Epaper_03-04-2023 LHR

Monday, 3 April, 2023 i 12 Ramzan, 1444

Qureshi questions PPP loyalty to Constitution amid PDM ‘attack’ on judiciary

Profit

LHC takes up Imran’s plea for dismissal of 121 cases today

Maryam Nawaz says Imran’s plan to sabotage CPEC foiled

Saudi arabia, OPEC+ PrOduCErS annOunCE SurPriSE Oil OutPut CutS

UNExPECTED voLUNTARy CUTS CoME IN ADDITIoN To oNES ALREADy AgREED UPoN IN oCT

profit reuters

SAUDI Arabia and other opec+ oil producers on Sunday announced voluntary cuts to their production amounting to around 1.15 million barrels per day (bpd) in a surprise move they said was aimed at supporting market stability.

The group had been largely expected to stick to its already agreed 2m bpd cuts when its ministerial panel, which includes Saudi Arabia and Russia, meets virtually on Monday.

Last october, opec+, which comprises the organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (oPEC) and allies led by Russia, agreed on output cuts of 2m bpd from November until the end of the year, angering Washington as tighter supply boosts oil prices.

The US has argued that the world needs lower prices to support economic growth and prevent Russian President vladimir Putin from earning more revenue to fund the Ukraine war.

Sunday’s unexpected voluntary cuts, which start from May, come in addition to the ones already agreed upon in october.

Riyadh said it would cut output by 500,000 bpd while Iraq will reduce its production by 211,000 bpd, according to official statements.

The UAE said it would cut production by 144,000 bpd, Kuwait announced a cut of 128,000 bpd while oman announced a cut of 40,000 bpd and Algeria said it would cut its output by 48,000 bpd. Kazakhstan will also cut output by 78,000 bpd.

Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak also said on Sunday that Moscow would extend a voluntary cut of 500,000 bpd until the end of 2023. Moscow announced those cuts unilaterally in February following the introduction of Western price caps.

After Russia’s unilateral reductions, US officials said its alliance with other opec members was weakening, but Sunday’s move shows the cooperation is still strong.

The Saudi energy ministry said in a statement that the kingdom’s vol-

untary cut was a precautionary measure aimed at supporting the stability of the oil market. oil prices fell to 15-month lows earlier this month in response to the banking crisis that followed the col-

lapse of two US lenders and resulted in Credit Suisse being rescued by Switzerland’s biggest bank UBS. “opec is taking pre-emptive steps in case of any possible demand reduction,” Amrita Sen,

Nawaz expected to spend end of Ramadan as royal guest in Saudi Arabia

founder and director of Energy Aspects, said on Sunday.

‘Pakistan to place order for Russian crude oil in May’

PRofit: Minister of State for Petroleum, Musadik Malik, has announced that the government will be placing its first order for Russian crude oil next month. The move comes after the country decided to explore the possibility of buying discounted Russian oil, a decision made by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar last year.

During talks with Moscow officials, the Pakistani government announced it would purchase discounted crude oil, petrol, and diesel from Russia. Technical issues such as insurance, transportation, and payment mechanisms were addressed during a three-day meeting in January 2023, which culminated in a joint statement from both countries.

After achieving consensus on technical specifications, the oil and gas trade transaction will be structured in a way that will have mutual economic benefits for both countries. The discounted oil will arrive in Pakistan via sea, taking approximately 26 to 27 days. Malik also clarified that Russia had assured the Pakistani government that they were giving Pakistan a discount as much as any other neighbouring country was receiving. He explained that the mechanism for separate gas tariffs for the rich and poor was devised on the orders of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif.

The distinction between the rich and poor will be determined by the usage of gas. This usage remains the same for the rich but reduces for the poor in winter, from November to March. In Pakistan, 60% of the population is poor, and for them, the gas tariff has either been reduced or kept the same as in the past. The same is true for the petroleum subsidy. Under it, the rich will pay Rs300 for petrol, and the poor will pay Rs200 for the commodity. Monitoring Desk

Pakistan has no diplomatic, trade ties with israel, fo reiterates

iSLAMABAD

staff report

The Pakistan Foreign office and Ministry of Trade and Commerce on Sunday outrightly rejected reports of any trade links with Israel, saying Islamabad has no diplomatic and trade relations with Israel and termed such reports “sheer propaganda.”

The response from Islamabad came days after the American Jewish Congress (AJC), an association of American Jews organised to defend Jewish interests abroad, announced that the first shipment of food products from Pakistan was offloaded in Israel.

The Foreign office spokesperson reacting to the reports of sale of Pakistani commodities in the Israeli markets said there is no change in Pakistan’s policy about the Jewish state. The trade transaction involved a Pakistani-Jewish businessman, Fishel BenKhald, and three Israeli businesspeople. BenKhald runs a Jewish kosher certification business in Karachi, exporting products to destinations worldwide.

The rare bilateral trade included dates, dry fruit and spices and was disclosed via Twitter. A video clip posted by BenKhald on his Twitter account has gained over two million views.

However, the ministry dismissed the AJC release, saying that it was misrepresented, and that even in its press release, there was no mention of official trade between Pakistan and Israel.

A spokesman added that Pakistan did not have any trade relations with Israel and did not intend to develop any. The ministry also noted that there was no involvement of any banking or official channel in the matter.

The spokesman emphasized Pakistan’s trade policy with countries, citing the Import Policy order 2022, which prohibits

trade with various economies.

The spokesman stated that Pakistan is committed to the issue of the origin and that any potential trade with Israel is not supported by the government. Separately, Foreign office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch told geo News the country has no diplomatic or trade relations with Israel. Baloch emphasized that there has been no change in Pakistan’s policy towards Israel.

Pakistan is a staunch supporter of demands for an independent Palestinian state and has no diplomatic relations with Israel. ‘No one permitted to engage in any trade activities with Israel’

Separately, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah told Independent Urdu that the incumbent government did not permit anyone to engage in any trade activities with Israel.

“We will conduct an investigation into this,” he said. “Now we are receiving information that in the previous regime, Imran Khan had given similar permission to someone but nothing of this sort has come up to our notice, information, or inquiry right now.”

Another member of the current cabinet, Prime Minister’s

Special Representative on Interfaith Harmony and the Middle East Tahir Ashrafi — who was also a part of the Imran Khan government — told state media that Benkhald was permitted to go to Israel by the PTI government.

Talking to APP, he said the Pakistani-Jewish businessman exported some goods including dates, dry fruit, and spices to an Arab friendly country and later on, managed to dispatch them to Israel. Dispelling the impression that trade ties were being established between Pakistan and Israel, he was quoted as saying: “As per reports, neither the Ministry of Commerce, nor the Ministry of Foreign Affairs furnished Fishel any no-objection certificate (NoC).” It may be noted that controversy over Pakistan’s ties with Israel had been stirred last year over a reported visit of a “Pakistani delegation” to Israel.

The Fo spokesperson in a statement had clarified that the “reported visit in question was organised by a foreign Ngo which is not based in Pakistan” and that Pakistan’s position on the Palestinian issue was clear and unambiguous.

Commerce Ministry dismisses Pak-israel trade rumours as propaganda

A press release issued by the Ministry of Commerce here on Sunday said that the rumors about the commencement of Pakistan-Israel trade is sheer propaganda and is a press release of the American Jewish Congress which was misrepresented. Even in their press release, they nowhere mentioned about official trade between Pakistan and Israel. However, neither do we have any trade relations with Is-

rael nor do we intend to develop any, the ministry clarified.

Earlier, reports were circulating that a Jewish Pakistani Fishel Benkhald has sent food samples to three businessmen in Jerusalem and Haifa through UAE in personal capacity whom he met in foreign countries during food exhibitions.

Nevertheless, it was not supported by the government of Pakistan and no banking or official channel was involved either in such activity.

Moreover, in our talks with UAE, the issue of origin will be strictly implemented. UAE has curtailed tariffs on 96 percent goods traded with Israel which has benefited traders from UAE to Israel.

Fawad accuses PdM oF attacking constitution

LAHORE Staff RepoRt

FAWADChaudhry, the senior vice president of Pakistan Tehreek-iInsaf (PTI), has stated that the meetings and announcements of criminals who violate the constitution and orders hold no significance.

Reacting to the statements made at the meetings of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) parties, Chaudhry

criticised the group for spreading chaos and incitement in Pakistan, saying it was hoped that they would apologise for the deaths of two dozen citizens who died while standing in queues for flour.

However, instead of expressing remorse, they launched a direct attack on Pakistan’s constitution while continuing their history of brutality.

According to Chaudhry, this same fascist group is responsible for the severe economic and political crisis in Pakistan. They have disrupted the base of the

Poor polices of Pti govt responsible for ‘economic turmoil’: tarar

ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) Atta Tarar on Sunday said that the previous government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was responsible for damaging the economic sector of Pakistan. “Imran’s party had made tough agreements with International Monetary Fund (IMF), he said while talking to a private news channel. He said the people were facing problems due to weak policies introduced by the PTI regime.

Next elections should be held in October’s second week, he suggested. He said that the government was engaged in compiling the data by conducting a census and after completing the process, the ECP would organize elections in a transparent manner. The government would provide all required facilities to the Election Commission of Pakistan for holding free and fair elections in October, he added.

‘Scathing remarkS againSt imran

khan’: Meanwhile, Central leader of PML-N Talal Chaudhry on Sunday made scathing remarks against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, calling him a watch thief and foreign agent who will be disqualified. Chaudhry’s statement took aim at Khan’s alleged failure to disclose his daughter’s adoption status in his nomination papers, which he characterized as a grave insult to humanity. Chaudhry further stated that Khan was making decisions as a “lying foreign agent” on behalf of a “terrorist and criminal” political party. He called for the cancellation of party [PTI] registrations specifically for “terrorist foreign-funded parties.” In addition, he questioned the legality of those who committed violent acts, such as throwing petrol bombs at police, assaulting the court, threatening the judge, and breaking the court’s gate, demanding to know under which legal article such actions should be categorized.

kaira stresses rule of law and stability for country’s development

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Qamar Zaman Kaira, the advisor to the prime minister on Kashmir affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, spoke to a news station Sunday and emphasised that his Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) always respected the Constitution of the country, as the rule of law maintains stability and helps to uplift the country’s matters.

Kaira also commented on the recent controversy surrounding Toshakhana gifts and criticised Imran Khan, the chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), for selling the gifts and not disclosing the earned income in his income statement, which he alleged was a clear case of “tax evasion.”

He further accused Khan of failing to disclose the proceeds from the sale of Toshakhana gifts in his wealth declaration submitted to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), which he added was also a flagrant violation of the law.

Kaira clarified that taking gifts from Toshakhana was not a crime, but selling gifts received as head of government was not morally correct.

He emphasised the importance of transparency and accountability in public office and urged all public officials to declare their income and assets accurately to avoid any accusations of tax evasion.

economy and the government’s policies during the last 11 months.

Chaudhry stated that the only solution to the political and economic crises in the country is transparent elections, but the PDM is trying to entangle the nation in confusion about judges and benches to escape from the elections, which are supposed to be held within 90 days as per Article 224 of the constitution.

Chaudhry emphasised that the issue is not about a nine, seven, five, or threemember bench; it is a matter of a

constitutional deadline of 90 days for the elections. He further added that through audio leaks, this criminal-minded group wants to target the judges and keep the Supreme Court away from protecting the constitution, while also trying to keep the bench busy in protests against its formation.

Chaudhry believes that the Supreme Court should be allowed to protect the constitution and take legal action against the perpetrators.

Marriyum accuses Imran of creating chaos and anarchy

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum

Aurangzeb has accused Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan of creating economic, political, and constitutional crises in Pakistan.

In response to Khan’s remarks in a recent interview, Aurangzeb called for the youth to be “saved” from his “fitna” (mischief).

Aurangzeb went on to criticise Khan for failing to deliver on his promises to the nation, including his pledge to end corruption in 90 days and create 10

Kashmir PM promises to address community demands for medical facilities

MUZAFFARABAD app

The prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir has pledged to provide high-quality medical facilities to the people in the liberated territory. Sardar Tanveer Ilyas made this announcement during a meeting with a delegation from the Mirpur Healthcare Community, led by Dental Surgeon Dr. Adnan Marghoub Khan and Dr. Ijaz Raja.

The delegation presented a charter of demands on behalf of the community, which included increasing the honorarium of house officers and post-graduate trainees in the upcoming budget, increasing the salary of medical officers and specialists, granting allowances to doctors working in remote areas, regularization of 120 doctors with more than five years of ad-hoc service who served during the Covid-19 pandemic, addressing the shortage of staff at Kashmir Institute of Cardiology, Mirpur on an emergency basis, immediate appointment of a Nephrologist at DHQ Mirpur, the permanent appointment of a psychiatrist at DHQ Mirpur, the establishment of an Oncology Hospital in Mirpur for the treatment of cancer patients, enhancing post-graduate training opportunities, starting mendelian susceptibility to mycobacterial diseases (MSMD) program organized by universities in various specialties, and allocation of 100 kanals of government land for doctors in all three divisional

headquarters of Mirpur, Rawalkot, and Muzaffarabad.

