the police for this arrest. There is also a question of whistleblowers and officer of conscience in Indian establishment who have raised their voice against this network and are persecuted by the Indian intelligence,” the official said.

When asked to explain, the official said referred to the case of IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt (Gujarat intelligence bureau 2002) as a BBC report of 2011 had identified that police officers in India had openly stated in the Supreme Court that the then Chief Minister Gujarat Narendra Modi had approved Gujarat Massacre in 2002.

rights is our responsibility and top priority of Prime Minister Imran Khan.”

She said it was regrettable that Fayyaz performed his duties diligently but got wages after his death, describing it an alarming situation and against the Islamic philosophy.

Dr Firdous vowed to bridge the gap between ‘employee and employer’ by getting together all stakeholders including journalist bodies, representatives of media workers and the government at one forum. “It will help find solution of the problems confronted by the workers and [media] owners,” she said, adding the prevailing social and economic situation in private sector needed a ‘minute observation’ and finalizing a ‘road map’ in consultation with all stakeholders to solve the problems. Under which, she also suggested to devise a system of reward and punishment to ensure fair-play. She also stressed that the regulators like Press Council of Pakistan (PCP) and Pakistan electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PeMRA) should proactively play their ‘defined role’ as per law to streamline the matters related to media workers.

CMYK

MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan said on Saturday that India has no justification to observe its Republic Day as it has snatched the fundamental rights of Kashmiris and its hands are soaked in the blood of innocent people. Talking to media, he said that Indian is attempting to throw dust into the eyes of the international community. “When India started observing its Republic Day, Kashmiris, since that day, has been observing it as Black Day to apprise global community that the so-called democratic country has usurped their basic rights including the UN acknowledged right to selfdetermination”, the premier added. Khan said that India has no moral right to observe January 26 as Republic Day when it has turned the valley of eight million people into jail. He added that those who are interested to witness the so-called Indian democracy visit the held territory, which is in worst lockdown and communication blackout from last 174 days.

The PM said that India’s August 5 and October 31 steps were sheer violations of the United Nations’ resolutions on Kashmir. “Indian unilateral and unlawful acts were not only rejected but strongly resisted by the Kashmiris”, he added.

Terming the Kashmir liberation movement as a movement for the peace in Asia, he said that India couldn’t suppress the ingenious struggle with the military might. Raja Farooq Haider added that so-called democratic country is the biggest terrorist country. “Hindutva ideology which is being practiced currently in India is a serious threat not only for the region but world. app

Punjab to adopt Zainab Alert Bill to ensure children’s safety: CM LAHORE: The Punjab government has decided in principle to adopt Zainab Alert Bill to ensure safety and wellbeing of children in the province. This was announced

by Chief Minister Usman Buzdar in a tweet on Saturday, he said that child abuse cases were always traumatic to hear and were the government’s biggest concern. The chief minister said: “This is another leap in our mission of providing our children with safest possible environment.” “We have principally decided to adopt #ZainabAlertBill to ensure safety and wellbeing of children in Punjab” he added.. earlier, Jan 10, the National Assembly had unanimously passed the Zainab Alert bill introduced by NA Standing Committee on Human Rights, which defines the law for the response and recovery of missing children. The government and opposition joined hands to unanimously pass Zainab Alert bill which paves the way for penalising culprits in crimes against children from 10-14 years to life imprisonment. Staff RepoRt

Sunday, 26 January, 2020

06 WORLD VIEW

‘It’s a dIsaster for europe to be so subservIent to the us’ sPiegel Christiane hoffmann

DER SPIEGEL: Mr Zarif, Iran and the United States have been enemies for the past 40 years and you have held senior posts in Iranian foreign policy for at least 20 of them. Has there ever been a situation as dangerous as the one we are currently facing?

Zarif: First of all, I have to correct you. I have been in important posts for 30 years. And it has always been difficult.

We were at the brink of war several times in the past 40 years. This time, it is particularly grave because the U.S. government undertook a terrorist operation against an official of the Iranian government. That has never happened before.

DER SPIEGEL: Is further escalation imminent?

Zarif: The attack was based on a misperception. The U.S. believed that by assassinating General Qassem Soleimani, it would improve its position in the region.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted that people were dancing in the streets of Iraq. But there were huge funeral processions. It has created a very difficult moment in this region. The United States will certainly not benefit from this.

DER SPIEGEL: The Iranian leadership has sworn that it would take revenge for Soleimani’s killing. There has already been a missile strike against a base in Iraq used by the U.S. military.

Is there any reason to fear that you will do even more?

Zarif: The strike against the military base in Iraq, from which the U.S. conducted its operation, was Iran’s formal military response. There was no intention of causing any casualties with the missile attack – we were executing our right to self-defense in a proportionate manner.

But the real response will come from the people of the region, who are showing that they are absolutely disgusted with the U.S. behavior. The Americans will see that Soleimani as a martyr will be much more effective than a General Soleimani.

DER SPIEGEL: Is it possible that hardliners in the U.S. might view the mild reaction from Iran as a sign of weakness?

Zarif: The damage we have done to the U.S. is extensive, because with all its military might, it could not prevent the missiles from hitting its base. It shows how vulnerable the U.S. is. But the Americans have inflicted the real damage themselves through the hatred the U.S. created in the people of the region.

Soleimani’s murder is the beginning of the end of the U.S. presence – certainly in Iraq, but elsewhere in the region, too.

It may not be tomorrow, but we have millennia of history, so we are not in a hurry.

DER SPIEGEL: At the height of the tensions, you communicated with Washington through Switzerland, which represents U.S. interests in Iran.

IN AN INTERVIEW, IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MOHAMMAD JAVAD ZARIF WARNS OF THE THREAT OF ESCALATION IN THE NUCLEAR DISPUTE What was it about?

Zarif: The communication was initiated by the U.S. in a very improper form.

DER SPIEGEL: Can you explain?

Zarif: Secretary of State Pompeo is not a very good diplomat. His message was provocative, insulting and threatening to us. I would not read it as de-escalation at all. We sent a very proper response through the Swiss after our counterstrike, without engaging in any sloganeering and chest-thumping. We told them that the action has ended and that we will not take any more action if they don’t take any more action – and that we are not responsible for the actions of others.

DER SPIEGEL: Soleimani was the architect of Iran’s strategy of exerting its influence throughout the region by providing military support for its allies.

The U.S. blames Soleimani for the death of hundreds of soldiers in Iraq.

Zarif: The U.S., Europe and the entire international community is indebted to General Soleimani for the victory over Islamic State. The realities in the region are incomprehensible to the United States. They always talk about proxies, but Iran doesn’t have any proxies.

DER SPIEGEL: But Iran isn’t popular with its influence. It’s not just Washington, but also Iran that is experiencing increasing difficulty in the region. There have been anti-Iranian slogans in protests in Iraq, and there have been protests in Lebanon against Hezbollah, Tehran’s close ally.

Zarif: There are protests in Iraq and in Lebanon against corruption and deficiencies people see in the government and there have also been anti-Iranian slogans.

DER SPIEGEL: Why did it take three days for your government to admit that its own armed forces had shot the plane down?

Zarif: This was a complicated situation in a complicated time. Others needed much more time. Almost 32 years ago, the U.S. shot down an Iranian passenger plane. As of today, they still haven’t issued an official apology. The American officer who was responsible for shooting it down even received a medal. Meanwhile, the Iranian man who shot down the Ukrainian plane is now in prison.

DER SPIEGEL: That still doesn’t explain why the Iranian government needed three days to admit the mistake.

Zarif: People were right to complain about the fact that information was withheld from them. But the government wasn’t responsible for this.

DER SPIEGEL: When did you personally learn of the mistake?

Zarif: On Friday afternoon, more than two days after it happened. That was the point at which the higher ups in the military reached the final conclusion that this was done by somebody by mistake.

As soon as it was reported to the revolutionary leader, he demanded that the public be informed. That happened on Saturday morning. They were very painful weeks.

DER SPIEGEL: You blamed “U.S. adventurism” for the shooting down of the plane. But wasn’t it rather irresponsible of the Iranian authorities not to close the country’s airspace on the night of the attack?

Zarif: That was a technical decision as well as a political decision. Tehran was not in the area of hostilities. And we engaged in war against Iraq for eight years without closing our airspace.

DER SPIEGEL: Will there be an international investigation?

Zarif: We have invited the Ukrainians, the owner of the plane, and Boeing to participate. We are open to the participation of others. We are carrying out a proper investigation based on international requirements.

DER SPIEGEL: There were mass protests in Iran in November and now students are demonstrating. How strong is their resistance to your government?

Zarif: I recognize peoples’ anger and frustration, their mourning for the victims. The students who died deserve great attention and I’m not trying to belittle the legitimate concerns of the mourners. But if you want to consider this as a barometer of opposition to the government, then you have to balance it properly against the funeral processions for Soleimani. We should not disregard the voices of discontent, the voices of opposition, the voices of those whose lives have been ruined by U.S. economic terrorism. There are, however, other people who go out into the streets to show respect and admiration for a man who fought terrorism and defended his country. We are not a monolithic country. We have different voices. And the people have a right to demonstrate and to express their protest.

DER SPIEGEL: When Iranians exercised that right in November against the increase in gasoline prices, many were shot. There have been reports than more than 1,000 people were killed.

Zarif: These events were some of the worst times in our lives. But these numbers are wrong – it was less than a third of that. And there is an investigation. You have to differentiate between those who are exercising their right to free speech and those who are looting shops and burning down gas stations. The security forces also have a responsibility for maintaining public order.

DER SPIEGEL: You think the crackdown was necessary?

Zarif: No, I never say that. I don’t want to justify excessive measures. Any-

body who used excessive force has to be brought to justice.

DER SPIEGEL: The protesters are demanding that revolutionary leader Ali Khamenei step down, with chants of “death to the dictator.”

Zarif: There is discontent in Iran, but my concern as foreign minister is that the international community has misperceptions about it. I warn the West against misperceptions that give rise to misguided policies.

DER SPIEGEL: In May 2018, Trump announced the U.S. would withdraw from the nuclear deal with Iran and he slapped the country with tough sanctions. Because Iran is now being less and less compliant with the agreement, the European Union recently initiated a process that could lead to the reapplication of the United Nations sanctions.

Zarif: Unfortunately, the Europeans don’t view Iran as a partner. We triggered the dispute resolution back in 2018. As a result of that process, the Europeans, Russia, China and Iran issued a statement in June 2018. Among other things, it was stated that it is essential that Iran benefit economically from the nuclear agreement (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, JCPOA). But the Europeans didn’t do anything. They have not fulfilled their obligations. The Europeans have to come down from their high horse.

DER SPIEGEL: The Europeans are merely responding to the fact that Iran has begun to violate the agreement.

Zarif: We are not violating the agreement; we are acting in accordance with JCPOA. Let me make it very clear to the Europeans: If they want to implement their obligations, we will be prepared to go back to full compliance immediately. But implementing their obligations is not just about making announcements that they are committed to JCPOA. I could also make the same announcement: We are committed to the agreement, we love the agreement, we want it to stay alive forever. Words are cheap. Europe should show us one single action. But what have they done?

DER SPIEGEL: They established the Instrument Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX), a special purpose vehicle to enable companies to do business with Iran despite the U.S. sanctions.

Zarif: INSTEX is basically an accounting company. More than a year and a half after the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA, the Europeans haven’t succeeded in carrying out a single transaction.

DER SPIEGEL: Is the nuclear deal dead?

Zarif: No. Inspections and transparency about Iran’s activities are an important part of the agreement, and they are

Alice Wells’ anti-CPEC sentiments ignore the facts LOANS FROM THE CPEC TOTAL ABOUT 5.8 BILLION US DOLLARS, ACCOUNTING FOR 5.3 PERCENT OF PAKISTAN’S TOTAL FOREIGN DEBT PeoPle’s Daily online Zamir ahmed awan

Acting US Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia Alice Wells visited Pakistan on 19-22 January 2020. She met with Pakistani Officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Industry, and Textile.

A broad range of issues were discussed at official meetings including bilateral relations, trade and investment, passport and visa issues, political and diplomatic issues, Afghan peace issues, regional, geopolitical, India and Kashmir issues.

Wells also interacted with civil society and expressed her concerns over CPEC. She again criticized CPEC as being a debt trap, expensive, and lacking transparency. Although all these

questions have been clarified in detail many times already, from her anti-CPEC sentiments, it seems that she had specifically planned on an anti-CPEC mission.

Pakistan’s civil society responded precisely and conveyed the strong message that Pakistan wants to restore its relations with the US while keeping its national interests as a prime and strategic interest with China intact.

China and Pakistan have been firmly committed to CPEC. It is a consensus-based decision, based on principles of mutual consultation and cooperation for shared benefits.

Major progress has been achieved in the past five years, with 32 projects achieving early results. This has significantly improved local transportation infrastructure and power supply, directly created

over 75,000 jobs and contributed one to two percent to GDP growth in Pakistan. It shows that CPEC is playing an important role in boosting Pakistan’s socio-economic development and improving people’s livelihoods.

Under the CPEC, during its planning or implementation, every project is mutually discussed, carefully studied and jointly implemented by both China and Pakistan. All Chinese companies participating in the CPEC enjoy an international reputation. All projects strictly follow market-oriented and internationally accepted business models, adopt state of the art technology and strict environmental protection standards. The entire process is open and transparent and is in line with international norms.

Regarding the so-called debt issue, according to statistics from the State Bank of Pakistan, the total foreign debt of Pakistan is 110 billion US dollars. In fact, international financial institutions including the Paris Club and IMF are the largest creditors of Pakistan. Loans from the CPEC total about 5.8 billion US dollars, accounting for 5.3

still happening. The EU has not fulfilled parts of the agreement and Iran has not fulfilled parts, but that doesn’t mean it is dead.

DER SPIEGEL: If Iran fails to reach an agreement with the Europeans within 30 days, the matter will go to the UN Security Council and UN sanctions will be imposed against Iran again. That would spell the end of the agreement.

Zarif: The Europeans have no legitimate grounds for resorting to this mechanism. They can’t just refer something to the Security Council because they are Europeans and they have blue eyes. And it’s not only us who think this, but also the Russians and the Chinese.

