Epaper_18-04-2023 KHI

FATE OF POLLS FUND IN LIMBO AS NA REJECTS SUPPLEMENTARY GRANT DEMAND

g BA SED ON NA BODY RECOMMENDATIONS, CABINET SENT SUMMARY TO A SSEMBLY

g SC HAD ORDERED SBP TO ‘ALLOCATE, RELEASE’ RS21B TO ECP BY APRIL 17

making the fate of the Supreme Court’s deadline for the funds more uncertain

According to details State minister for Finance and Revenue Ayesha Pasha moved the motion to grant a supplementary sum not exceeding Rs21 billion to the federal government to meet the expenditure during the financial year but the members voted against the motion

Last week, the Supreme Court had directed the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to “allocate and release” Rs21 billion by April 17 (Monday) for elections in two provinces from the Federal Consolidated Fund (FCF) lying under its control and management” The court had also ordered the central bank to send an appropriate communication to this effect to the finance ministry in this regard

Earlier in the day, a meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue was convened to discuss the apex court order regarding the disbursement of the funds

A press release issued after the meeting stated that the body had unanimously recommended to the Finance Division that the matter of funds release be placed before the NA in the form of a bill through the federal cabinet in order to comply with the top court’s orders

Later in the day a meeting of the federal cabinet was held wherein the government decided that the summary sent by the finance ministry, based on the recommendations made by the NA body, would be referred to back to Parliament

The federal cabinet has referred a summary by the finance ministry, based on recommendations made by the NA

Pa k

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday said bridging of differences between Saudi Arabia and Iran was a remarkable achievement and the positive development was seen by Pakistan with happiness and hope

Speaking at an Iftar dinner hosted by him in honour of ambassadors of Islamic countries here, he said, Because of the blessings of Ramazan, Saudi Arabia and Iran have bridged their differences and this is a remarkable achievement

We are all happy about this positive development and the follow up has been extremely speedy It is a great pleasure to witness meetings of foreign ministers and delegations visiting Riyadh and Tehran

This development is seen by Pakistan as a message of great happiness and hope I am sure this progress will multiply in many ways in the future ” he added

Talking about the Palestine issue he said hundreds of people were killed in Palestine in the last many months in naked aggression

The Prime Minister of Palestine and some of his cabinet members had made statements saying the violence against the

Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue on provision of funds to the election commission for elections in Punjab and KP to Parliament a handout issued by the Prime Minister s Office said

Earlier, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly on Finance and Revenue also discussed election fund matters

under the chair of Qaisar Ahmad Sheikh Acting Governor State Bank Seema Kamil informed the committee that the Supreme Court through its notice had questioned the State Bank about the money in the accounts of the federal government The SBP in its reply informed the Apex court that “we can only allocate

funds, not release to ECP,” adding that funds will remain in the account after allocation and the Election Commission can use these funds after the approval of the Ministry of Finance Member of the Assembly Khalid Magsi said that who is the authority to spend the tax money of the people other than the Parliament Committee member Musa Gilani told the SBP officials that you will be accountable if you spend money without the approval of the parliament Minister of State for Finance, Ayesha Ghos Pasha in a briefing to the Standing Committee on Finance said that the State Bank does not have the authority to spend money without the approval of the Parliament and that the issue of the funds release will be placed before the federal cabinet today from where after the approval the case will be taken to the national assembly She said that the decision to present the summary on the issue of releasing funds of Rs21 billion to the federal cabinet on Monday itself

Fawad Ch urges SC to initiate contempt proceedings against PM, cabinet

I

Pakistan

Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry urged the Supreme Court to initiate contempt of court proceedings against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and federal cabinet for not releasing funds for elections in Punjab Taking to Twitter he said that the PTI stands united on the issue of negotiations while the government is showing no serious commitment towards it He emphasised that negotiations can only be held within the limits set by the Constitution and the Supreme Court The former minister expressed it will be tantamount to sabotaging the constitution if elections are not held in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and negotiations cannot be outside the constitution Mr Chaudhry went on to say that the State Bank’s failure to release funds after the Supreme Court’s is a violation of the order and the apex court must initiate contempt of court proceedings against the Prime Minister and the Cabinet and disqualify them by the court In another tweet, he wrote that the parliament doesn t have the authority to prevent people from voting, adding that such a parliament can lay the foundation of a fascist government He claimed that any democratic system cannot be associated with such a parliament and its decisions, as the constitution clearly states that the parliament has no prerogative over election expenses t lt p

Imran says government planning another operation at his residence during Eid

In a startling revelation former prime minister Imran Khan Monday informed the Lahore High Court (LHC) that the caretaker government of Mohsin Naqvi had planned to conduct another police operation at his residence in the Zaman Park neighbourhood during the Eid ul-Fitr holidays Khan made the request to halt any action against his party the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) during the hearing of a plea filed by him The plea, filed by the opposition party on Saturday, seeks to halt “coercive government action” against it and to quash more than 100 cases filed against Khan on identical charges

A two-member bench headed by Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh, conducted the hearing into the petition

Palestinians was increasing he continued PM Shehbaz Sharif said the world had witnessed a rough period and one could see what happened in global markets

Prices of oil and other items had gone beyond the reach of developing countries including Pakistan and other countries, he noted

He said Pakistan suffered unprecedented floods because of climate change and then there was a massive earthquake in Turkey and Syria

The PM said the Pakistani government was grateful to Islamic countries including Saudi Arabia United Arab

Emirates Qatar Kuwait and Malaysia for their very valuable and timely assistance for the flood affectees Every Muslim country came to help Pakistan at a difficult period and “we will remember your support for all times to come he remarked

The prime minister said the occupation forces in Palestine had shown disdain and crossed red lines without any qualm

He said Ramazan was a holy month which emphasised upon restraint empathy, kindness, self introspection, generosity and effort to bridge differences ‘World should notice India’s dangerous moves against peace

Earlier Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday said the revelations by the former Governor of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) about the reality of Pulwama incident, had exposed India’s designs against Pakistan

In a tweet he said the revelations showed how the Indian government exploited the situation for political gains, which vindicated Pakistan’s position

He urged the international community to take notice of India s dangerous brinkmanship that could have led to disastrous consequences for the region

The Foreign Office, in a statement, said the disclosures demonstrated how the Indian leadership had habitually used the bogey of terrorism from Pakistan to advance its sham victimhood narrative and the Hindutva agenda, clearly for domestic political gains

We hope that the international community would take cognizance of the latest revelations and see through India s propaganda campaign against Pakistan, driven by selfish political considerations and based on lies and deceit it said The FO said it was time India be held accountable for the actions that imperiled regional peace in the aftermath of the Pulwama attack

The plea, which nominates nine authorities and individuals as respondents including Naqvi the prime minister the interior minister the chief of Punjab police the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), has now been taken up by the court Khan appeared in court where his counsel Barrister Salman Safdar observed that new cases were being filed against his client on a daily basis and accused the state of misusing its machinery Safdar expressed concerns about Khan’s potential arrest noting that over 140 cases had been filed against him and demanded that the police high-ups appear in court to explain whether the arrest was necessary Safdar said the police were filing cases against Khan for political point-scoring and emphasised that according to the law it was necessary to explain the reasons for the arrest

During the hearing Khan testified that the police had previously damaged his house during an operation and shared that he had received information about an upcoming attack at his residence during the Eid ulFitr holidays expressing concerns about potential bloodshed He also accused the government of planning to cause him physical harm and said that they wanted to eliminate him Khan emphasised the need for the court to intervene and issue strict directions to prevent the government from conducting any further operations

The lawyer for the interim Punjab government, Ghulam Sarwar Nihang, contended that the investigative powers of the police could not be obstructed and urged the court to reject Khan s plea

The judge inquired if the government s lawyer could assure that the authorities would refrain from taking action against the petitioner by filing a new FIR in the old case The lawyer responded that a question would also arise that the petitioner had not turned up before courts when summoned in the past Khan repeated his claim that he had credible information about the government’s plan to launch another operation and expressed his lack of faith in the system After hearing arguments the court referred Khan s plea to the full bench for further review, noting that similar cases were already being heard there

Big industr y output contracts by 11.59% in Febr uar y

3 51%, January 2023 by 7 9% and now in February 2023 it has shrunk by 11 59%

As per the data the LSMI Quantum Index Number (QIM) was estimated for July-February 2022-23 at 116 64, while it was estimated for February 2023 at 126 13 The LSM data released by the PBS with the base year 2015-16 showed that the main contributors towards the overall negative growth of 5 56% are food (-0 35), tobacco (0 50), textile (-2 82) garments (3 21), petroleum products (-0 64) cement (-0 77) pharmaceuticals (-1 25) and automobiles (-1 68) For the persistent weakness in LSM, domestic factors, and the global recessionlike situation are to be blamed Domestically high energy costs rupee devaluation and the government s monetary and fiscal policy tightening and limiting imports due to a dearth of dollars were major factors for negative growth, which will also affect GDP growth in FY23

by 0 02% September by 2 7% October by 7 63% November by 6 15% December by

23, as compared to July-February 2021-22, has increased in wearing apparel furniture and other manufacturing (football) while it decreased in food tobacco textile coke & petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, non-metallic mineral products, machinery and equipment automobiles and other transport equipment

The sectors showing growth during July-February include wearing apparel (35 53%), leather products (3 85), furniture (58 45%) and other manufacturing (football) (35 81%)

The sectors showing decline during the July-February include food (1 95%), beverages (6 14%), tobacco (20 42%), textile (14 03%) wood products (68 65%) paper and board (3 37%) coke and petroleum products (9 43%), chemicals (4 84%), chemical products (0 53% increase), fertilizers (7 77%) and pharmaceuticals (22 41%)

The import restrictions not only affected the major industries like textile but

The production in July-February 2022-

also had a significant impact on the construction industry in Pakistan Cement production which is a major component of the construction industry witnessed a negative growth rate of 11 82% in the first eight months of the fiscal year 2022-23 The production of cement during this period stood at 28 163 million tons compared to 31 938 million tons in the same period of the previous fiscal year

Moreover, the petroleum industry also felt the brunt of the import restrictions The production of petroleum products saw a decline of 9 43% during July-February of FY23 The Quantum Index numbers (QIM) of the Large Scale Manufacturing Industries revealed that high-speed diesel experienced a negative growth rate of 10 88% as its output dropped to 3 213 billion liters in the first eight months of the current fiscal year compared to 3 605 billion liters in the same period of the previous fiscal year

P P P, A N F A g r e e t o d i A lo g u e A m o N g PA r t i e s F o r

s u P r e m A c y o F c o N s t i t u t i o N , d e m o c

FO R M E R prime minister and senior Pakistan People s Party (PPP) leader

Syed Yusuf Raza Gillani on Monday said dialogue among all the political parties would be better for the supremacy of the Constitution and democracy

The PPP wants to make a conducive environment for dialogue among the political parties as all the problems being faced by the county will be addressed through the dialogue process,” Gillani told media at presser held here on Monday

The ex-PM said the masses were looking to the political parties in the current political and economic situation prevailing in the country

He informed that on the instructions of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and former president Asif Ali Zardari the party delegation had approached the Awami National Party (ANP) for dialogue

He said the ANP had always rendered sacrifices for the restoration of democracy and rule of law in the country He said the basic purpose of the Constitution was that all institutions would exercise their powers within their constitutional domain

maulana Fazlur rehman ‘major hurdle’ in talks with opposition

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

As initiatives being taken from various political quarters to iron out differences over elections PDM head Maulana Fazlur Rehman being seen as major hurdle in talks with the opposition sources said on Monday Pakistan People s Party (PPP) in its move for political dialogue and removing the obstacle has initiated contacts with other political parties before holding talks with coalition partners the JUI and the PML-N, sources said It is to be mentioned here that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had formed a committee to engage the allies in the coalition government to reach a consensus on dialogue with all political parties The three-member committee includes former premier Yousaf Raza Gillani Federal Minister Syed Naveed Qamar and SAPM Qamar

Zaman Kaira

The PPP has held talks with the Balochistan National Party (BNP) and Mohsin Dawar

MNA a PPP leader said The negotiating team of the PPP will likely hold meetings with the ANP MQM Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party leaders today he said

The PPP will also hold talks with Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) and the PML-Q today he added The JUI and the PML-N will be contacted after taking all other political parties on board, sources said Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has also termed its emir Sirajul Haq s outreach to the political parties as positive for a unanimous date for general election to end political deadlock in the country Sources said that the JI will convene an all-party conference (APC) after Eidul Fitr on one-point agenda ‘to hold simultaneous elections across the country’

NA passes resolution to confer national award on mufti Abdul shakoor

ISLAMABAD

a p p

The National Assembly on Monday passed a unanimous resolution to confer a national award upon the late minister Mufti Abdul Shakoor in recognition of his services to the nation, religion and politics The resolution was tabled by Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Javed Abbasi who expressed his deep grief and sorrow over the death of the late Religious Affairs Minister Mufti Abdul Shakoor

