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Thursday, 9 April, 2020 I 15 Shaban, 1441 I Rs 15.00 I Vol X No 281 I 12 Pages I Islamabad Edition

Govt mulls ‘touGh decisions’ amid risk of protracted pandemic g

IMRAn wARnS oF SuRge In CASeS by end APRIl, SAyS heAlthCARe not equIPPed to deAl wIth PAndeMIC

SAyS govt wIll StARt dIStRIbutIng RS144bn AMong 12M FAMIlIeS FRoM thuRSdAy; AIde CAllS It ‘extReMely tRAnSPARent’ RelIeF PRogRAMMe

uMAR SAyS wIll bRIng StRAnded PAkIStAnIS hoMe wIthout IMPoRtIng CoRonAvIRuS wIth theM ISLAMABAD

islamabad

S the number of coronavirus cases continued to surge in the country on wednesday, Prime Minister Imran khan warned the cases could see a massive rise by the end of April and crash the healthcare system, leading to some “tough decisions”, if people continued to circumvent lockdown rules. As of wednesday evening, the national tally stood at 4,196, Punjab accounting for more than half of the cases with 2,108 cases. Sindh has 1,036 cases, whereas khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh have 527 and 212 cases, respectively. Azad kashmir and gilgit-baltistan have a total of 230 cases, while Islamabad has 83 reported infections so far. the total number of recovered patients is 467, while 60 have died since the outbreak. Speaking to reporters, the PM hinted at an extended lockdown, saying the government will have to take tough decisions if the situation turned worse. he said the coronavirus is not going to go away any time soon. “this is not something that will go away in two or three weeks, this will go on for some time.” the premier said that the country does not have the resources to deal with the pandemic on a large scale and the government would need to take “tough decisions”, urging young people to stay home for the sake of their elders. older people are most susceptible to the disease. he said the coronavirus is “very dangerous” for the elderly and sick people. “If this spreads faster, it would burden our healthcare system, we wouldn’t have

IMF to give Pakistan $1.4bn in ‘budgetary support’ next week g

new loAn wIll be In AddItIon to ongoIng thRee-yeAR eFF woRth $6bn NewS DeSk

the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will give Pakistan $1.4 billion next week “to boost its foreign exchange reserves and get some budgetary support in the wake of the economic slowdown due to the coronavirus pandemic”, Arab news reported on wednesday. According to the publication, the government had last month, requested the international lender to consider giving it “a low-cost, fastdisbursing loan under the fund’s Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) to deal with the adverse economic impact of CovId-19”. “we have been working with the Pakistani authorities since the request was placed … this $1.4 billion disbursement is scheduled to happen next week,” teresa daban Sanchez, the IMF Resident Representative in Pakistan, told Arab news.

the global body’s Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) provides a boost in finances to IMF member countries in need of urgent balance of payments. the financial assistance is made without a full-fledged programme and given under circumstances such as commodity price shocks, natural disasters, conflict and post-conflict situations. Sanchez said that the IMF is working with the finance ministry to ensure that Pakistan has enough financial resources “to navigate through this difficult time”. the new loan would be in addition to the ongoing three-year extended Fund Facility (eFF) worth $6 billion which Pakistan entered into last July. “Pakistani authorities remain committed to the policies and reforms outlined under the eFF-supported program,” the IMF resident representative said.

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more inside enough ventilators for people with respiratory diseases,” he said. CASH DISBURSEMENT: he announced that the government’s rescue package for the poor class, i.e. lump sum of Rs12,000 for three months, will be distributed among 12 million families across the country from thursday in order to provide relief to society’s weakest section. Imran said that the money will be provided purely on merit to the deserving families under the ehsaas emergency Cash Programme, adding that around 17,000 points have been set up across the country for the cash distribution. he maintained that the process of awarding cash worth Rs144bn to the families will be completed within the next three weeks. the prime minister said that when news of the coronavirus outbreak first surfaced, it was Pakistan’s aim to procure

enough medical equipment at the outset that the hospitals are not overwhelmed. the PM said he was “so disappointed” by the police violence against protesting doctors in balochistan. he said the frontline healthcare workers are doing jihad against the coronavirus and that they need personal protective equipment and ventilators. ‘BRINGING OVERSEAS PAKISTANIS BACK’: Speaking about Pakistani people stranded overseas, Minister for Planning Asad umar said many Pakistanis abroad who had gone with a visa or those who have lost their jobs wish to come back.

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Railways minister says lockdown likely to be extended STORY ON PAGE 03

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Private schools in Punjab, Sindh, ICT refuse to give 20pc fee discount STORY ON PAGE 02

Pakistan boycotts SAARC meeting led by India STORY ON BACK PAGE

Sanders drops 2020 bid, leaving Biden as likely nominee STORY ON PAGE 10

Retailers seek liquidity support to avert virus lockdown STORY ON PAGE 05

Thursday, 9 April, 2020

NEWS

private schools in punjab, sindh, ict refuse to give 20pc fee discount PUNJAB GOVT GIVES ONE-WEEK ULTIMATUM TO SCHOOLS, SINDH GOVT SAYS READY TO FACE COURTS

SAY THEY WILL CHALLENGE GOVTS’ DIRECTIVES FOR MANDATORY FEE REDUCTION IN COURTS

LAHore/KArACHI STAFF REPORT

RIvaTE schools in Punjab, Sindh and those governed by the Islamabad Capital territory on Wednesday announced they would challenge the directives for mandatory 20 per cent concession in tuition fee for april and May in wake of the coronavirus pandemic, saying they were already suffering losses due to closure of the educational institutes till May 31. “We will petition the court against the orders asking schools to reduce tuition fees by 20 per cent,” said Kashif Mirza, the chief of the all Pakistan Private Schools association. The announcements came after the two provincial governments and PIERa ordered private schools to ensure reduction in fee and provide job security to the teaching and nonteaching staff. PUNJAB GIVES ONE-WEEK ULTIMATUM: In Punjab, Minister for School

Education Murad Raas announced on Wednesday that the provincial government was giving a one-week ultimatum to private schools to give concession for the months of april and May 2020 and issue revised challan forms to students. Raas said that he had held a meeting with the private school owners “five or six days ago” wherein they “flat out” refused to give concession. “However, today, we are giving them one-week time [to follow the government’s directives and] to issue revised fee challans,” he said, adding that in case of non-compliance, concerned parents can lodge a complaint with the School Education Department on a helpline which will be announced soon both on the social media and mainstream media. “I’m asking parents not to submit fee unless you get your new challan forms,” he said, adding: “This should not be a big deal [for schools] […] we are only asking for a two-month relief.”

govt mulls ‘tough ContInUteD forM pAge 01 The government wanted to bring these people back in a week, he said, adding that in the first week, flights only came to Islamabad as the government had decided that “after the first day, it will review the situation”. “It was good we had decided that as there were a few troubles that arose after the first flight which we have now fine-tuned,” said the minister. Umar said that the matter came under discussion in the National Coordination Committee held earlier in the day. “We agreed that the other airports have to be included in this,” he said, referring to airports in other provinces. “a system is being made so that they can come back without spreading the potential infection. He said by next week, operations will begin at airports in other provinces. ‘NDMA PROVIDING EQUIPMENT’: National Disaster Management authority (NDMa) chief Lt Gen Muhammad afzal told reporters that in the initial days, demand for equipment had only come from three areas, including the capital territory. “Then we ourselves sent equipment to other areas, especially to doctors working in the ICUs,” he said. He said for Punjab, it was found 6,000 people needed equipment but equipment for 18,000 was provided. Furthermore, 20,000 more items are ready and will be distributed to doctors by name across 56 hospitals in the days to come, he added. “There was also no written demand from Sindh. We calculated the number of doctors and nurses and arrived at a figure of 9,000. We sent them equipment for 15,000.” He said 42 hospitals are still on the agenda and will receive equipment soon. Gen afzal said demand from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had come for the first time yesterday [Tueday] and they have asked for 940,000 PPEs. “We had already sent them 10,900 PPEs,” he said, adding that over the next three days, more will be sent through the army and civil administration. The NDMa chairman said, similarly, there was no written demand from Balochistan but with a calculated figure of 2,000, extra equipment of up to 8,000 items was provided to the province. a demand of 15,000 items had come from Gilgit-Baltistan and we gave them 24,000 articles and 4,000 more will be given “under a fresh plan”. He said that three to four hospitals in Islamabad had demanded 18,000 items and so far 8,000 items had been provided. a plan is in place for another 6,000 to be distributed over the next three days. Gen afzal said that from azad Jammu Kashmir a demand of 10,000 items had come and 13,000 items had already been sent, whereas another 2,000 will be sent in the coming days. He also said that despite an international shortage of ventilators, “with cooperation from provincial and federal governments, the benchmarks set will be met”. Speaking of the country’s testing capacity, he said that on March 13, there were only 14 laboratories that could carry out about 2,000 to 2,250 tests a day. “Today we have 22 laboratories. For 12 laboratories, the equipment has been sent to provinces already.”

Though some private school systems in Punjab agreed to reduce their fee bills for april, they hinted at moving the court against the government’s order. a circular issued by Beaconhouse School System to parents stated that the fee bill for the month of april was being issued with a 20 per cent reduction however “the school reserves the right to contest the reduced amount in accordance with the provisions of the law”. SINDH GOVT SAYS READY TO FACE COURT: Meanwhile, all Sindh Private Schools association representative Haider ali said that the association would challenge in court the Sindh government’s directive on fee reduction for two months. Commenting on the order, ali said that private schools in the province were already charging a reduced rate. “Private schools in Sindh teach approximately 3.3 million students. They are already charging a reduced fee, they cannot reduce it more,”

he said. “We will challenge the government order that stipulates schools offer a 20% reduction in fees,” he said. Sindh Minister for Education and Labour Saeed Ghani said that he is ready to meet and listen to them. “If they want to challenge this in a court of law, they have the right to do so. Government will defend itself,” said Ghani. ICT SCHOOLS DEMAND WITHDRAWAL OF ORDER: Private schools in Islamabad also refused to comply with the government’s decision, saying they will move court against the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory authority (PEIRa). Reacting to the notification, Central President of the Private Schools association Chaudhary Ubaid said PEIRa should take this decision back in the light of the earlier Supreme Court orders. Ch. Ubaid further stated that teachers’ salaries were fixed, adding that 90 percent of private schools had rented buildings.

LHC terms Geo chief’s bail pleas ‘premature, meritless’ JUDGEMENT SAYS REMAND SATISFIES ‘JUDICIAL REQUIREMENTS’, NAB CAN PROBE DECADES-OLD CASE AS NAO HAS RETROACTIVE EFFECTS LAHore APP

a day after dismissing the bail pleas of Jang Group Editor-in-Chief Mir Shakilur Rahman, the Lahore High Court (LHC) in a detailed judgement termed the petitions seeking post-arrest bail “meritless and premature”. In its 13-page verdict, the division bench headed by Justice Sardar ahmad Naeem held that a perusal of the call-up notice and grounds of arrest reflected that inquiry was being conducted and examination and production of documents were necessary for the purpose. The call-up notice could not be declared illegal, as neither did the petitioners challenge the contents of the notice nor did they point out any ambiguity in it. The bench noted that the accountability court granted the physical remand as per law after satisfying all judicial requirements. The court also rejected the argument that it was a private transaction between parties and the bureau did not have the powers to investigate the same. “The argument has no force, as a transaction between the parties is not the dispute rather exemption of 54 plots along with two streets is the subject matter of the inquiry,” it added. The bench also observed that the question of misinterpretation of exemption policy did not arise as it had been alleged that the petitioner, in connivance with holders of concerned public office, obtained a valuable property in violation of exemption policy, which prima facie, attracts offence under Section 9(a) of the National accountability Ordinance, 1999. Furthermore, the available record suggests that

interior ministry extends foreigners’ visas till april 30 ISLAMABAD APP

The Ministry of Interior on Wednesday announced that all types of visas for foreign nationals staying in Pakistan were being extended till april 30 to facilitate them in the wake of coronavirus pandemic. “The competent authority has been pleased to approve that validity of all types of visas issued to foreign nationals who are currently in Pakistan, that have expired since March 15, 2020 and are due to expire by april, 30 shall be deemed to be valid till april, 30,” a notification issued by the ministry read. The decision has been taken in the best interest of the foreign nationals and the information in this regard will also be available at National Database and Registration authority’s (NaDRa) website.

chinese companies donate rs5m to pm’s relief fund ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

China has announced financial, medical and technical support for Pakistan in the country’s fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Heads of Chinese companies called on Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday and announced the donation of five million rupees to Prime Minister’s COvID-19 Relief Fund. They also donated medical supplies worth Rs3 million which include 30,000 face masks, 100 N-95 masks and 300 protection suits to National Disaster Management authority (NDMa). China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) General Manager Li Kan apprised the prime minister about application of latest and environment-friendly technology for enhancing cotton production in China. Zonergy Company Limited President Richard J Guo evinced interest regarding investment in the renewable energy sector of Pakistan, particularly the manufacturing of solar panels. PM Imran appreciated their interest in investing in Pakistan. He also appreciated the generous gesture shown by the Chinese companies towards Pakistan’s fight against COvID-19.

tareen given political importance because of closeness to pm, says Zulfi

the exemption policy was stretched in favour of the petitioner, it added. The bench held that although it was a 34-year old matter, the bureau had the powers to investigate the same as the ordinance had retroactive effects. The bench further observed that the matter was not regarding a business or business transaction, rejecting petitioners’ counsel stance that the bureau violated its own business policy in this regard.

Special assistant to the PM on Overseas Pakistanis Sayed Zulfi Bukhari on Wednesday said that the Federal Investigation agency’s report on the sugar and wheat crisis has made it clear that those who don’t follow Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision, can’t stay close to him. “I don’t think this will have zero effect. One is only given importance when they have the support of their leader and if Jahangir Tareen sb has political importance it is because he is close to the PM,” Bukhari said in a Tv interview. a 32page report, prepared by FIa DG Wajid Zia, said that PTI leader Jahangir Tareen, Federal Minister Khusro Bakhtiar and PML-Q’s Moonis Elahi were the biggest beneficiaries of the sugar crisis in the country. Similarly, a report on the wheat crisis identified the lack of planning by provincial governments as the main reason behind the wheat crisis. It held Chaudhry, former food secretary Naseem Sadiq and former food director Zafar Iqbal responsible for not meeting the target of wheat purchase and taking timely measures to avert the crisis in Punjab.NEWS DESK

10,000 Pakistanis unemployed in UAE after coronavirus outbreak DUBAI

AGENCIES

aKISTaNI consul general in Dubai on Wednesday said that around 10,000 Pakistanis have lost their jobs in the United arab Emirates (UaE) due to the coronavirus outbreak, which has brought the world economy to a standstill. around 35,000 Pakistanis have registered with the consulate in Dubai in a bid to return to their homeland, Consul General ahmed amjad ali said. The official said that preparations are underway to bring back the stranded Pakistanis.

“Tourists, unemployed and the elderly will be given preference,” he said describing the criteria for the evacuation. ali said that screening measures have been completed for the tourists at the Dubai airport. He added that bringing Pakistanis back in such large numbers is a huge challenge for them. Meanwhile, Dubai authorities have stated that they are ready to operate flights for the Pakistanis and waiting for permission in this regard. Dubai’s Gulf News newspaper earlier reported that hundreds of Pakistanis gathered outside the consulate on Sunday for the regis-

tration, despite the emirate-wide lockdown. It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan is a big labour supplier to the UaE, with more than a million Pakistanis living and working in the country, according to Pakistani diplomats. Since March, Dubai has been under lockdown as the UaE ramped up measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus. In March, Special assistant to the Prime Minister on National Security Division Moeed Yusuf had assured the nation that the government was in touch with the authorities of those countries where Pakistani passengers are stuck in transit.