Ilyas agreed to all the demands and assured the delegates that their legitimate demands would be fulfilled. He also promised to address any problems faced by the community on a priority basis.

Additionally, during his next visit to the city, he would pay a detailed visit to Benazir Bhutto Medical College. The delegation included Dr. Ashfaq Ahmad Raja, Dr. Tahir Mehmood, Dr. Gohar Latif, Dr. Ahmed Naeem Kayani, Dr. Shoaib Khan, Dr. Majid Altaf, Sajid Ahmad Chaudhry, and others. Medical Superintendent Divisional Headquarters Teaching Hospital Mirpur Dr. Amir Aziz and Principal Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Medical College Professor Dr. Faisal Bashir were also present on the occasion.

In a separate meeting, the central chairman of the Zakat Council, Chaudhry Muhammad Siddique, called on Ilyas who directed the concerned authorities to ensure the fair distribution of zakat among the poor and needy in Kashmir. He also requested that an amount of Rs6,000 and Rs12,000 be paid as zakat and dowry funds to the needy.

Siddique briefed the prime minister about the issues related to the Zakat Council. Ilyas assured him that all the problems faced by the Council would be addressed on a priority basis.

Government ministers including Chaudhry Yasir Sultan, Chaudhry Ali Shan Soni, and Chaudhry Maqbool Gujjar were also present during the meetings.

Talks with MQM-P, other old allies restarted, claims Pervaiz Elahi

LAHORE Staff RepoRt

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Pervaiz Elahi claimed on Sunday that his party had restarted talks with its old allies, including the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P).

In his statement, the former Punjab chief minister went on to claim the MQM-P was of the view there was no benefit to continuing to extend support to the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).

“The Balochistan government and the GDA are also having reservations over the government’s antistate policies,” Mr Elahi claimed. In connection with the alliance, PTI chairman Imran Khan will reveal the next strategy after summoning the meeting of all the parties, he added.

Bashing Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) supremo Nawaz Sharif, Mr Elahi said, “The cabinet meeting has been presided over by absconder Nawaz Sharif, which is a big joke with the nation and the institutions of the state.”

Mr Elahi went on to claim the PDM’s tactics of delaying the elections will be thwarted.

On Friday, former Punjab chief minister Pervaiz Elahi said on that the Supreme Court (SC) bench will not be formed at the will of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior vice president Maryam Nawaz.

Mr Elahi called on the former Punjab Assembly lawmakers, during which he recounted his tenure –from 2002 to 2007 – as the Punjab chief minister,

Mian Channu

and then we did. Let’s hope we all see the moon on the same day.

saying, “The international institutions highlighted the development and prosperity in Punjab during my tenure from 2002 to 2007. The global institutions declared the developing countries’ prosperity to be a role model.” He took a jibe at Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and accused him of “transforming the agricultural province [Punjab] into Ethiopia.”

In connection with the judicial reform, Mr Elahi said, “It has been written clearly in Article 141 that the parliament cannot do legislation against the Supreme Court.” Earlier on Saturday, PTI Chief Imran Khan said that PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi and President Pervaiz Elahi had been tasked with establishing contacts with other parties and politicians, adding that there were no restrictions on any partymember meeting other political figures. In this connection, PTI Secretary general Asad Umar met Jamaat-i-Islami Pakistan Ameer Sirajul Haq in Mansoora to discuss the prevailing political situation While PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi met Allama Nasir Abbas Rizvi of Majlis-i-Wahdatul Muslimeen.

never pass these days, not with the Supreme Court’s judgement on Article 63A still in the field). It got worse, because he was gunned down in the election campaign that year (1993).

million jobs and five million houses. She accused him of lying to the people and vowed to hold him accountable for his actions.

The minister also accused Khan of violating the Constitution and blamed his “facilitators” for abetting him in his crimes. She called for all those who assist Khan in spreading “chaos and anarchy” to be held accountable.

Aurangzeb ended her statement by declaring that Khan’s time was up and that he would be disqualified for his involvement in receiving foreign funding, stealing an expensive wristwatch from Toshakhana, and the parental issue of Tyrian White.

significant decline in militant attacks in March 2023: Picss

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

A significant decline in militant attacks was observed during March 2023; however, resultant casualties remained almost the same as in February 2023. The security forces foiled many attacks during the month by eliminating at least 38 militants while arresting 35 others.

According to statistics released by an Islamabadbased think tank Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), March 2023 witnessed a 36 percent decline in militant attacks compared with February 2023. The think tank reported 37 militant attacks during March, in which 57 people were killed and 72 injured. February had witnessed 58 attacks, in which 59 people were killed and 134 wounded. PICSS also recorded a decline in suicide attacks in March, as only one such attack was reported, while February witnessed three suicide bombings. There was a fifty percent decline in the number of militant attacks in Balochistan, but resultant deaths slightly increased. The militants carried out 11 militant attacks in March, in which 28 people were killed and 35 injured. The lone suicide attack in March was also reported from the Bolan area of Balochistan, where ten people were killed. The attack was claimed by DAESH and a new group Tehreek-eJihad Pakistan separately.

The most significant improvement in the security situation was observed in the tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Six militant attacks were recorded in March against 16 in February, while the deaths declined from 16 to five. However, the most high-profile attack also occurred in the former FATA region, where ISI sector commander Brigadier Mustafa Kamal Barki was killed in South Waziristan.

Mainland KP witnessed a rise in militant attacks and resultant deaths during March 2023. The militants carried out 16 attacks in the province in which 21 people died while 30 were injured. In February, the province had witnessed 13 attacks in which six people were killed and eight were wounded.

No militant attack was reported from Punjab, while four attacks were reported from Sindh, where three people were killed. In February, ten people were killed and 18 injured in three reported militant attacks in Sindh. During March, no violent militant activity was reported from Punjab, Islamabad, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Pakistani security forces foiled many attacks during the month. The most significant action was taken in the border town of Chaman, where on March 6, Pakistani security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in Chaman and recovered arms and ammunition dumped in a compound.

These included 10 suicide vests, 15 anti-tank mines, readymade IEDs, 10 detonators, 64 circuits, 140 anti-personnel landmines, seven mortar shells, 105 fuses, 230 electric detonators, and 18 remotes.

In another IBO, the security forces gunned down a facilitator of the February 11 suicide bombing against Mari Petroleum in North Waziristan. The main focus of the security forces was on conducting intelligence-based operations. At least 25 such operations were reported in which 38 suspected militants were killed and 35 others were arrested.

I’ve lived through one Ramazan in the winter, obviously a long time ago, so I can wrap my head around fasting and wearing a sweater. But that I would be doing so in April fasts was beyond me. The earlier part of Ramzan at least has passed in unseasonally balmy weather, and it is almost as if it’s raining every day.

I wonder whether this has raised the bar for next Ramzan. That’s a year away, though, and it’s of more interest whether we will celebrate one Eid. Well, we’re in lockstep with the Arab world, but it was because the Arabs failed to see the moon,

I suppose there will be some who will think Hamza Yousaf becoming Leader of the Scottish Nationalist Party, and then First Minister of Scotland in quick order, something of a Ramzan miracle. Well, his connection is to Mian Channu, from where his grandfathers both migrated It’s funny about migrations. The late Ghulam Haider Wyne migrated to Mian Channu, from Amritsar, and rose to become first Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly (when Mustafa Jatoi entered the National Assembly, he stepped back to become Leader of the IJI parliamentary party), and then Punjab Chief Minister. He was ousted through a no-confidence motion (which would

Hopefully, Hamza Yousaf won’t have his First Ministry ended so abruptly (though he should watch the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Assembly, Alison Johnstone, very carefully, lest she pull a Manzoor Wattoo on him), nor his life.

However, provincial chief executives named Hamza (admittedly a somewhat small set, with one other member, Hamza Shehbaz) don’t have a great record. So Hamza Yousaf should try to keep in good with the judiciary. He does want to end up like Hamza. I mean, perhaps the only thing worse than being a court-ordered CM is being ousted as CM as the result of a court order.

For a change, let’s look at a politician about to be indicted. With woman trouble.

No, we’re not talking about the Cuptaan, the Toshakhana or Tyrian White. We’re talking about Donald Trump and Stormy Daniels. She was a porn star who had an affair with Trump in 2018. However, she took $130,000 from Trump’s lawyer in 2020 to sign a Nondisclosure Agreement about the affair. Trump is accused of campaign finance violations.

Similarly, Imran is not being accused of adultery, though a charge would lie, but of not declaring a child on his nomination papers. Under Muslim personal law, Imran would be unrelated to the girl, as he never married her mother, and does not have to mention her on the nomination form. However, no one has taken that plea. I wonder why?

There’s all sorts of funny things happening in politics, and Dr Amber Shahzada, that gadfly of politics, has passed away. A sign that the Punjab polls will not take place? Admittedly, I don’t think Dr

Amber ever fought a provincial seat, going down, or rather crashing, to defeat in the National Assembly polls in Nawaz Sharif’s constituency.

He perhaps showed the dangers of doing a masters’ in philosophy. And the party he founded, the Aap Janab Sarkar Federation, is said to be named after three (female) students of the Philosophy Department at GC. Proof that the female is deadlier than the male came in Nashville, Tennessee, where a female indulged in the grand old American sport of school shooting, killing six. Or was it some feminist thing, showing that women can kill randomly too? It wasn’t a first, only rare. According to the Violence Project, in 172 mass shootings (with four or more killed) since 1966 in the USA, only four have been by women. Well, let’s hope this doesn’t give the terrorists ant ideas. Males accounted for the four policemen, a DSP and his guards, killed in Lakki Marwat.

MarriyuM dePlores Pti’s ProPaganda against Free Flour scHeMe

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

MINISTERfor Information and Broadcasting Marriyum

Aurangzeb on Saturday fired a broadside at the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for unleashing a targeted social media campaign against the free flour scheme launched by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to provide relief to the masses in the holy month of Ramzan.

“Ironically, those who have looted the people’s flour, bread and sugar for four

years are trying to make the prime minister’s free flour scheme controversial,” she said while referring to the previous government’s tenure.

The minister, in a news statement, said the PTI leadership which had a “dirty mindset” did not even spare peoplecentric projects, politicizing them just to achieve their ulterior motives.

Marriyum urged the media to refrain from publishing false and anti-public news which reflected such “filthy mindset”.

Imran Khan might have ordered infected wheat during his government’s

Funeral prayers of soldiers martyred in kech terrorist attack offered

RAWALPINDI Staff RepoRt

The funeral prayers of the four martyred soldiers of the Pakistan Army were offered in their native towns and were laid to rest with full military honours on Sunday.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) news release, the Namaz-e-Janaza of Naik Shair Ahmed, Lance Naik Muhammad Asghar, Sepoy Nursing Abdur Rasheed and Sepoy Muhammad Irfan was offered in Kehrar Buzdar (Taunsa), Kot Addu (Muzaffargarh), Manjhipur (Sohbat pur) and Dab Gorweel (Dera Ghazi Khan) respectively. All four martyrs embraced martyrdom in an attack by a group of terrorists operating from the Iranian side of the border during a routine border patrol along the Pakistan-Iran Border in Jalgai Sector, District Kech, Balochistan. Meanwhile, senior serving and retired officers and soldiers, relatives and a large number of people attended the funerals. “Armed Forces of Pakistan stand resolute to eliminate the menace of terrorism at all costs. These sacrifices reaffirm our resolve and strengthen our faith in the fight against terrorism to provide a peaceful Pakistan to our future generations,” the ISPR said.

Masjid-e-Haram’s video clip becomes center of attraction on globe

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Saudi Press Attaché Dr. Naif Alotaibi on Sunday said a viral video clip of Masjid-e-Haram on social media had become the center of attraction of Muslim Ummah around the world. Sharing the bird’s-eye view video clip of Masjid-e-Haram, Makkah on his twitter handle, he told APP that its original duration was one hour recorded, half an hour before the Maghrib prayer and half an hour afterwards. Dr. Naif said the entire duration of the one-hour video had been shortened to one minute which gives an eye-catching view to the viewers. In another tweet, he shared another video clip in which a policeman helping a young child in tying the Ahram in the Mataf area of Masjid-e-Haram properly. Paying tribute to the policemen deputed in Masjid-e-Haram and elsewhere in Saudi Arabia, he said they always tried their best to help the pilgrims through all possible means. Dr. Naif further said under the dynamic and visionary leadership of Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman and Custodian of the Haramain Sharifain King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, the religious tourists were being extended all-out support during their holy journey in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

cM orders action against elements hunting rare birds

QUETTA

Staff RepoRt

Chief Minister Balochistan, Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo, while directing the concerned authorities for taking legal action against the elements involved in illegal hunting of crane in district Zhob and Qamardin Karez, has said that safeguarding crane and other rare birds be ensured at any cost. In a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Secretariat here on Sunday, he said illegal camps set up for hunting crane in district Zhob and Qamardin Karez be removed by the district administration forthwith. He directed the concerned authorities for taking legal action against persons involved in hunting crane, adding that it was the responsibility of government to protect forests and wildlife. He said that crane, a rare bird, migrate to Zhob and Qamardin Karez area of Balochistan, adding that those persons involved in illegal hunting of crane bird be held accountable to ensure the protection of that rare bird.

tenure, she said sarcastically while dismissing reports circulating on the social media regarding distribution of low quality edible at free flour centers.