The resolution directed the investigation agencies to probe his tragic death and share all the facts with the house and the nation The resolution said Mufti Abdul Shakoor worked for religion and service to humanity throughout his life It said that Mufti Abdul Shakoor always followed the party ideology The resolution paid tribute to the late minister for upholding the Constitution and strengthening the parliament and democracy It added that his service for the restoration of peace in FATA will be remembered The house also paid tribute to Mufti Abdul Shakoor for the arrangements made for Hajj 2022-23 The House as per its tradition suspended its agenda to pay tribute to the late Mufti Abdul Shakoor

On the request of Speaker National Assembly Raja

Pervaiz Ashraf, Federal Minister for Communications

Asad Mehmood led the fateha Minister for National Health Services Regulations & Coordination Abdul Qadir Patel paid tribute to Mufti Abdul Shakoor and said his services for his party and the strengthening of parliament would always be remembered

r A c y

He added that there was no concept of economic stability sans political equilibrium in the country and therefore, it was the best strategy to hold dialogue with the political parties especially those who were allies of the government

ANP Secretary General Mian Iftikhar

Hussain said he was thankful to the PPP delegation led by Syed Yusuf Raza Gillani for approaching them for the dialogue It was a good step by the PPP and all the political parties should follow it as the country could no more afford unrest and chaos He said the political parties would have join hands for the supremacy of the

Parliament and to ensure that all institutions work in their domain

It all required a democratic environment, for which dialogue was mandatory, he added, recalling , ” Our dialogue efforts (when the ANP was leading government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) had created awareness among the masses that terrorists had only objective to kill people and were not ready for talks

Mian Iftikhar said the unanimously approved Constitution of 1973 was the outcome of a dialogue and consensus between the opposition leader, Khan Abdul Wali Khan and Leader of the House in

National Assembly Zulfikar Ali Bhutto

Politicians need to end the ambience of uncertainty and for this they should sit and work together for the supremacy of the Constitution, Parliament and other institutions, he added

He said the ANP was going to hold an all parties’ conference (APC) in the Federal Capital on May 3, while the PPP had decided to build consensus among the coalition parties prior to holding dialogue with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf which was a positive step

The PTI among all other political parties would be invited to attend the APC he added

Responding to a query Yusuf Raza Gillani said the media should not heed to any hearsay regarding the dialogue process, which was initiated from the coalition parties They would now approach the leadership of the Balochistan National Party (BNP), and then Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, Balochistan Awami Party and others he added

Indus River successfully diver ted through 2nd Tunnel at D asu HPP

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

As a second major achievement in less than two months the Indus River was successfully diverted through the second diversion tunnel at the Dasu Hydropower Project (DHPP)

The second diversion tunnel was made functional on Sunday by diverting the Indus River through it according to Deputy Commissioner Kohistan Upper s office Gwadar Pro reported on Monday Each and every one of you contributed highly to

Thank you so much for all

the success of this project

the hard work Congratulations on the incredible success, said Deputy Commissioner Irfan Ullah

Zardari hailed as patriot by PPP in response to Khalilzad’s ‘Mr 10 percent’ tweet

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has condemned the recent statement made by former US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation

Zalmay Khalilzad against former President Asif Ali Zardari Radio Pakistan reported

The response came after Khalilzad criticised Zardari, calling him Pakistan s Mr 10 percent, who he said should put the country first and honour the legacy of BB [Benazir Bhutto]

In an interview with anchorperson Hamid Mir on Geo News TV station, Zardari called Khalilzad, who is of Afghan origin, a “double agent” who was on “a payroll” while responding to a question regarding the support the latter had shown to the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) The former president said Khalilzad was a salaried person He is in a lobby and an agent A double agent of CIA [Central Intelligence Agency of the US]

In response party spokesperson Shazia Marri strongly defended Zardari s reputation as a patriot who had successfully pushed terrorists out of Swat

Marri criticised Khalilzad for his alleged involvement in Afghanistan s disasters and compared him to Mir Jafar, who is known for betraying his own country She called on Khalilzad to cease making “false and baseless” accusations against leaders and institutions of Pakistan and instead focus on promoting peace and stability in the region

Federal govt files applic ation for early hearing of contempt c ase against Imran

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

The Federal Government on Monday filed a petition before the Supreme Court, seeking early hearing in the contempt of court case against Imran Khan The federal government prayed the court to fix the case for hearing on April 26

According to the brief of case a petition was filed against Imran Khan for disregarding the Order of the court dated 25 05 2022 The Islamabad High Court Bar Association sought a direction not to cause any hindrance in the free movement of the citizens of Pakistan in any part of the country T h e h i g h c o u r t h a d d i r e c t e d t h a t t h e P T I b e allowed to hold a gathering at the ground located b e t w e e n S e c t o r H - 9 a n d G - 9 i n v i e w o f t h e c a t e g o r i c a l a s s u r a n c e o n b e h a l f o f t h e t o p l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e P T I t h a t t h e i r r a l l y w o u l d n o t cause any inconvenience or blockage of Sri Nagar Highway; nor otherwise inconvenience the public and citizenry at large but the respondent did not c o m p l y w i t h t h e s a i d O r d e r t h e C h a i r m a n P T I exhorted his supporters to reach D-Chowk hence t h e y m a r c h e d t o w a r d s t h e D - C h o w k i n p r ep l a n n e d a n d p r e - c o n c e i v e d m a n n e r a n d w h e n l a w f u l l y c h e c k e d b y

therefore the present case was of urgent nature and needs to be heard and decided by this Apex Court at an early date

the highest annual energy generation in Pakistan i e , 21 billion units on average

WAPDA is spending Rs 17 34 billion on schemes relating to resettlement, environmental management, and social development in the project area About 3722 jobs including 1945 for locals have so far been created which will increase to the 8000 mark during the peak construction period of the project

KP releases rs7 30.70m for salaries of 62 tmAs employees

PESHAWAR a z i z B u n e R i

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Finance Department has released Rs730 70 million to crisis-hit 62 Tehsil Municipal Administrations (TMAs) of the province The department stated that the fund will be used to pay salaries and pensions to employees ahead of Eidul Fitr

The TMAs have sought the Provincial Finance Department’s support as the employees of these TMAs were deprived of salaries and pensions for several months The Finance Department has now issued the grant to 62 TMAs and the employees will soon receive their salaries The authorities said that the provincial government has released the funds as an additional grant while approved funds will also be released soon

Aiou, russian universit y sign loi to enhance academic relationship

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) and Ural State Pedagogical University (USPU) Russia signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to develop and enhance the academic relationship between the two universities Rector UPSU Dr Svetlana Aligarievna Miniuriva and Vice-Chancellor AIOU Prof Dr Nasir Mahmood signed the document According to the ‘Letter of Intent’ the two universities will collaborate in offering joint programs faculty and student exchange and research The visiting delegation expressed the desire to establish a Russian language centre at AIOU in which initially Russian teachers will teach the students and later on the mode of teaching will be converted into online teaching Prof Dr Nasir Mahmood, Vice-Chancellor, AIOU while speaking on the occasion said that AIOU has already a department of French and the university is going to launch the Chinese Language Center at the main campus as well as Regional Campus Multan He welcomed the proposal of the Russian delegation for the establishment of the Russian Language Centre at AIOU and assured them of their full support in this connection Dr Nasir said that he personally likes the good relationship of Pakistan with his neighbour countries the establishment of the Russian Language Center at AIOU will strengthen the relationship between the two countries he added It is pertinent to mention here that this ceremony was held at Allama Iqbal Open University during the visit of a 5member Russian delegation The Russian delegation included Dr Roman Porozov, Prof Dr Asma Naveed, Chairman of the Pakistan-Russia Business Council, and Mohsin Sheikh Director of International Collaboration and Exchange Office Dr Zahid Majeed gave a detailed briefing on the profile of the university The Russian delegation visited the radio and TV studios in the Institute of Educational Technology, the directorate of information and communication technology, the library and the printing and press unit

C hildren in Pakistan pushed into life -threatening, ac ute malnutrition: UN

ISLAMABAD

The United Nations on Monday warned that the number of children suffering from wasting in Pakistan’s floodaffected areas had greatly increased compared to the pre-flood situation which was already reaching emergency levels

A rapid survey conducted in 15 flood-affected districts suggests that nearly one-third of children aged 6-23 months suffer from moderate acute malnutrition and 14 per cent from severe acute malnutrition – a lifethreatening form of malnutrition- with girls being more affected than boys, according to a press release

The number of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition with medical complications who are admitted for hospital treatment has also gradually increased since the floods, as global food prices soar

“Even before the floods, child wasting was already reaching emergency levels, but what I am seeing now in

villages is very worrying said Julien Harneis the UN Resident Coordinator in Pakistan

He said we are grateful for the global community s support so far, but much more is needed to help the Government provide the increasing numbers of children who are at risk of death with immediate therapeutic food and care He said we must help the Government avert a nutrition crisis which would have dangerous and irreversible consequences for millions of children, and for the future of Pakistan

The Resident Coordinator announced that he would dedicate USD $5 5 million out of the USD $6 5 million allocation received from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) four-fifths of the grant towards emergency nutrition and food security interventions

H e s a i d t h i s a d d i t i o n a l U S D $ 5 5 m i l l i o n w i l l h e l p

a n d

O s p r o v i d e e m e rg e n c y n u t r i t i o n i n t e r v e n t i o n s a s p a r t o f t h e G o v e r n m e n t - l

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

PresideNt cAlls For comPreheNsive Pl AN to Address heAlth, educAtioN issues

PT Dr Arif Alvi on Monday underscored the need for devising a comprehensive strategy to address the challenges being faced by the country in the health and education sectors

The president, during a presentation by UNICEF on its initiatives in Pakistan, expressed concern over the

sh rashid calls out sanaullah over ‘childish remarks’ on Punjab polls

RAWALPINDI S ta f f R e p o R t

Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed called out Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah for his childish remarks that elections in Punjab would not be held on May 14 the date fixed by the Supreme Court A day earlier, Federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah had categorically said that polls would not be conducted on May 14, adding that elections for national and provincial assemblies would be held simultaneously across the country ” Reacting to it, the former interior minister, in a series of tweets on Monday, Sh Rashid said the statement was an open defiance of the apex court’s orders He said the ruling coalition was running away from elections He said it would be decided today whether funds were issued by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) for elections or not He said the central bank should be brought to justice first if it defied the court order for releasing the funds Hinting towards the ruling partners he said: They would soon be behind the bars or in public court He added that it was a good move if efforts for talks being made by JI leader Sirajul Haq were well intentioned He said now former US special representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad had also endorsed PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari as “Mr 10%” He hoped that the top court would soon invalidate the NAB amendments, adding that courts were being threatened and immoral campaigns were being run against the judiciary He said provincial elections would be held on time if the National Assembly was not dissolved

Pakistanis’ death toll in dubai building collapse may rise

DUBAI S ta f f R e p o R t

Pakistan Ambassador in UAE Faisal Niaz Tirmizi said that the death toll of Pakistani citizens in Dubai residential building fire is likely to rise further He said that Emirati authorities have identified eight people among the dead, four of whom are from India and one from Nigeria The Pakistani embassy is constantly in contact with the Emirati authorities to find out more about the Pakistani nationals who perished in the tragedy he added It merits here to mention that 16 people including three Pakistani nationals died and nine others were injured in a massive fir that ripped through a residential building of Dubai on Saturday

Another woman dies in ration stampede in Faisalabad

KARACHI S ta f f R e p o R t

An elderly woman died while two other ladies sustained injuries in a stampede broke out during a free ration distribution on Bodewal in Faisalabad on Monday As per details free ration was distributed in Chak 6 Faisalabad A large number of women gathered there to collect the handout Meanwhile a stampede broke out among the ration seekers As a result a 55-year-old woman Rashida Bibi fell down and crushed to death Besides her two other women Balqees and Ayesha also got hurt during the stampede Rescue officials shifted the dead woman and injured ladies to a local hospital

alarming number of out of school children He said that over 23 million children were out of school and urged the need for thinking out of box solutions to enroll them

The Country Representative of the United Nations International Children s Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

Abdullah Abdulaziz Fadil briefed the meeting about the role and achievements made by UNICEF in the health and education sectors of Pakistan

The president stated that educating these children was really a major challenge that could not be addressed

only with the present bricks and mortar system but it required the use of digital and online learning methods

The UNICEF country representative apprised the meeting of the impacts of floods on children and the support extended by UNICEF to the children of floodaffected areas

He said that 134 779 children with severe malnutrition had been enrolled for treatment besides immunizing 1 194 940 children against measles It was told that UNICEF established 1,232 temporary

US -funded entomology laborator y inaugurated to combat disease outbreaks

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Andrew inaugurated a new entomology laboratory in Pakistan that has been funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) This new laboratory will help to strengthen Pakistan’s ability to track and respond to vector-borne disease outbreaks, which have been a serious health risk in the country

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Federal Secretary at the Ministry of National Health Services Regulation and Coordination Dr

Muhammad Fakhre Alam Irfan and National Institute of Health (NIH) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ghazal Parveen Schofer

They both highlighted the importance of this laboratory for Pakistan s health sector According to a press statement Schofer said: The devastating 2022 floods across Pakistan reminded us all of the health risks posed by waterborne diseases

The United States stands with Pakistan as it continues to recover from the floods

The US has been supporting Pakistan’s health sector for decades, and this laboratory is just the latest milestone in their partnership In addition to this, after

Fate of polls fund in limbo as NA rejec ts supplementar y grant demand

CoNtINUED fRoM PAgE 01

Member of committee Bargees Tahir stopped

Federal Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar from giving a briefing on orders of the Supreme Court to hold elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Bargees Tahir said that elections in Punjab will be harmful for the country because those who wins in Punjab, will win in other three provinces and the same party will rule in Azad Kashmir and GilgitBaltistan too

Barjees Tahir said that if you want to harm the country then first hold an election in Punjab

He asked the officials of the State Bank and the Ministry of Finance that how can the Supreme Court direct the State Bank to provide funds? Should the State Bank and the Finance Secretary give funds from their own pockets? He posed a question

On this, Prime Minister Nazir Tarar said that the federal government keeps an account of every penny of the federal consolidated fund and the finance ministry has informed that no additional funds have been kept in the budget for elections

The Law Minister said that spending twice for the sake of elections is not in the interest of the country while the National Assembly has already rejected the demand for release of the funds Barjees Tahir said that it would be against the law for the State Bank to release funds for conducting elections

On the occasion the Law Minister said the issue of release of funds through a court order should be placed before the National Assembly because the constitutional method for disbursement of funds will have to be adopted, otherwise who will be held accountable for the funds of Rs21 billion tomorrow ”

He said that if the State Bank releases the funds, will it (State Bank) be deducted from the officers' salaries in the future or will the Governor give the State Bank?

