Epaper_11-04-2023 ISB

Govt tables bill seekinG ParliaMent’s nod for election fundinG

iSLAMABAD staff report

MiniSterfor finance and revenue ishaq dar tabled the Money bill 2023 before the national assembly on Monday, calling on the lawmakers to discuss and decide on funds allocation for elections to the assemblies of punjab and khyber pakhtunkhwa.

the bill titled “charge Sum for general election provincial assemblies of punjab and khyber pakhtunkhwa bill, 2023” was tabled in the light of the federal cabinet’s decision during the 51st session of the national assembly.

dar referred to the multiple verdicts of the Supreme court and the House’s resolution in the context of the bill, claiming the Supreme court’s majority decision of 4-3 had negated the suo moto notice.

the House had emphasized that the government should not implement the 3-0 decision of the apex court, which was a minority verdict.

the finance minister said that in the light of the House’s resolution, the federal cabinet had deliberated upon the Supreme court decision and decided that the decision to allocate funds for provincial assemblies’ elections of kp and punjab should be tabled before the House for discussion.

He added that the Supreme court, in its decision, had directed the federal government to provide rs21 billion to the election commission of pakistan to hold provincial elections. the elections would be held without general elections of the national assembly, Sindh, and balochistan assemblies, he said.

the Money bill 2023 was tabled as per article 81-e of the constitu-

tion, the minister added. He assured the House that the coalition government, under the leadership of prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, was committed to eradicating terrorism and resolving the country’s economic, political, and constitutional crises to ensure prosperity and development for the nation.

the speaker announced that the bill was automatically referred to the committee. in the preamble of his speech, dar mentioned that pakistan had repaid $12 billion in foreign debt from July 2022 to date, and the country was paying each foreign payment on time.

He stated that pakistan had $9.6 billion in foreign exchange reserves at present, including $4.10 billion with the State bank of pakistan and $5.50 billion of commercial banks. the minister said that the government had a strategy to take the country’s foreign exchange reserves to $13 billion by June 30.

dar added that the government had improved its relations with friendly countries and international partners and taken measures to stop the illegal flight of capital from the country. He also highlighted the prime minister’s austerity measures to control the country’s expenditures and the government’s policy to end untargeted subsidies and provide targeted subsidies to deserving low-income people. the funds for the benazir income Support programme (biSp) had also increased from rs. 360 billion to rs. 400 billion, he said.

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SC stands with Constitution, says Justice Isa in rare speech in NA

ISLAMABAD: Senior puisne judge of the Supreme court, Justice Qazi faez isa, in a “non-political speech” addressed the national constitution convention (ncc) on Monday saying the apex court stands with the constitution. the national assembly, under the leadership of Speaker raja pervez ashraf, is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the constitution of pakistan 1973, a landmark document that laid the foundation of a democratic and progressive society in the country. the anniversary also comes as the country’s top institutions butt heads with political, economic and constitutional crises all raising the spectre of instability. Justice isa finds himself in the middle of an ongoing tussle and deepening divisions within the apex court, made glaringly obvious by the events over the past few weeks surrounding the Sc. the senior judge in his speech, however, maintained that he was present at the ncc “not to deliver a political speech” but because he wanted to state that he and the Sc stood behind the constitution. He also said his colleagues may have not chosen to come due to prior commitments. He also distanced himself from the “political statements” made at the forum explaining that “it may be that the cases of those in attendance might come before my court and i might have to decide against them”. Holding a copy of the constitution in one hand, Justice isa said “this book is our identity, it is pakistan’s identity.” staff report

Joint sitting of parliament again approves bill to curtail CJP’s powers

iSLAMABAD

mian abrar

in a defiant mode, the joint session of the parliament on Monday reapproved the Supreme court (practice and procedure) bill, 2023, aimed at curtailing the suo motu powers of chief Justice of pakistan umar ata bandial. the bill was moved by law

Minister azam nazir tarar in the House who said the bill was sent to president arif alvi for approval but he returned to reconsideration.

addressing the House, tarar said they have increased the power and brought transparency in the affairs of the Supreme court through this bill. He said the Supreme court rules were framed during the dictator’s tenure but now this law is made to eliminate the effect of the one-man show.

He told the House that the president said that this law is an interference in the powers of the Supreme court while they have given the authority to the judges of the Supreme court and this law has also been appreciated by the lawyers’ community.

TIMELINE of ThE BILL: the government moved the bill in national assembly on March 28 and subsequently, the bill titled ‘Supreme court (practice and procedure) bill 2023′ was referred to committee. addressing the House, the law minister who moved the bill, said in the past, the Supreme court took four Suo-Motu notices in a day on administrative matters while there has been a lot of criticism regarding the rules of the apex court of the country. the law minister in favour of the bill said some Suo-Motu notices in the past did not lead to

an increase in the respect of the institution and the decisions of many notices have affected the sanctity of the Sc. later, national assembly Speaker raja pervaiz ashraf referred to the Supreme court (practice and procedure) bill 2023 to the concerned committee of the House for consideration. before the assembly session, on the same day, the federal cabinet approved the Supreme court amendment bill 2023 to hand over the Suo-Motu powers to the senior judges’ committee. on March 29, na passed judicial reforms bill to curtail cJp’s suo motu powers. after passing the Supreme court (practice and procedure) bill 2023 in which the right to appeal against the decisions on the Suo Motu notices has also been given to the parties.

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ECP seeks authority to ‘announce poll dates unilaterally’

iSLAMABAD staff report the election commission of pakistan (ecp) has sought amendments to the elections act, 2017 that will empower the electoral watchdog to announce poll dates unilaterally, without it having to consult the president. the request for amendments was made in letters written by chief election commissioner Sikandar Sultan raja and ecp Secretary omar Hamid khan to principal Secretary to prime Minister dr Syed tauqir Hussain Shah, parliamentary affairs Secretary Muhammad Shakeel Malik, national assembly Speaker raja pervaiz ashraf and Senate chairman Sadiq Sanjrani on Monday.

the letters referred to the “controversy” regarding elections to punjab and khyber pakhtunkhwa assemblies. ecp officials particularly cited two Supreme court (Sc) judgements in this connection, issued on March 1 and april 4. in its March 1 verdict, the Sc had ruled that elections in kp and punjab — both of which have been under caretaker governments since the provincial assemblies were dissolved in January — should be held within 90 days.

However, after the ecp announced in March that elections in punjab would be deferred till october, the Sc issued another ruling on april 4, de-

claring the commission’s decision “unconstitutional” and fixing May 14 as the date for polls in the province. in their letters today, the ecp officials maintained that according to the constitution, the commission was the “sole arbiter” to decide whether the circumstances existed to conduct elections or not and this mandate was “not subordinate to any authority”.

the Sc’s March 1 and april 4 judgements, on the other hand, “have divested the commission of its constitutional powers to determine as to whether conducive environment in facts and cirtcumstances exists for the conduct of elections in a given time to meet the standards mentioned in article 218 (3)” of the constitution, the letters said.

they further stated that under article 218 (3), the ecp was obligated to “organise and conduct elections and to make such arrangements as are necessary to ensure that the election is conducted honestly, justly, fairly and in accordance with the law and that corrupt practices are guarded against”.

the ecp officials also lamented that while the institution had “consistently strived to uphold the writ of law, fair play and merit in letter and spirit”, these “exemplary efforts” were not supplemented and rather its “writ has systematically been challenged on several occasions”.

lahore sehr: 4:16 aM iftar: 6:30 PM

PKR faces difficulties against US dollar, ends up settling at 287

g

profit islamabad

on Monday, the pakistani rupee experienced a significant drop against the uS dollar in the inter-bank market, closing at 287.09, down 2.44 or 0.85%, according to the State bank of pakistan. this comes after the rupee had already depreciated 0.3% the previous week. the currency fell in four of the five sessions, with only a slight gain on thursday when it was announced that the international Monetary fund (iMf) had received financing assurance from Saudi arabia.

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Another complAint lodged with SJc for removAl of cJp, 3 other JudgeS

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Anothercomplaint has been filed in the Supreme Judicial Council against Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial and three other judges seeking their removal. the complaint was filed by Sardar Salman Dogar advocate in the Supreme

Judicial Council. the complainant pleaded with the SJC to remove Chief Justice Bandial, Justice Munib Akhtar, and Justice Ijazul Ahsan from their posts.

Another complaint against Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar naqvi has also been filed in the SJC. the copies of the complaint have been dispatched to other members of the Supreme Judicial Council.

Senate demands to hold elections for nA, provincial assemblies simultaneously

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

the Senate on Monday passed a resolution demanding that the general elections for the national Assembly (nA) and all the provincial assemblies should be held simultaneously for strengthening the federation. the resolution moved by tahir Bazenjo noted that the house firmly believes that political stability is important for economic stability. It said that according to the spirit of article 280, the general elections for all the assemblies must be held simultaneously on its stipulated time under neutral caretaker setups to bring true political and economic stability. the resolution noted that holding separate elections in Punjab will inevitably influence the outcome of general elections to the national Assembly’s seats in Punjab which will trample upon the role of small provinces in the federation. earlier, speaking on the floor, Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, Shazia Marri said government is working to provide relief to poor people. She said the government has given four hundred and four billion rupees for Benazir Income Support Program. Shazia Marri opposed the resolution on the Federal ehsaas rashan riayat Program saying the previous government did not make any budgetary allocations for this program.Meanwhile the Upper house passed three bills on Monday which include national Disaster Management Amendment Bill, 2022, export Processing Zones Authority Amendment Bill and Pakistan environmental Protection Amendment Bill.

govt working to provide relief to poor people, Senate told

ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Shazia

Marri has said that the government is working to provide relief to the poor people. Speaking in the Senate on Monday, she said the government has given four hundred and four billion rupees for Benazir Income Support Program. Shazia Marri opposed the resolution on the Federal ehsaas rashan riayat Program saying the previous government did not make any budgetary allocations for this program rather re-appropriated funds from the BISP for it. earlier, the Senate passed three bills. these included: national Disaster Management Amendment Bill, 2022, export Processing Zones Authority Amendment Bill and Pakistan environmental Protection Amendment Bill.

the complainant accused all four judges including CJP Bandial of ‘misconduct’ in the Ghulam Mehmood Dogar case and Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa polls case. he said that these justices violated Article 209. earlier, on April 7, a complaint was lodged with the Supreme Judicial Council calling for the removal of Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial. the complaint, filed by lawyer raja

Sibtain Khan, alleged that the chief justice engaged in misconduct by dividing judges into groups and securing their support to influence the outcome of a case.

the complaint claimed that the actions of the chief justice violated the Constitution and the fundamental rights of the people of Pakistan, and demonstrated unfaithfulness and disloyalty to the State. the complainant has called for an investigation into the matter and for the chief justice to be removed from

his position.

Complaints against the CJP and other judges have been lodged amid a standoff between the PDM government and judiciary over the matter of holding elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Fawad warns PM, cabinet against disqualification

‘if funds for polls not released’

LAHORE

Staff RepoRt

Pakistan tehreek-i-Insaf (PtI) senior leader Fawad Chaudhry said on Monday that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his cabinet members will be disqualified for five years if they fail to release funds for the upcoming Punjab elections. the former information minister took to twitter and said, “according to the Constitution, funds for elections are provided directly from the treasury,” adding that the “Parliament

has constitutionally dissociated itself from this process”.

“this process is called (Direct Charge on Consolidated funds), in this regard only the approval of the federal cabinet is required,” added the PtI leader. Fawad furthered that if “the federal government does not comply with the Supreme Court’s (SC) decision and does not release funds today, the prime minister and cabinet members will be disqualified for five years.” the tweet by the former minister comes as the federal government is set

Ahsan claims Pakistan moving towards ‘gradual stabilisation’

ISLAMABAD Ghulam abbaS

Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Monday said the incumbent government adopted prudent economic policies and was taking the country towards ‘gradual stabilization’ despite facing multiple challenges on different fronts.

“It is the success of the incumbent government that it not only faced the climate disaster that caused a $ 30 billion loss to the national exchequer but also managed to take Pakistan towards gradual stabilization despite the PtI past regime’s failed economic policies and bad governance,” he said while addressing a news conference here.

While targeting the previous government of PtI throughout the press conference, the minister said that no one was talking about the threat of the country’s default that even the PtI ministers and officials themselves admitted the national economy was on the verge of collapse, recalling the statements of Imran Khan’s handpicked [former]Finance Minister Shaukat tarin, railways minister Sheikh rasheed and FBr chairman Shabbar Zaidi, besides a number of PtI parliamentarians.

he said it was unfortunate that the PtI tried to blame the one-year-old incumbent government for the increased inflation that occurred due to its own wrongdoings, failed policies and bad governance.

the minister said the PtI government, which was forcibly imposed on Pakistan after the 2018

to take up the matter of providing funds to the election Commission of Pakistan (eCP) for holding Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) elections in Parliament today. the decision was taken after PM

Shehbaz chaired a cabinet meeting on the weekly holiday (Sunday) to deal with the “current political and constitutional crises” in the country. the apex court last week had directed the federal government to provide rs21 billion in funds by April 10 to the eCP, directing the electoral body to present a report on the issue by

election under a ‘conspiracy,’ had been enjoying absolute rule and ‘spoon-feeding’ by the top state institutions during its four-year tenure.