Qureshi discusses coronavirus pandemic with singaporean, malaysian counterparts ISLAMABAD APP

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Wednesday held telephonic conversations with his Singaporean and Malaysian counterparts and exchanged views on the efforts against the coronavirus pandemic. FM Qureshi informed his Malaysian counterpart Malaysian FM Hishammuddin Hussein about Prime Minister Imran Khan’s call for restructuring of loans of developing countries to enable them effectively deal with the pandemic. Welcoming PM Imran’s call for restructuring of loans, the Malaysian

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FM indicated that he would raise the matter with G20 countries. Qureshi also informed him of the condition in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) where unarmed Kashmiris have been facing the worst curfew for eight months. “While the world is dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, India is bent upon changing the demography of occupied Kashmir by amending rules and regulations regarding domicile, which is violation of not only international laws but also against the United Nations (UN) resolutions,” he added. The two foreign ministers also exchanged views regarding spread of coronavirus pandemic and the efforts being made to contain it.

Thursday, 9 April, 2020

PRIvate HoSPItalS oPeRatIng duRIng loCkdown, govt tellS CJP ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

HILE giving an update on COVID-19 preventive measures to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed on Wednesday, the government functionaries apprised that emergencies in all hospitals are in operation round the clock whereas private hospitals have not been restricted from operating during lockdown as they can operate after fulfilling health protocols as suggested by the World Health Organisation (WHO). During a meeting CJP Gulzar raised issues regarding closure of OPDs, testing capacity of coronavirus, safety of doctors, paramedical staff, vision of quarantine and steps taken so far by the government functionaries. Advisor to Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza briefed the participants about the current statistics and response of the government at federal and provincial levels and WHO protocols. He said that emergencies in all hospitals are open round the clock and private hospitals have not been restricted from operating during the lockdown because they can operate after fulfilling health protocols as suggested by the WHO. Talking about passengers coming from other countries, he said that all the passengers are being quarantined as per WHO protocols whereas health staff is being trained on daily basis to enhance their capabilities. Advisor to Prime Minister on Poverty Alleviation and Special Initiatives Programme Dr Sania Nishtar told

RaIlwayS MInISteR SayS loCkdown lIkely to be extended LAHore STAFF REPORT

As the number of coronavirus cases continued to surge in the country on Wednesday, Federal Minister Sheikh Rasheed hinted that the countrywide lockdown imposed since last month will be extended on account of a massive hike in the infections. In a press conference, Sheikh Rasheed said that nationwide lockdown is unlikely to end on April 14, also confirming a maiden case at a Railways workshop in Mughalpura, Lahore. He said that the workshop, that has over 10,000 people in staff, has been closed till April 12. The minister said that workers over the age of 50 can go on leave after submitting an application to their supervisor. He said that coolies can get Rs12,000 by sending an SMS to 8171.

the meeting that due to outbreak of the deadly virus, economic activities have been halted and people have been rendered jobless. She added that the government has taken an initiative to help as many as 12 million families under Ehsas Programme through which one-time payment of Rs12,000 per family is being disbursed to the poor, deserving and jobless people earmarked through the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) software and available record of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). She added that the amount will be disbursed after biometric verification and health protocols and preventive measures to control outbreak of COVID-19 at the places of disbursement will also be taken care of. NDMA Chairman Lieutenant General Muhammad Afzal briefed the meeting about the procurement, availability of protective gear, ventilators, masks and other essential items, process of disbursement to all hospitals marked for preventing COVID-19 with the help of armed personnel. He also informed the attendees that more laboratories are being made to enhance testing capacity. Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel, Justice Sajjad Ali Shah and Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin Ahmed, Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Khalid Jawed Khan, Secretary Health Dr Tanvir Ahmed Qureshi, Poverty Elevation and Social Safety Division Secretary Ali Raza Bhutta. BISP Secretary Yousaf Khan, Islamabad Deputy Commissioner (DC) Hamza Shafqat, Supreme Court (SC) Registrar Khawaja Daud Ahmad and DG health also attended the meeting.

Pakistan’s borders Six global rights outfits urge India to release detained Kashmiris Some of the families, often too leading global human rights bodies against torture and ill-treatment of to remain closed for Six have jointly called upon the Indian gov- people in custody, including access to poor to afford to travel, have been left ernment to release all the unjustly de- lawyers and medical examinations, with nothing but concerns over the another two weeks tained Kashmiris of the Indian occupied were maintained during the COVID- physical and psychological wellbeing ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Pakistan has decided to extend closure of borders for two more week due to the coronavirus pandemic, however, Chaman-Torkham border will remain open until Thursday over Afghanistan’s request. The decision was taken in the latest session of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday to review measures for curbing the spread of COVID19. In a statement, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Security Division Moeed Yusuf said that although it was previously decided that the borders would remain closed till April 11, the closure has been extended for two more weeks. “ChamanTorkham border will remain opened until Thursday Afghanistan’s over. Moreover, Pakistan has granted permission to stranded Afghan citizens to move to Afghanistan on humanitarian grounds. The federal government has also allowed sending specific food items to Afghanistan as well,” said Yusuf. “It is our national responsibility to bring back Pakistanis. However, flight operation will remain shut till April 11 and stranded Pakistanis will be brought home through special flights,” he added. Separately, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui said that Pakistan has decided to allow movement of cargo trucks and containers to cross-over into Afghanistan thrice a week starting from April 10 on the neighbouring country’s request. She said that the decision was taken following consultations and coordination between the two countries as per agreed upon protocols. “Responding to Afghanistan government’s special request, and based on humanitarian considerations, it has been decided to facilitate the movement of cargo trucks and containers to cross-over into Afghanistan through Torkham and Chaman border crossing points thrice a week (on Monday, Wednesday and Friday) from 10 April 2020 onwards,” she added. The FO spokeperson further said that Pakistan remains in abiding solidarity with the people of Afghanistan, particularly at this time of global pandemic.

valley on priority besides ensuring protection of their basic human rights to health, liberty, freedom of movement and protection from illegal torture. The demands were made by Amnesty International India, Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) in a joint statement issued simultaneously from Geneva, Paris, and New Delhi the other day. Reminding the Indian authorities about their international rights obligations, these rights groups demanded immediate release of all arbitrarily detained prisoners in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJK), including journalists, human rights defenders, political leaders and others detained simply for expressing critical or dissenting views, and all those arrested after August 5, last year. It was also demanded of the Indian government to ensure that safeguards

19 emergency and restore full access to high-speed internet in IOJK.The statement said the fate of hundreds of arbitrarily detained Kashmiri prisoners hung in the balance as the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in India passed the 4,000 mark and many more were likely to remain undetected or unreported. Last month, the Indian home ministry revealed that 7,357 persons had been arrested in IOJK since August 5, 2019. Hundreds of these were detained under sections 107 and 151 of the Criminal Procedure Code, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and the Public Security Act (PSA), a controversial Indian law which allowed the administrative detention of any individual for up to two years without charge or trial. Reportedly, many of those still detained were minors, it added. The statement said, “Many of those detained were transferred to prisons all across India, thousands of kilometres away from their homes, hampering their lawyers’ and relatives’ ability to visit them.

of their loved ones.” The statement – while referring to the Indian home ministry’s recent announcement over the release of prisoners – said, “There is a concern that hundreds of Kashmiri youth, journalists, political leaders, human rights defenders and others arbitrarily arrested in the course of 2019, including following the repeal of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution on August 5, 2019, will not be among those benefiting from the measure. Article 370 provided special status to Jammu and Kashmir. “The human rights groups and UN experts had repeatedly called for the release as a matter of priority for those detained without sufficient legal basis, including political prisoners. Under international law, India had an obligation to ensure the physical and mental health and wellbeing of inmates. However, with an occupancy rate of over 117%, precarious hygienic conditions and inadequate health services, the overcrowded Indian prisons constituted the perfect environment for the spread of coronavirus,” it added. NEWS DESK

Shehbaz urges govt to announce agriculture policy LAHore STAFF REPORT

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif has urged the government to immediately announce agricultural policy ahead of wheat harvesting season in the wake of COVID-19 threat. “In the agricultural policy, the government must protect the interests of small farmers while taking into account the measures to save the people from coronavirus,” Shehbaz said. The opposition leader in the National Assembly also urged the party to prepare recommendations with regard to wheat harvest, the supply of wheat from farm to market and government’s wheat support price to help the farmers in the coming days of the wheat harvesting season. “The PML-N has prepared its recommendations in consultation with medical experts, economists, businessmen and traders,” Shehbaz said, adding the party was hold-

ing consultations with party leaders, agriculturists and farming community to prepare recommendations for government to implement its policy in the best interest of farmers and country’s economy. Shehbaz added the PML-N had always given top priority to agriculture and farmers’ community. During PMLN’s tenure, Shehbaz said the government, under the leadership of the then prime minister Nawaz Sharif, announced the historic Kissan Package. Under this package, he said, the government provided electricity at low tariff, fertilizers at half prices and concession on diesel-run tubewells. In Punjab, he said the government had provided interest-free loans to small landholders, which helped double the production of crops in the province. “The government not just made it easier for farmers to obtain loans but also waived the fee charges on the acquisition of these loans, which boosted the agricultural economy in the province,” he added.

NEWS

SHC releases journalist in ‘anti-state’ case KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has acquitted journalist Nasrullah Chaudhry in a case pertaining to possession of banned literature and spreading hatred against the state, ordering his release from jail. An anti-terrorism court had sentenced Chaudhry to five years in jail in December under Section 11-W(i) (printing, publishing or disseminating any material to incite hatred or giving projection to any person convicted for a terrorist act or any proscribed organisation or an organisation placed under observation or anyone concerned in terrorism) of the Anti-Terrorism Act. The lawyer argued that the journalist was taken into custody three days before his arrest was actually declared. He also said the FIR was illegal. According to his appeal, CTD kept him in illegal custody and then registered a false case against him to threaten journalists. Chaudhry’s lawyer also argued that the prosecution was unable to prove its case. They never presented any evidence of his possessing banned literature during the hearing, he said. STAFF REPORT

IMF to give Pakistan $1.4bn in ‘budgetary support’ next week ContInueD froM pAge 01 According to Arab News: “The IMF has deferred approval of the second review of the $6 billion bailout programme which was supposed to pave the way for a disbursement of $450m this month.” “The EFF is still there. We’re working on that. But now the priority is to work on the rapid financing instrument and that’s why everybody is working on that,” Sanchez explained. Last month, Prime Minister Imran Khan had announced a Rs1.2-trillion economic relief package as the number of confirmed cases sharply rose in the country. The package was subsequently accorded approval by the cabinet on March 31. Additionally, the World Bank has approved a $1 billion loan and the Asian Development Bank has approved $1.5 billion in aid for Pakistan.

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Thursday, 9 April, 2020

WEATHER UPDATES THURSDAY

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OPDs tO be ReOPeneD in islamabaD, KP On sC ORDeRs ISLAMABAD

PRAyER TimingS FAJR SUNRISE

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KP govt appeals for temporary healthcare professionals to handle COViD-19 emergency PESHAWAR APP

STAFF REPORT

N light of the Supreme Court's (SC) orders, the government on Wednesday decided to resume normal services at hospitals and open dispensaries in the federal capital. Outdoor patient departments (OPD) and other services at hospitals, including the Polyclinic, would be opened gradually. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has also done the same in view of the apex court’s directives about reopening OPDs at all hospitals due to problems faced by the people. However, concerned officials said that social distancing must be ensured at the health facilities. Earlier this week, Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed, while hearing a petition against the high courts’ orders to release the prisoners, had observed that all the hospitals and clinics should remain functional. Criticising the decision to shut hospitals, OPDs and dispensaries in Islamabad for other patients in order to focus on those infected by coronavirus, the chief justice said that nothing had been done practically while politicians continue to play meeting, meeting. “Protecting the right of people is our responsibility. What kind of medical emergency has been imposed when even the private hospitals and clinics are shut," he remarked. Meanwhile, treatment services at teaching hospitals in Punjab are also facing a severe crisis due to the negligence of the Specialised Healthcare Department (SHD)

which shut normal operations amid the coronavirus pandemic. According to a local media outlet, hepatitis, tuberculosis (TB) and diabetes clinics, as well as dental clinics, have also been closed and many patients are suffering without medication and professional help.

Moreover, vaccination of children has also come to a halt after the closure of immunisation centres. Similarly, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) centres are also among the services closed, leaving AIDS patients at the mercy of their circumstances.

Delivery of Rs12,000 to deserving families to begin in KP from today

APP

PESHAWAR: People walk through a disinfecting gate as a preventive measure against the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID- 19), outside Town Office on Wednesday. PPI

ICCI urges govt to announce bailout package for SMEs ISLAMABAD APP

The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) Wednesday urged the government to announce a bailout package for the coronavirus-hit small medium enterprises (SMEs) at the earliest. ICCI President Muhammad Ahmed Waheed, in a statement, said due to the COVID-19, business and industrial firms had been closed for the last one month due to which they were were on the verge of bankruptcy.

They were looking towards the government for relief measures so that they could cope with critical situation. He said due to closure of industries, workers were also without work, whose day to day food needs were being met by industrialists. He said the due date of commercial and industrial utility bills was also approaching and the SMEs might default if the lockdown continued for long. ICCI President said in the wake coronavirus pandemic, many countries had come out with relief packages for the SMEs, and Pakistan

should also follow suit. He said the SMEs were the backbone of national economy and the government should announce a bailout package for them on priority to ease out their problems. He said the State bank of Pakistan had increased the regulatory limit on extension of credit for the SMEs that was a good step. Likewise, the mark-up rate of bank on loans should also be brought down to below 5 percent so that the SMEs could avail the credit facilities for reviving their business activities.

Timely preventive measures contained spread of COVID-19 in AJK: Masood Khan ISLAMABAD APP

Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Masood Khan has said that timely preventive measures adopted by the state government had contained the spread of Covid-19 pandemic in the AJK. However, he said our brethren on the other side of the Line of Control were facing two plagues i.e. Indian imperialism and Covid-19 at the same time, and they were valiantly resisting the both. In an interview with a Pakistani English-language magazine, he said that the latest situation unfolding in occupied Kashmir was a matter of grave concern for us. He said that in mid-March last, the AJK Government swiftly responded to

akram Durrani's bail extended till may 12 ISLAMABAD

PESHAWAR Advisor to the Chief Minister on Information, Ajmal Wazir Wednesday said the government would start delivery of Rs12,000 to around 2.2 million deserving families in KP from Thursday through a transparent online system under Federal Government Ehsas Cash Programme. Briefing media here Ajmal Wazir said 3500 centres have been established for this purpose. Under Ehsaas program, he said Rs12,000 one time per family would be given, which could be collected from these centres from 1pm on Thursday (April 9). In addition to it, Wazir said 6000 rupees will be given to each deserving family from provincial government relief package in the 2nd phase, thus a total of Rs18,000 would be provided to each deserving family. The Adviser said Chief Minister KP Mahmood Khan was closely mointoring the coronavirous situation on ground and visited Mardan district on April 7 to analyze the whole situation by himself. "The next two weeks are very crucial in terms of Coronavirus situation," he said and sought cooperation of all segments of the society to follow Govt guidelines to prevent its further spread. Wazir urged masses to adopt all precautionary measures by adopting social distancing and stay homes imperative to win war against Coronavirus. He said implementation of SOPs issued by the Government from time to time was necessary to prevent spread of Coronavirus. The Adviser said protection of peoples' lives was the first most priority of the Government and we would take all necessary steps in this direction. The Adviser highly appreciated the services of doctors and paramedic staff across the province combating the corona virus as frontline workers. Ajmal Wazir said the coming generation will always remember these heroes who are safeguarding the corona affected humanities with national spirit. He highly praised army, police, districts administration, health departments and others relevant oragnizations for their extended help and assistance.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has appealed to healthcare professionals across Pakistan to enlist in a team fighting COVID-19 in the province. “Specialists, general cadre, nurses, psychologists, pharmacists, paramedics, and technicians from across KP and Pakistan can apply to our LOCUM program to help us fight against the coronavirus on http://locum.kp.gov.pk,” tweeted Health Minister Taimur Jhagra on Wednesday. Locum tenens is a Latin phrase that means to hold the place of or to substitute for. A notification by the KP director-general of health services elaborates the conditions and who can join. “For a short-term and/or urgent need based assignments the relevant registered medical staff will be engaged strictly for the duration of the need for assignment.” They will be required to work eight hours per day for maximum 15 days at a time. The staff will be paid daily rates set by the KP government and there is no age limit to apply. Specialists such as pulmonologists, infectious disease specialists, intensive care specialists, psychiatrists and radiologists can enlist. General cadre doctors include those who have an MBBS or equivalent degree, such as MD, and experience in emergency and intensive care. Healthcare professionals who are abroad but wish to offer their services can also apply.