Because the question may arise tomorrow that the constitutional procedure for the release of funds has not been adopted or perhaps the legal matter has been overlooked in the court orders

The law minister said: We say that the expenses should be transparent and in accordance with the constitution Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan, while briefing the meeting, said that one method can be that the election expenses are deducted from other expenses

The Attorney General informed that the Supreme Court has said that ex post facto approval should be taken after releasing the funds However, the problem is that if the National Assembly does not

Cour t reser ves verdic t on Gandapur ’s bail plea

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

A local court on Monday reserved its judgment on postarrest bail petition of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader

Ali Amin Gandapur in a case registered by Golra Police Station Additional District and Sessions Judge Sikandar Khan heard the bail case of PTI’s leader filed through his lawyer Sher Afzal Murawat At the outset of hearing Prosecutor Muhammad Adnan said the prosecution had collected the recording

transcript of Gandapur s telephonic calls aired by television channels from the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and sent it for forensic analysis Preparations for creating unrest before any incident was also a crime he said adding the accused had changed his statement several times during custody

The police officials informed the court that report on the audiotape was yet awaited

The petitioner s lawyer argued that the first information report (FIR) was registered against his client on the charges of instigating the public against

approve the funds by June 30 then who will be responsible for Rs21 billion

The Attorney General said that if this situation happens a serious problem may arise in this regard

He said that one option is to take ex post facto approval of the funds from the National Assembly as the final approval of the funds is with the National Assembly On the occasion, the Minister of State for Finance said that they respect the instructions of the Supreme Court, saying but all institutions are bound to implement the rules

The Law Minister said that the Supreme Court has said that ex post facto permission should be taken On this, the Attorney General said that if the National Assembly does not approve then its ex post facto approval will become difficult

The Attorney General suggested that it would be better if approval is taken from the National Assembly The Minister of State for Finance said that we will send the summary to the federal cabinet in this regard

Federal Trade Minister Naveed Qamar said on this occasion, he does not agree with the Law Minister and the AGP that the Standing Committee should send the issue of the release of funds to the National Assembly again because the Parliament has given its decision on the matter Chairman of the committee Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh said that the consensus in the committee is that this issue should be taken to the National Assembly through the Ministry of Finance

Later the Standing Committee on Finance has directed the Ministry of Finance to send the summary to the Federal Cabinet for approval and the Federal Cabinet to send the summary to the National Assembly as per the order of the Supreme Court

No authenticity without Parliament s approval

In a brief conversation with reporters after the NA committee meeting wrapped up today, Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Dr Aisha Ghaus Pasha said that neither the SBP nor the Finance Division had the authority to release funds from the FCF She explained that the process of the allocation required approval from the Parliament “Without the approval of the Parliament no bill or budget has any legal authenticity Hence we leave the entire matter on the Parliament now The Parliament is supreme for us because this is what is written in the Constitution Pasha said She elaborated that the SBP can only allocate the money but cannot release it until and unless a proper indication was given by the Finance Division

institutions The person to whom his client was talking as per the audiotape still did not come on surface he said adding the local TV channel should also have been named in the case for running the recording The lawyer said his client had not given such remarks at any public gathering He was accused of gathering weapons, but he had never committed that crime His client neither used any group against the institution nor any fanatic group came on surface, he said and asked whether the prosecution had recovered the weapons from his client

PPP leader terms JI’s allegations about census process ‘unfair ’

KARACHI

Pakistan People Peoples Party leader Senator Taj Haider on Monday said the Jamaat-e-Islami s (JI) allegation that the PPP was trying to manipulate Karachi’s population was unfair

The PP leader, in a statement, reminded the JI that on the directive of his leadership he had visited the offices of JI and Muttahida Qaumi Movement, and presented them his book “Sindh ka Muqadma Census 2017” and supporting documents Hafiz Naeem Sahib had himself received the material he added Senator Taj said the book in substantial detail dealt with the undercount of population in the entire province Karachi being the capital of Sindh was focused upon and a chart of its population in 2013 as

obtained from the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) was printed on its page 26

He said it was Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah who resisted pressure to validate the controversial undercount of Census 2017 It was due to his efforts that the then Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government had to agree on holding a fresh census

Unfortunately, he said, Hafiz Naeem does not realize that Sindh also exists beyond Sohrab Goth However, it was because of PPP s protest that the PTI government had to add a representative from Sindh in the 12 member Advisory Board on fresh census

The Pakistan Statistics Board (PBS), he alleged, had already prepared its mischievous working paper laying down its counting methodology as “de jure” and not de facto thus repeating the conspiracy that had

made the Census 2017 controversial

The PPP he added persistently challenged that conspiracy In a meeting at the CM House held on August 1 2022 the Sindh chief minister convinced the PBS that de facto methodology of count was the correct one the questionnaire had to be simplified and the tablets being purchased were a waste of time and money Subsequently the CM held many meetings with the Federal Minister of Planning & Development, in which the logical stand of Sindh was reiterated All those meetings were reported in national media He said recently an all parties conference was hosted by the PPP on the issue of census Four PPP senators from Sindh submitted a resolution in the Senate on the issue which after long delay was now before its Standing Committee on Planning & Development he added

learning centers and helped 180 889 children to continue their learning in a safe and protected environment through various modalities He highlighted that 1,195,088 people had been provided access to safe drinking water

He also shared UNICEF s Five Years Program (2023-27) to help strengthen the education and health sectors of Pakistan

The meeting was informed that UNICEF had included mental health and disability in its programs Abdullah Abdulaziz Fadil said that 40% of children in Pakistan under the age of five years were suffering from stunting and if this issue was addressed it could help increase the country s GDP considerably President Alvi said that mental health malnutrition and disability were the major health problems that needed urgent attention and prompt decisions on the part of the government to address these issues He emphasized the need to focus on preventive aspects of the diseases which were not only cost-effective but would also help reduce the disease burden

both the 2010 and the 2022 floods the CDC experts travelled to Pakistan to consult with Pakistani and UN partners about how to effectively respond to the health crises stemming from the flooding

Furthermore the US and Pakistan have been working together to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, with the US supplying over 80 million doses of safe and effective COVID vaccines to Pakistan

Additionally, the Agency for International Development (USAID) has built clinics and hospitals across Pakistan, expanding access to quality health care For example, the Jacobabad Institute of Medical Sciences built by USAID remained open during the 2022 floods providing necessary medical care to floodaffected individuals The US will continue to build a strong health and science partnership with Pakistan including through the US-Pakistan Green Alliance framework This partnership will further strengthen Pakistan s health sector and help the country respond more effectively to future health crises

islamabad admin seeks extension in rangers deployment for another 6 months

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Islamabad district administration sent a letter to the Ministry of Interior for extension of Rangers deployment another six months in capital Islamabad Islamabad district administration also sought 300 Rangers for the Quick Response Force (QRF) Rangers deployment in Islamabad should be extended for another six months, district administration of Islamabad pleaded The decision was made to further tighten the security of Islamabad It is pertinent to note that 2523 Rangers personnel are already posted in Islamabad

Big industr y output contracts by 11.59% in Februar y

CoNtINUED fRoM PAgE 01

Similarly, the production of furnace oil also witnessed a negative growth rate of 7 21% during the period of July-February of FY23, as it remained at 1 558 billion liters compared to 1 679 billion liters in July-February of FY22 However, jet fuel oil witnessed a growth rate of 15 48% during the same period and its production remained at 591 745 million liters compared to 512 442 million liters in the same period of the previous fiscal year Kerosene oil production on the other hand was severely affected by the import restrictions and its output witnessed a negative growth rate of 29 95% in July-February of FY23 The production of kerosene oil stood at 64 719 million liters compared to 92 395 million liters in the same period of the previous fiscal year

Overall, the import restrictions had a significant impact on various industries in Pakistan, including the textile, construction, and petroleum industries The decline in the production of these industries has not only affected the economy of the country but also resulted in the loss of jobs for many workers

The PDM and PTI sit down to talk

On E swallow does not a summer make

But with the winter of political discontent having continued for so long, even the slightest thawing of ice is a sight for sore eyes

The initiative for rapprochement between the PDM and the PTI comes from an unlikely source: the Jamaat-e-Islami Say what you will about the party - and many, rightly, do - the party does hit the sweet spot of relevance to be undertaking such an initiative It has gotten a long enough history to be prominent and, in fact, has been political allies of both the PTI and the League The former, during the 2013-18 government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the latter during the IJI days But on the flipside, the JI is also a bit irrelevant enough to threaten any of the parties politically Yes, it might rouse a rabble during the local elections in Karachi, but that’s about it; it’s never winning even those, unless the tectonic plates shift considerably

The PTI has officially listed a three-member committee to negotiate with the PDM Amongst them, Ejaz Chaudhry, the PTI’s Punjab president, the majority of whose political career was with the Jamaat itself; in fact he is the son-in-law of the party’s second Ameer, the late Mian Tufail It is, therefore, assumed that the more mercurial side of the equation, the PTI, will take the negotiations seriously

Meanwhile, neither side is toning down the rhetoric of their other members Perhaps the PDM, being in government, shouldn’t respond in kind It is one thing for, say, Fawad Chauhdry to make a saber-rattling statement, but quite another for Rana Sanaullah, the sitting interior minister, to do the same

Both sides, specially the government, need to throw in some statements that inspire confidence

And it is tue government, not the PTI, that currently threatens to scuttle the democratic process altogether by delaying the electoral process itself, by citing the flimsiest of reasons

The country certainly cannot afford more of the limbo that it is going through

Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami (Late)

Founding Editor

Yousaf Nizami Editor

Flashback to the days when I used to attend family and other social gatherings

I

Ten minutes into the ‘party’ I find myself in the middle of the living room trying to decide what to do till dinner is served, which appears to be an eternity away I observe three different groups in the room In one corner Aunty Shumaila and her gang have poor Amir surrounded on all sides They want to know precisely when he is going to tie the knot, apparently an event of cataclysmic significance Amir has been asked the question countless times before but knows no satisfactory response to it, at any rate none that can be said to conform to accepted norms of polite society Amir tries to put up a brave face but not very convincingly I have all the sympathy for him but have no appetite to play the rescuer not able to take it anymore, he finally decides to escape the barricade of the well-wishing ladies who are now offering their services as match-makers The ladies are piqued and look around for somebody else to shower their loving attention on

II

On the sofas near the far wall of the living room are seated several senior citizens each absorbed in his cell phone Every now and then they smile or laugh which is followed by silence again nobody is talking to anybody else, and one wonders why they even chose to attend instead of staying home Occasionally however one gentleman enthusiastically shows his phone screen to another gentleman who chuckles at the reel or the meme but in a way that leaves no doubt about his conviction that the item is not nearly as funny as the other gentleman thinks, and that he has a much funnier collection in his own phone, not to mention an infinitely better sense of humour One gentleman has had enough of this activity and has decided to catch up on sleep, probably the wisest decision under the circumstances

III

By now, I have only managed to kill fifteen minutes out of who-knows how many hours till dinner I return to the lobby to take stock of the situation The

living room (where I was a few moments ago) is behind me To my left is the drawing room and to my right the dining room, from where ladies can be heard discussing the latest dress prints While they principally talk about who wore what when they are not averse to taking thinly veiled digs at the ladies that are not present, to the approval and delight of those who are nobody dares leave for fear she will become the certain object of bad-mouthing Besides it is too much fun