“they (institutions) had been extending all kinds of support to the PtI for keeping its government intact and prolonging its rule,” he said, adding Imran Khan also remained in the habit of non-complying with the apex court orders in different cases.

he said curbs were imposed on media by the PtI government and managed to expel some critical journalists from their media houses to mute their voices and mold them in the government’s favor. Despite all these things, the Imran government enjoyed full support even from the media, he expressed astonishment. he said the PtI government deteriorated the national economy without making any achievements as the circular debt and losses of state enterprises almost doubled in its tenure.he mentioned that the PtI government caused billions of rupees loss to the country’s aviation industry alone by issuing irresponsible statements on licensing issues of pilots after a PIA plane crashed in Karachi in May 2020, following which the national flag carrier was banned on major international routes.

Ahsan Iqbal was of the view that the PtI government should explain why it could not implement its manifesto with regard to providing 10 million jobs and constructing five million residential units for the low-income group, despite having the complete support of the institutions and absolute authority.

Imran Khan summoned for investigation by ICT police in 9 cases

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

the Islamabad Capital territory (ICt) police have summoned PtI chief Imran Khan tomorrow on April 11 and 12 to join investigation in nine different cases.nine cases were registered against the PtI chairman at different police stations of the federal capital including the CtD. the capital city police have asked Imran Khan to join the investigation in two cases on April 11 (tuesday) and in 7 cases on April 12. In this regard, notices have been sent to Imran Khan at his Zaman Park residence. Imran has been summoned by ramna police station on April 11 in two cases. he has been asked by Police Lines to attend office on April 11 at 12:00 (noon).

the PtI chairman has been summoned by the CtD in connection with another case. Imran has been asked to attend Khunna police station along with all related documents. he has been asked to present his stance on the said dates otherwise legal action would be taken against him.

A district and sessions judge of Islamabad, while issuing notice to PtI chief Imran Khan, asked him on Sunday to appear in person before the court on April 11 in toshakhana case. Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal ordered Imran to appear before him on tuesday at 8:30 am on a plea filed by election Commission of Pakistan in connection with an FIr registered against the PtI chairman at Kohsar police station over toshakhana case.

April 11. the verdict had also said that the SC will issue instructions to the authorities concerned in case the funds are not provided.

Despite the court’s order, sources said that the federal cabinet instead opted for debating the matter in Parliament before approving and issuing funds for the provincial elections. the huddle also held legal consultations and discussed the coalition government’s strategy in view of the Supreme Court’s April 4 verdict ordering elections in Punjab on May 14.

imran calls for probe into death of complainant in attempt on his life

LAHORE Staff RepoRt

Imran Khan demanded a “proper inquiry” into the mysterious death of Sub-Inspector Aamir Shahzad Bhadar, who was the complainant and a critical witness in the assassination attempt last year on the former prime minister in the Wazirabad district of Punjab. Bhadar, who was the station house officer (Sho) of Sadar police station in Wazirabad, passed away on Sunday due to cardiac arrest at his house in his native village Bhadar near Kharian town of Gujrat. reportedly, Bhadar’s condition suddenly deteriorated and he was immediately taken to the Combined Military hospital (CMh) in Kharian, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

In a series of tweets, the chairman of Pakistan tehreek-i-Insaf (PtI) called the death of the officer “sudden”, saying that Bhadar was a “critical witness in unearthing the conspirators” behind the plot being investigated by a joint investigation team (JIt). he also reiterated the claim that the investigation record was being tampered with.

“It is equally important to recall the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of FIA investigator Dr rizwan as well as the deaths of Maqsood Chaprassi and all other witnesses in Shehbaz Sharif’s money laundering case,” he added.

Bhadar was the complainant in the case registered against the november gun attack on Khan. he had been working at the Sadar police station, where he was posted just days before the attack took place.

During the attack, a PtI worker had died and 14 others, including Khan and party leaders, were injured at Allahwala Chowk neighbourhood, where the opposition party’s “haqeeqi Azadi” march against the federal government had stopped on its way to Islamabad.

After the attack, Khan had blamed Prime Minister Sharif, Interior Minister rana Sanaullah Khan and a senior intelligence official for planning the incident and unsuccessfully attempted to nominate them in the case.

ecp confers magisterial powers on returning officers

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

the election Commission of Pakistan (eCP) Monday conferred the powers of the Magistrate of the First Class on the district returning officers and the returning officers in Punjab. the eCP also issued a notification in this regard. It is to be noted here that polling for elections in Punjab will be held on May 14, 2023 according to the schedule.

Exorbitant costs deprive Pakistanis of performing Hajj

ISLAMABAD Shahzad paRacha the exorbitant costs have deprived Pakistanis of fulfilling their religious obligations “hajj” as the government has received 72,896 applications in the regular scheme against a total 89605 reserved seats. hajj Policy 2023 stipulates that 179,210 hajj quota of Pakistan shall be distributed between Government and Private hajj Scheme at 50:50 ratios, and 50% quota of each scheme shall be filled through sponsorship for which hajj dues shall be remitted in US dollars from abroad.

For the year 2023, tentative hajj Package for northern region (Multan, Lahore, Sialkot, Islamabad, rahim Yar Khan, Faisalabad and Peshawar) is rs 1.17 million and for the South region (Karachi, Sukkar and Quetta) is rs 1.16 million, sources added. on the other hand, private tour operators

are charging hajj fees starting from rs2 million to rs5 million respectively.

Sources said that the Ministry of religious affairs was optimistic to secure $194 million out of the total required $ 284 million under the Sponsorship Scheme. the eCC and the Cabinet have approved that the Finance Division will provide the remaining $90 million foreign exchange cover for hajj-2023. At the time of submission of hajj Policy-2023 to the eCC and the Cabinet, it was assumed that the Sponsorship Scheme will be fully utilized and will secure $ 194 million. Applicants of the Sponsorship Scheme are required to deposit their full hajj dues in USD out of which airfare and service charges are paid in Pak rupee. In this way, the Sponsorship Scheme was expected to secure foreign exchange cover for the regular Scheme also. this Ministry has decided in

consultation with the Finance Division that the remaining quota of the Sponsorship Scheme shall be shifted to the regular Scheme and thereby all the applicants i.e. 72,869 (against 44,190 seats) be declared successful without balloting. resultantly, 28,679 seats of the Sponsorship Scheme are required to be utilized through the regular Scheme.

Sources said that the ministry of religious Affairs needs net $213 million for hajj 2023 out of which $50 million have already been released and remaining $163 million are required from the finance division.

the utilization government after diversion of 28,697 applications to regular schemes and collection of sponsorship schemes will be either given to private schemes or returned to KSA; in both the cases, it will not generate additional demand of foreign exchange.

pAKiStAn celeBrAteS 50th AnniverSAry of conStitution with cAll for pArliAmentAry centrAlity

ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

prIMeMinister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his views on Monday, saying that the parliament should be placed at the core of national life in both letter and spirit.

In a tweet, he emphasised that the rules of the game should be framed according to

the Constitution, which can guide the nation towards progress. the tweet was made on the occasion of the golden jubilee of the 1973 Constitution formulation, and Sharif acknowledged the Constitution as a critical element in shaping Pakistan’s national character, identity, and future trajectory. he regarded the Constitution as a

islamabad court remands gandapur in police custody for one more day

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

An anti-terrorism court (AtC) in Islamabad Monday remanded Pakistan tehreek-e-Insaf (PtI) leader Ali Amin Gandapur in police custody for one more day. the court directed to submit the voice matching report of Ali Amin Gandapur tomorrow, and it also ordered his medical examination. the police had demanded another fiveday physical remand of Ali Amin Gandapur from the court. “how was the case filed without voice matching?” the court enquired from the investigation officer. “I have been asked to investigate this case,” the investigation officer replied. “Wasn’t it necessary to carry out the arrest after voice matching? how did the police arrest [Gandapur] without obtaining a warrant from the court?” the court enquired further. “Did the police take the statement of any of the private channels related to the audio of Ali Amin Gandapur?” lawyer Babar Awan raised a question. “Let’s suppose the audio is correct, but is there any damage done?” he added.

government allocates rs404bn for BiSp, minister informs Senate

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety

Shazia Marri informed the Senate on Monday the government is committed to providing relief to the poor people of Pakistan, according to radio Pakistan. She announced that the government of Shehbaz Sharif has allocated a total of rs404 billion for the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). however, Marri opposed the resolution on the Federal ehsaas rashan riayat Programme, saying the previous government of Pakistan tehreek-i-Insaf (PtI) did not allocate any budget for the program but instead re-appropriated funds from the BISP. During the session, the Senate passed three bills including the national Disaster Management Amendment Bill, 2022, export Processing Zones Authority Amendment Bill, and Pakistan environmental Protection Amendment Bill. the Anti-rape Investigation and trial Amendment Bill and the Criminal Laws Amendment Bill were laid before the house and referred to the standing committees concerned. the session began with the house offering prayer for the security personnel who lost their lives in recent acts of terrorism in the country.

govt tables bill seeking parliament’s nod for election funding

COntInuED fROM pAgE 01

the minister emphasized the government’s belief in the supremacy of Parliament and upholding the constitution and law of the land. he criticized Pakistan tehreek-eInsaf (PtI) for creating constitutional and legal crises in the country and insulting people’s mandate by tendering their resignation from the national Assembly. he said that the provincial assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were dissolved on instructions from Imran Khan before the legitimate period to create uncertainty in the country. he said that elections should be held in the country as per the law and constitution but conducted across the country on the same day under the supervision of caretaker governments to ensure fairness and transparency. he said that holding elections simultaneously would decrease the total expense.

sacred document that has endured many storms over the past 50 years and has kept the federation together. Sharif also paid tribute to the framers of the Constitution, acknowledging their political foresight. the Constitution, Pakistan’s third since 1947, adopted by the national Assembly in April 1973, was suspended in 1977. A Provisional Constitutional order

(PCo) was then established in March 1981 to govern the country under martial law. After four years, efforts were made to restore the Constitution, and by october 1985, a newly elected national Assembly amended the Constitution, granting extensive powers to the president, including the ability to appoint any member of the national Assembly as prime minister.

As the LHC strikes down tax on property, ‘plot’ business may see resurgence

COntInuED fROM BACk pAgE

Similarly, some changes have also been made in section 236C and this section deals with advance tax on sale or transfer of immovable property. Under this section normally one per cent tax is charged on transfer of property. earlier this rule was made that if any property is sold after four years, then this section will not be imposed on it but now its period has been extended to ten years.

Similarly, under Clause 9A, all ex-servicemen of the federal or provincial authorities were entitled to a capital gains tax exemption of up to 50% if they sold a plot and up to 75% if they sold after three years. now this clause has also been drawn in this budget, i.e. now these people will be charged the same capital gains tax

as other people. real estate sector expecting activity: on the other hand, people related to the real estate sector and property dealing are very happy with this decision of LhC. Speaking to Profit, Chaudhry Afzal, the owner of a real estate project on Ferozepur road, informed that with this decision, the expectations of reviving the stalled real estate business have increased.

“Many people who want to invest in the real estate sector were worried about the proposal of Deemed rental Income. If we talk about Lahore only, FBr has already increased the property rates so much that a ten marla plot in an average area cost more than rS 25 million. If you leave Lahore and move to other cities, property rates are high there too. If I want to start

Joint sitting of parliament again approves bill to curtail CJP’s powers

COntInuED

So now the former Prime Minister Mian nawaz Sharif, Syed Yousuf raza Gilani, and other affected parties by the decisions of the Suo Motu notice cases will be able to avail the right of appeal. the judicial reforms bill split the PtI lawmakers on whether to support or oppose the legislation.

PtI legislators opposed the bill while renegade members supported the legislation. Leader of the opposition raja riaz threw his weight behind the judicial reforms bill, saying the legislation was jointly moved by the government and the opposition. Another PtI rebel MnA Ahmad hussain Dahar extended congratulations to the movers of the bill. “Being a lawyer myself I must say this was our old demand. I will salute all if this legislation becomes a law,” he added.

earlier, national Assembly’s Standing Committee on Law has approved the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill 2023. the nA committee on Wednesday gave its assent to the legislation by incorporating three amendments in it. on tuesday, national Assembly Speaker raja Pervaiz Ashraf had referred the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill 2023 to the committee of the house for consideration. Federal Law Minister Azam nazir tarar had tabled the bill in the house and addressed the legislators about the harmful practices of the suo-motu notices in the past.