the Coronavirus pandemic and took measures to establish quarantine centers and check posts at the entry-exit points, and identified medical centers and hospitals for treatment of suspected patients. “District Health Response Teams in all ten districts, called Rapid Response Team (RRTs), headed by District Health Officers, were set up which also comprised representatives of the Revenue Department, Expanded Programme of Immunisation (EPI) and NGOs, he added. Masood said that after the enforcement of lockdown, the armed forces and the law-enforcement agencies had adopted effective measures to prevent the people from assembling in streets, roads and other public places, and also ensured that there was no shortage of food items

and medicines in the state. He appreciated ulema for extending full cooperation to the government in ensuring minimum gatherings in mosques and precautionary measures in funeral prayers and other religious rituals. He also lauded National Disaster Management Authority for cooperation with the state government. President Khan said that after establishing isolated wards for Covid-19 patients in all district hospitals, the health department took steps to send samples of patients to National Institute of Health Islamabad, and also upgraded Virology Department of Abbas Institute of Medical Sciences, Muzaffarabad to conduct Covid-19 tests on the local level. The Officers Club of Muzaffarabad

had been turned into a 50-bed Covid-19 hospital equipped with modern medical facilities, which was being co-managed by AIMS and CMH Muzaffarabad, he said and added that facilities for Covid19 tests had also been provided in three administrative divisions of Muzaffarabad, Poonch and Mirpur. Sardar Masood Khan particularly hailed the armed forces, philanthropists and social organizations for providing relief to the affected people, and said that the government was also trying to assess the economic losses caused by lockdown. According to the data, the situation in Azad Kashmir with a total of 29 coronavirus patients was far better than other parts of Pakistan, but the pandemic was growing with every passing day.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Wednesday extended the interim bail of former federal minister Akram Khan Durrani till May 12, in inquiries initiated by National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The bench also sought report from new investigation officer of cases against Durrani till next date of hearing. A division bench headed by Chief Justice Athar Minallah and comprising Justice Aamer Farooq conducted hearing on bail petition of Akram Khan Durrani, a stalwart of Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUIF). The bench dissolved after Justice Farooq expressed excused from hearing this case. At the outset of hearing on this day, Additional Prosecutor General Jahanzeb Bharwana apprised the bench that chairman NAB had withdrawn the arrest warrants against Durrani and prayed the court to dispose of the bail petition. He said that the case inquiry officer had also been changed and now a senior officer had been given the task. The chief justice remarked that the court would go into the depth of this matter. He said that the court had been dragged into the matter unnecessarily. The court said that let the new inquiry officer submit its report after completion of his work. Meanwhile, the divisional bench dissolved after Justice Farooq disassociated himself from it.

aJK Pm urges ulema to appeal to masses to offer daily, Friday prayers at home ISLAMABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan Wednesday urged ulema to appeal masses to offer their daily as well as Friday prayers at home during the coronavirus pandemic. Talking to a delegation of ulema belonging to different schools of thoughts, he said ulema should also educate the masses about the precautionary measures against the pandemic. Raja Farooq Haider appreciated the unity demonstrated by ullema in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak and requested them to continue extending their much needed cooperation in that regard. He said the government would not issue any directive which contradicts with the teachings of Islam. However, following the sunnah, every possible strategy would be adopted to get rid of this calamity, he added.APP

Thursday, 9 April, 2020

RetaIleRs seek lIquIDIty suPPORt tO aVeRt VIRus lOCkDOwn LAHORE

SHAHAB OMAR

HE official trade body of Pakistan’s retail sector has appealed the federal government extend liquidity support amid the coronavirus pandemic crisis that is hitting the country’s economy hard. In a letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan and his economic ministers, the Chainstore Association of Pakistan (CAP) has listed four demands, which it says if not met could lead to serious repercussions on the economy in coming months. Contributing 33 per cent to the services sector and more than 16pc to the employment in the country, the retail sector is also the highest contributor of skill development and value addition in the economy, the letter states. CAP in the letter has asked the government to provide direct wage support to

Chinese, Pakistani armies hold video conference to discuss virus prevention ISLAMABAD: Officials from the Chinese and Pakistan Army held a video conference on Wednesday and shared experience in the prevention and control of pneumonia caused by the coronavirus, Radio Pakistan reported. According to the Chinese Ministry of Defence, around 20 health officials and experts of the two militaries attended the conference from Rawalpindi, Beijing and Wuhan City. During the conference, the Chinese officials shared the overall situation and experience of their army’s epidemic prevention and control work, virus detection technology methods and diagnosis and treatment plans. The two sides also focused on the exchange of emergency command coordination, epidemic prevention and control, monitoring and detection, clinical treatment and other related issues. Pakistani officials thanked China for sharing the coronavirus prevention and treatment experience. APP

600,000 employees of the organised retail sector, arguing that it would be their first priority to retain their skilled workforce. “We are wondering that how long the retail sector could provide salaries to a huge number of employees during the lockdown, so we need immediate financial support from the government to avoid lay-offs.” Retailers also asked for reduction in the GST rate up to 6pc arguing that businesses would no longer be viable at 14pc-17pc of GST rate with reduced purchasing power in the country. On the working capital crisis, they demand all principal payments to be deferred for one-year and interest payments waived for one-year. The association also proposed the government new low cost/interest free loans against the current assets only to retail sector (especially those companies that do not have existing loans) with the State Bank of Pakistan ensuring disbursement of new loans within 30 days.

CAP also demanded the government a direct wages support (partial if not full) to retain employees in their bank accounts/mobile accounts for three months. Over 50 sectors are allied with the retail sector including spinning, weaving, tanning, dyeing, processing, stitching, assembling and packaging businesses. The commercial construction industry also relies heavily on the retail sector. Many service providers involved in transportation, logistics, HR, IT, chartered accountants, and advertising are closely linked to this sector. Altaf Hashwani, who is partner at Sana Safinaz, told Pakistan Today that retail businesses need support and concessions in order to save employment across the local economy. “Our teams are an integral part of our business and we want to retain our workforce, but without immediate support, an industry that has lost weeks of revenues will be unable to sustain for much longer,” he feared.

136 Pakistanis stranded in Iraq return home ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

A special flight of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Wednesday brought back 136 Pakistanis stranded in Iraq. Flight PK-9814 reached Islamabad in the morning, where a team of doctors examined and screened the passengers. Upon their arrival, the passengers and the crew were quarantined at a local hotel whereas one passenger was shifted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) due to high fever.

According to the authorities, blood samples of the passengers and crew will be taken at the hotel and only those who test negative for coronavirus will be allowed to go home. Yesterday, PIA pilots had refused to fly until the provision of PPEs. The refusal followed an earlier incident wherein two pilots and an air hostess, aboard an aircraft returning from Canada, tested positive. PK-9813, travelling from Islamabad to Baghdad, was to fly back 161 Pakistanis who gathered at the Baghdad air-

Jazz, a VEON group company, has pledged Rs1.2 billion support towards Covid19 relief. The support will include short to mid-term initiatives aimed to limit the negative impact of the pandemic, primarily for the most vulnerable communities. As part of this immediate rollout, Jazz will provide support to leading welfare organisations across Pakistan. The initiatives include Covid19 tests, lifesaving ventilators, and food rations to be passed on to the ones most affected by the calamity. The relief response also facilitates Jazz customers to direct their charitable donations via SMS and JazzCash. Jazz employees will also be voluntarily contributing up to 3-days salary to the nationwide relief effort. A significant part of the announced support will be for continuing zero-rated and subsidised services for access to emergency care, medical helplines, and critical health applications, which have been either markeddown or made free for customers under this coronavirus relief effort. Added support will come in through subsidised voice and data bundles and mobile payments. PRESS RELEASE

port from various Iraqi cities. However, the pilots reportedly did not arrive at the airport despite repeated assurances from PIA high-ups regarding the provision of protective gear. The refusal came following an ongoing standoff between the PIA and the Pakistan Air Line Pilots’ Association (Palpa) after the three crewmembers contracted the virus. The association had also protested the non-provision of safety equipment to the carrier’s crew by the PIA. However, later in the day, pilots agreed to resume flight operations after the management of the national flag carrier, during a meeting chaired by the aviation division secretary, accepted their demand to provide crewmembers personal protective equipment (PPE) and follow other standard operating procedures (SOPs) in connection with the coronavirus pandemic.

SBP raises Rs458.8bn from T-bill auction KARACHI MEIRYUM ALI

Jazz pledges Rs1.2bn support towards COVID-19 relief efforts

“It is also critical that we not only make our products as affordable as possible for the end consumers in these pressing times, but also help mobilise the local economy quickly once the shutdown is over. For this, we request that the government reduce sales tax on the organised sector,” Hashwani said, adding without this measure, only the undocumented sector will survive and compliant businesses will suffer further to the point of no return. He sought rent concessions and restructured rental options from landlords in the spirit of a mutually beneficial and long lasting partnership. “These two measures will go a long way in ensuring that retail businesses survive and contribute to the economy.” Asfandyar Farrukh, Managing Director at Hub Leather, claims their retail business was already suffering before the Covid-19 crisis due to the economic slowdown and the burden of additional taxes in the last federal budget. “We had scaled down earlier in order to

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has reported that the government raised Rs458.8 billion through T-bills, against the auction target of Rs500 billion. The SBP conducted the auction for the sale of 3-month, 6-month and 12-month Government of Pakistan Market Treasury Bills (MTBs) and received bids amounting to over Rs1,914 billion. Bids worth Rs466.9 billion were received for 3-month T-bills, Rs586.9 billion for 6-month T-bills, while 12-month government papers fetched bids amounting to Rs860.2 billion. Out of the received bids, the federal government raised Rs156 billion for 3-months, Rs142.9 billion for 6-months and Rs160 billion for 12-months.

The total acceptance in the auction, including non-competitive bids, was Rs546.3 billion. The cut-off yields for all bids decreased, with the cut-off yield for 3-month bids at 10.89pc, down from 11.29pc. The yield for 6-month bids was at 10.3pc, down from 11.29, and 9.64pc for 12-month bids, down from 10.86pc. This is the second T-bill auction to take place on the back of not one, but two policy rate cuts (the first took place on March 25). The central bank cut the policy rate from 13.25pc to 12.5pc on March 17, and then from 12.5pc to 11pc on March 24. Unlike previous auctions of MTBs, the bidding was more concentrated in the long term 12 month papers, as opposed to the trend that defined most of last year and the beginning of this year, of investing in short term 3-month T-bills. The next auction date for T-bills is set for April22, with a target amount of Rs500 billion.

NEWS

sustain ourselves but closing our stores for the past three weeks, for the safety of everyone, has been a massive shock. We are trying very hard to sustain most of our workforce and manage other fixed costs that are associated with a retail business such as rents, utilities and minimum taxes,” he added. In addition, Farrukh said, “They have a large supply base that consists mainly of small enterprises and the cottage industry so we have to take care of them as well because most of them don’t have any financial reserves. There are many local businesses like ours, which had shifted from exporting to serving domestic customers instead.” “We are also a family managed business and work within our own resources instead of borrowing from banks. In such a case, we feel very overlooked when the government announces hundreds of billions in relief primarily for exporters and big businesses that are heavily leveraged.” Farrukh said retailers like them needed support primarily to meet payroll needs and working capital in order to get through the next 2-3 months due to the loss of revenue and cash flow disruption. “There is still hope that the government will announce relevant measures and ensure fast delivery to those who need it. If that doesn’t happen, after having built local brands over the past 19 years, it will be a tragedy to see our business and its workforce fade away,” he noted.

Balochistan govt asks doctors to resume duties after agreeing to resolve issues QUETTA: Balochistan government spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani on Wednesday urged doctors and paramedical staff to resume duties after both parties reached an agreement under which the Young Doctors Association (YDA) had decided to end their protest against the provincial government. While talking to media, Shahwani said that the government had accepted all rightful demands put forward by YDA, which include provision of medical kits to about 90% of the doctors. “We now request doctors to leave police stations and resume their duties,” he added. Earlier on Monday, YDA had announced a boycott of their services in hospitals across Balochistan after Quetta police baton-charged doctors for protesting near the CM House. One-hundred and fifty doctors were arrested for protesting against the lack of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) in hospitals across the province to treat coronavirus patients. The police, in response, said that doctors had been arrested as they were found in violation of Section 144, which bans public gatherings. In this regard, the provincial government also directed the department of health to conduct hiring for 400 vacancies and to regularise the position of doctors appointed on an ad hoc basis. While referring to the remand of health officials for stents purchasing scandal, the provincial spokesperson underscored that government will never compromise on public health. The provincial spokesperson also paid regards to Chief of Army Staff (CAOS) for prioritising Balochistan while extending immediate aid and support to fight the pandemic. STAFF REPORT

Firdous urges Opp to give credit to Imran for ‘indiscriminate accountability’ ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said on Wednesday that instead of politicising the inquiry report on wheat and sugar crises, the opposition should give the credit to Prime Minister Imran Khan for the unprecedented across-the-board accountability process. In a series of tweets, the SAPM said that the opposition was accountable for its own conduct when in power. “Their [respective] tenures are full of [instances of] conflicts of

interest […] as the nation did not forget when son subsidised his father’s [business], uncle gave a subsidy to his nephew and a [sitting] president benefitted Anwar Majeed [Omni Group chief] through subsidy.” She said that former governments held the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) hostage to protect their own business interests through their loyalists. “In those days,” Awan said, “only six families have controlled more than 50 percent of [country’s] sugar production.”

“In the past, selected people were allowed to make money at the cost of the people, but this would never be allowed in Naya Pakistan.” Awan said that Prime Minister Imran has proved through his actions that nobody is above the law, noting that neither the premier nor any of his family members owned any sugar production units. “Prime Minister’s decision to make the report public was the manifestation of his vision that protection of national interests ought to be the priority of the government. APP

Govt urged to allow kinnow exports to Afghanistan as border opens temporarily ISLAMABAD GHULAM ABBAS

While the government has reopened the Pak-Afghan border at Torkham for a few days, horticulture exporters have urged the government to allow Kinnow exports to the neighboring country. In a letter to the Ministry of Interior (MoI), the All Pakistan Fruit & Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (PFVA) has requested the ministry concerned to immediately allow the export of Kinnow to Afghanistan. As the export of the perishable item has been halted after the lockdown in many importing countries, exporters wish to at least send the stranded

consignments to Afghanistan. According to the letter, exporters can send over 800,000 cartons or 8,000 tonnes of Kinnow to Kabul while availing open border. “Keeping in view the sincere efforts of the prime minister to enhance exports of Pakistan to provide adequate financial support to our weak economy, we feel it’s the right time to promptly avail a unique opportunity during the time of the worldwide lockdown by exporting 800,000 cartons of Pakistani Kinnow to Afghanistan while the government has opened Torkham border for a few days on humanitarian ground,” said the letter. “We sincerely anticipate that our genuine and logical request keeping the national interest in view would be a

favorable response,” PFVA said. PFVA head Waheed Ahmed says consignments of Kinnow could be exported to Afghanistan when all countries are allowing import of vegetables and fruits despite the lockdown and restrictions after the coronavirus pandemic. “We must at least continue exporting to Afghanistan and other neighboring countries. Pakistan has opened the border on a request of the Afghan government to allow its nationals stranded at Chaman and Torkham borders. Hundreds of Pakistanis were also stuck in Spin Boldak and the other side of Torkham. Meanwhile, the association has also alerted all concerned ministries through a letter that the shipment of Kinnow worth $2.5 million has been stuck in Singapore as the

Shipping Company- MSC- is not delivering the consignment on the given date. The company is further demanding $250,000 extra to take the fruit to destination of Philippine, which according to exporters is unfair, the letter states. Consignments departed from Karachi in the last week of February were scheduled to reach the Manila North Harbour Port in Philippines within two to three weeks, but they (consignments) have been still laying at the Transshipment Port for the last four to five weeks. As per the letter, exporters fear that since shipments are of fragile nature and this too much delay can compromise the quality of produce, the association requests the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) and others ministries concerned to take notice of the issue and resolve it early.