DER SPIEGEL: What do you expect from the EU? Zarif: It’s a disaster for Europe to be so subservient to the U.S. Anybody who accepts unilateralism is helping it. The Europeans call us and say: We’re sorry, we cannot do anything. The Europeans can’t buckle to Trump and then try to act like the strong man against Iran.

DER SPIEGEL: How would Iran react to the reinstatement of UN sanctions?

Zarif: President Hassan Rohani clarified the actions we will take in a letter to the treaty partners.

DER SPIEGEL: Could you explain for our readers?

Zarif: Your readers should know that the Europeans will be responsible for all the consequences.

DER SPIEGEL: Iran has threatened to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if that happens.

Zarif: It’s mentioned in the letter.

DER SPIEGEL: Does that mean that Iran would head in the direction of building a bomb?

Zarif: No. Our decision not to build a bomb does not derive from NPT. It derives from our own moral and strategic convictions.

DER SPIEGEL: Did the killing of Soleimani change these strategic considerations?

Zarif: No. Moral convictions do not hinge on the illegal behavior of others.

DER SPIEGEL: There’s a faction inside the Iranian leadership that believes that nuclear weapons are the only way for Iran to defend itself against the U.S. They may well have an additional argument for that case now.

Zarif: As I told you, Iran is not a monolith – you will not find unanimity in Iran on most issues. But the revolutionary leader has issued a fatwa prohibiting weapons of mass destruction.

DER SPIEGEL: Do you rule out the possibility of negotiations with the U.S. following Soleimani’s murder?

Zarif: No, I never rule out the possibility that people will change their approach and recognize the realities. The Trump administration can correct its past, lift the sanctions and come back to the negotiating table. We’re still at the negotiating table. They’re the ones who left.

percent of Pakistan’s total foreign debt. This will never be a burden for Pakistan. Moreover, China will not make unreasonable demands on Pakistan.

Pakistan understands well the ongoing rivalry between China and the US. The US is openly opposing BRI, resisting the rise of China and is overly engaged in containing and countering China. But if they choose Pakistan for this purpose, they might have taken the wrong option.

China-Pakistan relations are unique in nature, and cannot be compared with any other countries.

During the seven decades of our friendship, we never had any issue or hurdle and hope in future our relations are set to strengthen even further. We are time-tested, all-weather and trustworthy friends. We have stood with each other in all difficult moments. We have supported each other on all domestic, regional and global issues. There exists an absolute harmony between the two “Iron Brothers” – a unique term used only for ChinaPakistan relations.

Zamir Ahmed Awan is a senior fellow with the Center for China and Globalization (CCG) and a sinologist at the National University of Sciences and Technology in Pakistan. The opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to People’s Daily Online.

Sunday, 26 January, 2020

FOREIGN NEWS 07

us treasury chieF Mnuchin says optiMistic about us-uk trade deal LONDON

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Agencies

.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he was optimistic about the chances of a trade deal between the United States and Britain this year, adding that he met Britain’s finance minister on Saturday to discuss it.

“I’m quite optimistic,” Mnuchin said when asked about the potential for a deal between the two countries at an event held at the Chatham House think tank in London.

Mnuchin said he had a breakfast meeting with British finance minister Sajid Javid earlier on Saturday, having also spoken to him this week at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

“We’re focused on trying to get this

French central banker says digital currency cannot be private PARIS: Digital currency could be useful as cash transactions dwindle in some countries but central banks should be in charge of issuing it, not private companies, Bank of France Governor Francois Villeroy de Galhau said on Saturday.

Spurred by the rise of cryptocurrencies and Facebook’s plans to launch its Libra currency, central banks worldwide are looking into the possibility of issuing digital money to prevent the loss of state control over money.

Villeroy said the proposals were not a reaction to Facebook’s plan, responding instead to fast-evolving technology and some banks’ need for digital currency.

He added that private citizens could also start wanting an alternative to cash.

“In some northern European countries, notably Sweden and the Netherlands, the use of bank notes is falling extremely quickly and they are wondering whether we need to give citizens the right to digital money that is no longer a physical bank note but which has the same quality, notably the security of a central bank,” he told France Inter radio.-Agencies

done this year because we think it’s important to both of us,” he told the audience.

He said that after the United States

recently concluded the initial phase of a trade agreement with China, deals with Britain and the European Union were now the focus.

While he conceded that Britain may need to finalise some issues with the European Union before it could discuss them with Washington, he didn’t see this as creating a delay.

“I think a lot of the issues can be dealt with simultaneously and again we look forward to continuing a great trade relationship, and, if anything, I think there will be significantly more trade between the U.S. and the UK,” he said.

Asked by a reporter if Britain’s plan to implement a digital services tax on U.S. technology giants such as Facebook and Google could hinder trade negotiations, Mnuchin said he discussed the issue on Saturday with Javid. (Reporting by William Schomberg and Elizabeth Howcroft, writing by Sarah Young; editing by David Evans and Hugh Lawson)

Owners of solar company that caused loss for Buffett plead guilty over Ponzi scheme aa Agencies

The husband-and-wife owners of DC Solar, a California solar company that caused Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRKa.N) to take a $377 million charge last year, pleaded guilty on Friday to involvement in an estimated $912 million Ponzi scheme.

Jeff Carpoff, 49, pleaded guilty to money laundering and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, while Paulette Carpoff, 46, pleaded guilty to money laundering and conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States.

They entered their pleas in federal court in Sacramento, California.

Jeff Carpoff faces up to 30 years in prison and Paulette Carpoff up to 15 years at their May 19 sentencing.

Prosecutors called the criminal fraud scheme the largest in the Eastern District of California, which includes Sacramento.

They said that from 2011 to 2018, DC Solar entered $2.5 billion of transactions to sell mobile solar generators meant to provide emergency power to cellphone towers and lighting at sports events, attracting investors with associated federal tax credits.

But according to prosecutors, about half of the 17,000 generators

did not exist, and the Benicia, California-based company used false financial statements and lease contracts to conceal the fraud.

Authorities said the Carpoffs siphoned money to fund a lavish lifestyle including dozens of properties and vacation homes, a Nascar sponsorship, a stake in a private jet service, a holiday party featuring the rapper Pitbull, and at least 150 cars.

Malcolm Segal, a lawyer for Jeff Carpoff, said in an interview that his client “feels terrible that this business started out intending to provide clean energy and tax benefits to

many large corporations, but unfortunately failed and resulted in his committing a number of illegal acts.”

Paulette Carpoff’s lawyer Bill Portanova said in an interview: “She regrets absolutely what she did, and is looking forward to the difficult job of making amends.”

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed related civil charges against the couple.

Authorities said more than $120 million has already been forfeited from the scheme, including a 1978 Pontiac Firebird once owned by the actor Burt Reynolds.

Financier doubts add to boeing's MaX headaches DUBLIN Agencies

To restore faith in the 737 MAX, Boeing needs to prove its flagship jet is not just airworthy but also a safe investment. At a gathering in Dublin this week of the titans of the multibillion-dollar aircraft leasing industry, which finances half the world’s fleet, cracks were appearing in that effort. Boeing said on Tuesday its troubled wo khorse - grounded last March after two crashes in which 346 people died - should receive approval by mid-year from U.S regulators, paving the way for hundreds of jets to resume service later this year. But in scores of high-stakes negotiatios in the background, it is trying to convince banks, leasing firms and airlines that the investment case for thousands more of the jets - worth hundreds of billions of dollars - remains intact. Airplane owners and investors said some lenders were already demanding higher collateral in deals on the MAX. One airline said financing for pre-delivery payments had dried up amid the uncertainty - though the market won’t be fully tested until closer to renewed deliveries.

“Even people who have committed to financing previously are wondering should I extend or should I just pull back to wait to see because they don’t know the real value of their collateral going forward,” said the head of an asset-management firm active in the sector, declining to be named to preserve relations with Boeing. “Banks I think are getting a bit nervous,” he said. Boeing already risks losing some smaller customers who are pondering whether to revoke deals with lessors once delays of 12 months provide them with get-out clauses, according to consultant IBA, whose valuations underpin some financing deals. That in turn could push down lease rates - and the underlying value of the plane they imply. “Even when we’re back under starter’s orders and we’ve got certification, I still think there will be downward pressure” on MAX lease rates, IBA Chief Executive Phil Seymour said.A deeper battle for Boeing is to convince its leasing mega-clients, who have orders worth tens of billions of dollars, that the MAX remains a long-term investment. In that battle, Boeing is fighting on two main fronts, executives said: compensation talks and efforts to convince purchasers that the MAX production cycle will not be cut short, a step that would undermine the value of the plane.

COMPENSATION Investors in Boeing shares and in MAX planes are watching closely as compensation negotiations determine how much of the financial pain of the crisis each side swallows. “Markets believe that indeed there is an enormous cost related to the situation,” said Bertrand Grabowski, an aviation banker turned independent adviser.

“What isn’t clear is how much, how that will be compensated and to whom.” While several airlines have said Boeing agreed to compensate for MAX delivery delays, some lessors are arguing that falls in the value of the jet should also form part of the discussions.

Explainer: Bezos allegations put phone hacking technology in the spotlight WaSHINGTON Agencies

Allegations that Amazon.com boss and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos had his phone hacked by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have put a spotlight on the security of smartphones and the secretive tools used to hack them.

Smartphones are effectively pocketsized computers that run apps on operating systems such as Apple’s iOS or Google’s Android. Those devices have enabled a new world of connectivity - unlimited free calls over WhatsApp, for example, or an atlas worth of up-to-thesecond maps from Google - but also a parade of potential security problems.

Here is how smartphones can be hijacked and a look at the potential consequences and the thriving market in surveillance vendors helping the world’s spies get access to people’s secrets.

HOW IT WORKS: Smartphones operate through a collection of apps, sometimes scores of them, running over an

operating system, which in turn runs on a complex piece of hardware embedded with receptors, lenses and sensors.

Each one carries potential flaws sometimes called bugs - that can cause a system to crash or behave unexpectedly when sent a rogue command or a malicious file. Even small openings like that can allow hackers to take control of a device. It is akin to illicitly lowering a coat hanger through a tiny seam in the car door to unlock a vehicle.

Many developers work hard to ensure those seams stay sealed, but with millions of lines of code to choose from, it is virtually impossible to guarantee total safety.

“There is no software that is bugless,” said Oded Vanunu, a researcher with Israeli cybersecurity firm Checkpoint who often finds flaws in popular messaging programs.

Once hackers are in, the possibilities are vast - and frightening. Anyone with full control of a smartphone can turn it into a powerful surveillance device, silently tracking users’ locations while quietly copying their emails, instant mes-

sages, photos and more.

A 2015 technical document from NSO Group - one of the better known spyware vendors - outlines the capability of its Pegasus spyware program to monitor the smallest details of a target’s life, throwing up alerts if a target enters a certain area, for example, or if two targets meet, or if a certain phone number is called.

The document, made public as part of a lawsuit against NSO by communications firm WhatsApp, shows how key-

strokes can be logged, phone calls can be intercepted and a feature dubbed “room tap” uses a phone’s microphone to soak up ambient sound wherever the device happens to be. The document says the spyware can be installed by enticing targets to click malicious links or rogue text messages, but spies particularly prize the quieter “push message” installations that remotely and invisibly install themselves on users’ phones.

WHO IT TARGETS: NSO and other

spyware vendors have long argued that their products are used responsibly - only sold to governments for legitimate purposes. NSO has denied any link to the alleged Bezos hack. Saudi officials dismiss allegations of their involvement as absurd. Years of investigative work from internet watchdog group Citizen Lab which has a well-documented record of exposing international cyber espionage campaigns - and a drumbeat of court cases and leaked documents have called such assertions as these of responsible use into question.

In October of last year messaging company WhatsApp sued NSO in California, alleging that the spyware firm had taken advantage of a bug in the app’s video calling protocol to hack 1,400 users around the world in the period between April 29 and May 10, 2019, alone. Disclosures from other companies such as Italy’s now-defunct Hacking Team and the spyware company now known as FinSpy have also raised questions about the business.

Sunday, 26 January, 2020

08 COMMENT

Incompetence or corruption?

PM needs a reality check The PTI on way to unraveling

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esPIte being in power for 17 months, Prime Minister Imran Khan continues to regurgitate his opposition-era slogans. His latest remark concerning the corruption tumor needing surgery is an example. Meanwhile, instead of the government improving the livelihood of the people, the man in the street is being required to bear the burden of the ever rising power and gas charges. shortages of commodities of daily use like wheat flour and sugar have raised their prices. the common man is not satisfied by the facile explanation that the difficulties they face are the result of the policies of a government that is no more in power.

While the PtI leadership lives in a make-believe world of its own, unrest is getting accumulated among the common people and could erupt anytime in days to come. the legislators belonging to the PtI as well as its allied parties are getting scared of the situation. they know that the ruling alliance is getting unpopular and they might lose their seats in the next election. A rebellion is brewing among the MPAs in Punjab, KP and Balochistan, where legislators want development funds to be put at their disposal to save their constituencies. they also want the deputy Commissioners, patwaris and police officers of their choice to be appointed in their constituencies.

In Punjab things are fast going out of the PtI leadership’s control. the CM and Governor of the province are unhappy over the bureaucracy not taking orders from them. there are reports of the formation of a potential forward bloc comprising 20 disgruntled PtI lawmakers from southern parts of the province. In KP, five provincial ministers, along with 20 MPAs, have reportedly formed a group within the ruling PtI. the disgruntled lawmakers have threatened to resign en masse if “governance is not improved” in the province. the PtI backed government in Balochistan is also riven by disputes. Mr Abdul Quddus Bizenjo, the former CM who is presently Provincial Assembly speaker, has claimed that he has enough MPAs with him to overthrow the governing coalition in the province. Mr Khan needs to employ all his energies to deal with these real problems, leaving corruption to nAB.