IV

In the drawing room a group of smartly dressed youngsters is engaged in a heated debate hoping that it is a philosophical question or a sports rivalry at issue or better still the merits of Ghalib vis-à-vis Mir I make my way to the group I find out to my disappointment that it is politics that is being discussed In fact, it is less a debate and more a recycling of stale jokes and memes that everybody and his grandmother has already seen and haha-ed on the social media Making an excuse I leave the room on the first opportunity

fortunate position – being asked by everybody to provide the detailed timeline to his wedding day – but now he is happily married This fact, however, is not enough for the gang to let him off the hook so easily

The ladies insist on knowing when hamza is going to become a father Aunty Sameena specifically wants to know the precise nature of the problem, and whether the couple has consulted a gynaecologist Aunty Kishwar offers hamza the dietary regimen that proved so very effective when her niece found it hard to conceive I cannot help feeling that we, homo sapiens sadly are not going to make it

VII

T h e q u e s t i o n s a r e

i n t e rs p e rs e d w i t h

ex a m p l e s o f va r i o u s

g e n t l e m e n ’s s e n s a t i o n a l

a c h i ev e m e n t s w h e n t h ey

w e r e yo u n g m e n , w h i c h

s h ow s A m i r ’s l a ck o f

V Although it is well past dinner time, there is no sign of dinner yet I am positively starved by now I decide to take the law into my own hands and make a clandestine trip to the kitchen to see if I can get outside some food on the sly nothing doing for five young ladies are busy taking endless selfies and photos of the different dishes and sweets placed on the table I drink a glass of water and pretend that that was all I visited the kitchen for Criminal ideas momentarily cross my mind, but good sense prevails

cl a r i t y a n d p r e p a r a t i o n o n

t h e i s s u e i n ev e n m o r e o f a n u n f avo u r a b l e l i g h t

A group of energetic senior citizens is assembled near the staircase in the living room Amir who we left attempting to escape the inquisitive ladies has apparently managed only to jump from the frying pan into the fire For he is now bombarded with questions about where he is currently at professionally and what he intends to do with his life in future The questions are interspersed with examples of various gentlemen s sensational achievements when they were young men which shows Amir s lack of clarity and preparation on the issue in even more of an unfavourable light The seniors keep referring to Amir as Young man The young man, on his part, is wishing he were dead or in Timbuktu And so am I My only other thought being: how much longer till dinner?

* Those days are gone and not a moment too soon I have since learned to make it a point to politely excuse myself from attending such gatherings, and am none the worse for it

VI

I return to the living room and find out that Aunty Shumaila and her gang have now got hold of poor hamza Up until a year ago hamza was in Amir ’s un-

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

The multi-faceted effects of increasing inflation rate in Pakistan

And its long term repercussions

the standard of living in Pakistan has declined rapidly within one year

Traditionally, the cost of inflation is viewed in monetary terms, and other multifaceted effects of prolonged inflation are ignored The unprecedented and protracted phase of inflation leads to a decline in the standard of living, resulting in a worse public health crisis The inflation rate in the health sector in December 2022 stood at 13 50% This inflation in combination with an increase in the prices of necessities plays a catalytic role in the increasing stress

E d i t o r ’ s m a i l

S e n d y o u r l e t t e r s t o : L e t t e r s t o E d i t o r Pakistan Today, 4 - S h a a re y F a t i m a J i n n a h L a h o re P a k i s t a n E - m a i l : l e t t e r s @ p a k i s t a n t o d a y c o m p k L e t t e r s s h o u l d b e a d d re s s e d t o Pakistan Today e x c l u s i v e l y

The tragic realit y of life in Pakistan

MoMMen Khan

An inflation rate of 2% is largely accepted as being healthy for economic growth, referred to as the optimal inflation rate But if this rate starts increasing irregularly and tends to reach higher levels, then it is a threat to the economy

In this context, economists tend to focus on the macroeconomic aspects by delving into how monetary and fiscal policy and economic shocks affect inflation and vice versa But there has been very little debate on the multifaceted impacts of a protracted period of inflation which leads to a serious issue of the public health crisis Therefore, it is necessary to comprehend both the conventional and non-conventional implications of inflation

Pakistan in this regard has been going through serious economic crises leading to the highest inflation rate of 31 5% in the past decade This paced increase in inflation has decreased purchasing power which has resulted in a stark decline in the standard of living Currently in Pakistan business after business is closing which has increased the unemployment rate from 6 3 percent to 9 1 percent and intensified the crisis This inflationary pressure can hamper the capability of youth to learn and acquire skills because in such circumstances the youth is more concerned to earn a living and supporting their family than acquiring skills Thus in the past four years the lower-middleclass and lower-class have lost 30% of their purchasing power

The real income of people has declined drastically due to the massive increase in the inflation rate in the past months A median income of Rs 30,000 10 months ago is now equivalent to 20 100 which reflects the pace and magnitude of a massive decline in the purchasing power of the populace To measure the economic pressure that an ordinary individual is confronted with the Economic Discomfort Index – a combination of unemployment and inflation rate, is used In this context, Pakistan stood at 19 7 by the end of March 2022 and within one year this index has been near to double with a score of 36 7 This massive increase in the measure of this index is an indication that

Different researchers have concluded that people s mental health has suffered due to the psychological repercussions of economic crises which has compounded by the concerns of unemployment and inflation

In addition mental health experts have stated that the inflation rate in Pakistan has reached its peak, as a result, people are now showing signs of extreme conditions of irritability and intolerance

Due to the co-existence of inflation and health problems healthcare spending increases devastatingly which intensifies the prolonged stress

On the other hand the mental illness of parents can have a significant impact on the cognitive development and educational success of their children Thus inflation is not only a monetary phenomenon it is having serious psychological impacts on people in the long run

On the other hand, the prolonged period of irregular increase in the inflation rate leads to increased poverty and this coupled with unemployment results in increasing the crime rate

Unbridled inflation is one of the main causes of poverty and directly affects people s capacity to maintain their financial security Robberies may double in frequency, and other crimes like

homicide and auto theft also rise during tough economic times This alarming situation of poverty owing to the high rise in food prices forces people to act harshly and Pakistan at current is at the brink of this abyss People’s frustration will increase in the coming days as they struggle to pay their bills, find it difficult to buy bread and butter, lose their jobs, and are unable to pay their children’s school fees which will force them to turn to corruption and crime Therefore, it is necessary to comprehend inflation through the lens of the inflation-crime nexus and plan accordingly in order to have effective strategies for coping with the non-conventional repercussions of protracted inflation

The surprisingly high inflation we are experiencing is having a very deep and deleterious impact on the large strata of society Therefore the government should strive to control the rapid rise in prices by enhancing the capability and capacity of the price control cells and district management In the long run, the government must resort to long-term economic policies that promote sustainable economic growth Instead of taking cosmetic measures for controlling price hikes, it should take measures that will streamline the supply chains – necessary to avoid shortages In addition the most vulnerable segments of society are more prone to these negative impacts, so the government should focus on ensuring social safety nets Because the psychological impacts of inflation are least studied a multidisciplinary study that links inflation with mental health is critical

The writer is working as an Assistant Research Fellow at Balochistan Think Tank Network (BTTN), Quetta

ThE recent suicide of a girl aged 12 in hyderabad city is a deeply concerning and tragic development that must be addressed urgently The fact that children are taking their own lives is a clear indication that there are serious problems that need to be addressed including the lack of mental health support and resources, poverty, social isolation and inadequate education

It is heart-breaking to think that children not even in their teens are choosing to end their lives because they feel that they have no other option This is a devastating loss of life and potential that cannot be ignored The reasons behind such suicides are complex and multifaceted, and it will require a comprehensive and collaborative effort from individuals, communities and the government to address them effectively One of the key steps that must be taken is to prioritise mental health support and resources for children This includes providing access to counselling and therapy services as well as increasing awareness and education around mental health and wellbeing It is also important to address the root causes of poverty and social isolation, which can contribute to feelings of hopelessness and despair, especially among the vulnerable

Additionally there needs to be greater investment in education particularly in providing quality education to all children regardless of one s socio-economic background Education is a critical tool for empowering young people and helping them to build better futures for themselves and their communities Education provides knowledge skills and opportunities to build better futures but the existing system in the country is plagued by lack of funding, poor infrastructure and inadequate teaching As a result many children receive substandard education that may add layers of hopelessness This is particularly true for girls who are often discouraged from pursuing education due to cultural and societal norms

Besides, mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, are often cited as key factors leading to suicide among children in Pakistan

Unfortunately mental health resources are severely limited particularly in rural areas, making it difficult for children to access the support they need According to the World health Organisation (WhO), Pakistan has just 0 5 psychiatrists per 100 000 people which is far below the international average This means that children who are struggling with mental health issues may not receive the care and treatment they need Also, child labour is a widespread issue in Pakistan with an estimated 12 5 million children involved in work Children who are forced to work in hazardous or exploitative conditions are at a higher risk of developing mental health issues and feelings of hopeless-ness, which can lead to suicide

A sluggish system

A strong and effective judicial system is mandatory for the development of an economy Take Singapore for instance where the judicial system is powerful, and the country is developing rapidly Foreign direct investment (FDI) is also necessary for economic development, but without trust in the system nobody brings money into a market

Due to the sluggish judicial system in Pakistan the FDI was around $2 billion in 2019 According to a report by the judicial commission, about 2 2 million cases are currently pending with the courts across Pakistan Commercial cases take more than 1 046 days in Pakistan On the other hand these cases take only 164 days in Singapore Investors avoid investing in Pakistan due to delays in commercial and corporate cases, and that affects economic development Moreover Pakistan is far away from arbitration which is a mode preferred by businessmen for dispute resolution

In a nutshell, judicial delay is the root cause of economic instability Pakistan may learn from Singapore, improve its judicial system, and introduce technology to unburden the courts

In addition, mental health experts have stated that the inflation rate in Pakistan has reached its peak, as a result, people are now showing signs of extreme conditions of irritability and intolerance

T T R A C T I O n’ is a fundamental aspect of human behaviour and it continues to play an important role in today s society, although, the way in which attraction is viewed and expressed may vary depending on cultural norms and societal values In today s society there is a growing emphasis on diversity, inclusion, and acceptance of different forms of attraction This has led to a greater acceptance and understanding of different types of relationships and sexual orientations There has also been a shift towards focusing on attraction beyond physical appearance, with greater importance placed on emotional and intellectual attraction This has led to an increased emphasis on personal compatibility, shared values, and mutual respect in relationships In addition, there are also ongoing issues related to attraction such as objectification and sexualization of certain groups and societal pressures to conform to certain beauty standards These issues can lead to negative consequences, such as low self-esteem and body image issues and can also contribute to unhealthy relationship dynamics Attraction and social image are often intertwined, as social image can play a significant role in attraction It refers to how we are perceived by others and can be influenced by a range of factors, including our physical appearance, personality, social status, and behaviour In terms of attraction, individuals may be drawn to others who have a positive social image as it can signal qualities such as confidence success, and desirability however, social image can also have negative effects on attraction, particularly when it is based on superficial or superficial qualities Additionally social image can be influenced by cultural norms

and expectations which can vary across different contexts and communities For instance, in some cultures, physical attractiveness may be highly valued, while in others other qualities such as intelligence or humility may be more important While social image can play a role in attraction, it is important to remember that attraction should be based on genuine qualities and characteristics rather than superficial or external factors

P S y C H O L O g I C a L t H E O R I E S O F at t R a C -

t I O N: In psychology attraction is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that has been studied extensively It can be defined as the process by which individuals are drawn to one another, and it can occur on multiple levels, including physical emotional intellectual and social In the context, the key theories related to attraction include: a Evolutionary theory: This theory suggests that attraction is driven by biological factors related to reproductive success Men may be attracted to women who exhibit signs of fertility, while women may be attracted to men who exhibit traits associated with strength and protection b Social exchange theory: It considers that attraction is based on the exchange of resources such as love, companionship, and emotional support According to this theory, individuals are attracted to partners who offer them the greatest benefits and fewest costs c Attachment theory: This theory has laid emphasis on the fact that attraction is based on patterns of attachment that develop in early childhood According to this theory individuals who develop secure attachments with their primary caregivers are more likely to form healthy and secure relationships in adulthood e Self-determination theory: This theory suggests that attraction is related to the fulfillment of basic psychological needs such as autonomy, competence, and relatedness According to it individuals are attracted to partners who help them meet these needs and feel fulfilled in their lives In conclusion the study of attraction in psychology has led to a greater understanding of the complex factors that drive human relationships and has contributed to the development of effective interventions and therapies aimed at promoting healthy and fulfilling relationships

R E S P O N S I b L E Fa C tO R S: Attraction is an important aspect of life and it largely depends on several factors

S u r v e i l l a n c e

i n I n d i a : G u j a r a t

b a c k s i t , P u n j a b h a t e s i t

t h a t i n a p a n o p t i c o n , t h e i n m a t e i s s e e n , b u t h e d o e s n o t s e e ; h e i s a n o bj e c t o f i n f o r m a t i o n n e v e r a s u b j e c t i n c o m m u n i c a t i o n

which include: a Physical appearance: People are often attracted to others who they find physically appealing