Thursday, 9 April, 2020

06 COMMENT

Troika of China-India-Pakistan in post pandemic world

Looking for scapegoats Explanations weaken government’s stand

HE two reports by FIA regarding the sugar and wheat crises raise more questions than they answer. Despite this the government’s propaganda machinery wants the whole country to be grateful to the Prime Minister for displaying resolve to punish those responsible for price hikes regardless of their political affiliations. A prominent PTI leader and co-industrialists have been accused of exporting sugar, benefitting from subsidies and profiteering from rise in the domestic price of sugar. Similar allegations have been leveled against those who exported wheat and received subsidies. The opposition had accused the government of giving a free hand to the mafia in its ranks. Facing a tough time from the opposition and trying to prove it had nothing to do with the export or the rise in prices, the government ordered the FIA to investigate the issue. Neither sugar nor wheat could have been exported without the government’s permission. So why blame exporters? SAPM Firdous Ashiq Awan has conceded that the Prime Minister had allowed the export of surplus stocks of sugar to support sugarcane growers with a condition that there will be no shortage of the commodity. Earlier Mr Jahangir Tarin had told media that the decision to export surplus sugar was taken by a committee presided over by the then Finance Minister Asad Umar and that the rise in the sugar price was caused by the government’s populist decision to enhance the sugarcane rate beyond a reasonable limit. The sugar price being lower in the international market it could not have been exported without the government’s subsidy. The FIA report has held the governments of all the four provinces and federal agency Passco responsible for failing to meet the wheat procurement targets, thus causing wheat shortage. Former Punjab Food Minster Samiullah Chaudhry maintains that the decision to export wheat despite the shortage was made at a high-level meeting chaired by then Federal Finance Minister Asad Umar. The decision was subsequently endorsed by the Punjab cabinet presided over by CM Usman Buzdar, overruling Mr Chaudhry who opposed it Conclusion: The Prime Minister, his former Finance Minister and the Punjab Chief Minister have to blame themselves for the consequences of their own decisions instead of looking for scapegoats.

MuhaMMad Jahanfhr1qgir KaKar

LoBALIzATIoN is ending and the world is taking a huge turn to an unknown transition of political, social and economic cultures and the status quo. Everyone is enthusiastic to enter this new world with none knowing what would it look like and loom around, but for the time being the only signs are lonely twin sisters of apprehension and uncertainty. The human brain is at its utmost accelerated pace of cooking tons of conspiracy theories which are as appealing, amusing and convincing as ill-founded as they perhaps may just turn out to be. The world which was pissed off between the takes of two global giants of USA and China erstwhile is now being fully sandwiched in between their layers. Counting what the new global trends might have to offer to India and Pakistan, there is hope, peace and progress likely for the whole region. If it is, as many theorists claim it would be, the rise of China, so that must be a good omen for Pakistan. The Chinese friendship which Pakistan has clamoured about for so long, and till now has always stood the test of times. But China in the post-pandemic world would harbor insatiable political and economic intentions and aspirations, which will be the critical test of Pakistani pace keeping up with the ne3v global Giant given its internal political fragility and external unfriendliness alongside its borders with a primitive model of national economics. It would require huge institutional matchmaking on THE Pakistani side to make full advantageous utilization of the Chinese rise. How the new global balance will be struck will have predominant effects on a Pak-India thaw in relation with the intensity of the economic chaos that will push India to start heralding significantly new political doctrines. India is feeling the economic brunt of the pandemic and while this mayhem continues, the Modi-led Government is seen pacifying its discourse of hatred for all the known reasons, so as to leave some space for holding up communications if the corona bashing goes on wrecking the Indian economy. For Pakistan, the structural economic devastations will be limited, given the rudimentary and irregular structure of our economy that remains unto

Ending the IOK lockdown International bodies call for releasing detained Kashmiris

Learning from the 1918 Pandemic

Ix international human rights organisations have issued a statement calling on the Indian government to release detained Kashmiris who were arrested after the August 5 lockdown of Indian-occupied Kashmir and to protect their basic human right to health, liberty, freedom of movement and protection from torture. These Kashmiris are in danger of catching Covid-19 while in Indian jails, where there is already a programme of releases going on to reduce the overcrowding in Indian jails, which was at 117 percent of capacity. The organisations, which include Amnesty International India, FoRUM-ASIA, CIVICUS, ICJ, FIDH and oMCT, have also called on the Indian government to end the lockdown in IoK, because that lockdown threatens the spread of Covid-19. The Internet shutdown prevents the transmission of reliable information in an area equally affected with the rest of the world, and thus makes it vulnerable to rumour, not to mention the potentially fatal breakdown between healthcare professionals, who need timely information to do their job. one of the primary requirements of a successful anti-Covid-19 programme, extensive testing, has been rendered impossible by this absence of information and connectivity. The human rights organisations pointed out that the lockdown had led to large numbers of Kashmiris being detained under preventive-detention laws. Releasing them would not mean prematurely ending punishment for a crime, but would prevent them from catching Covid-19 in any of India’s overcrowded and insalubrious jails. It must be clarified that many of these detenus have been transferred to jails outside IoK, and thus are deprived of contact with lawyers or relatives. The latter, in particular, do not know what is happening with their imprisoned loved ones. As pointed out by the Pakistani representative at the SAARC videoconference on Covid-19, the IoK lockdown is no longer just a human rights issue, but has become a public health problem. The refusal of the Indian government to give the Kashmiri people their right of selfdetermination is not just violating the rights of 14 million Kashmiris, but the survival of a billion Indians. The Indian government has moved to endangering the lives of its own people in order to maintain its illegal occupation of Kashmir.

Social distancing worked then, it’ll work now MuhaMMad Tahir iqbal

o disaster, war or calamity has pestered humans on this earth as much as viruses, bacteria and parasites that cause diseases. The plague of Justinian killed 50 million people of this planet in the 6th century. The plague that erupted in Europe between 1347 and 1357, and the subsequent wave of Black Death, took the lives of 200 million people. The series of seven major cholera pandemics starting from 1817 has caused deaths to millions. The Spanish flu of 1918 in modern history provides us a comprehensive study-case as to how we humans should deal with a fast spreading pandemic. Also called influenza, it infected around 500 million people in the world, and almost 100 million people died because of the deadly disease. As Covid-19 started proliferating its fatal devastation across the countries, scientists and historians felt compelled to join their heads to study the outbreak of 1918, and apply the outcomes to restrain this novel coronavirus’s rampant impact. The first case of influenza was detected in Philadelphia on 17 September 1918. Soon after, officials launched a campaign against coughing, spitting and sneezing in the public. When the pandemic kept spreading and infecting a good number of people, the officials were left with no option but to shut down schools, churches and public gathering spaces. The first lesson learnt is that in the absence of vaccine, the first line of defense is the strict implementation of the modes of social distancing. It has always been hard to persuade people to remain indoors and stick to healthcare instructions. In 1918, a San Francisco health officer shot three people when they refused to wear mandatory face masks. Studies published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveal that the death rates during the 1918-20 pandemic were 50 percent lower in cities that acted in time and enforced strict measures of maintaining social distancing than those which acted upon the measures reluctantly and sluggishly. There was also another angle to the pandemic. When the restriction over the outside movement and gathering of people was loosened, the cities relapsed

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

Umar Aziz

Asher John

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Executive Editor

Deputy Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

this date undocumented. Being a small economy, it US intentions which wanted to contain not only the would undergo similarly severe shocks but with the Chinese rise but also in a way downplay the precipiartificial Chinese economic aid and assistance, the tated Indian economic rise. Stability both political and economic is the first condition for China to garner its Pakistan economic chaos will be neutralized. Pakistan will achieve a strategic significance which long-term and short-term global political designs. on it has never had before since its creation in the post- the Indian side, stability is as important as on the Chipandemic phase of socialist humanism. The Chinese nese side as Indian progression in the bright and healthy longstanding global doctrine of diplomacy is crystal- future is poised in the factors which are common to lized in the form of the Belt and Road initiative which China. The region can march towards greater developfocuses attention on collective growth, collective de- ment, especially in the post-pandemic world which has velopment and collective progress. This doctrine no brought us the lessons of fighting against disease and doubt has its hidden and core Chinese interests, but the working for healthy populations. The significance of being good neighbors and positive and humanistic taking good care of one approach within the docanother is most deeply trine is far more pervasive felt than ever before. than the former. The TruThe Chinese rise predicted The post-pandemic man Doctrine followed world has bright sides by the Marshall Plan reby the oracle is materializing and the for both Pakistan and constructed Europe after India in easing out their World War II from whole region alongwith India and relations and building scratch, and the Chinese from a clean slate a Belt and Road Initiative Pakistan will too undergo colossal newly found bilateral remay be just the reflection political, social and economic shifts lation marked by new of the Truman-Marshall political and economic parallel with the signifiand this needs preparedness and dimensions. The curse cant subtraction of US of CoVID 19 has shown hegemonic intentions and readiness on the Indo-Pak sides us the horrors of conflict value addition of the Chiwith giving way to increased trust in a more intense mannese socialist humanism. ner than what we learnt China has diplomatic and mutual restitution. from Hiroshima and Naand political disagreegasaki. one thing is for ments with India but these sure, that while the geoare not of a type or of a graphic world will not sort to create a frigid deadlock between the two giants. Chinese rise is only change, the political world will not stay the same. The ensured if the region around China witnesses political fault lines wreaked by the shocks of the pandemic are stability, without which economic well being will re- yet to be unveiled in the global economies, as for now main a wild-goose chase. It would be the prime Chinese it is only the head count that statisticians are focusing objective to create sense in the region which will remain on, and the deep underlying econometrics is yet to be impossible without the decisive inclusion of India. India worked out. The Chinese rise predicted by the oracle is a rising and shining economy and this reality cannot is materializing and the whole region alongwith India be ignored by China which has global intentions. More- and Pakistan will too undergo colossal political, soover, the Chinese doctrine of Belt and Road remains in- cial and economic shifts and this needs preparedness complete without the essential Indian inclusion, as even and readiness on the Indo-Pak sides with giving way historically the world always traded through the Indian to increased trust and mutual restitution. routes and this has always stayed like that from times Muhammad Jahanfhr1qgir Kakar can be reached of antiquity. The Chinese-Indian faceoff was only a mere caricature of abstraction drawn at the behest of at Jahangeer.kakar@gmail.com

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into the infection rapidly. This is what happened in The exercise enacted an imagined scene of breaking St Louis where restrictions on public gatherings were out of a flu pandemic originating from China and lifted after two months, and the city saw fresh rash of thereafter disrupting the USA, and killing half a milnew cases. The cities which kept the curbs in place lion people. The sad part is when there were so many articles, for some longer span did not experience the second white-papers and dissertations sending warnings that wave of deaths. All these findings impart great lessons to us– the a novel disease could erupt, which may cause grave curve can be flattened only through the harsh measure panic around the world, no serious efforts were made of shoving people behind the iron doors of their to battle with that. Now the pandemic has broken out sending forth homes until some antidote or vaccine is discovered by someone busy in his laboratory for the weal of the perilous signals around the globe. The tidings are whole of mankind gripped tightly by the menace of alarming: total affected by Covid-19 has crossed 1.4 million, and more than novel corona. Stephen S. 80,000 have died. Morse, an epidemioloSome contend that gist at Columbia Univerthis is just the beginning. sity, rightly says, “The All the countries are aflessons of 1918, if well The victory of one nation will fected. The human beheeded, might help us to be the victory of all nations. The ings, for the first time avoid repeating the same ever in the history of history today.” panacea to this disease to be mankind, have a comone thing is clear mon enemy, which has here that notwithstanddiscovered by somebody in some to be fought with as one ing travelling a long disremote corner of the world shall be group. Editorial sections tance and reaping many and newsrooms see only laurels in the arena of cheered by the other sitting in the one debate – how to medical science, humans grapple with this comthis time, as ever, were other corner of the world. mon foe? not ready to combat a Common fight with shared ideology The doctors and scinew infectious disease. entists issue forth one Many writers and will bring collective triumph and message to all and analysts have been atsundry: go into hibernatempting to attract the atrelief for all. Fingers are crossed tion, avoid nonessential tention of the world travel and gatherings, be leaders as to what can incarcerated within happen if some panhouses, and keep disdemic, caused by some unknown virus, breaks out to play its havoc in the tance while conversing. The victory of one nation will be the victory of world. In 2017, the cover of Time magazine carried the message: “Warning: the world is not ready for an- all nations. The panacea to this disease to be discovered by somebody in some remote corner of the other pandemic”. The BBC ran a report in 2018 where experts were world shall be cheered by the other sitting in the other quoted to believe that a flu pandemic was only a mat- corner of the world. Common fight with shared ideter of time. It was added that there were millions of ology will bring collective triumph and relief for all. undiscovered viruses in the world and the next pan- Fingers are crossed. demic would be caused by a novel virus. Muhammad Tahir Iqbal can be reached at In 2019, the US President Donald Trump’s Deand tweets partment of Health and Human Services carried out tahiriqbalstars@gmail.com a pandemic exercise named, “Crimson Contagion”. @TahirIqbal87

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Thursday, 9 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