Addressing the house, the law minister said in the past the Supreme Court took four suo-motu notices in a day on administrative matters while there has been a lot of criticism regarding the rules of the apex court of the country. earlier, the federal cabinet had also approved the Supreme Court Amendment Bill 2023 paving way for handing over the suo-motu powers to a senior judges’ committee. the cabinet also decided to grant a right of appeal on suo-motu. It is proposed in the bill that three senior-most judges of the Supreme Court will decide the suo-motu notice.

While there is also a proposal to grant a right to file an appeal within 30 days against the suo-motu decision and the appeal should be fixed for hearing within 14 days of its filing.

While commenting on the passing of a motion on voting for the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill 2023 in the national Assembly, Federal Law Minister Azam nazir tarar said on the floor of the assembly that law for the judicial reforms should have been passed earlier as Bilawal Bhutto rightly remarked.

“All the bar councils of Pakistan have praised this law,” the law minister said, adding that approval of 47 laws in two hours was part of the history.

“there was a full court bench four years ago. the formation of three-member bench created problems repeatedly. the Parliament will fulfil its responsibility to remove the ambiguity,” he stated.

MnA Mohsin Dawar moved an amendment to

the bill. Section-by-section approval of the bill continued in the national Assembly till the filing of the report. on March 30–Senate approved judicial reforms bill with 60-19 votes. the bill received 60 votes in favour and 19 against it, amid a chaotic scene in the Senate as PtI lawmakers protested the decision. the bill proposed that an appeal shall lie within 30 days from an order of a bench of the Supreme Court who exercised jurisdiction under clause (3) of the Article 184 of the Constitution to a larger bench of the Supreme Court and such appeal shall, for hearing, be fixed within a period not exceeding fourteen days.

According to the bill, the right of appeal under sub-section (1) shall also be available to an aggrieved person against whom an order has been made under clause (3) of Article 184 of the Constitution, prior to the commencement of this Act provided that the appeal under this subsection shall be filed within thirty days of the commencement of this Act.

According to the statement of objects and reasons of the bill, the bill would also ensure the right of the free trail and due process of Law as enshrined under Article 10A of the Constitution. earlier, moving the bill in the house, Minister for Law and Justice Azam nazeer tarar said that it was the demand of the bar associations and councils to introduce the bill and they have supported the bill.

“this bill was an old demand of the Bar Council which said that indiscriminate use of 184(3) should be stopped,” he added. he said it was prerogative of the Parliament to do legislation under Article 191 of the Constitution. the Supreme Court’s rules were framed under Article 191 of the constitution and were promulgated in 1980. he went on to say that Article 184 was excessively used in the past and some cases even executives were also pushed into the dock. the country has to bear hefty billions of dollars in loss in cases like reko Diq and Pakistan Steel Mills etc, he added. he said the bill aims to have transparent proceedings in the apex court and it also includes the right to appeal. he said that all institutions have to follow the laws passed by the Parliament. the minister quoted the Article 191 of the Constitution which says that subject to the constitution and law, the Supreme Court may make rules regulating the practice and procedure of the Court. tarar said that the bill includes the right to appeal, adding that it was time for the Parliament to legislate on it now. on April 8, President Alvi returns judicial reforms bill to Parliament unsigned. In a series of tweets uploaded on President of Pakistan’s officials twitter handle on Saturday, President Alvi said he had returned the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill, 2023 for reconsideration to the Parliament as per the provisions of the Article 75 of the Constitution, stating that the bill prima-facie travels beyond the competence of the Parliament and can be assailed as colourable legislation.

projects for housing societies or commercial plazas in Lahore, I have to buy land and it is not like I will buy land and within a year it will be sold. obviously there will be development costs, it will have to be approved by the relevant authorities and then I will be able to market and sell it. the entire process takes at least three to five years. now if my land is not sold in three years and its market value is more than 25 million then under the above proposal I will only pay taxes every year and will not be able to develop. or I will increase the price of land so much that the common man will not be able to buy it. Another aspect was that investors started shying away from buying more than one plot in their name because they would have to pay deemed income tax on it,” Afzal concluded.

punjab cm vows to improve efficiency of wASA, other institutions

LAHORE Staff RepoRt

Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin naqvi said Monday that clean drinking water and an effective sewage system was the basic right of every citizen, adding that there was no room for negligence when it came to the installation of water supply lines, reservoirs and providing basic facilities to the citizens. he stated these remarks while chairing a meeting of Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) held to review the matters relating to the rehabilitation of projects. “WASA will become a true public institution under the caretaker government. In order to solve the problems of the citizens, WASA must forgo its conventional methods and adopt the modern ones,” he directed. the chief minister also vowed to provide the basic facilities of life to the citizens by improving the efficiency of WASA and other institutions. the Punjab chief secretary, housing secretary, finance secretary, Lahore division commissioner, Lahore deputy commissioner, WASA managing director and other officers concerned attended the meeting.

pKr faces difficulties against the uS dollar, ends up settling at 287

COntInuED fROM pAgE 01

the delay in the confirmation of funding from a friendly country is the only reason the staff-level agreement between Pakistan and the IMF is taking longer than expected. the fall of the rupee is likely to continue until this condition is met, and the dollar is expected to continue to rise internationally due to US jobs data indicating a tight labour market, raising expectations of an interest rate hike by the Federal reserve at its next meeting.

Homeopathy treats diseases naturally by balancing life-force, say advocates

ISLAMABAD anadolu aGency homoeopathy, an alternative treatment system, can cure diseases naturally by balancing the life force, according to practitioners of the method.

“there is a miraculous life energy within each human being. We need to understand this energy,” rita Kaya, a German homoeopath living in turkey, told Anadolu.

Kaya, who studied alternative medicine in Germany, said homoeopathy has a principle that likes are cured by likes. homoeopathy is a safe and holistic treatment system that evaluates physical, spiritual, and mental well-being as a whole, she said.

“homeopathy reveals the reasons for diseases such as sadness, anger,

resentment, accident, financial problems, natural disasters, etc.,” she said, adding that they apply individual treatment offering unique remedies. on the remedies, she said their ingredients are obtained from nature in their purest form such as flowers, leaves, vegetables and fruits, and seeds.

Underlining that the most important principle is to not harm anything, she said homoeopathic remedies are not tested on animals. “on the contrary, they are used to heal plants and animals,” she added.

Kaya, who has practiced homoeopathy for more than 27 years, also said some people approach homoeopathy with suspicion.

“Many patients take handfuls of drugs. that’s why people don’t understand homoeopathy, which recommends only one medicine,” she said.

Stressing that the “dosis minima” (minimum dose) principle is significant in curing, she said overdosing or incorrect use of remedies could lead to side effects.

“It is very modern and popular right now because some diseases cannot be cured with medication and even worsen,” she said, adding that homoeopathic treatments can give 80% positive results.

She added that homoeopathy is used for curing/treating many diseases and conditions, including muscle disease, discomfort from menopause, stomach and digestive problems, upper respiratory tract diseases, infant and child diseases, and sports injuries. HomoeopatHy spread tHrougHout world nearly 220 years ago: George Vithoulkas, a Greek teacher and practitioner of homoeopathy, said this therapeutic system

was founded by the German doctor Samuel Christian F. hahnemann nearly 220 years ago.

“hahnemann has bequeathed us a whole medical system for treating people.

It is a completely different system than conventional medicine is using,” Vithoulkas said.

hahnemann claimed that at any given time only one remedy should be given to the patient, the one that has the greatest similarity to his disease, he said.

“there is no problem at all using homoeopathy with conventional treatments. the only problem is that the chemical drugs reduce drastically the curative effect of the homoeopathic remedy,” he said. the word homoeopathy is made up of the Greek words omoios, meaning similar, and pathos, meaning disease.

“today homoeopathy is considered

the most advanced therapy that is available in our modern societies. It has to be applied by knowledgeable homoeopaths, well trained in reputable learning institutions,” he said, adding that there is definitely a demand for higher education on homoeopathy. noting that the International Academy of Classical homeopathy has a fully online course of two years, he said this course is taught at several medical universities in russia, Ukraine, the US, Germany, the UK, Colombia, and many other countries. homoeopathy is mostly used in India, Pakistan, South American countries, russia, Ukraine, Germany, the UK, and the US. At least 90 countries are using it in a smaller or bigger way, he added. every year, April 10 is observed as World homeopathy Day to commemorate the birthday of Dr. hahnemann.

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50 years later…

A nation still struggles to find itself

Amilestone, the 50th anniversary of the Constitution of our republic. Third time’s a charm, as they say, what with having been through two earlier constitutions before settling down to our incumbent one in 1973. Next door, in india, they got this particular problem out of the way a mere three years after independence and have stuck with it till now. yes, they had some close calls along the way, with indira Gandhi’s emergency in 1975, which almost led to a cancellation of the scheduled 1977 elections, till better sense prevailed and a democratic india moved forward. To now, where the very NehruvianAmberkarian nature of the way the indian state has functioned so far, is at risk. it is that constitution of 1950 that has stood up like a bulwark against fascist tendencies, left or right, socially liberal or conservative, secular or Hinduvadi fundamentalist.

This side of the radcliffe, we realised, much later than the indians did, that perhaps the parliamentary form of government is the best way to govern a polity as diverse as ours. But, alas, even this constitution hasn’t been adhered to in the years after it was promulgated. it has been suspended thrice, the last two times by one dictator. And it has been amended by rubber stamp governments of dictators who weren’t all too bothered with democratic niceties.

it is a comment on our nature as Argumentative indians, to borrow a term from Amartya Sen, that even military dictators saw that they couldn’t possibly have declared an indefinite, naked military rule in the country. All such takeovers were always prefaced by a performative, loudly stated intention to bring in ‘real democracy.’ But in the last two military takeovers, even the ‘73 constitution wasn’t abrogated, what to speak of the idea of democracy itself. That alone is a comment on the lasting power of that document.

The 50th anniversary comes at a time of constitutional crisis in the country, including, but not limited to, the role of the judiciary itself. The conspicuous presence of one Justice of the SC at the Golden Jubilee event at the NA had the commentariat on fire yesterday.

Both the government and the opposition need to look at the Constitution for the two pressing issues facing our hapless republic: the necessity of procedural democracywithin the timeframe specified - and the supremacy of the parliament - not the judiciary - in the way our polity has to be governed. One needs to look at the former, and the other needs to look at the latter.

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami (Late)

Founding Editor

Yousaf Nizami Editor

M. A. Niazi

Joint Editor Umar Aziz Executive Editor

Two types of fiction

things ought to be. in other words, they are results of the philosopher’s imagination allowed to run amok. Fictional foundations are bound to result in arbitrary ethical and metaphysical superstructures. it must therefore be borne in mind that no matter how reasonable, apparently unarguable, common-sense or high-sounding a metaphysician’s axioms may be, they are nothing more than figments of his imagination. They cannot help being arbitrary; and there is therefore no basis whatsoever to believe them to be true. Trust human creativity to invent such fantasies and trust the philosopher to convince others (and himself) that how things ought to be are how they really are. Often, he does it so subtly as to be himself unconscious of the subterfuge.

EVeryBOdy is familiar with one type of fiction: novels, short stories, plays, historical tales, films (including those purportedly based on real events) and the like. The other type, despite the fact that usual practice categorizes it under non-fiction, is philosophy, and is every bit as fictional. At least one eminent philosopher has been honest enough to acknowledge this. When a young student told Bertrand russell that he liked to read Kant, russell is reported to have remarked: ‘So you like fiction, eh?’ in this regard it would be unfair to single Kant out, of course. And indeed, on a separate occasion when taking a momentary break from writing philosophy to dabble in novel writing, russell observed that he had merely turned his attention from one form of fiction to another.

There is no denying how self-consistent many philosophical systems can appear to be. A sound philosophical argument makes a lot of sense (provided one understands it) and can therefore be very convincing. But novels and plays must make a lot of sense as well, or else nobody would read them. Now, nobody argues that since in novels (for example) one finds bald men, overweight women, corrupt policemen and shady politicians (all realistic depictions), the rest of the narrative must also be real. in fact, it is obvious to all that when one needs to lie to others, one must first tell something true (to win their confidence); there is just no way around it. Playwrights, novelists, and film-makers do it all the time. So do philosophers. Like detective-fiction writers, trust philosophers to slip in the sneaky item when the unsuspecting reader is least expecting it.

