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Monday, 6 April, 2020 I 12 Shaban, 1441 I Rs 15.00 I Vol X No 278 I 12 Pages I Islamabad Edition
Coronavirus to strain healthCare system in Coming weeks: umar g
mInISter SayS Govt to DecIDe on extenSIon of lockDown thIS week, tryInG to mItIGate ItS effect
ISLAMABAD staff report
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S the coronavirus cases crossed 3,000 on Sunday, federal minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives asad Umar said that although the lockdown has slowed the growth of cases, the virus may still test Pakistan’s healthcare system in the coming weeks. addressing a press conference in the federal capital, the minister thanked the public for cooperating with the government’s instructions of avoiding public gatherings to slow down the spread of coronavirus, but warned that these steps would not halt the virus. “had the steps not been taken, the disease would have spread at a much faster rate,” he added. he warned that the coming weeks
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ParlIamentary boDy formeD to monItor coronavIrUS SItUatIon all Set to meet toDay
can be difficult for Pakistan’s healthcare system because the rate at which the infection is spreading, the virus will soon test the country’s health facilities. “the difference between the facilities, hospitals and quarantine zones being set up by the government and the spread of the coronavirus will diminish in the coming weeks,” he added. “Pakistan’s testing capacity was limited when the first cases were reported in the country but with each passing day, it was increasing,” Umar said, adding that Pakistan was taking special measures to protect the health professionals who were battling the coronavirus on the front lines. he said that the lockdown measures were not only hurting the poor but the affluent as well, however the government was working to formulate a strategy based on which an affected person or area is identi-
Coronavirus in
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fied and that individual or place is quarantined so that it does not affect others. he also said that he could not predict whether the bans in place will increase or decrease after april 14. “today, I cannot tell you whether the bans will increase or not from april 15,” he said, adding that those decisions will be taken this week. he paid tribute to the doctors, nurses, armed forces personnel, nGos and the people for coming to each other’s aid in these testing times. “God willing, we will make it out of this difficult time,” he added. CASES ON THE RISE: as of 8 pm on Sunday, Pakistan’s coronavirus cases stood at 3,118 with 45 deaths and 170 recoveries. Swat’s Deputy commissioner’s office confirmed 25 cases and three deaths of coronavirus in the district. Punjab confirmed 184 new coronavirus cases in the province taking the provincial total to 1,380, including 309 pilgrims, 443 people associated with raiwind Ijtima, 28 prisoners and 600 citizens. lahore has the highest number of cases at 260. chief minister murad ali Shah has confirmed 51 new cases of coronavirus in Sindh, taking the tally to 881. In a video message, the chief minister said that one more person has died from covID-19 in the province. he added that 68 more people have recovered in the last 24 hours taking the total number of recoveries to 123. the total number of cases in balochistan increased to 189, said provincial government spokesperson liaqat Shahwani. he stated that the patients were being transferred to a hospital. “So far, 32 patients in the province have recovered from the disease and have been discharged from the hospital,” he added.
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Imran vows strict action against profiteers after forensic reports g
Pm SayS InItIal rePortS maDe PUblIc wIthoUt ‘tamPerInG’ ISLAMABAD staff report
a day after the federal Investigation report (fIa) released its inquiry reports pertaining to the recent wheat and sugar crises, Prime minister Imran khan on Sunday said that he was waiting for the detailed forensic reports, slated to come out on april 25, before taking any action against those responsible. In a twitter thread, he said: “I await the detailed forensic reports now by the high-powered commission, which will come out on 25 april, before taking action. Inshaallah, after these reports come out no powerful lobby will be able to profiteer at the expense of our public.” “after these reports come out no powerful lobby will be able to profiteer at the expense of our public,” he said, adding that the initial reports into sudden price hikes of sugar and wheat have been released immediately without and “alteration or tampering”, he added. “this is unprecedented in Pakistan’s history. Previous political leaderships because of their vested interests and compromises lacked
Indian troops martyr nine more Kashmiris in IOK
the moral courage to order and release such reports,” the prime minister added. on Saturday, the inquiry report on sugar crisis named senior PtI leader Jahangir tareen and the ruling party’s ally, Pml-Q’s moonis elahi, and the relatives of minister for food Security khusro bakhtiar as the beneficiaries of the price hike. according to Special assistant to the Pm on accountability mirza Shahzad akbar, Imran had ordered “stern action” against those found involved in the crises “irrespective of their status and party affiliation”. a local media house claimed that the prime minister and members of the inquiry commission had been ‘threatened’ with “dire consequences” if the reports were made public.
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Shehbaz seeks action against people involved in sugar crisis STORY ON PAGE 03
more inside
US welcomes Pakistan’s actions in Daniel Pearl murder case STORY ON PAGE 02
PIA stops Karachi operations after pilots show coronavirus symptoms
CONFIRMED CASES:
3,156
RECOVERED:
170
SINDH:
881
DEATHS:
47
PUNJAB:
1,380
KP:
BALOCHISTAN:
AJK/GB:
ISLAMABAD:
405 14/206
192 78
SRINAGAR agencies
at least nine kashmiris were martyred in two incidents in Indianoccupied kashmir, authorities said Sunday, as a lockdown was enforced to contain the coronavirus pandemic. three Indian soldiers were also killed. occupied kashmir, a muslim-majority region in the himalayas, had already been under a long-running curfew after India on august 5 scrapped its special status as a semi-autonomous state. Indian army spokesperson colonel rajesh kalia early Sun-
day confirmed the martyrdom of five kashmiris in the northern keran area close to the line of control (loc). Several soldiers were critically injured, he added. the fighting came within 24 hours of another gun battle in the southern kulgam area that had left four dead. Police had said all four were from the local area. occupied kashmir has waged a three-decade-long rebellion against Indian rule with tens of thousands of lives — mostly civilians — lost in the conflict. the conditions have become dire after India’s august 5 move, following which several local leaders were imprisoned
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or put under house arrest and a communications and media blackout ensued. ONTH SIEGE: according to a report released by the kashmir media Service on the completion of eight months of unrelenting military siege and lockdown since India had revoked the special status of Indian occupied kashmir (Iok) on august 5, 2019, at least 956 people were critically injured due to use of brute forces, firing of bullets, pellets and teargas shells on peaceful demonstrators by Indian military, paramilitary and police personnel in the occupied territory.
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STORY ON PAGE 02
Glimmer of hope in Italy and Spain as US braces for ‘toughest week’ STORY ON BACK PAGE
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Monday, 6 April, 2020
NEWS
US wElComES PAkiStAn’S ACtionS in DAniEl PEArl mUrDEr CASE WASHINGTON
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Saeed Sheikh’s death sentence to a sevenyear sentence,” a defence lawyer had told media after the verdict, adding that “the murder charges were not proven, so he has given seven years for the kidnapping”. “Omar has already served 18 years, so his release orders will be issued sometime today. He will be out in a few days,” he had added. Two days later, the federal government had expressed its reservations over the SHC’s ruling in the case, timing of which had also surprised Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi. Stating that although it was a provincial matter, but given that it was a criminal case, the Interior Ministry had said that the matter had been taken up with the Sindh Home Ministry as well. The ministry had added that the Sindh government had decided to file an appeal against the SHC ruling next week with the Supreme Court (SC). Until that was done, a case was filed against all four suspects, who were also put under house arrest under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance (MPO) law for three months. The federal government, according to the interior ministry, had advised the Sindh government to ensure that all the legal requirements were fulfilled and utilise the best resources to file the appeal in the top court.
STAFF REPORT
HE United States has welcomed Pakistan’s actions in the murder case of American journalist Daniel Pearl after the Sindh High Court (SHC) had overturned the death penalty of prime accused and acquitted his three accomplices earlier this week. “We welcome Pakistan’s April 3 statement and the Sindh government’s decision to continue to detain those responsible for Daniel Pearl’s kidnapping and murder and to mount a strong appeal,” Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Alice Wells said in a statement. “The perpetrators of this horrific act of terrorism will not escape justice,” she added. The SHC on Wednesday had acquitted three persons accused of being involved in the kidnapping and murder of the American journalist back in 2002. A two-judge bench of the SHC, headed by Justice Mohammad Karim Khan Agha, had announced the judgment which was reserved last month after the arguments of the appellants and the state counsel were concluded. “The court has commuted Ahmed Omar
It had also directed the provincial leadership to consult the attorney general in this regard. The federal government had also reiterated the resolve to bring the terrorists to justice. The Sindh government had invoked the MPO law to prevent all the murder suspects from walking free and ordered they be kept in detention for another 90 days. According to the Sindh Home Ministry’s notification, the release of prime accused Sheikh, Fahad Naseem, Syed Salman Saqib,
and Sheikh Mohammad Adil could jeopardise the law and order situation in the province, thus necessitating their continued detention. British national Sheikh had been sentenced to death for kidnapping and killing the American journalist by a court in 2002, and his three accomplices – Fahad Naseem, Syed Salman Saqib and Sheikh Mohammad Adil – were sentenced to life imprisonment with a fine of Rs500,000 each. Pearl, a US national and the South Asian
bureau chief of American publication The Wall Street Journal, was investigating militants in Karachi after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the US. He was kidnapped on January 23, 2002, in Karachi and later beheaded by his captors when their demands regarding his release were not met. The video of his murder had emerged a few weeks later. The counsel for the defence, Rai Bashir and Khawaja Naveed Ahmed, had submitted to the court that the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. “Ahmed and the three other suspects had neither aided, abetted or participated in the alleged crime of kidnapping for ransom,” it was argued. They had submitted that the prosecution witnesses in the case against Sheikh and others were mostly policemen, and their testimonies could not be relied upon. They had said that there was no eyewitness to the crime and the prosecution relied upon very weak circumstantial evidence for conviction. The deputy prosecutor-general, Saleem Akhtar, however, had supported the anti-terrorism court’s (ATC) judgment and had submitted that the prosecution had proved its case against the appellants beyond any shadow of a doubt while requesting the court to dismiss the appeals.
FBR collects Rs19.6bn revenue from sugar industry in 8MFY20 ISLAMABAD SHAHZAD PARACHA
The strict monitoring of the sura sector by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has yielded positive results as a 57 per cent increase in revenue collection from the sector has been recorded during the first eight months of FY20. Sources said the tax department has collected Rs19.6 billion from July to February this year, which is 57pc higher from the first eight months of last fiscal year. The collection was recorded Rs12.4 billion from the sugar sector during the first eight months of FY19. The government had increased the
sales tax from (8 filer) or (11 nonfiler) percent to 17pc across the board in the current year budget. The tax department also deployed its officers at sugar mills as sugar mill owners were not providing accurate information about the production, sales and stock position to FBR. The Federal Investigative Agency (FIA)'s inquiry report on sugar prices also raised question over non-imposition of sales tax from December 2018 to June 2019. Although inquiry officers have acknowledged 62.3pc increase in revenue during this year, however it pointed out that the increase in revenue is not pro-
UAE special plane carrying relief goods, medicines arrives in Pakistan
portionate to increase in GST. The same increase is transferred to the consumers ultimately as it is included in the ex-mill price calculations of PSMA. Furthermore, FBR calculates the minimum ex-mill price sugar at Rs 60 per kg irrespective of the fact that it may be lower. Hence the GST on sugar is Rs10.20 per kg at the rate of Rs60 per kg ex-mill price. Any additional price over the minimum baseline is to be proportionately added @ 17pc for the additional price, the report stated. The report also pointed out that there was no increase of GST from December 2018 to June 2019 as prices of sugar had
Sindh CM seeks SOPs as traders gear up to open markets from 14th KARACHI INP
Pechuho, Sindh Education and Labour Minister Saeed Ghani, Information Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, the provincial government’s spokesperson Murtaza Wahab and others, directed for the SOPs to be drafted at the earliest so business may begin again. "The SOPs to be based on the opinions of health experts and principles of labour and industries," he instructed. On April 2, All Karachi Tajir Ittehad (AKTI) Chairman Atiq Mir had said that a complete lockdown is causing huge losses to traders. Expressing his views while talking on a local channel, he said that traders are not against the government’s decision of a lockdown, but they should be allowed to work at least two or three days a week. "We are concerned about the situation of daily-wage labours,” he said, adding
A second consignment of relief goods and medicines from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) arrived in Islamabad on Sunday (today). UAE Ambassador to Pakistan Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Al-Zabi said the second shipment of relief goods reached Pakistan this morning. The special plane, sent by the UAE government, was carrying 11 tonnes of medical aid for Pakistan. “We renew our commitment to stand with the world in the face of extraordinary circumstances and challenges,” Al-Zabi said. Late last month, Chinese billionaire Jack Ma’s Foundation and Alibaba Foundation sent a cargo plane carrying medical equipment to Pakistan. The shipment is part of the donation of medical supplies to 10 Asian countries announced on March 21, an official statement said. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah arrived at Jinnah International Airport to receive the donations, which consisted of 500,000 masks, including N95 masks, and 50,000 coronavirus test kits. “These masks and kits will be distributed all over the country,” the chief minister said. The nationwide tally of COVID-19 patients soared past 2,900 with 1,196 case in Punjab, 864 in Sindh, 372 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 185 in Balochistan, 206 in Gilgit Baltistan, 78 in Islamabad, and 12 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. NEWS DESK
Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Murad Ali Shah on Sunday, soon after the Sindh Traders Alliance's (STA) announcement to open all markets across the province from April 14, issued directives for provincial and law enforcement authorities to devise standard operating procedures (SOPs) for industries and businesses that had been allowed to operate. STA member Sheikh Habib said that they have decided to take back their decision of opening markets from April 6. “We have decided to cooperate with the Sindh government. So, all markets across the province would now open from April 14,” he said in a statement. Meanwhile, the Sindh CM while chairing a meeting that was attended by Health Minister Azra
Complete lockdown observed in Sukkur to fight coronavirus
Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed on Sunday announced that Pakistan Railways would resume train services from April 15 if Prime Minister Imran Khan approves the proposal. Talking to a private news channel, the railways minister said that if the prime minister allows, Pakistan Railways will resume its services. Rasheed also announced that seven railway hospitals will also be dedicated to treating coronavirus patients, including a 50-bed quarantine established inside a train and railway hospital with the capacity of accommodating 450 patients in Rawalpindi. He said that they started a record 20 trains before the lockdown, adding that the passengers would have been stranded in Karachi if they had not run 40 trains before the lockdown.
SUKKUR: A complete lockdown was observed in Sukkur to fight the coronavirus on Sunday amid police and rangers patrolling. All bazaars and markets remained completely closed in the city. Only retail goods and milk shops were opened to provide necessary daily use items to the citizens. Sindh government offices and educational institutes, including private, remained closed. Police and Rangers have been deployed across the city to ensure the lockdown. A low number of motorcycles, cars and other vehicles were seen plying the roads for necessary works. PPI
started to increase from December 2018. “The retail price of sugar in December 2018 was Rs55.99 per kg and started to increase with every passing month and reached to Rs71.44 per kg in June 2019." The report maintained that there was no effect of GST on retail prices as there was a difference of Rs5 to Rs6 between retail as well as ex-mill prices that was also being charged from consumers. Sources said the total sugar stock in the country was 3.612 million tonnes in which Punjab share is 2.386mt, Sindh 0.987mt and KP share was recorded 0.239mt during the mid of March 2020. Provinces have so far sold 1.395mt sugar during the current fiscal year. that traders are aware of the current situation but also want to see the country prosper. It may be noted here that Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) President Agha Shahab Ahmed Khan has requested the Sindh chief minister to devise an effective mechanism for providing immediate relief to perturbed businessmen and industrialists by directing the Sindh Revenue Board (SRB) to discontinue collection of all types of taxes, including service tax and other levies. In a letter sent to the Sindh chief minister on Saturday, the KCCI president had referred to the Punjab government’s Rs18 billion relief package in the wake of the prevailing economic situation due to coronavirus, underscoring that the SRB must stop collecting taxes during the next four to six months and should only resume when the situation improves. Agha had that the business and industrial community would not be able to sustain the entire burden of wages and salaries for more than a month.
PiA stops karachi operations after pilots show coronavirus symptoms KARACHI: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Sunday stopped its flight operations from Karachi on Sunday after four pilots were suspected of contracting the coronavirus. PIA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Air Marshal Arshad Malik issued immediate instructions to ground the planes. Four pilots were stopped as part of precautionary measures against the virus. Meanwhile, Pakistan Airline Pilots’ Association (PALPA) also prohibited pilots from operating special flights after it appeared that coronavirus-related SOPs had been ignored. “It has come to our notice that on recently operated “humanitarian flights” safety has been compromised and COVID-19 related SOPs have been ignored. The safety and health of our crew members has always been and remains our utmost priority. PALPA will in no circumstances compromise on the safety of its members,” a statement issued by PALPA read. PIA’s international flight operations are partially restoring as a special flight carrying 327 passengers left for London on Saturday night, after the strict screening of the passengers at the health desk at the airport. The spokesperson of the national flag carrier had said that another flight would leave for London on Sunday from the Islamabad airport. It may be noted that PIA was allowed to operate eight special flights for London and Manchester. TLTP
Pakistan Railways may resume train services from April ISLAMABAD APP
“More than 16,500 passengers travelled in trains in the last two days before the lockdown,” the minister said. “Our situation is far better than India where many passengers died due to hunger on railway stations because of lockdown,” he added. He said that Pakistan Railways will play an active role after the lockdown. Replying to a question, he said that the prime minister fulfilled his promise by making the inquiry report on wheat and sugar crises public. He also said that appropriate action will be taken against the culprits in accordance with law and constitution of the country. He added that money launderers and corrupt people are still out of jails but court should take strict action against them and sugar mafia. He further said that the government will defeat the sugar mafia which is a major hurdle in country’s progress. The minister said that data of collies,
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railways employees and pensioners was sent to Ehsaas Programme for income support. “No employee of Pakistan Railways has contacted the virus and the situation in the country is better as compared to some other countries. The situation will become
clearer on April 14,” he added. He also urged Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Dr Sania Nishtar to collect fresh daily wagers data as they are now suffering the most.
Monday, 6 April, 2020
Shehbaz SeeKS actIOn agaInSt peOple InvOlved In Sugar crISIS FIRDOUS SAYS PML-N CHIEF DOESN’T NEED TO ACT ALL ‘HIGH AND MIGHTY’ ISLAMABAD
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STAFF REPORT
PPOSITION Leader in National Assembly and Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday demanded strict accountability against those involved in manufacturing sugar, wheat crisis. In a statement, he said that the report compiled by the Federal Investigative Agency (FIA) is a “conviction against Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief Minister Usman Buzdar”. He also said that he is waiting patiently how Imran Khan would act
APP
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation Dr Sania Nishtar on Sunday said that the payment process under Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme will start from Wednesday to support the vulnerable segments of society affected by the lockdown. Addressing a press conference in the federal capital, Dr Sania said that the programme was launched to support the daily wagers and piece-rate workers after lockdown in the country due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis. The programme will benefit the deserving people from all the four provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit Baltistan, through allocating quota as per census. Punjab will contribute Rs700,000 and Sindh Rs250,000 from their own budget in this programme, she added. The PM’s aide said that under an aggressive communication campaign launched recently to benefit four million
against the people responsible for the crisis in Pakistan. Shehbaz said that he flew back to Pakistan to wage a war against coronavirus along with the people of Pakistan and added that it was to rise above petty political differences and defeat the menace of coronavirus. Meanwhile, the government’s chief spokesperson, Firdous Ashiq Awan, in a media briefing in Sialkot, said that younger Sharif did not need to act all high and mighty over the report. “This report has also mentioned a Rs1.4 billion subsidy given to Suleman Shehbaz,” she said, referring to Shehbaz’s son. She said that the current government
people, the deserving ones can send SMS to 8171 to check their eligibility status and will be informed on how to collect money, if they are found eligible. “If they are not identified in the database, they will be directed to contact their respective district administration,” she added. She further said that there will be three types of responses to people’s SMS seeking cash assistance, which include “eligible”, “ineligible”, and “contact to your respective district administration”. She said that employees of provincial and federal governments were not eligible for the assistance. “Presently we have database of employees of provincial and federal governments, Railways, Pakistan Post, and Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), while data of autonomous bodies will hopefully be available in next 24 hours,” she added. She said that an SMS response would have to go through the wealth profiling test before becoming eligible for the assistance.
Indian troops martyr nine more Kashmiris in IOK
had provided Rs3 billion in subsidies whereas the past government had provided subsidies worth Rs22 billion. “Let us see when Shehbaz Sharif calls his dutiful son over from London for punishment.” Suleman, in his defence, has claimed
She also said that existing Kafalat beneficiaries, who were getting regular cash transfer of Rs2,000 per month, would be given additional one thousand rupees; hence, they too would get a tranche of Rs12,000 covering four months. She added that under this category 4.5 million people would be benefited. Dr Sania said that higher eligibility or poverty threshold would be used to identify four million beneficiaries through the national socioeconomic databases, while another 3.5 million people would come from districts. Regarding mode of payments, she said that deserving families would get cash assistance of Rs12,000 after biometric verification through over 18,065 sale points or retail shops of Habib Bank Limited (HBL) and Bank Alfalah across Pakistan. She also said that the provincial governments would be requested to provide open public spaces for setting up cash disbursement arrangements, security for these spaces, permission to keep retail POS agents open, management of
that the Rs1.4bn figure “is a lie concocted by Imran Khan and his cronies”. He has shared a screenshot of yearon-year allocation of subsidy to sugar exports, showing a little over Rs330 million in subsidy from 2014-2018 and no subsidy for 2018-19. crowds at cash disbursement points and ensuring preventive measures like facility of hand washing, etc. The assistance under Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme would be provided on name of male member of the family, she added Dr Sania expressed her gratitude to the department’s, including National Database Registration Authority (NDMA), Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and others for providing their support to make this initiative a success. She said that the beneficiaries of this programme will be finalised through proper scrutinising mechanisms such as data analytics, wealth profiling, average monthly bills, travelling history, etc. She also said that the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme will help 12 million families by providing them financial assistance of Rs12,000 per family and the total budget approved for this initiative is Rs144 billion. The budget could be increased in the coming days depending on the rise in demand, she added. She further said that this programme is one of the largest social safety net initiatives in the history of the country for disbursement of cash assistance among the needy at this critical time when social distancing measures are unavoidable.
Indian attempts to change Kashmir's demography show its moral bankruptcy: FO ISLAMABAD APP
ContInueD froM pAge 01 The report stated that thousands of Hurriyat leaders, activists, politicians and civil society members, including All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) Chairman Syed Ali Gilani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, High Court Bar Association President Mian Abdul Qayoom, Dr Hameed Fayaz , Muhammad Yasin Attai, Ghulam Muhammad Hubbi, Muhammad Yasin Attai, Showkat Ahmad Bakshi, Noor Mohammad Kalwal, Advocate Zahid Ali, Moulana Mushtaq Veeri, ,Zafar Akbar Butt, Bashir Ahmad Qureshi, Syed Imtiyaz Hyder, Abdul Samad Inqilabi,Abdul Ahad Parra, trade union leader Mohammad Yaseen Khan and human rights activist Muhammad Ahsan Untoo continued to remain under house arrest or in jails. Others illegally detained in Tihar and other jails of India include senior Hurriyat leader Shabbir Ahmad Shah, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Masarrat Aalam Butt, Syeda Aasiya Andrabi, Fehmeeda Sofi, Nahida Nasreen, Altaf Ahmed Shah, Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Aiyaz Akbar, Peer Saifullah, Raja Merajuddin Kalwal, Farooq Ahmad Dar, Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Watali, Mohammad Aslam Wani, Syed Shahid Shah, Syed Shakeel Yousuf Shah, Ghulam Muhammad Butt, Maulana Sarjan Barkati, Qazi Yasir Ahmad and Ghulam Ahmad Gulzar. They are facing illegal detentions in different jails of occupied Kashmir and in other parts of India. The report stated that increased cordon and search operations have also added to the miseries of the people of the occupied territory.
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coronavirus to strain healthcare system in coming weeks: umar ContInueD froM pAge 01
Emergency cash disbursement from Wednesday, says PM’s aide ISLAMABAD
NEWS
Pakistan on Sunday rejected the “irresponsible” remarks by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs regarding the tweets made by Prime Minister Imran Khan, wherein he condemned the attempts to change the demography of occupied Kashmir. “The latest Indian action, aimed at further usurping the fundamental rights of the Kashmiri people through changing the domicile law at a time when the world is busy fighting COVID-19 pandemic, once again betrays the BJP leadership’s rank political opportunism and moral bankruptcy,” the Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement. She said that India’s incessant regurgitation of the claim that Occupied Jammu and Kashmir was an “internal
affair” would neither turn this falsehood into truth nor make this illegality valid. The spokesperson said the Kashmir was an internationally recognized “disputed” territory, as enshrined in the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions. These resolutions stipulate that the final disposition of the State of Jammu and Kashmir will be decided through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite under the UN auspices. “No amount of Indian sophistry could obfuscate India’s state-terrorism in IoK and the RSS-inspired Hindutva agenda being imposed by the BJP government,” the statement added. It should also be clear to India that, for their part, Pakistan and its leadership would never flinch in their support for the just and legitimate cause of the Kashmiri people, she added.
Mazari requests SC to release elderly, ill prisoners ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
Federal Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari submitted a report in the Supreme Court (SC) pertaining to the release of prisoners, as the coronavirus nationwide tally crossed 2,800 on Sunday. The report stated that the risk of the virus spreading across prisons was very high due to overcrowding. Infections among incarcerated persons could be problematic due to the lack of medical equipment and the training capacity of prison staff. There were over 1,500 senior citizens in prison across the country, the reported further stated, recommending the immediate release of elderly prisoners, differently-abled and those with underlying
health concerns. “As our prisons are not highly equipped to provide care/intervention, it is strongly recommended that elderly, differently-abled and the persons who are underlying health issues be immediately released to comply with the Basic Principle for Treatment of Prisoners (adopted by United Nations General Assembly resolution) which emphasised the principle 9 that prisoners shall have access to health service available in the country without discrimination on the ground of their legal situation,” the report observed. Mazari also requested the apex court to allow provincial governments to remit sentences where possible and permitted, under Section 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
PARLIAMENTARY BODY ON COVID TO MEET ON MONDAY: A 25-member parliamentary committee constituted for monitoring and supervision of COVID-19 situation will meet under the chairmanship of National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser on Monday. Finance adviser Abdul Hafeez Shaikh will give a briefing to the committee over economic and trade situation besides giving detailed information regarding the federal government’s economic plan. Commerce adviser Abdul Razak Dawood will apprise impact of coronavirus pandemic over trade activities across the country. A comprehensive review will be presented over coronavirus situation by Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Zafar Mirza and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lieutenant General Mohammad Afzal regarding the measures adopted to contain the virus. The members of the parliamentary committee will join the meeting through video conference. STUDENTS STRANDED IN KYRGYZSTAN CALL FOR HELP: Pakistani students stranded in Kyrgyzstan have demanded of the government to arrange special flights to bring them back home. In a video message, Arbaz Khan, a student leader, said there are 5,000 students who are stuck in the Central Asian state as a result of the ban imposed by the Pakistan government on inbound international flights. According to Khan, as a result of a lockdown, the students are almost out of essential food and healthcare items.
Imran vows strict action against profiteers after forensic reports ContInueD froM pAge 01 ‘PROMISE FULFILLED’: Addressing a press conference, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said that the prime minister had finally fulfilled the promise that he had made to the people after the crisis had emerged. “When the prime minister saw that there was a fake shortage being created in the supply line for sugar and wheat, he vowed to initiate an inquiry,” she said, adding that it was, however, important for the people to realise that the same reports have also “exposed the nefarious designs of the Sharif clan”. “Imran Khan has begun the accountability process of his own party. But the reports also highlighted the fact that Suleman Shehbaz Sharif was given subsidies worth Rs1.4 billion during the PML-N government’s tenure,” she said, adding that this was highlighted in the FIA reports. “Why does that name not come out of Shehbaz Sharif’s mouth? Will he be calling his son back and handing him over to the law,” she asked, responding to the criticism made by Shehbaz Sharif. She urged the opposition leader to follow in the premier’s footsteps and take action against those family members who have benefited from the artificial wheat and sugar crises. She added that the government was waiting for the forensic audit of the report before taking action against those responsible for burdening the common man. “The decision has been made to hold all those responsible whether they are bureaucrats or advisers. The prime minister has a zero-tolerance policy in this regard,” she said.
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ISLAMABAD APP
AReNTS of school going children in the federal capital on Sunday complained against private school administrations who are pressurising them to pay 2-3 months’ advance fee even during the lockdown, saying “the Private educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PeIRA) has become ineffective and we are now expecting the country's chief executive to intervene”. “The government is compensating other important sectors of the country during the pandemic and parents are no exception to this suffering. We demand a fee waiver for months of March, April and May, besides a government order barring schools to seek advance payment from us again,” reads an appeal to Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan circulated by a parents’ association on the social media.
SCHOOL OWNERS DOING BUSINESS WITHOUT REGARD FOR GLOBAL CRISIS WHILE PROVIDING POOR QUALITY ONLINE EDUCATION, PARENTS COMPLAIN The father of a grade 9 student associated with an elite school system requesting anonymity said he had received a notice for payment of three months’ advance fee, which was a clear cut violation of the instructions of PeIRA and against social norms during a crisis in which even human mobility was restricted. “The Supreme Court’s (SC) verdict over the fee issue is even ridiculed by the school mafia while PeIRA also seems nowhere. We are well aware of the teachers’ problems who are paid salaries but demanding two to three months’ advance fee has no moral or legal justification,”
ISLAMABAD APP
A recent study revealed that the transmission of coronavirus or COVID-19 other than respiratory means was observed in the latest researches through the faecal-oral route that demands the government at all levels to ensure proper water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities to contain the pandemic conduction through this potent source. Research Fellow at Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) Dr Imran Saqib Khalid in his policy brief titled “Managing Risks to Water and Sanitation amid COVID-19: Policy Options for Pakistan” had highlighted the risks of coronavirus communication through infected patients’ stool while quoting the research carried by Xiao et al. (2020) found that the Coronavirus, in China, was evident in the stool of just over 50 percent of patients. The study observed: “In more than 20 percent of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS CoV-2) patients, the viral RNA remained positive in faeces even after negative conversion of the viral RNA in respiratory tract indicating the viral gastrointestinal infection and potential faecal-oral transmission can last even after viral clearance in respiratory tract.” Dr Saqib in his study had argued that these findings were supported by Gu et al. (2020), who quoting evidences from 2003 SARS epidemic, found the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in stools of the patients days after they had been discharged from the hospital. “This means that symptomatic as well as asymptomatic (having no symptoms) carriers of the virus may be shedding it and could transmit it to others,” it added. Raising serious concerns over the deleterious state of water, sanitation and hygiene in the country, he recommended short and long term measures to mitigate the risk of the pandemic increase. The Short term or immediate measures to be taken, firstly, called the frontline fighters hospitals and medical practitioners to be cognizant of the potential for faecaloral route of transmission of Coronavirus. They should devise adequate plans and procedures to counter this risk. Dr Imran in his study mentioned that the national rate of open defecation in Pakistan went from 29 percent in 2004-05 to 13 percent in 2014-15. “Despite a significant improvement, this still means that well over 25 million people in Pakistan remain without access to sanitation facilities,” it added. Keeping in view this level of WASH facilities and open defecation rate institutionalization of local governments was necessary to develop plans and actions to counter the risks posed by COVID19, with special focus on provision of regular supply of water as well as improved mechanisms for sanitation and personal hygiene. The study also recommended that such disasters increased gender and disability inequalities in the society and the strategies to improving WASH facilities should address this concern. Dr Imran also suggested: “Better communication
said Rehan, father of grade 2 child having studying at a reputed school system. “We are issued instructions and vouchers on Facebook accounts to deposit two months’ fee in advance,” he revealed. Meanwhile, the parents have also criticised the private school’s online education system, saying, “It by no means fulfils international standards and does not justify the charges they are saving in lieu of utility bills, building rents, staffers' travelling allowances and some other expenses.” “The only facility they gave us and updated their system is that payment gate-
way is established to pay school fee online through easy Paisa, Jazz Cash, Keenu, Upaisa and some other methods,” Hassan Nawaz, a practising High Court lawyer and father of siblings being enrolled with a well-known brand of school, said. He said parents were overburdened due to online classes as no established international standards were in practice to teach the children online. “It’s just to make a case to mint fee claiming our children were being imparted education during the lockdown and closure of the schools,” he remarked. It is pertinent to mention here that PeIRA, on March 30, had ordered the private educational institutions to only collect fees on a monthly basis as directed by the honourable courts and warned against the collection of advance fees but according to parents the PeIRA’s instructions were turned a deaf ear by a number of the school administrations.
Proper washing facilities needed to contain faecal-oral route transmission of COVID-19
anyone can join tiger force: dar ISLAMABAD: Special Adviser to the Prime Minister on Youth Affairs Usman Dar said on Sunday that the youth affiliated with any political party could be the part of Prime Minister’s Tiger Force. Talking to a private news channel he said, I am thankful to youth of country and will appreciate their bravery that even in critical situation, a huge number of people have registered themselves for the Prime Minister’s tiger force. He said we will organise the force at Union Council level and concerned members of National Assembly and Deputy Commissioners will be the focal person. He further said a proper mechanism will be defined after which the tiger force will be assigned responsibilities in their respective areas. They will also be responsible for identifying the suspects of COVID-19. Their protection will be the responsibility of the government. A control room has been set up at the Prime Minister’s office and monitoring teams have been formed, he added. The special assistant has also registered himself for the Corona Tiger Force. APP
Section 144 imposed in dir lower, banning pillion riding, rented cars DIR LOWER: The District Administration has imposed Section 144, banning pillion riding on motorcycles and gathering of five persons or more than five persons throughout the district here Sunday. According to details, a crackdown, on the special directives of Maidan Circle DSP Saeedur Rehman and SHO Imran Khan with Traffic In-charge Bakht Muhammad launched against pillion riders on motorcycles and rented cars. The decision in this connection was taken in the larger interest of the public safety and avoiding spreading of coronavirus due to large gathering and movements. He also fined several drivers and instructed them to follow the instruction of the government to avert the threat of outbreak of coronavirus. APP
four children injured in Shakai landmine blast WANA: Four children were injured in a landmine blast at Spirkai area of Shakai said district administration on Sunday. The injured children were identified as 13year-old Ahsan Ullah son of Hamza Ali, eight-year-old Farhad son of Syed Hassan, nine-year-old Syed Khan son of Rehan and 12-year-old Tahir son of Gul Nawaz. Wana Assistant Commissioner (AC) Ameer Nawaz confirmed the incident and said that all the children were out of danger and had been shifted to their homes after medical treatment. APP with communities across the country in local languages through video, audio messages through social media, highlighting the risk faecal-oral transmission poses alongwith respiratory transmission through uniform messaging.”Moreover, it was necessary to set up handwashing facilities at public places such as markets, train and bus stations, hospitals. “The growing social enterprise sector in Pakistan can play an important role in this regard.” The study observed that hospital and industrial waste in urban areas was thrown in water streams and channels which were mixed with household liquid waste. It had increased the risk of virus contact among the sanitary workers who were washing the drains without any personal protective equipment. “Sanitary workers should be provided necessary tools and personal protection equipment. They need to be imparted training how to work safely on post-
COVID-19 era.” In order to conserve water, hand washing campaigns should not focus on using running water to explain proper hand-washing techniques. The focus should be on the use of soap and proper scrubbing of hands as opposed to running water. For the long term, Dr Saqib recommended that municipalities should allocate funds for improved Water Supply and Waste Disposal Infrastructure, ensure regular monitoring of water supplies with no contamination. They should also ensure treatment and management of municipal wastewater as per the National and Provincial environmental Regulations. A plan of action should be devised to manage faecal waste in rural areas to avoid contamination of water supplies alongwith promoting integrated and adaptable water and sanitation decisionmaking across the county at all levels.
Kp Mpa recovers from coronavirus PESHAWAR: The PTI leader and member of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly Abdul Salam Afridi on Sunday said that he has recuperated from the novel coronavirus. He said his latest test for COVID-19 was declared negative and thanked Allah Almighty over recovery from the illness. The lawmaker said he would soon be available to serve the people of his constituency. He had contracted the disease during relief activities in Mardan’s Manga union council that was completely locked down due to coronavirus. Abdul Salam Afridi had tested positive for the coronavirus on March 27. He said he had been under self-isolation since his test and urged people to adopt precautionary measures to keep the disease at bay. INP
Afridi warns UN against human crisis developing in Afghan camps ISLAMABAD PPI
Minister for States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) Shehryar Khan Afridi on Sunday warned the United Nations (UN) about a developing humanitarian crisis in Afghan refugees camps due to prolonged lockdown amidst the coronavirus outbreak. The minister was speaking to the media here at Afghan Camp after installing a walk through sanitation gate at the camp. He said that he had raised funds for helping out Afghan refugees stranded in camps due to the lockdown situation and that on his request, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan had already
directed the formation of a special relief package for Afghan refugees despite financial difficulties faced by the country. "If Pakistan can roll out a special relief package for Afghan refugees, why can't the developed nations come to the rescue of the besieged refugees. Afghan refugees migrated due to Afghan war under launched under UN umbrella. Now it is the responsibility of the UN and the world to help these refugees," he said. Shehryar Afridi said that Pakistan was doing its bit to help out refugees despite the fact that Pakistan was not a signatory of UN convention on refugees and its protocols. The minister said that he had written a letter to the Pakistan representative of United Nations refugee agency,
UNHCR, to immediately divert funds to provide food to besieged Afghans in refugee camps. "I would call upon the UN secretary general and UN high commissioner on refugees to please send food rations to Afghans in camps, most of whom are daily wagers. Failure is no option," he said, adding that although the UNHCR had formed a crisis management cell on his request there was a need to turn measures into practical support. He said that food items need to be sent to Afghan refugees on war-footings as the refugees were out of food for two weeks.
Monday, 6 April, 2020
Govt needs business coMMunity to sAve PeoPle froM virus: PM LAHORE
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Pr retrieved 293.56 acres encroached land in 11 months: report ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
RIME Minister Imran Khan on Sunday said the government is bent upon solving the problems of people in a critical moment when the nation is facing the coronavirus pandemic. “The business community involved in charity has given me encouragement as the government needs its support to solve the problems of people especially during the ongoing crisis,” the premier said while talking to a leading entrepreneur Khawaja Jalaluddin Romi at the Governor House Lahore. “We don’t know how long our fight against the coronavirus will continue, but we will be victorious in the end. Our resolve and efforts would bring fruits,” PM vowed. He said each segment of the society was strengthening the government’s efforts in fighting the virus, adding he was grateful to the business community for contributing generously to his relief fund. Chairman of Multan Dry Port Trust Khawaja Jalaluddin Romi expressed his full support for PM Imran Khan, saying Mehmood Group of Industries always stood by the people in an hour of need. He said since the outbreak, Mehmood Group has been providing testing safety kits and other necessary equipment to different government hospitals of Punjab. He said to ensure that the corona is eradicated from South Punjab, they are working on many projects with the Pakistan Army and the Punjab government so
NeWs
APP
that people stay safe. Romi asked the chairperson of Ehsas Programme to ensure that all charity reaches the helpless people of South Punjab. He also appreciated the efforts of Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar, saying Qureshi presided over the first meeting after the announcement of PM’s programme for corona affectees and gave approval to many projects for South Pun-
jab.Romi revealed that in last two weeks they have provided basic food supplies to more than three thousand households at their doorsteps, without affecting their self respect and it is an ongoing process. He presented a cheque of a hefty amount to the PM. Speaking on the occasion, Governor Punjab Chauhdry Muhammad Sarwar said Mehmood Group of Industries had undertaken many welfare projects of
clean water for the people of different parts of South Punjab. Prime Minister Imran Khan lauded the role of Mehmood Group, saying they always are there to serve humanity and one such evidence is that they had always extended support to Shaukat Khanum Hospital. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Chief Minister Usman Buzdar were also present on the occasion.
Pakistan Railways, during its anti-encroachment operations, has retrieved 293.56 acres stateowned land across the country during the past 11 months, APP reported. “The encroachment operation has been launched with the assistance of railway police and district administrations,” an official told APP. Giving a division-wise breakup, he said railway had retrieved 143.45 acres from Punjab, 80.54 acres form Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 59.8 acres from Sindh and 9.77 acres from Balochistan. The official said that PR owns 167,690 acres of land across the country of which 90,326-acre is in Punjab, 39,428acre in Sindh, 28,228-acre in Balochistan and 9,708-acre in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said the Geographic Information System (GIS) survey had also been conducted under a project regarding the computerization of railway land records, in which all the encroachments and leases had been recorded in the Pakistan Railways Land Management Information System (PRLMS) software. The official said the database was under verification and being compiled. To a question, he said P-Way labor was not being allowed to work on the Khost-Sibi section since January 2018 by FC Balochistan due to nonprovision of security. He said the contractor, National Logistics Cell (NLC), is facing difficulties due to the absence of infrastructural facilities and security.
No light at the end of the tunnel CITY NOTES M A NIAZI
In this time of lockdown, the police have grown truly active. In the process, they want to bring to an end to civilization as we know it. They put up barricades which stopped the domestic help getting out at the beginning of the week. But the next, those barricades were comfortably evaded. And better-off neighbourhoods continued to function. That made me realize the first victim of a real lockdown would be the system of domestic help, not the construction industry. And I’m sure that the PM would be under too much pressure from his wife to allow that to happen. The grant of a package to the construction industry was what its lobbyists must have been working for, not getting daily wages to continue. I’m surprised that no one has bothered to switch off all mobile phones. We all know that the virus is transmitted over the airwaves. That’s why Imran Khan made his speech to the assembled parliamentary leaders, and then went off. Social distancing, you see. So, turning mobiles off would save lives. But I heard the Punjab CM’s kids told him that life would be unlivable without being in touch with their friends. I know that kids have a hard time surviving at home with their father also at home. So, where would they be without contact with their friends? Another thing that has happened is
that online classes have started. I wonder if this is where education is headed? More than the blessings of not taking the kid to school is the advantage of them not physically meeting their disgusting little friends. What does that mean for socialization? At this point, I don’t know. One of the more disturbing things that are happening, and proof that an idle mind is the Devil’s workshop, is that there’s an unhealthy competition between countries It’s bad enough that everyone is taking a ghoulish interest in which country has the most deaths (currently Italy, as it has been for some time with15,362, as on Sunday evening). Particularly perturbing are the comparisons between India (3588confirmed cases, 99 deaths) and Pakistan (2899 cases, 45 deaths). Luckily, so far, no one has divided the cases or deaths according to religion. However, though all organized prayer has been suspended in all religions, there has been an upsurge in religious explanations. Interestingly, I’ve not seen any of the fatalism that we Muslims are accused of, but a lot of people are saying that the West is being shown how powerless it is in front of the Almighty. I’m reminded of the atheist who asked Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq to prove the existence of God. Knowing the man had gone several times on sea voyages, the Imam asked, “Have you ever been caught in a fierce storm in the middle of
nowhere, your rudder gone, your sails torn away, trying desperately to keep your boat afloat?” The answer was `Yes’. Then Imam asked: “And sometimes perhaps even that leaking boat went down leaving you exhausted and helpless on the mercy of raging waves?” The answer was again `Yes’. Then Imam asked: “Was not there, in all that black despair, a glimmer of hope in your heart that some unnamed and unknown power could still save you?” When he agreed, the Imam said, “That power is God.” That is the power that will save us from the coronavirus. That must be what Tablighi jamaats are feeling all over the country, in mosques. The coronavirus is sweeping away people like anything. The President of Lancashire is no more. That’s the county for which both Clive Lloyd and Waseem Akram played, as did Andrew Flintoff. Anyhow, a French soccer club’s ex-President, Pape Diouf, also died. Moving to a different sphere of activity, Japanese comedian Ken Shimura died of it too at 70. That leads us to fear that our own PM, who turns that age next year, might be at risk of being cut off in his prime, and leaving the youth no one of their age to vote for. Not all deaths are because of the coronavirus. I went to condole with the son and grandsons of an old lady on her death. I suppose it was normal condolence, and the only attempt at social distancing was not shaking hands on departure. But we had embraced on arrival.
I’m not sure of the protocol. I mean, if you miss any condolences because of the coronavirus, do you must miss them, or do you postpone them to a better time, like someone returning from abroad? Or jail. And a shutdown would cost us. Unfortunately, the illness is not responding to Imran’s reverse swing, speeches or his having built a cancer hospital. However, it has provided us with an opportunity to ask for money, or debt relief, or anything that we can get. Free masks? We’ve been asking the West to help pay for climate change because it’s done most of the polluting that causes that change. What’s our excuse this time? We’re poor? The West, particularly the USA and Europe, have got other problems. A lot of their citizens are no longer alive. Not to mention that this summer’s Olympics have been postponed to next summer. A real bummer would confirmation that one of the early signs of infection is the loss of smell and taste (and yes, they go together). As if it isn’t bad enough having the coronavirus, and thus running the risk of dying, you also know your last meal will taste like wet cardboard. Footnote to these notes: Does anyone remember the Toyota Corona? It was overtaken by the Corolla, which is still the flagbearer. But when it was discontinued back in 2001, I’m sure only some scientists had even heard of coronaviruses.
'We are proud of you,' says Pakistani air traffic controller to Indian crew INDIAN SOCIAL MEDIA USERS APPRECIATE PAKISTAN’S GESTURE ISLAMABAD TLTP
An Air India flight crew was left pleasantly surprised after an air traffic controller from Pakistan praised them for operating relief flights amid the coronavirus crisis. Air India was operating special flights from India to Frankfurt with relief materials and evacuated European and Canadian nationals, who were stranded in India amid the coronavirus crisis. According to a report by Asian
News International (ANI), one of the captains operating the special flights said, “It was a very proud moment for me as well as the entire Air India crew when we heard Pakistan ATC praising our special flight operations to Europe.” “As we entered in Pakistan’s Flight Information Region, the Pakistani air traffic controller greeted us ‘Assalaam Alaikum! This is Karachi’s control welcoming Air India for relief flights to Frankfurt’,” the senior captain quoted the Pakistani air traffic controller as saying. After the necessary exchange of infor-
mation between the captain and the air traffic controller, the operator from Pakistan praised Air India for their efforts. “We are proud of you that in a pandemic situation you are operating flights, good luck,” the air traffic controller reportedly said. “Thank you so much,” responded the captain, according to a report by news magazine India Today. Furthermore, when the captain, who commanded the special flights, told the Pakistani air traffic controller about not getting the next radar for the Iran airspace, Pakistan conveyed the flight’s position to the Tehran airspace and provided details of the two Air India special flights. After Pakistan’s airspace, the special flight entered Iran.
Police book Maulana Abdul Aziz, 6 others for violating government order The Islamabad Police have booked former Lal Masjid cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz and six others for “disobeying a government order, spreading fear and inciting people against the state”. The case was registered with the Aabpara police station on a complaint lodged by Station House Officer (SHO) Inspector Mohammad Walayat against Aziz and six others under section 505(b) (with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public or to any section of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offense against the state or against the public tranquility) and 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). According to the police, Maulana Aziz had gathered people at the mosque for Friday prayer despite a ban on prayer congregations to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. They said that he provoked the people against the state. Officials deployed around Lal Masjid informed the mosque’s management of the ban on prayer congregations and the misuse of loudspeakers, but they ignored them. They said that around 400 people had gathered at the mosque. NEWS DESK
Monday, 6 April, 2020
06 COMMENT
The economic fallout of the pandemic
Commodities shortage reports
Conflict of interest has to be removed
I
t goes to the credit of the present PtI government that it has released the investigation report by the fIA into the wheat and sugar shortages which caused such outrage when these crises occurred recently. Prime Minister’s initial rejection of the report and demand that it be re-written had created the fear that perhaps the powerful were once again being protected, but the report shows that the initial speculations had been shown to be true. While the report said that the wheat shortage was because of failures by the Sindh, Punjab and federal governments to meet their production targets, the separately published report on the Sugar crisis has pointed the finger at a number of sugar manufacturers who received vast sums in taxpayers’ money as a subsidy to export the commodity. the list includes some names prominent within the PtI, such as former Secretary-General of the party Mr Jehangir tareen, federal Minister Makhdum Khusro Bakhtiyar whose extended family business has cropped up on the list and allies such as PML-Q’s Moonis elahi. Claims by the PtI, that the subsidies paid were according to the rules, does not explain why those with an interest should be involved in the administration and drafting of policy in the first place. this has been the case in past governments as well, where members of the sugar lobby took over the commanding heights of the government. Indeed, one of the criticisms by Prime Minister Imran Khan of Nawaz Sharif was the mixing of business with politics. It seems that the PtI is no different, at least as far as the sugar lobby is concerned. this episode shows that not having a conflict of interest will not keep the Prime Minister out of trouble, if his closest confidants do. It has to be noted however that much of the focus of the report and is on the export of sugar, on the basis of which most of the conclusions have been made. this does not fully explain the domestic shortage, which is the actual purpose of the investigation to begin with. the report also does not place any responsibility of the shortage on the eCC, which approves the export of sugar. Such inquiries would plug some holes in the report as well. Cleaning up the Cabinet and the upper echelons of the PtI by making members choose between business and politics is essential to make sure such incidents are not repeated. the government must also ensure that there is no attempt to restrict the investigation to just the publication of the fIA’s report, rather it should be taken to its logical end.
The government must try and keep the sinking economy afloat Sheraz zaka
W
e all are living in strange times as according to Yuval Noah Harari in his book Sapiens wrote that many short-term emergency measures become a fixture for life because the risk of doing nothing becomes bigger in crisis-like situations; and decisions which could take years of deliberation are then made promptly in a few hours, keeping in view that desperate times call for desperate measures. the world has come to a standstill due to the outbreak of corona virus. the economic consequences are going to grow manifold with the passage of time in case the deleterious effects of the pandemic are not controlled. It takes us back to 1918 when similar effects were witnessed in US due to the spread of the pandemic Spanish ’flu’. the current scenario also hearkens back to the 1930s when there was the Great Depression and the economies of the USA and european countries plunged into deep recession which led to abrupt rise in unemployment levels. In Pakistan it has been for the first time witnessed in history that due to the spread of this deadly virus and its looming threat, the economic activity has been brought to a halt. the world over has never seen such drastic effects on global economy due to the spread of a disease. financial markets have slowed due to the capital outflow; production of multinational companies has reduced; people are becoming unemployed; poverty levels have risen due to the decrease of people’s real income; tourism activities have been curtailed; exports have decreased; flights operations have been cancelled and overall the free flow of goods and services has led to an overall drastic cut in GDP growth rates. Due to the drastic cut in economic activity the size of the global economy has shrunk and eventually its spillover effects on developing countries like Pakistan is likely to aggravate if the situation further worsens. Pakistan is a developing country and its exports primarily comprise agricultural and textile products. With the pandemic taking its toll over the entire global economy, the situation is likely to result in a decrease of exports for Pakistan. However it will be offset by the decrease of the oil price, which at present is at its lowest ebb in the past 30 years. the decrease in petroleum products’ price is likely to save the cost for Pakistan’s oil import bill. the gov-
Contradictory statistics Consistency in numbers key to project virus spread
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t was an unedifying sight. the federal Ministry for National Health Services, regulation and Coordination told the Supreme Court that it expected 50,000 cases of COVID-19 by the end of April, while the Punjab government gave out a different figure. Later, SAPM on Health Zafar Mirza explained that even his own ministry’s figure was merely an estimate calculated on the basis of assumptions, and appealed to the public not to panic on the basis of these assumption-based figures. the discrepancy is clearly disturbing. the fecklessness shown by the government is jaw-dropping. Why are estimates based on incorrect assumptions being fed to one or the other government? Somebody should realize that the government obtains these figures for a purpose; in this case possible requirements to treat patients. Having inaccurate figures is as bad as having no figures, as incorrect figures means bad plans. the only possible situation where plans do not matter is if there is to be no action, and in the present crisis, that is not an option. Assumptions will affect calculations, so it is not a matter of which government, federal or provincial, is better at arithmetic, but of whose figures are to be accepted. though the decision is the federal government’s, it must be decided that one figure is followed, so that all authorities plan on the basis of a mutually agreed figure, which is duly shared by all. Indeed, the government should not just ensure that its provinces agree among themselves, but that it agrees with other countries on the future projections. Such agreement will be essential to everyone to ensure a uniform approach to the pandemic. As Pakistan has two of the earliest and worst affected countries, Iran and China, to its east and north, it should be least complacent about tackling the pandemic with all its resources. And that includes having reasonably accurate figures and reasonably good assumptions on which to generate the kind of projections that would help plan future policy. Having bad projections to prevent public panic is about as shortsighted as it gets. the only thing possibly worse is having different projections.
The coronavirus as death sentence Sarmad ali
A
fter the Spanish ’flu’ of 1918, the world has once again is in the grip of a deadly pandemic, casting misery upon human beings regardless of caste or creed. Many have been pronounced dead by the authorities in sheer miserable conditions on account of contracting the symptoms of the deadly virus. the deadly coronavirus has reached 198 countries of the world, but, Western europe and the USA have been among those regions where Covid-19 has reached, or is reaching, its peak and left many dead and numerous affected. the world has been directed by the World Health Organization and other international health bodies to observe social distancing, selfisolation and to take precautionary measures to avoid contracting the coronavirus. However, one group that needs to be considered amid the rapid spreading of Covid-19, are the people who ares languishing behind bars across Pakistan. According to the government jails reform commission report the total capacity of prisons in Pakistan is to accommodate 57,742 prisoners, while 73,661 prisoners are detained in them, and are presently exposed to contract Covid-19 behind bars. According to the government’s jail reforms report presented to the Islamabad High Court in January 2020, there are a total of 73,661 inmates in prisons across Pakistan that includes juveniles, women, senior citizens and those with weak health, and out of them 44,853 are undertrial prisoners (61 percent). In Punjab, there are 45,324 total prisoners and out of them 25,054 (55 percent) are under-trial. In Sindh, there are 16,315 total prisoners and 11,488 (70 percent) are under-trial. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the figures are total 9,900 and under-trials 7,067 (71 percent) and in Balochistan, total 2,122 and under-trials 1,244 (59 percent). In light of the international pattern, and in consideration of the national dynamics of Pakistan, the Islamabad High Court, and Sindh Government followed by the Lahore High Court, had decided on the release of prisoners convicted and under trial. the provincial
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speed and efficiency. In a prison environment, huge numbers will die. essentially, we are transforming their government in exercise of its powers under section sentence of incarceration into a sentence to death”, was 401 of Criminal Code of Procedure 1898, the Punjab observed by David Mills and emily Galvin in the Ingranted three months remission in sentence to pris- dependent. It is a time where due procedure of the criminal law ought not be followed at all. the writer says oners detained in prisons across Punjab. In the wake of the rapid spread of the coronavirus, that in normal times, the judges listening to criminal the provincial governments and High Courts of two cases and/or presiding upon bail matters would assume major provinces of Pakistan decided upon release of that to minimize risk to an individual, or their potential prisoners from prison in order to decrease the popula- risk to the community, is to keep them in a cell. It is a time to act effectively to save lives behind tion of prisoners in prisons to lower the risk of spreadbars. However, the top ofing of coronavirus in ficials of Pakistan have prisons. In this writer’s miserably failed in doing opinion, the steps taken by so. It is fair to suggest that the authorities appeared to the coronavirus is a death be wise and humanely, as With the rise of Hinduism and the sentence for the incarcerit was impossible to obincreasing saffron terrorism by Hindu ated, even though they serve social distancing in been sent to the judiprisons where tens of militias against minorities that have had cial lockup for minor ofthousands have been detained in small barracks. It begun sprouting in different parts of fences. Juveniles and women prisoners under is also noted that prisons the country, while the government trial and convicted cannot across Pakistan are notoribe subjected to the death ous and overcrowded as seems to turn a blind eye has many penalty as per domestic noted in government jails of people worried about the future of laws of Pakistan, but havreform commission report. ing them in prisons would However, the Supreme their so-called secular country lead them to death. the Court constituted a full state of Pakistan shall take Bench to hear a petition immediately necessary challenging the legality steps, and even the apex and calling for the suspension of decisions and orders taken by the High Courts’ court of Pakistan must provide guidelines to the authoron release of prisoners. the full Bench of the Supreme ities and the courts in order to protect vulnerable lives. Court suspended all decisions and orders of the High If we all do not act together, we might have a number Courts on the release of prisoners, and maintained sta- of deaths amounting to 73,661. Life is precious and the state of Pakistan must act to save all even prisoners. tus quo till the final disposal of the appeal. the countries across the globe, such as the USA, they deserved to be protected from contracting CovidCanada, Iran, ethiopia, India, China, the UAe and oth- 19, even in prisons. the condemned prisoner Muhamers, for fear of the rapid spread of the coronavirus in mad Iqbal alias ‘Bali’ and others shall be set at liberty prisons, had released prisoners from their prisons on and those who have been arrested and charged despite humanitarian grounds, the reason being that social dis- of their juvenility for instance, Muhammad rizwan, tancing could not have been possible in small prison Umer alias ‘Billi’, Nabeel Masih etc. Covid-19 is a cells and inside prison barracks. “COVID-19 is now human rights issue, not just a health issue. becoming a threat that takes our system’s inhumanity The writer is an attorney based in Lahore, and he to a new and even more horrific level: we know that the virus spreads in confined groups with frightening can be reached at greenlaw123@hotmail.com
How those accused of minor crimes face death
Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami
Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad
ernment has taken a good step by decreasing the petrol 70 percent, has been taken by the government and by prices by rs 15 per litre to ameliorate the woes of reducing the interest rate, the government would be saving on its interest-payment cost. common man in the ongoing turbulent situation. the government should give a stimulus to the However it has kept the interest rates high at 11 percent. Although the government has cut the interest rates economy by not only reducing the interest rates to from 13.25 percent to 12.5 percent, and then recently fur- zero percent but also by reducing import duties on the ther them brought down to 11 percent, still the economic imports. furthermore the government’s department, experts say that the interest rate in Pakistan is one of the the federal Board of revenue, is holding on to the sales tax refunds of busihighest in the world. Conness enterprises which it trary to this, in other must pay back immedicountries, like the USA ately as a relief. At presand european countries, ent there is a lack of interest rates have been It was the slogan of the present liquidity and hence in this drastically cut to zero pergovernment before the elections that hour of need the governcent in order to keep the ment needs to give stimcost of capital low in this it would play an instrumental role in ulus to businesses so that recessionary period in liquidity is injected. order to boost demand. framing such policies as would farmers should be given Keeping interest rates as reduce the disparity between rich and cheaper credit and fertillow as possible is essenizers at reduced prices. tial due to the economic poor in order to make Pakistan People who are likely slowdown and hence it to suffer the most are the has become indispensable prosper and a welfare republic. Hence daily wagers who are to keep the cost of doing the state must fulfil its constitutional likely to be laid off if busibusiness now. nesses are not doing well the government of responsibility by acting promptly, and their going concern is Pakistan also needs to being jeopardized. Hence pay attention towards its rather leaving it to the invisible hand the government should monetary policy and identify the people who are bring interest rates to of market forces living below poverty levels zero percent, keeping in so that they are given fiview the economic nancial support through eilosses suffered by the ther income support big businesses and small medium enterprises. It is further notable that at present programmes or employees Old Age Benefits Institution government is giving finance at seven percent to those (eOBI). In this respect, the federal government must coentrepreneurs who want to start new business enter- ordinate with provincial governments to launch income prises whereas the already established businesses are support programmes for the poor working class and being granted finance at higher interest rates at 11 per- clamp down upon the hoarders who are responsible for causing shortages in basic food items. It was the slogan cent, which is a poor policy. the government at present is only keen to attract of the present government before the elections that it hot money in its treasury bills to keep the currency will play an instrumental role in framing such policies afloat and reduce its current account deficit level. It as would reduce the disparity between rich and poor is not bothered about paying attention to the woes of in order to make Pakistan prosper and a welfare rethe local businessman who is aggrieved by the high public. Hence the state must fulfil its constitutional interest rates and further bogged down by the high responsibility by acting promptly, rather leaving it to import duties. By reducing the interest rates it would the invisible hand of market forces. not only help the local entrepreneur but the governThe writer is a human rights activist,lawyer and ment would also save its interest payment cost. At present most of the credit, approximately more than teacher. sheraz.zaka@gmail.com
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Monday, 6 April, 2020
COMMENT 07 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
Corona and Thalassemia ON the one hand, Corona is out of control, on the other hand, Lockdown is causing various problems. Among them are innocent children who are suffering from thalassemia and facing severe obstruction in blood supply, these children are appealing for blood from different centers, which is quite a traumatic scene. In Sindh, thousands of children suffer from thalassemia, which requires blood to save their lives. And the blood donation is stopped because of the lockdown, People were volunteering to donate blood regularly, Blood was collected at various camps. But now because of the lockdown, it's off the stream. And for this, the government has not been able to make any alternative arrangements, No alternative arrangements have been made, but even the government has not issued any grant to these Thalassemia Centers. Due to which, the staff of the centers have not received salaries for 3 months. There is also a severe lack of medicines. According to reports, pharmaceutical companies have increased the price of medicines by 50%, And there is no one to ask them. At this point, patients with thalassemia do not reach the centers due to lockdown. Unemployment and poverty have impacted the immune system for patients not getting enough food. There is an increase in infections. Therefore, the Sindh government must mobilize as soon as possible to save the lives of thousands of thalassemia children patients. Grants should be issued to these centers immediately, and notice of the rising cost of medicines. AAmir mAZhAr ShAiKh rohri
Corona Ignored India fixated on anti-Muslim campaigns
Zeeshan Khan
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fTer China and Italy the world has turned its attention to India. A country of 1.3 billion, that has seen a surge in cases in the last three weeks, will determine the impact of the CoronaVirus pandemic globally. While the Indian government was hosting the grand TrumpModi event and while ministers were giving hate speeches that led to the Delhi carnage, the administration wasted precious time in nipping the virus in the bud. fears are growing that India remains susceptible to a wider, potentially more damaging outbreak. experts have cautioned that India is not testing enough people to know the true extent of the issue. The destruction of India's judicial independence had also started when the Supreme Court of India became an ally of the ruling government with the appointment of outgoing Chie Justice ranjan Gogoi to the rajya Sabha and the imminent arrest of scholar Anand Teltumbde. recently, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that he believed it was the elite’s solemn duty to speak truth to the people of India. The truth is that the current situation is very grim and morose. The India that people know and cherish is slipping away fast. India, once liberal and democratic, planned to go under ‘Janta curfew’ for a day due to increasing pandemic death toll all over world, and then extended it to 21 days more, and it might be realizing the plight of the recent continued severe and inhuman clampdown of Kashmir’s eight million Muslim inhabitants under siege for more than eight months in Indian Held Jammu and Kashmir, amid the abrogation of constitutional articles that had previously promised the minorities living in India some protection. Moreover, recent events in India have raised worldwide concern as the tempo of vio-
The political and economic crises are lence against the country’s 200–million-strong Muslim minority by Hindu hooligans armed tightly interwoven. When Narendra Modi bewith swords and guns has increased. So much came prime minister at the head of the BJP in so that the OIC, the largest organisation of the 2014, he promised to do for India what he did Muslim world that had been quiet earlier, had for his home state of Gujarat, where he had presided over an economic growth spurt. to make a very blunt statement. What Modi did carry over from his time in In condemning the three-day heinous events in Delhi, which resulted in the deaths Gujarat, though, was inter-community vioof dozens of innocent Muslim civilians, and lence. In 2002, while Modi ran the state, at terming the riots as ‘anti-Muslim’, it also least 1,000 people died in clashes between asked the Modi-led BJP government to “bring Hindus and Muslims. Moreover, instead of using its mandate to the instigators and perpetrators of anti-Muslim violence to justice and to ensure the safety and tackle the mounting economic challenges, security of all its Muslim citizens and the pro- Modi's government has doubled down on Hintection of Islamic holy places across the coun- dutva, its populist, Hindu nationalist agenda. Backed by the rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, try.” Among those who strongly oppose the Cit- a Hindu ultranationalist group seen as an ideizenship Amendment Act are influential Hin- ological driving force behind Hindutva, it has dus and scholars who see this as a death knell tried to enforce Hinduism as central to India's to India’s secular democracy according to values and identity. This brutality is killing Indians more than the Virus. Almost all of the Tariq A. Al Maeena, a Saudi commentator. The OIC’s call was soon followed by the government's political capital has been thrown UN rights chief whose offices sought to join into this massive social project. economic reefforts challenging the legislation to India’s form has fallen by the wayside. India’s journey of boom to bust started and controversial Citizenship Amendment Act in the country’s highest court. The Act, which then was accelerated by the Modi government. People aren't conwas designed to suming because target Muslims they fear the fumaking it easier for ture. There is an atreligious minorimosphere of ties from three With the rise of Hinduism and the mistrust. Private neighbouring investment as a countries to get Inincreasing saffron terrorism by share of gross dodian citizenship— Hindu militias against minorities mestic product has but not if they are slipped to its lowMuslim— was the that have begun sprouting in est level in years, spark for the recent while weakness in deadly riots in different parts of the country, while manufacturing and New Delhi. construction has More than 50 the government seems to turn a been the heaviest people were killed drag on growth, and hundreds blind eye has many of people according to data wounded in the worst sectarian viworried about the future of their so- from consultancy TS Lombard. olence to rock the During the called secular country capital in decades. campaign leading Muslim property up to Delhi's elecwas ravaged and tions on february burnt throughout 8, it was hard to the city. BJP politibelieve that the cian Kapil Mishra was behind whole massacre. Iranian Supreme two top contenders of both parties were taking Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Turkish part in the same election contest. But the inPresident recep Tayyip erdogan also urged cumbent Aam Aadmi Party, led by Arvind KeIndia to confront extremist Hindus and stop the jriwal, emphasized its record of improving basic services, particularly education, and won massacre of Muslims. Muslim world and other sane voices are with an overwhelming majority over the BJP. With the rise of Hinduism and the increasslowly rising to the internal threat to India’s minorities and are no longer willing to shrug ing saffron terrorism by Hindu militias against minorities that have begun sprouting in differthem off as an internal issue. On the economic front for the last three ent parts of the country, while the government years, business has been slow. India's banking seems to turn a blind eye has many of people sector, and public banks in particular, are worried about the future of their so-called secgroaning under the weight of nonperforming ular country. loans. The problems in the banking sector are Dr Zeeshan Khan czn be reached at dr.zeesymptomatic of a wider malaise in the Indian economy. Growth is at its slowest in years, and shan.alias.ghazikhan@gmail.com, and tweets @DrZeeshanKhanA1 consumption is weak.
Precautions AS newspaper enjoys a vast readership, so I want to highlight some safety measures on Corona-virus. The new corona-virus, the 7th known virus that infect humans, has been named COVID-19. It is a global pandemic that has covered the whole world and has taken a lot of lives. There are some common signs of this infection include fever, coughing and breathing difficulties. In severe cases, it can cause pneumonia, multiple organ failure and death. So, it is necessary to take safety measures and spread awareness in order to safeguard our life from great loss of many lives. Here are some precautionary measures such as washing our hands with soap and water, using the elbow when sneezing or coughing. Maintain a social distance at least six feet avoid touching your face, eyes and mouth when unwashed hands. Also avoid unnecessary, unprotected contact with animals and be sure to thoroughly wash hands after contact. FiDAK ZAhrA AttocK
Trying times THe cases of Coron-virus is increasing rapidly. All countries’ people are stressed to stay home. People have become desperate and compelled to take breath within a narrow boundary. The mounting skirmish of virus has made days restless and nights sleepless of people. Like other countries, Pakistan’s government imposed lockdown at the every corner of the country. Streets have just been godforsaken place. everyone is confined to live in a certain area. The most vulnerable people are daily wagers. However, government is doing commendable job to provide food to needy people so far. However, it seems to be improbable to cater every needy person because the country doesn’t have a lot of resources. PM Imran Khan rightly said, “We don’t have a lot of resources. We cannot cater everyone.” A country like Pakistan which is already indulged into many problems including poor education, unresolved issue of poverty, unemployment, and crippling economy, really the country cannot sustain the burden of its own feet. The virus has bought strenuous challenges for the government. It is testing time for every powerful element. In fact, Corona-virus is further melting the economy of country. According to the assessment by Pasha and Kardar, would be a 4.6% decline in GDP or rs891 million, while the worst-case scenario could see a contraction of 9.5% or rs1.6 trillion. The unemployed population, they suggest, will rise by around 3.1 million people on the lower estimate and over five million in the case of the second scenario. This unemployment would be attributable to job losses caused by the economic slowdown and would take quite some time to address. Temporary unemployment would be even higher, as much as 10.5 million people while anywhere from nine million to 15 million people will crop below the poverty lines. experts estimate that between 12.3 million and 18.5 million people in various sectors may lose their jobs. It is really difficult time for government to face increasing skirmish of the virus. But, it is hoped from the government they will eliminate the curse. NAvEED AbbAS mAitLo iSLAmAbAD
Lessons from Taiwan AS a neighbouring country of China, Taiwan has taken every single measure too early to be safe from covid-19 (Corona viruses). and consider it very seriously because they have learnt a leson from the SArS crisis in 2003, that's why the government of Taiwan acted swiftly and establish a Central command centre in order to respond the outbreak. Moreover, Taiwan minister held press conference almost every day to provide latest updates in information to public therefore, their public is aware about each and every movement of world. Taiwan also ban on export and import and blocked every entry point of China since 3 months later. By such praiseworthy actions they are having only few cases and they prove that democracy can successfully fight the virus without an authoritarian response and they manage a better democratic model for Pandemics. SAmEEr umrANi mALir KArAchi
Monday, 6 April, 2020
08 WORLD VIEW
Welcome to the World of coronomics NOT ONLY HAS AMAZON COMMITTED TO HIRING 100,000 NEW WORKERS WORLDWIDE, BUT IT HAS HIKED WAGES IN BRITAIN BY £2 PER HOUR — A RELATIVELY DRAMATIC INCREASE IN PAY
SPectator, UK
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e have seen crashes before, recessions and depressions, but nothing like this. Our fear of coronavirus has hindered and halted every aspect of daily life. We look out of our windows and barely recognise the country we’re in: police film dog-walkers and pour black dye into lagoons to deter swimmers. We wait in queues for empty-shelved supermarkets. The stock market collapses, surges, then collapses again. None of the old rules make sense. Welcome to the world of Coronomics. If this were a normal recession, the remedy would be simple: encourage people to go out, spend money and boost the economy. But today’s public health concerns require the government to repress the economy, while trying to keep it afloat at the same time. streets are quiet, hotels are empty, restaurants, pubs and high-street shops are shuttered. To tackle the virus, the economy must hibernate. As Mervyn King has noted, economics is great at explaining what has happened — but struggles to explain what might now happen. Never has its crystal ball seemed murkier. every economic analysis and projection made for this year and onwards has been torn to pieces. economic forecasts look more like blind hope or open guesswork. New attempts to turn around forecasts are relevant for hours, maybe days, before a new infection outbreak or multi-billionpound stimulus package turns the most upto-date calculations on their head. The new reality has destroyed our already limited ability to make economic forecasts. Now we’re all flying blind. It’s near-impossible to keep up with this global catastrophe no one saw coming. The debate rages on as to whether our response to Covid-19 might be a gigantic false alarm, or if lockdown doesn’t go far enough. But from an economic perspective, either scenario — or something in between — doesn’t change what we’ve learned: when faced with a new virus, the reaction is to hunker down, in case it proves to be a killer. Global capitalism has developed a nervous tic, which will twitch every time there is a new virus. Lockdown will become a state we fear we could return to with almost no notice. We will have to organise our
lives accordingly. All economic indications suggest that we’re midway through the sharpest economic contraction in history. Things will get worse before they get better. And while economists hope for a V-shaped recovery — that is a rapid downturn, followed by a rapid uptick in growth once the economy can resume normal activity — no one knows when ‘normal’ will be possible again. The world’s most advanced, liberal nations now range from giving serious guidance on limiting personal interactions to full-blown lockdowns which prohibit people from leaving their homes without permission. No world leader is in a position to take a punt and name an end-date for this way of life. But the economic story of Covid-19 isn’t simply about shutdowns, lockdowns and downturns. Where the economy is still allowed to function, we are witnessing spectacular market adaptation: the reallocation of workers, resources and what little money we currently spend. This shake-up is unparalleled; nothing compares. It’s no wonder HM Treasury has not released the estimated cost of all this — it has nothing to go on. Companies that once focused on jet planes and the intricate dynamics of F1 race cars have transformed themselves overnight into manufacturers of vital products. McLaren is doing its best to make more ventilators for the NHs; Mercedes worked with University College London engineers to produce a breathing aid to help keep patients out of intensive care units. The scottish government has categorised distilleries as vital to the Covid-19 response because so many are now in the business of making hand sanitiser. Much of what is being created and distributed is on a non-profit basis, to supply the elderly and vulnerable with the prevention kit they need. Where there is a surge in demand, it cannot always be met overnight. Local food companies such as Oddbox and Cook have had to limit orders because of demand overload, and it’s not just the little guys that can’t keep up. Ocado at one point told customers they were an absurd number in a queue to access the website. Now the company has had to put up a notice saying it just can’t cope. elsewhere, Amazon temporarily closed its Us ‘food pantry’ feature due to an influx of orders, and online delivery slots for the major supermarkets are taken for the foreseeable future. Families who had a recurring order slot are calling their friends, asking who would like some pasta. Local corner shops and takeaways, which many would have passed by without any acknowledgement before, have become close to being the fourth emergency service in feeding local communities and providing essentials to keep households up and
running. Those who work in them have seen their status transformed. People who were dubbed ‘low skilled’ a mere three months ago in the immigration reforms set out by the Home Office — shop workers, shelf-stackers, delivery drivers and cleaners — have joined the ranks of ‘key workers’ along with doctors and nurses, risking their safety to get
us through the crisis. This change in our perception of skill sets is being reflected economically as well. Not only has Amazon committed to hiring 100,000 new workers worldwide, but it has hiked wages in Britain by £2 per hour — a relatively dramatic increase in pay. Amazon has learned quite quickly the value of the labour of its warehouse and delivery people. And that seems to be a fair bit above what they were being paid. Across the country — and the continent too — we’re seeing the fastest reallocation of labour since the second world war. The jobs market is suddenly offering hundreds of thousands of openings for store workers, customer service agents, pharmacy employees, doctors, nurses, delivery drivers, cleaners, online tutors. In the UK, where the Chancellor has sought to preserve jobs rather than expand unemployment benefits, companies are shifting people internally — as Marks & spencer has done by moving staff in retail and clothing to its food shop floors.
Abroad, workers in aviation and management are trading their wing pins and name badges for grocer and delivery kits. At the end of all this, what will we have? The answer, alas, is mass unemployment. More than 200,000 Britons in hospitality and leisure lost their jobs in February and March, and most projections suggest that the number will keep climbing — from UK-wide unemployment at just under 4 per cent up to 6 per cent in the coming months. The immediate financial implications of Covid-19 will hit some much faster than others, yet the tradeoffs made during the recovery process are going to be painful for all of us. some say Coronomics is socialism: the
vast nationalisation of pretty much the whole economy. This is not so. In Britain, the government’s strategy is designed to ensure that there will be a market economy to come back to once this is over. The policies are lifeboats for private sector businesses and employees, who are suffering from a mandatory shutdown of all normal activity. But it’s very expensive, and the cost is taking us over the edge of what we know, into uncharted monetary and fiscal territory. The UK deficit, deemed to be under control just weeks ago, is now expected to hit 10 per cent of economic output: even more than at the peak of the 2008 financial crash. Remember how nervous everyone was about printing money back then? All of the debates about whether this would lead to Zimbabwe-style inflation, or inflate the assets of the very rich? There has been no time for debate this round as the Us Federal Reserve has scrapped any limits on money printing and bond purchases, pulling nearly every
How to design a lockdown CONSIDERING PEOPLE’S LIMITS CAN HELP ENSURE THAT QUARANTINE RULES REMAIN EFFECTIVE
Project Syndicate
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SAMI MAHROUM
s governments introduce social distancing rules of varying strictness to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, the question of how long these measures should remain in place will likely spark vigorous debate. Many economists and psychologists will warn that a lengthy period of de facto home detention will damage people’s financial and mental health, while epidemiologists will argue that maintaining lockdowns will help to flatten the contagion curve more quickly. Policymakers designing such measures would be wise to take both views into account. Luckily, there is substantial research regarding citizens’ compliance with government regulations. For starters, people need to know and understand the rules in order to
obey them. And if citizens think that a rule could potentially cause them material or non-material harm, they will be less willing to comply with it, which is why governments sometimes use economic incentives or penalties to promote compliance. But a carrot-and-stick approach will not work unless the target group is actually able to comply. And the unprecedented lockdowns in response to this pandemic — with measures ranging from voluntary self-isolation to possible fines or jail terms for those breaking the rules — are a major test of the extent to which entire populations can adhere to strict government measures. After all, confining people to their homes is a legal form of incarceration in many countries and has been since antiquity. Already, tens of thousands have violated lockdown instructions in France, Italy, spain and elsewhere, prompting governments to introduce heavier penalties. But while most people are willing to adhere to social distancing rules for a short period, mounting financial and mental pressures will ultimately erode their compliance. so, if policymakers want to ensure that lockdown rules remain effective for as long as epidemiologists deem necessary, they need to design such measures with a multi-
disciplinary approach enlisting the help of psychologists, economists and not least technologists. To maximize compliance, the social cost of the lockdown in terms of mental illnesses and emotional distress must not be higher than that of the damage the lockdown is preventing. The current lockdown rules in Germany, the United Kingdom and Belgium, for example, which allow people to go for a walk or a jog but ban public gatherings of more than two people, may be tolerable for a month or two. By contrast, the total lockdowns in France, Italy and spain will work only for much shorter periods. Building healthy elements into lockdown regimes improves people’s ability to cope and comply with the rules for longer periods, thereby giving governments more time to build the necessary defenses against the virus. such provisions may even encourage better habits among the population, as well as businesses, in the long run. While it would be irresponsible to relax lockdown rules prematurely, blanket lockdowns, which include prohibitions on all outdoor activities, may be counterproductive because they increase the psychological and economic costs of compliance for people and governments alike. People’s patience
will start to run out — especially as their financial resilience declines — and the cost of enforcement will go up. Yet, many economic activities, in particular those involving skilled or semi-skilled manual work, could still be pursued while observing social distancing protocols. This approach has been adopted by Quebec and Ontario in Canada. By introducing rules that combine a viable level of economic and social activity with strict “social distancing” policing, governments can help boost the financial and mental resilience of targeted communities. This is especially important given that lockdowns are affecting the poor more adversely than the wealthy and look set to be long-lasting. Moreover, for the majority of people in developing countries, staying at home means staying without income. such fragile communities have minimal financial resilience and thus are highly unlikely to comply with lockdown measures aimed at halting the pandemic — and there is little that governments can do if they are faced with a massive backlash. This poses an additional risk to global health. Rapid testing on a massive scale will be instrumental in tackling the pandemic in poorer countries and until an effective vaccine is within reach. Therefore, containing the COVID-19 pandemic now requires a wide range of other interventions, from producing enough ventilators and other medical equipment for intensive care units, to making accurate diagnostics and effective therapeutics widely
lever at its disposal to keep the economy afloat. The Bank of england has already decided to print £200 billion, using its digitally created money to buy government and corporate bonds — making interest on government debt artificially low. The Treasury plans to borrow £45 billion this month alone to help fund Covid-19 support. What will the longterm effects be? Is much-feared inflation now an inevitability? We’ll find out soon enough. Rishi sunak’s spending plans and giveaways were already on par with a Gordon Brown Budget — and that was before his colossal follow-up packages to support businesses, salaried employees and the self-employed through the Covid crisis. But while the spending is bigger, everyone is staying much quieter about the potential consequences. There’s a sense right now that no penny should be spared — but Coronomics, like any other kind of economics, is a study of scarce resources. That includes food, loo roll, hand sanitiser, and money. A decade’s worth of austerity measures to get Britain’s spending under control has been wiped out in a matter of weeks, and the costs are still rising. The Institute for Fiscal studies reckons Britain could return to normality with a budget deficit this financial year of £200 billion — or more. Whether the recovery begins in a few weeks or in six months, it is now inevitable that debt will skyrocket, possibly taking the UK up to a national debt peak of more than 100 per cent of GDP. This is precisely the outcome Britain spent an agonising ten years trying to avoid. When the Chancellor offered help to the self-employed, he also hinted that when this is over, their tax rates will rise. Coronomics has created a whole bunch of new precedents: one of them is that, in extremis, the state even bails out self-employed workers. From now on, it will have to charge them for this safety net. This is perhaps the most dangerous point of all. The government has said it will catch all of these businesses and workers when they fall. But ministers have to borrow every pound that they are now offering in support. The whole response to Covid-19 is based on a pretty big assumption: that markets will keep on lending to the UK government so that it can do whatever is needed. But what if they don’t? What if the credit supply chokes up, and we’ve printed as much money as we dare? Right now, the strategy is to hope that this question never arises. solving the problems posed by Coronomics will take more than money, and the old playbooks — whether from the left or the right — are unlikely to do the job. The drive, innovation and resourcefulness which people are showing during this crisis must continue well into our recovery. But it will also take luck. If we’re lucky, this might not last for as long as is feared; a sudden medical breakthrough might limit the lockdown to weeks rather than months; the economy could come roaring back. Just as this disaster seemed to spring from nowhere, so too might the cure, which would confine Covid-19 — and its topsyturvy economics — to the history books. Kate Andrews is The Spectator’s Economics Correspondent. available. And while research and development will take time, governments already have the technology to introduce, monitor and enforce smart social distancing rules in the form of GPs, drones, big data and various mobile technologies. In fact, we have all the technology needed to create temporary designated “COVID-19 Free Zones” within towns and cities, with movement in and out being restricted. such zones can be created first around government and health care institutions and then expanded gradually to encompass entire cities. Banning all outdoor activities for extended periods of time is the least innovative solution. It could give rise not only to mental health disorders but also to physical ailments, domestic violence and family breakdown. Furthermore, prohibiting safe outdoor activities on the pretext of reducing the risk of wider rules violations is an argument against law and order itself. The penal system exists precisely to protect our freedoms from abuses by a minority, not to penalize all pre-emptively. Lockdown rules should isolate violators, not the general public, and social distancing should not mean home detention. Blanket COVID-19 lockdowns may feel like a collective act of caution and responsibility for now; but the longer they last, the more they are likely to feel like a collective punishment for violations committed by a minority. such draconian measures threaten to diminish public morale and make compliance much more difficult. Sami Mahroum, a professor at the Free University of Brussels, is a senior fellow at the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut.
Monday, 6 April, 2020
BUSINESS 09
‘Outbreak-led eCOnOmIC CrIsIs’: rs100bn paCkage tO help uplIft Industry, says dawOOd
CORPORATE CORNER
ISLAMABAD APP
a
LAHORE: OPPO CEO George Long presents cheque of Rs6.2 million to PM Imran Khan for Covid-19 Relief Fund. P R E S S R E L E A S E
Blue World City CEO Saad Nazeer presents cheque worth Rs20m to Prime Minister Imran Khan for Covid-19 Relief Fund. P R E S S R E L E A S E
China prepares to close 'oil deal of life time' in Iraq ISLAMABAD TLTP
Over the past week or so, the industrial economy across China as a whole is back working and operating at levels even above the pre-coronavirus rates, although the service sector remains more cautious. For the oil industry, this means that China is back and busy taking up where it left off in terms of exploring and developing new field opportunities. There has been no clearer sign of this move by China than last week’s awarding of a $203.5 million engineering contract for Iraq’s supergiant oil field, Majnoon, to the little known China Petroleum Engineering & Construction Corp (CPECC), reported Oilprice.com. Majnoon is a key focus in Iraq because it has so much oil that its very name in Arabic means ‘insane’, to signify the insane amount of oil that has always been present there. Iraqi politicians had offered China a stunningly lucrative deal for the development of the Majnoon field. Specifically, the terms of the deal were that China would obtain a 25year contract but one that would officially start two years after the signing date. This would allow China to recoup more profits on average per year and less upfront investment. Also enormously beneficial for Beijing was that the methodology for working out per barrel payments to it would be the higher – the Chinese would choose - of either the mean average of the 18 month spot price for crude oil produced, or the past six months. Additionally, China would receive a discount of at least 10 per cent for at least five years on the value of the oil it recovered. And oil there is aplenty. Located around 60 kilometres to the north east of the main southern export terminal of Basra, the Majnoon supergiant oil field is one of the largest oil fields in the world, with an estimated 38 billion barrels of oil in place. The International Energy Agency projected output of 550,000-950,000 bpd production by 2020, and 700,000-1 million bpd at some point in the 2030s, although due to the flooding and recent political upheavals – plus the effects of the coronavirus – the timing has slipped. Even with these caveats, though, China’s part of the deal – which also remains in place – is to shore up the site from future potential flooding and to increase output to at least 500,000 bpd by the end of May 2021. The details do not worry the Chinese, though, for two key reasons. One is that China has extensive knowledge of dealing with floods across its own country, so it has the expertise and engineering capabilities to effectively deal with such eventualities. Not only is CPECC a subsidiary of Chinese oil behemoth, China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), but also it was the very same company that was recently awarded exactly the same type of contract ($121 million for ‘engineering work’ that time) for Iraq’s supergiant West Qurna-1 oilfield, also located very close to Iraq’s principal oil hub of Basra.
DVISER to Prime Minister on Commerce and Textile Abdul Razak Dawood on Sunday said the government had offered up to Rs100 billion worth packages to the industrial sector as a support in the backdrop of the COVID- 19 pandemic. “We are continuously in contact with all major industrial sectors, including textiles and construction. With consultation of all stakeholders, the government would give incentive to priority areas of the industrial sector for revival,” Dawood told APP. The government wanted to resolve the liquidity issue of the industrial sector, he said adding that Drawback of Local Taxes and Levies (DLTL) payments would be made, which were pending since 2009. The Adviser said the government would pay technology up-gradation fund worth Rs30 billion to the industrial sector to help it come out of the prevailing crisis. He informed that total Rs47 billion would be paid to the textiles sector in coming 100 days to support the major export sector of the country. Replying to a question, Dawood said the government would pay all refunds including in Rs200 billion worth packages to compensate the industrial sector in
coming budget for 2020-21. He said this package would be paid at faster pace to the industries, adding all stakeholders were on board with the government to evolve joint strategy to resolve issues of the industrial sector in current situation. The commerce ministry has also prepared a list of industries, which could be reopened in the current situation, he said. The Adviser said the refund of Rs100 billion for the business community is part of that process and the government was committed to ensure timely refunds to the business community in this challenging situation. The Adviser hoped the government and business community were on one page, saying with joint plan of action with the consensus of all stake holders “we would be overcoming economic challenges triggered due to the coronavirus. President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Mian Anjum Nisar hailed the Rs100 billion package offered by the government. Talking to APP, he said the government would take preventive measures and develop strategy to protect the pace of economic and trade progress and effects of world economic slowdown. Nisar said the whole world including the potential markets of European Union (EU)- the second biggest
sugarcane growers biggest beneficiaries of sugar exports, psma claims The associaTion welcomes The inquiry commiTTee’s reporT, buT lamenTs misreading by media
Chemical manufacturers seek exemption from section 144 for 23 essential items LAHORE STAFF REPORT
LAHORE STAFF REPORT
Welcoming the release of the inquiry committee report on sugar by the federal government, Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) Chairman Aslam Faruque said an open, fair and facts based discussion was exactly what the sugar industry wanted and that could not happen as long as findings had not been disclosed. However, it was unfortunate that the minute the report was made public and the media blew up the whole affair in the hunt for sensationalism, he said. Faruque requested the media that rather than focusing on personalities and always looking to play the blame game, they should study the report with good intentions and for the benefit of the whole country. “It is clear that the committee has done a lot of hard work in a short span of time, but they are dealing with issues that are very complex and often older than our country itself. They simply cannot be understood in a matter of weeks,” the PSMA chairman added. Faruque said, “While we were happy that the committee heard PSMA’s introductory presentation on the industry, we wish they should have come back and questioned us on anomalies/queries they
trade destination for Pakistan- were affected by the virus. In this regard, the government must to go for conducting studies to mitigate the economic changes after the coronavirus, he suggested. Welcoming the package, renowned industrialist from Baluchistan and former FPCCI president Engineer Daroo Khan said a proper mechanism was required to disburse this package according to the needs of different industries. He suggested the government to engage all stakeholders to resolve the current economic challenge. Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) President Muhammad Ahmed Waheed said his chamber was fully engaged in consultation with the government in the current challenging situation. The business community of twin cities welcomed the Rs100 billion package for the industrial sector, he added. Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Agha Shahab Ahmed Khan also appreciated the government efforts for mitigating the current challenge, saying his chamber and business community from all over the country was committed to support the government. Peshawar Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Engr Maqsood Anwar Pervaiz said the business community of Khyber Puktunkwa (KP) also stood by the government in the hour of need.
encountered before submitting their report as this would have made for a fairer and clearer report.” He expressed his desire to continue working with the commission, which was taking a deeper look at the industry and requested that this time around, the commission should allot more time to the association so there was no misunderstanding of facts. Pointing to the biggest anomaly in the report, he stated on the one hand the report blames exports for the rise in ex-mill price of sugar from Rs51.64 to Rs63.59, and on the other it clearly lays out that the cost of sugar at Rs180/maund for 201819 of cane was well above Rs63.59. How the industry and farmers would have survived if the surplus sugar in the country was not facilitated for export and sugar prices stayed at levels that were barely enough to pay for the sug-
arcane, he asked. “Before the export policy of the PTI government, sugar mills were going out of business and sugarcane growers were in desperate straits. This government should take the credit that it has brought balance back to the sugarcane economy with exports," Faruque said. The PSMA office-bearer said an investment of Rs3 billion by the Punjab government to facilitate exports had not only earned approximately Rs50 billion foreign exchange for the country at a time of desperate need, but also farmers got roughly Rs70 billion more than the minimum support price from sugar mills in the 2019-20 season. “If anyone thinks sugar exports were such a bad idea, go ask sugarcane farmers how much their economic situation had improved over the last 12 months,” Faruque noted.
The Pakistan Chemical Manufacturers Association (PCMA) has urged the provincial governments of Punjab and Sindh to exempt chemical manufacturing units from Section 144, otherwise the production of over 23 essential items including exportable products of textile, garments and leather industries would stop. The association’s chairman Abrar Ahmad and secretary general Iqbal Kidwai, in a joint request letter sent to the home secretaries of Punjab and Sindh, have pleaded that the chemical industry is contributing Rs35 billion in the form of taxes and $12 billion to the national GDP. The chemical industry is also providing 0.4 million jobs with an income multiplier of 4.2 and with job multiplies of 7.8, the letter states and claims almost all industries are dependent on the chemical industry for input chemicals to produce their products. The association identifies about 23 essential products, which would not be produced if the chemical industry doesn’t resume operation to make input-chemicals for them. These industries include food, pharma, soap, detergents, fertilisers, pesticides, construction, power plants, water treatment plants, export oriented industries like textile, garments, cotton gloves, allied fabrics knitted and woven dyed, home care, body care, health care, sanitisers, hand wash, shampoos, laundry soap, laundry detergent powders and leather industry. PCMA Chairman Abrar Ahmad informed that currently chemical manufacturers have huge orders piled up from the forward linkage industries, but unfortunately, the chemical industry has not been included in the industries, whose operations are exempted from enforcement of Section 144. He, therefore, urged the chief ministers of Punjab and Sindh to issue early orders for exemption of chemical manufacturing industry from Section-144 to avoid disruption in supply chain of all essential industries including the export-led industries, which are threatened to be handicapped due to unavailability of input chemicals. Further delay in this regard would be a big time-lag in their production resulting in huge losses besides absence of essential products needed to protect against the coronavirus, he said. Ahmad assured chemical units, under the prevailing virus pandemic would be operated with minimum number of staff by strictly adhering to precautionary measures against COVID-19 as per SOPs issued by the relevant regulatory departments of the government.
KP’s businesswomen striving hard to survive due to virus lockdown PESHAwAR Aziz BunERi
Women possessing small businesses in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have been struggling hard to survive since the start of the coronavirus lockdown, with many not being able to pay rents and utility bills. They fear that their businesses could completely collapse, if the government failed to come to rescue their small businesses. Women associated with small industries have asked the federal and KP governments to implement the lockdown to limit the virus spread, but side by side also protect their
rukhsana nadir of peshawar women chamber urges govT To include women enTrepreneurs in pm’s relief package sources of income as they are already bearing the brunt of the covid-19 lockdown with thousands of them getting unemployed. Rukhsana Nadir, who is the president of Peshawar Women Chamber of Commerce, told Pakistan Today that working women associated with beauty parlours, women’s gyms, handicrafts centers, restaurants, boutiques, home-made kitchens etc are finding it difficult to even pay their monthly bills and rents.
She said such businesses were usually started by financially weak women in several districts with the support of local and international organizations, adding they (women) have no enough savings to keep their businesses intact. “There are 450 registered members of the chamber,” Rukhsana said. In KP, it is already difficult for women to find jobs or start their businesses due to socio-economic conditions and now due to
the lockdown, women associated with small businesses at home have rendered workless as there are no exhibitions or markets open, she added. The chamber’s office-bearer said only in Peshawar more than 40 beauty parlors, about 40 home kitchens, and up to 15 restaurants run by women had been closed due to the closure of markets. She suggested the government to include woman entrepreneurs in the recently announced financial relief package by Prime Minister Imran Khan. Rukhsana demanded the government to waive three-month bills for businesswomen. She lamented that the government is
expanding lockdown period but no financial package has been announced for businesswomen. Shahida, who runs a beauty salon in Peshawar, says her 20 women employees are now jobless due to the present situation. She says is now worried about the payment of different type of bills, rent and other expenditures worth Rs0.6 million monthly. She said as compared to other provinces, women in KP aren’t making enough profit, therefore, the provincial and federal governments are requested to provide financial relief package to small businesses owned by women and help them rescue their businesses.
Monday, 6 April, 2020
10 FOREIGN NEWS
palestinian, sYrian refugees in lebanon camps brace for virus ADEN
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AGENCIES
UNDREDS of thousands of Palestinian and Syrian refugees living in overcrowded and rundown camps in Lebanon are bracing for the novel coronavirus as aid groups mobilise to help. Lebanon is home to tens of thousands of Palestinians in camps that over the decades have become bustling neighbourhoods, and at least 1.5 million Syrians who have fled the war next door. So far just one Palestinian, who lives outside a camp, and three Syrians have tested positive for COVID-19 compared to 520 infections and 17 deaths across Lebanon, according to officials. But Palestinian and Syrian refugees who live in cramped quarters, including tent camps where basic services like water are poor, are particularly vulnerable to the illness. “The main concern remains… the spread of coronavirus in the overcrowded Palestine refugee camps where there are very
limited possibilities for home isolation,” said Huda Samra, a spokeswoman for the UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA. The agency, she said, is looking to set up “isolation centres” inside the camps to quarantine anybody who needs it. Similar structures are being set up for Syrians living in close quarters in seas of canvas tents in the east of the country, the
UN refugee agency UNHCR says. But deteriorating cases will have to be evacuated to Lebanese intensive care units, where aid workers fear there may not be enough beds. MORE HOSPITAL WARDS: Aid organisations have also been ramping up efforts to raise awareness about basic hygiene among both the Syrian and Palestinian communi-
ties. The Norwegian Refugee Council says it has increased water deliveries and supplied soap and bleach to both. Cars mounted with loudspeakers have been making the rounds of Palestinian camps, blaring messages about hand washing and not touching one’s face. An AFP photographer recently saw volunteers in sky blue protective suits spray disinfectant in the gloomy narrow streets of the Shatila camp in Beirut. More than 174,000 Palestinians live in Lebanon, according to official figures, with most residing in camps ruled by Palestinian factions beyond the reach of Lebanese security forces. But unofficial estimates say the Palestinians, whose forefathers fled the creation of the state of Israel in 1948, could number as many as 500,000. And out of the 1.5 million Syrians Lebanon says it hosts since the civil war broke out in the neighbouring country nine years ago, nearly one million are registered with the UNHCR as refugees. Most of the Syrian refugees live in abject poverty and rely on handouts from aid
Spain to extend state of emergency to April 26, rise in infections slows BARCELONA AGENCIES
coronavirus pandemic 'amplifying' poverty in uk LONDON AGENCIES
The coronavirus pandemic is increasing poverty in Britain, where levels are already high after a decade of austerity triggered by the global financial crisis, according to experts. Official data shows that more than 14 million people in the UK are classed as living in poverty, or nearly one-quarter of the population. Some 4.2 million children are poor, or around 30 percent of the total, government figures show. The situation is worsening with Britons losing jobs en masse as the UK experiences lockdown. “The risk of poverty is particularly high for workers in sectors like hospitality and retail where people are more likely to be on low wages and in insecure work,” said Dave Innes, head of economics at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, an organisation for social change. Over the past fortnight, almost one million adults in the UK have applied for Universal Credit, the government’s main form of state aid. That is nearly 10 times the level in an average two-week period.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will ask parliament to extend lockdown measures by 15 more days until April 26 as the daily pace of new coronavirus infections and deaths slowed again on Saturday in one of the world’s most hard-hit countries. After speaking to Sanchez by telephone, opposition leader Pablo Casado tweeted that the premier had informed him “that he will request Congress to extend the state of emergency” for the second time. It was last extended through to April 11. A government spokeswoman said Sanchez would announce the extension of the state of emergency, which has confined most Spaniards to their homes for three weeks al-
ready, at a news conference on Saturday afternoon. Spain’s total death toll rose to 11,744 — the world’s second highest after Italy — but the number of 809 people who died from the disease over the past 24 hours was below Friday’s 932 and down from Thursday’s daily record of 950, the Health Ministry said. That represented a 7 per cent increase in total deaths, about a third the pace of the around 20pc increase registered a week ago. Meanwhile, the total number of registered infections rose to 124,736 on Saturday from 117,710 on Friday, when Spain overtook Italy in the total number of infections for the first time. The figures “confirm the downward trend we have seen in the last few days”, said Maria Jose Sierra, the
deputy head of Spain’s health emergency. Still, she acknowledged that “there are many more light cases of coronavirus which are not included in our figures because we are concentrating on the most serious cases”. Some of Madrid’s most famous tourist sites, such as the Royal Palace and Las Ventas bullring, stood eerily quiet on Saturday, as Spaniards readied themselves for a fourth week living under one of Europe’s strictest lockdowns. Only employees in essential sectors such as health are free to travel to and from work. Restaurants, bars and shops are shuttered, and social gatherings are banned. Health officials say the slowdown in new infections proves the effectiveness of the lockdown in place.
What impact is COVID-19 having on Middle East conflicts? DUBAI AGENCIES
The novel coronavirus has put global trade on hold, placed half of the world population in confinement and has the potential to topple governments and reshape diplomatic relations. The United Nations has appealed for ceasefires in all the major conflicts rocking the planet, with its chief Antonio Guterres on Friday warning “the worst is yet to come”. But it remains unclear what the pandemic’s impact will be on the multiple wars roiling the Middle East. Here is an overview of the impact so far on the conflicts in Syria, Yemen, Libya and Iraq: SYRIA: The COVID-19 outbreak turned into a pandemic just as a ceasefire reached by the two main foreign power brokers in Syria’s nine-year-old war — Russia and Turkey — was taking effect. The three million people living in the ceasefire zone, in the country’s northwestern
region of Idlib, had little hope the deal would hold. Yet fears the coronavirus could spread like wildfire across the devastated country appear to have given the truce an extended lease of life. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the month of March saw the lowest civilian death toll since the conflict started in 2011, with 103 deaths. The ability of the multiple administrations in Syria — the Damascus government, the autonomous Kurdish administration in the northeast and the jihadist-led alliance that runs Idlib — to manage the coronavirus threat is key to their credibility. “This epidemic is a way for Damascus to show that the Syrian state is efficient and all territories should be returned under its governance,” analyst Fabrice Balanche said. However the pandemic and the global mobilisation it requires could precipitate the departure of US-led troops from Syria and neighbouring Iraq. This in turn could create a vacuum in which the Islamic State jihadist group, still
reeling from the demise of its “caliphate” a year ago, could seek to step up its attacks. YEMEN: The Yemeni government and the Huthi rebels initially responded positively to the UN appeal for a ceasefire, as did neighbouring Saudi Arabia, which leads a military coalition in support of the government. That rare glimmer of hope in the fiveyear-old conflict was short-lived however and last week Saudi air defences intercepted ballistic missiles over Riyadh and a border city fired by the Iran-backed rebels. The Saudi-led coalition retaliated by striking Huthi targets in the rebel-held capital Sanaa on Monday. Talks have repeatedly faltered but the UN envoy Martin Griffiths is holding daily consultations in a bid to clinch a nationwide ceasefire. More flare-ups in Yemen could compound a humanitarian crisis often described as the worst in the world and invite a coronavirus outbreak of catastrophic proportions. In a country where the health infrastruc-
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groups to survive. In both communities, the United Nations has promised to pay for tests or hospitalisation if the need arises. And because any serious surge in cases among refugees would further burden the Lebanese healthcare system, efforts are being made to strengthen existing hospitals to face the pandemic. “We are working with the ministry of public health to support hospitals,” said UNHCR spokeswoman Lisa Abou Khaled. “We will create additional wards with additional beds, including additional intensive care units so there is sufficient response capacity for all communities, Lebanese and refugees,” she said. DISCRIMINATION: Despite all these preparations, non-governmental organisations fear discrimination against refugees will be an added challenge. Lebanon has seen its population of 4.5 million swell by a third since the start of Syria’s war in 2011. Many Lebanese blame Syrian refugees for the nation’s economic woes and authorities have often encouraged them to return home. “Some media reports have made associations between refugees living in unhygienic circumstances and the coronavirus,” said NRC’s advocacy and information adviser in Lebanon, Elena Dikomitis. “What is really important for us is to make sure people don’t start hiding symptoms or shy away from seeking treatment because of the existing discrimination and stigma.”
uae doubles stimulus to counter coronavirus impact ABU DHABI AGENCIES
The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday said it has doubled to $70 billion a stimulus package to support the Gulf state’s economy amid the coronavirus pandemic. “The aggregate value of all capital and liquidity measures adopted by the CBUAE since 14 March 2020 has reached 256b dirhams ($70b),” the central bank said in a statement. Last month, oil-rich UAE announced stimulus worth $35b that included aid to the banking system, facilities for loans and injecting funds into the bourses. Most of the new measures focused on easing financial and liquidity requirements for banks to free up cash for lending. In the new measures, the central bank reduced by half to 7.0 percent the reserves banks are required to keep for demand deposits, which can be withdrawn by clients anytime. This will allow for some $16.6b in liquidity to be used in new bank lending, the central bank said. The regulator’s new measures also allow banks to defer payment of loans for companies and clients until the end of 2020. “The additional measures announced today will effectively relieve the pressure on financial institutions … offering the required relief and continued access to funding for businesses and households,” newly-appointed governor Abdulhamid Saeed said. The UAE, where 1,505 coronavirus cases and 10 deaths have been reported, has introduced strict measures including halting travel and closing shopping malls and entertainment venues. On Saturday night, Dubai, one of the seven emirates making up the UAE, announced a two-week lockdown in which it will carry out tests in densely populated areas. The bourse of Dubai has led the slide of the Gulf stock markets, shedding 36pc in the first quarter, most of it in March. Its UAE sister bourse in Abu Dhabi dropped by 26.4pc.
Yemen's warring parties accuse each other of attacking pipeline ADEN: Warring factions in Yemen accused each other on Sunday of attacking an oil pipeline pumping station in the central province of Marib, where clashes have raged for weeks and displaced tens of thousands of civilians. The oil ministry of the internationally recognised, Saudi-backed government in Yemen said on Sunday the Iran-aligned Houthi group had targeted the station, according to the Saudi state news agency (SPA). Hussein al-Ezzi, an official in the Houthi-controlled government based in the capital Sanaa since 2014, said Saudi-led coalition forces had attacked the Kofel pumping station in what he described as a dangerous escalation. Both sides gave no details of the reported attack. The pipeline is operated by the Yemeni government-owned Safer oil company but no oil has been pumped through it for years. Yemen’s oil output has collapsed since 2015 when a Saudi-led military coalition intervened in the war to try to restore the government of Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to power after it was ousted by Houthi forces in Sanaa. The United Nations and Western powers hope the threat posed by the global coronavirus pandemic will push Yemen’s combatants into fresh talks to end a largely stalemated war that has left millions vulnerable to disease and starvation. AGENCIES ture has collapsed, where water is a rare commodity and where 24 million people require humanitarian assistance, the population fears being wiped out if a ceasefire doesn’t allow for adequate aid. “People will end up dying on the streets, bodies will be rotting in the open,” said Mohammed Omar, a taxi driver in the Red Sea
port city of Hodeida. LIBYA: Much like Yemen, the main protagonists in the Libyan conflict initially welcomed the UN ceasefire call but swiftly resumed hostilities. Fierce fighting has rocked the south of the capital Tripoli in recent days, suggesting the risk of a major coronavirus outbreak is not enough to make guns fall silent.
Monday, 6 April, 2020
HAndLing oF PrEMiEr LEAguE PAy row 'A disgrAcE', sAys roonEy London
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Agencies
AYnE Rooney has criticised the government and the Premier League for placing footballers in a "nowin situation" over proposed pay cuts after a warning from players' representatives that national Health Service coffers could suffer. The former England captain, now playing with Championship side Derby, penned an impassioned column in the Sunday Times saying his fellow professionals were "easy targets" in the wider response to the coronavirus crisis. Rooney made it clear he had both the means and the will to make financial contributions, either in the form of salary reductions or direct donations to the nHS, but felt the public pressure being exerted on players was unhelpful. The Premier League's suggested strategy involving a combination of pay cuts and deferrals amounting to 30 percent of wages, was discussed in a conference call with players' and managers'
representatives on Saturday. Initial talks were already ongoing before key political figures, including Health Secretary Matt Hancock, called for action. "If the government approached me to help support nurses financially or buy ventilators I'd be proud to do so -- as long as I
knew where the money was going," wrote Rooney. He added: "I'm in a place where I could give something up. not every footballer is in the same position. Yet suddenly the whole profession has been put on the spot with a demand for 30 percent pay cuts across the board. Why are footballers suddenly the scapegoats?
"How the past few days have played out is a disgrace." The Premier League has been seen as lagging behind other European leagues in its response to coronavirus and was accused by one British lawmaker of operating in a "moral vacuum". But Rooney questioned the wisdom of the Premier League in preempting behindthe-scenes talks involving players with its own proposals for sweeping reductions. "In my opinion it is now a no-win situation," he said. "Whatever way you look at it, we're easy targets." England defender Danny Rose, on loan at newcastle from Tottenham, told the BBC players were "keen to make something happen". The Professional Footballers' Association said its members wanted to play their part but warned that a projected 30 percent salary reduction would cost the country 200 million pounds ($245 million) in lost tax receipts. A PFA statement released on Saturday following the conference call said the combined tax on player salaries was a significant contribution to funding essential services.
Pressure grows for shortened IPL behind closed doors MuMbai Agencies
Players are putting pressure on cricket authorities to plan a shortened Twenty20 Indian Premier League later in the year to "kickstart" the sports economy after the coronavirus lockdown. The world's richest cricket tournament has been postponed until April 15,
which coincides with the end of India's 21 day nationwide shutdown to halt the spread of the pandemic. But with the number of cases and deaths rising and India isolated from international travel, few believe any sport will be possible in the sub-continent for at least three months. "Let's say July-August is the earliest," said Kevin Pietersen, the former
England batsman. "I do truly believe the IPL should happen. I think every single player around the world is desperate to play the IPL," he said on Indian broadcaster Star Sports. Pietersen suggested the eight-team tournament be shortened from its normal eight-week duration and played behind closed doors. "There could be a way in which to get
some money into the franchises, into the economy by having a situation where you use maybe three venues which are completely closed to fans," said Pietersen. "And the players can still go out and play the tournament in three weeks or in four weeks. "I think the fans need to understand they can't watch a live game at the moment and they might not be able to watch a live game for the foreseeable future." The league is a huge revenue earner for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and is estimated to generate more than $11 billion for the Indian economy. Chinese mobile phone-maker Vivo paid $330 million to be the league's top sponsor for 2018-2022. Former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar said the league, which involves stars such as England's Ben Stokes, David Warner and Pat Cummins of Australia, and India captain Virat Kohli, will inject life into the virus-ravaged economy. "The moment we get clearances from all the authorities that matter, the IPL should happen, only because it will kickstart the economy," said the cricketerturned-commentator. "Because when you talk about the IPL it's not just about the Mumbai Indians, or a (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni or a Virat Kohli, there are a lot of people who are making their livelihood through the IPL." Stokes and Cummins have already voiced their eagerness to participate in the IPL. Kolkata Knight Riders-contracted Cummins said "everyone's still really keen for it (IPL) to all go ahead". BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has conceded the IPL will be a "truncated" affair if it happens at all.
Trump hopes virus-hit sport back 'sooner than later' Washington Agencies
President Donald Trump said Saturday he believed US sports leagues hit by the coronavirus pandemic would resume "sooner rather than later" but declined to set a timetable for their return. On a conference call with the commissioners of the major professional sports leagues, Trump told national Football League commissioner Roger Goodell he believed the season would kick off as scheduled in September. US sports have been upended by the coronavirus, with the nBA, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer and national Hockey League all halting or suspending their respective seasons last month as the pandemic erupted. "I want fans back in the arenas...whenever we're ready," Trump told reporters at a White House briefing on Saturday. "As soon as we can obviously. I can't tell you a date but I think it's going to be sooner rather than later." Major League Baseball and nBA officials are reportedly studying plans to play games without spectators at neutral venues to minimise the risks of infection associated with crowded arenas.
Trump, however, spoke optimistically of fans eventually being let back into stadiums. "We're not going to have separation for the rest of our times on the planet," Trump said. "We need it for this period of time. But eventually people are going to be able to occupy those seats next to each
other. I'm not committing to it. It would be great if we could." The nFL has so far made no plans to alter the start of its 2020-2021 season, with pre-season games usually starting in August. However, California Governor Gavin newsom was sceptical of the possibility of sports resuming in August or September. Speaking at his daily briefing, newsom warned of a possible resurgence in infections if sport returned to soon. Asked about the possibility of fans heading to stadiums in September, newsom said: "I'm not anticipating that happening in this state." "We've all seen the headlines in the last couple of days in Asia where they were opening up certain up businesses and now they're starting to roll back those openings because there's some spread, a boomerang," newsom said. "One has to be very cautious not to over-promise. I have a lot of friends that work in Major League Baseball and the nFL and basketball who have been asking me. I would move very cautiously. "I'm not here to second guess anybody, but I am here to say this: our decision on that basis, at least here in the state of California will be determined by the facts, by the health experts and our capacity to bend the curve."
SPORTS 11
Ecclestone says 2020 F1 championship should be cancelled Monaco Agencies
Bernie Ecclestone says this season's Formula One championship should be cancelled because it appears unlikely that enough races can be completed for it to be valid due to the coronavirus crisis. The opening eight rounds of the 2020 season have been either cancelled or postponed, with doubts over a number of the other 14 races as the pandemic continues to overshadow the sporting calendar. A minimum of eight races are required for the championship to be valid, but former F1 chief executive Ecclestone believes that will not be possible. "We should stop the championship this year and start again next year, hopefully, because I can't see it's going to be possible to get the right amount of races in that count for a championship," the 89-year-old told BBC Radio. "There's got to be eight from memory, and I can't see them getting that in. It's a difficult situation."
Ex-Pakistan cricket great Miandad says spot-fixers should be hanged Lahore Agencies
Cricketers involved in match fixing should be hanged, former Pakistan batting great Javed Miandad suggested Friday. Match-fixing and spot-fixing -- determining the outcome of a specific part of a game rather than the overall result -- have stained the country's sport for several years. "Players who are involved in spot-fixing should be severely punished," Miandad, who scored Pakistan's second-highest Test runs with 8832, said on his YouTube channel. "Spot-fixers should be hanged because it is similar to killing someone, and so the punishment should also be on the same lines. An example should be set so that no player even thinks about doing something like this." His remarks follow player Mohammad Hafeez's protests over former opener Sharjeel Khan's return despite receiving a five-year ban in 2017 over a spot-fixing case. Meanwhile, Pakistan batsman Umar Akmal faces a ban of six months to life after being charged for not reporting a fixing offer last month, a crime under Pakistan Cricket Board's anti-corruption code. Fixing was exposed in 1995 after Australians Shane Warne, Tim May and Mark Waugh alleged then-skipper Salim Malik offered them bribes to under-perform in matches. That led to a judicial inquiry that banned Malik for life.
Australia coach Langer backs cricket behind closed doors MeLbourne Agencies
Australia coach Justin Langer believes resuming cricket behind closed doors when it is safe to do so will have "great value" for the public, deprived of action by the coronavirus shutdown. Like almost the entire sporting schedule around the world, cricket has been halted by the pandemic, with no return date set in stone. One of the options being mooted is to have the sport resume after restrictions have been lifted, but in empty stadiums. "When you started off playing cricket, when you were under age, there's no crowds there," he told BBC Radio. "You played it because you loved playing the game, you loved playing with your mates and you loved playing the game. "For the love of the game, and for still being able to entertain people through TV sets or radio, then there's value in (playing behind closed doors).
Monday, 6 April, 2020
NEWS
GlimmEr of hopE in italy and Spain aS US bracES for ‘toUGhESt WEEK’ ROME
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AGENCIES
TALY and Spain, the two countries hardest hit by the new coronavirus, on Sunday reported encouraging signs in their fight against the deadly pandemic sweeping the globe as the United States braced for a tough week ahead. Italy reported its lowest daily death toll in two weeks, in a possible sign the tide may be turning in the deadliest disaster the country has faced since World War II. “This is good news but we should not let our guard down,” civil protection service chief Angelo Borrelli told reporters. In Spain, officials said the number of fatalities had fallen for the third straight day. Across the Atlantic, US President Donald Trump has warned Americans to brace for a “very horrendous” number of deaths in the coming days, as the number of confirmed cases there surged past 300,000 — the highest in the world. In New York state alone, the US epicentre, the death toll jumped over the past 24 hours to over 4,100. The rapid march of the virus has claimed over 65,000 lives in just three months and left about half the planet confined to their homes, drastically altering life for billions of people and plunging the global economy into recession. With over 1.2 million people confirmed to be infected, the virus is also putting massive pressure on healthcare services, with both rich and poor nations struggling to find enough staff and equipment. Pope Francis, head of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics, appealed for people to show courage in the face of the pandemic.
The elderly pontiff, who himself has been tested twice for the virus, delivered his Palm Sunday mass by livestream. Saint Peter’s Square was deserted of the usual crowds and the basilica was almost empty. And as Christians prepare for Easter—the holiest event on their religious calendar, churches are closed and masses are being transmitted on television and on social networks. ‘GREAT DOSE OF HUMANITY’: Queen Elizabeth II was also set to give a rare address on Sunday aimed at rallying Britain. The government there is warning of tougher measures on social distancing to try to curb surging infections. In Italy, officials reported 525 new deaths over the past 24 hours, the lowest since March 19, although the country’s overall death toll remains the highest in the world at 15,887. Officials also reported the first decline in the number of non-critical COVID-19 patients receiving hospital care in Italy, which has been under a strict lockdown for almost a month.
There were signs of hope too for Spain, which registered 674 deaths on Sunday, its third straight day of declining numbers. The government has nevertheless announced it is extending a near-total lockdown until April 25. At a field hospital in Madrid set up at a conference centre, staff applauded whenever a patient was healthy enough to be discharged. Builder Eduardo Lopez, 59, gave a “10/10” rating to the staff who cared for him “with tenderness and a great dose of humanity”. ‘WE NEED YOU’: In the United States, Trump warned Saturday that the country was entering “a time that’s going to be very horrendous”. “This will probably be the toughest week,” he said. “There will be a lot of death.” But he insisted that the world’s largest economy cannot remain shut down forever, saying: “I’ve said it from the beginning—the cure cannot be worse than the problem.” New York state, the US epicentre,
saw 594 deaths in a single day on Sunday, slightly down from the previous day, but Governor Andrew Cuomo said it was too early to tell whether it was a “blip”. “We won’t know for the next few days, does it go up, does it go down.” Cuomo had warned Saturday that the worst was yet to come and that already strained hospitals were not prepared, while New York City appealed for licensed medical personnel to volunteer their services. “Anyone who’s not already in this fight, we need you,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said. Trump said 1,000 military personnel, mostly doctors and nurses, would be deployed to help in the city, which he described as “the hottest of all the hot spots”. ‘BETTER TO DIE FROM VIRUS THAN STARVE’: Several Western countries including the US have encouraged the use of masks in public despite earlier saying that only carers needed to cover their faces—a U-turn that has angered and confused some citizens. The advice came after some studies suggested the new coronavirus can be spread through speaking and breathing, not just coughing and sneezing. The World Health Organization is reviewing its guidance but has said it worries that masks could give “a false sense of security,” leading people to be more casual about hand washing and social distancing. Governments have rolled out massive, unprecedented stimulus programmes to ease the pain caused by the virus lockdowns, but economists have warned that the crisis could worsen poverty levels with millions of jobs lost.
'We can defeat the coronavirus': UK's Queen Elizabeth invokes WW2 spirit LONDON AGENCIES
Queen Elizabeth told the British people on Sunday that they would overcome the coronavirus outbreak if they stayed resolute in the face of lockdown and self-isolation, invoking the spirit of World War Two in an extremely rare broadcast to the nation. In what was only the fifth televised address of her 68-year reign, Elizabeth called upon Britons to show the resolve of their forbears and demonstrate they were as strong as generations of the past. “Together we are tackling this disease, and I want to reassure you that if we remain united and resolute, then we will overcome it,” the 93-year-old monarch said in the address from her Windsor Castle home where she is staying with her husband Prince Philip, 98. “While we have faced challenges before, this one is different. This time we join with all nations across the globe in a common endeavour, using the great advances of science and our instinctive compassion to heal. We will succeed – and that success will belong to every one of us.” The broadcast came hours after officials said the death toll in Britain from the virus had risen by 621 in the last 24 hours to 4,934 with high fatalities still expected in the next week. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is among those in self-isolation after testing positive for COVID-19, and the queen’s own son and heir Prince Charles, 71, has recovered after suffering mild symptoms of the virus. Like many countries in Europe, Britain is in a state of virtual lockdown, with people told to stay at home unless it was essential to go out. Health minister Matt Hancock said even stricter riles might be imposed if the current rules to curb the spread of the virus were flouted.
india curbs diagnostic testing kit exports as virus spreads NEW DELHI/DHAKA
Planned $1bn US aid cut would hit Afghan security force funds WASHINGTON AGENCIES
A planned $1 billion cut in U.S. aid to Afghanistan would come from funds for Afghan security forces, according to three U.S. sources, a step experts said would undercut both Kabul’s ability to fight the Taliban and its leverage to negotiate a peace deal with them. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the reduction on March 23 and threatened to slash the same amount next year to try to force Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his political rival Abdullah Abdullah to end a feud that has helped stall U.S.-led peace-making efforts in Afghanistan. After nearly 20 years of fighting the Taliban, the United States is looking for a way to extricate itself and to achieve peace between the U.S.-backed government and the militant group, which controls more than 40% of Afghan territory. Pompeo and other U.S. officials have declined to publicly detail how the cut would be made. The State De-
partment declined to comment on its plans. Two U.S. congressional aides, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said State Department officials told Congress the $1 billion would come from a $4.2 billion Pentagon fund that underwrites about three quarters of the Afghan security forces’ annual budget. “The idea they would cut security forces funding goes against U.S. national security interests,” said one aide, arguing the money is needed to maintain the U.S.backed government’s ability to fight the Taliban while preserving its bargaining power in peace talks. Most of the fund pays for salaries, food, fuel, equipment and infrastructure to support Afghan troops and national police. Congress appropriated at least $86.4 billion for Afghan security assistance between fiscal years 2002 and 2019, according to a March 11 Congressional Research Service report. “That’s the only fund large enough to support a $1 billion cut,” said the third source, a former U.S. military official who also requested anonymity.
U.S. civilian aid is far lower, with the State Department requesting $532.8 million this year, mainly for general economic support as well as for counter-narcotics and law enforcement. Pompeo announced the cut as he flew home from Kabul after failing to persuade Ghani and Abdullah to end a dispute over Afghanistan’s September 2019 presidential election. Both men claim they won and have held rival inaugurations. Pompeo said the cut could be reversed if the two resolved their dispute, which had stymied naming an Afghan delegation to negotiate peace with the Taliban after decades of war. His threat appears to have had some impact. On March 26, Ghani announced a negotiating team including Abdullah allies and Abdullah endorsed the slate on March 31. Government and Taliban officials have also agreed to start prisoner releases as a prelude to peace talks envisaged under a Feb. 29 U.S.-Taliban deal for a phased U.S. troop withdrawal.
AGENCIES
India is restricting the export of most diagnostic testing kits, as coronavirus cases in the South Asian nation topped 3,350 on Sunday despite a three-week nationwide lockdown to slow the spread of the respiratory disease. India, which in recent weeks already banned the export of certain drugs, along with ventilators, masks and other protective gear needed by both patients and medical staff, issued the latest directive on Saturday. The move comes even as U.S. President Donald Trump urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a phone call on Saturday, to release supplies of anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, which is being tested as a possible treatment for patients with COVID-19 – the disease caused by the coronavirus. “The two leaders agreed to remain in touch on the issue of global supply chains for critical pharmaceuticals and medical supplies and to ensure they continue to function as smoothly as possible during the global health crisis,” White House spokesman Judd Deere, said in a tweet on Saturday. In a briefing note on the conversation, India said the two leaders “agreed to deploy the full strength of the India – U.S. partnership to resolutely and effectively combat COVID-19.”
India pressured Assam tribunal to declare Muslims non-citizens: NYT ISLAMABAD TLTP
Members of official tribunals, set up in Assam to decide who was an Indian citizen and who was not, have said they felt pressured to declare Muslims non-citizens as the government seeks to expel illegal migrants, according to a dispatch published in The New York Times. The newspaper said it interviewed one current and five former members of the Assam tribunals that review suspected foreigners. The five former members said they had felt pressured by the government to declare Muslims to be non-citizens, with three of them saying that they were fired because they did not do so. “I was punished,” Mamoni Rajkumari, a 54-year-old lawyer who spent nearly two years on the tribunal and was among the dismissed members, was quoted as saying by the Times. In addition to the tribunals, which Assam has operated for decades, the state has also recently completed a broader, separate review of every resident’s paperwork to determine if they were citizens. That review found that nearly two mil-
lion of Assam’s 33 million residents, many of them desperately poor, were possibly foreigners. Now this group — which is disproportionately Muslim — is potentially stateless, the dispatch said. “What’s happening in Assam is a preview of what may be coming to India as a whole as Prime Minister Narendra Modi tries to pull the country away from its foundation as a secular, multicultural nation and turn it into a more overtly Hindu state,” The times correspondents — Karan Deep Singh and Suhasini Raj — wrote in their joint dispatch. Assam state and central government officials declined to comment, according to the report. Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party has its roots in a Hindu nationalist worldview, and during last year’s national elections, party leaders vowed to apply the same type of citizenship checks used in Assam to the rest of India, the Times said, while noting Modi’s recent denial. In December, the Indian government passed a sweeping new immigration law that gives a fast track to citizenship for undocumented migrants from nearby countries as long as they are Hindu or one of five other religions — only Muslims were excluded. “The upshot is that any Hindus left off
Assam’s citizenship lists after its broad review, or declared by tribunals to be foreigners, will likely be affirmed as citizens because of the new immigration law. Muslims may not,” the dispatch said. Even before the citizenship review, an indigenous rights movement in Assam, in northeast India on the border of Bangladesh, had been agitating for the government to expel foreigners, it was pointed out. The police — sometimes acting on reports from private citizens — had referred more than 433,000 residents as “suspected foreigners,” according to parliamentary documents, and sent them to tribunals like the one Rajkumari sat on to produce documents or witnesses to prove they are truly Indian, according to the dispatch. Now, the citizenship review has produced 1.9 million new “suspected foreigners” and Assam is adding more foreigner tribunals to adjudicate their cases, it said, adding the whole tribunal process has troubled Ms. Rajkumari and some others who have served as tribunal members. Many poor Indians, the dispatch said, lack the required paperwork to prove citizenship, like parents’ voting records and land ownership documents that have been certi-
fied by authorities as authentic. What’s more, the choice of who is labelled a suspected foreigner seems to have a religious bias to it, with a much higher percentage of Muslims sent to the tribunals than Hindus, according to Rajkumari and the tribunal members interviewed. Although not technically courts, the tribunal function as if they were and if they find someone cannot prove his or her citizenship, that person can be sent to detention, often within a jail. Kartik Roy, a lawyer and another former tribunal member, was quoted as saying “most of the references” that police officers made to his tribunal to investigate suspected foreigners “were against Muslims.” He said the pressure was clear: “You have to declare ‘foreigners’ means you have to declare the Muslims,” he said. Rajkumari agreed, saying state officials “think Muslims are foreigners.” Some of the tribunal members interviewed by the Times said they felt pressure, in general, to find more “foreigners,” with a monthly requirement to report how many cases they had heard and of those, how many people had been declared foreigners. Two other former members said officials
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in Assam’s Home and Political Department, which from 2016 has been controlled by Modi’s political party, had complained that they were not declaring enough people noncitizens. Tribunal members who declared more people foreigners had their performance rated as “good,” which increased their chances of keeping their jobs, according to court documents viewed by The Times. The performance of those who didn’t declare enough people foreigners was marked as “not satisfactory.” That is exactly what happened, it said as the terms of Rajkumari and Roy were not renewed in 2017. They both said that because the bulk of people in front of the tribunals were Muslims, the expectation was that they would declare Muslims as foreigners, paving the way to deport them, incarcerate them or take away fundamental rights. The director general of police in Assam and other state officials declined to comment, according to the Times. Most of the migrants in Assam came from Bangladesh, at one time or another. Many have lived in Assam for generations, the descendants of economic migrants from decades ago, it was pointed out.