Shaking off a bad reputation The new chief election commissioner faces a myriad of challenges

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FteR months of deadlock between the government and opposition over the appointment of a new chief election commissioner (CeC), finally there has been consensus on a name; sikander sultan Raja. Although it was the constitutional necessity of the appointment that forced the agreement, it is still welcome. that the new CeC is not a retired judge for a change, rather a former bureaucrat, should bring about some necessary changes in the running of the Commission. the first order of business for the new CeC will be repairing the reputation of the eCP that has taken a beating over the years. It is imperative that under this new leadership the institution not only becomes independent and powerful but is also seen to be so as well. the previous election Commission failed as the 2018 general elections were riddled with problems that included but were not limited to the result delivery system failing and polling agents unable to comply with candidates in terms of timely sharing of information on Form-45. the same mistakes should not be repeated in 2023 and work towards ensuring that will have to begin now so that this new eCP is ready on election day to conduct a smooth and noncontroversial polling day. Quite a few upcoming byelections will be a good litmus test for the new CeC. there are pending cases that require the immediate attention of the eCP as well, the PtI’s foreign funding case being a prime example. Party chairman Imran Khan has attempted to delay the case since its filing in 2014.

Yesterday he petitioned the supreme Court challenging the eCP’s jurisdiction in the matter. the new eCP must resolve this matter on the basis of facts and merit while tolerating pressure from the ruling government and others to quash the case altogether. Proper scrutiny of election nomination papers in keeping with the election Act 2017 to confirm the elibility of any candidate will be another challenge. In the past there have been some gross oversights that should be avoided. Campaign financing laws must also be properly implemented as has been ordered by the supreme Court, so that all candidates are on the same level playing field. these are all serious challenges and if the eCP is able to overcome them effectively and definitively, it will have served its constitutionally mandated duty of delivering free and fair elections.

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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Choose your poison

aRif Nizami

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He prime minister even while in davos (switzerland) to attend the World economic Forum did not spare the media from his ire. Crowing that his government was the most transparent, he advised people not to read newspapers or watch tV shows. the world according to PM Imran Khan is fairly simple. He lives it according to his own narcissistic ego driven self-serving code where an alternative narrative hardly matters.

His frequent speeches at home and on international fora are almost formulaic: his quixotic crusade against ‘patently corrupt and unprincipled opposition politicians’ is peppered by a rather simplistic world view.

According to him he leads by example.

Whether it is the manner in which he singlehandedly built his cancer hospital or how he won the cricket World Cup. In domestic politics, like quite a few belonging to the upper middle class of the country, he also pines for ‘the golden Ayubian era’. His detractors strongly disagree, blaming the late Field Marshal’s decade of rule (that he preferred calling a decade of reforms) as the mother of all evils that incidentally resulted in the dismembering of Pakistan.

Making Pakistan ‘Riayast-e-Medina’ is another of his hobby horse. the fact that the founder of the country Mohammad Ali Jinnah envisaged Pakistan as an Islamic welfare, tolerant, democratic and pluralist federal state is conveniently swept under the carpet. no one can deny that PM Imran Khan remarkably transited from being a celebrity to a successful politician. no mean feat that he built the PtI (Pakistan tehreek e Insaf) from scratch. thus, he broke the stranglehold of the two mainstream parties, the PPP (Pakistan Peoples Party) and the PML-n (Pakistan Muslim League-nawaz).

He also quite shrewdly realised that in order

to attain and retain power, support of the ubiqui- Index Report 2019, ranking Pakistan 120 out of tous military establishment is a sine qua non. He 180, three spots down from 2018 has miffed the successfully sought the backing of the powers Party’s rank and file. Ironically Khan while in that be and put it to good use in the 2018 elec- the opposition on more than one occasions supported tI’s findings about perceived corruption tions.

But running Pakistan is not a bed of roses. of his predecessor governments. the PM’s special assistant Firdous ashiq It’s a complicated country with multifaceted problems. It is neither a charity hospital nor a Awan singing for her supper has predictably rejected the tI’s report as ‘biased’ and ‘contrived.’ monolithic cricket team. the shoe on the other foot, it hurts.

Many an adventurer has ruled Pakistan tryInstead of reading the small print in the reing to implement their jaundiced vision based upon a mixture of naivete and lust for power. the port and following its recommendations another graveyard of Pakistani politics is full of ostensi- mafia has been conjured to suit the PtI’s pristine narrative. tI cites the influence of big money fibly indispensable messiahs of their times.

Field Marshal Ayub Khan ran the country for nancing political parties and conflict of interest a decade on the basis of his novel belief that as major factors in retching up corruption. the government, while crying hoarse about democracy did not suit the genius of the hapless Pakistani people. General Zia ul Haq for another accountability for others, would have none of it for itself. It has dodged eleven years surmised the foreign funding case that parliamentary for years on one pretext democracy, or for that or the other. And those matter electoral politics, But running Pakistan with deep pockets surwere anathema to Islam. round the inner sanctums Musharraf ruled the roost is not a bed of roses. of corridors of power. to implement his own It is a supreme irony version of ‘enlightened It’s a complicated country that the self-professed moderation.’ with multifaceted problems. harbingers of change the politicians have have hitherto miserably not fared much better eiIt is neither a charity lagged behind in virtually ther. no elected prime every department. minister has been able to hospital nor a monolithic the prime minister complete his or her term. cricket team. rightly takes pride in their tenure was shortthat he is personally inened either by extra-concorruptible unlike his stitutional intervention or predecessors. Might be by judicial fiat.

But this is no excuse for poor governance or so. But weeding out perceived corruption in his malfeasance. nawaz sharif in his second term as own ranks is his job description. And even a prime minister tried to emasculate democratic in- bigger task is to rid the incompetent amongst stitutions in the name of Islam by striving to be- his team.

Richard nixon in his book ‘Leadership’ come Amir al-Mu’minin. this in the end analysis claims that the real test of a leader is to be able cost him his job.

In this backdrop, Khan was perceived by his to rid the administration of incompetent people.

A few days back Pakistani American econosupporters and quite a few of his critics as well, as a breath of fresh air. But- based on the one and mist Atif Mian put a poll on twitter. Although the a half years of his tenure- he has proved to be a poll had both ‘corruption of the elite’ and ‘incompetence of the elite’ as the answer, Mian bit of a let-down.

According to the prime minister, the percep- went with the minority view.

According to him incompetence is a bigger tion of lack of good governance and poor economic management has been created by constraint on development than corruption with entrenched mafias working 24/7 to dislodge him. the caveat that ideally both should be avoided.

Of course, the biggest mafia according to him are In the case of the PtI government it is faced with opposition politicians. the media comes in at a a double whammy. It has been simply unable to bring corruption down despite its perennial and close second. then there is the hoarding mafia in the con- all-pervasive narrative to the contrary. to make text of the ongoing wheat crisis. Blaming exoge- matters worse, incompetence has become its nous factors for PtI’s current travails has hallmark. become the norm rather than an exception.

Arif Nizami is Editor, Pakistan today. He transparency International’s, the global watchdog on corruption, Corruption Perception can be contacted at arifn51@hotmail.com

Extravagant gestures The PM’s travel raised questions of influence

Rabia ahmed

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ttendees at the World economic Forum in davos, switzerland, have in many cases not used commercial airlines or travelled by train to the event. several billionaires and many world leaders arrived at davos in private jets, which did no favours to the environment. Considering the key theme at the summit is to do with saving the environment this was not very smart. But when have world leaders given much thought to such issues?

Prince Charles attended the summit and pushed for ‘green taxes.’ He met Greta thunberg, and asked the delegates and business leaders to support green measures.

Yet he flew in to davos on a private Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

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jet, which will apparently ‘produce six tonnes of carbon per passenger compared to 0.19 tonnes for a commercial flight. In davos the prince transferred to an electric car rather than a helicopter, but it does not take away from the fact that his plane burnt a great deal of fuel and left carbon emission all the way from the UK to switzerland.

He was not alone. Last year, according to the Business Insider, ‘the World economic Forum recorded more than 600 plane journeys that can be attributed to davos— a figure that does not “take into account public figures such as presidents and prime ministers.’”

Aircraft are likely to be responsible for almost a quarter of the world’s carbon emissions by 2050. that is just 30 years down the track, not a date in the distant future. the Prime Minister of Pakistan also attended the World economic Forum summit at devos this year. the key theme for the world economic summit at davos was the concept of a sustainable world. that includes reducing the carbon footprint to lessen pollution. the prime minister of Pakistan said that his trip to davos was the cheapest by any Pakistani premier in the history, and thanked Mr

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

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Ikram sehgal for being a partial sponsor of his trip as he, the PM, did not want to burden the national exchequer with the expense.

It is not clear whether Mr sehgal footed the bill for a private aircraft or for a commercial airline ticket for the PM to davos. It could well be a commercial airliner, which is how the PM travelled earlier to the UsA for example. such trips must certainly cost much less than private jets. Prince Charles’ London to davos journey for example is considered to have cost around £15,000. A commercial airliner would also do less harm to the environment than a separate private jet.

Imran Khan’s initiative in this respect is laudable, but as always there is another side to the matter. there are people in this country– property tycoons and others– who have gone from rags to riches and enjoy a huge clout in the corridors of power by doing favours to those in authority. this is not to imply that Mr sehgal’s action was in any way for such reasons, but it is advisable for people to avoid such extravagant gestures in case they are misconstrued, particularly since more often than not such an interpretation would be quite accurate.

In the case of Mr Khan’s visit to

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davos, it was government work, a meeting of heads of state and other concerned individuals to consult and agree upon measures to protect the global environment. It was not a private cricket match, or a privately organised literary festival. Private individuals therefore have no business to offer to offset the costs in such cases. nor should government officials accept such offers, which should be declined with thanks.

One elects persons to public office expecting them to have some understanding of such matters. It is unfortunate that they almost never do, or perhaps they do but are unwilling to put in the effort, time and personal sacrifice involved. What is certain is that nothing is being done to offset the effects of pollution in Pakistan, not really. the pollution levels in the atmosphere in Lahore alone this year in winter has been at hazardous levels. there was an initiative in Lahore to minimize the use of plastic shopping bags but as with all other initiatives this turns out to be a gesture only and has been fizzling out where applied and ignored in most sectors.

What else has been done? nothing at all. But our PM did attend the davos summit of course.

Rabia Ahmed is a freelance columnist. Read more by her at http://rabia-ahmed.blogspot.com/

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Sunday, 26 January, 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

Corruption Perception Index tRAnsPARenCY International announcement that Pakistan has slipped from 117 to 120 out of 80 nations has caused a lot of stir in media, political circles. to start with, the PM himself, perhaps on ill advise or lack of political acumen, continues to harp on rampant corruption which he inherited from previous governments. In addition to this, contractors or subcontractors, involved in construction of substandard mega projects like new Islamabad Airport or Land Mafia which has defrauded millions, continue to do business and enjoy patronage without any accountability. some of these contractors have support of powerful stake holders and refuse to submit to scrutiny by state auditors.

Just like his predecessors whose kitchen cabinet was dominated by cronies, involved in scandalous ventures, PM Imran has too many friends exercising a lot of clout, even more than those elected. In fact, governance has become poorer in provinces where the PtI led coalition holds power.

Farmers who once grew less water consuming cotton, a major cash crop, have gone for other alternatives because of neglect by the state and negligible basic subsidies. Vegetable produce has decreased because green agriculture land has been converted to concrete jungles for powerful land mafia. electricity and gas theft, has increased instead of being curtailed. Major state corporations continue to be headed by cronies and retired or serving bureaucrats and uniformed officers who have no experience in relevant field.

MALIk TARIq ALI Lahore

Back to the past Squandering a great opportunity

Candid Corner Raoof hasaN “If I try to seize this self of which I feel sure, if I try to define and to summarise it, it is nothing but water slipping through my fingers. I can sketch, one by one, all the aspects it is able to assume, all those likewise that have been attributed to it, this upbringing, this origin, this ardour or these silences, this nobility or this vileness. But, aspects cannot be added up. This very heart, which is mine, will forever remain indefinable to me. Between the certainty I have of my existence and the content I try to give to that assurance, the gap will never be filled.”

—Albert Camus: “The Myth of Sisyphus”

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n acceptance of the need for change within has been acknowledged as a prerequisite for spearheading change around. And this is what most of the people find difficult to accomplish when confronted with the pressure of numbers, paucity of time and absence of resources and opportunities.

But there are also innumerable examples of people who surmounted daunting challenges by converting them into possibilities in pursuit of their vision. the critical factors that enable one to do this include an impregnable commitment to the ultimate cause, resolve, fearlessness, clarity of thought and a competent team of people who passionately share various parameters of the leader’s vision. the tragedy is that when ill-advised compromises are made, it shakes the trust of people in the leadership which is manifested in multiple ways, thus initiating a process of emergence of mafias who use vile tactics to promote exploitative agendas. this syndrome does not remain confined to a select few. It spreads around and is espoused by all ranks and files of the society either on account of their insatiable greed which prompts them to accumulate more, or their basic need to survive. Over time, this vicious cycle gets a stranglehold of the society, rendering it captive within its tentacles. through decades of cruel and dehumanising exploitation which has been rampant in Pakistan, this is the character the society has

assumed. What makes it far worse is that, along have continued to further debase themselves on the way, they have lost faith in the leadership the behest of mafias whose job it is to cultivate and institutions alike. With the state having for- subversion and exert pressure on the government feited its responsibility to care for its impover- so that they could escape unscathed. take the ished and the stricken people, they rightfully case of the nAB. It has not succeeded in securing believe that, at the end of the day, they have to convictions for dozens of people they have kept fend for themselves. the quotients of legality, locked up for inordinate periods, recreating an morality and correctness of what they may en- image of times when there was no recourse to gage in have little meaning or relevance for justice. this syndrome shakes the confidence of them because it is their survival, and that of people in these institutions and jeopardises the those who depend on them, which is at stake. It very task of ensuring transparency and accountis something which they have to do. neither do ability as key constituents of good governance.

Where we stand today is not where the govthey have an option, nor another avenue to look ernment thought it would be after 18 months of to. so, how they do it does not really matter.