Covid-19: Hundreds of abandoned animals die at Pakistan pet markets

The Masque of Global Capitalism The coronavirus through Poe-coloured spectacles Haris ali Virk

n Edgar Allan Poe’s The Masque of the Red Death, Prince Prospero, along with his favoured nobility, retires to the deep seclusion of an abbey to avoid the plague while it continues to devastate the poor. The Prince then hosts a masquerade ball to entertain his guests. At midnight, he notices a dark figure in a blood-spattered robe, and with a corpse-like mask depicting a victim of the Red Death. The Prince feels insulted and orders the figure to reveal its identity. When the figure turns toward him, the Prince falls dead. The enraged revelers throw themselves onto the stranger and remove his mask, only to find the costume empty. The mysterious figure is considered as the personification of the Red Death which goes on to kill everyone in the castle. One of the messages of Poe’s short story, first published back in 1842, is that a disaster has the ability to unveil truth in its most brutal form. This is why the mask needs to be torn off in order to reveal the truth. Our world is in deep trouble, and the powerful few controlling our politics and economy are to be blamed. They have worked for decades to make sure that we are vulnerable, and now the most vulnerable among us are going to face the most terrifying fate. If we try to imagine the coronavirus crisis in its entirety, we’ll find ourselves strangled right in the middle of a crazy political atmosphere. On the one hand, there is its impact on our health, and emotional wellbeing. not only are we living under a constant fear for our lives and for those of our loved ones, but are also forced to stay in isolation as all our normal activities have been suspended for an indefinite period of time. And then, there is its impact on the political economy of global capitalism as it is not possible to sustain any kind of normal economic activity and growth, when people are not supposed to leave their homes. A total shutdown of vast sections of the economy means mass unemployment, a gigantic fall in consumer spending and complete chaos for the financial sectors of the global market. What is to come might blow past the 2008 recession and perhaps even the Great Depression of the 1930s. While a global catastrophe looms over our heads, all we see is incompetence and greed ema-

nating from the highest positions of power. The come more serious than it is now. People are fireluctance of the neoliberal ‘think tanks’ in re- nally listening to the likes of Bernie Sanders sponding to this crisis with permanent structural and demanding the right to free and universal changes exposes the actual intent of the promises healthcare. Even traditionally conservative and of capitalistic social Darwinism. naomi Klein, in right-wing voices, including many of the Reher book The Shock Doctrine, writes how capital- publican Senators, are now calling for a greater ism feeds over disasters and exploits natural ca- role of the government in economy. In The Attastrophes in order to get rid of previous lantic, a writer recently said that there were no constraints and rob the people in an even more libertarians in an epidemic. And this seems to brutal manner. This is exactly what’s happening be true in the current situation. The question is whether we have right now. The corall become socialporate vultures are ists now, or are we circling the crisis, just going to witand they don’t care ness a selected soif millions of vulnerIn order to addressthe economic cialism by helping able working people side of this crisis, we must look for out the big corpodie in helping them rations through tax make more and solutions we’ve never tried before. cuts and bailout more profits. We are packages. on the verge of the We, like the Red Death, must We have never disaster, and they penetrate the walls and castles of been in a situation want to ‘normalize’ like this. In less the economy withglobal capitalism and cause its than four weeks, out having taken the coronavirus cricare of any of the isdownfall. We can’t just simply play sis has tremensues. For them, it’s with the old rules dously changed our more important to perceptions of what save the big corpois possible and rations than to take what is not possicare of the small business owners, low-wage workers, the poor, and ble. It has unquestionably taught us the importhe older. This is why the Trump Administration tance of public health and the uses of public is currently engaged in reckless policies and finance for the benefit of the many, not a few. It passed a corporate bailout bill that offers massive has taught us that the powerful few do not care tax cuts for big corporations. The fact is that you for the rest of us. They, like Prince Prospero, cannot have a functioning economy if hundreds will seclude themselves in their castles with all and thousands of people start dying. This is a fun- their means of pleasures while we, the wretched damental contradiction within the capitalist econ- of the earth, face the real consequences. In order to addressthe economic side of this omy. You cannot ask people to stay at their homes to save lives, and simultaneously continue running crisis, we must look for solutions we’ve never tried before. We, like the Red Death, must penthe normal economic activity. The current crisis has also unveiled the ex- etrate the walls and castles of global capitalism treme inequality in our society where some and cause its downfall. We can’t just simply play people have the privilege to stay at their homes, with the old rules and look up for internal well protected and well fed, while so many oth- changes to the economy, and continue to screw ers who are more vulnerable have no social over ordinary people. The mask has now been torn off. If this benefits, no access to healthcare and not even the basic necessities to sustain themselves. All doesn’t change people’s mind about capitalism, of this clearly implies that the way the global I don’t think anything ever will. economy has been structured makes us illHaris Ali Virk is a student of English Literature suited to deal with a crisis of this scale. never has the debate about universal healthcare be- at Government College University Lahore.

AS the virus pandemic grew, Pakistan’s major cities were plunged into lockdown, forcing many shops to close. Only stalls selling essential goods such as food and medicine were allowed to continue operating. Pet shops hurriedly shuttered as Pakistan cities went into lockdown due to coronavirus. It left pet shop owners blocked from their businesses, some resorting to sneaking in at night to feed the animals. According to an article, caged cats, dogs and rabbits were found dead inside pet markets hurriedly closed as the disease spread. Animals still alive in Karachi’s Empress Market were only rescued after activists appealed to the authorities for access. According to the statement of Ayesha Chundrigar who runs ACF Animal Rescue: Two weeks into the shutdown, she could hear the cries of the pets from outside the shops, which together housed up to 1,000 animals. She said: “When we got inside, the majority of them were dead, about 70 per cent. Their bodies were lying on the ground”. It was so horrific, I cannot tell you.” Starving and locked in cages with no light or ventilation, the survivors sat among the dead, trembling. ISHRAq ASHRAF Islamabad

Corona’s ferocity COVID-19 is one of the curses. The skirmish of the virus is disseminating exponentially day by day. nowadays, it is the most vulnerable subject that people are discussing repeatedly. The scorching virus has changed the beautiful image of the country. Government imposed a lockdown in the country. Streets have been godforsaken places. Truly, tranquility of the empty cities are consuming inner-scenery and peace. People are stressed to stay at home because it spreads from person to person instantly. In fact, people are cooperating with the government so far. The frontline fighters are such doctors, paramedics, police officers, and army. They are all heroes of the nation. However, few brave people have lost their lives. Among all, one of them is Waqar Kharal. He is superintendent of police (SP) due to the lockdown he was handling security in Manga village, in Peshawar. In the village, a person died due to Corona-virus. After a few days, he was tested positive for Corona-virus. Additionally, Dr Zafar Mirza, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Imran Khan on national Health Services said that during last 24 hours a number of suspected cases was 13,324 out of them 1,600 are confirmed cases including 593 from the Punjab, 502 from Sindh, 192 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 141 from Balochistan, 123 from GB, six from AJK and 43 from the ICT. He said in the backlash of virus 17 people have lost their precious lives and death toll is increasing. In this regard, he reiterated that everyone should help the government and stay at home. Social distance is the only option to protect from the curse. There is no other option. NAVEED AbbAS MAITLo Islamabad

Outcomes of online classes HEC needs to understand that covid-19 is a natural disaster. In this pathetic situation the arrangement of online classes is really unfair with students because it is difficult for students to understand the necessary topic and these online classes also create a communication gap between students and teachers. Students demand that they need quality education because they will pay such fees and by having online classes their grades will get spoiled and those students who have practical research works in the current semester will do nothing because of lockdown. And one of the major things faced by students is their financial problem because every student cannot afford the heavy internet packages and some of students as well as teachers are living in areas where there is no access to the internet with 3G and 4G. I request the HEC and government to keep in view the students’ issues regarding online classes and make fair policy for this break in education. FASEEHA JAbEEN Karachi

Hantavirus HAnTAVIRuS is another virus which is spreading very rapidly and its again because of rats . Hantavirus is named for the Hantan River area in South Korea where an early outbreak was observed and was isolated in 1976 by “Ho Wang Lee”. According to researchers, hantavirus is transmitted to people by rodents such as mice and rats. Hantavirus is an infectious disease . Transmission occurs when direct or indirect contact is made with the saliva or waste products of rodents that carry the virus. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is most common in rural areas of Western united States , South America , Canada and now in Asia . Early symptoms include fatigue , fever and muscle aches, especially in the large muscle groups ____ thigh , hips , back and shoulders . There is no readily available test to diagnose HPS or even hantavirus infection. Also, there is no specific treatment, cure or vaccine for hantavirus. HPS can be fatal.It has a mortality rate of 38%. 4 out of 10 patients with HPS do not survive their illness. So, everyone needs to be much careful as it’s also a very dangerous and deadly virus. ZARA HAbIb Rawalpindi

Billing in Corona time AS we all know the critical condition of Pakistan due to Corona Virus Government of Pakistan lockdown the country and due to this inflation rate as it’s peak. Wealthy people donates Rashan bags and help needy people and we really appreciate them. Recently, Sui northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SnGPL) has permitted its domestic consumers with a bill less than Rs.2000 to pay it in easy installments. The decision was taken amid the countrywide lockdown due to Coronavirus. Those consumers who have received the bill without installments can pay their bills in 3 installments at nearby banks. According to the SnGPL spokesperson, all banks have been notified of the decision. SnGPL has taken the decision keeping in view the difficulties the poor segment of the society has been facing due to the lockdown. SHAHZAIb SHAIKH Karachi.

Thursday, 9 April, 2020

08 WORLD VIEW

Coronavirus Closings aren’t an example of government oppression

Kissinger calls for a new post-Covid world order THIS IS THE WORLD ORDER THAT KISSINGER WANTS TO PRESERVE, AN AMERICA-CENTRIC IMPERIUM RULED BY ESTABLISHMENT ELITES, BRANDY-DROOLING PLUTOCRATS AND THE BANK MAFIA

LIMITS SHOULD EXIST ON STATES’ POLICE POWERS. OTHERWISE, THE GOVERNMENT COULD SLIP FROM PROTECTOR TO OPPRESSOR washiNGtoN examiNeR

AdAM CArrINgToN

MErICA is closed for business. Seeking to slow the spread of the coronavirus, a cluster of state and city governments have mandated that restaurants and bars not provide dine-in services. This number is only expected to grow in the coming days and weeks, likely extending across much of the country. These restrictions follow other efforts to combat the spread of the virus, including extensive limits on public gatherings and public school closures. Are these restrictions compatible with our founding values? Well, the rule of law forms a fundamental component of our republic. Most important, we look to our Constitution as the framework within which our governments, local, state, and national, must operate. Naturally, then, some have questioned the constitutional basis for these abnormal government actions. A straightforward answer exists for closing down public schools. As public institutions, states possess extensive authority over them, including schedules. Their normal priority should be the quality of education provided. But, as snow days exemplify, health and safety concerns sometimes take precedence over in-class instruction. More constitutionally questionable are those measures limiting private gatherings and businesses. As nonpublic entities, one could reasonably argue that they possess the liberty and property rights to conduct business as they see fit. Moreover, one might assume that potential patrons possess the same rights over their persons and bank accounts to determine if they wish to frequent these businesses. However, such thinking misunderstands both the principle of individual rights and the legal doctrine proceeding from them. regarding the principle, the Declaration of Independence does assert as “unalienable” every person’s rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The Constitution also affirms against both state and national governments the rights to life, to liberty, and to property. No government rightly can infringe them. Instead, the government exists, as the Declaration says, “to secure these rights.” But securing rights involves government protection, not just restraint.

Your neighbors may violate your rights just as governments might. This fact shows that you lack the right to violate others’ rights and that government exists to stop you if you try. These violations include infringing on the life, liberty, and even property of others by means of spreading the coronavirus. Disease can kill you. It can undermine the quality of that life and thus your liberty. Moreover, it can cause serious, even debilitating financial harm. Such results often are unintended, but government’s securing of rights involves outcomes, not just intentions. A legal doctrine older than our country exists supporting this principle. For states, many have called it their “police power.” This phrase serves as a bit of a catchall for those regulations made by states (and their local governments) to protect individuals from harm. William Blackstone, an influential English jurist, described the police power as addressing offenses “such as are against the public health of the nation.” A long-standing, extensive line of American legal precedent has included protections for “health” as well as for “safety” in police power’s definition as well. Originating in the very purpose of government, these powers fall within those reserved to the states through the 10th Amendment. requirements that restaurants follow health codes, as well as mandates that medical professionals obtain licenses, all draw on these powers. The same reasoning justifies the current closures. State and local governments do so to protect the health and safety of individuals. Unchecked, the coronavirus threatens many individuals’ lives, their liberty, and their property. Government exists to address these kinds of threats. Of course, limits should exist on states’ police powers. Otherwise, the government could slip from protector to oppressor. Those limits should look back to the principle police powers seek to realize: the guarding of individual rights. The degree of regulation may vary, depending on the extent of the problem. Times of emergency like now call for more than times of relative normalcy. America is closed for business. For now. But we should not call it government oppression. We should see its purpose. Adam Carrington is the assistant professor of politics at Hillsdale College.

UNZ Review MIKE WHITNEY

Henry Kissinger thinks the Coronavirus is a threat to his precious New World Order, so he wants President Trump to do whatever he can to protect the system. In an opinion piece that was published in the Wall Street Journal on Friday, the former Secretary of State urged Trump to launch a grand project, like the Marshall Plan, to unify the allies and convince them that Uncle Sam can still rally the troops in a time of crisis. Here’s Kissinger: “Drawing lessons from the development of the Marshall Plan and the Manhattan Project, the U.S. is obliged to undertake a major effort in three domains. First, shore up global resilience to infectious disease…Second, strive to heal the wounds to the world economy….Third, safeguard the principles of the liberal world order. While the assault on human health will—hopefully—be temporary, the political and economic upheaval it has unleashed could last for generations. No country, not even the U.S., can in a purely national effort overcome the virus. Addressing the necessities of the moment must ultimately be coupled with a global collaborative vision and program. If we cannot do both in tandem, we will face the worst of each.” (“The Coronavirus Pandemic Will Forever Alter the World Order”, Wall Street Journal) Kissinger thinks Trump’s “America First” rhetoric has undermined foreign relations and weakened US hegemony. He thinks the administration’s isolationist policies have created a leadership vacuum that China has quickly filled. And he has a point, too, after all, while China sent medical teams and vital supplies to countries hard-hit by the virus, the United States was busy tightening sanctions on Iran, Cuba and Venezuela, which prevented infected civilians from getting the medications they need to survive. Naturally, China’s humanitarian contributions have been widely applauded while Washington’s conduct has been denounced as petty, vicious and vindictive. There’s no doubt that the Trump administration has ceded the moral high-ground to its arch-enemy, China. Here’s Kissinger again: “Now, in a divided country, efficient and farsighted government is necessary to overcome obstacles unprecedented in magnitude and global scope. Sustaining the public trust is crucial to social solidarity, to the relation of societies with each other, and to international peace and stability.” (WSJ) Of course, when Kissinger talks about “public trust” and “social solidarity” what he really means is that the government needs to settle on an effective public relations strategy that will dupe the sheeple into falling in line. In Kissinger’s lexicon, solidarity is narrowly defined as ‘public support for elitist projects’ like globalization, open borders and the free movement of capital. These are the principles that guide Kissinger’s recommendations not any affection for working people who he regards as stupid mules. Here’s more: “Nations cohere and flourish on the belief that their institutions can foresee calamity, arrest its impact and restore stability. When the Covid-19 pandemic is over, many countries’ institutions will be perceived as having failed. Whether this judgment is objectively fair is irrelevant. The reality is the world

India's leaders have panicked SUDDEN AND STRICT CORONAVIRUS LOCKDOWNS HAVE HIT THE POOR HARDEST – NO WONDER WORKERS ARE DESERTING THE CITIES

GUaRdiaN VIVEK MENEzEs

Miramar beach sprawls desolate outside my home in Panjim, the capital of Goa. April is the domestic tourist season in India’s smallest state, usually characterised by crowds. I’m accustomed to winding through masses of people at sunset. But now there’s almost no one. Such is life under the world’s strictest lockdown. At 8pm on 24 March, prime minister Narendra Modi announced that India would shut down in four hours. As he spoke, chaos erupted. Panicked mobs besieged the shops. Then, as buses and trains were cancelled, millions of migrant workers took to the roads on foot, streaming towards home

in scenes that recall the partition photographs of Margaret Bourke-White. In Goa, things started badly. We’d already been in curfew for three days. The administration reassured citizens – the most affluent and best-educated in India – that supplies would never be disrupted. But everything shut down nonetheless. The hashtag #GoaStarving spread on social media, as civil society scrambled to stave off disaster. Only then did instructions come from New Delhi to reopen grocery stores. Just across the river from me in the hamlet of Penha de França, the Harvard Medical School professor Vikram Patel was caught up in the melee. Along with his neighbours, he was assaulted by the police while queueing to buy provisions. He spoke of “the constantly changing announcements on social restrictions, the abandonment of government responsibility to secure supply chains, the threatening of desperate people with military-style responses, and the crushing of small businesses which define rural life in Goa”. These were the decisions of panicked politicians. Planned and phased reactions, he told me, would have been much less disruptive and damaging.