Philosophers over the years have used logic to build elaborate metaphysical and ethical systems. even those that have not been system-builders have prided themselves on their impeccable logical thinking. The problem is that unlike scientists who rely on induction, philosophers have generally turned to deductive logic to create the edifices of their various philosophies. This is where the trouble begins.

For even if their syllogisms (and whatnot) are sound, there is no escaping from the fact that their axioms (or fundamental premises) are nothing more than how (in the infinite wisdom of the philosopher)

despite the fact that many of them use the very same logic, philosophers differ from one another on virtually every issue and in very basic measures. This is so because there is no possible way of reconciling their differences, the source of each set of premises being the individual philosopher’s imagination and personal prejudice. One such bias is as good (or as bad) as any other, because there is no means of subjecting any of these sets to objective scrutiny in order to see how much any is worth. There is therefore no settling the issue. No wonder philosophy has historically failed to solve any problem to anybody’s satisfaction, barring of course the satisfaction of the philosopher presenting it.

Philosophers are past masters at erecting elaborate metaphysical frameworks that captivate the sophisticated man, one who thinks of himself too cultured to be interested in avocations that call for lesser involvement of his intellect. The simple man, on the other hand, finds philosophical discourses ab-

struse. dazed by all the parade of elaborate arguments and corollaries (which he can barely read, let alone understand), he cannot help feeling awe for the philosopher. The reputation of philosophers as supersmart men is thus assured across the board; hence the persistent perception that philosophy could not be more different from mere novels and the like. Of course, no reasonable man would belittle philosophy any more than he would think of disparaging other forms of fiction. Like novels, short stories and plays, philosophy can be extremely useful on account of its entertainment value. Few other activities can be as absorbing and intellectually demanding. Philosophy has the wherewithal to enthral a certain type of refined mind that can be engaged by no other genre of literature; this is the type of man who is apt to consider the other forms of entertainment too ‘lowly’ for his intellect. in that capacity, one wishes more power to philosophy. Only it must never be forgotten that no matter how mesmerizing and intellectually stimulating it may be, it remains fiction nevertheless.

Finally, a word of praise for logical reasoning: Logic is an extremely useful tool in that it helps one avoid fallacies and inconsistencies. But like all tools, it has limitations. Man learnt a long time ago that logic alone cannot possibly bring new knowledge to the table; that any sound logical system is ultimately a bunch of tautologies; that it is therefore the fantasies in the form of axioms that turn out to be decisive in any philosophical system. But man is notoriously prone to forget what he learns (and this includes the most intelligent of specimens), hence the need for periodic reminders such as this one.

The author is a connoisseur of music, literature, and food (but not drinks). He can be reached at www.facebook.com/hasanaftabsaeed

‘Pride’ possesses a lot of meaning depending on the context, but it is often associated with a sense of accomplishment, satisfaction, and confidence in oneself or something that one is associated with. Whenever we use the term pride it has connotations as: a. Personal Pride: This refers to a feeling of satisfaction and self-respect that one has in oneself, such as being proud of one’s achievements, accomplishments, or personal traits. b. Group Pride: it gives us a sense of pride and belonging that people feel towards a group they identify with, such as a family, community, cultural group, or nation. Pride as a Sin: in some religions and moral systems, pride is considered one of the seven deadly sins, as it can lead to arrogance, selfishness, and other negative traits. c.

National Pride: This refers to the sense of patriotism and loyalty that people have towards their country, often expressed through displays of national symbols, anthems, and pride events. in general, it can be a positive and empowering force when it comes from a place of genuine achievement, self-respect, and acceptance of oneself and others. But it can also become a negative and divisive force when it leads to arrogance, superiority, or intolerance towards others. However, in this context, pride and self-respect are closely related concepts, they are both are emotions that involve a positive evaluation of oneself. Pride is often associated with accomplishments or membership in a particular group or community, while self-respect is more closely tied to a person’s sense of their own worth and dignity as a human being. The key difference between pride and selfrespect is that pride can sometimes be based on external factors, such as accomplishments or social status, whereas self-respect is more inwardly focused and based on one’s inherent worth and values. in other words, while pride can come and go depending on external circumstances, self-respect is a more stable and enduring sense of one’s own worth and dignity.

Positive and negative effects: Pride can have both positive as well as negative effects on individuals and society, depending on how it is expressed and managed. Some of its positive effects include: a. Positive Motivation: Pride can be a powerful motivator, inspiring individuals to work hard, set goals, and achieve

success. b. Confidence: Pride can boost an individual’s self-confidence, which can lead to greater resilience and success in the face of challenges and setbacks. c. Social Connection: Pride can create a sense of social connection and belonging, particularly when it is shared with others who share similar experiences or identities. d. Achievement: Pride can be a result of accomplishments and achievements, and can serve as a source of validation for one’s hard work and effort. On the other hand, it has also several negative effects which include: a. Arrogance: When pride becomes excessive, it can lead to arrogance and entitlement, causing individuals to view themselves as superior to others. b. intolerance: Pride can lead to intolerance and prejudice against individuals who do not share the same identity or experiences. c. Conflict: When pride is associated with group identity, it can lead to intergroup conflict and divisiveness. d. Hubris: excessive pride can lead to hubris, which can cloud judgment and lead to poor decision-making. To conclude, pride can be a powerful emotion that has both positive and negative effects and it is important to balance pride with humility and respect for others to avoid negative consequences.

significance of

Pride: Pride can hold various significances depending on the context and it is often associated with several different aspects which largely include:

a. Personal Significance: Pride can hold personal significance for an individual in terms of self-worth, self-esteem, and confidence. it is an emotion that can give individuals a sense of accomplishment and a feeling of self-respect. b.

Social Significance: Pride can be significant in the context of social identity and social groups. Being part of a community or group can create a sense of pride and belonging, and pride can be a symbol of collective identity, strength, and resilience.

c. Political Significance: Pride has taken on a political significance in recent years, particularly in the context of rights movements. Pride events are often used as a platform for activism, advocating for equal rights and acceptance, and challenging discrimination and oppression. d.

Historical Significance: Pride can have historical significance as a marker of progress and change.

e. Cultural Significance: Pride can be significant in the context of cultural identity and heritage. Many cultures place great importance on pride as a symbol of their history, traditions, and values. in conclusion, it is often seen as a powerful emotion that can shape personal, social, political, historical, and cultural identities.

social value of Pride: The feeling of pride and its various expressions add individual’s social value in general where men realised himself alleviated in comparison to others and becomes self-motivated in social life, while other values include: a. Community Building: Pride can create a sense of community and belonging among individuals who share a common identity or experience. Pride events and celebrations can bring people together and help build social connections. b. Visibility: Pride can raise awareness and visibility of marginalized groups and issues. This can help challenge stereotypes, break down barriers, and promote understanding and acceptance. c. empowerment: Pride can empower individuals who have been historically marginalized or oppressed. it can help them feel validated and proud of their identity and experiences, and give them the courage to speak out against discrimination and injustice. d. Advocacy: Pride can be a platform for advocacy and activism. it can be used to raise awareness of important issues, lobby for change, and push for greater equality and social justice. e. Cultural diversity: Pride can celebrate and promote cultural diversity. it can help promote cultural understanding and respect for different cultures and ways of life. However, the social value of pride is rooted in its ability to bring people together, challenge stereotypes and discrimination, promote diversity and inclusion, and empower individuals and communities.

The writer is head of the political science department of the B.N.Mandal University, Madhepura, Bihar, India and can be reached at rajkumarsinghpg@gmail.com

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A bureaucracy of professionals

AS a colonialist power, the British were cunning, subtle and, strategically speaking, visionary of sorts. They hired and supported local chieftains who were more than willing to serve their new masters to control the masses; their own countrymen.

The British were so successful in instilling such a mentality in the minds of their subjects that a few generations down the road, their language used to become the mark of scholarship and wisdom so much so that people would start hating their own. Some of the local dominant groups learned this strategic thinking from their masters. Their modus operandi as well as the goal remained the same, and, unfortunately, the response from the target group also remained the same with the exception of a few hard-headed selfrespecting individuals. Such a mentality is pervasive and is perpetuated by the hiring system that is still in vogue related to the bureaucrats. The prime example is the Central Superior Services (CSS) examination which turns doctors into accountants, and engineers into policemen. This exam is nothing but a screening of sorts to ensure the continuation of the sahibcreating factory, even if it means wasting the already scarce resources. it is time to reform the system along modern lines, and only professionals should be allowed to apply for the job they qualify for. One wonders why a doctor or an engineer after years of professional education and training is allowed to waste his/her education on unrelated professions for which they have no training and probably have no aptitude for. Well, the answer is simple; power, and, at least in some cases, easy and massive amount of money. These bureaucrats live in their own tiny kingdoms. They are cut off from the realities of life that the masses around them have to put up with on a daily basis. As rightly pointed out in the article ‘investing in food and water’ (March 11), these bureaucrats are no specialists in the fields but still by virtue of their position, they are appointed advisers to heads of governments — prime minister and chief ministers — even in fields in which they lack competence and experience. The result, not surprisingly, is waste. Such generalised bureaucracy should be confined to clerical work in which they may have expertise in, and special fields should be left to the relevant professionals with educational and real-life experience. in order to encourage efficiency and competence, it is high time the state of Pakistan did away with the colonial legacy with regard to bureaucracy, and reformed it along truly modern lines.

SHAKEEL NIZAMANI CALGARY, CANADA

Why private schools?

WHy should parents take their children to private schools while struggling financially? The answer is not simple, but a highly complex one based on our socio-cultural parameters and sensibilities with which we live, grow up and interact with others.

There is a serious interplay of peer pressure, societal pressure, pressure from family and friend circles and acute unhealthy competitiveness to stand out from the others. Also, the parents want to see the unattainable success in their children that they dreamt about for themselves, but failed to achieve in life. Through their child’s success they want to affirm their position in society to demonstrate that they are part of ‘the best’. it is all part of what we may loosely call the ‘i am the best’ syndrome. Our colonial mindset and selfish desires are the most potent factors behind such an attitude and set of preferences that make private schools thrive at the cost of their public-sector counterparts. There is no denying the fact that poor management, maintenance and shabby performance of several state-run schools have contributed to these challenges. Both mainstream and social media have become extremely powerful in recent times, forcing people to follow their especially-designed preferred choices and destinations described, rather than being able to take our decisions in life independently. Can this be denied?

Philosophy has the wherewithal to enthral a certain type of refined mind that can be engaged by no other genre of literature; this is the type of man who is apt to consider the other forms of entertainment too ‘lowly’ for his intellect.

Dr rajkumar Singh

Why philosophy texts belong to the fiction section

The key difference between pride and selfrespect is that pride can sometimes be based on external factors, such as accomplishments or social status, whereas self-respect is more inwardly focused and based on one’s inherent worth and values.

Not

The Saudis’ new geostrategic doctrine

These three fundamental goals are tightly linked and are within the Saudis’ reach

lation. Millions are still refugees languishing in camps in many countries in the region, especially in Turkey, and millions more are still internally displaced. Thus, mending relations with Syria will be a win-win for the Saudis as this would only enhance its influence.

regional stability: The resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia iran mediated by China was central to its strategy. Both countries have come to the conclusion that notwithstanding their enmity and regional rivalry, they have to coexist in one form or another. They realized that the eight-year-long war in yemen has done nothing to improve their regional standing. it was a lose-lose proposition. iran failed to establish a strong and permanent foothold in the Arabian Peninsula and although iran continues to support the Houthis, they have no illusion about converting yemen into an iranian satellite.

Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, having prevented iran from dominating yemen, no longer feels that the continuation of the war will yield any further benefit regardless of how much more money and human resources they pour into the war effort. This explains why they have agreed on the ceasefire and further extended it until they could find a mutually accepted solution. The resumption of diplomatic relations would accelerate this reconciliation process.

This, needless to say, is not guaranteed because the adversarial relations between the two countries run deep, but their national interest resulting from their rapprochement overrides, for the time being, those concerns. Both sides know that it will take time to fully normalize relations while testing each other’s true intentions as well as their conduct.

For the same reason, the Saudis decided that Syria’s President Assad is not going anywhere. He has weathered the most devastating war since the last World War, albeit at the expense of destroying half of the country while inflicting massive suffering on nearly half of Syria’s popu-

regional influence: The Saudis fully understand that they cannot boost their regional influence by remaining disengaged from their neighbors. Given iran’s nuclear weapons program and the Saudis’ extreme concerns, the resumption of diplomatic relations could potentially ease those apprehensions. How the Saudis can help change the dynamic of iran’s nuclear program remains to be seen. One thing, however, is certain: the Saudis have placed themselves where they canpotentiallybring iran back to negotiating with the US, albeit indirectly. Whether or not they succeed, they can still exert greater influence in this area by engaging iran, which they did not have before.

And to further exert regional influence, the Saudis wisely decided to invite Syria’s Assad to the Arab League summit that riyadh is hosting in May. Syria was suspended from the organization in 2011, and was sanctioned by many Western powers and Arab states because of Assad’s fierce onslaught against protesters that led to a long, drawn-out civil war during which more than 600,000 lost their lives.

The Saudi invitation certainly signals an extremely important development that will bring about the reintegration of Syria into the Arab fold—a move that would lead to the resumption of full diplomatic relations between the two countries. There is no doubt that other Arab states will follow suit, which only strengthens Saudi Arabia’s leadership role among its fellow Arab countries.

By reopening diplomatic relations with both iran and Syria, the Saudis will have a say about any future settlement to the Syrian conflict, where iran still exerts considerable influence. Given that the Saudis have deep pockets and the Syrian regime is dire economic strains and needs tens of billions to rebuild, the Saudis can do a great deal more than iran to provide financial aid to Syria. And, of course, with financial aid comes influence.

President Assad is more than eager to cooperate not only for the critically important financial aid, but also to begin the process of ending damascus’ isolation. restor-

ing diplomatic relations between Syria and the other Arab states will contribute significantly to calming the region and making it possible for Saudi Arabia to sustain its ability to supply oil in huge quantities without interruption.

uninterruPted oil exPort: For the Saudis, continuing to export oil in enormous quantities and the revenue it generates is central to its objective to becoming a regional player to be reckoned with. Having the largest reservoir of oil gives the Saudis significant advantages, as many of its oil customers know they can rely on the Saudis for energy supplies for many years to come. Thus, its resumption of diplomatic relations with iran and Syria and financially aiding other Arab states like egypt, would invariably contribute to stabilizing the region and in turn allow the Saudis to continue its oil exports with the least interruptions. None of the above however will impact adversely the Saudis’ relationship with the US nor its tacit relations with israel. The Saudis are fully aware of how critical the US’ role in both, as the main supplier of weapons to the kingdom and the region’s ultimate security guarantor. Moreover, regardless of its discord with israel regarding the Palestinian conflict, Saudi Arabia’s tacit cooperation with israel on intelligence sharing and transfer of israeli

technology are and will remain an integral part of its geostrategic objective.

riyadh wants to develop inroads into both its past adversaries including iran and Syria while maintaining its current relations with the US and israel, regardless of the occasional ups and downs between them. At the same time, riyadh is cementing its bilateral relations with China, the world’s second-largest superpower to which Saudi Arabiaexportsone quarter of its annual oil output ($43.9 billion’s worth in 2021, out of $161.7billionin total exports), while becoming thede factoleader of the Arab states. To be sure the Saudis have, thus far, been able to successfully utilize its wealth to its advantage.

Needless to say, however, many external and regional occurrences could directly and indirectly impact Saudi Arabia’s new geostrategic calculus, including the Ukraine war, the growing tension between the US and China and russia, and the ongoing israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, under any circumstances the Saudis stand to gain as time and circumstances are on their side.

Dr Alon Ben-Meir is a professor of international relations at the Centre for Global Affairs at NYU. He teaches courses on international negotiation and Middle Eastern studies. alon@alonben-meir.com

be a Muslim in Narendra Modi’s India?

does it feel like

Karan Thapar’s no-holds-barred interviews offer raw testimonies from today’s India

Scroll karan Thapar

ON December 28, 2021, in an interview with Naseeruddin Shah, the actor spoke at length on what it means now to be a Muslim in a communally polarised country. The discussion gives window to the hurt felt by India’s Muslims in an atmosphere where calls for their genocide ring out without consequences.

Ten days ago, in Haridwar at a dharma sansad, bloodcurdling calls were made for the genocide of Muslims and ethnic cleansing. Hindus were told to do to Muslims what has happened to the rohingya in Myanmar. Never in my life did i think indian citizens would turn on fellow citizens in this way. yet that is precisely what has happened. So today, i want to ask a simple and blunt question: What does it feel like to be a Muslim in Narendra Modi’s india? My guest is one of india’s foremost actors. right through his life, he has had only one identity. He’s been indian. religion has not mattered. However, today many of his own countrymen are thrusting a religious identity upon him. Joining me now is the well-known and highly regarded actor Naseeruddin Shah.

Naseeruddin Shah, at that dharma sansad ten days ago in Haridwar, bloodcurdling calls were made for a genocide of Muslims for ethnic cleansing, and Hindus were told to do to Muslims what has been done to the Rohingya in Myanmar. What did it feel like to hear your own fellow countrymen, your fellow citizens, calling for a massacre of your community?

Well, the first reaction was anger. What is happening here is a concerted attempt to make Muslims feel insecure. Starting from the very top where Aurangzeb and Mughal invaders are being invoked and separatism seems to have become a policy for the ruling party. i was curious to see what would happen to these guys (right-wing activists) but the fact that nothing happened to them is not surprising. Nothing happened to the minister whose son trampled over farmers. He has not been sacked, he has not been chastised, he has not been taken to task, and he has not been asked to leave the ministry. However, that is something which is sub judice, so i won’t go into too much detail. But there is definitely an attempt to make us scared, and that is something which i have always held as a placard: that we should not be scared.

Funnily, being scared is an accusation that is thrust upon me all the time – you are scared of being in india – because i said something months and months ago about being concerned regarding the fate of my children. My life is over. i have another ten years to go. So i won’t live to see it. But what i am concerned about is what would

become of my children. i had also stated that it is tragic that a cow’s death should have more importance than the death of a police inspector.

These statements, for some reason, made me an object of ridicule, hate and a target of abusive threats all the time, which completely baffled me because i don’t think i had said anything provocative of that kind. At the same time, a film i had done ten years ago, called A Wednesday, and another film i had done 25 years ago, Sarfarosh, were pulled out.

in Sarfarosh, i play a Pakistani ghazal singer who turns out to be an intelligence agent. in A Wednesday, i play a lone wolf who decides to assassinate four terrorists who he fears would otherwise get away. These were shown side by side along with a video that was recorded of me when i visited Lahore and i was asked how i feel coming to Lahore and i said, “i feel completely at home.” This seemed to rile and rankle everybody, and they said, if you are at home, go there.

And i don’t understand why this should happen, because if you go to somebody’s house and if you are very comfortable and are treated well, wouldn’t you say this is just like home. That contrasted with a speech i make in A Wednesday, when i talk of wiping the house clean of cockroaches and so on. And it was shown as “What a traitor this guy is. His film image says this whereas what he says in real life is this”.

What i said in real life was that i feel welcomed here, i feel very comfortable over here. But, at the same time, our prime minister and the Pakistani prime minister were holding hands like schoolgirls and walking down the causeway of the Lahore airport.

Absolutely. I am now going to deliberately quote from two people at the dharma sansad because the audience needs to realise just how shocking, bloodcurdling and horrifying some of the things spoken over there were. Swami Prabhodananda stated, “Like in Myanmar, the police here, the politicians here, the army and every Hindu must pick up arms, and we will have to conduct this cleanliness drive. There is no solution apart from this.” And then Pooja Shakun Pandey said, “If a hundred of us are ready to kill two million of them, then we will win in making India a Hindu nation.” Did you ever in your life believe that Muslims would be spoken about in this way by their own Hindu brothers and sisters? These are fellow citizens turning on you it leaves you aghast when you hear things like this. And i wonder if these people know what they are talking about.

What they are calling for is a full-scale civil war. Two hundred million of us are not going to get wiped out that easily, two hundred million of us are going to fight back, two hundred million of us claim this to be our motherland and two hundred

million of us belong here. We were born here. Generations of our families have lived and died here. And i am certain that if any such movement begins, it is going to be met with massive resistance and a massive amount of anger. And to these people who make these statements, nothing is done, whereas a comedian is arrested for a joke he was going to make. What this abominable yati Narsinghanand chap goes around saying is absolutely abominable and borderline ridiculous.

They would be funny if they weren’t so ominous. You said something very important: “These people don’t realise that they are creating the potential condition for a civil war. Two hundred million Muslims are not going to buckle down and die just because a dharma sansad is threatening to attack and kill them.” They are threatening the very

integrity of our country.

yes, and as you said they are threatening their fellow citizens who belong here as much as they do. And it’s amazing that the so-called atrocities of the Mughals are being highlighted all the time.

They forget that the Mughals were people who contributed to this country. The Mughals are people who have left lasting monuments, history, culture, traditions of dance and music, painting, poetry, and literature. No one talks about Taimur, Mahmud of Ghazni or Nader Shah, because people are not conversing with that history.

Those were the marauders who came, looted, and left. The Mughals came here to make this their homeland. you could call them refugees if you like, pretty well-off refugees. But the Mughals are being blamed unnecessarily, and to hold every Muslim in india responsible for the so-

called atrocities is ridiculous.

You know, Naseeruddin Shah, it is not just what was said at the dharma sansad that sent shivers down people’s spines, it is also the response. Days went by without the police taking any action, and even till today, there have been no arrests. When an FIR was finally filed, it was for the very minimal crime of provoking religious enmity. The director general of police in Uttarakhand has confirmed to The Hindu that the far more important Unlawful Activities Prevention Act has not been applied and it may not be applied. And yet, last year when the Tablighi Jamaat was accused of spreading COVID-19, some were charged with homicide. When Kashmiri students applauded the Pakistani cricket victory, they were charged with sedition. Do you, do Muslims, believe that the police would be fair and objective? Do Muslims believe that the police will bring these dreadful culprits to justice?

it depends on who is giving the orders to the police, i think. This kind of discrimination of justice starts at the very top, and i think that it percolates down all the way. The example is being set by those at the top. The police may act on orders, but it’s a moot point as to whether the policemen themselves feel a sense of joy at beating up people. But obviously they do, from the footage we have seen from the lockdown. But what is one to do if the representation of Muslims in police in any case is very small, and even if it were a little larger or if there was a Muslim policeman who was ordered to charge with a lathi at a crowd, he would jolly well obey. i don’t think he has a choice in the matter.

You have said a very important thing. How the police behave and how they respond, whether they would be objective or fair and bring the culprits to justice, depends upon the orders from the top. Let’s look at the political response. There hasn’t been a word of condemnation from the Uttarakhand government and the central government, and the prime minister’s silence is deafening. It’s almost as if to suggest that nothing happened or he doesn’t care what happened.

i think he doesn’t care. He genuinely does not care. At least you can’t accuse him of being a hypocrite in that sense, that he expresses remorse for something he doesn’t feel any remorse about. He has never said a word of apology for the Ahmedabad pogrom. He’s never said a word of apology for anything else. He did half-heartedly apologise for the kisan thing, but it was an insincere apology. And not a word of chastisement to any of these people. in fact, he follows these people on Twitter. Why he does that is known only to him, but he obviously derives some sort of pleasure out of that.

Excerpted from Sound and Fury, Karan Thapar, Bloomsbury India.

What they are calling for is a full-scale civil war. Two hundred million of us are not going to get wiped out that easily, two hundred million of us are going to fight back…

What

to

U.S. facing international backlaSh on ‘biggeSt official docUmentS leak’

AGENcIES

the U.S. national security community is grappling with fallout from the release of dozens of secret documents, including the impact on sensitive information-sharing within the government and ties with other countries, two U.S. officials said.

Reuters has reviewed more than 50 of these documents, labeled “Secret” and “Top Secret”, that first appeared on social media websites in early March and purportedly reveal details of Ukrainian military vulnerabilities and information about allies including Israel, South Korea and Türkiye. The material did not draw much notice until a New York Times article on Friday.

Although the release of documents appears to be the most serious public leak of

classified information in years, officials say it so far does not reach the scale and scope of the 700,000 documents, videos and diplomatic cables that appeared on the WikiLeaks website in 2013.

Officials are looking at what motivations a U.S. official or a group of officials would have in leaking such sensitive information, Reuters reported, citing an official speaking on condition of anonymity.

The official said investigators were looking at four or five theories, from a disgruntled employee to an insider threat who actively wanted to undermine U.S. national security interests.

The White House referred questions to the Pentagon, which said on Sunday that it was reviewing the validity of the photographed documents and an interagency effort was assessing the impact the

photographed documents could have on U.S. national security as well as that of close American allies and partners.

The Pentagon has referred the issue to the Department of Justice, which has opened a criminal investigation.

The Pentagon is seen from Air Force

One as it flies over Washington, D.C., U.S., March 2, 2022. /CFP

Watching allies: The leaks have already drawn responses from some foreign governments. One of the documents marked “Top Secret” and from a CIA Intel update from March 1, says the Mossad intelligence agency was encouraging protests against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plans to tighten controls on the Supreme Court.

The document said the U.S. learned this through signals intelligence, suggesting the

United States had been spying on one of its most important allies in the Middle East.