She said that it was beyond her understanding that why the PTI leadership got hurt when the projects like metro, orange train, free flour and electricity were initiated for the people of Punjab.

Imran Khan, who had deprived the people of sugar and wheat, was worried that how Shehbaz Sharif had been ensuring free distribution of these edibles among the masses, Marriyum remarked. She said people did not need to

worry as the country no longer had a prime minister like Imran Khan who did not only render the people jobless by robbing them of their employments, but also forced them to have their three times meal on Langar Khana (food centres).

The minister said that now the country was blessed with a prime minister like Shehbaz Sharif who worked tirelessly to chart Pakistan on path of progress and development by ensuring massive job opportunities for youth and reducing poverty.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has resumed all the development projects that

were halted by Imran Khan who now bent on politicizing the free flour scheme, she added.

‘ProPaganda of nonavailability of flour baSed on falSehood’: Meanwhile, the Punjab government spokesman said that propaganda of non-availability of flour in open market was based on falsehood.

According to a press release issued here on Sunday, he said that Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf leaders should refrain from misguiding people. He said that PTI was just targeting public welfare oriented projects just to strengthen its shop of lies.

The spokesman said that implementation on provision of free flour scheme was successfully carried out in the province. He informed that till now more than 30 million deserving people had been facilitated under this scheme and free flour was a direct relief for the needy people, saying that besides free flour, it was also available in open market in sufficient quantity.

LHC hears contempt plea against Maryam Nawaz today

LAHORE Staff RepoRt

The Lahore High Court (LHC) will take up for hearing a contempt of court petition against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Chief Organizer Maryam Nawaz on Monday (today).

According to LHC roster on Sunday, a twomember bench headed by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi will hear the contempt of court plea filed by Advocate Shahid Rana against PML-N senior vice president and chief organizer Maryam Nawaz.

It is pertinent to mention here that the single bench rejected the contempt court petition earlier after which an appeal has been filed by the advocate challenging the verdict of the single bench.

The petitioner contended that Maryam Nawaz leveled allegations against the judges of the Supreme Court, adding that she had committed contempt, urging the court to punish her as per the law.

On March 30, a contempt plea was filed in Lahore High Court (LHC) against the PML-N Senior VicePresident and Chief Organizer Maryam Nawaz for scandalizing the senior judges.

The intra-court appeal filed by advocate Shahid Rana stated that Maryam Nawaz is the head of a major political party. She accused the senior judges of the judiciary, the plea stated. He said that there is a proper platform to report If there is any objection against a judge.

Hereby, the court is urged to start contempt court proceedings against the PML-N Chief Organizer Maryam Nawaz.

Belgium values Pakistan’s efforts for peace: Envoy

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Pakistan

Charles Joseph M Delogne on Sunday said that Pakistan was an important country in the region and Belgium valued its efforts for bringing peace and stability. The envoy made the remarks during a seminar titled “Pak-Belgium Relations: Past, Present and Future” which was organized by Policy Institute for Peace and Development (PIPD) and Bahria University, Islamabad.

“Pakistan and Belgium enjoy friendly and cooperative relations based upon common interests and shared values of democracy, pluralism and trust,” he added. The ambassador said that the bilateral diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Belgium were established soon after Pakistan’s independence in 1948. He further said that both countries had strong trade and economic relations in the areas of Textile, Pharmaceutical products, machinery, medical equipment, iron, steel and chemicals.

Addressing the students, he highlighted the two types of academic scholarships; ARES and VLIROUS that can be acquired by HEC and Ministry of Education directly with the counterparts in Brussels.

President Policy Institute of Peace & Development Ms. Wadana Khattak stressed upon the

sindh willing to take over Hesco, sePco, kP ready with ‘strings attached’

CONTINUED FROM BACk PAgE

crucial role of cultural diplomacy and people to people contact in bringing the nations closer.

“Culture, art, music and sports, two countries can build a stronger and lasting relationship with each other,” he added.

She expressed the dire need for cross-cultural collaboration between Pakistan and Belgium both at the government and public level to further enhance the ties and foster the already strong diplomatic relations. Dean Department of Social Sciences Dr. Adam Saud presented a scholarly expose at the historical and current perspective of relations between Belgium and Pakistan while exploring the new domains of cooperation and strengthening of bilateral ties. He said that there exist a number of areas in which Belgium and Pakistan can jointly work to benefit mutually from such as information technology, science, medical and industrial research and agricultural innovation.

Barcode turns 50 but its days might be numbered

CONTINUED FROM BACk PAgE

The following year, on June 26 in the US state of Ohio, the first product was scanned: a pack of chewing gum that is now in the National Museum of American History in Washington. Today, the non-governmental organisation Global Standard 1 manages the barcode system and counts about two million firms as members. It provides companies with a unique “global trade item number” for each product, which is then translated into the barcode.

Each firm must pay an annual fee based on their sales, up to nearly $5,000 per year. But the humble barcode will soon give way to another standard developed by the organisation, said Renaud de Barbuat and Didier Veloso, the respective heads of GS1 Global and GS1 France. The new standard, based on QR, or Quick Response code, will be introduced around 2027. If barcodes have been compared to prison bars by critics of the overcommercialisation of society, the Chinese game Go

with its white and black pieces on a square board was the inspiration for the QR code’s Japanese creator, Masahiro Hara. Developed in 1994, QR codes can hold much more information as they are read both horizontally, like barcodes, and vertically. Instead of having to search a database for information to go along with a product, the QR code can integrate information directly, such as the composition of the product and recycling instructions.

GS1 believes moving to the QR code format allows the sharing of far more information about products as well as content, enabling new uses that will be accessible to consumers as well as retailers. As smartphones can read QR codes, they are an easy way to send people to websites to get additional information, leading to their widespread adoption by companies, artists and even museums. They are even used by payment systems.

But barcodes are likely to remain in place for years to come as the world gradually transitions to QR codes. Staff RepoRt

The Secretary Law proposed management transfer with sale of 26 percent shares rather than an outright transfer of 100pc shares. After detailed deliberation, the sources said that the Chair concluded the session with some decision including next meeting may be held on 17th or 18th April, 2023, the case for extension in time may be taken up with the Prime Minister, some spade work on the basis of above discussion as well as ToRs of the committee may be carried out, the matter of privatization including floating of 26% shares on stock market may also be looked into etc.

It is pertinent to mention that Shehbaz Sharif-led coalition government is giving a serious consideration to transfer of power distribution companies (DISCOs) to provinced for which Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has constituted the 11-member committee.

The committee is comprised of Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif (Chair), Minister for Power Khurram Dastgir Khan, Minister for Commerce Syed Naveed Qamar, Minister of State for Petroleum Musadik Malik, provincial chief ministers and ministers nominated by CMs, Dr Muhammad Jehanzeb Khan, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Government Effectiveness, Finance Secretary, Secretary Power (Secretary of the Committee), Secretary Privatization Commission, Secretary Law & Justice and Provincial Chief Secretaries.

The committee may co-opt member(s) from regulatory bodies such as the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) etc. for input on any regulatory aspect if required.

As per the Terms of Reference (ToRs) of the committee, it shall examine the current constitutional framework for the transfer from federal government to respective provincial governments. It shall also chalk-out the list of legal requirements that have to be complied, and if needed, suggest a legal framework specific for the purpose. Likewise, the committee shall examine requirements of NEPRA with regard to the change of ownership of its licensees and the steps involved therein as also examine regulatory requirements of other regulators including the SECP, SBP, and CCP and outline the compliances required for the transfer of ownership of equity. It shall draft intent, principles and the scope of the framework agreement to be signed between the federal and provincial governments regarding the mechanism for the transfer. Similarly, it shall recommend the principles and parameters for transfer through an agreed transitional plan, eventually leading to full provincial responsibility for sustainable financial functioning of the DISCOs.

Besides, Dr Syed Tauqir Shah, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister has informed the secretary power and all concerned about the development in a letter dated 17th March 2023.

Punjab ombudsman reports significant improvements in service delivery

MUHAMMAD AHMAD SAAD

Punjab Ombudsman retired Maj. Azam

Suleman Khan has released the annual performance report for the year 2022 of his office under Section 28(1) of the Punjab Office of the Ombudsman Act, 1997.

According to the report, the ombudsman office successfully resolved 29,970 complaints out of a total of 31,149, resulting in an impressive 96 percent resolution rate.

Of these, 26,511 complaints were addressed within 45 days, while 3,459 applications took longer than 45 days due to some administrative facer.

The effective handling of public complaints has resulted in a cumulative financial relief of Rs13.842 billion for both plaintiffs and the government; this relief included the recovery of 29,363 kanals of state and private lands in various districts in the province valued at Rs9.117 billion. The total financial assistance provided to the

plaintiffs amounted to Rs4.725 billion. The Office of the Ombudsman has also released the list of the top 10 departments against whom this office received the highest number of complaints in 2022. The revenue department had a total of 5,584 complaints, followed by the police with 4,324 complaints, local government & community development with 3,681 complaints, school education with 1,791 complaints, housing, urban development & public health engineering with 1,690 complaints, primary & secondary healthcare with 1,461 complaints, higher education with 983 complaints, communication & works with 959 complaints, accountant general Punjab with 946 complaints, and irrigation with 821 complaints.

In addition, 150 eligible complainants have been provided with regular employment in provincial government departments by this office under Rule 17-A of the Punjab Civil Servants (Appointment

and Conditions of Service) Rules, 1974. Apart from this, the home department carried out the province-wise verification of 1.5 million arms licenses on the intervention of the ombudsman office. The agency is fully cognisant of children who are one of the most vulnerable segments of society and are facing multifarious hardships because of a lack of basic facilities for leading a safe and healthy childhood. Its Chief Provincial Commissioner for Children resolved 246 cases relating to violation of child rights and violence against them. The OCPCC has been striving to safeguard child rights through advocacy, investigation, mass awareness, etc.

Also, it constituted a working group of experts from line departments to save children from online harassment or exploitation. This group advises the provincial government about the protection of children’s rights.

Meanwhile, there was a 73 percent increase in the number of complaints received in 2022 compared to 2021, with 31,149 new

complaints received compared to 17,968 in the previous year. Likewise, the proportion of complaints handled in 2022 was over 70 percent, compared to 2021, where 17,654 complaints were processed.

The ombudsman office also provided Rs13.842 billion in relief to government agencies and applicants in 2022, a significant increase from the Rs.1.452 billion provided in 2021.The law allows presentations to the governor against the decisions of the ombudsman by individuals or public bodies.

In 2022, the governor accepted only 26 of a total of 403 appeals, leaving a ratio of 99.12 percent of decisions remaining in force.

It’s sanguine that out of the 3,80,206 complaints registered from 1996 to 2022, a staggering 99.24 percent were successfully addressed, with 3,77,339 complaints resolved. This exceptional rate of resolving public grievances attests to the effectiveness of the ombudsman’s efforts as the role of the ombudsman office is critical in ensuring

good governance, promoting public trust, and discouraging inefficiency and corrupt practices at the grassroots.

It’s noteworthy that five office buildings have also been built in Dera Ghazi Khan, Jhang, Mianwali, Attock and Muzaffargarh in 2022 and land is acquired for eight more district offices in 2023. Alongside this, the ombudsman office has established a research and analysis wing to study and recommend remedies for corrupt practices.

It’s heartening that the ombudsman office has undergone a complete digital transformation, with the implementation of a 24/7 digital helpline 1050 for complaint registration and public guidance. In 2022, the Office of the Ombudsman Punjab took another initiative for overseas Pakistanis to provide them with ease of information, registration of complaints, track status and accessibility of regional offices working in all the districts of Punjab. They can come in contact with this office 24/7 without any hassle.

Elections or otherwise?

The Supreme Court will convene today (Monday) with all eyes on it. A sadly-reduced bench from the one originally named remains, three judges left after six of the original nine judges remaining have removed themselves or been otherwise dropped, will hear the case. The PML(N) sees the bench as consisting of the core of PTI activists, so-called ‘likeminded judges’. Its leaders have said in so many words that they will not accept the bench’s verdict if it is against its wishes. That statement is ominous enough, for the structure of the Constitution is based on the acceptance by all of the decisions of the Supreme Court, especially when it is declaring what the Constitution and the law say. It becomes even more ominous when the country’s Interior Minister, who happens to be the PML(N) Punjab President, makes such a statement.

earlier remarks from the Supreme Court have indicated that the Court will rule in favour of the PTI, and declare that elections must be held on April 30, as announced by the President, The election Commission of Pakistan had put forward the elections for two reasons: lack of funding, and of security personnel. These essentials were to be provided by the Finance, Defence and Interior Ministries. One possibility is that the money and people are being held back because of government reluctance. The other is that these things are really not there. What happens if the Supreme Court orders these Ministries to provide the eCP what it needed. And they didn’t.

Then if the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Bill, under which the original suo motu notice would be determined by a committee of judges rather than the Chief Justice alone, came into play? Or what if the President doesn’t give assent?

The consequences of disobeying the Supreme Court are extremely grave. however, that does not mean the Supreme Court may pass any order it likes, even if it cannot be obeyed. Of course, it must be clear that refusal is not at all the same as inability. At the same time, the Dupreme Court must be fair: ‘not only must justice be done, but it must be seen to be done’, as the adage says. While no party may be allowed to choose its decisions, the impression that the Court favours one party over the other must be avoided. That is the real question the Supreme Court must ask itself: has it helped create such an impression, or hindered it?

Carbon neutrality through carbon markets and carbon accounting

Green Banking can play a key role

The famous proverb “When Life Gives you lemons, make lemonade!” sums up the idea of developing Carbon Markets in Pakistan, where Lemons are the rising amount of industrial, agricultural, construction, and vehicular Greenhouse Gas (GhG) emissions, and Lemonade would be the carbon credits traded in the carbon markets.

Carbon markets are trading systems in which carbon credits are sold and bought. A carbon credit represents one ton of carbon dioxide or equivalent greenhouse gases that have been reduced, avoided, or removed by a mitigation activity. The carbon market is a way to increase climate ambition and lower carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere by creating a financial incentive to curb emissions. Countries can trade carbon credits, which each represent one tonne of CO2, with each other in a global marketplace.

Carbon credits can be used to finance the implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), UN-SDGs 2030 or encourage investments in climate-mitigation projects such as renewable energy generation, regenerating forests and mangroves, biodiversity conservation, and food security. More than two-thirds of countries are planning to use carbon markets to meet their NDCs to the Paris Agreement. The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), adopted under the Kyoto Protocol in 1997, is an international compliance market.

Under the CDM, emission-reduction projects in developing countries have generated carbon credits used by industrialized countries to meet part of their emission-reduction targets. Pakistan has abundant potential carbon mitigation and adaptation options and could benefit greatly from collaboration in carbon emission trading with other developing countries like China.

The development of eco-friendly projects, like renewable energy, in the Green China Pakistan economic Corridor (Green CPeC), will not only foster Pakistan’s energy transition but also create carbon credits. Pakistan can sell or trade carbon credits from projects like the ‘Billion Tree Tsunami’, to GhG emitters who wish to offset the negative effects of their GhG emissions, through carbon markets. Pak-

Rediscovering the road map

IMF programmes are not enough

the IMF for 23 times since 1958 has not been able to get out of the economic quagmire?

The reality is that successive governments have been making false claims about development and hoodwinking the people in regards to the real situation. All of them have availed IMF facilities but have been criticizing each other for accepting harsh IMF conditions. It has been used as a fall guy without any restraint for political point scoring contrary to the fact that their governments could not have survived without its timely support of the IMF.

istan can participate in the global carbon credit market by taking steps to reduce its carbon footprint and earn carbon credits in return.

There are several ways Pakistan can earn carbon credits including the development of renewable energy projects, forest conservation programmes, energy efficiency measures, and waste management projects. Pakistan is an agricultural country having the potential to earn carbon credits by adopting sustainable agricultural practices. This can create positive economic impacts for the farmers by creating opportunities for creating saleable carbon credits. The sustainable development of Pakistan’s blue economy can also reduce the carbon footprint. Carbon markets can either be the Carbon Compliance Market (CCM) or the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM). Pakistan needs the development of a Carbon Compliance Market to fully achieve the various benefits of carbon trading and operate effectively in the global carbon market. The Government of Pakistan may set up a regulatory authority to monitor and manage Pakistan’s carbon market and put pressure on the polluting industries to limit GhG emissions.

The regulatory authority can implement a ‘Cap and Trade’ mechanism to limit GhG emissions. Under this regulatory mechanism, the government issues a set amount of permits to companies that comprise a cap on allowed CO2 emissions. Companies that surpass the cap have to pay carbon taxes, while companies that cut their emissions may sell or trade unused carbon credits. A carbon tax is a form of carbon pricing through which the emitters pay for their carbon emissions. An important step towards reducing GhG emissions through carbon markets is the development of a digital infrastructure that keeps verified data secure and ensures that GhG emission reductions are accurately accounted for and tracked.

lowed by carbon assessment. Carbon assessment is the evaluation of numerical data of the greenhouse gas emissions provided by carbon accounting. Carbon assessment can help a company thoroughly understand its carbon emissions, and therefore help strategically plan for more environmentally and economically sustainable business operations.

The development of an effective and efficient carbon market complemented by the implementation of carbon accounting and assessment across industries can not only mitigate the adverse economic effects of pollution but also provide financial benefits for Pakistan.

Pakistan is lagging in the global carbon market scenario, and it is time that all stakeholders join together so Pakistan can move forward in the carbon credit and trading sector and achieve both economic and environmental sustainability.

The banking industry of Pakistan can play an instrumental role in this regard by providing green financing for eco-friendly industries and Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) including project types such as reforestation, avoided deforestation, improved forest management, and agroforestry, which can be used for carbon trading. Green Banking synchronizes with carbon accounting by focusing on all three scopes of emissions, that is,, direct carbon emissions, indirect emissions, and emissions during value chain activities. Concerned stakeholders should be provided training on the GhG Protocol, which is a widely recognized standard for carbon accounting developed by the World resources Institute and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. Carbon accounting and assessment may also be included in the academic curriculum at the university level.

GhG Accounting or Carbon Accounting can play an instrumental role in this regard.Carbon accounting is the process of calculating the total greenhouse gas emissions associated with an organization’s operations. These emissions include carbon dioxide, methane, and fluorinated gases that contribute to rising temperatures and climate change. By quantifying these emissions, public and private institutions can identify opportunities to reduce their carbon footprint and develop strategies for mitigating the environmental impact of their operations.

The process of carbon accounting should be fol-

culties involved and their understanding of them. It is a common and national cause which should take precedence over narrow political agendas and egos. The political leaders and parties need to understand that economic viability strengthened through political stability provided the only means of salvation from the current imbroglio. Politicking can surely wait for better times.

Pakistan is lagging in the global carbon market scenario, and it is time that all stakeholders join together so Pakistan can move forward in the carbon credit and trading sector and achieve both economic and environmental sustainability. According to a UNeP report, the development of a carbon market can help slash carbon emissions with clearly defined rules and transparency in the absence of any greenwashing. every year, we count down together across the globe to celebrate earth hour and switch off the lights. This year let us take a step beyond and play our part in decarbonizing Pakistan and creating a sustainable path towards the creation of a Net Zero economy.

The writer has a PhD in Green Banking and is working as a Chief Manager - Green Banking Office, Bank AL Habib Limited, Pakistan. He can be reached at aasimalibukhari@yahoo.com.

Editor’s mail

There is no doubt about the fact that the prevailing economic impasse is a cumulative outcome of the wrong and directionless economic policies pursued by successive governments over the last three decades. Almost all the finance ministers appointed on the basis of political considerations failed to deliver and made matters even worse. They did not have the spine to oppose steps they were forced to adopt out of political reasons rather than keeping the stark economic ground realities in view. Unfortunately all the governments relished the populist approach to the economic issues, not realizing that they were pushing the country towards a hole which would ultimately enhance the chances of Pakistan becoming a failed state.

The specific reasons leading to the current volatile economic situation are: tax structure heavily reliant on indirect taxes which account for 70-72 percent of all revenue collected in the country and affect the poor segments of the society more than the rich; lack of reforms in the power sector and making the masses pay for its inefficiencies and corruptionby frequent raise in the utility rates and conveniently blaming IMF for the economic woes to deflect political backlash; rising budget deficit; excessive reliance on external borrowing during 2013-17 and artificially keeping curbs on rupee-dollar parity and consequently showing low mark-up and principal payments in the budgets which led to accumulation of unmanageable current account deficit; record borrowing during 20182021; wriggling out of the commitments made with IMF leading to increased mistrust and the continuing political instability in the country.

The challenge is so enormous that the incumbent government has not been able to create any impact during the last one year it has been in power. resultantly the people and country continue to bear the brunt of the irrational indiscretions of the successive governments. I think it was the right time not to find scapegoats like the IMF to pass on the blame for our economic difficulties, but to adopt a realistic approach to the economic challenges confronting the country.

Though the measures suggested by the IMF ostensibly seem harsh, they are the right recipe to stem the rot in the economy and put it on the path of sustained economic growth. Is it not ironic to note that Pakistan, in spite of going to

The fact is that at present we have no choice except to re-join the IMF programme. however, it will be naïve to assume that with the revival of IMF assistance the economy of Pakistan will suddenly embark on the path of sustained economic growth. The economy is in such shambles that the managers of the economy have no quick-fix solution to reverse the economic meltdown immediately or to mitigate the sufferings of the people belonging to the lower strata of the society. The agreement with the IMF and promised assistance by friendly countries might help in coping with the immediate financial crisis but does not constitute a long term recipe for the revival of the economy.

Looking at the long term perspective there is an indispensable need to take realistic decisions as warranted by economic realities without bothering about the political cost involved. We owe this course correction to posterity. however any reforms will be meaningless without ensuring political stability in the country, which plays the role of a catalyst in economic advancement.

It is therefore not only incumbent upon the government to embark on realistic economic reforms, but also on all other political stakeholders to lend their support to such initiatives and take the masses into confidence as to the diffi-

My personal opinion is that our politicians may not be able to tread the path of political reconciliation on their own initiative due to the prevailing intractable polarization. As things stand at the moment it looks a remote possibility. Therefore, they will have to be nudged by a third party, either the establishment or the judiciary to come together and find a way out in the national interest. We surely need a growth model premised on a charter of economy evolved through consensus of all the stakeholders, reforms in the system of governance and settling all the contentious political issues particularly the way we elect our representative. So it has to be a comprehensive dialogue instead of only settling the election date.

We have wasted 75 years through rudderless pursuits and taken undesirable detours from the vision of the Quaid-eAzam and the objectives of independence. We can no more afford the continuation of this state of affairs. It is a now-ornever opportunity for us to recalibrate our economic and political approaches to find a way to our envisaged destiny.

In my considered opinion the formation of a national commission comprising economic experts, political scientists, constitutional experts and political leaders can help in re-discovering our road-map to peace and progress.

Malik Muhammad Ashraf is an academic. He can be contacted at: ashpak10@gmail.com.

Chopping down trees in name of security concerns is wrong

I am sure I am not alone in feeling dismayed and concerned by the decision to chop off huge trees along the Sindh Governor house that had been there for decades. every single tree plays a crucial role in mitigating the effects of pollution, and it is unfortunate that these trees have been cut down so mercilessly. Trees not only provide shade and beauty, they also play a crucial role in purifying the air we breathe. They absorb harmful pollutants, such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and sulphur dioxide, which are responsible for climate change and various health problems.

In an era where global warming and climate change are becoming increasingly pressing issues that the world is trying to fight against, it is disheartening to see the trees being cut down recklessly. It is rather ironic that this is being done at a time when we are asking the world to come to our aid and enable us to survive the horrors of climate change. We should actually be planting more trees and protecting the existing ones to preserve our environment for future generations.

The caption of the accompanying picture said the trees had been converted into wood as part of ‘security arrangements’ for the Governor house. While security is undoubtedly essential, it should not come at the cost of destroying nature. And, in any case, it is hard to believe that trees were posing any kind of security threat.

I urge the relevant authorities to reconsider their decision and take steps to preserve our environment. Spare the trees for the good of the public and for the good of the future generations.

Let us work together to make our cities greener and healthier, and protect our environment for the generations to come.

MUHAMMAD FAIZAN KARACHI

Losing all hope

IT seems that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief’s comments have not been taken seriously by the government and the media.

It amounts to a charge-sheet against the obnoxious political, economic and social structure, built up and imposed on the people that have divided our society into two clear segments; the haves and the have-nots. The criticism was directed at the elite rulers and the privileged ones, whether these comprise big land-owners, bureaucrats, unscrupulous businessmen, generals or judges.

The IMF chief’s remarks were a stark reminder to the power brokers of the country that carried an unambiguous message; get ready to change and reform or otherwise the nation perishes.

The IMF chief also dismissed the possibility of Pakistan negotiating debt restructuring with bilateral and multilateral creditors, as being advised by some economists and writers, without analysing the implications and complications involved. She termed it a dangerous proposition. For argument sake, even if the debt restructuring gets implemented, the economic and financial challenges would remain.

There is no solution to Pakistan’s economic woes unless the elite and the privileged classes take a radical departure from the existing route and share the pains and difficulties with the masses. It can only happen when the economy transitions from elite-based to pro-poor. I am not a pessimist, but I do not see this happening in my lifetime. I really don’t.

SHAISTA ANWAR KIRMANI KARACHI

The Supreme Court should rule, now that it has sorted out who’s hearing the case

Malik MuhaMMad ashraf

The formation of a national commission comprising economic experts, political scientists, constitutional experts and political leaders can help in re-discovering our road-map to peace and progress

a letter from Prometheus agha iqrar haroon

ON 29 April 2017, the then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif sacked one of his colleagues who sacrificed his whole career for the PML(N) and went through unimaginably rough times during Musharraf’s Martial Law (that is never mentioned as Martial Law by official documents of the state of Pakistan). The sacked ally was then Information Minister Pervaiz rasheed. The list of sacked officials also included the names of special advisers for Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi and Principal Information Officer (PIO) rao Tehsin.

A campaign against Tariq Fatemi and his family was already on the social media. Fake documents about his daughters and other fake information were flooded through paratrooper journalists who were allegedly launched by the military establishment in the market. however, there was nothing in sight against rao Tehsin and Pervaiz rasheed. Their sacking was big news indeed. When the tenure of Pervaiz rasheed ended as Senator and he tried to contest the next elections of the Senate of Pakistan, the election Commission of Pakistan (eCP) on February 18, 2021, rejected his nomination papers, stating that he was a defaulter of the Punjab house in Islamabad and his nomination would be accepted only after he cleared the dues. he said he was ready to clear his dues but the returning Officer accepted the objection to rasheed’s nomination and said that he failed to provide evidence regarding having cleared the dues. Pervaiz rasheed termed the development an “engineered attempt” to keep him away from contesting tne Senate polls. he moved to appeal where his review application was rejected by Justice Shahid Waheed after the arguments in the case were finished. Since then Pervaiz rasheed is working without any official status but stands with the party as a rock-solid wall.

rao Tehsin was a very promising, popular, and professional official of the Information Cadre and everybody thought he could be Secretary of Information

From Chanakya to Dawn Leaks COMMENT 05

The Dawn Leaks started the chain of events ending with putting Imran in the PM Office

before his retirement. Alas, his professionalism was dangerous for those who wanted to slice the PML(N) government into small pieces of the same size.

This all happened due to the famous (actually infamous) Dawn Leaks fiasco. “Dawn Leaks” was portrayed as a great conspiracy against Pakistan, its military establishment, and the people of Pakistan.

Now recently, during a conversation with journalist Shahid Maitla, the former COAS Gen (retd) Qamar Bajwa confirmed that Dawn Leaks was never a serious and big issue and Bajwa’s conversation with Maitla showed that Dawn Leaks was an engineered crisis for getting an extension given to former COAS Gen raheel Sharif. According to part three of an interview with Shahid Maitla, General Bajwa indirectly indicated that the Dawn story published in October 2016 was deliberately played up by General Sharif, in an attempt to argue for an extension from the then prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

The english-language newspaper, Dawn, in October 2016 published news about a high-profile security meeting in which military and civilian leadership allegedly had an exchange of hot conversation and it was claimed that information was leaked to the Dawn reporter by Pervaiz rasheed, Tariq Fatimi, and rao Tehsin. An inquiry was conducted and the inquiry report confirmed the alleged involvement of the above three personalities in leaking the information. however, this inquiry report had never been shared publicly by the conductor of the inquiry but all three members of the PML(N) government were not only sacked, ratherthey ended up in hot waters. The then Interior Minister Ch Nisar Aliallegedly played a part in disgracing Pervaiz rasheed, Tariq Fatimi, and rao Tahsin. however, Ch Nisar has always denied these allegations.

I as a journalist could understand that the removal of Pervaiz rasheed and rao Tehsin was the need of the day because they had been mitigating the media campaigns that had been launched against the PML(N) since the 2014 Islamabad Dharna. engineers of the campaigns against the PML(N) government were frustrated and Dawn Leaks was the best chance available to remove both who were considered as “irritants” allegedly by the military establishment. Once they were removed, the PML(N) was ruthlessly exposed to the media brigade of the PTI. Since then, the PML(N) has yet not come out of the media defeats it faces almost every day in social

media as well as traditional media arenas because more than five years were enough to create a big slur brigade targeting the PML(N),, and dismantling this brigade is not an easy job now.

removal of allies by the then prime minister Mian Nawaz Sharif was an indicator that Nawaz wanted to continue working with the military establishment, but the response that came from the other side was not promising, and later Mian Nawaz Sharif was sent home through court orders for not getting monthly salary from his son while he was shown as an employee for a firm of his son for getting UAe Iqama— an employment document that is useful for travelling frequently to UAe without getting through the visa process.

The Dawn Leak saga helps to understand several points including that once politicians start retreating from their position, then there is no end to it, and later or sooner they are thrown out of the arena. Another lesson learned is that weak control of the civilian government over media helps non-civilian actors to manipulate media against civilian governments. Mian Nawaz Sharif had faced the

Advice for Ajay Banga before he takes on the role of World Bank president

conversaTion

OVer the past two years, a drumbeat of calls for reforming the World Bank has pushed its way onto the front pages of major newspapers and the agenda of heads of state. Many low- and middle-income countries – the population the World Bank is tasked with helping – are falling deeper into debt and facing growing costs as the impacts of climate change increase in severity. A chorus of critics accuse the World Bank of failing to evolve to meet the crises.

The job of leading that reform is now almost certain to fall to Ajay Banga, an Indian-American businessman and former chief executive officer of Mastercard who was nominated by President Joe Biden to replace resigning World Bank President David Malpass. Nominations closed on March 29, with Banga the only candidate. There is no shortage of advice for what Banga and the World Bank need to do.

The G-20 recently issued a report urging the World Bank and the other multilateral development banks to loosen their lending restrictions to get more money flowing to countries in need. A commission led by economists Nicholas Stern and Vera Songwe called for a rapid, sustained investment push that prioritises transitioning to cleaner energy, achieving the UN sustainable development goals and meeting the needs of increasingly vulnerable countries.

African ministers of finance will soon come out with their own “to do” list for the World Bank, and India’s minister of finance just pulled together an expert group to consider World Bank reform.

Banga will walk into the job with these and many other to-do lists. Yet he will inherit a corporate culture that makes the World Bank Group too inwardly focused and too slow to respond. I have worked for the World Bank Group and with it from the outside. I see four key roles – four “C’s” – that Banga will need to master from the outset. From his track record and his reputation for deep thoughtfulness, I am confident that he can.

ACT AS A CEO: The World Bank Group is a conglomerate with four balance sheets, three cultures and four executive boards, plus a dispute resolution arm. Lending to low- and middle-income countries is just part of its role. The World Bank Group also provides technical assistance across all areas of economic development and invests in and provides risk insurance to encourage companies to invest in projects and places they might otherwise consider too risky. Its ability to mobilise private-sector finance and

stretch every dollar is crucial for meeting the world’s development and climate adaptation and mitigation needs. Banga will need to for each part of the World Bank Group and get them working more effectively to help the world achieve its goals.

ASSUME THE MANTLE OF COLLABORATOR IN CHIEF: Many of the World Bank Group’s client countries are facing both mounting debt and rising costs from climate change. The high cost of borrowing can hamper developing countries’ ability to invest in needed infrastructure to grow and protect their economies, and they fear being locked out of global trade as the United States’ green subsidies in the Inflation reduction Act and europe’s border carbon tax may make it more difficult for them to compete.

The solutions to cascading problems like these cannot be managed by one institution. however, the current multilateral development bank system – the World Bank Group and the regional development banks – is disjointed at best and competitive at worst.

In the past, the leaders of the development banks, the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organization have cooperated, more or less, depending on crises and personalities, and can move fast when they need to.

During the global financial crisis of 2008 and 2009, for example, the then-heads of the World Bank and the World Trade Or-

ganization hurried to develop trade finance facilities to support banks in developing countries as capital fled to the US and europe. It took intense diplomacy to push wealthy countries and institutions to get money out the door to shore up businesses and trade. Success was measured not in months but in days.

The new president of the World Bank will need to support more radical collaboration among development financial institutions, including pooling capital and talent, to help respond quickly to countries’ needs. It won’t be easy. Institutional rivalries run deep. But with budgets tight, there is growing clarity that there is no choice – the capital that is already in the system is the closest at hand and can be deployed to better effect if the institutions are willing to adapt.

BE A CONVENER: Overhauling how international finance works will require everyone to be on board – development banks, central banks, regulators, investment banks, pension funds, insurance companies and private equity. Banga and International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva can settle institutional differences and present a coordinated face to private investors and the major lending countries, including China – which has emerged as the biggest holder of developing country debt –to speed up support to struggling countries.

On other issues, such as nature-based solutions to climate change, building resilience and economic inclusion, the World Bank Group can bring its significant resources and skills, including data analysis, to global conversations that it has been painfully absent from for the past four years.

BE A CHAMPION FOR THE MOST

VULNERABLE: The world’s most vulnerable people are the World Bank Group’s ultimate beneficiaries. For those living on the front line of biodiversity loss and climate impacts, such as extreme heat, drought and flooding, the current international financial system is proving inadequate. The World Bank Group’s management incentives are still too oriented to lending approved by the board, not the outcomes of that lending, advice and assistance. Throughout its history, World Bank leaders have been able to make rapid changes to better help vulnerable countries when they stay close to the needs of their ultimate beneficiaries and the goals that the world has set.

The next president faces turbulent times. Banga’s careful listening on his campaign tour signals that he understands the complexity. It’s an extraordinary moment in the history of the institution, with skyhigh expectations of what one leader needs to do.

Rachel Kyte is Dean of the Fletcher School, Tufts University.

situation twice before he was thrown ut the third time but even then he wanted to avert the situation and thought he could mend fences with the military establishment. Finally he understood that no goodwill gesture works once the men in uniform decide to go ahead with their project.

Politicians should understand that war has only one ethic and that is winning the war. During Dawn Leak, several instance gestures came from the other side that things had cooled down between then PM Mian Nawaz and the Army, but we forget to remember that deception is the tool for success in defeating enemies. Trojan horses were installed within the close circles of Mian Nawaz for gathering knowledge about his next move and he succumbed to statecraft and propaganda. The phase started with Dawn Leaks and finally ceased with Nawaz’s departure from the power corridors.

Arthashastra is written by hindu Philosopher Chanakya (c. 350 - 283 BC) who was a professor of political science at Takshashila University which was established around 3000 years back at Taxila Valley. Chanakya was the teacher, guide, and mentor of the great King Chandragupta Maurya whose empire extended as far as Central Asia. Chandragupta Maurya and Chanakya overthrew the Nanda empire in 322 BC. Chanakya injected fears, hopelessness, and trust deficit between the population and the royal family of the Nanda empire and spread information that Chandragupta was the son of gods and had come from the skies to rule the earth and that he (Chandragupta) was undefeatable.

The same history was repeated in the last two years of the end of the PML(N) government in 2018. Fears, hopelessness, and trust deficit between the population and politicians were promoted through paratrooper anchors and writers and every screen television was stating that Pakistan had been stolen by corrupt politicians. Imran Khan was raised as a saviour and a kind of Avatar who sacrificed his life in europe to bail out the poor nation of Pakistan, and that Imran Khan was the only honest person available and could not be defeated. At last, Project Imran was successfully placed in PM Office, and the result the entire nation is watching today.

The writer is an international award winning journalist who has been in the field since 1988 and appears in national and international media as analyst and political scientist.

Modi will struggle to cage the Gandhi dynasty

THE DEFENESTRATION OF INDIA’S MOST PROMINENT OPPOSITION LEADER COULD BACKFIRE FOR THE RULING BJP

was not mentioned in Gandhi’s remarks. The BJP insists due process of law has been followed.

MOre than a year before India’s next election, the campaign has awoken with a startling political defenestration: the conviction and eviction from parliament of rahul Gandhi, prime minister Narendra Modi’s chief political rival. A court in Surat in Modi’s home state Gujarat last month convicted the heir to the family behind the opposition Congress party of defamation over remarks in a 2019 speech in which he asked “why all thieves have the name Modi”.

The two-year prison sentence handed to Gandhi was enough for parliament, controlled by Modi’s Bharatiya Janata party, to disqualify him just a day later. Last week he was ordered to vacate his official bungalow in New Delhi in a move that Indians, depending on their political sympathies, watched with either Schadenfreude or dismay.

People are now debating whether his expulsion from parliament will end up helping Modi by removing Gandhi as a plausible prime ministerial candidate, or actually build him up as a political martyr.

Modi critics who see the legal case as heavy handed say it could end up aiding his rival. Gandhi’s grandmother Indira Gandhi was ejected from her own parliamentary seat in 1978 and briefly jailed for breach of privilege and contempt of parliament. The move generated public sympathy that helped her win a fourth term in office in 1980. “This is not necessarily a bad thing for rahul Gandhi,” says Gilles Verniers, a senior fellow with the Centre for Policy research in New Delhi. “It depends on what he’s going to do next.”

Some have described the court case and hasty rustication of India’s most prominent opposition figure as a decisive step in a slide towards authoritarianism in the world’s biggest democracy, where they say institutions are being bent to meet political ends. Modi’s critics have questioned the premise of the defamation case, which was brought not by the prime minister himself, but by a local politician with the same surname — Purnesh Modi — who

The US, which metes out any criticism of India in meek terms at a time when the two countries are drawing closer in their opposition to China, said last week it was “watching Mr Gandhi’s case in Indian courts” and emphasised the two countries’ “shared commitment to democratic values, including freedom of expression”. however, some in India believe Modi and the BJP are deliberately setting up the election as a two-man contest between the popular incumbent and Gandhi, a politician who has in past proved a weak and gaffe-prone campaigner. Gandhi will be barred from running in 2024 if he fails to get his conviction overturned on appeal.

The BJP beat Congress in the last two elections in 2014 and 2019 on the back of resurgent hindu nationalism and disenchantment with the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty’s record in office, which was marred by corruption scandals.

Gandhi and his family’s inherited political privilege has long been an easy target for the ruling party, headed by a man with humble origins closer to those of most Indian voters than to Gandhi’s.

“The more you rubbish Modi, the more people feel sympathetic to Modi,” said Mohandas Pai, chair of Aarin Capital, a venture capital firm based in Bangalore. “Modi has done a lot for people, he is not from a prominent family, and if you abuse his background, his statements, his dress, people don’t like it.”

Last week BJP officials released a cartoon video deriding Gandhi as a shahzada, an Urdu word for “prince” with Persian origins, and showing him sporting a crown and being fanned and fed grapes by courtiers, while slinging mud at opponents.

But Gandhi, who stepped down as Congress president after the party’s second consecutive loss in 2019, has been rebuilding his national profile in recent months. his campaign has included a trans-India trek and trenchant attacks on the prime minister’s ties to Gautam Adani, the industrialist whose companies are under attack from a short seller.

Congress said last week that Gandhi planned to appeal the defamation conviction, but his lawyers were preparing “carefully” because of two other similar cases he faces. On Sunday, party sources confirmed that he planned to travel to Surat on Monday to file a plea.

Gandhi’s younger sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress’s general secretary, has also made combative speeches in recent days, demonstrating the dynasty’s staying power — and the potential presence of another family heir. Most Indians, whether they think the family are embattled or entitled, will probably agree the Gandhis are not going away soon.

Politicians should understand that war has only one ethic and that is winning the war. During Dawn Leak, several instance gestures came from the other side that things had cooled down between then PM Mian Nawaz and the Army, but we forget to remember that deception is the tool for success in defeating enemies.

THIS IS A CRUCIAL TIME FOR THE WORLD BANK, WITH CALLS FOR REFORM AND SKY-HIGH EXPECTATIONS FROM ITS NEXT LEADER

HigH level of activity at NortH Korea Nuclear complex, uS tHiNK taNK SayS

WASHINGTON afp

SATELLITEimagery has indicated a high level of activity at North Korea’s main nuclear complex after leader Kim Jong Un ordered the production of weapons-grade nuclear material be ramped up, a US think tank said.

Washington-based 38 North said Saturday that images from March 3 and 17 suggested that an experimental light water reactor (ELWR) at the country’s Yongbyon site was “nearing completion”.

Construction had started on a new support building, while water discharges were detected from the reactor’s cooling system, suggesting that the ELWR “is nearing a transition to operational status”, the report said.

The images also indicated that a fivemegawatt reactor at Yongbyon continued to operate and new construction had started around the site’s uranium enrichment plant, likely to expand its capabilities.

“These developments seem to re-

flect Kim Jong Un’s recent directive to increase the fissile material production to expand its nuclear weapons arsenal,” the report added.

On Tuesday, North Korean state media unveiled photos of Kim inspecting new, smaller nuclear warheads as he ordered an expansion in “the production of weapon-

french minister sparks controversy by appearing — clothed — on playboy cover

PARIS afp

Can posing for Playboy be a feminist statement? A French government minister thinks so and has defended her decision to appear — clothed — on the front cover of the magazine amid a crisis in French politics not seen for several years.

Marlène Schiappa, a 40-year-old feminist author who was plucked from obscurity by President Emmanuel Macron in 2017 to serve in his government, is no stranger to controversy and has repeatedly angered right-wingers.

But even some allies feel the minister made a mistake with her latest move: posing (clothed) on the cover of Playboy to accompany a 12-page interview on women’s and gay rights as well as abortion.

The decision irritated some colleagues in the government, which has been battling strikes and increasingly violent demonstrations against plans to raise the retirement age by two years.

Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne, who is only the second woman to occupy the position, called Schiappa personally to tell her that it “was not at all appropriate, especially in the current period”, an aide told AFP on Saturday. Schiappa is currently the minister for the social economy and French associations. She previously served as the minister for gender equality. “Defending the right of women to do what they want with their bodies: everywhere and all the time,” Schiappa wrote on Twitter on Saturday. “In France, women are free. Whether it annoys the retrogrades and hypocrites or not.”

grade nuclear materials” for an “exponential” increase in the North’s arsenal. Experts said the potential tactical nuclear weapons did indeed show key signs of technical progress, and could indicate an imminent nuclear test. Officials in Seoul and Washington have warned since early 2022 that North Korea may

conduct its seventh nuclear test.

Seoul and Washington have ramped up joint military drills as North Korea conducts ever more provocative weapons tests while blaming the South for the deteriorating security situation. A commentary carried by the North’s Korean Central News Agency on Sunday slammed the series of joint drills by the allies, warning of its “nuclear attack capability”.

“It will be quite clear how the DPRK’s nukes will be used if the war deterrence does not work on those who are running amuck, not being afraid of nuclear weapons,” it said.

The North Korean military has carried out multiple drills in recent weeks, including the test-firing of what state media described as an underwater nuclear-capable drone and the second launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile this year.

Last year, North Korea declared itself an “irreversible” nuclear power, while in March, Kim ordered the North Korean military to intensify drills in preparation for a “real war”.

Death toll rises to 26 as deadly storms and tornadoes sweep through US

WASHINGTON agencies

The death toll from a major storm system that has lashed the southcentral and eastern United States with devastating winds and destructive tornadoes rose to at least 26 by Sunday, officials said.

Tennessee, one of the hardest-hit states since the storms began Friday, initially had seven weather-related fatalities, but the toll there later rose to nine, according to Memphis-based news channel WREG.

Scenes of devastation were left in the path of the Tennessee tornado, which twisted trees, flattened homes into piles of wooden boards and ripped walls from still-standing structures.

“The whole house, you can feel it shaking,” said Janice Pieterick, whose house doors and glass windows blew out when the tornado swept through Lewis County. “We just all hunkered down.” The toll in Tennessee came on top of the 17 deaths reported in Arkansas, Mississippi and Alabama in the south, Indiana and Illinois in the Midwest, and Delaware in the mid-Atlantic.

The storm system left dozens injured. It sent multiple tornadoes

former india all-rounder Durani dies at 88

NEW DELHI agencies

Tributes poured in on Sunday for former cricketer Salim Durani, a hero of India’s maiden series victory over England, who has died at the age of 88.

An attacking left-hand batsman and a left-arm orthodox bowler, Durani played 29 Tests for India between 1960 and 1973 and scored his only century against the West Indies. “Gutted to hear about the passing away of one of Team India legends Salim Durani,” Jay Shah, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), wrote on Twitter.

“Today, we have lost one of Indian cricket’s crown jewels. Condolences to his family. RIP Salim Durani ji.” Born in Kabul, Durani played for the Indian states of Gujarat, Rajasthan and the former Saurashtra in firstclass cricket and was loved by fans for his six-hitting prowess. “I have had the opportunity to interact with him and was deeply impressed by his multifaceted persona. He will surely be missed,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted. Durani starred in India’s historic first series victory over England in 1961-62 when he took eight wickets in Calcutta (now Kolkata) and then 10 in Madras (now Chennai). He played a key role in another famous win against the West Indies in 1971 in Port of Spain when he dismissed Clive Lloyd and Gary Sobers, the latter for a duck. After being dropped for the Kanpur Test in 1973 against England, he was brought back for the next match after protests from fans who held placards and raised slogans of “No Durani, no Test”.

The tall and charismatic Durani also starred in a Bollywood film.

three British men being held in afghanistan: uK non-profit group

KABUL afp

— some of exceptional size and rare power — sweeping through Arkansas, where they killed at least five people, the state’s governor said. Daylight revealed extensive damage, with several homes torn apart, cars overturned, power lines toppled and trees ripped out of the ground.

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared a state of emergency and activated the national guard to help with recovery efforts. She said she had spoken to President Joe Biden, who promised to expedite federal aid.

The city of Wynne, in northeastern Arkansas, was “cut in

half by damage from east to west,” Mayor Jennifer Hobbs told CNN. The National Weather Service had issued tornado warnings for several other states, from as far north as Iowa to the southern state of Mississippi, where a twister last week killed 25 people and caused extensive property damage.

– Concert tragedy –Calamity struck in the Illinois town of Belvidere, outside of Chicago, on Friday when severe weather caused the roof and part of the facade of the Apollo Theater to collapse while a heavy metal band played inside.

Three British men have been detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan, UK non-profit group the Presidium Network said on Saturday. The group said on Twitter it had been “working closely with two of the families”. “We are working hard to secure consular contact with British nationals detained in Afghanistan and we are supporting families,” the UK’s foreign ministry added in a statement. Scott Richards of the Presidium Network told Sky News: “We believe they are in good health and being well treated.

“We have no reason to believe they’ve been subject to any negative treatment such as torture and we’re told that they are as good as can be expected in such circumstances.” There had been “no meaningful contact” between authorities and the two men Presidium is assisting, he added. These two men are believed to have been held by the Taliban since January.

Team Remington Pharma Stars win LPC Super League Polo 2023

LAHORE staff report

Team Remington Pharma Stars won the LPC Super League 2023 after defeating FG/Din Polo Warriors by 9-4 in the final played here at Lahore Polo Club on Sunday.

Hamza Mawaz Khan’s outstanding performance helped team Remington Pharma Stars win the final by 9-4 against FG/Din Polo Warriors. Hamza, hero of the final, hammered six superb goals for Remington Stars while Ahmed Zubair Butt contributed with two goals and emerging young player Basel Faisal Khokhar struck one goal. Sheikh Muhammad Raffay scored three goals and Bilal Hayat Noon scored one goal for FG/Din Polo. Speaking on the occasion, Basel Faisal Khokhar of Remington Pharma Stars said: “The 2022-23 season has been very good for Remington Pharma. I have won three eightgoal tournaments and an Under-19 event and

now clinched the LPC Super League title. All this is the result of the prayers of my parents and the hard work of the team.”

Earlier in the subsidiary final, Pebble Breakers defeated Master Paints/Diamond

Paints by a narrow margin of 5-4½. The Super League awards were also distributed during the prize distribution ceremony. The best mare of the match was awarded to Remington Pharma Director Dr. Faisal Khokhar’s mare Ice. The most valuable player award was handed over to Hamza Mawaz Khan, who also earned the award for scoring the most goals in the tournament.

The amateur player of the league award was claimed by Basel Faisal Khokhar. The patron of the league award was given to Din Polo’s Sheikh Muhammad Farhad while the fair play award was given to Ibrahim Sultan. Former polo player Maj (Rtd) Javed Mawaz was the chief guest on this occasion and gave away winning trophy to team Remington Pharma Stars. Other notables present on the occasion were Lahore Polo Club President Umar Sadiq, executive committee members and a large number of polo players, who witnessed and enjoyed the enthralling final of the Super League.

Stronger Tiger eyes challenge of return to Augusta National

AUGUSTA afp

Tiger Woods says he feels stronger than last year as he prepares to make another emotional return to the Masters.

A year ago, Woods stunned the golf world by playing in the Masters, 14 months after sustaining serious leg injuries in a 2021 car crash.

The 15-time major champion struggled to walk 72 holes and finished 47th at Augusta National but says his fitness and strength has improved dramatically heading into next week’s showpiece in Georgia.

“My core is so much stronger than it was then,” Woods said. “That’s one of the reasons why I’ve got the (Club) speed that I have.

“I’ve had to use it a different way but also be careful with my back being fused. It’s a challenge and that’s the fun part about it.”

Woods shared 45th at the PGA Genesis Invitational six weeks ago, his third-round 67 the lowest round of his comeback from bone-shattering injuries that continue to make walking a greater test than shotmaking. “I can hit golf balls, I can chip. I can putt,

I can do all that stuff, but I haven’t walked and played a lot so that’s the challenge,” Woods said. “The body, sometimes it says no even though the mind says yes.”

Woods, 47, trimmed his 2022 schedule to the Masters, the PGA Championship — where he withdrew before the final round — and the British Open, where he missed the cut.

“I’m not going to play any more than probably the majors and maybe a couple more. That’s it, that’s all my body will allow me to do,” Woods said of future years.

“My back the way it is, all the surgeries, my leg the way it is, I just can’t. That’s just going to be my future… Hopefully this year I can get all four and maybe sprinkle in a few here and there. “But that’s it for the rest of my career. I know that and I understand that. That’s just my reality.”

Woods has also faced the fact that time is running out for him to even manage a slimmed-down schedule.

“There will come a point in time when my body will not allow me to do that anymore,” Woods said. “And it’s probably sooner rather than later.”

Woods, whose 82 PGA Tour titles share the all-time record with Sam Snead, has joined Rory McIlroy in TGL, an arena-golf hybrid with video technology combined with a shortgame area set to launch next January.

It’s with such things, McIlroy said, that Woods will extend his golf legacy long after his playing days.

“I think Tiger will still hang around the game forever,” McIlroy said. “I’m pretty sure he’ll be involved in the game… trying to be an ambassador and bring the game into the 21st century.

“Still being around golf and making his presence felt doesn’t necessarily have to mean hitting the golf ball in tournament play.”

‘In right direction’

For now, Woods said he made progress in restoring his game with four rounds at Riviera.