With this becoming endemic, there is none having taken over in the country. non-delivery who can remain safe from the pervading infec- of justice has not been the only failing during this tion, thus paving the way to the evolving of an period. A serious problem is the increase in the exploitative society where a vast majority of peo- cost of living of the poor who find it impossible ple are captive in the grip of a few who control to sustain the burden any longer. It is difficult the state apparatus and who feed it on a variety for them to understand that the process of reof self-serving prescriptions. the crisis is that form takes time to materialise and yield results. those who exploit and those who are exploited they have been virtually left rudderless and the are both part of this degenerate network working hopes they had attached with the government of for advancing their respective interest by way of Prime Minister Imran Khan have been dashed. this is no small setback. It is a massive blow to methods that they may be able to lay hands on. the aspirations of a this is what the whole new generation country has been fed on of people who thought for over seven decades. that their messiah had Corruption and exploitaBut one thing definitely finally come to transtion have taken deep form their lives. roots and cleaning it up seems to have frittered there is no messiah. was never going to be there is no justice. easy. When the incumaway: the credibility of a there is no easing of life bent government took government people had for vast multitudes of the plunge, it was like it people in the country. had taken on the whole reposed faith in that it Yet it is difficult to world. Feeling threatened, the beneficiary would prove to be different blame the government alone. no one person mafias retaliated with than the ones they had can ever bring change venom and ferocity as singlehandedly. A comwell as cunning and conendured in the previous petent and well-meaning niving, the latter tactics group of committed peobeing far more challengyears. Gradually, it ple is needed to deliver ing than the former. appears to be creeping on the promised fronts.

In these circumthe government’s stances, the role that inback to the past failing is not reflected in stitutions play can be any lack of resolve. It decisive. they must all resides in its inability to stay within their respecput together a credible tive domains and discharge their duties in strict conformity with the team that would understand the challenges at constitutional provisions and the dictates of law. hand and will have the nerve, capability, capacity and commitment to work resolutely to dethis, unfortunately, has not been the case. the judiciary must bear bulk of the blame. liver. Instead, we have a disparate lot with each not only have they delayed, even denied deliv- humming a different tune. As long as the needed ery of justice to the people with no trappings of changes are not incorporated for a cohesive efpower, some of their adjudications have also fort, the cherished ideal of a just, compassionate raised eyebrows. the worst has been the extent and caring state will remain a distant dream.

But one thing definitely seems to have fritto which they have encroached upon the turf of the executive branch, defanging it of its right tered away: the credibility of a government people had reposed faith in that it would prove to be and authority to govern. the media is another case in point. Instead different than the ones they had endured in the of dealing with issues on their merit, the studios previous years. Gradually, it appears to be creepand newsrooms have become nests of weaving ing back to the past. that’s no small tragedy! conspiracies, without logic, rationale or respite, Raoof Hasan is a political and security and connecting imaginary dots with abandon. their written and spoken words are all up for strategist, and heads the Regional Peace Institute – an Islamabad-based think tank. He sale in exchange for pieces of silver.

Having been reduced to acting as bootleg- can be reached at: raoofhasan@hotmail.com; gers of the ruling oligarchs, all other institutions Twitter: @RaoofHasan

Social Media curse?

In the Pakistani society it isn’t unprecedented to feel that internet based life is a threat which has spread especially among youths to destroy their lives. Frequently seen as the best issue of our age, web based life is intensely scrutinized.

However, there are sure benefits of online networking which can refute this manner of thinking. this conviction springs from what online life sites have been named as. destinations, for example, Facebook and twitter have gotten incredible analysis starting late normally being seen as a path for youngsters to squander their days on their electronic gadgets. this to a degree can even be viewed as obvious yet just in the event that one contemplates over the outside of the ocean that is present day media. While indeed, web based life may have expanded the utilization of electronic gadgets, the benefits accompanying it are much more than that of a silver coating.

In the electronic age of the 21st century, online life is the best stage to make mindfulness. We would now be able to see works pioneers, scandalously donald trump, running their administration of web based life locales, for example, twitter. this mass mindfulness has demonstrated to really be a gift. the #BlackLivesMatter and #WeArethe1% for the Fergeunson and Occupy Wall street Movement individually have been more prominent occasions of social developments which did make mindfulness about critical issues as well as tackled these issues.

All however the two issues conflicted with the standards which had been set a state as incredible as the United states of America, when mass familiarity with an issue becomes even the best countries need to pay regard. Along these lines, internet based life costs to be a crucial resource.

Internet based life has additionally allowed each person to voice their conclusion. the #Metoo is the best case of this where not just have ladies at long last had the capacity to talk about a predominant issue in the public arena yet have had the capacity to join to neutralize it. through thusly a solitary post via web-based networking media makes numerous ladies feel less alone. thus, the ongoing down disorder displaying program on Facebook have made it conceivable to maintain kids with the affliction and not make them feel segregated.

Obviously the best course to embrace, as in each part of life, is balance. A reasonable utilization of media, in the correct ways will permit to utilize it appropriately as an extraordinary stage.

ABBAS FATEH-ud-dIN ASIM Lahore

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For feedback, comments, suggestions and, most importantly, tips, contact us at whitelies@pakistantoday.com.pk

FeVeR pitch in the electioneering for the Lahore Gymkhana elections. And boy, are the two sides spending some serious cash. the wet dinners and lunches, in particular, are sure to cost quite a bit. Cases of scotch flowing more freely than water. A case of the stuff, if one can find it in Lahore these days, costs around Rs 160,000 - how do we know, you ask? Mind your business, dear reader - and more than a case is downed in these campaign watering holes. two local television channels have also picked sides, it would appear.

Please, gentlemen, don’t take this thing so seriously. * * * * * * * * * He was in davos, the prime minister was, giving interviews to pretty journalists and hobnobbing with world leaders.

He comes back home to find forward blocs in two provincial assemblies (they have government in only two, so that’s two-out-of-two right there) and machinations are afoot.

A far cry from back when the PtI and the Other League has claimed they could cleave the opposition parties by forming forward blocs there.

Sunday, 26 January, 2020

10 FOREIGN NEWS

two rohingya woMen killed as MyanMar arMy shells village YaNGON

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Agencies

WO women, one pregnant, were killed and seven other people injured after Myanmar troops shelled a Rohingya village on Saturday, according to a lawmaker and a villager, two days after the UN’s highest court ordered the country to protect the minority.

Maung Kyaw Zan, a national member of parliament for Buthidaung township in northern Rakhine state, said shells fired from a nearby battalion hit Kin Taung village in the middle of the night.

Government troops have been battling ethnic rebels in the state for more than a year.

“There was no fighting, they just shot artillery to a village without a battle,” he told Reuters by phone, adding it was the second time this year that civilians had been killed.

The military denied responsibility, blaming the rebels who they said attacked

a bridge in the early hours of the morning.

More than 730,000 Rohingya Muslims were forced to flee northern Rakhine state in 2017 after a military crackdown that the UN has said was executed with genocidal intent.

More recently, the region was plunged into further chaos by fresh fighting between the military and the Arakan Army, a rebel group that recruits from the mostly Buddhist majority in the state.

That conflict has displaced tens of thousands and killed dozens.

Of the several hundred thousand Rohingya still in Rakhine, many are confined to apartheid-like conditions, unable to travel freely or access healthcare and education. They are caught in the middle of the fighting, and travel restrictions mean they are less able to flee than Buddhist neighbors.

In early January, four Rohingya children died in a blast the military and rebels blamed on each other.

Two military spokesmen did not answer phone calls from Reuters seeking

comment on Saturday’s deaths. In a statement posted on the Russian social media network VK, the army confirmed the deaths but blamed the Arakan Army, say-

ing its artillery had hit the village during clashes.

Accounts belonging to the Myanmar military were removed from Facebook and

Iraqi security forces raid Baghdad's main protest camp, shoot at demonstrators BaGHDaD Agencies

Iraqi security forces raided Baghdad’s main protest site at Tahrir Square on Saturday, firing live rounds and tear gas at anti-government demonstrators who have camped out there for months, Reuters reporters said.

There were no immediate reports of casualties but at least seven people were wounded in clashes with police earlier in the day, medics and security sources said.

The clashes took place after authorities began removing concrete barriers near Tahrir Square and across at least one main bridge over the Tigris River in Baghdad.

In the southern city of Basra, security forces raided the main anti-government sit-in overnight and deployed in force to stop protesters gathering there again, security sources said. Police arrested at least 16 protesters in Basra, they said.

The actions appeared to be an attempt to fully clear out anti-government sit-ins and end months of popular demonstrations that have called for the removal of Iraq’s entire ruling elite.

Security forces began the raids just hours after populist cleric Moqtada alSadr said he wound halt the involvement of his supporters in the anti-government unrest.

Sadr had supported the demands of protesters for the removal of corrupt

other social media networks in 2018 over spreading “hate and misinformation”.

Soe Tun Oo, a Rohingya villager living a mile from the village, told Reuters by phone two houses were destroyed in the explosion.

“The military always shoots heavy weapons… They shoot heavy weapons around the area they suspect. It is impossible to flee to other places, even though we are scared.”

The Hague-based International Court of Justice ordered Myanmar on Thursday to protect the Rohingya against further atrocities and preserve evidence of alleged crimes, after west African nation the Gambia launched a lawsuit in November accusing the country of genocide.

A spokesman for the ruling party told Reuters the country was already protecting Rohingya, but the civilian government had limited power over the military.

Civilian authorities govern jointly with the military in an awkward constitutional arrangement that reserves great powers for the commander-in-chief.

Bodies of US firefighters retrieved from Australian air crash site MELBOURNE: The bodies of three US firefighters who died in a plane crash earlier this week in Australia’s remote bushland while battling a fierce wildfire have been recovered, the police said on Saturday as investigators started probe into the accident. A spokeswoman for Australia’s New South Wales state police confirmed the recovery to Reuters in an e-mail. “They have been taken for a post mo tem examination to confirm ID,” the spokeswoman said. Coulson Aviation, the private Canadian firm that employed the trio, named them as U.S. military veterans Captain Ian H. McBeth, 44, of Great Falls, Montana, First Officer Paul Clyde Hudson, 42, of Buckeye, Arizona, and Flight Engineer Rick DeMorgan Jr., 43, of Navarre, Florida. -Agencies

Multiple hurt in cigar lounge shooting near Chicago, say police

politicians and provision of services and jobs soon after the demonstrations began in October but stopped short of calling all his followers to join in.

Many of Sadr’s millions of supporters who hail from Baghdad’s slums have been involved in demonstrations, however.

Sadr’s followers held a march on

Friday calling for a removal of U.S. troops from the country in a rally separate from the anti-government protests.

The march, which some observers expected to descend into violence, dissipated after several hours.

Sadr wrote on Twitter late on Friday that he would “try not to interfere in the issue (of protesters), either negatively

or positively, so that they can shepherd the fate of Iraq.” He did not elaborate.

In Basra, protesters urged Sadr to reconsider what they said was a withdrawal of support for popular demonstrations. In a letter circulated on social media, they called for the support of Sadrists, without whom they feared attacks by security forces.

CHICAGO: Multiple people were injured in a shooting at a cigar lounge outside Chicago, police said. The shooting happened just after 10pm on Friday at the Humidor Cigar Lounge in Lisle, police there said. Several victims needed life-saving aid, police said in a statement posted to Facebook. The number of people injured wasn’t immediately released. The statement said the suspect was accounted for. At this time, the matter is contained to the business and there is no danger to the community, the statement read. Further information wasn’t immediately released. Agencies

The global spread of the coronavirus: Where is it?

PaRIS Agencies

A SARS-like virus that has claimed 41 lives since emerging in a market in the Chinese city of Wuhan has spread around the world.

Here are the places that have confirmed cases of 2019 Novel Coronavirus: CHINA As of Saturday, almost 1,300 people have been infected across China, the bulk of them in and around Wuhan.

Nearly all of those who died were in the Wuhan region, but officials have confirmed two deaths elsewhere. The city of Macau, a gambling hub hugely popular with mainland tourists, has confirmed two cases. In Hong Kong, five people are known to have the disease. Three of those cases were confirmed in the 24 hours to Saturday morning.

FRANCE: There are three known cases

of the coronavirus in France, the first European country to be affected by the outbreak. One person is sick in Bordeaux and another is ill in Paris. A third person, who is a close relative of one of the other two, has also been confirmed to have the virus. All three had recently travelled to China and had now been placed in isolation.

JAPAN: Japan’s health authorities confirmed a second case on Friday. Local media said the patient was a man in his 40s who was originally from Wuhan and on a trip to Japan. The country’s first case was reported by the health ministry last week: a man who had visited Wuhan and was hospitalised on January 10, four days after his return to Japan.

AUSTRALIA: Australia on Saturday confirmed its first case of the virus, a man who arrived in Melbourne from China a week ago.

Authorities said they were contacting

people who had travelled on the same plane from China and offering advice.

MALAYSIA: Malaysia confirmed its first three cases on Saturday. All are Chinese nationals on holiday from Wuhan who arrived in the country from Singapore two days earlier.

A 66-year-old woman and two boys, aged two and 11, are in a stable condition and are being kept in an isolation ward at a public hospital, Malaysia’s health minister said.

NEPAL: Nepal said a 32-year-old man arriving from Wuhan had the deadly disease. The patient, who was initially quarantined, recovered and was discharged.

The government said that surveillance has been increased at the airport “and suspicious patients entering Nepal are being monitored”.

SINGAPORE: Singapore has announced at least three cases — a 66-year-old man and his 37-year-old son, who arrived in

CMYK

Singapore on Monday from Wuhan, and a 52-year-old Wuhan woman, who arrived in the city-state on Tuesday.

SOUTH KOREA : South Korea confirmed its second case of the virus on Friday. The health ministry said a South Korean man in his 50s started experiencing symptoms while working in Wuhan on Jan 10. He was tested after his return earlier this week, and the virus was confirmed. The country reported its first case on January 20 — a 35-year-old woman who flew in from Wuhan.

Both remain in treatment and are in stable conditions.

TAIWAN: Taiwan has uncovered three cases so far. It has since advised against travel to Wuhan and Hubei province and on Friday said any arrivals from Wuhan would be rejected by immigration. All arrivals from the rest of China — including Hong Kong and Macau — must fill out health declaration forms on arrival. It has

also banned the export of face masks for a month to ensure domestic supplies.

THAILAND: Thailand has detected five cases so far — four Chinese nationals from Wuhan and a 73-year-old Thai woman who came back from the Chinese city this month. Two of the Chinese patients were treated, and have since recovered and travelled back to China, the Thai health ministry said this week.