In a statement on Sunday, Netanyahu’s office described the assertion as “mendacious and without any foundation whatsoever.”

Another document gave details of internal discussions among senior South Korean officials about U.S. pressure on Seoul to help supply weapons to Ukraine, and its policy of not doing so.

The office of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said on Monday that fact checks on the documents are a priority and that it would request the U.S. to take “appropriate” steps after confirming details.

Yoon’s office said the possibility that the documents were fabricated or a product of third-party interference cannot be ruled out, warning any attempts to “disrupt the alliance

China: India minister’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh violated ‘territorial sovereignty’

BEIJING ReuteRs

China firmly opposes a visit by India’s home minister to Arunachal Pradesh and views his activities in the area as violating Beijing’s territorial sovereignty, a foreign ministry spokesperson told a news briefing on Monday.

China has renamed some places in what India regards as its eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, which China views as part of its territory.

“Zangnan [southern Tibet in Chinese] is China’s territory,” spokesperson Wang Wenbin said in response to a question on the visit by Amit Shah. “The Indian official’s visit to Zangnan violates China’s territorial sovereignty, and is not conducive to the peace and tranquillity of the border situation.”

China and India have had several skirmishes over the disputed border and

clashes in mountainous regions in recent years have seriously strained ties.

The border conflict persists as they both countries claim ownership of the poorly demarcated 3,440 kilometres (2,100 miles) long Line of Actual Control (LAC). The LAC runs along a disputed region and is often affected by the changing landscape, including rivers, lakes, and snowcaps. China has consistently asserted its claim over the entirety of Arunachal Pradesh, referring to the region as “South Tibet”.

Last week, according to a statement by the nation’s Ministry of Civil Affairs, China renamed 11 places along the region in the state. The move was rejected by India’s foreign ministry, which stated that Arunachal Pradesh is an “integral and inalienable part of India.” The Chinese map also shows its border with India to be just north of the Brahmaputra River.

Airbus to open 2nd plane assembly line in China, double output

PROFIT AFP

European plane maker Airbus said Thursday that it will double its production capacity in China, as it seeks to bolster its footprint in a crucial market and sidestep potential geopolitical risks.

Asia and China in particular are key targets for both Airbus and its American rival Boeing, which are looking to capitalize on surging demand for air travel by a rapidly expanding middle class.

“It makes a lot of sense for us, as the Chinese market keeps growing, to be serving local for the Chinese airlines, and probably some other customers in the region,” Guillaume Faury said during a trip to China, where he is accompanying French President Emmanuel Macron.

Faury later signed a framework agreement to

build a second final assembly line (FAL) at its factory in Tianjin, northeast China, for Airbus’s hugely popular A320 family of medium-haul jets, at a ceremony attended by Macron and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The new assembly line will begin operations in late 2025.

“It’s a way to be probably more in sync with the way the world is developing, with tensions and with more complexities of doing business,” Faury said.

“We are delivering more planes in China than what we can produce in China, but the lines are capable of serving other customers,” he added.

The new Chinese site was part of Airbus’s goal of raising its global annual production of A320 and A321 jets to 75 a month in 2026, up from 43 last year.

The company has an order backlog of around 7,300

planes, with customers often having to wait years for delivery.

Airbus’s first assembly site in Tianjin, opened in 2008, is turning out four A320s a month, and the company aims to up that to six a month this year.

China is also pouring money into state-run manufacturer Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), which is developing a narrow-bodied C919 jet to potentially rival Airbus’s A320 and Boeing’s B737.

In the meantime, Chinese carriers are big plane buyers, with Air China, China Eastern, China Southern and Shenzen Airlines announcing last July an order of 292 A320s.

The Chinese market represents one-fifth of global passenger air traffic, and Airbus expects growth of 5.3 percent a year through 2041, well above the 3.6 percent growth forecast at the global level.

Imam stabbed while leading Fajr prayers in New Jersey mosque

WASHINGTON INP

An imam was stabbed while he was leading Fajr prayers at a mosque in Paterson, New Jersey by a man who was caught by the worshippers, a spokesperson for the mosque said.

According to the local officials, the imam is now in stable condition and is being treated for a punctured lung.

“Imam Sayed Elnakib was

stabbed during the first prayer of the day, around 5:30am, at Omar Mosque in south Paterson while the congregation was kneeling for prayer,” .

As per the details, the suspected assailant — who was also performing prayer with over 200 other worshippers at the mosque on Sunday morning stabbed the imam multiple times.

“The suspect lunged forward with a knife and stabbed Imam Sayed multiple times at least

twice,” Hamdan said. However, the worshippers managed to catch the suspect while he tried to escape and held him “until the police arrived” and apprehended him, he added. New Jersey Mayor Andre Sayegh said he visited Imam Elnakib, who was “in better spirits than before”.

Sayegh said Elnakib was being treated for a punctured lung. The mayor said a suspect was detained, but the motive is not clear.

would face repercussions”.

opposition Democratic Party expressed “strong regret” over the spying allegations, calling them a clear violation of national sovereignty and a major security failure of the Yoon administration.

Another document marked “Top Secret” purportedly detailed how Russian private military contractors met with Turkish “contacts” to buy weapons from Ankara.

The Turkish embassy in Washington declined to comment.

It is not uncommon for the U.S. and other countries to spy on their allies. But public disclosures of such spying are uncomfortable for those allies, who need to explain to their populations how they will respond.

“It is going to take some time to rebuild trust with our allies,” a U.S. defense official told Reuters.

man charged over hate crime at mosque near toronto, police say

MONTREAL ReuteRs

Canadian police arrested and charged a male suspect after what they called a “hate-motivated incident” at a mosque in the province of Ontario on Thursday in which he allegedly drove toward a worshipper and yelled threats and religious slurs, police said on Sunday. The incident took place in the city of Markham while the suspect, 28-yearold Sharan Karunakaran, was later arrested in Toronto, the York Regional Police said in a statement. Canadian Trade Minister Mary Ng condemned the incident and called it a hate crime, saying it had no place in Canadian society. The Islamic Society of Markham (ISM) said an individual had entered the mosque in Markham, 30 kilometres (18.6 miles) north of Toronto, on Thursday and apparently torn a Quran and ranted at worshippers. The police statement released on Sunday did not mention the Quran being torn. The incident comes during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, when worshippers throng to mosques. Thousands of people attend the mosque at Markham. Police added they charged the suspect with uttering threats, assault with a weapon and dangerous driving. His next scheduled appearance will be at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Newmarket on Tuesday.

dalai lama apologises after video asking boy to ‘suck my tongue’

NEW DELHI AgeNcIes

The Dalai Lama, the Tibetans’ 87-year-old spiritual leader, apologised on Monday after footage showed him asking a young boy to “suck my tongue” at a public event. “A video clip has been circulating that shows a recent meeting when a young boy asked his Holiness the Dalai Lama if he could give him a hug,” said a statement on the exiled leader’s Twitter account, which has 19 million followers. “His Holiness wishes to apologise to the boy and his family, as well as his many friends across the world, for the hurt his words may have caused.” The statement said the Dalai Lama leader “often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras. He regrets the incident”. The video, which has 1 million views on Twitter, also shows the Nobel peace laureate apparently giving the boy a peck on the lips in presence of an audience who are heard clapping and laughing, while a man captures the moment on a phone. Reuters has not verified the clip.tthe Dalai Lama, who fled to India in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet, is regarded by Beijing as a dangerous separatist He has worked for decades to draw global support for linguistic and cultural autonomy in his remote, mountainous homeland.

Chinese forces simulate ‘sealing

BEIJING

ReuteRs

China said fighter jets carrying “live ammunition” conducted “simulated strikes” near Taiwan on Monday, and that its Shandong aircraft carrier was involved in the ongoing exercises, as the US Navy said it sailed a guidedmissile destroyer through waters claimed by Beijing.

The Taiwan defence ministry said it spotted 59 Chinese military planes near Taiwan on the third day of Beijing’s military

off’

Taiwan on third day of military drills Chinese

drills. The ministry said that, among them, 39 Chinese planes crossed the Taiwan Strait median line and entered Taiwan’s air defence zones.

China said its forces carried out a simulated “sealing off” of Taiwan during the maritime drills, while dozens of planes practised an “aerial blockade” of the island, a military statement said. “Multiple batches of H-6K fighters carrying live ammunition […] carried out multiple waves of simulated strikes on important targets on Taiwan Island,” the Chinese military’s Eastern The-

atre Command said, adding that the Shandong carrier “participated in today’s exercise”.

Also on Monday, the US Navy said its guided-missile destroyer the USS Milius sailed through waters claimed by Beijing in the South China Sea in a “freedom of navigation” operation.

“This freedom of navigation operation upheld the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea,” the Navy said in a statement, adding that the ship had passed near the Spratly Islands.

The USS Milius sailed about 1,300 kilometres (800 miles) away from the location where Chinese fighter jets and warships were carrying out a third day of military drills around Taiwan.

The war games follow a meeting last week between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy outside Los Angeles.

The exercises sparked condemnation from Taipei and calls for restraint from Washington, which said it was “monitoring Beijing’s actions closely”.

corporate corner

NOT-BY- PROFIT

Pakistan urged to contemPlate Pace and status of Projects under cPec

ISLAMABAD

NEWS DESK

for college Library. pr

Bank Alfalah, ChildLife Foundation join hands in healthcare for flood-affected children in Sindh

Karachi: Bank Alfalah, one of Pakistan's leading commercial banks in Pakistan, has partnered with ChildLife Foundation to provide much-needed medical treatment to children affected by the recent floods. Through the partnership, ChildLife Foundation will receive PKR 25 million in funding as support for medicines to treat the children arriving at ChildLife-managed Children Emergency Rooms (ERs) in flood-damaged areas of Larkana, Sukkur, Nawabshah, and Hyderabad in Sindh. The floods have caused widespread devastation in these areas, leaving many children suffering from waterborne diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, malaria, dengue, typhoid, pneumonia, and so on. By joining hands with Bank Alfalah, ChildLife Foundation aims to provide immediate and effective medical treatment to these children, ensuring they receive the care they need to recover and lead healthy lives. A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed by Atif Bajwa, President and CEO of Bank Alfalah, and Iqbal Adamjee, Chairman ChildLife Foundation, on behalf of their organisations. pr

Ample supply of subsidized items at all Utility Stores: Spokesman

islamabad: Utility Stores Corporation is providing special subsidy on 19 basic items under the Prime Minister's Ramadan Relief Package. These subsidized items include sugar, ghee, cooking oil, flour, dates, gram flour, pulses, rice, tea, spices and Squashes/Syrup. All the items are being provided at a lower price than the general market. Apart from the subsidized items, the prices of other standard branded items have also been drastically reduced. In order to make it easier for the people in the blessed month of Ramadan. pr

Stop TB Partnership and Pfizer host a symposium to highlight the growing number of

TB cases in Pakistan

Karachi: Every year Stop TB Partnership and its partners unite to raise public awareness of the devastating health, social, and economic impacts of TB and call for an end to this epidemic. A seminar was organized by the Stop TB Partnership Pakistan in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Sindh and Pfizer Pakistan to commemorate this day. The event was attended by leading stakeholders including member NGOs, TB survivors, members of academia, and print and electronic media. pr

e& to acquire a majority stake in Careem Super App, invests $400m

e& is investing $400m in the Careem Super App, in line with e&’s strategic ambition of scaling up consumer digital offerings and accelerating its transformation to a global technology and investments group. Investment will support expansion of Careem’s Super App after proven success in the UAE Uber retains 100% ownership of the Careem ride-hailing business which it acquired in 2020 and will be a significant shareholder of the Careem Super App business Abu Dhabi, 10 April 2023: e& today announced the signing of a binding agreement with Uber Technologies, Inc. (“Uber”) and its subsidiary Careem to acquire a majority stake in Careem’s Super App spinout. Careem’s ride hailing business will remain fully owned by Uber and continue to be available with all other Careem services on the existing app for customers. e& is investing $400m to become a majority shareholder in Careem's Super App alongside Uber and all three of Careem's co-founders. The Careem Super App offers over a dozen services including food and grocery delivery, micro-mobility, a digital wallet and suite of fintech services, and additional third-party services such as home cleaning, car rental and laundry. Careem serves customers in 10 countries across the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia. pr

Writingfor the Express tribune, author Shakeel Ahmad ramay explains that China has been making efforts to revitalize the Belt and road initiative (Bri) in recent times. this is not surprising given the relaxation of Covid-19 policies and the acceleration of efforts following the recent two sessions. As a result, it is anticipated that China will offer new opportunities for investment, with Chinese companies likely to invest in countries along the Bri. However, this new momentum of investment will be accompanied by a new philosophy of development, centered around the principles of high-quality development and green recovery.