This can include factors such as body shape facial symmetry, height, and even things like clothing style b Similarity: People are often attracted to those who are similar to themselves in terms of interests values and attitudes

This may be because we feel more comfortable and understood around people who share our worldview c Familiarity: People are often attracted to those who they are familiar with or have been exposed to frequently This can include friends, co-workers, or people we see regularly in our day-to-day lives d Chemistry: Sometimes, attraction can simply be caused by a strong chemistry between two people This can include factors like pheromones body language, and nonverbal cues that create a strong connection between individuals e Status: People are sometimes attracted to those who have high social status or power

This may be because we associate these qualities with success, confidence, and other desirable traits f Emotional connection: People are often attracted to others who they feel an emotional connection with This can include things like shared experiences, mutual trust and respect, and a sense of understanding and empathy

At large, attraction can have both positive and negative effects, depending on the situation In general, the good effects of attraction are many and in the first place it increases happiness and well-being and to someone it can

lead to positive emotions, such as joy and excitement, which can improve one’s overall happiness and wellbeing In second place it improves self-esteem: When someone feels attracted to us, it can boost our self-esteem and make us feel more confident and attractive Thirdly attraction can lead to the formation of healthy and fulfilling relationships, which can provide emotional support, companionship, and intimacy Lastly, procreation and continuation of the species: Attraction is a key factor in procreation and the continuation of the species On the other hand, there are also a list of bad effects of attraction which include: a Objectification and exploitation: Attraction can lead to the objectification and sexualization of individuals which can be harmful and contribute to a culture of exploitation b Jealousy and possessiveness: Attraction can lead to feelings of jealousy and possessiveness which can cause conflict and harm in relationships c Unhealthy relationships: Attraction can sometimes lead to unhealthy or abusive relationships where one partner may try to control or manipulate the other d Unrequited attraction: When attraction is not reciprocated, it can lead to feelings of rejection, hurt, and disappointment, which can have negative effects on one’s mental health and well-being

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

H o w t o p r e p a r e

f o r C h a t G P T

a t w o r k

i n a z e e r

r

down the line It s going to become more and more difficult

Wh AT comes to your mind when you hear the word ‘surveillance’? CCTV cameras? For beginners that s one way to say: “You are being watched ” Always But there are more advanced tools now for mass surveillance and it doesn t matter who is being watched – a criminal or law-abiding citizen A large number of Indians in fact support surveillance against protesters For example, those living in Gujarat are the most likely to back the government on mass surveillance while those in Punjab are the most strongly opposed to the same

These are among the findings of the Status of Policing in India Report 2023 released last month by CSDS-Lokniti and Common Cause Around 10,000 people were interviewed in person across 12 states and union territories for the annual report – published the fifth year in a row The report tries to find relevance amid a lack of public attention on surveillance and its related threats So how does the common person perceive these tracking systems? Are the poor more distrustful of the wide-spread snooping? how many are aware of the right to privacy? And what are people the most anxious about?

Before we dissect the findings we can better understand surveillance through the eyes of two philosophers: Jeremy Bentham and Michel Foucault Bentham envisaged a circular architectural design and called it panopticon W h a t ’s a p a n o p t i c o n ? I t i s a c o nceptual architectural design with a circ u l a r i n s t i t u t i o n a c c o m m o d a t i n g s e v e r a l p r i s o n c e l l s T h e a r c h i t e c t u r e i s s u c h t h a t a g u a r d i n t h e c e n t r e c a n w a t c h a l l i n m a t e s f r o m t h e w a t c ht o w e r W h i l e m o n i t o r i n g e v e r y i n m a t e m a y n o t b e t e c h n i c a l l y p o s s i b l e , i t a t l e a s t g i v e s a n i m p r e s s i o n t h a t t h e y a r e u n d e r t h e w a t c h n o w F o u c a u l t u s e d B e n t h a m s c o n c e p t u a l d e s i g n t o e xp l a i n s u b j u g a t i o n i n a s o c i e t y h e s a i d

This phenomenon resounds in the response of the people surveyed for the policing report The report covers largely three mass surveillance tools: CCTV cameras, drones and facial recognition technique or FRT Most people support government surveillance to suppress protest or dissent But if the responses are seen in the context of people’s socio-economic background and states answers vary drastically For example, people from the lower socioeconomic background such as Dalits, Adivasis and minorities are less trustful of surveillance

Surveillance is also often used to curb protests Do states react differently?

In all three surveillance parameters those residing in Gujarat top the list of supporters, and those in Punjab are the most strongly opposed to the same Gujarat and UP residents are most likely to back the governments when it comes to the use of CCTV cameras while Punjab, Karnataka and West Bengal are the least likely On the use of drones to reign in dissent, Gujarat and haryana are the most trustful while Punjab and West Bengal are the least When it comes to the facial recognition technique, Gujarat and Andhra are most likely to support governments to identify protesters Punjab and West Bengal are the least likely L e t s l o o k a t o t h e r r e s p o n s e s b ey o n d t h i s s t a t e - w i s e c a t e g o r i s a t i o n

When asked if CCTV cameras carry a risk of illegal surveillance one of two r e s p o n d e n t s s a i d y e s w h i l e 3 6 p e rcent disagreed

According to the report people with higher education are more likely to believe that CCTV cameras can help in reducing crimes Previous reports have asserted the same about advanced technology finding favour among the general public for such use by governments nearly half of the respondents have supported the collection of biometric details by the government Muslims and Adivasis are the least supportive of this mechanism

Every second person strongly supports the use of drones by the government but the poor and farmers are most likely to oppose it according to the report The opinion is divided when asked if the police should have a warrant to check

phones At least 40 percent said that the police should have no freedom to do so Eight percent wanted complete freedom and 44 percent in selective cases A staggering 61 percent of respondents support facial recognition against a group of people protesting against the government or laws

SELF-CENSORSHIP? One out of five respondents believe that the government has the right to monitor social media posts But two out of three people feel “very” or “somewhat” scared of posting political or social opinion online Those residing in haryana, Gujarat and Delhi are the most scared of sharing opinions online Kerala Maharashtra and Karnataka the least

This takes us to Foucault s panopticon in which inmates are subjugated because they feel they are watched It does not matter to them if they are really being watched or not Today, a lot of people steer clear of posting unpopular or antigovernment content because of real or imagined fear

What people are most anxious about is their personal data getting leaked –about 72 percent were worried about their Aadhaar or PAn details

Against the backdrop of such fears and anxiety notably a large number of Indians ostensibly remain unaware of key issues linked to surveillance

Two of three people have not heard of the Pegasus spyware The spyware was built by an Israeli firm, and allegedly used by the Indian government It is alleged to have been used to snoop on judges dissenters and journalists

Another section in the report takes us to the debate on the right to privacy and freedom of speech The right to privacy is a constitutional right as the supreme court spelt it out in 2017 in what came to be known as the Puttaswamy case But only 16 percent of respondents had heard of the case Meanwhile, the report also gave a glimpse into media reportage on surveillance related issues It analysed 1 113 news stories on surveillance published by six media outlets In three of every four stories the primary source was the government One out of four news stories had a pro-surveillance slant The Times of India and Jagran are the most likely to have pro-government stories and the Wire the least Only 14 percent mention the right to privacy or legality

Ch AT G P T is making its way into workplaces, and organizations are grappling with what policies to put in place and how to prepare their workers We recently spoke with George Westerman, a senior lecturer at MIT s Sloan School of Management, founder of the university’s skills-focused Global Opportunity Initiative and the co-author of Leading Digital: Turning Technology Into Business Transformation, about the AI-related skills employers should be prioritizing right now here are excerpts from our conversation:

How much should employers be approaching AI literacy as an employee skill?

We want to think about levels of knowledge You want to train people with enough knowledge to understand without making them go overboard on some of the technical concepts Some of your technical people may need to know the depths of how AI works, while the people who are non-technical are going to have to be much more understanding of the AI-enabled tools: what are the limits there where are the biases in there So not necessarily training them on AI but training them on the tools instead For example, if I write customer-service emails all day, I don’t need to know how AI works but I probably need to know how the new tools coming out of AI are going to help me design those emails easier It’s like how some of us may need to know Excel and others need to be really expert at pivot tables, but not everybody T h e o t h e r t h i n g t h e y r e g o i n g t o n e e d more of is to brush up on the things that are u n i q u e l y h u m a n T h e c i r c l e o f w h a t i s uniquely human gets smaller and smaller over time, but certainly there’s empathy and there’s interaction and there’s creativity If we’re still training skills for routine jobs that s not good for the employer or employee What you want to do is more critical thinking, higher-order thinking because that’s something where the humans can continue to contribute to the story as advanced automation takes over their routine stuff

Presumably critical thinking will also become more important in learning to evaluate AI-generated information

For everything that organizations can do to make their products and their marketing better, the bad people out there will find ways to make their products and their processes better, too So you can expect that phishing emails will become more personalized and more professional-looking You can expect that the people calling and trying to fake you into giving them passwords will start sounding an awful lot like people who are trusted in the organization You can expect moving beyond the text world that the deepfake videos and voices will become pretty compelling And so what that means is we need to help people be more aware of these threats that are coming

You ve done research around skills and technological change that led you to develop your human skills matrix Can you explain what that is?

We kept hearing that you hire for hard skills you fire for soft skills And so of course, typical professor, I’m like, ‘Well, how do we define soft skills?’ We went out and we found these 41 different frameworks There was commonality among them, but there were also some things that just felt like they weren’t quite there yet So we synthesized those 41 frameworks we did a lot of interviews with experts, and we came up with our human skills matrix So the top is doing the bottom is leading the left is me the right is other Just thinking in terms of those four levels how I think, how I interact, how I manage myself, how I lead others can be a really powerful way of thinking about what these human skills are We say these are the skills that can help you thrive in a time of rapidly advancing technological change

Do you see AI as a tool that could help with the development of these skills for example, by giving employees a space to practice difficult conversations?

Absolutely We haven t known how to code it, but we’re starting to look into it now A lot of these human skills the best way to train or assess them is through role play and we ve developed role plays for some of these things, but that requires having a human actor involved Can the computer be the other actor? now you don t need to get two people together You can just practice these things whenever you want

Some organizations are currently in the middle of creating policies around workers’ use of ChatGPT and similar technologies

What would be your recommendation as they figure out what their policy should look like?

The first response to anything unknown is always to say ‘no we don’t want to do that ’ So the first and wrong answer is just to block it

If you block it in-house, it ll just be used out of the house, and then you won t have any idea what’s happening there number two you might want to set up some policy just to say here are the dangers that can happen here s acceptable, not acceptable ’ Get that out pretty quickly so that people have some idea what the right way is And at that point once you get better at it then you can start thinking about other policies, other ways you might use this

This stuff is really pretty early I think it s too early to create a real GPT policy yet, other than to say no, and I think no is the wrong answer You just want to help people get comfortable with what s possible as you get more clear on what specifically you want to do You want to put out guidelines, help people understand where the swim lanes are so they can at least understand if they re going too far one way or the other And then put in the more specific policy guidance once we all know what we’re doing That could be a while Certainly it s not in the next couple weeks or months

A l l y o u n e e d t o k n o w o f w h a t I n d i a n s t h i n k o f i s s u e s l i n ke d t o s u r v e i l l a n c e a n d p r i v a c y

BEIJING

A F P

AUS warship sailed through the waters separating Taiwan and mainland China, the US Navy said, days after Beijing staged war games around the island

Led by the United States, multiple Western navies regularly conduct “freedom of navigation operations” to assert the international status of regional waterways such as the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea

The USS Milius guided-missile destroyer conducted a routine Taiwan Strait transit April 16 (local time) through waters where high-seas freedoms of navigation and overflight apply in accordance with international law , the US Navy said in a statement

The ship transited through a corridor in the Strait that is beyond the territorial sea of any coastal State ” This was the first such US operation through the waterway since January

The US 7th Fleet shared images Monday on Titter of crew looking out into the strait one of the most crucial waterways in the world for international shipping China said on Monday it had tracked a US warship through the Taiwan Strait adding that the United States had hyped up the transit

C o l o n e l S h i Yi , a C h i n e s e m i l i t a r y spokesman, said troops in the area remain on a high level of alert at all times and will resolutely defend national sovereignty and security as well as regional peace and stability”

China claims Taiwan as its territory and has vowed to bring the island under its control one day It also claims the entire Taiwan Strait as its territorial waters Taiwan s defence ministry said on Monday that during the vessel s transit its military had closely monitored the dynamics in our surrounding sea and airspace and the situation was normal WAR GAMES: China launched three days

of military exercises around Taiwan on April

8 simulating targeted strikes and a blockade of the island

The drills were in response to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen s recent visit to the United States where she met with Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy

Beijing bristles at any official contact between Taipei and foreign governments

On the final day of last week s drills, Taiwan s defence ministry said 54 Chinese planes crossed into Taiwan’s southwestern and southeastern air defence identification zone (ADIZ) the highest recorded in a single day since October 2021

That same day the USS Milius sailed through waters claimed by Beijing in the South China Sea

That deployment triggered condemnation from China which said the vessel had illegally intruded into its territorial waters

Since the war games ended Chinese warships and aircraft have continued to circle Taiwan

On Monday Taipei s defence ministry said it had detected

World urged to step in to save Kashmiris from Hindut va onslaught

KHARTOUM

Ag e n c e S

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on Sudan’s warring parties Monday to “immediately cease hostilities as explosions rocked Sudanese capital Khartoum where fighting between the army and paramilitary forces led by rival generals raged for a third day with the death toll surpassing 100

The violence erupted Saturday after weeks of power struggles between the two generals who seized power in a 2021 coup, Sudan s army chief Abdel Fattah alBurhan and his deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF)

The conflict, which has seen air strikes, tanks on the streets, artillery fire and heavy gunfire in crowded neighbourhoods both in Khartoum and other cities across Sudan has triggered international demands for an immediate ceasefire

As the fighting showed no sign of abating Daglo took to Twitter to call for the international community to intervene against Burhan branding him a radical Islamist who is bombing civilians from the air

We will continue to pursue AlBurhan and bring him to justice, he said, adding: “The fight that we are waging now is the price of democracy ”

Wuhan to play host as world snooker returns to China

BEIJING

A F P

In his only statement since the fighting flared Burhan told Al Jazeera on Saturday that he was surprised by Rapid Support Forces attacking his home and that what was happening should prevent the formation of forces outside the army

The conflict has claimed the lives of at least 97 civilians and dozens of fighters from both sides, medics said, adding about 942 people have been injured

B u t t h e n u m b e r o f c a s u a l t i e s i s t h o u g h t t o b e f a r h i g h e r, w i t h m a n y wounded unable to reach hospitals due t o d i ff i c u l t i e s i n m o v e m e n t a m i d t h e

fighting The doctors’ union warned the fighting had “heavily damaged” multip l e h o s p i t a l s i n K h a r t o u m a n d o t h e r cities with some rendered completely out of service

The World Health Organization had already warned that several of Khartoum s nine hospitals receiving injured civilians have run out of blood, transfusion equipment, intravenous fluids and other vital supplies UN Special Representative Volker Perthes, who is in Khartoum, said he was “extremely disappointed” by the failure

ISLAMABAD S tA F F R e P o R t

The World Snooker Tour (WST) hailed the “momentous announcement” of three tournaments in China this year including one in Wuhan as the return of the international sport to the country gathers pace Almost all international sports events were cancelled in China after Covid emerged in Wuhan in late 2019 and they are only just returning after travel curbs were lifted WST will stage the first professional snooker tournament in mainland China in four years with the showpiece Shanghai Masters on September 11-17 the WST said That will be followed by the Wuhan Open on October 9-15 and the International Championship in November at a Chinese city yet to be confirmed Total prize money for three events combined will be more than £2 million ($2 5 million)

“This is a momentous announcement for our sport as we ramp up our return to staging events in Asia ” said WST chairman Steve Dawson

“Throughout the pandemic we have maintained dialogue and relationships with the Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association as well as our key partners and promoters across China

AUSTIN

A F P

SpaceX is counting down to the first test flight on Monday of Starship, the most powerful rocket ever built designed to send astronauts to the Moon and Mars and beyond

The giant rocket is scheduled to blast off from Starbase the SpaceX spaceport

The All Pakistan Chinese Overseas Youth Federation (APCOYF) organised the first-ever Faunkaar League Tournament 2023 consisting of artists from TV Radio and Stage of Rawalpindi and Islamabad The team of Musician 11 took the field by completing the target of 32 runs in three and a half overs without any loss

The Federation on Sunday night held the Faunkaar League Tournament 2023 at Heshmat Ali College Cricket Ground Rawalpindi, a news release on Monday said

The highest-scoring team of Potohar 11 was the runner-up of the finals scored only 31 runs in the tournament s final and failed to meet the target

The artist league tournament consisted of 6 teams, whereas 6 matches of 6 overs were played The Dolphin Communication team was led by President of All Pakistan Chinese Overseas Youth Federation and CEO of D o l p h i n C o m m u n i c a t i o n A a s m a I s m a i l B u t t a n d Salman Sunny Stars 11 team was led by Arshad Khan Pindi 11 team by Naseer Khawaja Musician 11 team by Zahid Top Stars team by Umar Kamal and Pothohar 11 team by Anjum Abbasi During the tournament there was a lot of enthusiasm among the players

of both sides to abide by an agreed humanitarian pause on Sunday to evacuate the wounded

The violence has forced terrified people to shelter in their homes with fears of a prolonged conflict that could plunge Sudan into deeper chaos, dashing hopes for return to civilian rule

VITAL AID SUSPENDED: The RSF was created under former autocrat Omar al-Bashir in 2013 emerging from the Janjaweed militia that his government unleashed against non-Arab ethnic minorities in Darfur a decade earlier drawing accusations of war crimes

The fighting broke out after bitter disagreements between Burhan and Daglo over the planned integration of the RSF into the regular army a key condition for a final deal aimed at ending a crisis since the 2021 military coup they orchestrated together The two sides accuse the other of starting the fighting, and both claim the upper hand by declaring control of key sites, including the airport and the presidential palace none of which could be independently verified

On Monday the army said it was in control of the state broadcaster in the capital s twin city of Omdurman

After being cut for hours state television went on the air again showing footage of soldiers filming themselves on military bases claiming they control them

SRINAGAR Ag e n c e S I n d i a i s s y s t e m a t i c a l l y p a v i n g t h e w a y f o r s e t t l e r c o l o n i a l i s m i n o c c u p i e d J a m m u a n d K a s h m i r ( I I O J K ) b y e l i m i n a t i n g K a s h m i r i s t h r o u g h m a ss a c r e s a n d k i l l i n g s i n t h e g a r b o f c o r d o n a n d s e a r c h o p e r a t i o n s c r a c k d o w n s a n d r a i d s c a r r i e d o u t i n t h e t e r r i t o r y o n d a i l y b a s i s A c c o r d i n g t o a K a s h m i r m e d i a r e p o r t r e p o r t o n M o n d a y i n o r d e r t o a d v a n c e t h e n e f a r i o u s a g e n d a o f b r i n gi n g a d e m o g r a p h i c c h a n g e i n t h e K a s h m i r v a ll e y l i k e i t h a s d o n e i n J a m m u i n c o n n i v a n c e w i t h D o g r a f o r c e s i n 1 9 4 7 N e w D e l h i i s i n g r o s s v i o l a t i o n o f a l l i n t e r n a t i o n a l l a w s a n d c o nv e n t i o n s , d e p r i v i n g K a s h m i r i s o f a l l t h e i r b a s i c h u m a n r i g h t s A s p a r t o f p o l i c y, t h e M o d i r e g i m e o n t h e I s r a e l i p a t t e r n h a s b u i l t s e v e r a l s e p a r a t e P a n d i t s e t t l e m e n t s , s o l d i e r s ’ c o l o n i e s i n t h e o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r y a n d t h e p r o c e s s h a s p i c k e d u p a p a c e a f t e r K a s h m i r ’s s p e c i a l s t a t u s w a s r e v o k e d i n A u g u s t 2 0 1 9 To r o b K a s h m i r i s o f t h e i r i d e n t i t y a n d r i g h t s t h e r e p o r t s a i d I n d i a i s i s s u i n g d o m i c i l e c e r t i f i c a t e s t o n o n - K a s h m i r i s o n f a s t - t r a c k b a s i s w h i c h i s c l e a r v i o l a t i o n o f U N r e s o l u t i o n s o n K a s h m i r

Heatstroke kills 11 at India awards event

MUMBAI

A F P

The spectators raised the enthusiasm of the players b y c h a n t i n g s l o g a n s t o e n c o u r a g e t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e teams The first match was won by Pothohar 11 from Pindi 11, the second match by Musician 11 from Stars 11, third match by Dolphin Strikers giving a tough time to Top Stars

The semi-final was played between Dolphin and Pothohar 11 Anjum Abbasi’s team Pothohar 11 won the semi-final by defeating the Dolphin Strikers team by 58 runs While the final match was played between Pothohar 11 and Musician 11 Pothohar 11 completed their innings by scoring 31 runs with the loss of 8 players Musician 11 won the final match by completing the target in three and a half overs without any loss

Prizes were also distributed among the first three position teams On this occasion the President of All Pakistan Chinese Overseas Youth Federation and CEO of Dolphin Communication, Aasma Ismail Butt congratulated the winning team and said that the excellent performance of artists participating in the successful Funkaar league tournament has proved that artists are not only good at performing on television, radio and stage, but they also know how to grace the playing field

The fans and actors present in the tournament congratulated the Federation President for organizing the tournament

11 people died of heatstroke in India after an estimated one million spectators waited for hours in the sun at a government-sponsored awards ceremony, officials said on Monday Around 20 people were hospitalised and 300 felt ill at the event near the western city of Mumbai on Sunday when temperatures hit close to 38 degrees Celsius (100 Fahrenheit) with high levels of humidity local media reported Senior government officials attended the ceremony including Interior Minister Amit Shah who praised the crowd for waiting so long in the sun The office of Maharashtra state Chief Minister Eknath Shinde described it as a sad and disturbing incident and promised compensation for the victims relatives India s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said around a million people attended the event, the Indian Express newspaper reported The opposition Congress party accused the government of negligence and said it should face criminal charges Heatwaves have killed more than 6 500 people in India since 2010 and last year saw record temperatures in several cities across the country The hot spells are becoming harsher and more frequent across South Asia spurred by climate change according to scientists Authorities in the eastern state of West Bengal announced a week-long shutdown of all schools colleges and universities from Monday due to the heat, local media reported Last year, India suffered coal shortages, the main source of electricity in the nation of 1 4 billion people, as electricity demand peaked in the heat Many parts of India rely on trains to supply water during the summer Scientists also believe the annual monsoon rainy season is becoming more erratic and powerful causing greater flooding

to carry crew and cargo that sits atop a 230-foot tall first-stage Super Heavy booster rocket

Collectively referred to as Starship, the spacecraft and the Super Heavy rocket have never flown in combination together, although there have been several sub-orbital test flights of the spacecraft alone If all goes according to plan, the Super Heavy booster will separate from Starship about three minutes after launch and splash down in the Gulf of Mexico Starship which has six engines of its own will continue to an altitude of nearly 150 miles completing a near-circle of the Earth before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean about

If it gets to orbit that s a massive success Musk said If we get far enough away from the launchpad before something goes wrong then I think

corporate corner

NOT-BY- PROFIT

Pakistan’s sal aried cl ass: Overburdened, underPaid and neglected

ISLAMABAD

N e W s D e s K

WR I T I n G for The Express Tribune author Syed Ali Sajjad highlights that the salaried class is an integral part of a growing economy, contributing to its progress through their hard work and daily routine

However, in Pakistan, this group seems to lack proper representation, as their concerns are often ignored Unlike traders and exporters who have their voices heard and receive concessions the salaried class as direct taxpayers are left without a voice

c i d e n t s at M a r g a l l a H i l l s

ISLAMABAD: A n i m p o r t a n t m e e t i n g r e g a r d i n g p r e ve n t i o n o f f i r e i n c i d e n t s a t M a r g a l l a H i l l s wa s h e l d i n u n d e r t h e c h a i r m a n s h i p o f C h a i r m a n C a p i t a l D e ve l o p m e n t A u t h o r i t y C a p t a i n N o o r u l A m i n M e n g a l T h e m e e t i n g wa s a t t e n d e d b y t h e o f f i c e r s o f I s l a m a b a d W i l d l i f e M a n a g e m e n t B o a r d ( I W M B ) a n d o f f i c e r s o f E nv i r o n m e n t W i n g D u r i n g t h e m e e t i n g i t wa s d e c i d e d t h a t m e a s u r e s w i l l b e t a ke n b y t h e I s l a m a b a d W i l d l i f e M a n a g e m e n t B o a r d t o p r e ve n t f i r e i n c i d e n t s i n t h e S a i d p u r Ra n g e S i m i l a r l y e c o - f r i e n d l y s i g n b o a r d s r e l a t e d t o t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f 1 4 4 i n t h e a r e a s w i l l b e a l s o i n s t a l l e d O n t h e o c c a s i o n C D A C h a i r m a n N o o r u l A m i n M e n g a l i s s u e d i n s t r u c t i o n s t h a t i t s h o u l d b e m a d e m a n d a t o r y f o r f o r e s t g u a r d s t o w e a r r e f l e c t o r j a c k e t s A p a r t f r o m t h i s , h e a l s o i s s u e d i n s t r u c t i o n s t o p r o v i d e f o u r 4 x 4 v e h i c l e s t o t h e E n v i r o n m e n t P r o t e c t i o n C e l l H e f u r t h e r s a i d t h a t e l e m e n t s i n v o l v e d i n t r e e c u t t i n g a n d f i r e i n c i d e n t s s h o u l d b e s e n t t o j a i l i n s t e a d o f f i n e i m p o s i t i o n T h e C D A c h i e f d i r e c t e d t h a t r e s p o n s e t i m e s h o u l d b e i m p r o v e d i n c a s e o f f i r e s ta f f r e P o rt

Bank Alfalah par tners with S endS pend for UK

remittance transfers to Pakistan

K A R A CH I : B a n k A l f a l a h h a s c o l l a b o ra t e d w i t h S e n d S p e n d , h e a d q u a r t e r e d i n L o n d o n , U n i t e d K i n g d o m ( U K ) , t o l a u n c h a s t a t e - o f- t h e -a r t , i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e m i t t a n c e s e r v i c e T h e c l o u d - b a s e d s e r v i c e a l l o w s i m m e d i a t e a n d e f f o r t l e s s m o n e y t ra n s f e r s f r o m t h e U K t o Pa k i s t a n t h r o u g h m o b i l e p h o n e s , a l l o w i n g i n d i v i d u a l s a n d b u s i n e s s e s t o s e n d a n d r e c e i ve m o n e y i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y m o r e c o nve n i e n t l y t h a n e ve r S e n d S p e n d i s a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e m i t t a n c e s e r v i c e t h a t u s e s g r o u n db r e a k i n g c l o u d - b a s e d t e c h n o l o g y t o m a ke m o n e y transfers seamless and convenient with just a few taps Through its partnership with SendSpend Bank Alfalah is equipping the users of 17 different mobile wallets in Pakistan to not just receive funds internationally but also the possibility to use Bank s over 900 ATMs nationwide to cash out Users will also be able to have the funds transferred directly into the bank account of their choice in any bank

Atif Bajwa, President and CEO of Bank Alfalah, commented on the partnership, ‘We are pleased to partner with SendSpend to offer customised solutions for non-resident Pakistanis in the UK to send hassle-free remit t a n c e s t o t h e i r l ove d o n e s i n Pa k i s t a n T h i s i n n ova t i ve s e r v i c e e m p o w e r s c u s t o m e r s b y p l a c i n g f i n a n c i a l c o n t r o l d i r e c t l y i n t h e i r h a n d s T h e p a r t n e r s h i p m a r k s a s i g n i f i c a n t s t e p t o wa r d s b u i l d i n g a n e c o s y s t e m o f p r o g r e s s i ve b a n k i n g , w i t h B a n k A l f a l a h l e a d i n g t h e way i n p r ov i d i n g t a i l o r e d s o l u t i o n s f o r i t s c u s t o m e r s u n i q u e n e e d s Tra c y A n d e r s s o n j o i n t C E O f r o m S e n d S p e n d c o m m e n t e d o n t h e p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h B a n k A l f a l a h We a r e e x t r e m e l y p l e a s e d t o b e j o i n i n g h a n d s w i t h B a n k A l f a l a h o n t h i s m i s s i o n t o w a r d s g r e a t e r f i n a n c i a l i n c l u s i o n a n d e m p o w e r m e n t a c r o s s t h e c o u n t r y I t s a s h a r e d g o a l o f b o t h o r g a n i s a t i o n s t o r e m o v e f i n a n c i a l b a r r i e r s a n d e n a b l e m o r e p e o p l e t o c a r v e a b e t t e r f u t u r e ” S e n d S p e n d h a s d e s i g n e d a n e w a n d c o n v e n i e n t s o l u t i o n t o c a p t u r e a l a r g e s e g m e n t o f s o c i e t y t h a t s t i l l u s e s p h y s i c a l m o n e y e x c h a n g e s t o m e e t t h e i r r e m i t t a n c e n e e d s W i t h B a n k A l f a l a h ’s e x p e r t i s e i n t h e m a r ke t a n d S e n d S p e n d ’s t e c h n o l o g i c a l i n n ova t i o n i n p l a c e , t h e s e r v i c e i s d e s t i n e d t o c h a n g e h o w p e o p l e s e n d a n d r e c e i ve m o n e y P r

Matric

ISLAMABAD:

The tax-to-GDP ratio in Pakistan is currently at 4-5% which is relatively low Even with an optimistic assumption that only half of the economy is undocumented, the GDP is still understated by 50%, leading to a lower tax ratio of almost 2-2 5% in reality As a result, the average Pakistani only pays 2-2 5% of their income in total taxes, including direct and indirect taxes

However the salaried class is treated very differently They are subjected to a high tax bracket that can go up to 35%

while indirect taxes such as GST and petroleum levy add to the burden Midlevel career professionals in Pakistan typically fall within the tax bracket of 25-30% leaving them paying almost 50% of their salary as taxes This is in stark contrast to the average Pakistani, who pays only 2 5% in total taxes

Furthermore, the plight of the salaried class becomes even more pressing during inflationary periods Businesses usually transfer the maximum possible impact onto consumers through price hikes The extent to which they can do so depends on the price elasticity of demand for their product Inflationary pressure is borne mostly by customers for products with perfectly inelastic demand whereas the pressure is shared between consumers and producers for products with relatively elastic demand through higher prices

Unfortunately, the salaried class has no recourse during inflationary periods They are often left with meager salary increases, and if the inflation triggers a recession, business owners may resort to layoffs as the easiest and quickest way

to cut costs leaving the salaried class to bear the brunt once again

The situation in Pakistan is unsustainable Forward-thinking countries understand the undeniable importance of salaried individuals in a growing economy

For example, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the salary multiple for a professional with similar credentials to their Pakistani counterpart is currently five to six times higher As a result, many individuals are leaving Pakistan and flocking to the Gulf for better opportunities

The UAE government has also incentivized freelancers to operate from Dubai by offering them golden visas

They understand that human resources are the most valuable resource in modern times Iconic companies such as Google and Facebook are the result of unleashed potential from talented individuals, not the extraction of oil, mining of diamonds, or manufacturing of steel

Therefore, these companies are willing to offer extremely attractive salaries to these talented professionals

In contrast, the salaried class in Pakistan is taxed much more than others and

Pakistani entrepreneur introducing Basmati rice in Haikou, C hina

H e s a i d t h a t t h e d e m a n d f o r p i n e n u t s a n d p u r e h o n e y w a s very high among Chinese buyers w h i l e h i s c o m p a n y t a rg e t s f o re i g n c u s t o m e r s i n H a i n a n a n d other areas of China for the sale of Basmati rice

According to a local government official, Haikou Fullsing Internet Industrial Park focuses on the development of digital trade smart Internet of things financial technology international innovation and headquarters economy and human resources of the 4+2 industrial ecological chain

BEIJING

a P P

At Haikou Fullsing Internet Industrial Park in the capital city of China s Hainan Province, a young Pakistani entrepreneur has displayed some products imported from Pakistan for potential local and foreign buyers

“We are importing Basmati rice, pine-nuts and pure honey from Pakistan and sell them to the local as well as foreign buyers ”

Waheed Yaseen Operational Director Hainan Raman Technology told APP on Monday H a i k o u F u l l s i n g I n t e r n e t I nd u s t r i a l P a r k o n e o f t h e 1 3 k e y

parks in Hainan Free Trade Port is positioned to build the Hainan D i g i t a l F r e e Tr a d e P o r t p i l o t zone digital economy headquart e r s g a t h e r i n g z o n e a n d i n t e r n at i o n a l o ff s h o r e i n n o v a t i o n demonstration zone, with a digital economy industry

A number of local and foreign companies in wake of the advantages of incentives and facilities offered by the local government have set up their offices and display centers in the park Waheed Yaseen informed that along with other partners he had established his company in the park to introduce Pakistani products among the local buyers

The park has been recognized as a national science and technology business incubator, a national offshore innovation and entrepreneurship base for overseas talents, and a national cultural export base

It has also been listed as China Hainan Human Resources Service Industry and China (Haikou) Entrepreneurship Park for returned overseas students At present the park gathers Alibaba ByteDance Xiaomi Group Schneider Tesla and other Fortune 500 enterprises In 2021 the park s revenue was placed among the 100 billion Yuan Club , ranking second in the 2021 Hainan Free Trade Port s 11 key parks assessment

30pc of agri-land conver ted into housing societies in last two dec ades: PBF

LAHORE

s ta f f r e P o r t

The Pakistan Business Forum (PBF) has urged provincial governments to prohibit housing developments on agricultural land According to Jahanara Wattoo, vice president of the PBF, between 25% and 30% of Punjab's fertile agricultural land has been turned into residential colonies and industrial estates in the last two decades putting the province's efforts to become the "food basket of Pakistan" and ensure the nation s food security in jeopardy

She said at a press conference on Monday that housing societies and industrial units have taken over 70 percent of the farmland in Lahore the capital of Punjab and that the remaining farmland is safe from such activities only because it is close to the Indian border Jahanara requested a severe prohibition on transformation of the rural land into lodging settlements or

modern domains and presenting vertical lodging in the urban communities while moving the modern units to non-cultivable regions like thal desert

She pleaded with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to immediately convene a farmers conference to solicit their suggestions for agricultural development and the development and implementation of a farming policy

The provincial governments must also follow the national Climate Change Policy to promote vertical growth in the urban areas to protect agricultural land from increasing construction activities Similarly provincial governments to introduce laws that will make it mandatory to seek permission from the provincial cabinets to convert green land to brown land for residential purposes According to a report released by the United nations Development Programme (UnDP) Pakistan has the highest rate of urbanization in South Asia With a 5% population growth rate it also demonstrated an increasing strain on the existing housing infrastructure

paid much less making it virtually impossible for them to afford a house and own a decent car It is becoming increasingly challenging for them to make ends meet Due to these factors talented professionals are leaving the country and seeking opportunities elsewhere If these flights continue to leave, the loss could become irreversible

Policymakers in Pakistan must take action to retain these hardworking, lawabiding citizens who contribute significantly to the country s economy by paying taxes They play a crucial role in maintaining the social fabric of the nation and the

O ver 2,400 Indian S ikh yar trees attend Baisakhi celebrations in Pakistan

LAHORE s ta f f r e P o r t

Over twenty four hundred Sikh pilgrims, coming from India, have attended Baisakhi celebrations at Gurdwara Rohri Sahib Aminabad and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur Baisakhi is a harvest festival celebrated every year It is one of the most significant festivals for Sikhs as it marks the Sikh New Year Special arrangements were made for security medical accommodation and transport of the Sikh yatrees on the occasion Earlier on reaching Kartarpur officials of Evacuee Trust Property Board welcomed the Sikh pilgrims In their remarks Sikh leaders expressed deep sorrow over the death of Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Mufti Abdul Shakoor in an accident and prayed for him The pilgrims will reach Lahore today after a one-night stay in Kartarpur A large number of Sikh pilgrims from India visit Pakistan to participate in various religious festivals and events every year

O vercharging on Eid will not be tolerated: Capital Police

ISLAMABAD

s ta f f r e P o r t

The capital Police have decided to accelerate action against those public service and passenger vehicles involved in overloading and overcharging from passengers on Eidul Fitr Following the directions of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad Dr Akbar Nasir Khan, special squads have been constituted by Chief Traffic Officer Dr Syed Mustafa Tanveer who would be deputed at bus and wagon stands These squads will take action against those involved in overloading and overcharging fare or misbehaving with passengers Special points have also been erected at various roads of the city to check and take action against passenger vehicles involved in overloading and overcharging All Zonal DSPs have also been directed to keep observing the situation and ensure action against drivers and conductors of such vehicles Heavy fines would be imposed on the vehicles guilty of overloading Moreover, in case of overcharging, the extra fare collected would be also returned to the passengers

examination system of the FBISE is an example for the entire country s ta f f r e P o r t

T S T E E L B E I N G S M U G G L E D

F R O M I R A N , A F G H A N I S TA N A N N U A L LY

ISLAMABAD

G h u l a m a b b a S

AS per the Pakistani Association of Large Steel Producers (PALSP), over 500,000 MT steel is being smuggled from Iran Afghanistan annually which remains unchecked and is being done in an organized manner

The PALSP has written an appeal letter to the Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif concerning the large-scale smuggling of steel from Iran and Afghanistan

The letter sent to the PM on Monday states that this illegal activity in combination with other factors is destroying the local steel industry in Pakistan The industry is already facing many challenges, including currency

depreciation, high financial costs, and a significant increase in input costs Additionally, the production activity has come to a halt due to the shortage of raw materials and many mills are working at a small fraction of their capacity

It is important to note here that steel is one of the major raw materials for many high value industries ranging from automobiles to smartphones The smuggling of steel not only makes the government take a hit on its revenue but also hinders Pakistan’s industrial growth

The situation has been exacerbated by the rampant smuggling of steel from Iran and Afghanistan, which continues unchecked and is being done in an organized manner This is resulting in significant damage to the local steel industry and causing substantial revenue losses to the nation s exchequer According to es-

PESSI recovers Rs9.62b from defaulting industrial units

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

timates, approximately 500,000 metric tons of steel are smuggled into Pakistan annually from these two countries, which is around 10% of the total steel produced in the country This menace results in an annual revenue loss of around 25 billion rupees to the national exchequer It could also lead to money laundering-related issues that could implicate Pakistan in FATF as per the letter

The smuggling of steel has caused the local steel industry to effectively disappear in Quetta and most other parts of Balochistan with over 80% of the steel sold in Balochistan is coming from Iran through smuggling or through mis-declaration, under-invoicing and other deviant tactics PALSP considers this an organized crime which is pushing Pakistan towards deindustrialization Due to the lack of