“It means a lot. It’s progress, headed in the right direction,” Woods said. “It certainly was a little bit more difficult than I probably let on.

“Even if I played four days at home, it’s not the same as adrenaline, the system being ramped up like that, the intensity, just the focus that it takes to play at this level.”

corporate corner

Pakistan’s sPortswear become most PoPular at shanghai Fabrics exhibition

BEIJING StAff report

KARACHI:

Minister, Secy inaugurate newly constructed footpath at Bani Gala

ISLAMABAD: Maulana Abdul Wasay, Federal Minister, Ministry of Housing and Works, along with Iftikhar Ali Shallwani, Federal Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Works inaugurated the newly constructed 2.5km long footpath by Pak-PWD at Bani Gala, Islamabad on Sunday.

During the inauguration ceremony, Maulana Abdul Wasay expressed his satisfaction with the completion of the project and highlighted the government's commitment to improve the country’s infrastructure. Abdul Wasay said that this project was initiated by the ministry with the aim of improving the area's pedestrian network and reducing accidents. He said that despite of economic, political and constitutional crisis, our government is fully committed to provide facilities to the people especially provision of low cost housing and shelter to the poor and vulnerable segments of the society. Speaking at the occasion, Iftikhar Ali Shallwani said that the footpath is expected to improve pedestrian safety and accessibility in the area providing smoother and more efficient travel experience to pedestrians. He also appreciated the efforts of the PWD team on completion of project at the earliest. pr

NHA restores light traffic between Balochistan, KP

ISLAMABAD: According to a press release of National Highway Authority, NHA field staff has restored light traffic between Balochistan and KP provinces that was suspended due to heavy rains and resultant landslide in Koh-i-Suleman range. National Highway N-50 is severely damaged at Dhanasar. On directive of Federal Minister for Communications Asad Mahmood, Federal Secretary Communications is personally supervising the restoration activity. Travelers are requested to use N-70. Hopefully land sliding removal activity will be completed in next 24 to 30 hours. And N-50 will be opened to all kinds of traffic. pr

Federal Ombudsman lauds prisons’ reforms in Punjab

LAHORE: Appreciating the measures taken for the improvement of prisons in Punjab, Federal Ombudsman Ejaz Ahmed Qureshi has said that the work being done for the welfare of prisoners in the province is worthy of emulation. He stated this while addressing a meeting at the Civil Secretariat here on Friday. The Chief Secretary Punjab, Additional Chief Secretary (Home), IG Prisons and officers concerned participated in the meeting. Speaking at the meeting, the Federal Ombudsman said that the process of prisons’ reforms is underway in all provinces in the light of the directions of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. He said that “exemplary measures” are being taken to enhance capacity in prisons and to resolve the problems of jail inmates in Punjab. He said that work should be started after setting priorities in the development projects related to jails. The Chief Secretary Punjab said that the improvement of prisons is among the priorities of the provincial government and effective measures are being taken to address the problems of prisoners with a focus on provision of basic necessities for them. The IG Prisons gave a detailed briefing at the meeting. He said that oversight and welfare committees had been established in all jails. He mentioned that 20bedded hospitals would be completed in 17 jails by June for treatment of inmates addicted to drugs. He said that additional multi-storied barracks had been constructed in 10 jails at a cost of Rs1,706 million. He said that nine central jails had been connected with anti-terrorism courts for video link trials. pr

FASHIOnAblesportswear made in Pakistan has become one of the most attractive sights at Intertextile Spring/Summer Shanghai Apparel and Fabrics exhibition. According to Gwadar Pro, a large number of visitors are dazzled by a wide variety of fabrics and garments from all over the world.

Daisy Di, sales and marketing director of a Chinese fabric and garment manufacturing company in Pakistan briefed the visitors on the advantages of textile manufacturing in Pakistan and the company’s commitment to technology, low carbon and environmental protection.

“It is a good attempt for us to participate in such an international exhibition to create a new modern image of Pakistani textile products and expand cooperation with more well-known sports brands,” she told the Gwadar Pro.

As a renowned textile country, Pakistan leads the world in the production of cotton and denim products but falls short

in functional fabrics. The company is currently the only one in Pakistan capable of producing renewable polyester products. Daisy said they would further promote and update functional fabrics, especially sustainable fabrics such as recycled fabrics in Pakistan, both in meeting the needs of international customers and in promoting their own sustainability transformation. The textile industry, as a major carbon emitter, needs to make a high-quality transition towards sustainability and reduce carbon emissions through the use of clean

energy.Recycled polyester weaves away from over-dependence on petroleum resources and reduces carbon dioxide emissions. Through technology, discarded empty plastic bottles are recycled and spun into high-performance functional fabrics, allowing them to reenter people’s lives and provide a comfortable wearing experience.

Currently, the company has more than 50 sewing lines, with a monthly output of 1,000,000 garments for export, equipped with equipment and technology to produce woven, knit, embroi-

dered and various functional fabrics. It was authorized by the Pakistani government last year to set up a special economic zone and is expected to produce 2.5 million meters of fabric a month next year. Fabric production in the SeZs will cover synthetic fiber functional fabrics, high elasticity functional fabrics, fleece functional fabrics, and merino wool fabrics. Referring to the establishment of Textile SeZ and future development trends of textiles in Pakistan, Daisy pointed out that innovation and sustainability should be taken as a cut through product differentiation and advanced technology to improve textile quality.

“China’s Internet has developed to a certain extent. How to integrate advanced technologies into the traditional textile industry and continuously improve its efficiency is also worth exploring in the future.

The plants in our SeZ will also undergo intelligent transformation, including implementation of digital information system to further contribute to the country’s textile exports.” she added.

Khunjerab Pass opened for Pak-China trade after 3 years

BEIJING

StAff report

The Khunjerab Pass, a major trade route between Pakistan and China, was opened after remaining closed for almost three years in wake of Covid-19 pandemic.

The pass that connects Gilgitbaltistan with China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous region was closed in the year 2020 after spread of Covid-19 outbreak.

According to official sources, the Chinese authorities have shared a letter

with Pakistani officials regarding the reopening of the pass for the trade. The port authorities on the Chinese side of Khunjerab Pass have been instructed to take all necessary measures regarding Covid-19 before the start of the arrival of goods from Pakistan. Similarly, Pakistani border authorities have also been instructed to take all measures regarding Covid-19, ensuring the containment of the disease. It may be mentioned here that as result of cold weather and lack of oxygen in the high altitude, Khunjerab Pass

SAPM Jawad Sohrab Malik meets Federal Minister for BOI

ISLAMABAD StAff report

Special Assistant to Prime Minister Jawad Sohrab Malik held a meeting with Federal Minister for board of Investment Chaudhry Salik Hussain to discuss matters related to facilitation in businesses and handholding prospective entrepreneurs in the country.

Jawad Sohrab Malik, while appreciating the role of bOI as a premier investment promotion body in attracting, facilitating and promoting both local and foreign direct investment/FDI in Pakistan highlighted the specific and genuine concerns being faced by local business community and business houses.

The bOI Minister affirmed

his resolve to address the issues of business community through streamlining business procedures and boosting measures such as “ease of Doing business” in order to enhance our global competitiveness. both sides agreed on exploring

New traffic police office lacks basic safety measures

ISLAMABAD App

The newly established office of Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) at Faizabad lacks proper security measures, despite receiving an average of over five hundred daily visitors for various affairs.

The Faizabad office became fully operational on February 20, 2023 where various sections including licensing and education wing are operating. Police source said that more than five hundred persons visit this office on daily basis for various affairs mainly related to licensing and driving classes.

A visit to the office has revealed that the vast area has no boundary wall and fiber rooms have been placed for police officials and Jawans. A small canteen is also there but it lacks proper facilities while the mosque has space to accommodate only 10-15 faithfuls.

There is no proper wash room facility for visitors and even for the cops serving there.

Police and their work are both widely perceived as sensitive, and the sacrifices as well as deaths of police

generally opens from April 1 to november 30 every year, and remains closed from December 1 to March 31 of the following year. but to ensure the smooth customs clearance of Pakistan’s urgently needed and other supplies, the port was temporarily opened twice early this year. Though with difficulties including extremely cold weather, heavy snow and lack of oxygen, the local customs have worked around the clock to ensure the transportation of cargo.

This year, the last temporary opening was last for 12 days between January 30 and February 10 while the first port opening was between January 19Â and 20 this year.

The two temporary openings facilitated 128 cross-border personnel visits, 328 transportation vehicles’ passes, and more than 6,000 tons of goods exported, as per foreign affairs office of Kashgar prefecture. It is believed that the reopening of the border crossing will help boost economic activities between the two countries.

Pak, israel trade is sheer propaganda: commerce ministry

ISLAMABAD: The rumors about the commencement of Pakistan-Israel trade is sheer propaganda and is the Press Release of American Jewish Congress which was misrepresented. even in their press release, they nowhere mentioned about official trade between Pakistan and Israel, said a press release issued by the Ministry of Commerce here Sunday.

new investments opportunities in more sustainable sectors of economy through investor friendly policies for a competitive and thriving business environment in the country with the commitment to resolve and enhance the business competitiveness in the region.

However, neither we have any trade relations with Israel nor we intend to develop any, the Ministry said. A Jewish Pakistani Fishel benkhald has sent food samples to three businessmen in Jerusalem and Haifa through UAe in personal capacity whom he met in foreign countries during food exhibitions. nevertheless, it was not supported by the Government of Pakistan and no banking or official channel was involved either in such activity.

Moreover, in our talks with UAe, the issue of origin will be strictly implemented. UAe has curtailed tariffs on 96 percent goods traded with Israel which has benefited traders from UAe to Israel. pr

iesco power suspension schedule

officers or law enforcers in the war against terrorism attracted major headlines. Despite high profile, there is surprisingly little security in this newly established office of ITP and basic safety measures have been neglected in this vast area. A small gate has been installed for entry of visitors where only two law enforcers have been assigned duties. These cops are sitting under an outdoor umbrella cover in the tough weather who mostly allow visitors to enter into the ITP office premises after little questioning with them related to their visit.

The staff attached to the offices of Chief Traffic Officer and Superintendent of Police (Traffic) has no proper sitting arrangement and they have been also using fiber rooms. Chief Traffic Officer Dr Syed Mustafa Tanveer was contacted on his cell number as well as what’s app for his comments on this issue but he did not respond. The Islamabad Police spokesperson was also contacted about the same issue who informed that nine policemen are performing security duties in three shifts under the supervision of ASI in the Traffic Police office Faizabad. They are deputed on the front and back sides of the office, he added.

ISLAMABAD: According to Islamabad electric Supply Company (IeSCO)’s spokesman, System Maintenance/Development Work is in process. Therefore power supply of below mentioned feeders/areas will be temporary suspended as per given schedule:

On 3rd April 2023, From 07am to 11am, Islamabad Circle, navy-I, navy-II, Tufail Shaheed, Karpa, Fresh Town Feeders, Rawalpindi City Circle, Zeeshan Colony, nust Road, nogzi, bajniyal Feeders, Chakwal. Circle, Dharabi, Tala Gang City, Main bazar, Mugla, Dhalar, bilalabad, Kallar Kahar, CS Shah, Dandot Feeders, Rawalpindi Cantt Circle, Swan Garden-1, Swan Garden-II, River Garden, FeCHS , Chahan, Chontra, Rajar, Chakri, SPD, SPF Feeders, From 8am to 12 noon, Islamabad Feed Mill, Jhata Hatial, Pind Jatla, lab-II, lab-I, Reliance Weaving Mill. , bhal, Jarrar Camp, Kahota City-II, Hanif Shaheed feeders and surrounding areas will remain closed. IeSCO management apologizes to its esteemed customers for the power outage. If the work is completed ahead of time, the power supply can be restored even before the scheduled time. pr

Demand for mosquito nets on rise despite exorbitant price

MULTAN StAff report

The demand for mosquito nets has increased with the advent of the summer season despite exorbitant rates, as most of the people prefer these nets to protect themselves and their children from mosquitoes and other insects.

A large number of vendors have set up their stalls on the road side and many shopkeepers have also displayed mosquito nets outside their shops to attract customers.

The mosquito nets were available in five different sizes and colours with different rates starting from Rs1000 to 3,000 in the city and suburban areas. The shopkeepers and vendors have also announced the fixed prices of the nets and left no option for buy-

ers to bargain.

A citizen Ghulam Muhammad on Sunday told APP that he had purchased a fullsize mosquito bed net at Rs1200 last year but the rate has been increased to Rs 2,250 this year. He said that adjusting the net at his bed protect him from mosquito and other insects for proper sleep without any disturbance. He said the rising rates of these essential items would be beyond the reach of a common man if there would be no check and balance on it.

Another citizen, Syed Imtiaz Aslam said that mosquito net was much needed for newborn babies to protect their soft skin from mosquito and other insects bites, adding he has purchased a small size mosquito net for his minor son at Rs1350.

A vendor at Syedwala bypass Arbaz Ali

told that he used to purchase all sizes of mosquito nets from a dealer at high rates and he was getting minimum profit on it. He said the citizens also became selective and they used to spend more than an hour on bargain-

ing for a mosquito net. He said the sale of these nets was low as compared to the last year due to high prices. He said it was not possible to sell these items at the prices of last year as he could not af-

ford a loss in his small investment business.