China has made it clear that in order to achieve prosperity for both China and the world, development must adhere to the principles of ecological civilisation and sustainable development. it is crucial for Pakistan to contemplate the pace of implementation and status of projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Pakistan must also explore how to adjust its policy framework to benefit from the new philosophy and

CPEC AUTHORITY SHOULD BE AN APOLITICAL BODY, IMMUNE TO CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT

principles of high-quality development. this is especially important for Pakistan, as the country is highly susceptible to the effects of climate change and requires a development model that is compatible with the climate.

Furthermore, China has identified Pakistan as a high-priority country and intends to give a boost to the CPEC initiative. During Ahsan iqbal’s visit, the Chinese leadership expressed strong desire to increase investment under CPEC. in order to capitalize on the new opportunities, Pakistan must refine its existing policy and implementation framework. Merely making big statements and staging photo-ops will not suffice. Pakistan must take concrete steps and introduce a series of reforms in order to fully benefit from the new opportunities. these steps should be innovative and forward-thinking, as they have the potential to help in economic recovery. to achieve this goal, Pakistan must move beyond relying on the euphoria of its strategic location. While it is true that Pakistan occupies a strategic location, it alone will not help.

Furthermore, the notion of strategic location is relative and not absolute. For instance, if Pakistan wishes to access Central Asia, it must first pass through Afghanistan. in such a scenario, Afghanistan would be deemed to hold the strategic location.

Additionally, Pakistan must consolidate the progress made under CPEC. However, the current institutional framework and business environment are not conducive to fast-tracking implementation. in fact, they are likely to create hurdles.

Despite Pakistan’s improvement in the ease of doing business ranking, ground-level issues still persist. the business community has to deal with numerous organizations, institutes, and departments to pay taxes, obtain licenses, or register a company.

For instance, there are 35 different tax agencies in Pakistan, resulting in wastage of time and resources. Moreover, the institutional system is inefficient and displays signs of rent-seeking. in a nutshell, the process is cumbersome and discourages potential investors and industrialists from investing

Date extended for 7th Population and Housing Census

StAff report

Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) has been executing the 7thPopulation and Housing Census digitally for the first time in the history country, with census field operations commencing from 1stMarch, 2023 and have continued till 10thApril, 2023 without any interruption. the successful execution of the digital census is great success and it is a moment of great pride for the nation as it is the largest South Asian digital census to date. the overall progress of the census is very encouraging and satisfactory.

it is a great pleasure for the nation and a tremendous achievement that data of over 97% listed households has been successfully collected to date through tablets across the country and only less than3% census field work left particularly in metropolitan cities of various provinces and other few cities of Baluchistan. the census field work has been completed over 99% Punjab, 98% in Sindh, 90% in islamabad and 82% in Baluchistan while the census work has almost been completed in KP and AJK. the census work has been completed 100% in 131 districts out of 156 districts across the country while70 to 80% census work completed in remaining 25 districts and work is in progress. it is pertinent to mention that work completion percentage may slightly increase after synchronization of data from some completed blocks which fall in offline zone. the completion of census work is over 97% across the country is landmark achievement and will pave the way of new era for prosperous Pakistan. in order to complete the leftover census work and ensure the completed coverage, details of the cities

along-with additional time required to complete remaining work was solicited from the provincial governments for extending the census operation on customized basis only for those cities where census work is yet to be completed. Accordingly, theChief Census Commissioner has extended the date to complete the remaining census work to ensure 100% coverage by 15thApril, 2023 only for some metropolitan cities like islamabad, rawalpindi, Lahore, Quetta, gilgit, and Karachi or as the provincial government of Sindh deem it appropriate. in addition to these big cities, census date also extended for 13 cities of Baluchistan.

in case enumerators have not visited, citizens of Pakistan are being requested to inform PBS using the toll free number is 0800-57574 which will be functional 24/7. the citizen can also send their complete address through SMS on 9727 for lodging complaints of non-coverage. they can also visit or contact PBS reginal Offices or the 495 Census Support Center established at the tehsil level for lodgin their complaints regarding non-coverage.

Simultaneously, the quality of data is being ensured through Post Enumeration Survey by using Computer Assisted telephonic interview (CAti) and the respected citizens are urged to extend cooperation with our team to verify their data through randomly generated calls through CAti. the citizens of Pakistan being the most important stakeholders and beneficiary of the census are urged to ensure their full participation and cooperation with field staff visiting them and the call center officials who may call them for data verification for quality control, along with as well as lodge complaints of non-coverage if any.

Another first by TPL Insurance - giving customers more control over their auto insurance

KArAchI pr

tPL insurance, the market leader in innovations underpinned by customer-centricity in the insurance segment, is proud to announce another first in the industry. the company has completed a pilot launch of a new auto insurance product, giving customers more control over their coverage options.

Unlike traditional comprehensive and deductible insurance options, which offer limited flexibility, tPL insurance's new product allows customers to select and pay for only the coverage options they want. this means that customers no longer have to pay for coverage they don't need and

can instead focus on the specific risks they face as car owners. A used car customer may not want to purchase comprehensive insurance as they will have to pay depreciation on parts replacement. However, with tPL insurance's new product, customers can also choose to cover their vehicle against theft/ total loss/third party or additional zero depreciation cover in order to avoid paying depreciation for parts replacement. this gives customers greater flexibility and control over their insurance coverage. the new product is available in conventional and takaful versions, ensuring customers have various options. the base rate for the new product starts at just 0.99%, with the ability to add on additional coverage options at an increased rate.

Revolutionizing businesses through automation, AI

By oMAr SAeeD

When it comes to marketing, automation, and artificial intelligence (Ai) are two of the most significant technological advancements of our time. together, they have revolutionized how businesses operate and interact with their customers. in the domain of social media management, businesses worldwide face a common challenge: how to keep up with the everchanging trends and demands of social media platforms?

in today’s fast-paced digital world, social media has become integral to any marketing strategy. With over 3.6 billion active social media users worldwide, businesses can reach a vast audience, build brand awareness, and engage with their customers like never before. Fortunately, with the advent of Ai and automation, businesses can streamline their social media management processes and focus on creating high-quality content that resonates with their audience.

One of the most significant benefits of Ai and automation in social media manage-

ment is the ability to automate tasks such as scheduling posts, creating content and analyzing performance metrics. Automation can provide businesses with a scalable, consistent and targeted approach to marketing. By utilizing software to manage tasks such as lead generation, email campaigns, and social media management, businesses can free up valuable time and resources to focus on other growth areas.

Automation can also provide personalized experiences for customers through data and analytics, making it easier to segment and target specific demographics and interests. in 2017, American food chain Wendy’s became an internet sensation for its witty and snarky twitter responses to customers. However, maintaining a consistent and engaging social media presence across multiple platforms takes time and effort. to address this challenge, Wendy’s partnered with an Ai-powered automation tool, Sprinklr. With the help of Sprinklr’s Ai algorithms, Wendy’s was able to track social media trends and consumer behaviour in real time, allowing them to create relevant

and timely content that resonated with their audience. in Europe, the luxury fashion brand Burberry has embraced Ai and automation to streamline its social media management processes. it partnered with iBM Watson to analyze consumer behavior and trends on social media platforms. this allowed the brand to create personalized content for its target audience, improving its social media content’s overall engagement and reach.

the trend is catching up in Pakistan as well. Pakistani startup, Social Champ, an Aipowered automation tool leading social media management, has become a go-to solution for businesses worldwide that want to streamline their social media management processes and optimize their social media strategy. One of the key benefits of using Social Champ is the ability to automate tasks such as scheduling posts, creating content and analyzing performance metrics.

Sameer Ahmed Khan, CEO and cofounder of Social Champ, says his company is a next-generation social media tool with features that allow you to manage your on-

in Pakistan. in this backdrop, it is imperative for Pakistan to move beyond rhetoric and adopt measures that can give a fresh impetus to CPEC implementation.

One plausible solution could be to revive the CPEC Authority, which was an excellent initiative of the Pakistan tehreek-e-insaf (Pti) government. Although the CPEC Authority was primarily created as a monitoring body, it played a crucial role in facilitating stakeholders to implement CPEC projects.

Even during the pandemic, the CPEC Authority continued to function and deliver results, demonstrating the resilience and determination of Pakistan and China to keep CPEC moving forward.

However, the previous structure and setup of the CPEC Authority may not be adequate to meet the demands of the second phase of CPEC. the authority was previously responsible for overseeing and monitoring ongoing projects. to fulfill the requirements of the second phase, a more robust and dynamic authority is required. therefore, it is necessary to reform the authority, and the following suggestions are proposed for discussion and consideration:

To read the full article visit www.tribune.com.pk

Dawlance stands with earthquake victims in Turkiye

Karachi: Dawlance is the leading brand of home appliances in Pakistan and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Arçelik - the 2nd largest manufacturer in Europe. The parent company is based in Turkiye - a country that was devastated by the strongest earthquake (7.8 magnitudes), on the 6th of February 2023, causing over 50.000 deaths in the region. Therefore, Dawlance has pledged to provide relief and show solidarity with the brotherly Islamic nation, by generously contributing to Arçelik’s earthquake-rehabilitation initiative. Koç Holding – the largest conglomerate of Turkiye that owns Arçelik and Dawlance, has also set up a Crisis Coordination Center, to help people affected by the earthquake. Immediately after the earthquake, Arçelik constituted a ‘Search & Rescue Team’, who saved 20 precious lives of citizens trapped in the collapsed buildings and rubble. The company has also established relief centers in; Hatay, Adıyaman and Kahramanmaraş to deliver valuable humanitarian aid across these regions. This resourceful initiative for the rehabilitation of affected communities has already delivered 800,000 relief items. pr

Un-interrupted power supply is being provided during Ramadan

Dr. Muhammad Amjad Khan, Chief Executive Officer, IESCO Chief Executive IESCO Dr. Muhammad Amjad Khan has said that Alhamdulillah IESCO is fulfilling its hundred percent promise of uninterrupted supply of electricity to respected customers during the month of Ramadan, especially during Sahar and Iftiar hours. Due to 24 hours monitoring and alert operation formations, no major fault was reported on more than 1300 feeders and 116 grid stations of IESCO. He further said that he is much hopeful that IESCO all formations will continue this standard of performance in future also. He also appreciated Chief Engineer Operations Muhammad Aslam Khan who is the overall incharge of all field operations activities. pr

6th meeting of CDA board held

islamabad: The sixth meeting of the Capital Development Authority Board of the year was held here on Monday under the chairmanship of Chairman Capital Development Authority Captain Noor ul Amin Mengal at the CDA headquarters. The meeting was attended by Members of the board. In the meeting, the proceedings of the previous meeting were approved. CDA board approved establishment of Building and Housing Control Wing. The board decided that rainwater harvesting has been made mandatory in residential and commercial buildings in Islamabad. It was decided that no building map shall be approved without construction of water recharging well and tank. pr

line presence fully. “Using the tool you can actually fully automate social media by creating captions and images by power of Ai and scheduling it efficiently for months.”

Social Champ’s Ai algorithms also analyze consumer behavior and trends on social media platforms, allowing businesses to create personalized and engaging content for their audiences.

Mr Khan adds the Champ Ai Suite is quite powerful to say the least. “By entering just a few general commands, you can super easily create content for your socials. From captions to titles, all you need to do is to give it clear instructions. Furthermore, when you create a few posts using the feature, you can easily track how well they are doing using analytics and reports.” As businesses continue to embrace Ai and automation in their content marketing strategies, we expect to see even more innovative and creative uses of these technologies. Ai-powered content moderation tools can help identify and remove harmful content like hate speech, cyber-bullying and fake news.

But Ai has limitations in content moderation, such as its inability to understand the nuances of language and context, which can result in false positives or false negatives. Moreover, there are concerns about biases in Ai algorithms that can lead to discrimination or censorship of certain groups.

the power of automation in marketing is undeniable, and businesses that embrace Ai and automation are more likely to succeed in today’s fast-paced digital world. From analyzing consumer behavior to creating personalized and engaging content, Aipowered tools have streamlined social media management, allowing businesses to focus on delivering high-quality content that resonates with their audience.

As more businesses adopt Ai and automation worldwide, we expect more innovative and creative uses in social media management and beyond. Embracing Ai and automation is essential to keep up with the ever-changing trends and demands of social media platforms, and those who do so are more likely to succeed in today’s fast-paced digital world.