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif

Monday reviewed measures for curbing smuggling of sugar, wheat, flour, and urea from the country and sought a comprehensive strategy to overcome the problem for the long term

Chairing a high-level meeting, he said the smuggling of essential items outside the country was not acceptable in any way He directed that an immediate operation should be launched against the persons involved in the heinous activity of smuggling

Smuggling was a menace for any society and in the present economic situation, Pakistan could not bear smuggling in any way ” he added

He expressed displeasure at the slow pace of work regarding the end of smuggling and asked for an increase in check posts in the border districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan

He ordered immediate action against warehouses involved in hoarding and smuggling and said honest reputable officers should be posted at the international border

India’s Infosys tumbles 15% on weak revenue outlook, drags sector

control, smuggled steel is not confined to Baluchistan, as it is reaching other parts of the country like Lahore, Karachi and other large cities PALSP has attached pictorial evidence of large trucks/trailers of steel from Iran caught in Lahore in March 2023, and a truck full of brand new steel (rebars) being smuggled from Afghanistan through Chaman border in the first week of April 2023 Customs departments have already lodged cases/FIRs against them PALSP has appealed to the concerned government departments to curb this unlawful activity by taking concrete measures They have suggested in the past that the import of steel should be allowed only through sea routes which would help in effectively countering the threat posed by smuggling

retary should provide figures of demand for these items in the border districts of provinces so that supply in these districts should not exceed more than a set limit

He said the sugar and urea confiscated during the operation against smuggling should be sold in the bazaar according to the price fixed by the government

During the meeting Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Interior Ministry and law enforcement institutions briefed the prime minister about the measures taken to stop intra-provincial and out-ofcountry smuggling

The meeting was informed that a countrywide operation was continuing against the smuggling of urea fertilizer and sugar FBR and the law enforcement institutions on Sunday seized 49 trucks while Frontier Corps also foiled attempts to smuggle thousands of tonnes of urea and sugar and confiscated the commodities

of officers involved in the facilitation of smuggling The representatives of intelligence agencies told that not only smuggled goods and smuggling routes were identified but the persons involved in such activities were also pinpointed and action was being taken against them

It was told that 740 warehouses used for hoarding were being identified in the border districts across the country In the last four days the law enforcement agencies confiscated 2 800 metric tonnes of sugar and 1 400 metric tonnes of urea during numerous raids

The PM instructed Chief Secretary Punjab to supply the sugar seized during the recent failed attempts of smuggling, to the shopkeepers It should be ensured that sugar should be sold at the government s fixed rate of Rs 95 per kilo

Infosys Ltd (INFY NS) shares slumped nearly 15% on Monday dragging peers and the benchmark index after the company s dismal revenue outlook raised concerns about demand for Indian IT services amid global banking turmoil and recession fears

Infosys’ outlook last week followed a disappointing quarterly report from larger rival Tata Consultancy Services (TCS NS) highlighting worries for the sector which earns more than 25% of its revenue from just the U S and European banking, financial, services and insurance sector

The collapse of two mid-sized U S lenders in March had left the financial ecosystem shaken and driven an extraordinary government effort to reassure depositors and backstop the system

“Some of the macro challenges especially around banking financial services and insurance (BFSI) has become bigger and that does mean project cancellations or delays in the deal decision cycle, said Apurva Prasad, vice president of institutional research, HDFC Securities

Prasad said he was expecting a sequential decline for companies like HCLTech (HCLT NS) Wipro (WIPR NS) and Tech Mahindra (TEML NS) on constant currency basis

Infosys India’s second-largest IT services firm on

Thursday said it expects revenue growth of 4%-7% on a constant currency basis for the fiscal year ending March 2024, well below analysts expectations of 10 7% growth, as clients cancelled some projects and deferred spending on growing fears of a recession

The previous slowest annual growth was a 5 8% increase in fiscal 2018

Infosys fell as much as 14 7% to 1,185 3 rupees on Monday in its biggest intraday percentage drop since October 2019 The Nifty IT index ( NIFTYIT) dropped as much as 7 6%

Bengaluru-based Infosys net profit of 61 28 billion rupees ($748 21 million) in the January-March quarter also missed analysts’ expectations of 66 24 billion rupees according to Refinitiv IBES

Smaller rival HCLTech (HCLT NS) is due to report results later this week while Wipro (WIPR NS) is expected next week

IHC terminates ECP’s notification of de-notif ying Shandana Gulzar

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

workers and their families

PR OFIT R e u t e R S

A Wo r l d Tr a d e O rg a n i s a t i o n p a n e l s a i d o n M o n d a y t h a t I n d i a h a d v i o l a t e d g l o b a l t r a d i n g r u l e s i n a d i s p u t e w i t h t h e E u r o p e a n U n i o n , J a p a n a n d Ta i w a n o v e r i m p o r t d u t i e s o n I T p r o d u c t s We r e c o m m e n d t h a t I n d i a b r i n g s u c h m e a s u r e s i n t o c o n f o r m i t y w i t h i t s o b l i g a t i o n s , t h e W TO p a n e l s r e p o r t s a i d I n 2 0 1 9 , t h e E U c h a l l e n g e d I n d i a ’s i n t r o d u c t i o n o f i m p o r t d u t i e s o f b e t w e e n 7 5 % a n d 2 0 % f o r a w i d e r a n g e o f I T p r o d u c t s s u c h a s m o b i l e p h o n e s a n d c o m p o n e n t s , a s w e l l a s i n t e g r a t e d c i r c u i t s , s a y i n g t h e y e x c e e d e d t h e m a x i m u m r a t e J a p a n a n d Ta i w a n f i l e d s i m i l a r c o m p l a i n t s t h a t s a m e y e a r T h e E U i s I n d i a ’s t h i r d l a rg e s t t r a d i n g p a r t n e r a c c o u n t i n g f o r 1 0 8 % o f t o t a l I n d i a n t r a d e i n 2 0 2 1 , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e E u r o p e a n C o m m i s s i o n I n d i a s d i p l o m a t i c m i s s i o n i n G e n e v a d i d n o t i m m e d i a t e l y r e s p o n d t o a r e q u e s t f o r c o m m e n t o n w h e t h e r i t w o u l d a p p e a l a g a i n s t t h e r u l i n g I f i t d o e s t h e c a s e w i l l s i t i n l e g a l p u rg a t o r y s i n c e t h e W TO s t o p a p p e a l s b e n c h i s n o l o n g e r f u n c t i o n i n g d u e t o U S o p p o s i t i o n t o j u d g e a p p o i n t m e n t s T h e W TO p a n e l s a i d t h a t I n d i a h a d a l r e a d y b r o u g h t s o m e o f t h e c h a l l e n g e d t a r i ff s i n t o l i n e w i t h g l o b a l t r a d i n g r u l e s s i n c e l a s t y e a r W h i l e t h e p a n e l b r o a d l y b a c k e d t h e c o m p l a i n t s a g a i n s t I n d i a , i t r e j e c t e d o n e o f J a p a n s c l a i m s t h a t N e w D e l h i ’s c u s t o m s n o t i f i c a t i o n l a c k e d “ p r e d i c t a b i l i t y ”

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

Shehroze Kashif and Naila Kiani, two climbers from Pakistan Monday along with the Seven Summit Treks team successfully ascended Annapurna 1 the world s 10thhighest mountain located in Gandaki province of Nepal

According to Karrar Haidri the secretary of the Alpine Club of Pakistan Kashif has now become the youngest mountaineer in the world to summit 11 peaks above 8,000 meters, while Naila has become the first woman from Pakistan to climb Annapurna and the first to summit four peaks above 8 000 meters Sajid Ali Sadpara, another mountaineer, also successfully ascended Annapurna without oxygen on Saturday making it his fourth

He stressed that no pressure should be entertained while removing corrupt officers involved in smuggling and draft legislation for stoppage of smuggling should be presented as soon as possible

He said anti-smuggling courts should be immediately made effective and functional and number of these courts should be increased

He said the number of highly reputable judges and prosecutors should be increased in the antismuggling courts

The prime minister said exemplary punishment should be given to those who were causing loss of billions of dollars to the country

He directed that the chief sec-

It was informed that joint patrolling teams were being set up to stop cross-border smuggling and on the reports of intelligence agencies four joint patrolling checkpoints were established in Balochistan where law enforcement institutions and FBR would work together

It was told that the government had declared wheat, flour, sugar and urea as “items”

The prime minister directed that SUPARCO should provide real-time satellite imagery of the country’s borders and data of movement in order to put a stop to smuggling It was further informed that warehouses in the border districts were being identified and dealers and their facilitators were being located with the help of a track and trace system after the seizure of goods during failed attempts of smuggling

The meeting was also apprised of a list comprising names

He directed Federal Minister for Food Security to call a meeting of the Sugar Advisory Board to determine the support price of sugarcane crop He said all these measures should be strictly implemented and a report along a long-term strategy should be presented in the next two days

Federal Ministers Rana

Sanaullah Khan Makhdoom

Murtaza Mehmood, Tariq Bashir Cheema, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Ahad Cheema senior officers of relevant institutions and law enforcement agencies, attended the meeting Chief Secretaries of four provinces participated in the meeting through video link

Shehbaz Sharif on Monday paid t r i b u t e t o t h e l a t e M i n i s t e r f o r R e l i g i o u s A ff a i r s M u f t i A b d u l S h a k o o r w h o d i e d i n a t r a ff i c m i s h a p i n t h e C a p i t a l a f e w days back

Jamaat chief emphasises political consensus as key to solving challenges

MULTAN S ta f f R e p o R t

Jamaat-i-Islami chief Siraj ul-Haq has called for a consensus among all political parties as the only solution to Pakistan s problems

In an interview with a news-TV station, Haq urged the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) to engage in dialogue before the situation becomes irreversible

Haq emphasised that political parties should allow the nation to decide who they support and to give the Islamic system a chance to run the country

8,000’er summit, all of which he climbed without oxygen

The achievements of these climbers are setting new records in mountaineering Kashif, who was born in 2002 made history in 2021 by becoming the youngest climber in the world to summit K2 on July 27

He has continued to break records in the climbing community At the young age of 17, he summited Broad Peak, earning him the nickname “The Broad Boy ” Since then, he has climbed numerous mountains including Kangchenjunga the world s third-highest peak, and Mount Lhotse, the fourth-highest peak in the world In 2022, he was recognised by Guinness World Records for being the youngest person to climb K2 and Broad Peak However he faced a close call in July of that year when he and Fazal Ali went missing after summiting

He called on all political parties to prioritise the national interest over their own political agendas and work together to ensure the welfare of the people

The Jamaat leader stressed the need for a positive and collective approach before the upcoming elections He also stated that Jamaat prefers to contest elections independently with the aim of creating a favourable environment for dialogue among parties

Highlighting the importance of political consensus and collaboration in addressing Pakistan’s challenges he said that as the country prepares for the next elections it is crucial for all parties to engage in constructive dialogue and prioritise the nation s interests above their own

Nanga Parbat They were found shortly after Kiani made headlines when images of her wedding shoot at K2 basecamp in 2018 went viral on social media She has since summited Gasherbrum-II and K2, the world’s second-highest mountain, in July 2022 following in the footsteps of Samina

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday terminated the notifications for de-notifying Shandana Gulzar and notifying Roheela Hamid against the special seat of the national assembly

The court also instructed PTI lawmaker Shandana Gulzar to again take oath as MNA Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb announced the verdict on the petition filed by Shandana Gulzar against her de-notifying by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)

The court had reserved the verdict previously after hearing arguments from the respondents

It may be mentioned here that the ECP had de-notified Shandana Gulzar after she tendered her resignation from the special seat of the national assembly The ECP had accepted the nomination papers of Roheela Hamid against the vacant seat However, the PTI leader had challenged the notifications of ECP before the IHC

U n c e r t a i n t y l o o m s a s A J K p a r l i a m e n t f a i l s t o e l e c t n e w P M

MUZAFFARABAD

Staff RepoRt

The parliament of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) failed to elect a new prime minister on Monday following the disqualification of Sardar Tanveer Ilyas by the regional high court in a contempt case Ilyas was removed after he indirectly accused the judiciary of hindering the functioning of his government and interfering in the executive s domain through the grant of stay orders during a function in Islamabad over the weekend He specifically mentioned a $15 million Saudi-funded education project that had been put on hold due to a court-issued stay order as well as the desealing of tobacco factories involved in tax evasion worth billions of rupees

Subsequently, on Monday, despite the session beginning at 3:30 pm, it was adjourned without a new prime minister being elected

The election was announced earlier and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) which holds a majority in the AJK Legislative Assembly, was expected to secure a candidate loyal to former prime minister Imran Khan

However AJK President Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry a PTI member has formed a forward bloc within the assembly causing complications for the party

According to reports, the bloc has the backing of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)

P M s e e k s c o m p re h e n s i ve s t r ate g y to c u r b m e n a c e o f s m u g g l i n g

WTO panel rules against India in IT tariffs dispute with EU, others