Another stall owner, Shafqat stated that the demand for summer season items including caps, gloves, sunglasses, umbrellas and mosquito nets have been increased at his stall.

He said the sale of these items has increased as most middle-class families prefer these items during the summer season, adding he has some permanent customers as he was running the stall at the same point for the last five years.

It was observed that there was no proper check and balance for fluctuating rates of these items.

The prices of summer season items were totally different at each stall, however, the quality of these items has also been noticed as sub-standard.

QuREShI QuEStIoNS PPP loyAlty to CoNStItutIoN AMId PdM ‘AttACk’ oN judICIARy

KARACHI staff RepoRt

SHAHMehmood Qureshi, deputy chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), called on members of the ruling coalition, particularly the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), to declare their stance on the Constitution amid the Supreme Court’s deliberation on the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to postpone elections in Punjab.

Addressing a press conference in Karachi on Sunday, Qureshi noted that the Constitution mandates that elections be held within 90 days of the dissolution of parliaments, but the government is using every tactic to delay them.

He criticised the PPP for joining hands with those who are trying to abrogate the Constitution. He pointed out that the PPP used to take pride in making the Constitution, but now seems to have forgotten their commitment to it.

He questioned why the self-proclaimed champions were scared of holding elections and asked why the grandson of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had decided to attack the Constitution made by his grandfather, and former president Asif Ali Zardari ruined it.

He also accused the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of attacking the Constitution and attempting to put pressure on the Supreme Court.

He emphasised that silence on this matter was not an option and urged parties who wanted to turn away from the Constitution to make their position clear.

The former foreign minister also accused the government of attempting to delay the polls and limit the chief justice’s powers by passing a new bill in the assembly. Qureshi further said that an in-

dependent judiciary is necessary for a sovereign democracy and urged lawyers to support the Constitution and act as a barricade against any attempt to undermine it.

Qureshi has also planned a meeting with leaders of the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) in order to convey the message of former prime minister Imran Khan to the opposition party. He informed the media that Imran Ismail, Karachi president of the PTI, has invited the GDA leadership for an Iftar dinner today, which will be attended by Pir of

Pagaro, the president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F), among other leaders. He added that the PTI is also in contact with other parties, including the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), to defend the Constitution and the independence of the judiciary and keep the nation united.

Upon arriving in Karachi, Qureshi was received at the airport by party leaders Ali Zaidi, Ismail, and Haleem Adil Sheikh.

Fawad warns SC could oust Shehbaz if orders not implemented

ISLAMABAD: Fawad Chaudhry, the senior vice president of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), has commented on the ongoing case regarding the delay of elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to him, if the orders of the Supreme Court are not implemented, the court could remove Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif from his position. Fawad expressed his concerns about the ongoing proceedings and predicted the ousting of another prime minister if the orders are not followed. Meanwhile, party chairman Imran Khan has criticised the government’s attack on the judiciary and expressed concerns about the country’s economic crisis. In a video address to the public, he highlighted the depreciating value of the rupee, increasing debts, and the loss of life in flour queues. He emphasized that the judiciary’s role is to implement the Constitution and not support any political party. Khan further stated that PTI had dissolved two assemblies for the sake of conducting a fair election and that the Constitution clearly mandates that elections must be held within 90 days. He expressed disappointment that the government is providing protocol to PML-N rallies while his party is not allowed to hold rallies. According to him, political stability is necessary for the economy to recover, and the government is afraid of losing badly in the upcoming elections, including in Punjab. The situation in Pakistan remains tense as the ruling coalition faces pressure from the Supreme Court and criticism from opposition parties. The country’s economic crisis continues to worsen, and political stability remains a critical issue in the upcoming elections. staff RepoRt

Barcode turns 50 but its days might be numbered

pROfIt afp

The patch of irregular vertical lines that revolutionised checking out at the supermarket and facilitated the globalisation of retail is turning 50. But as the barcode celebrates its birthday on Monday, its days might be numbered as it faces competition from the younger QR code, the information-filled squares used in smartphones. The trademark beep as a product is scanned is heard about six billion times per day across the world as around 70,000 items are sold each second. It has become so integrated in the shopping experience that it is easy to forget how much the technology revolutionised retail by speeding up the checkout process and giving retailers the ability to trace products and better manage inventory. The barcode not only identifies a product, but “gives professionals in stores access to other functionalities”, said Laurence Vallana, head of France de SESImagotag, a company that specialises in electronic tagging. Barcodes were initially patented by Norman Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver in the United States in 1952. But it wasn’t until nearly two decades later, in 1971, that US engineer George Laurer perfected the technology and moves towards its commercialisation began. On April 3, 1973 the standard to identify products was agreed by a number of large retailers and food companies. It later became known as EAN-13, which stands for European Article Number and the number of digits in the barcode.

Pakistani gamer ‘Ash’ wins Tekken 7 contest at EVO Japan 2023

ISLAMABAD News Desk

Pakistan gamer Arslan Siddique, known as “Ash” won his third EVO title by beating South Korea’s Meo-IL to grab Tekken 7 competition at EVO Japan 2023 on Sunday.

It is the third EVO title of the Lahore-based player as 2019, he won the Tekken 7 tournament in Japan as well as the Evolution Championship Series in the United States.

In August last year, he finished third in the EVO 2022 Tekken 7 competition. On Sunday, Siddique played as Zafina to dominate Meo-IL, who was using Geese Howard, 3-0 in the tournament’s final leg.

The top three winners, including third-placed Rangchu from South Korea, were later awarded cash and additional prizes by Tekken series game director and chief producer Katsuhiro Harada.

Nawaz expected to spend end of Ramadan as royal guest in Saudi Arabia

LONDON staff RepoRt

Former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif is expected to spend the final days of Ramadan in Saudi Arabia, where he has reportedly been invited as a royal guest to perform the pilgrimage. However, there has been speculation that Sharif may use this opportunity to return to Pakistan, as reported in the media.

Sharif left for London on November 19, 2019, after being granted temporary bail by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for a seven-year sentence on corruption charges.

Sharif, whose Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) is the main party in Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), was sacked by the Supreme Court in 2017 and, two years later, left for London for medical treatment. While there has been no official confirmation from Sharif or his party regarding his plans to return to Pakistan, his trip to Saudi Arabia as a royal guest has raised interest in his potential political comeback.

Maryam Nawaz says Imran’s plan to sabotage CPEC foiled

LAHORE staff RepoRt

with a long history where fighting game players from around the world gather in Las Vegas to compete against each other. It added that EVO Japan is another world championship in the same spirit of the main EVO tournament.

According to the website for the tournament, EVO is the world’s biggest fighting game tournament

LHC takes up Imran’s plea for dismissal of 121 cases today

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) is set to take up a petition for hearing filed by former prime minister

Imran Khan, seeking dismissal of 121 cases registered against him on Monday (today). A two-member bench headed by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi will take up the petition for hearing. The petition filed by both Imran Khan and the PTI, said that the government was “misusing” the criminal justice system to stop the PTI chief from participating in the upcoming elections. The PTI chairman has stated on multiple occasions that more than 100 cases have been filed against him. He told the LHC the same on March 24 while seeking protective bail in five cases registered against him in Islamabad. The petition named the federation of Pakistan, the province of Punjab, Punjab Inspector General Dr Usman Anwar, the Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment director general, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, Punjab caretaker chief minister Mohsin Naqvi, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) as respondents. staff RepoRt

In February, another Pakistani, Atif Butt, emerged as the new “King of the Iron Fist” after winning the Tekken World Tour 2022 videogame tournament in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Butt was a member of the team founded by Ash himself. CONTINUED

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior vice president Maryam Nawaz slammed on Sunday Pakistan Tereek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, saying the latter’s plan to sabotage the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) had been foiled. “I congratulate the leadership of China and Pakistan on re-opening of the Khunjrab pass and resumption of Sino-Pak trade after a three-year gap”, PML-N Chief Organizer Maryam Nawaz said in a statement on Sunday. Khunjrab pass was reopened after three years, which was closed due to Covid-19. It is seen as a significant development that will help end the hardships of people on both sides. Maryam Nawaz said: “It is the matter of immense delight that Khunjerab Pass has been opened in 2023 after three years. I would like to felicitate the leaderships and the masses of both China and Pakistan.”

“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Xi Jinping are strengthening Pakistan-China iron brotherhood,” she added. Maryam Nawaz also praised the Pakistan-China iron brotherhood and accused the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government of deliberately stalling Pakistan-China trade activities and the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). She said the PML-N Supremo and the architect of CPEC, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif started the project with the help of China to boost Pakistan’s development. Maryam Nawaz Sharif believes that if the CPEC and Pak-China trade had continued at the pace of the Pakistan Muslim League-N era, the people would not have been miserable today.

MEETING OF PM-CONSTITUTED BODY ON TRANSFER OF DISCOS

The committee headed by Defense Minister Khawaja Asif on transfer of power distribution companies to the provinces has submitted its preliminary report to the Prime Minister on transfer of the ownership of DISCOs to the provinces.

According to sources, the Sindh government has shown willingness to take ownership of Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) and Sukkur Electric Supply Company (SEPCO), but the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has refused to take over the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco), linking the Pesco takeover with the ownership of hydropower generation to the province.

Sources recalled that during the recent meeting, the Defense Minister proposed evolution of a mechanism for power purchase among the provinces. They said that Chairman National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) supported the transfer of DISCOs to the provinces in phased manner, while the Law Secretary proposed to issue the shares of distribution companies (DISCOs) in the stock market. They said the Secretary Law recommended privatization of 26 percent stakes in some companies (DISCOs) with management control. The next meeting of the committee headed by Defense Minister Khawaja Asif will be held on April 17 and 18 for negotiations with the provincial governments of Punjab and Balochistan on the matter of transferring the ownership of electricity distribution companies (DISCOs) to the provinces, said sources.

Sharing details of the meeting, the sources said that the committee constituted vide Prime Minister’s Office’s U.O. No. 118/M/PSPM dated March 17, 2023 regarding transfer of DISCOs to provinces was held on March 24, 2023 under the chairmanship of Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif in the committee room of power division.

During this meeting, Sindh Minister for Energy Imtiaz Sheikh stated the Sindh government is keen to take over the two DISCOs – SEPCO and HESCO since long, elaborating the provincial government has already hired the services of a consultant for the purpose. He requested that as indicated by the Minister for Finance and Revenue during a meeting with the Prime Minister, due diligence conducted by the federal government pertaining to SEPCO and HESCO may be shared with them. He also emphasized that ten days’ time for submission of recommendations by the committee is too short. He requested that Sindh government may be given time to complete due diligence by a transaction advisor it has hired for the purpose.

As per sources, the main points of discussion during the meeting disclosed that Federal Minister for Commerce recommended that that the transfer of DISCOs may not be done in haste since it might make the whole exercise unsustainable. He emphasized that due diligence may be conducted through the appointment financial consultants from both sides.

The Minister of State for Petroleum highlighted the possibility of “Navigation” in case provinces start their own generation. He emphasized a cautious approach, suggesting a comprehensive evaluation of the outcome with the need for taking a holistic view rather than only considering distribution of electricity. He also expressed his concern about the possibility of price differential across various regions of the country that will raise issues of equity and regional marginalization.

Present on the occasion, the federal minister for power division highlighted various issues to be addressed including the responsibility of accumulated losses of DISCOs and responsibility of future losses etc.

The representative of Privatization Commission highlighted that in 2015-16 due diligence in respect of some DISCOs was carried out by the federal minister for finance and rev-

enue for finance loss-making DISCOs were not included. No due diligence was conducted in respect of HESCO and SEPCO. He stated that copies of earlier studies can be provided.

The Advisor to KP Chief Minister highlighted the precarious situation of the province with respect to financial constraints, law and order and issues arising out of merger of Fata. He stated that KP is not able to take over the high loss-making DISCOs. However, the Chief Minister has consented that they will look into the matter if hydel generation is handed over to the province. The Advisor also said that selective application of constitutional provisions may be avoided, and all the relevant articles of the constitution may be read and applied in totality as far as the power sector is concerned. Speaking on the occasion, the Chairman commented that on the basis of comments of stakeholders, he suggested the appointment of a Financial Advisor on federal level to submit a report in the matter. Comprehensive ToRs of the consultant to be prepared and preferably local expert be appointed. He also mentioned about the Indian experience, opining such experience could be replicated for local befit. He also advised to study the concept of “Energy Exchange” where provinces can buy electricity from each other.

The NEPRA chairman who joined the meeting virtually stated that CTCBM (Competitive Trading Bilateral Contract Market) will be operational by May 2023. He was supportive of the proposal to hand over management control of DISCOs to provinces. He advised that the transaction may not be done as a whole and instead it may be carried out in piecemeal. Let the Sindh government may take lead and the two DISCOs may be transferred first. Only financial aspect is not enough to be looked into and the matter also needs political decisions as well. He also advised privatization of DISCOs including floating out shares on the stock market.

Sindh willing to take over HESCO, SEPCO, KP ready with ‘strings attached’