The writer is an economist and consultant. He may be reached at omar.saeed1971@yahoo.com

Mian Shaukat Masud former President of ICCI presented World Book Encyclopedias to Prof. Ahmed Raza Principal Sir Syed College Rawalpindi

AS LHC StRikeS down tAx on pRopeRty, ‘pLot’ BuSineSS mAy See ReSuRgenCe

NEW LAW MANDATED THAT EVERY PROPERTY OWNER WOULD HAVE TO PAY TAX EQUIVALENT TO 1% OF MARKET VALUE OF PROPERTY TO FEDERAL GOVT

LAHoRE shahab omer

tHErecent ruling by the Lahore High Court (LHC) that the federal government could not tax immovable property as income has barely come out yet players in the real estate market have already begun preparations for a resurgence in the business of buying and selling plots.

What is going on?

The idea to tax unused immovable property in itself is not a bad one. Property is generally a great means of storing wealth in Pakistan and largely remains undocumented and untaxed.

The issue here is that with the FBR imposing and collecting this tax, the federal government is in essence collecting property tax. While the FBR has claimed and is arguing in court that this is an income tax and not a tax on property, the lines are blurry.

The new law mandated that every property which is not in the use of the owner, will be “deemed” by the FBR as bearing a rent equivalent to 5% of the total market value to the property. This “deemed rental income” would be

taxed at a rate of 20%. In simple words, every property owner would have to pay a tax equivalent to 1% of the market value of his property to the federal government.

In its decision, the LHC has made this distinction clear. It deemed that the tax imposed on deemed income on immovable properties as ultra vires to the Constitution under Section 7E of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001. It is pertinent to mention here that three days ago Justice Shahid Jameel Khan of Lahore High Court ruled that treating the market value of immovable property as income is beyond the competence of the federal legislator.

However, in a 50-page judgment, Justice Khan said that accumulation of wealth through unfair means can be checked and criminalized through taxing provisions along with amendments to corresponding provisions of other relevant laws. A senior Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) official told Profit that a term used to propose a new type of property tax in Budget 2022-23 was ‘deemed rental income’.

What is the proposed tax?

A senior Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) official informed Profit that one

Bandial reaches out to judges to end Supreme Court division

iSLAMABAD monitoring report

The chief justice of Pakistan, Umar Ata Bandial, has taken steps to unite the divided Supreme Court amidst the ongoing controversy surrounding the forum’s recent ruling on the election delay case in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Geo News reported, citing sources.

The verdict has raised questions from fellow judges, the government, and the KP Bar Council about the chief justice’s involvement, with some politicians calling for him to step down from his position.

In response, Justice Bandial initiated a fence-mending process last week, which continued on Sunday with separate meetings with Supreme Court judges in an attempt to end the rift among them, according to sources.

To create a consensus among the judges, the judge formed benches for the next week, adding judges who gave dissenting notes in the Punjab election case. Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Athar Minallah will join his bench on Monday. Other judges included in the benches are Justice Qazi Faiz Isa, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Ayesha Malik, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, and Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi. By making these changes, Chief Justice Bandial hopes to end any impression of differences and create unity among the judges.

Quetta blast claims four lives

QUEttA agencies

At least four people — including two police personnel — were martyred and 22 injured in separate blasts targeting the police on Monday, officials said.

The first blast occurred near a police vehicle parked next to Qandahari Bazaar on Shahrah-i-Iqbal, according to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations Captain (retd) Zohaib Mohsin, who also confirmed the deaths of the two police officers in the attack.

“The explosives were planted in a motorcycle,” he said, adding that the injured also included women and children.

“According to initial information, three to four kilogrammes of explosives were used in the blast,” the police official said. “Due to the blast, two vehicles, including the police van, were damaged.”

Quetta Civil Hospital spokesperson Dr Wasim Baig confirmed the number of victims in the first blast as four dead and 18 injured, saying that the deceased also included a minor girl. TV footage showed a damaged police automobile surrounded by a number of personnel. Several ambulances were also seen leaving the site of the explosion. The responsibility for the attack was claimed by the banned militant Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) group. Separately, Baig confirmed that four people were injured in a second attack at Munir Mengal Road. SSP Mohsin said Sariab Station House Officer (SHO) Ehsanullah Marwat’s vehicle was targeted at Munir Mengal Road near Sariab Phatak. He said two passers-by were injured in the blast from an improvised explosive device and were taken to Civil Hospital for treatment. Mohsin said that the SHO and other police personnel with him were inspecting officers stationed at Munir Mengal Road on their duties and were not present in the vehicle during the time of the blast.

Ramazan remittances soar to $2.5b

term used in the budget 2022-23 to propose a new type of property tax is ‘Deemed Rental Income’. “The proposal was that the rent for properties with a fair market value of 25 million or more will be considered 5 percent and it will be taxed at 20 percent per annum. For example, if the fair market value of a property is RS 30 million then five percent rent will be 1.5 million and if 20 percent tax is levied on it, then this amount becomes RS 300,000. However, the purpose of the proposal was that the government would like to impose tax on properties which do not have any utilization and those properties are held so that when the value goes up it can be sold at a good price. These properties include open land, agricultural land, commercial and residential land, which have been held only in anticipation of rising prices.”

“The proposal also exempted six types of properties, all of which were for personal use, residential or business purposes. Similarly, properties owned by the local government, properties owned by the government development authorities, land development and construction projects of builders and developers who are registered with the

Director General of Non-Finance Business and Professions Board and the properties valued at less than RS 25 million,” he explained. According to the official, properties which generate rental income and if the tax value in their return is less than the fair market value then it will also be equal to the market value. However, it is still proposed to make it part of the law. However, the budget also introduced more taxes on properties, which the people of the real estate sector were not ready to accept. For example, some changes have been made in the Capital Gains Tax on Immovable Properties and it has been divided into three categories. The first category was for open plot, the second for constructed property and the third for flat. If the open plot is held for one year, the capital gains tax on it will be 15% and then it will be gradually reduced every year and after six years there will be no tax on it. There was already a four-year gain tax on the constructed property, meaning that if you do not sell your property for four years, you do not have to pay any tax on the sale after that. Similarly, flats will be subject to gain tax for only two years. If the flat is held for one year, it will be taxed at 15% and for two years at 7.5%.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 03

Govt challenges LHC orders to public Toshakhana record

LAHoRE staff report

The federal government on Monday challenged the Lahore High Court (LHC) orders to make the complete record of Toshakhana gifts received by public office holders from 1990 to 2001 public.

On March 22, a single bench of LHC ordered the government to make the complete record of Toshakhana gifts from 1990 to 2001 public.

The federal government challenged the orders through the additional attorney general. A two-member bench of Justice Shahid Bilal Hasan and Justice Raza Qureshi will hear the plea.

Established in 1974, the Toshakhana is a department under the administrative control of the Cabinet Division and stores precious gifts given to rulers, parliamentarians, bureaucrats, and officials by heads of other governments and states and foreign dignitaries.

On March 12, the federal government declassified the Toshakhana records and uploaded the 466-page data from 2002 to 2023 on the Cabinet Division’s website.

Those who acquired gifts from Toshakhana include former presidents, prime ministers, ministers and government officers.

The names that appeared in the publicized Toshakhan records in-

cluded Pervez Musharraf, Shaukat Aziz, Yousaf Raza Gillani, Nawaz Sharif, Imran Khan, Arif Alvi and Shehbaz Sharif.

The Toshakhana controversy caught media attention after former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan was accused of hiding details of the gifts he received during his tenure in the government.

Zardari advises govt not to set ‘prerequisites’ for dialogue with Imran

iSLAMABAD staff report

Former president and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-Chairman

Asif Ali Zardari advised the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to negotiate with the opposition without setting any conditions.

Speaking at the golden jubilee ceremony of the Constitution of Pakistan in the National Assembly (NA), the former president asked the government to avoid prerequisites for negotiations with the opposition.

He said that even former military dictator Pervez Musharraf acknowledged the wrongdoings he had committed with them in the form of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). He asserted that all had become possible because of dialogue.

Zardari emphasized the importance of preserving the Constitution and stated that Pakistan was created by their forefathers, and it is their duty to protect it.

He asserted that the PPP had never used religion for politics and

that they had fought to restore democracy, which was the dream of Zulfikar Bhutto and other leaders.

He expressed concern over the current state of affairs.

Zardari stated that his party had given blood for the country and would continue to do so, adding that PPP always raised the slogan of “Pakistan Khape” after the martyrdom of Benazir Bhutto. PPP leader warned against those who wanted to turn friends into enemies and stated that they would not allow anyone to tamper with the Constitution.

PRofit REPoRt islamabad

The inflow of remittances from overseas workers experienced a substantial hike at $2.5 billion in March 2023. According to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Monday, March recorded an increase of 27.4% in remittances on a month-on-month basis, compared to the inflow of $1.98 billion in February 2023. The influx of non-commercial foreign currency was recorded at a seven-month high since August 2022. The increase in remittances can be associated with the month of Ramadan, wherein household expenditure and spending on food goes up every year.

What are remittances?

Remittance is money flowing into the country from non-commercial sources, mainly in the form of financial support from workers in a foreign country. These workers are mostly first generation members of a diaspora community or foreign citizens with familial relations in the home-country, who rely on financial assistance to manage their household expenses. Remittances are quite common in Pakistan and other low-income, developing countries, from where several skilled and unskilled labourers migrate to foreign countries to improve their financial status. Is this phenomenon of remittance hike during Ramadan an annually occurring event?

It is not uncommon for expenditure to increase during the month of Ramadan and thereby, the influx of remittances also increases to cater to the growing expenditure.

In comments given the the media, Saad Khan, Head of Research at IGI Securities, said, “This is a seasonal rise due to the ongoing month of Ramadan, where a lot of funds are remitted on account of Zakat and other charities, which is reflected in the increase in remittances,”

He went on to share that, “On account of increase in remittances, the current account deficit for the month of March is likely to be negligible, and there is also a strong possibility of a current account surplus this month.”

Moreover, given the unprecedented rate of prevailing inflation, in tandem with the deteriorating economic condition, there is a general economic pessimism.

According to Gallup’s latest survey, 73% of Pakistanis believe the country’s economic condition has worsened in the last six months. Along with this, people have also experienced a reduction in their buying power, with 73% of Pakistanis reporting a decrease in their household savings in the last six months. This can perhaps be another explanation for the rise in remittances, especially during the month Ramadan and the approaching event of Eid-ul-Fitr. What does the current remittance influx look like in comparison to previous trends?

In February 2023, remittances totaled $2 billion, marking a 9.5% decrease compared to the same period last year. While on an annual basis, remittance inflows declined by 11%, with $2.83 billion recorded in February 2022.

For the July to March period of the fiscal year 202223, remittance inflows were $20.527 billion, indicating a 10.8% decrease from $23.018 billion for the same period of the previous fiscal year. This amounts to a drop of nearly $2.5 billion in remittance inflow.

Khan disclosed that the average remittance figure for FY22 was $2.6 billion, indicating that the latest figures are not particularly encouraging, however, the remittance clock in, compared to last month is notable. The depreciation of the rupee and the increase in black market premiums are causing people to divert their inflows from formal channels, leading to the ongoing decline in remittance figures. In January, foreign remittances stood at $1.9 billion, the lowest in 31 months. Overseas Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia recorded the largest remittance amount in March 2023, sending $564 million during the month, an 18% decrease from the $686 million sent by expatriates during the same period last year.

In March 2023, remittances from the United Kingdom increased by 5%, rising from $402 million in March 2022 to $422 million. During the month, remittances from the United Arab Emirates declined by 22%, amounting to $407 million compared to $521 million in March 2022. Remittances from the European Union, on the other hand, increased by 6%, amounting to $299 million in March 2023. Lastly, overseas Pakistanis in the US sent $316 million in March 2023, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 5%.

KP cabinet demands simultaneous polls of NA, PAs

PESHAWAR staff report

The caretaker cabinet of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday demanded simultaneous elections of the National and provincial assemblies in the country.

The meeting chaired by caretaker Minister Masood Shah, reviewed overall political situation and called for holding

the elections of all the assemblies on the same day.

According to caretaker Minister for Information and Public Relations, Barrister Feroz Jamal Shah Kakakhel, the cabinet proposed that instead of holding the National Assembly's elections by an elected government, the same should be held the supervision of caretaker governments in provinces.

The cabinet also expressed its reservations over the Supreme Court's order for holding the elections of the Punjab Assembly in the month of May as the same would impact the National Assembly election in that province.

It asked the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold the elections of both National and provincial assemblies under the Election Act on the same day.

The cabinet noted that the elections of National and provincial assemblies were never held on separate dates in the country's history. The Constitution was a sacred document and adherence to it was the responsibility of every institution, it added. It said the law and order situation in the province was not suitable for holding general elections.

Pakistan to be represented by officials at World Bank-IMF spring meetings

IN CLIMATE RESILIENCE TO REDUCE POVERTY IN PAKISTAN

The World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund (IMF) are starting

HIGH INFLUX OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM OVERSEAS RELATIVES CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO INCREASED EXPENDITURE DURING RAMZAN AND EID