The tumult in Goa was only a microcosm of the rest of the country. Just over 4,900 Covid-19 infections (and 137 deaths) have been registered since India’s first case on 30 January, but numbers pale in comparison to tuberculosis, which has killed hundreds of thousands of Indians every year for decades, without triggering any draconian curfews. Patel pointed out that this astonishing death toll had never occasioned any panic. In his view, the abrupt actions in this case “suggests that those advising our government have omitted the first lesson of public health, which is that context matters”. Those singular circumstances look increasingly daunting, with no obvious solutions in sight. The majority of India’s workers, 85%, are in the informal economy. Their livelihoods have been ruinously disrupted, and prospects look increasingly bleak in the global recession the IMF has already called “a crisis like no other”. With regard to the actual virus emergency, the evidence is discouraging. More than 60% of Indians live in urban settlements, including four of the 20 most densely populated and 21 of the 30 most polluted

will never be the same after the coronavirus. To argue now about the past only makes it harder to do what has to be done.” (WSJ) See? What really Kissinger really cares about is the postcoronavirus world order, which he believes will mark the beginning of an entirely new era, an era in which governments will have to respond to unexpected crises, bitter political polarization and the growing prospect of social unrest. Kissinger seems to grasp all of this, but instead of offering a new vision for the future, he clings to the battered remains of a failed system that has exacerbated the wealth gap, triggered one economy-crushing financial meltdown after the other, and widened the arc of instability from North Africa, through the Middle East and into Central Asia. This is the world order that Kissinger wants to preserve, an America-centric imperium ruled by establishment elites, brandy-drooling plutocrats and the Bank Mafia. Is it any wonder why the proles are demanding change? Here’s more: “The world’s democracies need to defend and sustain their Enlightenment values. A global retreat from balancing power with legitimacy will cause the social contract to disintegrate both domestically and internationally.” (WSJ) “Enlightenment values”?? Is that what we saw in the photos from Abu Ghraib, or the footage from decimated Falluja, or the countless reports of black-sites where kidnapped victims were taken by US Intel Agents and beaten into submission? Do they practice enlightenment values at Gitmo, or at Bagram Air base or in Mosul which was reduced to rubble by heavy artillery and US bombers? Kissinger can blabber about enlightenment values all he wants, but he knows from first hand experience that those values are precariously propped atop a mountain of bloody corpses all sacrificed in the name of the liberal world order. Here’s more: “Enlightenment thinkers (argued) that the purpose of the legitimate state is to provide for the fundamental needs of the people: security, order, economic well-being, and justice. Individuals cannot secure these things on their own. The pandemic has prompted an anachronism, a revival of the walled city in an age when prosperity depends on global trade and movement of people.” (WSJ) There it is again, Kissinger’s favorite theme, ‘’global trade and movement of people”, the two crumbling pillars of a globalization project that is now on life-support waiting to be euthanized by the millions of unemployed Americans who saw their jobs, their factories and their hopes for the future all go up in smoke due to outsourcing, off-shoring and Kissinger’s glorious “liberal world order.” Even now, while the US economy grinds to a standstill and jobless American workers wait anxiously by their doors for their $1,200 pittance from Uncle Sam, Kissinger continues to bray about the wonderful NWO that has greatly enhanced “security, order, economic well-being, and justice”. Give me a break. I agree with Kissinger that the post-Covid world order will be significantly different from the world that preceded it, but that’s as far as I’ll go. In truth, the US-dominated system is unraveling because the people of the world don’t want to be ruled by force, because US leaders are incompetent bunglers who cannot be trusted to do the right thing, and because Washington’s arrogant go-it-alone policy-making has turned vast areas of the Middle East and Central Asia into uninhabitable wastelands. Let’s face it, the United States had a chance to show the world it could be a reliable steward of global security, and they blew it. Nothing Kissinger says is going to change that.

cities in the world. None of these are conducive to following WHO guidelines about social distancing and personal hygiene. An estimated 1 billion people lack reliable yearround access to clean water. How will they wash their hands? There are intermittent bright spots. The west coast states of Kerala and Maharashtra (together home to 150 million people) are managing the crisis well, with clear communication and empathetic leadership. Meanwhile, despite the lack of clarity due to the severe lack of testing, there appears to be an anomaly in the speed and severity of Covid19 infection in India, prompting many theories, including the prevalence of BCG vaccination, the pre-existing ubiquity of coronaviruses, and the warmer climate. But even if Covid-19 mercifully spares India the kind of havoc it has wrought in Italy, the unsustainability of the country’s post-liberalisation economy has been exposed. Its main engine – the vaunted “demographic dividend” of millions of interchangeable young workers – has decamped from the cities to rural areas, virtually en masse. When travel restrictions are lifted, even more will leave. Economic history tells us wages shot up after the Black Death in medieval Europe, when employers became desperate. Something similar could happen here. Over the telephone from New Delhi, social activist Harsh Mander urged me to look closely at images of the exodus. They’re overwhelmingly young, wearing jeans and clutching smartphones. India’s 21st-century economic model was built on them, and now

they have walked out on it. “It’s because they have been completely thrown under the bus,” he told me. “You have made them lose faith in the government. The entire imagination of this lockdown is to keep 300 or 400 million people in the middle class safe, on the back of intense suffering unleashed on everyone else.” Mander and I discussed the parallels with the 1943 Bengal famine, which cost about 3 million lives. As famously analysed by Amartya Sen, that agonising episode was precipitated by policy failures rather than food shortages, and exacerbated by Winston Churchill’s cynical decision to withhold supplies. “This is another manmade crisis,” Mander said. “We could have avoided this violence, the complete annihilation of poor people, if we had just worked together to approach the problem. But no conversation was possible.” I was still mulling this over at 9pm on Sunday, which is the time the prime minister urged the nation to switch off lights, and burn candles to demonstrate solidarity in the fight against the coronavirus. Within minutes, my Twitter feed spilled over with images and videos of the exercise gone awry. In one that showed up repeatedly, I watched as an enthusiastic young man inadvertently set his own hair on fire. The leaping flames were extinguished by the brutal pummelling of his friends. Those scars will never leave him. It struck me as an acutely appropriate metaphor. Vivek Menezes is a writer, photographer, and the co-founder and co-curator of the Goa Arts & Literature Festival.

Thursday, 9 April, 2020

BUSINESS 09

MARKET DAILY

Stocks drift lower amid lack of triggers Benchmark kSe-100 ShedS 260 pointS to end Below 31,000-mark KARACHI: After a positive close to the previous session, the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) once again went under the control of bears, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index closing below the 31,000-mark on Wednesday. Foreign investors continued offloading equities on Tuesday, recording a net outflow of $6.25 million. Analysts said overnight pressure on international crude prices had a negative impact on global equity markets, and KSE-100 was no different. Oil prices steadied near $32 a barrel on hopes that a meeting between OPEC members and allied producers on Thursday will trigger output cuts to shore up prices that have collapsed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, on the economic front, Pakistan received a five-month grace period in submitting its performance report against money laundering and terror financing to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The review, which was scheduled for June 21-26 in Beijing, would now be held in October. Shedding 456.10 points, the KSE-100 Index slipped to its intraday low at 30,775.45. Amid lack of positive triggers, it closed lower by 260.28 points at 30,971.27. The KMI-30 Index dropped 472.86 points to end at 48,930.47, while the KSE All Share Index fell short by lost 254.39 points, settling at 22,192.53. Of the total traded shares, 106 advanced and 170 declined. The overall trading volumes increased from 172.63 million in the previous session to 180.76 million, with Unity Foods Limited (UNITY +7.05pc) Hascol Petroleum Limited (HASCOL +0.74pc) and Pak Elektron Limited (PAEL 6.49pc) topping the volume chart. The scrips had exchanged 28.77 million, 25.83 million and 14.08 million shares, respectively. Sectors that drove the index south included banking (-115.01 points), oil & gas exploration (44.51 points) and cement (-37.10 points). Among the companies, Pakistan Tobacco Company Limited (PAKT 36.10 points), Lucky Cement Limited (LUCK -31.58 points) and Bank AlFalah Limited (BAFL -29.18 points) dented the index the most. The banking sector lost 1.28pc from its cumulative market capitalization, with Bank AlFalah Limited (BAFL -5.01pc), Habib Bank Limited (HBL -1.26pc) and United Bank Limited (UBL -1.62pc) closing in the red. STAFF REPORT

Pakistan's inflation to drop to 8.3pc in FY21: ADB ISLAMABAD: The inflation rate in Pakistan would slow down to 8.3 per cent in the fiscal year 2020-21, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) projected on Wednesday. “Inflation is forecast to decelerate to 8.3pc in FY21 with the central bank expected to take further policy action to both manage inflation and boost economic activity,” ADB said in its latest annual flagship economic publication -- the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2020. It said inflation is projected to accelerate to 11.5pc in FY20, reflecting a sharp rise in food prices in the first part of the fiscal year and a 9.8pc drop in the value of the local currency against the US dollar in the first seven months of FY20. A new price series that tracks price movements in rural as well as urban markets showed rural food inflation averaging 16.3pc in the first seven months of FY20, while urban food inflation stood at 14.5pc. However, high food inflation is expected to be mostly transitory, likely to dissipate as food supplies improve in the second half of the fiscal year. Further, a drop in international oil prices forecast in the second half of FY20 should translate to lower production and transport costs for goods and services, which could be passed on to consumers. After raising the policy rate to 13.25pc at the beginning of FY20, the central bank reduced it in two steps to 11pc in March 2020 following the decline in global oil prices and sluggish demand under COVID-19. Growth in private sector credit has slowed considerably. Inflation accelerated from 4.7pc in FY18 to 6.8pc in FY19 on poor harvests, tariff increases, and Pakistani rupee depreciation against the US dollar by 24pc following the adoption of a more flexible exchange rate. Food price inflation rose to 4.6pc, while inflation for other goods accelerated to 9.2pc as tariffs on energy products were raised to manage mounting fiscal pressures. Inflation was estimated using rebased prices from FY16. Earlier, to counter inflation, the State Bank of Pakistan (the central bank) had raised its policy interest rate by a cumulative 575 basis points to 12.25pc at the end of FY19. APP

Big ShoPPing mAllS Agree to wAive rentS During lockDown LAHORE

HASSAN NAQVI

LMOST all leading malls of the country, including Dolmen Mall, Packages Mall, LuckyOne Mall, Centaurus and Mall of Lahore, have waived April rents for retail shopkeepers, with some even giving discounts on March and May rents. According to details, the country’s two main retail bodies -- the Pakistan Retail Business Council (PRBC) and the Chain Store Association of Pakistan (CAP), which are usually never on the same page, have jointly written letters to different high-end shopping malls as well as their individual landlords, asking them to give rent relief to retail businesses during the lockdown period. The PRBC comprises Gul Ahmed, Outfitters, Khaadi, Bata, Servis and other large retailers, whereas the CAP represents over 200 retail brands of all sizes, including Sapphire, Bareeze, Maria B and Stylo. According to sources, individual retailers are not showing any flexibility with regard to the payment of rents, as they know they are in a better bargaining position under the current circumstances. However, they added, after the three-month rent relief, pressure on individual landlords will rise, and this can have disastrous consequences on the industry. Sources said that the average rent in shopping malls is Rs400 per square foot, adding that large retailers, with more bargaining powers and required area, can negotiate and get better rates for rents. For instance, Khaadi pays only Rs200 per sq.ft to most malls. But waiver from rents does not mean that the retailers do not have to pay anything, as they will still be paying an average Rs100 per square foot on account of Common Area Maintenance (CAM) charges (even if their stores are closed). Sources informed that some malls have given up to 50pc discounts on CAM, while others have agreed to charge it on 'as-per-actual' basis; malls will only be charging the actual operating costs, given that banks, pharmacies and grocery stores are still functioning. In reply to retailers' request regarding rental relief for the period of Covid-19 lockdown, the management of LuckyOne Mall stated, "Considering the long-term business relation with retailers and in consideration of the current situation, the LuckyOne Mall has considered the request to continue supporting retailers by completely waiving the licence fee for April, 50pc for May and 25pc for June (175pc waiver for seven weeks)." In addition, LuckyOne Mall has also waived the

charges of chilled water for the lockdown period, while CAM will be charged on actual during April lockdown, whereas utilities will be charged as per consumption. Meanwhile, the management of Centaurus Mall in Islamabad waived the rent for a period of 30 days, starting March 23. However, this amount will be adjusted towards the end of the current year. The Centaurus management clarified that the said waiver is not applicable on restaurants, fast food outlets, grocery stores and banks. “CAM cannot be waived and will be charged as per actual since the staff expense is a fixed expense and as we all know that skilled human resource is one of the greatest assets which cannot be laid off.” Sources said that all prominent malls have agreed to the retailers' demands except Lahore's Emporium Mall, as one of the biggest shopping malls of the country is yet to issue a notification in this regard. People from different walks of life believe that the lockdown should continue till May 1, but the malls and schools should remain closed as a precautionary measure. However, industry players expect the malls to open from May 1 as well, as they seek to cash in on Eid festivities.

LIQUIDITY ISSUES: Owing to the closure of businesses and amid serious cash flow issues, retailers have now started offering massive discounts on their online stores. According to sources, the retailers have decided to sell goods on the ‘cost of sales’ price (the cost they incurred on making those goods) with zero gross profit. This they are doing to free-up liquidity which is struck in stocks. Retail outlets are expecting a 50-60pc drop in sales during the last quarter of FY20, which means the overall sales’ numbers for FY20 will remain lower than those in FY19. As per sources, some retail brands were struggling to remain relevant even before Covid-19 outbreak, as the overall economic slowdown coupled with growing competition in the industry had crippled their sales. “This Covid-19 pandemic was the last nail in the coffin, with many brands closing their outlets and others fighting for survival,” a market insider said. “The retail sector wants the government to help resolve the liquidity issues faced by them and to safeguard to industry from a total collapse.”

petroleum division removes dGpc on naB findings ISLAMABAD AHMAD AHMADANI

The Petroleum Division has removed Director General Petroleum Concession (DGPC) Imran Ahmed from his post following the initiation of an inquiry against him by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). According to sources, Ahmed is currently involved in a $50-million worth scam; he had allegedly caused a massive loss to the national exchequer by deliberately delaying the injection of 30 Million Cubic Feet per Day (MMCFD) gas of Badin IV South Gas Fields into the country's gas transmission system. Owing to the eight-month delay in the injection of 30MMCFD gas into national transmission system, expensive Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) was imported at $10 to meet gas demand. The cost of local gas was $4 per MMBTU during the said period. Talking to this scribe, Petroleum Division spokesman Sajid Mehmood

Qazi confirmed the removal of Imran Ahmed and informed that the charge has now been given to Joint Secretary Saira Najeeb (BS-20). On 19 March 2020, NAB had written a letter the DGPC, asking him to submit till 6th April a documentary evidence to prove his innocence under Section 19 and 27 of National Accountability Ordinance, 1999. In addition, NAB had also de-

manded the provision of verified copies related to the recommendations of Petroeum Secretary Mian Asad Hayauddin, DGPC Imran Ahmed, former consultant Ishaq Saki and other officials regarding gas production from Badin IV South Gas Fields. Sources alleged that the DGPC was involved in facilitating LNG import at the cost of national exchequer. "After deduction of all taxes, the

price of local gas usually stands at $4/MMBTU, while the government has been importing expensive LNG and has paid around $50 million from its foreign reserves for this purpose,” an official privy to this development informed. It is relevant to note that that Badin IV South Gas Fields were ready to produce and inject 30 MMCFD of highquality gas into the Sui Southern Gas Company Limited system in June 2019, while IPR International Energy Group had inspected the gas field and declared the field to be marginal in nature and recommended that the price should be $6.3/MMBTU in accordance with the Gas Pricing Criteria and Guidelines, 2013. However, DGPC had raised objections to its report and asked the firm to inspect the field once again. The results were the same this time as well. However, the 30mmcfd highquality was injected into the SSGC distribution system in February 2020 without fixing the gas price for the Badin IV South Gas Fields in the name of national interest.