0UNITED STATES: On Tuesday US health officials announced the country’s first case, a man in his 30s living near Seattle. On Friday a second case was announced — a woman in her 60s living in Chicago.

Both were treated and are recovering.

VIETNAM: Vietnam confirmed two cases of the virus on Thursday. An infected man from Wuhan travelled to Ho Chi Minh City earlier this month and passed the virus on to his son.

Both are being treated in hospital and are stable, Vietnam health officials said.

Sunday, 26 January, 2020

buSineSS 11

PAkisTAn imPorTs 24,300 Tonnes oF coTTon yArn in six monThs

CORPORATE CORNER

LAHORE

SWABI: Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund has launched a project titled “Enhancing Food Security through Strategic Interventions in Agriculture” in 12 union councils of districts Swabi and Torghar. A ceremony was held in Swabi in this regard which was presided by National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser. P R E S S R E l E A S E

KARACHI: The first leg of the annual Jazz Golf Tournament teed-off at the DHA Golf Club. The one-day event saw participation of distinguished Jazz customers and the company’s top management. PRESS RElEASE

D

HASSAN NAQVI

URING the first half of the fiscal year 2019-20, Pakistan imported 24,299 tonnes of cotton yarn from India, China, Turkey, Oman, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Vietnam and other countries.

According to figures available with this scribe, Pakistan imported 14,100 tonnes of cotton yarn from China (58pc of total imports), 2,067 tonnes from Turkey, 1,038 tonnes from Oman, 915 tonnes from Uzbekistan, 246 tonnes from Indonesia, 172 tonnes from Vietnam and 1,028 tonnes from other countries.

Pakistan also imported 4,733 tonnes of cotton yarn from India during July-September 2019 (19pc of total imports in the first half of FY20).

It may be noted that Pakistan had stopped importing cotton from India following the latter's decision to revoke Article 370 of its constitution that granted Indian occupied Kashmir a special status.

Pakistan had downgraded its diplomatic relations with India and later also suspended its bilateral trade during a cabinet meeting.

It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan was highly dependent on Indian cotton yarn from 2011 to 2019.

According to figures, Pakistan's imports of cotton yarn from India was 73pc of total imports

GOVT URGED TO HELP FARMERS INCREASE COTTON PRODUCTION AREA AND PER-ACRE YIELD in 2011-12, 77pc in 2012-13, 86pc in 2013-14, 83pc in 2014-15, 89pc in 2015-16, 80pc in 201617, 75pc in 2017-18, 63pc in 2018-19 and 19pc in 2019-20 (July to December 2019).

In terms of quantity, Pakistan imported 4,927 tonnes of Indian cotton yarn in 2011-12, 16,856 tonnes in 2012-13, 25,839 tonnes in 2013-14, 22,988 tonnes in 2014-15, 45,130 tonnes in 2015-16, 62,335 tonnes in 2016-17, 75,494 tonnes in 2017-18, 47,777 tonnes in 2018-19 and 4,733 tons from July to September in 2019-20.

WHY IMPORT COTTON YARN: Talking to this scribe, a leading weaving miller from central Punjab shared that Pakistan's cotton production area has decreased from 2.86 million in 2011-12 to hectares 2.48 million in 2019-20 while the production of cotton bales decreased from 13.60 in 2011 to 8 million cotton bales in 2019.

He added that due to fewer amounts of cotton bales reaching ginners and from them to the spinning mills, the millers have to import cotton yarn to meet the demand of the local apparel industry as well as the export targets.

"That's why Pakistan had to import cotton

‘200-acre furniture city to be developed soon’ ISLAMABAD STAF REPORT LAHORE: Members of the Pakistan Footwear Manufacturers Association (PFMA) and Pakistan Tanners Association hold a joint press conference in connection with Pakistan Mega Leather Show. P R E S S R E l E A S E

Premature to speculate on FATF decision, says minister BSUINESS DESK: Economic Affairs Minister Hammad Azhar, who led the Pakistani delegation during the threeday talks with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in Beijing, said on Saturday the government has worked very hard to get the country out of the watchdog’s grey list.

Taking to Twitter, he said, “It is premature to comment/speculate on the decision that FATF members shall take in the plenary in Feb.” He continued, “Pak Authorities have worked very hard over the months & I feel we have made significant progress in our AML/CFT efforts.

We remain committed to sustaining this momentum.” The minister expressed optimism that that attempts by “certain quarters to politicise the FATF proceedings would be rejected”. Meanwhile, according to media reports, the FATF has given the government until March 31 to achieve targets set by the watchdog. A FATF plenary slated for Feb 17 will evaluate implementation on a 27-point action plan for Pakistan. Previously, Islamabad had sent a 650-page review report to the FATF on January 8 in response to 150 questions raised by the watchdog.

Faisalabad Industrial Estate Development and Management Company (FIEDMC) Chairman Mian Kashif Ashfaq said on Saturday that the government would fully exploit the potential of classical Pakistani furniture in order to boost the country’s exports, besides patronizing the sector to its capture share in international furniture markets.

Talking to delegations of furniture producers and exporters, he said a stateof-the-art ‘Furniture City’ would be developed on 200 acres of land in the Allama Iqbal Industrial City.

“This will enhance the country’s exports as well as investment in the furniture sector,” he maintained.

He said the main purpose of this city was to enable small and medium furniture producers to compete at international level.

“FIEDMC will also set up a Center for Excellence where artisans and students will be imparted training about furniture making through latest technology,” he added.

Mian Kashif said FIEDMC would provide the facility of one window operation to interested furniture producers so that they could install their units through complete coordination of federal and provincial departments. “Besides this, FIEDMC will also give them a complete business infrastructure.”

He said the FIEDMC management would also help the furniture producers get visible support in terms of simple and easily obtainable grants, exhibitions and trade shows. He noted that Pakistan’s investment profile had been upgraded by all leading rating agencies on account of successful economic reforms and improved security situation.

“All the fundamental economic indicators are now improving with exports witnessing an upward trend while the imports are decreasing and the current account deficit is also being overcome gradually,” he added.

Mian Kashif said that foreign companies have shown a keen interest in Pakistani market, urging the Pakistani businessmen to start joint ventures with their foreign counterparts.

The delegation lauded the untiring efforts of FIEDMC Chairman Mian Kashif Ashfaq and asked for early completion of the proposed furniture city.

yarn from other countries to meet the demand of our national and international clients," he added.

When asked why we emphasized on Indian cotton yarn from 2011 to 2019, a weaving miller said that Pakistan's cotton production and yield decreased by 41pc and 33pc respectively, due to which it imported cotton yarn from India between 2011 to 2019 as it was cost-effective and India was one of the largest exporters of quality cotton yarn.

However, a worried spinning miller said that the government should take some serious measures on an urgent basis to address the issue of cotton production in the country in 2020 otherwise, it would be a decisive blow to the local spinning industry as they will not have enough cotton bales to make cotton yarn etc.

He welcomed the Economic Coordination Committee's decision of waiving off all taxes and duties and allowing Cotton's import to Pakistan via Torkham border which is effective from January 15.

"It would help the spinning industry of the country to overcome the cotton bales deficiency in the country," he added.

The miller demanded that concrete steps should be taken to increase the production area, total production and per acre yield of the cotton.

He advised capacity building and incentive for cotton farmers that might help in meeting the cotton bales target this year.

Weekly inflation dips 0.4pc ISLAMABAD: The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI)-based weekly inflation (as on January 23) for the combined consumption group decreased by 0.40pc as compared to the previous week. The SPI for the week under review in the above-mentioned group was recorded at 131.55 points as against 132.08 points registered in the previous week, according to latest data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). The weekly SPI was 100 collected with base 2015-16, covering 17 urban centers and 51 essential items for all expenditure groups. The SPI for the lowest consumption group up to Rs17,732 also witnessed 0.55pc reduction, as it went down from 135.23 points in last week to 134.48 points during the week under review. As compared to the corresponding week of last year, the SPI for the combined consumption group in the week under review witnessed an increase of 19.69pc, while that for the lowest group, it increased by 18.10pc. Meanwhile, the SPI for the consumption groups from Rs17,733to Rs22,888, from Rs22,889 to Rs29,517, Rs29,518 to Rs44,175 and above Rs44,175 per month also decreased by 0.54pc, 0.45, 0.42pc and 0.34pc, respectively. During the week under review, average prices of nine items registered a decrease, while that of 15 items prices increased with the prices of 27 items remaining unchanged. The prices of commodities that recorded a decrease in their prices during the week under review included tomatoes, onions, eggs, LPG cylinder (11.67kg), potatoes, wheat flour, garlic, rice basmati and bananas. The items that recorded an increase in their average prices included sugar, washing soap, chicken farm (live), mustard oil, poser milk, vegetable ghee, cooked daal, pulse masoor (washed), firewood, pulse moong (washed), tea prepared (cup), beef, pulse gram and gur. The commodities that observed no change in their prices during the week under review included rice irri-6, bread (plain), mutton, milk fresh, curd, cooking oil, vegetable ghee, salt powder, chilly powder, tea, cooked beef, cigarettes, long cloth, shirting, lawn printed, georgette, gents sandal, gents chappal, ladies sandal, electricity charges, gas charges, energy saver, matchbox, petrol (super), hi-speed diesel, telephone call and toilet soap. APP

New US curb on Huawei in limbo amid pushback from Pentagon WASHINGTON AGENCIES

The US Commerce Department has withdrawn a rule aimed at further reducing sales to China’s Huawei Technologies amid concerns from the Defense Department the move would harm US businesses, people familiar with the matter said.

The decision to pull the rule from the formal review process leaves its future in jeopardy and highlights deep divides within the Trump administration over how best to approach the blacklisted telecoms giant and the broader war with China over technological dominance.

President Donald Trump’s administration plans a Cabinet-level meeting next week to discuss the rule, which could be revived, killed or rewritten, one of the sources said, amid pushback from the US

Treasury Department as well.

A Commerce Department representative said “if and when” the agency has something to announce, “we will do so.”

Huawei declined to comment. The Pentagon and Treasury did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Commerce in May placed Huawei on a trade blacklist, citing national security concerns. That allowed the US government to restrict sales of American-made goods to the company and a small number of items made abroad that contain US technology.

Under current regulations, key foreign supply chains remain beyond the reach of US authorities, fueling frustration among China hawks within the administration and a push to expand US authority to block more shipments to Huawei.

Reuters reported in November that

the Commerce Department was considering broadening the rule that dictates how much American content in a foreignmade product gives the US government authority to regulate exports.

The United States, under current conditions, can require a license or block the export of many high-tech products shipped to China from other countries, if US-made components make up more than 25pc of the value.

Commerce drafted a rule that would lower the threshold only on exports to Huawei to 10pc and expand the purview to include non-technical goods like consumer electronics including non-sensitive chips.

The draft rule was then sent to the Office of Management and Budget, where agencies, including the Department of Defense, were given until Wednesday to submit comments, one of

the people said. When the Pentagon expressed disagreement with the proposal, Commerce pulled it out of the review process in an unusual move.

US businesses have pushed back against the measure, arguing that enabling the government to regulate more sales to Huawei to include low-tech items made overseas with very little US technology would end up needlessly hurting American companies while encouraging Huawei to source more goods abroad.

But many in Congress and the Trump administration have criticized the Commerce Department for not doing more to thwart Huawei, and for its slow rollout of rules to limit exports of sophisticated technology to China.

Senators Tom Cotton, Ben Sasse and Marco Rubio, all Republicans on the Select Committee on Intelligence, wrote to

Defense Secretary Mark Esper to demand a rationale for the department’s reported objections.

“Huawei is an arm of the Chinese Communist Party and should be treated as such. It is difficult to imagine that, at the height of the Cold War, the Department of Defense would condone American companies contracting with KGB subsidiaries because Moscow offered a discount. We are concerned that the Defense Department is not appropriately weighing the risks,” the lawmakers wrote in the letter.

Separately, Cotton said he was “deeply troubled” by the reports.

They additionally asked how the Defense Department’s position affected its efforts to stop allies from using Huawei in their networks and asked for a briefing on the matter within 60 days.

Sunday, 26 January, 2020

12 buSineSS

Garment exports surge 12.8pc in 1hFy20 ISLAMABAD APP

The export of readymade garments during the first half of the current financial year witnessed an increase of 12.08pc as compared to the corresponding period of last year.

During the July-December FY20 period, the country exported about 31.53 million dozen of readymade garments ($1.411 billion) as compared to the exports of 23.83 million dozen during the same period of last year ($1.259 billion).

According to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, textile group exports during the period under review recorded 3.94pc growth, from $6.644 million last year to $6.905 billion. On a month-on-month basis, textile exports grew by 0.36pc in December 2019, from $1.138 billion in Dec 2018 to $1.142 billion. During the first six months of the current financial year, the country also managed to register a growth in knitwear exports, from $1.475 billion in 6MFY19 to $1.587 billion in 6MFY20.

Similarly, bedwear exports inched up from $1.116 billion in 6MFY19 to $1.197 billion, while towel exports during the period under review also registered a minor growth of 0.22pc, from $378.017 million to $378.846 million. It is pertinent to mention that during the period under review, exports in rupee terms surged by 24.82pc to Rs1.805 billion as against the exports of Rs1.446 billion during JulyDecember FY19.

Five Dry PorTs To be resToreD by mArch: sh rAsheeD LAHORE

r

SHAHAB OMER

AILWAYS Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad said on Saturday that five closed dry ports would be restored by 1st March to facilitate traders and businessmen.

Inaugurating a new freight container train at Mughlapura dry port, he said that Chishtian, Kundian, Sheikhupura, Jiabagga and Mughulpura dry ports would be made operational by March 1st which would increase economic activities in the country.

He urged the importers and exporters to help run the dry ports and promised that the railway officers would cooperate with them in their businesses. He remarked that the development of railways was important for any country's economic progress.

“The total area of Mughalpura dry port is 31

acres (1.1-acre is covered). The dry port has a capacity to park 324 wagons and has eight working lines. Similarly, it has also a capacity to store 2,000 containers. The dry port is now earning Rs13 million and after the working of the container train, the monthly income will increase and reach to 20 million.”

Sheikh Rasheed said that the Main Line 1 (ML-1) project would play a vital role in the country's progress as its share in the economy would be $9 billion, which was more than the IMF support of $6 billion.

He maintained that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was a game-changer and that no conspiracy or hurdle in the way of the project would be tolerated.

He thanked the chief executive officer (CEO) of DP World, a terminal operator, for promising the provision of 5,000 trackers for freight coaches, which would be helpful in tracking freight wagons after their installation.

The minister said that the ML-1 was his dream and mission, which would ensure 160 km\hour speed of trains, adding that after completion of the ML-1, he would retire from politics.

He said that under the ML-1 project, all curves in the track would be straightened and bridges would be upgraded.

He expressed hope that Minister Asad Umar would ensure early tenders for the ML-1 project.

The minister said that 154km-long track between Peshawar and Jalalabad in Afghanistan would also be included in CPEC. He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan would soon visit the PR headquarters to inaugurate a modernised Command and Control system of the railways.

PR Chairman Habibur Rehman Gilani, newly appointed PR Chief Executive Officer\Senior General Manager Dost Ali Leghari and PR Police IG Mushtaq Mehar were also present on the occasion.

‘Five new airplanes to be added to PiA’s fleet this year’ LAHORE: A vendor displays kinnow on his pushcart at Shalimar Chowk. online

OICCI welcomes UK upgrading travel advisory to Pakistan ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

LAHORE APP

Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan said on Saturday that under the new 'Aviation Policy', five new airplanes were being added to Pakistan International Airline (PIA) fleet this year. He said this while talking to media prior to his address at the inaugural ceremony of Pakistan Metrological Department's (PMD) Media & IT Centre, and Weather Helpline-1315. The minister was of the view that addition of new airplanes would improve working and flights operation of PIA. To a question, he said the government was going to sign new agreements with foreign airlines, including Lufthansa Air, Azerbaijan Airline, Air France and the airlines of Gulf States. To another question, he said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government would complete its five-year constitutional term. On climate change, the minister said Pakistan Metrological Department had immense importance to control global warming and many other issues related to it.

The Managing Committee of the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) has welcomed the travel advisory to Pakistan issued by the UK government, which allows tourists, business travellers and British nationals based in Pakistan to travel to various parts of the country.

Commenting on the updated UK travel advisory, OICCI Secretary General Abdul Aleem said, "The upgrade in the UK travel advisory is an appreciation by the UK government of the various initiatives of the government and the security agencies in proactively tackling the security, law and order challenges which had serious repercussions on the image of the country as a safe destination for FDI and it is a clear message to existing and

potential foreign investors that there is now no need to factor in security concerns in deciding on foreign direct investment in Pakistan."

He said that the new advisory would enable a large number of British nationals to devour the natural beauty of the land as well as the warmth & hospitality of the people across the country.

He further added that the UK update is consistent with the OICCI 2019 annual security survey, which has been extensively shared with diplomats from UK and other countries, besides senior security and other persons visiting Pakistan from the Head office and Regional offices of leading multinationals operating in Pakistan, who are members of the OICCI. The OICCI Security Survey conducted in June 2019, and shared with all stakeholders shows that the foreign investors, percep-

tion of the country’s security environment has further improved significantly compared to the already improved security situation recorded in the 2018 survey. The annual security survey, conducted among OICCI members only, is one of the critical annual assessment of the operating conditions in Pakistan and is taken very seriously by the potential foreign investors, relevant diplomats and other stakeholders interested in doing business in Pakistan.

The visibly improved security situation has boosted confidence of foreign investors and is reflected in over 65pc increase in the visit to Pakistan by OICCI members’ senior HQ/Regional management. The increase in visits is a vote of confidence in the improved security environment.

Abdul Aleem concluded, "The UK Travel Advisory read together

with the OICCI Security survey is a strong indicator that Pakistan as a destination for investors has improved significantly with less concern on overall security situation. This improved security environment has allowed many foreign business visitors and trade delegations being granted travel permissions for their visits to Pakistan from their respective embassies and travel security agencies."

OICCI is the largest chamber of commerce in terms of economic contributions in Pakistan. The 190 OICCI members contribute about a third of the country’s total tax collections, invested $ 2.7 billion last year in new investments and employ about one million people, besides contributing significantly to the socio-economic development of the community through their substantive CSR initiatives.

uS energy firms, manufacturers interested in Pak market: Wells BUSINESS DESK Chief US diplomat for South Asian Affairs Alice Wells has said Washington “strongly urges” Islamabad to implement its Financial Action Task Force (FATF) action plan and stressed that the requirements spelt out in the action plan have to be fulfilled. She made the remarks during a briefing at the US Department of State on her recent trip to Pakistan.

“It is not a political process, but we certainly support and stand ready to assist Pakistan as it implements these obligations,” she said in response to a question asking if the US would respond to Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s request for intervention in getting Pakistan out of the grey list.

Responding to the same question,

Wells noted: “FATF is a technical process. There has been an action plan that was presented to Pakistan. It’s a question of fulfilling the requirements that have been spelt out and that are asked of all countries in the international system.”

“I welcomed efforts by Pakistan to meet its counterterrorism financing obligations under FATF … We strongly encourage Pakistan to work with FATF and the international community to fully satisfy its action plan commitments.

“Completion of the FATF action plan is critical to Pakistan’s economic reform efforts, including its IMF (International Monetary Fund) programme, as well as for demonstrating sustained and irreversible action against all militant groups based in Pakistan without distinction,” she said.

Asked if IMF funding could get af-

fected if Pakistan did not meet FATF regulations, Ambassador Wells responded saying if Pakistan did not meet its FATF obligations or if it is blacklisted, “that would be devastating for Pakistan’s economic reform programme and for its ability to attract investors.”

However, she added that Washington is, “pleased to see progress by Pakistan towards fulfilling FATF obligations”.

“There is a meeting underway currently in Beijing where Pakistan is presenting its actions to the task force. And so I defer to that task force to make its evaluation. But the more evidence of Pakistan’s seriousness in both documenting its economy and in shrinking the space for militants to be able to take advantage of Pakistan’s either banking system or territory, the more confidence that the international community and busi-

ness community will have in working with Pakistan,” she said.

‘OBVIOUS PROGRESS’: While reading out a statement at the US Department of State about her recent trip to Islamabad, Ambassador Wells said, “We have seen obvious progress in our relations with Pakistan, from the high-level engagement such as the President’s warm and constructive meeting with Prime Minister Khan at Davos to the restoration of the International Military Education and Training programmes.”

‘OPPORTUNITIES IN PAKISTAN’: Ambassador Wells, when asked what she had to say about Pakistan and China’s negative reaction to her critical comments on CPEC, clarified that it is, “Pakistan’s sovereign right to decide what investment it seeks and on what terms.”

She said that the US, as “a friend of Pakistan,” wanted to ‘advise’ Islamabad to take on investment projects that create wealth, generate employment and are sustainable and generate the greatest economic prosperity. She went as far as to offer that, “we have great options for the Pakistan market.” She was referencing a comment she had made shortly before, in which she revealed that American energy firms and manufacturers are interested in the Pakistani market. “You have ExxonMobil, Excelerate, Cargill, Honeywell, all pursuing major new investments. You have Uber creating 80,000 jobs for Pakistani youth,” she noted.

“The argument that I was making in Pakistan is that there are opportunities and should be opportunities for American investment,” she said.

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Sunday, 26 January, 2020

Cheating wives, 'homophobic' chicken and commerce

B

THe TuBe

Y the time you read this, the final episode of ARY money spinner Merey Pass Tum Ho would have aired. It has set off a bit of controversy.

Much is being argued - inarticulate rambling by both sides - on the content of the television series.

Whether it is problematic or not.

What isn’t debated, however, is how incredibly successful the project has become. Close to ten million rupees’ worth of tickets have been sold by cinema theatres which

screened the double-episode series finale. ARY has decided not to upload the finale on YouTube, so viewers had to watch it on television, bringing back the ‘appointment viewing’ of dramas of earlier years. This was going to be like a cricket match.

The broadcast ad tariff would have shot up manifold. The channel, however, might have made a prior bulk deal with a media buying house; such deals hedge risks in case a play turns out to be a damp squib, but on the flipside, prevent getting money in case of runaway hits like this one.

Then, there is the economic activity made by piggybacking off the success. Restaurants, cafes across the country had announced that the finale is going to be projected onto screens and television channels. The makers of the show won’t see a penny of this, yes, but does add to plenty of publicity for

future ventures.

Conversely, there seems to be at least some activity in ‘woke’ circles saying how they will not, in fact, showing the play. Supporters of the drama will call it virtue signalling, the other side will call it ignoring profits for a higher cause. A coffee shop in Rawalpindi’s Bahria Town says : “So, we are pleased to announce that our big screen will not be stained by a narrative that every sane and progressive Pakistani must denounce. Ours is a place meant to harness and foster the true and pure forms of art and culture and this particular show just does not cut it.

This is not to blow any trumpets; this is just an expression of defiance against trends that we consider to be

nothing less than poisonous for this society at large.”

Though this coffee shop might not be sacrificing after all. Their ‘not to blow any trumpets’ just might lead to some ‘not-watching parties’ alongside the watch parties. In fact, this very column has been an advertisement - free - for them.

The American fast food chain Chick-fil-A was in the middle of a considerable bit of controversy in the past, when the chain’s chief operating officer issued anti-gay statements.

This followed reports that Chick-filA's charitable endeavor, the S. Truett Cathy-operated WinShape Foundation, had donated millions of dollars to organizations seen by LGBT activists as hostile to LGBT rights.

Activists called for protests and boycotts, while supporters of the restaurant chain, and opponents of same-sex marriage ate there in support of the restaurant. National political figures both for and against the actions spoke out and some business partners severed ties with the chain.

It would appear that supporters and opponents of this television series are seeing their fight spill out into commerce as well. Truth be told, the commercial entities on both these sides just might be laughing their way to the bank, least bothered by the politics of the whole issue.

Post-script: There is an asymmetry to the whole thing, of course. Those supporting stand to make far more money than those opposing. It would be interesting to see, in coming times, a more contentious television series where the sides are evenly matched. g

With His Fourth Book, Charles Yu Finally Feels Like a Writer

I

The New York Times

By AdAm SternBergh

RVINE, Calif. — Charles Yu is very interested in stories, both the stories we tell ourselves and the stories that are told to us, so let’s start with a story about him.

Once upon a time, there was a boy born in Los Angeles to a Taiwanese mother and father.

The boy spent his days watching “The Twilight Zone” reruns, playing Street Fighter II, reading “Choose Your Own Adventure” books and thinking about where he might fit in. When he grew up, he became a corporate lawyer.

The end.

Except, as with all good stories, there’s more to the story than that.

The boy also wrote fiction, but not until he was an adult. He worked as a lawyer by day and wrote late into the night. He published three books, and his fourth, the novel “Interior Chinatown,” is set to come out at the end of this month.

It’s the story of Willis Wu, a young man who’s struggling to figure out what his role is in life, literally. Wu resides in a version of Chinatown that’s both a real place and the backdrop to an ongoing police procedural TV show called “Black and White.” Its inhabitants live their lives as well as the parts assigned to them: Disgraced Son, Delivery Guy, Young Dragon Lady, Silent Henchman or the most coveted role of all, Kung Fu Guy. “Interior Chinatown” — the title puns on the screenplay convention for describing locations — recalls the humorous and heartfelt short stories of George Saunders, the metafictional high jinks of Mark Leyner and films like “The Truman Show.”

“I feel like I was an existentialist from the age of 5,” Yu, 44, said last month over dim sum near his home in Irvine. He’d suggested we meet at this restaurant in the Spectrum Center, a sprawling, pleasantly engineered outdoor mall that functions as Irvine’s de facto civic space. It’s the kind of place that,

“I feel like I was an existentialist from the age of 5,” said Charles Yu, author of the new book “Interior Chinatown.” “Even as a kid, I was always obsessed with these questions.

Who am I? How did I get here? What am I doing in this place?”

frankly, might serve as a setting for one of Yu’s stories, which are often about the uneasy feeling that something’s not quite right with the world. “Even as a kid,” he said, “I was always obsessed with these questions. Who am I? How did I get here? What am I doing in this place?”

Despite these inclinations, he never believed he would be a writer. Instead, he went to law school at Columbia. It was there, while studying for the bar, that he picked up books of fiction that blew his mind: Saunders, A.M. Homes, Donald Barthelme — writers who grappled with those same questions in bracing ways.

So Yu started writing short stories of his own. He sent them out to literary journals. “I got hundreds of rejections,” he said. “I started posting them on a wall. But one in 50 stories would get published.” The stories were examinations of anxiety and heartbreak, usually framed by a high-concept conceit, such as the travails of a sad-sack superhero named Moisture Man. An agent read one and contacted him. Together they sold his first collection, “Third Class Superhero,” which was published in 2006.

The book was well-reviewed and sold decently. Still, in Yu’s mind, he wasn’t really a writer. He was a lawyer. “Not having an

M.F.A., having a day job, there was always a feeling like I came in through the back door, or at least the side door,” he said. “Even to this day, it all feels a bit D.I.Y. It’s like I don’t play an instrument, I play a shoebox guitar I made in my garage.”

This is where Yu’s story takes an improbable twist. His collection fell into the hands of the novelist Richard Powers, who championed Yu to be named one of the National Book Foundation’s Five Under 35 most promising writers in America in 2007. Yu was flabbergasted. He’d never met Powers.

The encouragement was enough to spur him to finish his first novel, “How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe,” about a time-machine repairman who’s willfully stranded himself between moments in time, even as he searches for the father who disappeared from his life. That book also did well, critically and financially, so he followed up in 2012 with the short-story collection “Sorry Please Thank You,” which was not quite as successful, either critically or financially. He still owed his publisher another book but Yu recalls feeling self-doubt once again, thinking, O.K., that was fun, but maybe this is it.

Then he got a call from HBO. Here, the story goes from slightly improbable to downright implausible. Yu had had enough interest from TV executives in his earlier books that he’d done a “water bottle tour” — meeting with studios to talk vaguely about potential projects — but he had never considered himself a TV writer. One executive he’d met, though, disagreed. David Levine, who at the time was the co-head of drama at HBO (he’s since left to join Anonymous Content), orchestrated a meeting between Yu and Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy, the showrunners developing “Westworld.”

“He was so self-deprecating,” Levine recalled. “He told me, I have this other life, I’m never really going to be a writer, this was always a side career. Writing was still a middle-of-the-night business for him. I just said, Why don’t you do it full-time?” g

Sunday, 26 January, 2020

14 SPORTS

Serena WilliamS not going quietly aS CoCo makeS CaSe aS heir S Agencies

ERENA Williams suffered her earliest exit from the Australian Open since 2006 but the 23-time Grand Slam champion is not ready to hand over the baton to heir apparent Coco Gauff just yet.

The 38-year-old Williams was downcast but quietly defiant in the aftermath of her shock third-round loss to Wang Qiang on Friday, the 27th-seeded Chinese winning 6-4, 6-7 (2/7), 7-5.

Five hours later, the 15-year-old Gauff pulled off an upset of her own, defeating reigning champion Naomi Osaka 6-3, 6-4 in 67 minutes.

Gauff is the youngest player to beat a defending champion at the Australian Open in the Open era, which began in 1968. Williams had already won six Grand Slams when Gauff was born in 2004 and there is heavily symbolism in the older American passing the younger one on her way out the Melbourne exit door.

But Williams signalled that she will not go quietly in her quest to equal or per-

haps surpass the record 24 Grand Slams won by Australia's Margaret Court.

"I feel like I'm on the way up, so we'll see," Williams said, asked if she will be back at Melbourne Park 12 months from now. "I don't know. I'm not even thinking about anything about not being here."

And in a show of the commitment that has made her one of the greatest players of all time, Williams said: "I'm definitely going to be training tomorrow.

"That's first and foremost, to make sure I don't do this again."

But Chris Evert, an 18-time Grand Slam champion, cast doubt on whether Williams will ever win another Major.

"Her best shot now has to be Wimbledon because she's won that so many times (seven) and her game is, I think, better suited to that surface than any other," the retired former number one told Australian media. "But I'm just amazed that she's still playing at a high level now at 38 years of age.

"I have a lot of admiration for her, but at the same time the (other) players are only getting better and you wonder how

much better she can get."

Williams's last Grand Slam title came three years ago in Melbourne, when she was pregnant with daughter Olympia.

The American great has since reached four Slam finals but failed to win a set in

any of them and her last defeat, in the US Open final, was at the hands of 19-yearold Canadian Bianca Andreescu.

If Williams is on the way down, albeit reluctantly, Gauff is very much on the way up. The question now is how high

and how fast the teenager -- the youngest player in the draw at the Australian Open -- can go.

Gauff and her idol Williams spent time on and off court in pre-season and Williams said in Melbourne that she had been "nowhere near" Gauff's level when the same tender age.

Gauff, who faces American 14th seed Sofia Kenin in the last 16, watched Williams lose while she was waiting for her clash with Japan's two-time Grand Slam champion Osaka.

"I still get nervous when that happens," Gauff said. The fast-emerging American beat Serena's older sister Venus, a seven-time Major champion, in her Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon last year. She then repeated the feat in her Melbourne opener, before dumping out Romania's Sorana Cirstea after being a set and 3-0 down.

Gauff was left in tears in the third round at the US Open after a 6-3, 6-0 mauling to then-world number one and title-holder Osaka. She admitted she was overawed by the occasion.

Ott Tanak escapes unscathed in devastating 100m plunge from Alpine road Kyrgios into Nadal grudge match as shocks rattle Australian Open Home favourite Nick Kyrgios went five sets to ensure an Australian Open showdown with Rafael Nadal on Saturday as a series of shocks caused carnage in the women's draw. Kyrgios survived the longest match of his career to beat Russia's Karen Khachanov 6-2, 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (6/8), 6-7 (7/9), 7-6 (10/8), collapsing on his back after the fifth-set tiebreaker. "That was insane -- I've got no words to how I'm feeling right now," he said, after the 4hr 26min marathon marked by his trademark tweeners and exchanges with the umpire. "This is just epic man, I don't even know what's going on. My legs feel about 40 kilos each." The outspoken Aussie now heads into a last-16 clash with Nadal, with whom he has history after calling him "super salty" following criticism from the Spaniard last year. "Whatever happens between us, he's an amazing player, he's arguably the greatest of all time," said Kyrgios. Top seed Nadal had a comparatively easy ride against his Davis Cup team-mate Pablo Carreno Busta, racing through 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 in what he called his "best match of the tournament so far". While the men's Big Three of Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic are all still alive, it's a different story in the women's competition where six of the top 10 seeds crashed out in the third round. sports Desk

GAP Agencies

World champion Ott Tanak and his co-driver escaped unscathed on Friday after their Hyundai somersaulted off an Alpine road at high speed before plunging 100m down a hillside in the Monte Carlo Rally.

Tanak, in his first rally for his new team, flew off an icy road on the fourth stage between Saint-Clement and Freissinieres.

The car´s nose dipped and hit the ground, bouncing the vehicle into the air. It spun through a tree before landing at the foot of a hill.

The two Estonians miraculously climbed out of the car unscathed.

"It wasn´t the start of the season that we were looking for, but fortunately we are both OK thanks to the safety equipment. We will fight back soon," tweeted Tanak.

After the two stages on Thursday evening, Tanak had complained about black ice and said: "I am happy to be alive!"

"Precautionary medical checks have

confirmed that Ott Tanak and Martin Jarveoja are fine following their crash," the team said in a statement after the pair had been checked over in hospital where they were due to remain overnight.

"But the Estonians will take no further part in the rally," it added.

Tanak, 32, has never won the Monte Carlo Rally. He was in fourth place overall when he crashed. "I don´t know what happened," said Hyundai team manager Andrea Adamo after the stage. "You saw what I saw, I´m waiting for him to come back but I was mostly concerned about his physical health."

"Our priority in such situations is always the condition of the crew first and foremost," Adamo later said.

"It is customary after such incidents for hospital check-ups, the results of which were clear. They will remain there for monitoring overnight, which is again routine procedure."

Tanak´s new team-mate Thierry Neuville was leading going into the stage but finished third.

"I was slowed down so much in that section," Neuville, a Belgian, said. "I knew there was something when I saw Ott´s lines, so I lost quite a lot of time."

Tanak is no stranger to dramatic crashes. At the 2015 Rally of Mexico, his Ford plunged into a lake and sank to the bottom leaving him and his co-driver having to swim to safety.Frenchman Sebastien Ogier, in a Toyota, finished second in the stage in which Tanak crashed before eventually taking the overnight lead.

"I hope Ott is okay," the six-time former champion said. "It was a very fast section where he went off with a big compression."

Overnight temperature was below freezing and while there is not a lot of snow on the roads, there were still the patches of ice that had made the route difficult since the start the previous day.Seven-time Monte Carlo winner Ogier, who switched to Toyota after Citroen pulled out of the championship at the end of last season, ended the first full day with a 1.2-sec lead over Welsh teammate Elfyn Evans.

Tiger, Rory struggle as Palmer grabs Torrey Pines lead AGencies Reigning Masters champion Tiger Woods, chasing a record 83rd US PGA title, and Rory McIlroy, trying to become world number one, struggled Friday while Ryan Palmer seized the lead at the Farmers Insurance Open.

Woods overcame a double-bogey disaster on the first hole to shoot a one-under par 71 while McIlroy faded late to fire a one-over 73, leaving both on four-under 140 and six adrift of Palmer's pace after 36 holes at Torrey Pines.

"It played a lot harder for everyone than yesterday except for Ryan -- he's the only one who figured it out," Woods said.

Palmer shot 62 on the North Course, one of two being used on the first two days, to stand on 134 and grab a twostroke lead over fellow American Brandt Snedeker, who fired a 67 on the South Course at the San Diego layout.

"It was one of those days where I knew the scores were low, I knew I could get a nice round in there if I could get the putter rolling and I did," Palmer said after

firing 10 birdies and a closing bogey. "It's exciting. I love where my game is at and I'm excited for the opportunity."

Woods, a 15-time major winner playing his first event since turning 44 last month, seeks his ninth career crown at Torrey Pines, having won the 2008 US Open and seven US PGA titles at the famed San Diego layout.

Woods matched Sam Snead's US PGA record of 82 career wins with a victory last October in Japan and this is his first attempt to seize the mark alone.

But his cause took a major blow when he four-putted the first hole, botching two short par putts.

"I tried to ram it in the hole and it bounced out," Woods said. "I hit a terrible third putt.

"I hit a lot of good shots. I'm driving the ball better, which is nice. In the middle part of the round I made those putts."

Second-ranked McIlroy, who returns to the top for the first time since 2015 with a victory.

Palmer opened with back-to-back birdies, managed the trick again at the

fifth and sixth holes and birdied the par-3 eighth as well to climb the leaderboard.

On the back nine, Palmer began with back-to-back birdies, repeated the feat at 13 and 14 and closed with birdies at 16 and the par-5 17th before his bogey at 18.

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"I made a good 5-footer to save bogey. It was awesome," Palmer said.

"It's a hard golf course and the patience you're going to have to have is going to play a key role. The way I'm driving the ball gives me a lot of confi-

dence for the weekend."

- 'It's a marathon' Woods rolled a two and a half foot par putt past the cup at one and botched a comeback bogey attempt from twice as far, clinging to the cut line at 1-under.

Woods blasted from the rough to two feet and birdied the par-5 sixth hole, made a tense six-footer for par at the seventh, then dropped his approach seven feet from the pin and birdied the par-3 eighth.

He holed out a 15-footer from the fringe for a birdie at the par-5 ninth, then sank a five-footer at 10.

Woods found a bunker off the tee at the 12th and missed a seven-foot par putt to stumble back then hooked his tee shot at 17 and needed a clutch five-foot putt to save bogey.

At 18, Woods reached greenside rough in two, then sank a five-foot birdie putt. "It was a good middle part of the round. Made a mistake that cost me a shot but made a birdie at 18," Woods said.

"It's a marathon. it's a long haul. I'm just going to try to be there at the end and see what happens."

Sunday, 26 January, 2020

lead BaBar azam, mohammad hafeez hit half-CenturieS aS pakiStan Canter to SerieS Win

i

T might not matter this sort of game is worlds removed from anything Pakistan will have thrown at them in the upcoming T20 World.

The conditions will be different, the pressure higher, the tension sharper. They will be content to draw comfort from snapping back into the team who put these performances series in, series out for the best part of the last three years, and hope this represents a return to that form. For today, just as it was yesterday, an unchanged Pakistan kept Bangladesh on a leash right throughout the first innings, the below-par 136 the visitors cobbled together never once looking like it might be enough.

And while Ahsan Ali did fell early - he has time to add consistency and match-awareness to his game - Pakistan knew exactly what to do next. Babar Azam and Mohammad Hafeez combined for an unbroken 131-run partnership that took them through to the finish with 20 balls to spare.

Hafeez registered a half-century that should do his chances of attaining an extended run in the T20I side no harm, while Babar Azam bounced back from a duck in the first game to finish unbeaten on 66.

Tamim's lone hand: Batting first on a greener wicket as compared to Friday's, Tamim Iqbal's lone hand of resistance was the only thing holding Bangladesh's innings together. Shaheen Afridi ensured there would be no repeat of a stand

between the openers, snaring Mohammad Naim for a first-ball duck. Mahedi Hasan, coming into the side off the back of a stellar BPL, nicked off to Mohammad Hasnain soon after, while Shadab Khan got a slightly fortuitous lbw to remove Liton Das that withstood a review from the batsman.

Tamim, meanwhile, was batting on a slightly different surface, the kind the groundstaff hoped they had PAKISTAN 137 produced. Without ever really upping the scoring rate, he FOR 1 (HAFEEZ 67*, never once appeared threatBABAR 66*) BEAT ened by Pakistan's bowling BANGLADESH 136 FOR 6 attack in the manner his team-mates were.

(TAMIM 65, HASNAIN Even the acceleration at 2-20) BY NINE the end was instigated by the opener when he brought up his WICKETS fifty by tonking Shadab to deep cover before crunching two more fours in the over as Bangladesh made a late surge. He was tiring as a direct hit sent him back in the 18th over before Haris Rauf, who put in another audition as perhaps Pakistan's most consistently quick limited-overs bowler, removed captain Mahmudullah in the final over.

The parTnership Bangladesh might have hoped to make it scrappy once more when a struggling Ahsan failed to get off the mark off his first six balls. The lack of experience showed as he lashed out on the seventh, only succeeding in skying it to mid-off. With just six runs scored off ten balls at that point, it appeared Pakistan would be made to work hard for their win once more.

However, it didn't work out that way. Most importantly, because Babar was still around to anchor the chase, and even as Hafeez took his time settling in, Babar kept the scoreboard ticking over regularly from the other end, removing any pressure the 39-year-old might have felt.

When Hafeez did come into his own, Babar was Bangladesh head coach Russell Domingo has content to pass the strike over to him. In the end, it criticised the ‘average’ pitches prepared for the was the veteran who brought up his half-century first, ongoing Twenty20 international (T20I) series and finished as the top-scorer with an unbeaten 67. between Pakistan and Bangladesh in Lahore. pakisTan's bowling: Amid the flair of the While speaking to media after Pakistan's comchase and the ordinariness of Bangladesh's perfortable nine-wicket win in the second match, formance, it may be easy to lose sight of what set the Bangladesh head coach said that the pitches up the win in the first place. Pakistan chose to didn’t suit their young batting lineup. "The stick with the bowling attack that had brought divwickets have not been great and a little bit averidends in the first game, and the wicket off Shaage. It was not easy to bat on them, the pitch heen's second ball suggested they were up for the was a bit better today but we have a very young fight once more. batting line-up," Domingo said. "We decided to The biggest positive will be Hasnain's vastly imbat first both times because it didn't look like an proved performance - his lack of control on Friday easy wicket to bat on and we thought that if we was one of the few blots on an otherwise spotless put up a respectable total we could test and bowling effort - will please Waqar Younis, the bowlsqueeze their batsmen in the chase. I think we ing coach, plenty. He ended up being the pick of the did that in the first match."news Desk lot, accounting for Mahedi and Afif Hossain, to finish with figures of 4-0-20-2.

BangladeSh head CoaCh CritiCiSeS ‘average’ pitCheS prepared By pakiStan

SPORTS 15 george hill, hamidullah qadri bag four each as england make short work of nigeria England allrounder George Hill, playing his first game of the Under-19 World Cup, finished with figures of 4 for 12 to help England bowl Nigeria out for 58 in 27.5 overs in the final Group D game at Kimberley. England, for whom this was their first win of the tournament, won by eight wickets with opener Sam Young finishing the game off with a six, as England racing to 64 for 2 in just 11 overs.

Nigeria had opted to bat first, but the England seamers reduced them to 19 for 3 early. A 23-run fourth-wicket then took Nigeria past the forties, but then offspinner Hamidullah Qadri, who also took four wickets, and medium-pacer Hill bowled them out soon after. Nigeria captain Sylvester Okpe top-scored with 16.

Young was brisk in England's pursuit of 59, crunching five fours and two sixes in his 33ball 39, while Hil, who batted at No.4, was not out on 7 when the winning runs were hit. Both teams will move to the Plate League stage of the tournament, ENGLAND having failed to UNDER-19S 64 FOR 2 come in the top two of their (YOUNG 39*) BEAT group. West NIGERIA UNDER-19S 58 Indies topped the group, with (HILL 4-12, QADRI 4-24) Australia

BY EIGHT WICKETS finishing second.

Sri Lanka Under-19s 47 for 1 (Rasantha 19*) beat Japan Under-19s 43 (Paranavithana 2-2, Daniel 2-11, Madushanka 2-12, Thilakaratne 2-13) by nine wickets Four days after being bowled out for 41 by India, Japan slumped to 43 all out in their final Group A match, against Sri Lanka. In a match reduced to 22 overs a side, Sri Lanka chose to bowl, and took just 18.3 overs to rattle through Japan's line-up, and only 8.3 to complete their chase.

None of the Japan batsmen got into double figures, their No. 4 Debashish Sahoo coming closest with 9. Four Sri Lanka bowlers - Dilshan Madushanka, Sudeera Thilakaratne, Ashian Daniel and Navod Paranavithana - took two wickets each, with the other two coming via run-outs.

Paranavithana fell early in Sri Lanka's chase, before Mohammad Shamaz and Ravindu Rasantha steered their side home with an unbroken partnership of 38.

'Self-belief is what carries you through from the Under-19s': Rabada Agencies

Before Kagiso Rabada became a household name, he made his first mark on the global stage at the 2014 Under-19 World Cup in the UAE. His six-wicket haul against Australia, in the semi-finals, gave South Africa the momentum going into the final, where they beat Pakistan by six wickets. He ended the tournament as its second-highest wicket-taker, and that 2014 Under-19 triumph remains South Africa's only World Cup win across all levels and genders.

Three months later, he was awarded a contract with the Lions, and before 2014 was over, he had made his international debut in a T20I against Australia in Adelaide. He would soon be part of South Africa's ODI and Test teams too, and from there there's been no looking back.

But not everyone from that winning squad has made the same sort of transition into the top level. Barring Aiden Markram and Andile Phehlukwayo, no one else has played for South Africa in the six years since. Bradley Bopp has played no senior cricket - first-class, List A or T20. Greg Oldfield hasn't featured at senior level since 2014, while Bradley Dial last played in 2016. The list only gets longer. According to Rabada, what sets players apart after their graduation from the Under-19 level is how much confidence they have in their own abilities.

"I guess it's not something you want to tell them, but not everyone can make it," Rabada tells ESPNcricinfo. "You have to have the belief to push through.

"It's one thing saying you believe in yourself, but you need to look inwards and ask yourself, 'do you really really be-

lieve in yourself?' That's what separates the players who make it and those who don't. Obviously, there's the thing about talent, hard work and focus, but self-belief is what carries you through from the Under-19s."

South Africa are currently playing the

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fourth Test against England in Johannesburg, which Rabada has been suspended from, for disciplinary reasons. It's why he's at Bloemfontein's Mangaung Oval, watching South Africa's Under-19s play UAE in their final group-stage game.

In the Port Elizabeth Test, Rabada

had earned his fourth demerit point in the last 24 months for his celebration of Joe Root's wicket. The match referee had pulled him up for "using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon his or her dismissal", and Rabada had later said he "felt hurt" for letting the team down.

But Rabada maintains that passion, if channeled properly, goes hand in hand with a player's success.

According to Kagiso Rabada, Gerald Coetzee has the potential to be a 'South African great' Getty Images "Passion is important," Rabada says, "because you know, there are so many distractions around you that can inhibit your talent to come through.

"It can also put a mental block on you, that's when you start to lose yourself a little bit. When you can channel your energy and channel your focus, that's when your potential and talent has the best chance of expressing itself."

As the Under-19 World Cup nears its knockout stages, which begin on Tuesday, Rabada said this was the time for future stars to step their game up.

"In do-or-dies, you need to be more street smart, more adaptable," he said.

"Knockouts force you to make a play on the spot. Even though it's very hard to treat it like a normal cricket game, you need to think of it that way because you then have a clear focus.

Sunday, 26 January, 2020

NEWS China virus death toll rises to 41 The death toll from China’s coronavirus outbreak jumped on Saturday to 41 from 26 a day earlier as the Lunar New Year got off to a gloomy start, with authorities curbing travel and cancelling public gatherings.

More than 1,300 people have been infected globally with a virus traced to a seafood market in the central city of Wuhan that was illegally selling wildlife. Health authorities around the world are scrambling to prevent a pandemic. State-run China Global Television Network reported in a tweet on Saturday that a doctor who had been treating patients in Wuhan, 62-yearold Liang Wudong, had died from the virus.

It was not immediately clear if his death was already counted in the official toll of 41, of which 39 were in the central province of Hubei, where Wuhan is located. Wuhan, a city of 11 million, has been in virtual lockdown since Thursday, with nearly all flights at the airport cancelled and checkpoints blocking the main roads leading out of town. Authorities have since imposed transport restrictions on nearly all of Hubei province, which has a population of 59 million. The central Chinese city is building a second hospital “within half a month” to treat cases, state media reported on Saturday. According to the People’s Daily, the new hospital will add 1,300 hospital beds, in addition to another new facility which is being built in Wuhan to deal with the outbreak — reportedly within 10 days. Agencies

us says 34 troops diagnosed with traumatic brain injury after iran strike

Powerful quake kills 22 in easTern Turkey ANKARA

a

Agencies

powerful earthquake has killed at least 22 people and injured more than 1,000 in eastern Turkey, as rescue teams searched through the rubble of collapsed buildings for survivors on Saturday.

The Turkish government’s disaster and emergency management agency (AFAD) said in a series of tweets early on Saturday that five people were pulled alive from the rubble in the eastern province of Elazig.

State news agency Anadolu said among those found alive was a pregnant woman who was rescued 12 hours after the quake hit.

At least 30 people were missing following the magnitude 6.8 quake on Friday night, which had its epicentre in the small lakeside town of Sivrice in Elazig.

“It was very scary, furniture fell on top of us. We rushed outside,” 47-yearold Melahat Can, who lives in the provincial capital of Elazig, told AFP. Eray Ernek described how he was watching television when the quake took place. “I was on the sofa and then fell on the floor. My sleeping father was

woken up.

“After we found a way out, we broke the door and got out. We saw other houses had collapsed.”

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said all steps were being taken to aid people affected by the quake, which caused widespread fear.

“We stand by our people,” Erdogan said on Twitter.

AFAD said the quake hit Sivrice at around 8.55 pm (1755 GMT). Turkey lies on major faultlines and is prone to

frequent earthquakes.

Turkish television showed images of people rushing outside in panic, as well as a fire on the roof of a building.

Interior, environment and health ministers, who were in the quake zone, said the casualties were in Elazig province and in the neighbouring province of Malatya, which lies to the southwest.

At least 22 people died including 17 in Elazig and four in Malatya and 1,030 others were injured, according to

WASHINGTON Agencies

The Pentagon said on Friday that 34 service members had been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury following missile strikes by Iran on a base in Iraq earlier this month, a number higher than the military had previously announced. President Donald Trump and other top officials initially said Iran’s attack had not killed or injured any U.S. service members. Last week the US military said 11 US troops had been treated and transferred out of Iraq for concussion symptoms after the attack on the Ain al-Asad air base in western Iraq and this week said additional troops had been moved out of Iraq for potential injuries.

Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman told reporters that 17 service members diagnosed had already returned to duty in Iraq. Eight service members who had been previously transported to Germany had been moved to the United States and would receive treatment at either Walter Reed military hospital or their home bases.

Hoffman said the service members were being treated on an outpatient basis and were transported back to the United States in order to be closer to their pre-deployment bases. Nine service members remain in Germany and are undergoing evaluations and treatment. Hoffman said the military had seen symptoms like headaches, dizziness, sensitivity to light and nausea.

Limited internet to be restored in IOK, no access to social media JAMMU Agencies

Limited mobile data services and internet will be temporarily restored in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir from Saturday, ending nearly a six month communications lockdown after Prime Minister Narendra Modi withdrew the Muslim majority region’s autonomy.

Access will be limited to about 300 “whitelisted” websites and internet speed would remain low, the local Jammu and Kashmir government said in a notice late on Friday.

However, social media applications that allow “peer to peer” communication will continue to be banned, it said.

The decision will be reviewed on January 31, the notice added.

The move to restore the services comes days after India’s top court ordered the curbs to be reversed, saying that freedom of internet access is a fundamental right and that its indefinite suspension is illegal.

Modi’s Hindu-nationalist government has frequently used internet shutdowns as a tool to

quell dissent in troubled parts of the country.

It has argued that the blackout was needed to maintain order in the Himalayan region.

The internet lockdown in Kashmir region since August 5 has severely disrupted the lives of millions, impacting everything from college admissions to bank payments and businesses filing tax returns.

Access will temporarily be allowed to websites of banks like State Bank of India and HDFC, educational institutions, news, entertainment sites including Amazon Prime, travel, utilities and food delivery apps like Swiggy and Zomato as well as email and search engines including Google and Yahoo.

While the local government restored limited internet in some parts of the region earlier in January, some people are still struggling to get online.

Nasir Nabi, a student from north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, where some services were restored, is pursuing a masters degree through a distance learning course and has been unable to access the university’s website.

AFAD. EVERYBODY IS IN THE STREET: Sivrice — a town with a population of about 4,000 — is situated south of Elazig city on the shores of Hazar lake — one of the most popular tourist spots in the region and the source of the Tigris river.

The lake is home to a “Sunken City”, with archaeological traces dating back 4,000 years in its waters.

The tremor was felt in several parts of eastern Turkey near the Iraqi and Syrian borders, the Turkish broadcaster NTV reported, adding that neighbouring cities had mobilised rescue teams for the quake area.

“Everybody is in the street, it was very powerful, very scary,” said Zekeriya Gunes, 68, from Elazig city, after the quakes caused a building to collapse on her street.

“It lasted quite long, maybe 30 seconds,” added Ferda, 39. “I panicked and was undecided whether to go out in this cold or remain inside.”

The US Geological Survey assessed the magnitude as 6.7, slightly lower than AFAD, adding that it struck near the East Anatolian Fault in an area that has suffered no documented large ruptures since an earthquake in 1875.

Democrats wrap up case against 'imminent threat' Trump, his team up next WASHINGTON Agencies

Donald Trump’s lawyers prepared to deliver his first fullthroated defense Saturday in the Senate’s historic impeachment trial, after Democratic prosecutors spent three days making their case for the US president’s removal from office. Capping 24 total hours of arguments, Democrats told the 100 senators that Trump abused the power of the presidency in pressuring Ukraine to launch investigations that would help him politically, and then sought to block efforts by Congress to investigate. Democrats said they had met that burden of proof, as lead House impeachment manager Adam Schiff warned that Trump would remain an “imminent threat” to American democracy if he stays in power. “This is Trump first, not America first,” congressman Schiff told the chamber. “I ask you, I implore you,” he added, addressing Republicans who hold the power to allow witnesses to testify, against Trump’s wishes. “Give America a fair trial,” Schiff said. “She’s worth it.” Trump has signalled he remains in tight control of his party, with many Senate Republicans expressing public support for the president despite a vigorous, comprehensive case outlining his misconduct. “I don’t believe anything they’ve said so far is impeachable,” Senator Rick Scott told reporters. “I’m looking forward to the White House tomorrow starting to set the record straight, because this has just been partisan.”

Explainer: Why Transparency International CPI 2019 is not representative of PTI govt YOUSAf NIzAMI Much has been made about Transparency International’s (TI) Corruption Perception Index (CPI) Report 2019 that has reduced Pakistan’s score from 33 to 32 and dropped its ranking from 117 to 120 on a year-on-year basis.

The severe criticism that the PTI government has received in light of the report is understandable, after all, corruption and its eradication has been the central issue and theme of Imran Khan and his party’s politics for the better part of the last decade.

This relentless pursuit of ‘the corrupt’ saw a three-time prime minister sacked for life. This also led to Imran Khan’s top advisor and party stalwart, Jehangir

Tareen, also being removed from office for life by the Supreme Court.

As soon as the PTI came to power, the NAB (National Accountability Bureau) was unleashed on the opposition

resulting in the incarceration of most of the top leadership of major opposition parties, the PML-N and PPP. In light of these ‘anti-corruption’ efforts, the report, on the face of it, suggesting that the percep-

tion in the country is that corruption has increased in the past year, comes as quite a surprise.

It is odd that PTI’s ‘spin masters’ have not bothered looking at the data behind the report. If they had done so, they would find that

of the eight sources used to arrive at the new ranking, only three have downgraded Pakistan and their research is relevant to the year 2018 and not 2019. The PTI took office in August of 2018 meaning that even if the period

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

CMYK

under review considers all of year 2018, the party would only have been running its ‘anti-corruption drive‘ for a mere four months.

TI’s report, therefore, is not representative of the PTI government, rather the PML-N’s final months in power.

The table below shows a comparison of the TI’s CPI Reports from 2018 and 2019.

The data, which is easily available on TI’s website, does not make mention of which period of review each source is considering. Upon further research, looking at the individual reports of all sources, it becomes clear that the three sources that have significantly downgraded Pakistan’s rank in their own estimations are considering the year 2018.