‘Subsidised rates’: ECC approves Rs50bn grant for utility stores ISLAMABAD SHAHZAD PARACHA

The federal government on Wednesday approved a technical supplementary grant (TSG) of Rs50 billion for the Utility Stores Corporation (USC). The approval came to the meeting of the Executive Coordination Committee (ECC) held under the chair of Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh. The ECC chairman directed USC to ensure the provision of essential items at reduced prices keeping in mind the current

situation due to COVID-19 as well as the upcoming month of Ramadan. It was informed during the meeting that Rs21 billion had already been disbursed to the corporation after December 2019 for the procurement of essential items. The USC’s managing director assured the ECC that the corporation was effectively utilising its market presence to provide affordable items to the people in this hour of need. In addition, ECC also approved six technical supplementary grants of different ministries. On a summary of the Finance Division, a sum of Rs842 million was ap-

proved to pay the executing agencies associated with the Prime Minister's Youth Loan Scheme during the current financial year. An amount of Rs90.459 million was approved for the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) to help meet its obligations. The ECC also approved Rs5 million in respects of Punjab Rangers to enable the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to purchase spare parts for the maintenance of helicopters during the current financial year. Meanwhile, the forum approved Rs2.074 million for the construction of the Frontier Constabulary Training Center at

Michni Shabqadar. This amount had been received as a grant from the US Embassy in favor of the Frontier Constabulary Headquarters, Peshawar. On the request of the Ministry of Energy (MoE), ECC approved $1.5 million to pay the legal counsels who were hired on behalf of the state in the international litigation case against Ms Karkey. An amount of Rs300 million was also approved in favor of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MoIB) to execute the communication campaign for the Ehsaas Programme in the next three months.

On the summary moved by the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) for the recovery of foreign currency loans from the private sector’s borrowers i.e. Ms Gladari Cement Limited, ECC decided that EAD should resubmit the proposal after consultation with the State Bank of Pakistan. On the proposal by the Ministry of Energy (MoE) for allowing foreign exchange gains/losses in excess of 7pc on delayed payment for Kohala Hydro power project, ECC directed the central bank to negotiate with all relevant stakeholders and come up with a viable and practical solution of the issue.

Thursday, 9 April, 2020

10 FOREIGN NEWS

Nearly 400m INdIaN workers may sINk INto poverty due to paNdemIc MUMBAI

AGENCIES

REPORT released by International Labour Organisation (ILO) on Tuesday has said that nearly 400 million people working in the informal economy in India were at risk of falling deeper into poverty due to the coronavirus crisis. “About 400 million workers in the informal economy are at risk of

falling deeper into poverty during the crisis and is expected to wipe out 195 million full-time jobs or 6.7” of working hours globally in the second quarter of this year,” the UN’s labour body said in its report. Titled, ‘ILO Monitor 2nd edition: COVID-19 and the world of work’, the report describes coronavirus as “the worst global crisis since World War II”. “What we do now in terms of maintaining that relationship between workers

Gulf states urged to unblock internet calls in response to pandemic DUBAI AGENCIES

Human rights groups urged three Gulf Arab states on Wednesday to lift bans on free internet calls to help their large migrant workforces stay in touch during the coronavirus pandemic. Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have long blocked many voice and video calling apps on the grounds of protecting the commercial interests of state-owned telecoms. “This has caused serious problems for the people living in those countries, especially the majority of migrant workers and foreign national residents who need to connect and communicate with their families and communities overseas,” the rights groups said. A majority of the estimated 17 million people living in the three Gulf states are expatriates, most of them low paid workers from Asia. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the UAE and Oman have relaxed restrictions on some calling apps but on a temporary basis. They have unblocked apps that allow for distance learning such as Microsoft Teams, Skype for Business, Google Hangouts, and Zoom.

and their enterprises to keep them on the labour market, that will pay dividends when it comes to the trajectory and the gradient of recovery hopefully in the latter part of this year,” ILO director-general Guy Ryder told a news conference. Workers in the informal sector — who account for 61% of the global workforce or 2 billion people — will need income support just to survive and feed their families, if their day jobs disappear, he said. “These are people who

generally do not have access to the normal social protections that might go with a formal employment status,” Ryder said. Ryder said India’s lockdown has put millions of migrant workers in a quandary. “If you require people to stop working, go home and stay at home but they have absolutely no other source of income, then the choice can become between that of protecting yourself against the virus and having no means of surviving, no means to feed yourself,” he said. “And these are impossible dilemmas.” The report added that worldwide, two billion people working in the informal sector (mostly in emerging and developing economies) were at risk. “In India, Nigeria and Brazil, the number of workers in the informal economy affected by the lockdown and other containment measures is substantial,” ILO said. “In India, with a share of almost 90% of people working in the informal economy, about 400 million workers in the informal economy are at risk of falling deeper into poverty during the crisis. Current lockdown measures in India, which are at the high end of the University of Oxford’s COVID-19 Government Response Stringency Index, have impacted these workers significantly, forcing many of them to return to rural areas,” it said. More than four out of five people (81%) in the global workforce of 3.3 billion are currently affected by full or partial workplace closures, it said.

Sanders drops 2020 bid, leaving Biden as likely nominee WASHINGTON AGENCIES

Bernie Sanders, who saw his once strong lead in the Democratic primary evaporate as the party’s establishment lined swiftly up behind rival Joe Biden, ended his presidential bid on Wednesday, an acknowledgment that the former vice president is too far ahead for him to have any reasonable hope of catching up. The Vermont senator’s announcement makes Biden the presumptive Democratic nominee to challenge President Donald Trump in November. Sanders plans to talk to his sup-

porters later on Wednesday. Sanders initially exceeded skyhigh expectations about his ability to recreate the magic of his 2016 presidential bid, and even overcame a heart attack last October on the campaign trail. But he found himself unable to convert unwavering support from progressives into a viable path to the nomination amid “electability” fears fueled by questions about whether his democratic socialist ideology would be palatable to general election voters. The 78-year-old senator began his latest White House bid facing questions about whether he could win back the supporters who chose him four

years ago as an insurgent alternative to the party establishment’s choice, Hillary Clinton. Despite winning 22 states in 2016, there were no guarantees he’d be a major presidential contender this cycle, especially as the race’s oldest candidate. Sanders, though, used strong polling and solid fundraising — collected almost entirely from small donations made online — to more than quiet early doubters. Like the first time, he attracted widespread support from young voters and was able to make new inroads within the Hispanic community, even as his appeal with African Americans remained small.

Virus-hit Iran urges IMF to approve its loan request TEHRAN: Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani appealed to the International Monetary Fund Wednesday to approve a $5 billion emergency loan request to combat its novel coronavirus outbreak. “I urge all international organisations to fulfill their duties,” Rouhani said during a cabinet meeting. “We are a member of the IMF […

] if there’s going to be any discrimination between Iran and others in giving loans, neither us nor world opinion will tolerate it,” he said in televised remarks. Iran announced on March 12 that it had requested the loan from the IMF to help fight what was then one of the world’s deadliest COVID-19 outbreaks. Iran has not received assistance

from the IMF since a “standby credit” issued between 1960 and 1962, according to IMF figures. According to the IMF’s website, a Rapid Financial Instrument “is available to all member countries facing an urgent balance of payments need”. Iran says it has confirmed more than 62,500 coronavirus infections and more than 3,800 deaths. AGENCIES

virus may spark 'devastating' global condom shortage SUDDEN POPULATION BOOM, STDS MAY BECOME AN ADDITIONAL PROBLEM FOR WORLD KUALA LUMPUR AGENCIES

A global condom shortage is looming as the coronavirus pandemic shutters factories and disrupts supply chains, the world’s top maker of the contraceptives said, with the United Nations warning of “devastating” consequences. Over half of humanity has been confined to their homes as the highly contagious virus marches round the planet, while governments worldwide have ordered the closure of businesses deemed non-essential. Malaysia — one of the world’s top rubber producers and a major source of condoms — imposed a nationwide lockdown last month as infections surged to the highest level in Southeast Asia. But restrictions on the operations of Malaysian contraceptive giant Karex, which makes one in every five condoms globally, mean the firm expects to produce 200 million fewer condoms than usual from mid-March to mid-April. With other producers around the world likely facing disruption and difficulties in getting condoms to market due to transport problems, supplies of contraceptives will be hit hard, warned Karex chief executive Goh Miah Kiat. “The world will definitely see a condom shortage,” Goh told AFP. “It’s challenging, but we are trying our best right now to do whatever we can. It is definitely a major concern — condom is an essential medical device. “While we are fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, there are also other serious issues that we need to look at,” he said, adding he was particularly worried about supplies of condoms to developing countries. UN SOUNDS ALARM: The UN is also sounding the alarm, with its sexual and reproductive health agency warning it can currently only get about 50-60 percent of its usual condom supplies due to virus-related disruptions. “Border closings and other restrictive measures are affecting transportation and production in a number of countries and regions,” said a UN Population Fund spokesperson, adding they were taking steps such as adding extra suppliers to support urgent needs. The agency, which works with governments worldwide to support family planning, said a key concern was being able to ship condoms to where they were needed quickly enough — and warned the poorest and most vulnerable would be hit hardest if stocks run low. “A shortage of condoms, or any contraceptive, could lead to an increase in unintended pregnancies, with potentially devastating health and social consequences for adolescent girls, women and their partners and families,” said the spokesperson. There could also be a rise in unsafe abortions and an increased risk of sexually transmitted infections and HIV, the agency said. Even as factory shutdowns and border closures throw the condom industry into chaos, demand appears to be increasing. Goh said condom making companies had seen growing demand as people worldwide are confined to their homes, while Indian media reported that condom sales had jumped 25-35 percent in the week after the country of 1.3 billion people announced a lockdown.

Why African Americans are dying at higher rates from COVID-19 NEW YORK AGENCIES

The new coronavirus isn’t biased about who it infects — so why does data emerging from some states suggest that African Americans are bearing the brunt of the pandemic in the US? Experts say blacks are disproportionately impacted by underlying health conditions linked to poverty, face discrimination in medical care, and are more likely to work jobs that require them to leave their home. “We know that blacks are more likely to have diabetes, heart disease, lung disease,” the nation’s top doctor, Surgeon General Jerome Adams told CBS News on Tuesday. These chronic illnesses, which are in turn linked to poverty and structural racism, can lead to more serious forms of the COVID-19 disease. Adams, who is himself black and has high blood pressure and asthma, added: “I represent that legacy of growing up poor and black in America.

“And I, and many black Americans, are at higher risk for COVID.” EMERGING TREND: There is no nationwide data available on COVID-19 cases by race, but a pattern of over-representation by black Americans has emerged in states or jurisdictions that are sharing the numbers. Sixty-eight percent of coronavirus deaths in Chicago have been among African Americans, who make up just 30 percent of the city’s population. “Those numbers take your breath away,” the city’s mayor Lori Lightfoot said Monday at a coronavirus briefing. “This is a call to action for all of us.” The trend is repeated in North Carolina, Louisiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and the capital Washington. Doctor Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, told AFP the issue was also linked to social class, with black people more likely to work jobs deemed essential that expose them to potential infection. “That population is more public facing,”

he said. “More bus drivers, more people taking public transportation to work, more people providing services in nursing homes, more folks working in grocery stores.” STRUCTURAL BIAS: The problem is compounded by implicit and explicit bias

CMYK

that African Americans face in the medical system. Doctor James Hildreth, president of the historically black Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee told AFP that in his city, most of the initial testing took place at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Most of the patients who go to hospital systems like these have insurance, and it was only recently that three assessment centers run by the city of Nashville were built for the underprivileged and minority communities — one of them located at Meharry’s campus and run by its staff. “My point is, depending on which community you live in, and whether or not you have insurance… the chances for getting assessed are much less,” he said. What’s more, it’s well documented that when black people seek care, they are less likely to have their symptoms believed or get adequately treated, Doctor Ebony Hilton, an anesthesiologist at the University of Virginia Medical Center told AFP. For example, black women are less likely to have their breast cancer mammograms seen by a specialist as opposed to a general radiologist, according to a 2012 study from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Black heart patients who present with elevated levels of a group of proteins indicating cardiac injury are also less likely to be seen by specialists, per a 2018 study.

Thursday, 9 April, 2020

SPORTS 11

WAqAR YounIS uRgeS PCB To PRevenT MASS exoduS of ToP TALenT fRoM TeST CRICkeT Lahore

Agencies

ATIONAL bowling coach Waqar Younis has said that the absence of experienced quicks Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz during the Test series in Australia last year caused the team a “massive setback”. “Of course you can’t stop anyone or force anyone. But there should be a policy by the board,” Waqar said in a video conference with reporters. “If a star player suddenly leaves, or drops a format, it’s a massive setback for the team. You’re forced to fast-track rookies, which is a big problem and we faced it in absence of Amir and Wahab. “I’m not saying we’d have won in Australia with them, but we could have

Paraguay court releases Ronaldinho into house arrest in Asuncion hotel Asuncion: A Paraguayan judge on Tuesday ordered the release of Brazilian football great Ronaldinho and his brother into house arrest while they await trial on charges of using false passports to enter the country. Judge Gustavo Amarilla told reporters that he had ordered the “continuation of house arrest in a hotel for Ronaldinho and his brother.” The pair were jailed one month ago to await trial, but their lawyers have posted bail of $1.6 million. Ronaldinho, considered one of the greatest footballers of all time, was a star of Brazil’s 2002 World Cup win and played for European giants Barcelona, Paris SaintGermain and AC Milan, among others. The ruling means the brothers can swap their grim police cell block — which has also housed Paraguay’s former soccer federation chief and the ex-speaker of the lower house of parliament — for a plush colonial-style hotel in downtown Asuncion. The brochure of the refurbished 107-room Palmaroga Hotel, located in the capital’s historic center, describes it as offering “a seamless blend of early 1900s Renaissance grace and modern comfort as well as luxury.” Agencies

Australia star Smith hoping for IPL action ‘at some stage’

Melbourne: Australian cricket star Steve Smith is hoping the Indian Premier League will be held “at some stage” as sports events around the world remain on hold because of the coronavirus. The cricket calendar has been hit hard by the deadly pandemic, including India’s lucrative and star-studded IPL Twenty20 tournament, which was due to begin on March 29. The opening match was pushed to April 15 but it is unclear if the this year’s IPL will be played at all or cancelled altogether. “Plenty going on in the world at present, but hopefully we can get an IPL at some stage,” said Smith, in a podcast published Tuesday by IPL side Rajasthan Royals, which he captains. “The two seasons that I captained the Royals were both half seasons. Shane Watson gave me the captaincy in 2015 and then last year out of the blue, I took over at the back end of the season,” he added. “Looking at having a crack at it full time and the Royals have a pretty good squad.” Aside from the IPL, Smith also has his eyes on another big prize: winning a Test series in India. “As an Australian cricketer — Ashes is always big and World Cups are big,” he told New Zealand spinner Ish Sodhi in the Royals podcast. “But now India is the number one team in the world, it’s a very difficult place to play Test cricket, so I’d love to be able to win a series there,” added Smith, currently the topranked Test batsman in the world. Agencies

done better, benefiting from their experience.” Waqar felt Pakistan needed a bigger pool of fast bowlers to cope with the demand of limited-overs cricket and was optimistic he could help create one. “The way cricket has expanded, having four-five fast bowlers is not enough,” he said. “You probably need four-five mature bowlers for test cricket. But for the shorter formats, you need a bigger pool of bowlers, who can share the massive workload. “Naseem (Shah), Musa (Khan), Haris (Rauf), Dilbar (Hussain)... if we can harness them with Amir, Wahab and (Mohammad) Abbas, I think we can have a battery of 8-10 fast bowlers. “And once we have that, we’d never be affected by anyone quitting abruptly and can rotate them. “Bench strength is crucial. You need to create a pool, which even those on the bench are match-winners themselves.”

Virus prevents play at Trump-opened world’s biggest cricket stadium MuMbai Agencies

There is no larger symbol of the global sports shutdown than cricket’s 110,000seater Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad, opened by US President Donald Trump, but yet to see a ball bowled. India’s newest and the world’s biggest cricket stadium lies empty because of the coronavirus pandemic. Where there should be the sound of leather on willow and the roar of the crowd, there is only silence. Just a few weeks ago, it had been packed to capacity as Trump and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi stood side-by-side in a show of pomp and ceremony for the February 24 inauguration. Eclipsing Australia’s 100,000-capacity Melbourne Cricket Ground, it was rumoured to be in line to host the final of this year’s Indian Premier League, the world’s richest Twenty20 tournament, watched by millions worldwide. But then came COVID-19. The pandemic has brought the sporting world to a grinding halt with massive events including the Tokyo Olympics, football’s European Championships, golf and tennis majors, and the glitzy IPL postponed. “There was hardly any time between the Trump event and the pandemic,” a senior Gujarat Cricket Association official told AFP on condition of anonymity, adding that once cricket resumes, the stadium could be ready “in double-quick time.” “Just five percent work is remaining and it just needs the finishing touches,” the official added. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has pushed back the IPL from its original start date of March 29 to April 15, but with the number of coronavirus cases in India exceeding 5,000 and still rising, pressure is grow-

Stokes crowned Wisden’s leading cricketer in the world london: Ben Stokes has ended Virat Kohli’s three-year reign as Wisden’s leading cricketer in the world after playing a starring role in England’s World Cup win last year. The 2020 Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, published on Thursday, crowns the swashbuckling allrounder as the sport’s pre-eminent player. He is the first England player to receive the honour since Andrew Flintoff in 2005. The 28year-old won the man-of-the-match award in the World Cup final against New Zealand at Lord’s and then produced a remarkable matchwinning innings of 135 not out in the third Ashes Test against Australia. “Ben Stokes pulled off the performance of a lifetime — twice in the space of a few weeks,” said Wisden editor Lawrence Booth. “First, with a mixture of outrageous talent and good fortune, he rescued England’s run-chase in the World Cup final, before helping to hit 15 off the super over. “Then, in the third Ashes Test at Headingley, he produced one of the great innings, smashing an unbeaten 135 to pinch a one-wicket win. “Against red ball or white, he was a force of nature.” Stokes in January won the International Cricket Council’s player of the year award. England pace bowler Jofra Archer, who bowled the super over in the World Cup final, is among Wisden’s five cricketers of the year. Agencies

Tottenham issue warning after Mourinho and players seen training

ing for it to be shifted again, truncated or scrapped. unobsTrucTed VieWs: The $100-million, circular venue, promises unobstructed views and has state-ofthe-art facilities including an Olympicsized swimming pool as part of a multisports complex. Next door, a refurbished venue on the site of the former 49,000-capacity Motera Stadium will serve as a venue for cricket, football and hockey. Critics have charged that it is another “white elephant” vanity project in Modi’s home state, following the completion of the world’s largest statue there in 2018 - also dedicated to independence hero Sardar Patel. The giant Statue of Unity measures 182 metres tall (597 feet) — twice the height of New York’s Statue of Liberty. Modi was Gujarat chief minister for 13 years until 2014, and revamping the former Motera stadium had been long a pet project. Home Minister Amit Shah, a close ally, headed the Gujarat Cricket Association till last year and his son Jay

Shah is the secretary of the BCCI, the world’s richest and most powerful cricket board. Despite cricket being wildly popular in India, domestic first class matches — and even some international Test matches — are often played to nearempty stadiums. The only matches guaranteed to attract big crowds are IPL games and one-day internationals — and even then it depends on the quality of the opposition. The nation of 1.3 billion people already has more than a dozen stadiums capable of hosting international cricket, although in the off-season they can be used for other events. “You are left wondering whether it is a rock concert venue, (or) is it a cricket stadium?” ESPNcricinfo senior editor Sharda Ugra told AFP. “I would have hoped that there would have been some analysis on the kind of grounds that India needs now. “We have a lot of these giant grounds in which you have one international match in two years.”

london: Tottenham Hotspur have reminded players of their responsibilities during Britain’s coronavirus lockdown after pictures and video on social media emerged of manager Jose Mourinho and several members of his squad that appeared to show them flouting socialdistancing rules. Portuguese boss Mourinho was pictured training with Tanguy Ndombele on Hadley Common, while Davinson Sanchez and Ryan Sessegnon were seen running side by side in the same public park in north London. Spurs full-back Serge Aurier also posted a video of himself jogging alongside another person on Instagram. The Premier League has been suspended since mid-March due to the spread of COVID-19. The outbreak has seen the British government introduce a strict series of measures which, while they allow individuals to go out for a walk or exercise once a day, state they must remain at least two metres apart unless they are with a member of the same household. “All of our players have been reminded to respect social distancing when exercising outdoors,” said a Tottenham spokesperson on Tuesday. “We shall continue to reinforce this message.” Tottenham had already been criticised during the outbreak for applying to the British government’s furlough financial assistance programme for company wage bills last week on the same day it was revealed Spurs chairman Daniel Levy was paid £7 million ($8.7 million) last season. Agencies

What if Pakistan had won the 2007 T20 World Cup? Lahore Agencies

It was all about the build-up. Pakistan had lost and then won the game in the way only Pakistan can, from 77 for 6 and needing ten runs an over, to a decidedly more friendly equation of six off the last four balls. , a mere stripling at 33, gave us an early glimpse of those tuk-tuk BOOM powers, and coming into the final over, the weight of Indian expectations had settled on and his medium-dobbers. He starts with a wide, before Misbah crunches the second legitimate delivery, a full toss, for six. And then, and then… the scoop. We can all picture the moment, as Misbah walks across in premeditated fashion, only to plop the limpest of shots into the bread basket of Sreesanth at short fine leg. But what if, in an alternative timeline, he played the ball on merit? A slowish, length delivery outside off stump - time to set the

feet and larrup it straight back down the ground. Okay, maybe this one doesn’t go for six, but the pressure has truly got to Sharma now. He wobbles down another wide, and Misbah then calmly nudges the one to unleash delirium among Pakistan’s fans. Denied what would have been an unexpected victory in a tournament they had actively lobbied against, India quickly loses interest in T20. Lalit Modi’s idea for an “Indian Premier League” is mothballed, while carries the can for failure, widely ridiculed for giving the final over to Sharma. He returns to Jharkhand, cuts his flowing mane and is never picked for India again, instead becoming a helicopter pilot in his spare time. We enter the age of Misbah the Finisher, as Pakistan’s hero becomes an all-formats mainstay. He takes over the Test captaincy in early 2010, overseeing a tour of England in which the team is lauded for their sportsmanship and good conduct. The following year, Misbah is at

CMYK

it again, timing his late assault to perfection to knock India out of the World Cup semi-final on home soil. He retires with

Pakistan holding the Test mace, and in his country’s next general election, pips Imran Khan to the role of prime minister.

Thursday, 9 April, 2020

NEWS

NYC virus deaths exCeed 4,000, toppiNg toll for 9/11 attaCks TRUMP THREATENS TO CUT WHO’S FUNDING, SAYS GROUP ‘MISSED THE CALL’ ON THE PANDEMIC AND THAT IT WAS ‘VERY CHINA-CENTRIC’ NEW YORK

AGENCIES

EW York City’s death toll from the coronavirus rose past 4,000 on Tuesday, eclipsing the number killed at the World Trade Center on 9/11. In Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson lay in intensive care, believed to be the first major world leader hospitalized with the virus. The twin developments came even as the crisis seemed to be easing or at least stabilizing, by some measures, in New York and parts of Europe, though health officials warned people at nearly every turn not to let their guard down. After 76 days, China finally lifted the lockdown on Wuhan, the city of 11 million where the outbreak began. The COVID-19′s toll in New York City is now more than 1,000 deaths higher than that of the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil, which killed 2,753 people in the city and

2,977 overall, when hijacked planes slammed into the twin towers, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field on Sept. 11, 2001. New York state recorded 731 new coronavirus deaths, its biggest one-day jump yet, for a statewide toll of nearly 5,500, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. “A lot of pain again today for many New Yorkers,” he said. But in an encouraging sign, the governor said hospital admissions and the number of those receiving breathing tubes are dropping, indicating that social distancing measures are succeeding. And alarming as the one-day increase in deaths might sound, the governor said that’s a “lagging indicator,” reflecting people who had been hospitalized before this week. Over the past several days, in fact, the number of deaths in New York appeared to be leveling off. “You see that plateauing — that’s because of what we are doing. If we don’t do what we are doing, that is a much different curve,”

EU rescue talks fail as Netherlands blocks virus compromise

Cuomo said. “So social distancing is working.” Still, 6-foot (2-meter) social distancing has become impossible at times in the city’s subway system. With service drastically reduced, essential workers are encountering some busy trains as they head to their jobs. Photos taken in Brooklyn showed riders sitting or standing within inches of each other, some not wearing face masks. Across the U.S., the death toll neared 13,000, with close to 400,000 confirmed in-

fections. Some of the deadliest hot spots were Detroit, New Orleans and the New York metropolitan area, which includes parts of Long Island, New Jersey and Connecticut. New Jersey recorded over 1,200 dead, most of them in the northern counties where many residents commute into New York City. In London, the 55-year-old Johnson was in stable condition and conscious at a hospital, where he was receiving oxygen but was not on a ventilator, officials said. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab was designated to

run the country in the meantime. “For all of us in Cabinet, he is not just our boss. He’s also a colleague, and he’s also our friend,” Raab said. “And I’m confident he’ll pull through, because if there’s one thing I know about this prime minister, he’s a fighter.” Deaths in Britain reached nearly 6,200, after a one-day increase of almost 800. President Donald Trump trained his anger at the World Health Organization and threatened to freeze U.S. funding for it, saying the international group had “missed the call” on the pandemic and that it was “very China-centric.” Throughout his presidency, Trump has voiced skepticism toward many international organizations and has repeatedly heaped scorn on the WHO. In its most recent budget proposal in February, his administration called for slashing the U.S. contribution to the WHO from an estimated $122.6 million to $57.9 million. Trump suggested the WHO had gone along with Beijing’s efforts months ago to minimize the severity of the outbreak. The WHO has praised China for its transparency on the virus, even though some public health experts regard the country’s figures with suspicion. “They should have known and they probably did know,” Trump said of WHO officials. On Wall Street, a strong rally propelled by signs that the outbreak may be leveling off in some hard-hit parts of the world evaporated after the price of crude oil suddenly fell. Stocks ended the day slightly lower. China, which officially recorded more than 82,000 infections and over 3,300 deaths, reported 62 new cases — 59 of them brought from outside the country — and two additional deaths Wednesday.

Pakistan boycotts SAARC meeting led by India NEWS DESK

BARCELONA AGENCIES

EU finance ministers failed on Wednesday to agree on a rescue plan to help hard hit member states face the coronavirus outbreak, after the Netherlands blocked the deal over bailout conditions. “After 16 hours of discussions, we came close to a deal but we are not there yet. I suspended the Eurogroup and (we will) continue tomorrow Thursday,” said Eurogroup chief Mario Centeno. Bickering EU finance ministers were unable to bridge differences on how to rebuild their economies after coronavirus, with a North versus South split that recalled the worst days of the eurozone debt crisis. The European economy has been battered by the pandemic as national governments impose strict lockdowns that have closed businesses and put normal life on hold. The ministers’ video conference dragged on from Tuesday into Wednesday, with Italy and Spain insisting on having no strings attached to the aid plan on the table. With tensions running high, ministers put off an especially touchy discussion on a solidarity fund that would be paid for by European partners jointly borrowing money on the financial markets. Sometimes called “coronabonds”, this proposal was firmly resisted by Germany and the Netherlands and ministers ‘SENSIBLE’ CONDITIONS: Berlin and its allies insist that any European rescue should use the eurozone’s existing 410-billion-euro ($443-billion) bailout fund, as well as wait to see the effects of the massive monetary stimulus already unleashed by the European Central Bank. Sources said the talks dragged on over how to use the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) bailout fund to help countries that need it, with the Dutch insisting that help could not come without some pledge for reform in return. “Because of the current crisis we have to make an exception and the ESM can be used unconditionally to cover medical costs,” said Dutch Finance Minister Wopke Hoekstra. “For the long term economic support we think it’s sensible to combine the use of

the ESM with certain economic conditions,” he said. Opting instead to issue bonds to raise the necessary funding would only “create more problems than solutions for the EU,” he added in a tweeted message. France and Germany, the eurozone’s most powerful states, said they had agreed on the terms of using the bailout fund, which could offer a total of up to 240 billion euros. “With German Finance Miister Olaf Scholz, we call on all European states to rise to the exceptional challenges to reach an ambitious agreement,” France’s Bruno Le Maire said after the talks ended. NO TROIKA: Entering the meeting, Italy said it would refuse recourse to the ESM, which was created in 2012 during the eurozone debt crisis when states like Greece no longer had access to borrowing on the markets. ESM programmes come with strings attached for countries that use it — heavy conditions that Italy and Spain say they would refuse if other capitals were to try to impose them. They fear having their public spending scrutinised by Brussels auditors, as happened to Greece and Portugal after their bailouts. Northern countries insist that conditions can be kept to a minimum given the cause of the crisis, but that in the longer term a country would have to get their finances in order. “In the end it was the Dutch who made excessive demands on conditionality,” an EU diplomat said. “The Dutch were very tough. Without the Netherlands, we would have come to an agreement,” the diplomat added. Whatever is eventually agreed by the ministers will then go to EU leaders. Last month leaders met but failed to agree a bailout due to their differences and tasked the ministers to break the logjam. Italy and Spain, backed then by France, wanted Brussels to back the idea of “coronabonds,” a shared debt instrument sold on the markets to raise money. Also under discussion is a lending facility from the European Investment Bank for struggling small and medium-sized businesses, and a guarantee fund for certain national unemployment schemes to be run by the European Commission.

Pakistan on Wednesday refused to participate in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) virtual conference of trade officials, saying such meetings should have been led by the group’s secretariat instead of India. The meeting of trade officials from eight-member SAARC was convened to discuss the impact of COVID-19 in the region and how the forum could come up with a common strategy. A statement issued by the Foreign Office on Wednesday gave a detailed explanation as to why it opted out of the conference. “Being a founding member, Pakistan believed that SAARC provides an important platform for regional cooperation,” the statement read. “The role of the secretariat assumes further salience in emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and its wider social and economic fallout,” it said. The statement said as, in the case of other regional and international organisations, the SAARC secretariat also provides the requisite convening platform, institu-

tional framework and support structure for essential coordination and follow-up. “Activities such as today’s trade officials’ video conference could only be effective if spearheaded by the SAARC secretariat. Since the secretariat was not part of today’s video conference, Pakistan chose not to participate,” Foreign Office spokesperson Aisha Farooqui explained.

She said for the SAARC process to move forward, its secretariat must be enabled to play its due role in any event or activity being organised under the SAARC auspices. “At a time when the region is facing unprecedented challenges, all the available institutional frameworks must be optimally utilised,” she added.

Afghan govt to release 100 Taliban prisoners KABUL AGENCIES

An Afghan official said on Wednesday that the government will release 100 Taliban prisoners under the peace deal. A day earlier, the insurgents said they were walking out of talks with Kabul. The two foes have been negotiating in Kabul since last week to try to finalise a prisoner swap that was originally supposed to have happened by March 10 and pave the way for “intra-Afghan” peace talks between Kabul and the Taliban. But the swap has been beset with problems, with Kabul claiming the Taliban want 15 “top commanders” to be released, while the insurgents have accused Afghan authorities of needlessly wasting time. “One hundred Taliban prisoners will be released today,” said Javid Faisal, spokesman for Afghanistan´s Office of the National Security Council.

“We are doing our part in the agreement. The peace process should move forward.” Faisal said the 15 commanders were not among those being released, and that additional prisoners would be freed “depending on what the Taliban do”. The insurgents did not immediately comment. The United States signed a deal with the Taliban in late

February that required the Afghan government — which was not a signatory to the accord — to free 5,000 Taliban prisoners, and for the insurgents to release 1,000 pro-government captives in return. In the accord, Washington promised the withdrawal of US and foreign troops from Afghanistan by July next year, provided the Taliban start talks with Kabul and adhere to other

guarantees. On Tuesday, the Taliban´s political spokesman Suhail Shaheen accused the administration of President Ashraf Ghani of “intentionally postponing the release and breaching the deal”. He said the Taliban would pull their negotiators out of “fruitless” discussions with the Afghan government over the prisoner swap.

Published by Arif Nizami at Plot No 66-C, 1st Floor, 21st Commercial Street, Phase-II (Extension), DHA Karachi and printed at Ibn-e-Hassan Printing Press, Hockey Stadium, Karachi. Ph: 021-35381208-9. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk