Epaper_22-07-18 ISB

Monday, 18 July, 2022 I 18 Zil Hajj, 1443 I Rs 40.00 I Vol XII No 377 I 48 Pages I Islamabad Edition

PML-N set to Lose PuNjab as PtI sweePs hIgh-stakes by-PoLLs g

g PML-N WINS ONE SEAT EAcH IN PINDI, LAHORE, FORMER RuLINg PARTy SEcuRES 15 OF TOTAL 20 SEATS BAHAWALNAgAR AND MuZAFFARgARH

laHORE

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SaleeM Jadoon

HOugH authentic and officials results of the high-stakes by-elections to 20 Punjab Assembly seats are yet to be announced, the PTI is leading the show on 15 seats and heading for a clean sweep with the ruling PML-N leading on four seat while an independent candidate is leading on one seat from Lodhran.

As per unofficial results, the Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf (PTI) PTI candidates have already won 15 constituencies, giving their party an edge in the hotly-contested by-polls.

The PTI has secured victory in PP-217, PP-288, PP-282, PP-83, PP-158, PP-202, PP-224, PP-167, and PP-170 — while it is leading in several others. On the other hand, the PML-N has just been able to secure three constituencies (PP-273 Muzaffargarh, PP-237 Bahawalnagar-I and PP168 Lahore), so far as per unofficial results. One Independent candidate Syed Muhammad Rafiuddin is leading in PP-228 Lodhran-V with 45,020 votes against PTI’s Izzat Javaid Khan who got 38,338, according to unofficial results.

According to details, the Pakistan Tehreek-iInsaf is in the clear lead in 16 constituencies. The polling continued till 5pm in most districts with Section 144 implemented to establish law and order in the province on Sunday.

Thanking its voters and supporters, the PTI on its official Twitter handle said, “Shukriya Pakistan, the fascist imported government has been defeated!”

As per media reports, PTI candidate Zain Qureshi managed to win in Multan's PP-217 constituency, according to unofficial results. Son of former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi

prevailed over PML-N's Mohammad Salman.

Zain bagged 47,252, while Salman got 40,203.

In PP-288 Dera ghazi Khan, PTI's Sardar Mohammad Saifuddin emerged victorious with 58,885 votes whereas his rival PML-N's Abdul Qadir Khan could only manage 32,907 votes.

While instructing his party representatives on duty in all polling stations, PTI chairman Imran Khan asked them “not to leave their posts till official results have been obtained from the Returning Officers”.

PTI candidate Major (retd) Mohammad ghulam Sarwar defeated his rival PML-N's Noman Langriyan from PP-202 Sahiwal. Sarwar grabbed 61,989 votes while Noman could get 59,167.

According to unofficial result, PTI’s Irfan ullah Khan Niazi won PP-90 Bhakkar II with 75,464 votes against PML-N Saeed Akbar Nowani who obtained 64,095 votes. In PP-272 Muzaffargarh V, PTI candidate Muhammad Moazzam Ali Khan defeated Syeda Zehra Basit Bukhari of PML-N with 43,536 votes.

In PP-97 Faisalabad-I, PTI candidate Ali Afzal Sahi secured 64,865 votes and defeated PML-N’s Mohammad Ajmal cheema who got 51,631.

Malik Hassan Aslam Khan of the PTI won PP 83 Khushab II with 50,749 votes against Independent Muhammad Asif Malik who secured 43587.

The PML-N won the PP-273 Muzaffargarh VI seat where its candidate Muhammad Sibtain Raza secured 52,631 against PTI’s yasir Arfat Khan who got 46903 votes.

In PP-168 Lahore XXV, PML-N Malik Asad Ali Khokhar emerged victorious with26,169 against PTI’s Muhammad Nawaz Awan who got 15,767.

Similarly in PP-127 Jhang IV, Mehar Muhammad Nawaz Jabawna of PTI emerged victorious with 67,362 vote against his rival PML-N’s Mehr

Muhammad Aslam who got 43,483.

The PTI candidate Mian Muhammad Azam won PP 125 Jhang II with 82,382 against PML-N’s Faisal Hayat who secured 52,178. In PP 228 Lodhran V, Syed Muhammad Rafi ud Din, Independent, secured vicitory with 45,020 votes against PTI’s Izzat Javaid Khan who 38,338.

In PP-7 Rawalpindi II, PML-N Raja Sageer Ahmed of the PML-N defeated his rival PTI Muhammad Shabir Awan with a little margin after a dispute as initially both parties claimed victory. However, a final decision will announced by the EcP on Monday.

In PP 167 Lahore XXIV, PTI’s Shabir Ahmad defeated his rival PML-N candidate Nazir Ahmad chohan with 40,511 votes against 26,473 votes.

In PP 158 Lahore XV, Mian Muhammad Akram usman of PTI secured 37,463 votes and defeated PML-N’s Rana Ahsan who got 31,906 votes.

Similarly, the PTI candidate Muhammad Amir Iqbal Shah won PP 224 Lodhran I seat with 69,881 votes against PML-N’s Zawar Hussain warraich who secured 56,214 votes.

In PP 282 Layyah III, Qaisar Abbas Khan of Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf secured victory with 43,922 votes against PML-N’s Muhammad Tahir Randhawa who obtained 29,726.

In PP-140 Sheikhupura VI, PTI Khurram Shehzad Virk defeated PML-N candidate Mian Khalid Mehmood with 49,734.

The EcP will announce officials results once all the legal formalities are completed POLLING CONCLUDES FOR BY-POLLS: The polling for by-elections to 20 Punjab Assembly seats concluded on Sunday evening overall in a peaceful manner, though a few incidents of violence were reported at different places.

The polling process continued from 8am till 5pm, without any break. However, after 5pm, the voters present inside the polling stations were allowed to cast their votes.

Overall polling remained peaceful except for minor incidents of clashes, reported at some places. Five complaints of clashes and 14 complaints about ‘faulty’ voter lists were received at the control room of the Provincial Election commission.

Provincial Election commissioner Saeed gul said that foolproof measures had been adopted for taking polling staff along with results to the returning officers concerned. He said that a separate vehicle had been arranged for every polling station and special attention would be paid to transportation of the polling staff, vehicles and security personnel.

Strict security arrangements were made for the by-polls and altogether 50,154 police officials performed patrolling and other duties during the polling process, whereas rangers also remained present as the quick response force (QRF).

PML-N should accept defeat with open heart: Maryam Nawaz islamabad Manal Jaffery

Following PTI’s lead in the by-election on 20 constituencies of Punjab, PML-N conceded defeat on Sunday, after the unofficial results started pouring in, showing PTI in the lead.PML-N’s Vice President Maryam Nawaz was quick to take it to her Twitter handle saying that the defeat should be accepted with an open heart. She went on to state that her party should graciously accept defeat in the Punjab by-elections and submit to the will of the people.

“Wherever there are weaknesses, efforts should be made to identify them and overcome them,” she said on her party’s performance in the by-polls.

Other PML-N leaders were also quick to acknowledge PTI’s historic win while embracing the nation’s decision with open arms.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also credited the Punjab government for carrying out “transparent elections”. Senior PML-N leader Pervaiz Rashid stated that “People always make the right decision.

Accepting public opinion is democracy,” PML-N senator Dr Afnanullah also congratulated PTI on by-polls victory. In a tweet, he also referred to his party, saying introspection was the need of the hour for the PMLN. Earlier, PML-N’s Malik Ahmed Khan, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, has “wholeheartedly” acknowledged PTI’s “historic” victory in the by-elections as early results showed by broadcasters unanimously showed the party ahead in most of the constituencies.

Malik Ahmed said the PML-N has acknowledged it has lost the Punjab by-elections. It is pertinent to note that the day-long polling on 20 seats of Punjab Assembly, pegged as a game-changer for the country’s politics, especially for PTI.

in today’s issue

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

Punjab Rout: PTI, PML-N, PPP convene separate meetings today to devise future strategies islamabad Mian abrar

Landslide victory of Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) candidates in across Punjab has sent shockwaves in across the political leadership and almost all major parties have summoned emergency meetings today to discuss and decide a future course of action.

PTI itself has summoned its core committee meeting here in the federal capital today to decide the future political strategy, the PPP has also convened its central party leadership meeting in Karachi.

The PPP has termed the party meeting as ‘hybrid meeting’ of the party as some leaders would physically attend

the meeting chaired by Asif Zardari and Bilawal, while other party leaders would join the meeting through zoom.

PML-N also held its key meeting soon after the initial results started to pour in.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired the meeting which was attended by top leadership of the ruling party.

Sources in the ruling party said that the party leadership would take decisions about the future course of action.

The sources said that former prime minister and three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif also joined the meeting.

“There is a strong opinion within the party that the PML-N should immediately dissolve the National Assembly and go for general elections. If so, there is a possibility that if the party decides so,

the prime minister would be asked to meet the coalition partners and convince other parties to agree for going for general elections,” the sources said.

The sources said that the PPP is a major hurdle in way of the decision to go for general elections while Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) may also join the PPP’s decision. Hence, this may be a major issue for the prime minister to get his coalition partners agree to his party’s proposal, if agreed.

The sources said that the PTI also wants to go for general elections but Imran Khan would also be happy if the party wins Punjab chief Minister elections and keep grilling the federal government for its failure to deal with the skyrocketing prices and inflation.

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Monday, 18 July, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

NEWS

GOvT All SeT TO inTrODuce pOlicY On SOlAr pAnelS, equipMenT MAnuFAcTurinG ISLAMABAd

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GhulAm AbbAs

HE Engineering Development Board (EDB) is all set to submit its policy document on solar panels and allied equipment manufacturing to the government by the end of this month. According to officials at the Ministry of Industries, EDB, an arm of the ministry, had initiated working on this policy formulation some time back under directions of Industries & Production and the EDB’s Board of Management.

They said that over the last few months, extensive consultations have been held with stake-holders which include local manufacturers of solar panels, provincial energy departments, research organizations, academia, users, and other relevant organizations & departments in the federal and provincial governments.

The draft policy was presented in the 51st Board of Management meeting of EDB held in June and EDB was advised to hold a consultative workshop on the matter before submission of the policy document to the government.

The policy is expected to dovetail with the national solar energy policy being prepared by the Ministry of Power and the Renewable Energy Task Force.

The industry is currently using imported raw materials, however, in the coming years, once local volumes build up, the industry is planning to use local raw materials to further bring costs down and decrease the country’s import bill.

Glass and aluminum frames for the panels in particular

can easily be manufactured in Pakistan due to the strong presence of this allied industry within the country. If the industry is able to meet local demand for solar panels in line with the government’s plans, the expected volumes can bring local manufacturing costs down to a level where exports can also be generated from the sector.

EDB has invited the panel manufacturers, provincial energy departments, local EPC contractors, solution providers, foreign consultants working in this field, research organizations, academia, users, and other relevant organizations in the federation. The highlights of the draft policy document shall be shared in the workshop to get inputs from the stakeholders for firming up the requisite recommendations.

It may be added here that in order to promote the alternative energy the government has initially decided to solarize government offices and millions of tubewells.

Pakistan is facing serious energy shortages with record

prices that had directly and indirectly affected all sectors of the economy. The country’s electricity demand has reached almost 29,000 MW total whereas generation is about 22,000 MW creating a considerable gap between generation and demand, resulting in load shedding. With the present government’s focus on setting solar set ups it becomes imperative to promote localization & indigenization of solar panels and its allied equipment in the country to save huge out flow of foreign exchange.

It may be mentioned here that Pakistan’s power sector has a structural issue as its energy generation mix is 40% based on indigenous resources while 60% comprises imported oil fuel. The government has planned to increase local share to 90% by 2030, out of which the targets set for renewable energy is 20% to 30% which is currently around only 1.4% of the total installed capacity.

Roof top solar system in particular needs to be encouraged and incentivized as it is the cheapest source of electric generation available today. In anticipation of the upcoming government policies for incentivizing renewable, especially solar energy, local industry has already made huge investment for building local manufacturing capability and capacity for solar panels and allied equipment whereas several other local as well as foreign investors are waiting for the appropriate policies to come out before they invest on the ground.

Local manufacturing of solar panels and allied equipment not only saves valuable foreign exchange through localization, but also brings in investment and provides skilled job opportunities for engineers and technicians.

Fueling Pakistan’s progression towards financial inclusion SponSored Content

Oil import bill increased by 96% in 10MFY22 ISLAMABAd APP

The government imported oil worth $17.03 billion during the first 10 months (July-April) of the last fiscal year (10MFY22) to meet the country’s energy needs, an increase of almost 96% increase from the oil import bill compared to the same period of FY21. “Latest data indicates that the import bill of oil has increased by 95.9% to $17.03 billion during July-April FY22 compared to US$8.69 billion during the same period last year,” according to an official document. The surge in oil import bill has been attributed to increased import of petroleum products that went up by 121.2% in value and 24.2% in quantity. The document said the crude oil imports rose by 75.34% in value and 1.4% in quantity.

Similarly, the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) witnessed an increase of 82.9% in value while the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) imports also jumped by 39.86% in quantity during the period under review. It may be mentioned here that around 75.64% of gas was domestically produced while 24.4% was imported during the period under review.

Q1: What was the motivation behind the establishment of VRG and the role is it playing in financial inclusion?

According to CGAP, it is estimated that around 1.2 billion adults world-wide were able to gain access to formal financial accounts for the first time between 2011 and 2017, which represents a 35% growth. This tremendous feat was achieved due to the efforts of players other than banks such as mobile money operators and fin-techs which were supported by Government initiatives to bring the “un-banked” within the financial system. Despite this achievement, 1.7 billion people remain excluded even from having basic accounts which is quite significant and highlights the potential for growth.

A major stumbling block for establishing bank accounts is the psyche of banks, as they do not entertain this customer segment of the under privileged. It is quite clear that true financial inclusion is not possible without the deployment of digital solutions and necessitates that it has cost-saving features for all stake holders. The concept of establishing VRG was initiated in 2012, when the Sehgal family realized that in order to uplift the condition of the under-privileged, the starting point is “financial inclusion”.

The foundation of this is to have a bank account/wallet which serves as an identity and then can be engaged for financial support from the formal banking sector for credit (nano-loans, housing, buy now pay later), savings and insurance products. Without having access to finance, the poor are stuck in the vicious circle of poverty wherein the poor run short of money and have to borrow at exorbitant rates from informal channels which in turn leaves no space for paying for essentials such as grocery, education, medical; and never allowing them to rise above the poverty line. Thus, the Virtual Remittance Gateway (VRG) was established in 2013 and since then has maintained a clear focus of providing financial services as an enabler and a disruptor through a secure/regulated platform for a number of industries.

The company has developed cost effective products with advanced technologies under a B2B model that provides convenience in payments to the un-banked / low end customers for their banking, financial needs. VRG has a proprietary system that has been designed and created by its in-house technology team for the sole purpose of digital financial inclusion under a unified payment platform that enables information exchange for creating a knowledge based economy.

In a recent WEF meeting it was stated that there are quite a few challenges in Pakistan for formalization of the economy, resolution of which will in turn lead to easy access to affordable credit, savings, insurance products and far-reaching effect on the economic growth, stability and prosperity. Also the lack of financial knowledge limits the usefulness of the accounts, resulting in low usage and impact. From a financial institution’s perspective, the critical barriers to serve low or even middle income customers tend to be high operational cost which include distribution costs, IT systems and product development practices. As the FIs have limited physical distribution/outreach, outdated IT systems which are expensive to upgrade, and as product practices are slow to adopt more agile approaches, they are less responsive to customer needs. This niche was picked-up by mobile money operators and FinTechs in many markets to serve large number of low-income customers by taking over the payments arena with wallets / accounts. However, their eco-system and focus remains on the payment functions and low emphasis on credit, savings, insurance, and investment products.

Q2: What is the Asaan Mobile Account (AMA) scheme and what synergies does it have with the VRG platform?

VRG’s digital payment platform comprises of all branchless banking institutions and four telecom operators, making it a many-to-many interoperable platform that can enable the entire 196.8 million telecom subscribers in Pakistan to perform digital payments with end-to-end transparency and authenticity at an affordable cost.

Have the Wellington boots been lost?

City Notes m A NiAzi Let’s get the important stuff out of the way first. Has the monsoon broken or not? Oh, I know we’ve had the requisite torrential downpours, but is it official without Shehbaz Sharif inspecting streets wearing his Wellington boots. Or maybe he’s given them to son Hamza.

I hope his wife hasn’t thrown them away, because that’s the usual wifely reaction to anything that tracks monsoon water into the house. In fact, that was the difference between Shehbaz and the PTI: neither his predecessor as |PM (Imran Khan) and his successor as CM (Usman Buzdar) possessed a pair of Welllington boots, and spent the monsoons in their

offices, tucking into hot pakoras and equally hot milky tea. Shehbaz’s can-do reputation was primarily based on those Wellingtons, which showed that he waited before going for those pakoras.

But maybe neither father and son are thinking about pakoras, or even where he blessed Wellington boots have gone to (probably in the store), what with their attention being on the by-elections to the seats vacated by the Election Commission of Pakistan which threw out the dastards who voted for Hamza in the CM’s election.

Hamza is particularly watchful, because the results will determine whether he will remain in office.

Perhaps more important, even ther PTI manages to win any seats, he will be honour-bound to fall on his sword. In fact, it was the failure of his predecessor, Usman Buzdar, to do the honourable thing, as the

PTI suffered by-election defeat after byelection defeat in Punjab, that caused not only the fall of his government, but the loss of government by his party in the Centre.

The Chief Minister of a province is supposed to ensure, through the good offices of the local administration, the police and the revenue staff, that his party wins the by-election. The ECP has unaccountably stopped him from spreading official largesse in the constituency, and has even stopped the provision of free electricity to lifeline consumers. In fact, he was probably lucky that the petrol price cut was not reversed by the ECP. And just as the hikes had come on Friday, may there be a further cut next Thursday.

I wonder if Shehbaz or Hamza saw any lesson in how Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapakse was first chase out of the Presidency, and thew forced to send his

FTO for evolving mechanism to issue exemption certificate to taxpayers ISLAMABAd APP

Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) Dr Asif Mahmood Jah has directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to evolve a transparent and hassle free mechanism for timely issuance of exemption certificates after the expiry of prescribed period to bonafide tax payers.

Speaking to industrialists and traders at the meeting of an awareness campaign here on Sunday, honorary coordinator to FTO Meher Kashif Younis said that he had apprised the FTO about delays in the issuance of exemption certificates who took immediate notice of the issue. Members executive committee Lahore Chambers Shahid Nazir and Mufti Yousaf Shah were also present on the occasion. Younis further informed the members of the delegation that appeals of taxpayers were stuck at appellate tribunals for years therefore the FTO has also directed the FBR to devise a monitoring mechanism for quick disposal of cases and tailor an effective policy and guidelines for all field formations. In another important decision, he said, the FTO has stopped excessive tax deductions from low paid employees across the country which provided relief to millions of beneficiaries.

“Low paid regular, adhoc, temporary and daily wagers do not fall under the category of tax deductions,” he added. Younis said as a result of the series of awareness seminars, workshops and visits to all leading chambers and trade bodies, the FTO secretariat received a record number, 116.4% more complaints in the first half of the current calendar year (CY22) than the last year which reflected the trust and confidence of taxpayers for immediate redressal of their genuine and lawful grievances. However, he said, 654 complaints were not maintainable and were turned down while 654 were withdrawn. He reiterated that the FTO secretariat was open to all taxpayers and they ought to avail the facility without hiring any counsel. He said complaints can be filed in person, through emails, fax, WhatsApp or via telephone to any of the nearest FTO regional offices.

Sindh allows police to recover Dua Zehra, arrest Zaheer Ahmed newS deSk Sindh Home Department has allowed the police to recover Dua Zehra and arrest her ‘husband’ Zaheer Ahmed in the alleged kidnapping case. Teenage girl Dua Zehra went missing from her house in Karachi on April 16 and later surfaced and announced to marry Zaheer in Lahore. The home department in its letter, has issued orders to the anti-violent crime cell (AVCC) for recovery of Dua and arrest of Zaheer Ahmed in the abduction case.

“The in-charge police party should get transit remand from court after arrests,” according to the government order. “Be careful of human rights while shifting the accused and the abductee to Karachi,” the letter read. “The officer in-charge should also take care that no person from the opposite party travel with the accused,” according to the letter. Dua Zehra will be shifted to Karachi after her recovery with the permission of the Punjab home department.

resignation from Singapore, where he had gone via Male, where the Sri Lankans there had hooted him out. I know that Sri Lanka is going through a severe economic crisis, and has defaulted, but that’s no way to treat a retired lieutenant-colonel of the Sri Lankan Army.

Rajapakse was not the only world leader to fall, for Boris Johnson has had to resign as British PM. Meanwhile, former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe was shot dead, thereby achieving the fate that Imran has been warning that he faces.

In the midst of all this, we had the strange episode at Bhera, of Ch Ahsan Iqbal being hooted at by a family, being called a thief. The family later supposedly realized it had gone too far, and went to see Ahsan Iqbal at Eid. Look at the things people have to do to get to see a minister.

Surely just asking his office for an appointment would be a less certain, though less troublesome, method of getting to meet him.

The whole episode provided some net

practice to the PTI, which will need it for the cacophony of rigging charges they will raise after the by-elections. The PTI clamoured about the family’s meeting with Ahsan Iqbal that it was the result of pressure from the Punjab government. I would tend to agree. I mean, when did the family suddenly realize that Ahsan Iqbal was not a thief? Or were they merely sorry for their way of saying so, even though they still felt their opinion was justified?

Well, the Supreme Court has come out with its detailed judgement on National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri’s ruling dismissing the no-confidence motion.

It didn’t say that Article 6 proceedings lay, though a concurring note did say so, and the main judgement hinted as much.

But, I’m not sure anyone should opt for a trial. Look, Musharraf got bail in that case, but he was a retired COAS. Mere civilians can’t expect any such indulgence. In fact, conviction will merely show that politicians are dastards and scoundrels, not worthy of being trusted with the nation’s security.

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Monday, 18 July, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

NEWS

pMl-n nOn-exiSTenT: pTi ‘FiGhTinG’ AGAinST FOreiGn cOnSpirAcY, ecp: pTi STAlwArTS LAHore

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stAff RePoRt

akistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Hammad Azhar on Sunday completely excluded PMLN from the equation, explaining that PTI is competing against foreign conspiracy and ECP, while PML-N has no existence.

Talking to the media in Lahore, former Federal Minister Hammad Azhar showcased much confidence in PTI’s victory. He said members of the provincial assembly are leaving the government and coming to the opposition.

Meanwhile, PTI leader Usman Dar visited constituency PP 168 of Lahore. He hoped that the polling process would continue peacefully. “The wickets of PML-N have started falling, four to five more resignations are coming,” said Usman Dar. Furthermore, PTI leader Shahbaz Gul accused the opponents of casting fake votes in Muzaffargarh. He said that fake votes are being cast in two constituencies of Muzaffargarh and PTI’s polling agents were removed from polling stations 44 and 46 in PP-272.

“The government should refrain from rigging. Fake rulers will be decisively defeated,” he added.

Meanwhile, former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan said that he was pleased to see voters coming out to cast their votes in large numbers during by-polls in 20 constituencies of the Punjab province.

Taking to Twitter, Imran Khan lauded the voters for resisting all pressures and harassment and asked all those especially women who have not yet cast their votes to come out and vote.

Govt allocates rs2.3b for repair to 100 diesel-electric locomotives ISLAMABAd

“This is an election for Pakistan’s sovereignty & Haqeeqi Azadi,” he said.

GILL ARRESTED TO ‘RIG ELECTIONS’: PTI chairman Imran Khan said that Shahbaz Gill’s alleged arrest was an attempt to “rig elections” and “spread fear in people”. “These fascist tactics will not work and our people will not be deterred from exercising their right to vote,” he tweeted, adding that the “handlers of imported government” should realise the damage that they were doing to the nation.

‘RIGGING HAS BEGUN’: Earlier, PTI leader Shehbaz Gill claimed that the rigging begun in the bypolls on 20 constituencies of the Punjab Assembly and shared that their polling agents in Muzaffargarh were not allowed to check the empty ballot boxes.

Taking to Twitter, Shehbaz Gill said the two polling agents of their candidates in PP-272 (Muzaffargarh) were expelled from polling stations, 44 and 46, and now they were not allowed to check empty ballot boxes and the number of ballot papers available with the presiding officer.

GILL ARRESTED FOR ‘EXHIBITING WEAPONS PUBLICLY’: PTI leader and former federal minister Shahbaz Gill was arrested from Muzaffargarh on Monday for allegedly carrying and displaying weapons on his visit to polling stations PP272 and PP-73 during the Punjab by-elections.

The ECP, in its election code of conduct for political parties and candidates, says: “Carriage and display of all kinds of lethal weapons and fire arms shall not be allowed in public meetings and processions and official regulations in respect thereof shall be strictly observed. Aerial firing, use of crackers and other explosives at public meetings shall not be

‘Fabricated’ audio about Sharaqpuri released by Rana Sana, claims Rashid

News Desk

The federal government has allocated Rs2,300 million in the current Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for repair to 100 diesel-electric locomotives. The government has allocated funds amounting to Rs32, 648.036 million for the execution of 36 ongoing and new projects of the Railways Division, said an official of the ministry. About Rs26,648.036 million have been earmarked for 32 ongoing projects, out of which Rs15974.500 million has been reserved for procurement and manufacturing of 820 High Capacity Bogie Freight Wagons and 230 passenger coaches.

Similarly, an amount of Rs1,000 million was earmarked for the replacement of old and obsolete Signal Gear from the Lodhran-MultanKhanewal-Shahdara Bagh Mainline section of Pakistan Railways. He said, an amount of Rs6 billion has been kept for four new schemes, out of which Rs. 5000 million would be utilized for up-gradation of Pakistan Railways existing Main Line-I and establishment of Dry Port near Havelian (2018-22) Phase-1, China-Pak Economic Corridor (CPEC). An amount of Rs600 million would be utilized for the replacement of track machines. Rs200 million allocated for conversion of the braking system of 328 MBFRS from vacuum brake to air brake.

allowed.”

The Muzaffargarh DPO told the media that Gill was taken into custody from a factory owned by PTI candidate Muazzam Ali along with his guards. They have been taken to an undisclosed location, he said. So far, a first information report (FIR) has not been registered.

Earlier, visuals circulating on television showed Gill with guards clad in Frontier Corps uniform. Prior to his arrest, the PTI leader had tweeted that he was ready to get arrested but refused to let the police take his guards or other party workers into custody.

“Before you reach anyone else, I am presenting myself for arrest,” he tweeted, claiming he was “trapped in a factory”. “Imran Khan’s soldier is not afraid of such tactics. We did not come to do terrorism.” “So, I will do you a favour and present myself for arrest,” the PTI leader said. “As long as I am standing here, I won’t let you arrest anyone.”

Later, a tweet surfaced on the politician’s Twitter account revealing that he had been taken to the Saddar Ali Pur police station. Before Fawad Chaudhry condemned Shahbaz Gill’s alleged arrest, Gill tweeted that he was ready to get arrested but would not let the police take his guards or other PTI leaders in Muzaffargarh’s PP-272 into custody.

“Before you reach anyone else, I am presenting myself for arrest,” he tweeted, claiming he was “trapped in a factory”. “Imran Khan’s soldier is not afraid of such tactics. We did not come to do terrorism.”

Earlier, visuals were circulating on television where Gill could be seen with guards clad in uniforms of Frontier Corps raising a number of questions.

newS deSk In leaked audio that has gone viral on social media, former interior minister Sheikh Rasheed could be heard asking a person whether he made a “payment” to persuade PML-N leader Jalil Sharaqpuri to resign from his seat in the Punjab Assembly.

“Did you make the payment to Sharaqpuri?” the AML chief said in the audio, where he could be heard speaking to a person named Gul Zaman.

After the audio made rounds on social media and the ex-interior minister came under fire, he accepted that the audio was, indeed, original and it was his voice, but he said that he was merely “joking” and was “not serious”.

The political tensions have risen in Punjab due to the make-or-break by-elections on 20 hotly-contested

constituencies, which will decide who will take the reins of the province. Despite every seat being necessary for the PML-N to maintain its power in Punjab and Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz’s fate hanging in the balance, Sharaqpuri sent his resignation a day earlier to the Punjab Assembly speaker.

In a video message released after the audio went viral, Sharaqpuri, speaking while taking an “oath”, said that Rasheed was a “fraud”.

“Sheikh Rasheed is Imran Khan’s enemy […]

Sheikh Rasheed is spewing lies at the behest of someone,” the PML-N leader said.

In response, Zaman confirmed that he had a conversation with Rasheed but noted that he told the former interior minister not to speak about Sharqpuri.

“Neither do I know who Jalil Sharqpuri is, nor have I met him,” Zaman said in a statement, adding: “I do not know what Rasheed was thinking at that moment.”

Distancing himself from the matter, Zaman said that he has a friendship with Punjab Assembly Speaker Pervaiz Elahi, spanning over 25 years.

Rashid further reacted to alleged audio leaked by stating that the alleged audio was fabricated and released by ‘hatchet killer’ Rana Sanaullah.

“The hatchet killer and drug dealer Rana Sanaullah who hacked the phone and uttered words that defame a Jalil Sharaqpuri and me,” Rashid claimed. Rebuking the Punjab government, Rashid said that Punjab rulers are in pain due to his resignation, adding that they are making such fabricated audios to malign his character.

Afghan govt, people in win-win situation as coal trade with Pakistan picks pace newS deSk As Pakistan’s private sector imports Afghan coal to fuel their plants, the government and people of warhit Afghanistan are in a win-win situation to benefit from the economic activity generated through the bilateral trade.

Currently, three companies from Pakistan are in coal trade with Afghanistan as so far no agreement could reach between the two governments for the trade.

However, as Pakistan and its private sector strive to support their Afghan brethren through revival of the economic activity, the hostile elements are poised to undermine the efforts to serve their vested interest.

Recently, Afghan’s TOLO News reported that all of three Pakistani companies buying trade from Afghanistan were related to Pakistan Army and that they were purchasing the coal at reduced rates.

But factually, the coal imports are undertaken by private companies on both sides having nothing to do with Pakistani government or institutions.

Even, Afghan ministry of petroleum also denied existence of any official contract with Government of Pakistan or any Pakistani organization regarding the export of Afghan coal.

The Afghan media report is based on misinformation and lacks authenticity as two out of said three companies are privately owned and have no links with the armed forces, an official source said.

Currently, Afghanistan’s coal trade market is one of its biggest revenue resources, which is running an economic cycle benefitting the common Afghans from miners to transporters. As per Afghan Chambers of Commerce and Investment, the surge in exports of coal caused the rise in the country’s annual revenue.

However, any false reporting and narratives are meant only to harm the livelihood of common people.

The impression by Afghan media that Pakistan was robbing Afghanistan of its natural resources is an absolute fantasy because in this entire coal trade Afghanistan is in a win-win situation.

Under the trade, Afghan government is awarding contracts to all Afghan coal businessmen who hire all Afghan labour for coal extraction. The extracted coal is transported through trucks owned by Afghans and the coal-laden trucks pay toll tax and export duty to Afghan government to enter Pakistan.

At the end, Pakistan’s private sector also pays to Afghans to buy the coal. Pakistan’s power plant is the lone consumer of low-grade Afghan coal and in case Pakistan switch to other less expensive coal sellers; the sole losers will be Afghanistan’s common people, its mining industry and the government.

Therefore, Afghan government and people must not fall prey victim to corrupt politicians who have minted millions and fled abroad and now wants to halt the path to prosperity and development for abandoned Afghans.

Actually, the Afghan people need to understand that those running anti-Pakistan propaganda are the real culprits who had been active since August 2021. As they cannot provide sustenance to Afghan people, so they are involved in propaganda against willing supporter and long time-tested and trusted friend of Afghanistan and its people.

The coal export has helped Taliban government to generate revenue. Reportedly, as of May 27, 2022, officials had collected around 3 billion Afghanis (USD 33.80 million) in customs revenue on more than 16 billion Afghanis worth of coal exports in the last six months. This economic recovery is threatening for all those who collaborators/ allies who are united against Taliban government. Due to lack of any functioning international banking channels in Afghanistan, coal exports to Pakistan are a critical source of revenue for Afghan suppliers since they cannot effectively trade with any other country.

Evidently, mutually beneficial coal trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan undermines hostile designs of inimical forces/ elements.

An August 2021 investigation uncovered an illegal mining corruption ring in Afghanistan involving SOS international (SOSi) Virginia company with links to US military and intelligence, according to Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, a consortium of investigative centers, media and journalists operating in Eastern Europe.

03

punjab cM greets depts on fair, transparent conduct of by-polls LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz on Sunday greeted all the departments concerned on holding the by-elections to 20 Punjab Assembly seats in an impartial and transparent manner. In a statement issued here, the Punjab CM lauded the departments for working day and night so as to ensure holding of peaceful elections. The voter used right to vote in a peaceful environment, he added. Unpleasant incidents took place at a few places on which prompt action was taken, he maintained. The CM stated that law and order situation remained satisfactory overall in the 20 constituencies of Punjab as effective steps were taken to ensure the byelections held in a peaceful environment. He lauded that the security plan devised for the by-elections was fully implemented, which resulted in a peaceful environment for the voters. The CM said that it was a responsibility to hold by-elections in a peaceful environment which was fulfilled in a very nice manner. He said that all necessary resources were utilised to maintain law and order situation. The CM added that the administration and the police implemented the code of conduct laid down by the Election Commission. stAff RePoRt

indian airline’s flight makes emergency landing in Karachi A flight of India’s IndiGo airline made an emergency landing in Karachi after the pilot reported a technical defect. According to Kashmir Media Service, in a statement IndiGo said, “IndiGo flight 6E-1406, operating from Sharjah to Hyderabad was diverted to Karachi. The pilot observed a technical defect.

Necessary procedures were followed and as a precaution, the aircraft was diverted to Karachi. An additional flight is being sent to Karachi to fly the passengers to Hyderabad.” This was the second such instance in two weeks where an Indian airline was forced to make an emergency landing in Karachi. Last week, SpiceJet’s Delhi-Dubai flight had to be diverted to Karachi after the pilots noticed an unusual fuel reduction in one of the fuel tanks of the plane. It was found that an indicator light was malfunctioning. News Desk

uS delegation assures Mushaal full support to ensure safe release of Yasin A high level US delegation on Sunday called on Peace and Culture Organisation Chairperson Mushaal Hussein Mullick to express solidarity with her and 10 year old Raziyah Sultana over the unjust and illegal detention of Yasin Malik and the unabated human rights violations in the Indian Occupied valley. The interfaith harmony delegation comprising Michael Crowe, Lucas Bontrager, Dr. Joe’s Knight, Anwer Qasmi, Ilyas Masih and Daud Ilyas expressed grave concerns over the unfair and inhuman treatment meted out with Yasin Malik. During the meeting, Mushaal, who is wife of Yasin Malik, Rehana Hussein Mullick Co Chairperson , Sabien Hussein Mullick Secretary General Peace and Culture Organisation apprised the delegation that Yasin Malik was kept in death cell for his sole crime to raise voice against Indian nlawful ubjugation. They said that Yasin was the most powerful voice of Kashmir peaceful struggle to break the shackles of Indian slavery. The Hurriyat leader went on to say that the voice of Kashmir freedom struggle was implicated in false and fabricated cases just to reduce the intensity of Kashmir independent movement. The Chairperson feared that the brutal authorities could torture him to death as dozens of Hurriyat Leaders and young Kashmiris have already been killed in detention. Therefore, Mushaal requested that the delegation should not only press their own government but should raise the issue of Yasin Malik’s unlawful detention and continued human rights violations at global forums. News Desk

pakistan-iran freight train service partially restored: officials The freight train service between Pakistan and Iran, which remain suspended for the last 10 days, has been partially restored, railway officials said on Sunday. Two freight trains have been sent to Quetta, while a goods train has left for Iran, railway officials said. A goods train, destined for Iran from Quetta, was derailed near Padag resulting in suspension of the train service. Earlier a goods train coming from Zahedan was derailed in the Dalbandin area of Chagai district. According to official sources, five boogies were derailed, leaving the routine operation suspended. The derailment caused the suspension of the train services for 72 hours. The sources cited the tracks’ dilapidated condition as the cause of the accident. PakIran freight train service was restored after completion of repair and rehabilitation work of railway track damaged due to heavy flash floods near Dalbandin in Chagai district. According to official sources, the goods trains which were stopped at Dalbandin allowed to proceed towards Iranian city of Zahedan. News Desk

04 NEWS 18 JULY_Layout 1 7/18/2022 12:30 AM Page 1

Monday, 18 July, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

04 NEWS

PakistaN striviNg to iNCrease woMeN’s workforCe PartiCiPatioN for eCoNoMiC ProsPerity: PresideNt ISLAMABAD

P

MonitoRing RepoRt

RESIDENT Arif Alvi said Pakistan has been making efforts to increase the workforce participation of women for economic prosperity. “Women make up almost 50 percent of the country’s population and the provision of enabling conditions such

as ensuring their safety and security at the workplace and providing quality education and skills to women is the priority of the government and society,” the president said while interacting with a delegation of businesswomen here.

Expressing his concerns over Pakistan’s low rate of women workforce participation, Alvi said that the trend is “extremely alarming,” underlining the need to encourage women’s participation in the country.

The government has been focusing on creating an enabling environment to ensure the participation and inclusion of women in economic, business, trade, and industrial sectors on a fast-track basis, he said.

Alvi said that commercial banks in Pakistan are providing business loans to women under favourable and easy terms and conditions to help women entrepreneurs start their own businesses and improve upon the existing businesses.

PM directs for preventive measures to stop spread of dengue LAHORE Staff RepoRt

PML-N lawmaker denies rumour he’s quit party

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed for special preventive measures to stop the spread of the dengue virus in the country.

He was chairing a review meeting here on the situation regarding the disease.

The PM asked the Punjab chief secretary to form a special committee to undertake to monitor in detail the arrangements made by the administrations in all 36 districts for eradication of the virus.

He stressed the district administration had a vital role in taking steps in phases in the campaign against

dengue and the staff working under it should be trained so it could adopt modern technical ways to take effective steps against dengue on a war footing.

Sharif said in the past when the dengue epidemic started, Pakistan successfully tackled the disease and was recognised for its efforts at the international level and this performance needed to be repeated.

The prime minister ordered all possible steps to make people aware of the disease and ensure their protection in public places against the deadly virus.

The chief secretary and Board of Investment secretary, among others, attended the meeting. Rawalpindi commissioner and Islamabad deputy commissioner participated in the meeting through video link.

LAHORE Staff RepoRt

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Muhammad Ghiyas ud-Din on Sunday denied rumours of his resignation from the Parliament. The Punjab Assembly member from PP-47 (Narowal-II) told the press that Hamza Shehbaz, the chief minister and party’s vice president, was his leader and he stood firm by his party in what he said was a testing time. Ghiyas ud-Din also denied the news circulating on TV and social media about his resignation from the seat and quitting PML-N. Talking to the press from Shakargarh, he said he neither met Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi nor could utter any statement about casting his vote in the latter’s favour. Ghiyas ud-Din was among the five rebel lawmakers the party expelled in 2020 for “violating party rules” after they had met then-chief minister Usman Buzdar allegedly without the leadership’s permission.

IGP orders police to assist admin in rain-affected areas

Covid-19 daily report: 605 new cases, two deaths ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Pakistan reported 605 new Covid-19 cases and two more deaths during the last 24 hours, the ministry of health said on Sunday. The tally of infected people increased to 1,546,252 after adding the new cases, according to the data released by the ministry. According to the ministry’s statistics, a total of 30,440 people died from Covid-19 in Pakistan, with two more deaths recorded on Saturday. On Saturday 21,233 tests for Covid-19 were conducted in Pakistan while the positivity rate stood at 2.85 percent.

Currently, there are 173 active cases that are in critical condition in the South Asian country.

LAHORE Staff RepoRt

Punjab Inspector General of Police Rao Sardar Ali Khan has directed Punjab Police to extend full support to the district administration in relief activities in view

of heavy rains in different districts of the province.

The IGP directed all RPOs, DPOs that police teams as well as Traffic Wardens, Dolphin, Peru and PHP personnel to extend all possible assistance to the district administration in relief activities.

Punjab IG Police Rao Sardar Ali issued these instructions to all the supervisory officers of the province in view of the ongoing spell of monsoon rains.

He said that in areas with heavy rains, police officers should maintain close coordination with the district ad-

ministration and rescue agencies and traffic wardens, dolphin officials and Peru teams should provide all possible help and guidance to the citizens trapped in the rains.

IG Punjab said that police teams should be on high alert in all the districts of the province including Rawalpindi where there is a danger of flood in streams and rivers. He stressed upon deployment of additional teams to protect precious human lives in any emergency. IG Punjab directed that all District Traffic Officers including CTO Lahore should take special measures under personal supervision to keep the traffic flowing on the highways in the rain and instead of sitting in the offices during the rains, the traffic officers should conduct field visits for smooth flow of traffic.

Instructing the officers, IG Punjab said that police teams should play their full role in relief activities in areas where there is a danger of urban flooding and take joint steps with the administration to protect the citizens from power poles, wires and gutters in heavy rains. IG Punjab said that special teams should be formed during the monsoon season to provide timely assistance to the citizens and protect their lives and property. He said that patrolling of riverine check posts should be undertaken by motor boats and close coordination should be maintained with institutions so that there is no delay in taking timely action in case of emergency.

Nayeem Khan completes five years of his incarceration in Tihar jail NEwS DESk Senior leader All Party Hurriyat Conference and Chairman of the Jammu Kashmir National Front (JKNF) Nayeem Ahmed Khan has completed five years of his continuous incarceration in India’s notorious Tihar jail.

In a statement issued here on Sunday, the JKNF spokesman Shafiq-ur-Rehman, while voicing his serious concerns over the illegal detention of the party chairman, said, “On this day in 2017, Nayeem Ahmed Khan was arrested by the Indian authorities from his Srinagar residence and then hurriedly rushed to New Delhi’s Tihar jail where he has been languishing for the past five years.”

Terming abduction-style arrest of the APHC leader as a flagrant violation of the

basic human rights Rehman said, “Imprisonment of key Kashmiri political leaders including Nayeem Khan was part of Modi government’s massive clamp down policy to suppress dissent in the region.”

Hailing the party chairman’s commitment to Kashmir cause, the spokesman said, “Nayeem Ahmed Khan is creating a history of patience, perseverance and determination by enduring the unendurable in the notorious prison.”

“Khan has spent most of his life in different jails and all the baseless cases filed against him have not been proved in any court”, the spokesman said, adding that despite the passage of five years, the NIA and ED authorities could not produce a singleevidence against Khan in the court of law.

He said that Kashmiri leaders like Nayeem Ahmed Khan, Shabir Ahmed Shah ,

Massrat Alam Butt, Muhammad Yasin Malik , Mtr. Asiya Andrabi and others were

being punished for their indomitable role in the ongoing liberation struggle and their persistent demand for holding referendum in Kashmir so that Kashmiris could peacefully determine their political future.

Reiterating Kashmiris’ pledge to take the ongoing struggle to its logical conclusion, the JKNF leader said, “The entire Kashmiri nation stands firm on its demand for holding a referendum to allow people of the region to decide their political future.” He said that Indian government’s policy of oppression and suppression could not deter Kashmiris from pursuing their collective cause for which they had been rendering matchless services and sacrifices.

Expressing solidarity with its jailed leader and other Kashmiri prisoners, the JKNF spokesman appealed to the United

Nations and other international organizations to put pressure on New Delhi to restore the political rights of Kashmiris.

Terming continuous detention as a grave threat to life of Kashmiri leaders, he said that it was high time that the global community should take effective cognizance of the matter and play its role in the release detained Kashmiri prisoners, who were unlawfully detained by Indian occupation authorities before and after August 2019.

He said that the UNSC must take practical steps to hold a free referendum in disputed Jammu and Kashmir. Stressing the need for a peaceful resolution of Kashmir dispute, he said, “Peace and stability in south Asia was inescapably linked to an early and amicable resolution of the lingering dispute.”

Monday, 18 July, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

NEWS

05

FiRST Hajj FligHT aRRiveS wiTH 230 PilgRiMS LaHore

Tourists advised to observe traffic rules in Murree to avoid congestion raWaLpindi

T

Staff RepoRt

HE first Hajj flight PA-471, carrying 230 pilgrims from Jeddah arrived here at Allama Iqbal International Airport in wee hours of Sunday.

The Air Blue flight arrived in the city around 2:00 am wherein the pilgrims were welcomed by the Director Hajj Malik Rehan Abbas Khokhar, Deputy Director Zakaullah and Mujeeb Akbar Shah and Air Blue Station Manager Kanwar Yasar.

Talking to the media, the pilgrims lauded the arrangements made by the

Ministry of Religious Affairs in Saudi Arabia.

They stated that the arrangements for transport, residence and meals were up to the mark. They appreciated Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Mufti Abdul Shakoor and Secretary for Religious Affairs Aftab Akbar Durrani for making good arrangements.

On the occasion, special counters were set up for rapid antigen test for COVID-19. The test diagnostic facility was being provided free of cost.

Each pilgrim was given five-litre bottle of ‘Aab-e-Zam Zam’ upon arrival at the airport.

Staff RepoRt

Rawalpindi City Traffic Officer (CTO) Naveed Irshad advised the tourists travelling to Murree and adjoining hill stations to observe traffic rules to avoid traffic congestion and road mishaps.

He urged the motorists to strictly follow the traffic rules and avoid wrong and double parking on the roads of Murree to avoid traffic congestion.

The CTO said the traffic wardens have been directed to take strict action in accordance with the law against the violators. He informed that a control room had been set up at the Headquarters to monitor the situation while a helpline 1915 and 051-9269200 for Murree had also been set up.

All-out efforts were being made to control traffic in Murree, he said and informed there was a parking facility of only 3,500 vehicles in Murree while thousands of vehicles enter the hill station, particularly on weekends in the summer season.

He further informed the CTP had designated several points for car parking in Murree.

A number of main roads including Kashmir Point, Mall Road, Guldana Road and other roads had been closed for two-way traffic to ease traffic flow.

Irshad urged the tourists to cooperate with traffic police so that the traffic mess could be avoided.

“The beautiful climate of Murree during summer attracts a large number of tourists so the motorists face severe traffic congestion,” he said, adding that traffic moves even slower due to heavy traffic load.

He said the CTP had made special arrangements to facilitate the tourists, coming to Murree. A comprehensive plan had also been devised to facilitate the tourists during the summer season, he added.

He further said they had deployed senior traffic officers of the CTP to monitor traffic arrangements in the hill station to ensure smooth and safe traffic flow. A dedicated, emergency helpline 051-9269200, had also been introduced for the tourists that could be used round the clock. The CTO advised the tourists to avoid taking selfies in the middle of the roads. An enhanced number of traffic wardens under the supervision of senior traffic officers had been deployed to monitor traffic and guide the tourists, he added.

Indonesian embassy to host five-day cultural expo: Ambassador Adam Tugio

iSLamaBad Shahzad paRacha

Ambassador of Indonesia to Pakistan, Adam Mulawarman Tugio on Sunday said the Indonesian embassy is organizing a five days cultural exhibition starting from July 20th of this month to strengthen Relegio-cultural and civilizational relations between Pakistan and Indonesia.

The Ambassador of Indonesia told the media that the cultural conference will be held under the auspices of the Indonesian Embassy Islamabad and Lok Virsa on the theme of “A Confluence of Civilization Between Indonesia and Pakistan. This five-

day cultural exhibition will be held at Shakarparian,Lok Virsa Islamabad and will continue from July 20-24th.

The Ambassador of Indonesia said that the purpose of this cultural exhibition is to bring Pakistan and Indonesia closer culturally and to introduce the new generation to their heritage. Pakistan and Indonesia are connected in historical cultural, cultural and religious relations which have deep roots in history, he added.

Ambassador Adam further said that Islam came to Indonesia through the efforts of South Asian spice traders who have been coming to Indonesia for the purpose of trade for hundreds of years.

He said that Indonesia is a Muslim-majority country like Pakistan and there are wide opportunities for cultural and commercial integration in both countries. He also said that the need for interfaith diplomacy in both countries is very important through which many goals of improving mutual relations can be achieved.

The Ambassador said that Indonesia always values its relationship with Pakistan and both countries have deep economic and trade relations. He said that there is an annual trade of $4 billion between the two countries, which needs to be further increased.

Meanwhile, the Ambassador of Indonesia said that Pakistan and Indonesia have vast opportunities for the promotion of education. Indonesia gave the most scholarships to Pakistani students this year.

President rejects review representation

by FBR on Suzuki Motors refund cases iSLamaBad Staff RepoRt

President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi has rejected review representation by the Federal board of Revenue on Suzuki Motors refund cases.

As per the details, President of Pakistan rejected a review representation made to him by the FBR against a judgment of the President dated 10.03.2022, wherein the recommendations of Federal Tax Ombudsman in 24 complaints were upheld and FBR’s Representation regarding order of refund of excess amount of 4.5% of sales tax in favour of the taxpayers was made, who were charged 17% sales tax as against 12.5% on purchase of new Suzuki motor cars of upto 1000cc.

Instead of implementing the FTO’s Recommendations, upheld by the President of Pakistan for providing relief to the aggrieved taxpayers who were overcharged by illegally collecting excess sales tax, FBR without any legal authority, again filed a review representation which has been rejected by the President on the grounds that “there is no provision under the Federal Ombudsman Institutional Reforms Act, 2013, for filing a review against orders of the President of Pakistan passed on any representation.

PML-N set to lose Punjab as PTI sweeps high-stakes by-polls continued from page 01 There were 4.5 million registered voters, including 2.1 million female voters, and 2.4 million male voters, in the 20 constituencies, and a total of 3,141 polling stations had been established. About 175 candidates were in the race for the 20 seats which fell vacant after de-notification of dissident members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the provincial assembly.

PTI’s Jamshed Iqbal Cheema arrested: Lahore police have decided to arrest PTI leader Jamshed Iqbal Cheema from Lahore, blaming him for his involvement in injuring a PML-N activist at a polling station in PP158. According to sources in Lahore police, Jamshed Cheema will be arrested after a case is registered against him. “No one will be allowed to take the law into their hand,” the CCPO Lahore said.

Meanwhile, a large contingent of police surrounded the office of Jamshed Cheema who is flanked by PTI Punjab President Dr Yasmin Rashid. “There was rigging ongoing in a polling station at PP-158 when I intervened and tried to stop it,” he said, adding that the PML-N activist sustained injury when he was talking to the media.

Yasmin Rashid further added that SP of the area also accompanied Jamshed Cheema when the incident occurred. She warned Atta Tarar to refrain from arresting PTI activists saying that it would violate Supreme Court’s order regarding a level-playing field for all parties in the polls.

ECP SERVES NOTICE ON QURESHI:

The Election Commission served notice on PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi for visiting different polling stations, conducting press conferences in limits of the constituency and illegal raid along with supporters.

According to District Election Commissioner Saleem Akhtar, ” Except the voters, candidates or duly authorized election agents, no one without a valid pass from Election Commission or Provincial Election Commission, District Returning Officers, or Returning Officer concerned shall enter the polling station”. The election commissioner instructed Shah Mahmood Qureshi to refrain from visiting the polling stations. The Election Commission asked Qureshi to explain his position within 24 hours.

FIVE HELD FOR USING MOBILE PHONE, DISPLAYING WEAPON: The Multan police arrested five persons for using mobile phones as the police imposed ban on bringing mobile phones on polling station premises during the ongoing by-elections at PP-217. According to police sources, Mohsin, Imran Sheikh, Jehangir, Hamza and Amjad have been arrested from different polling stations and recovered mobile phones from their possession. The legal action under the violations of election code of conduct was being initiated against the violators, police sources added.

Meanwhile, another person was held over violations of election code of conduct.

The arrested outlaw Rashid Iqbal s/o Fayyaz Hussain was arrested for displaying weapon at Government Primary School Iqbal Nagar in constituency PP-217. Case has been regis-

tered against the violator, police sources said.

‘DEAD MAN’ TURNS UP TO VOTE: Apart from other incidents during polling, a ‘dead man’ turned up to case vote in the ongoing by-elections on 20 constituencies of the Punjab Assembly.

According to details, a man – identified as Muhammad Younus and a resident of 167 Township – turned up to cast his vote in PP-167.

However, the polling staff stopped him from casting his vote, stating that he had been declared deceased by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

The ‘deceased’ man countered the ECP officials by telling them that he was alive and well standing before them. However, the officials of the electoral watchdog turned him away.

RMS WORKING EFFICIENTLY: The Result Management System (RMS) of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is working efficiently.

The screens have been installed in the offices of all the 20 returning officers from which the results of all the polling stations are being displayed directly, said a statement issued here.

Spokesperson Election Commission said all candidates and media are being shown live in Provincial Election Commissioner Lahore.

Similarly, Election Commission Secretariat is also showing live. And so far 829 results have been received out of 3131 polling stations of Punjab.

CS, IGP DIRECTED AGAINST POLITICAL VICTIMIZATION: Earlier, Chief

Election Commissioner (CEC) CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja directed the Punjab chief secretary and Inspector General of Police (IG) against any political victimization during polling for by-elections to 20 constituencies of the provincial assembly.

A spokesperson for the ECP said that CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja had directed the CS and the IGP to avoid any action against any civilian and warned that the ECP would take strict action if the directives are violated.

“All possible measures should be taken to ensure polling in a free and fair manner,” he said.

18 COMPLAINTS RECEIVED: The central control cell established at the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Sunday received 18 complaint reports by 4:00 pm.

According to the ECP spokesperson, all complaints were addressed immediately, which mostly were related to the conflict between voters.

He said that mainly the polling process remained satisfactory and in peaceful manner in all 20 constituencies.

APO REMOVED AFTER BEING BLAMED FOR CASTING 600 FAKE VOTES: A video shared by a citizen alleged that an assistant presiding officer (APO) at a Lahore polling station has cast 600 fake votes however the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has denied the claim.

The video showed a man sitting at a chair surrounded by police and others as a man yelled at him saying that he has polled 600 fake votes. The video was recorded at a

polling station in Jhogiyan area of Lahore, falling under PP-140.

The ECP while taking notice of the video with returning officer rejecting the claim of 600 votes being polled by the assistant presiding officer. “The assistant presiding officer helped an aged man cast his vote,” the RO said adding that 600 votes have not been polled at the station so far. The RO removed the concerned APO from duty at the polling station.

13 PTI WORKERS ARRESTED: The Punjab police arrested 13 PTI workers in Lahore’s PP-167 for violating the election code of conduct by holding rallies in the constituency.

According to FIR, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, a case has been registered under Section 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

SCUFFLES BREAK OUT: During polling process, some unpleasant incidents were also reported in various polling stations. According to the commission’s spokesperson, the Election Commission Control Room received six complaints related to fights between voters and political workers, out of which three were resolved immediately. The authorities making efforts to keep the situation under control,” he added.

On the other hand, CEC Sikander Sultan Raja warned strict action will be taken against those found involved in hampering polling process. In a statement, the CEC declared that if candidates participate in such acts “they may also be disqualified.

06-07 Comments - 18th July 2022_Layout 1 7/17/2022 10:46 PM Page 1

Monday, 18 July, 2022

06 COMMENT

Global population nearing 8 billion

Calling for U-turns Imran’s statements becoming more blatant

p

Ti chief imran Khan’s latest call, as he wound up his campaigning for the punjab by-elections, let slip what kind of regime he had been heading as prime minister, and contained an almost desperate appeal for a ‘U-turn by the generals’. he meant that they should reverse their alleged support for regime change, and should provide him and his party the support necessary for a return to office.

This seems to contradict the statements by other party leaders, most notably former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry, who has been critical of alleged establishment intervention in politics. While the calls for noninterference are all very well, mr Khan has taken the anodyne concept of neutrality and converted it into a whip with which to beat the establishment. it does not bode well for the future of democracy in pakistan that the former prime minister should be so open about asking that he be brought back into power, to the extent of calling on the establishment to carry out a U-turn. This is perhaps the first time he has mentioned this as a military virtue, previously having called the ability to make U-turns the hallmark of a great political or national leader.

This raises important questions about the direction mr Khan wants to lead the nation. his track record was one of economic mismanagement, poor governance and lack of performance. There does not seem to be the realization that it was precisely this lack of performance that made the establishment stop giving the help that he wants restored. he might find that the establishment is not going to be particularly interested in helping him back to the same type of feckless governance. besides this constant pleading for establishment interference is precisely the reason why till date the country’s political progress has remained stunted. The revelations by mr Khan merit study, because they are by no means unique. previous governments too have leaned on institutions to provide support. because politicians become used to support from certain institutions should not render them liable to blame, or even surprise, just as much as politicians becoming used to such perks as free travel or expenses being paid on foreign visits. however, the aim should be to find leaders who will take mr Khan’s revelations as lessons on what to avoid, rather than as some sort of lost Eden, as mr Khan seems to be treating them.

Poor countries will be hardest hit

Dr Omer JaveD Reaching a global population of eight billion is a numerical landmark, but our focus must always be on people. in the world we strive to build, 8 billion people means 8 billion opportunities to live dignified and fulfilled lives.’ – Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of United Nations (UN)

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T is quite alarming in terms of the pace at which global population is close to adding one billion people in just over a decade, since it was in 2011 that it had reached seven billion people, and by mid-November it is expected to reach eight billion people, as pointed out in the report ‘World population prospects 2022’ by UN, which was recently released on the World population Day on July 11. The report pointed out in this regard ‘The world’s population is projected to reach 8 billion on 15 November 2022. …population growth is caused in part by declining levels of mortality, as reflected in increased levels of life expectancy at birth. Globally, life expectancy reached 72.8 years in 2019, an increase of almost 9 years since 1990. Further reductions in mortality are projected to result in an average longevity of around 77.2 years globally in 2050.’ in a related article ‘a world of 8 billion: Towards a resilient future for all - harnessing opportunities and ensuring rights and choices for all’ published by UN, the pace of growth of world population over time– with forecasts till the end of the current centur – was summarized in these words ‘it took hundreds of thousands of years for the world population to grow to 1 billion – then in just another 200 years or so, it grew sevenfold. in 2011, the global population reached the 7 billion mark, it stands at almost 7.9 billion in 2021, and it’s expected to grow to around 8.5 billion in 2030, 9.7 billion in 2050, and 10.9 billion in 2100. This dramatic growth has been driven largely

WEF gender report According to its ranking, Pakistan is world’s second worst country

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hE Word Economic Forum’s annual gender report places pakistan at 145th of 146 states, with only afghanistan being worse off. The argument might be made that the assumptions behind the index are alien to pakistan’s culture, but that should not prevent a realization that the picture presented in the report shows pakistani women as subjected to much more repression than they deserve.

That pakistan did comparatively better on political participation, may owe something to the fact that women have been reserved 20 percent of all seats in legislatures, but the ranking of 95th is nothing to write home about, and the best that can be said is that it wasn’t below 100.

That was not the case for economic participation and opportunity (145th), health and survival (143rd) and educational attainment (135th). Clearly, there is a crying need for a readjustment of priorities, not just because it is inherently unfair to deprive anyone, man or woman, of health, education of the chance to earn a livelihood, but because it is damaging to society as a whole. it should also be realized that some of the problems faced are not specific to women, but are more general. health care and education see women discriminated against, but when there is a shortage of funds, whether it is government or an individual family, women’s needs are put behind. however, the solution, more funds, would also help the sector generally, and thus benefit males too.

Working to improve women’s lot should not be seen as a blow for feminism or women’s rights, or even as an act of common justice, but as something essential for the progress of society as a whole, and thus of men also. They should be made to realize that the systemic discrimination against women, which has led to such poor index rankings, is also highly damaging for men also.

The rise in Islamophobia has coincided with that in blasphemy maha Bilal

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slamophobia is a mixture of fear, hatred and baseless prejudices against islam and its followers. hate, stigmatisation, racism, discrimination at workplaces, public places, in political spheres are some of the common things faced by muslims all around the globe. it rests in mindsets of people and is reflected through their actions and behaviour that include violence, hate speech, burning and vandalising of religious places, abusing women wearing hijab, insulting the holy Quran, holy prophets and sacred symbols of islam. it also encompasses verbal and physical threats, discrimination in education employment, housing or access to goods and services. in various parts of the world, islamophobia has been introduced as an important area of concern especially in those countries where muslims are in a minority. according to some journalists the incident that become the base of islamophobia’s birth was ayatollah Khomeini’s fatwa of 1989 inciting to murder the british indian writer salman Rushdie, the author of The Satanic Verses. ayatollah Khomeini was one of the famous islamic scholars and the leader of iran. however, islamophobia has always been present in Western countries, but from time to time it has been explicit and extreme. in 2005 an islamic scholar Ziauddin sardar wrote in The New Statesmen that islamophobia is a wide spread Europe-based phenomena, praised by antimuslim political figures in the West. most of the government policies had failed to provide equal rights to minorities especially to muslims, forcing them to face poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, limited political and civic participation in society, giving rise to religious discrimination. such anti-muslim activities as denouncing islam and the holy prophet (peace be upon him), attacks on religious places. by the efforts of Ex-prime minister imran Khan, march 15 has been officially announced as the day to combat islamophobia. several oiC conferences had

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tions are particularly at risk. …poverty and disadvantage have increased with recent warming (about 1°C) and are expected to increase for many populations as average global temperatures increase from 1°C to 1.5°C and higher. … at 1.5°C of warming, twice as many megacities (such as lagos, Nigeria and shanghai, China) could become heat stressed, exposing more than 350 million more people to deadly heat by 2050 under midrange population growth. … Karachi (pakistan) and Kolkata (india) could experience conditions equivalent to the deadly 2015 heatwaves on an annual basis under 2°C of warming (akbari et al., 2009; oleson et al., 2010; matthews et al., 2017).’ having said that, a recent Financial Times published article on the UN population report indicated that in a number of countries population growth is likely to fall, as the article pointed out ‘The populations of 61 countries are forecast to decrease by at least 1 per cent between 2022 and 2050, and the associated low fertility rates will also combine with better healthcare to accelerate the ageing of societies.’

The same article highlighted the falling population growth rate in Europe, as ‘Europe’s population shrank by 744,000 in 2020 and by 1.4mn last year — the largest fall of any continent since records began in 1950, reflecting a surge in deaths, a fall in births and lower net migration linked to the pandemic. however, the pandemic “is not the main factor”, said John Wilmoth, director of the population division of the UN’s economic and social affairs department. The fertility rate “has been quite low in almost all European countries for many decades and that means there aren’t lots of young people”, he said. Europe’s population is expected to continue to contract until 2100, with Germany and other countries joining a trend already established in eastern and southern European countries such as poland and italy.’

The UN population report also highlighted the status of migrants, as it pointed out ‘in 2020, Türkiye hosted the largest number of refugees and asylum seekers worldwide (nearly 4 million), followed by Jordan (3 million), the state of palestine (2 million) and Colombia (1.8 million). other major destination countries of refugees, asylum seekers or other persons displaced abroad were Germany, lebanon, pakistan, sudan, Uganda and the Usa.’ it, therefore, makes sense that these countries should be given some extra attention in terms of debt relief, and imF special drawing rights (sDRs) allocation, given their higher fiscal burdens.

The writer holds PhD in Economics degree from the University of Barcelona, and previously worked at International Monetary Fund.Prior to this, he did MSc. in Economics from the University of York (United Kingdom), and worked at the Ministry of Economic Affairs & Statistics (Pakistan), among other places. He is author of Springer published book (2016) ‘The economic impact of International Monetary Fund programmes: institutional quality, macroeconomic stabilization and economic growth’.He tweets @omerjaved7

Islamophobia: An anti-Muslim sentiment rising worldwide

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami

Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

by increasing numbers of people surviving to reproductive age, and has been accompanied by major changes in fertility rates, increasing urbanization and accelerating migration. These trends will have farreaching implications for generations to come.’

With regard to contributions in population growth by regions, a recently published article, highlighting on the UN population report pointed out ‘Which countries are driving the world’s population growth?’ on this report by The Economist highlighted ‘True, birth rates are falling and the population of some countries is shrinking. but the UN thinks the number of humans will reach 8bn on November 15th. … india is expected to replace China as the world’s most populous country next year. East asia, including China, will soon shrink, but south asia– india’s region– will continue growing for decades. Europe began its demographic decline last year. by the end of the century Germany’s population is expected to be less than 70m, lower than in the 1950s (in high-income countries, any population growth will come from immigration). but there will be many more africans, in part because the region’s population is still young.’ The UN population report indicated in this regard ‘in 2022, the two most populous regions were both in asia: Eastern and south-Eastern asia with 2.3 billion people (29 percent of the global population), and Central and southern asia with 2.1 billion (26 percent). China and india, with more than 1.4 billion each, accounted for most of the population in these two regions.’

The same article, highlighting the UN population report, indicated that pakistan will be among those few countries contributing significantly to population increase expected for the 2050 mark, whereby it pointed out ‘sub-saharan africa’s share of the globe’s population will rise from one-seventh today to more than one-fifth by 2050. Just eight countries will account for more than half the rise in population expected by 2050: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, india, Nigeria, pakistan, the philippines and Tanzania.’ having said that, climate change and pandemics are likely to have a strong say, if serious effort is not made globally to stop this already unfolding phenomenon, whereby the existential threat of climate change is already accentuating the severity and frequency of many climatic disasters like floods, wildfires, heatwaves, rate of ice melting at the poles and glacier melting, water stress, among others. Consequences of a warmer world, of an average global temperature 1.5 °C above the present, are likely to be of immense negative impact, for instance, on population level and growth, global economy, and food security.

The latest report of the intergovernmental panel on Climate Change (ipCC) pointed out in this regard ‘For global warming from 1.5°C to 2°C, risks across energy, food, and water sectors could overlap spatially and temporally, creating new– and exacerbating current– hazards, exposures, and vulnerabilities that could affect increasing numbers of people and regions. small island states and economically disadvantaged popula-

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been called on the issue of islamophobia but they were never fruitful The West equated muslims with terrorism after 9/11, hough the basic narrative should be understood that terrorism has nothing to do with any faith or religion. Unfortunately, the heads of muslim countries didn’t check on conveying themselves as moderates when it was the time to take a stand for their people.

Every country wants peace and prosperity but when it comes to religious dignity its a responsibility for everyone to raise their voices against the wrong.

The anti-muslim invasion of palestine, and Jammu and Kashmir, have always been neglected by the Western countries. They always talk about human rights and freedom but have been equally involved in muslim genocide that never comes to an end. The Usa facilitating israel for its military invasion in palestine. The extremists in india who demolished the babri masjid. The brutality in afghanistan, Kashmir, palestine, syria, Yemen has gone unseen many times by the world’s wide media.

Women and girls had often been found on the edge of this hatred, and are mostly targeted due to the mode of their dressing, by islamophobes saying that muslim women are oppressed by their religion and thus should be liberated. pakistan’s permanent Representative in he UN, ambassador munir akram, said that islamophobia is ‘poorly understood’ phenomena intersected with anti-immigrant and anti-refugee sentiment. he also added that “it is essential to promote right information about this disturbing global trend that could reach very top of many governments around the world. islamophobia does not affect a small group of muslims. it also affects all the muslims living around the world. Globally it is reported many times that muslims do not feel respected by the Western community.” in late 2009 the largest party of the swiss parliament put a referendum to ban the construction of minarets. The country opposed the ban for the sake of the country’s image. however, 60 percent of the voters did vote in favour of the ban on the construction of minarets (mosques). on a very public debate the non-muslim swiss society said that it is foolish

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for muslim community to feel discriminated over the ban on construction of minarets.

The term gained its prevalence due to 9/11, after which the Usa portrayed muslims as terrorists, suspecting more than 160 muslims to be involved in the incident, saying that al-Qaeda had planned all this although the true facts and story about the incident always went hidden. it was a trick in which muslims were trapped and involved so that muslims all over the world would be known as terrorists. in recent years we all have seen the rise in blasphemous remarks against the holy prophet (pbUh), the cartoons first in Jyllands Posten and then in Charlie Hebdo, the incidents of burning the holy Quran in Netherlands and Denmark, and most recently in india when the spokesperson of bJp, Nurpur sharma addressed with her hateful speech about islam and the holy prophet (pbUh). islam is a religion of hatred and full of violence are a few words from her speech whereas the whole speech has been removed from every social media platforms so there would be no evidence of what she has said. That was the speech on which the prime minister of india appreciated the spokesperson and many celebrities from india supported her blasphemous remarks.

We all have witnessed the protests that were carried out upon the murder of George Floyd and other black people who were murdered for only being black. almost all hollywood, bollywood celebrities, and political figures condemned as a violation of human rights, but when the Canadian muslim family was murdered brutally for just being muslim, no one was there to protest or support them. it’s totally not about the hate for any black, white or brown people, but the partialities muslims have faced and are facing today as well. What must be realized is that these are not isolated incidents.

They coincide with the rise of islamophobia. muslims throughout the world should raise their voices on such incidents to let the world know that the love for the holy prophet (pbUh) exists in our hearts and we can sacrifice our lives for the honour of the holy prophet (pbUh) and we would never allow anyone to insult our prophet (pbUh) or make jokes out of islam and its prospects.

The writer is a freelance columnist

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

06-07 Comments - 18th July 2022_Layout 1 7/17/2022 10:46 PM Page 2

Monday, 18 July, 2022

COMMENT 07 Editor’s mail Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan.

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Airlift: A Tale of Qcommerce Woes

Responsible Journalism versus Hybrid Journalism Fake news came with the publication of the first newspaper

a letter from Prometheus agha iqrar harOOn

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T was July 1990 when i was invited by an official in his office for gupshup (chit chat) over the political scenario of the country in the backdrop of the 2 November 1989 vote of con-confidence that the then prime minister benazir bhutto survived. after discussing “public pulse” about benazir bhutto, he offered me a tea break with baby-size samosas, and then he told me he would show me an important reel (Vhs cassette). in this video, a young man was in a shooting range and targeting clay pots with an aK-47. i was told he was the husband of the then prime minister benazir bhutto (asif ali Zardari who served the country thereafter as president) and this video was some 10 years older and asif ali Zardari was getting training from enemies of pakistan for subverting peace in the country.

When i asked my host why he was showing this 10-year-old video to me, he said that the public must know what kind of people were ruling the country. he indirectly told me that being a journalist it was my national duty to tell people about his background through my writings.

When he was talking to me i had already understood that it was a “fake video” but there was no use asking questions about the credibility of this video that could have been recorded in a desert area of sindh or on his own farmland where this young man could do his shooting practice. how could you ask a question about the credibility of a planted material from the person who is planting it on you? after a brief further gapshup i came out of his office and erased the entire conversation from my perception. Time passed away and he never asked me about any article that i ever wrote. in 1994, i was invited by a friend who was a police official in lahore while i was doing crime reporting. he told me that he wanted to arrange my meeting with a lady who had ruthlessly been gang-raped but she did not want to come out in public and media, so our meeting would be exclusive and i should raise her issue in the newspaper without naming the woman, but he told me who was alleged rapist.

he named a young gangster who had been first a police informer and then became a threat to lahore police. i knew that police were after him and that the gangster had already informed the media that he would be killed in a fake police encounter. my meeting was arranged with that lady who claimed she was ganged raped by mr Ch. i asked her some questions and could not find a sequence in her story. she covered her face in the meeting so i did not know her real name nor could recognize her face.

When i came out of the place where my meeting was arranged, i told my police officer friend that he should produce this woman with her face covered for a press conference because i did not find her story true or even having half-truth, and told him i would not do a story. i did not ask him any questions though he wanted to get questions from me and was ready to answer with ready-made answers. he told me that publishing this story would be a service to the society and nation for exposing dreadful animals. i told him it is the duty of the police to take action against such dreadful animals if police are honest to take action against them.

The time passed and i erased that meeting from my perception. planting fake documents, fabricated socalled facts, and providing bogus evidence to journalists are part of the duty of those who are trained to abuse journalists for their vested interest that they usually call “national interests”, while it is the responsibility of a journalist not to become a victim of such moves. The credibility of news cannot be one source that is already known as dubious.

When i got training in Reporting, i had gone through a process. When an excited young reporter enters a reporting room with an exciting story, it is the foremost duty of the Chief Reporter or any senior reporter to guide him/her. in our time, we had to justify every word of our story through a multisource checking process. our editors and seniors used to guide us and snub us in the process of reality-check and we were told that never ever trust anybody as a “credible source” unless his/her credibility or the credibility of the news (document/audio/video/ etc) is not confirmed from more sources.

Raising a journalist was a process that went through the Reporting Room, News Room, and of a death chamber kind in the Editor’s Room. people today are crying that democracy is threatened by Fake News, deep Fake, and Cheap Fake. i think fake news has been present from the very day the newspapers started publication in the world. The only difference is that journalists were journalists and today we mostly find “Generalists” who know everything through their “intuition”. The majority of journalists are not working through credible sources, rather their desires, dreams, intuitions and official friends are their “sources”. an artful and intelligent officer used to plant one story at a time on one journalist but today i believe that one story is planted on several socalled journalists at one time and then we see the same story is run by different television channels through their “expensive anchorpersons”. This is the reason that the officer and hybrid journalists (mostly now anchors) are ruthlessly exposed when five or ten anchors are reading line to line the same “credible information” sitting at different TV screens. There is a saying that “excess of everything is bad”. since 2008, there has been a race going on among hybrid journalists as to who gets “today’s credible information” first. Excited with a rating and visualizing their next family trip abroad, some of the hybrid anchors even do not change the order of pointers they get as “credible information”.

They are successful, powerful, rich, and resourceful and most of them are considered as “credible journalists” that everybody wishes to have contact with. sometimes i wish to throw my 35 years of experience in journalism into a gutter and start “reading questions” instead of “asking questions” but i think i would be a failure in doing so because i am an honoured student of my honest and dedicated teachers in journalism. For me and my teachers, journalism was and is a cause, a pious profession, and a hard career chosen by a brave person. let me stay brave and challenging instead of becoming second fiddle to someone’s desires.

Since 2008, there is a race going on among hybrid journalists as to who gets “today’s credible information” first. Excited with a rating and visualizing their next family trip abroad, some of the hybrid anchors even do not change the order of pointers they get as “credible information”. They are successful, powerful, rich, and resourceful and most of them are considered as “credible journalists” that everybody wishes to have contact with.

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

ThERE’s been a lot of talk about airlift Technologies shutting down, and it’s been refreshing to hear insights and feedback from those from a wide array of individuals, from those who were settled abroad and came back to make an impact in pakistan’s tech ecosystem, to iT stalwarts, to high-brass C level professionals working in mNC’s and blue chip pakistani companies, and industry stalwarts and big wigs.

There’s many parallels and striking differences one can draw from the reflections of local entrepreneurs in pakistan and others though, namely ones who have seen the startup ecosystem blossom since the 3G/4G revolution in pakistan since 2014. one could hardly imagine even then that food could be delivered to one’s house without cash being needed to be paid to the rider.

Now we have many such food delivery services being facilitated by the likes of #Foodpanda, #Cheetay, #byte, and #Careem, to name a few.

This is just one of the monumental changes brought on the system. and with plans for great change comes the imminent possibility of failure.

We belong to a society that unfortunately looks down upon such hindrance. #Eatmubarak entered the food delivery space with huge hopes and managed to market themselves well. i remember meeting Taha anis from bioCare labs to discuss a potential collaboration with sehat back in the day, and i was thoroughly impressed with his entrepreneurial vision. little did i know he would end up joining Eatmubarak as a cofounder, only to have that project scrapped a few years later. and now we come to airlift. a startup that had humble beginnings sitting in the Fatima Ventures office in Dha, lahore. a startup that was envisioned by Usman Gul and later invested in by a handful of VCs, including atif awan’s indus Valley. Their bus services was quite a lucrative model - even more impressive was the fact that the vast majority of its customer base was “digital”, as fares on the buses weren’t in cash but rather through digital payments, namely JazzCash and Easypaisa. They even offered an attractive on-bus advertising plan for other brands, which ventured on certain routes and attracted those “digital” consumers who could potentially be more receptive to using online shopping than other traditional viewers of ooh or Dooh advertising, as well those traditional viewers who would see those buses on the main traffic-congested, central areas of lahore and Karachi. i remember when abbas from airlift pitched me those solutions. i initially touched base with him from his days at Careem, when he was pitching Careem to business - i was honored to have been invited to speak on their panel for their launch in lahore in 2018 alongside omar moeen malik from Telenor and omair Zeeshan from Finja Then, Covid-19 happened. an unprecedented era where infections of a singular disease had crossed 1.5 million cases and 30,000 people lost their lives till date from the pandemic’s outbreak in Q1 of 2020.

Then, Covid-19 happened. an unprecedented era where infections of a singular disease had crossed 1.5 million cases and 30,000 people lost their lives till date from the pandemic’s outbreak in Q1 of 2020. The venture in to QCommerce sought a lot of investment, in which airlift became a househould name. however, there were many issues that ultimately led to its downfall 1. lack of QC and Qa (items not being properly tracked or barcoded through an inventory management system) 2. Too much money burned through advertisement without justification of sales 3. heavy Capex into dark stores 4. inaccurate Unit Economics similarly, such ventures in the Us like Gopuff are finding it hard to raise funds with devaluation looming large.

Usman Gul had a great vision for airlift and his days are definitely not behind him. airlift, as many have rightly said, became a posterchild for the pakistani startup ecosystem. i think it’s high time everyone got together, be it industry professionals, industrialists, techies, entrepreneurs, and wapistanis, and create solutions viable for the imminent future of pakistan. Now, that’s an ecosystem that can last.

BILAL MUMTAZ LAHORE

Effect of fuel prices on farmers i have noticed that the government raises the price of diesel routinely during the months when the farmers plough their field or are busy in harvesting. This is when a farmer buys diesel. in between, fuel prices are kept low to make it appear that the overall cost of the crop would be low. however, the fact is that the poor farmer has already been robbed when he has paid the higher price of diesel during the sowing season and that cost stands locked into the crop. so between the ploughing and the harvesting phases, the price stays low, keeping the projected sale price of the crop low. as soon as harvesting starts, the price of diesel is driven up. once again, while the farmers pay extra, the selling price of the crop stands locked at the old price. No one remembers that the poor farmer had paid a premium to plough his field and then to harvest it, and finally has to sell the produce at a price which does not account for the higher price of fuel in selective, or rather targeted phases. at first, i thought this was a coincidence, but then i saw this happening repeatedly, which forced me to change my mind.

ALI KULI AMINUDDIN LAHORE

Why sanity should prevail?

RisiNG political temperature ahead of the by-elections was often frightening. both sides will fight tooth and nail on the election day, which happens to be today. both sides will try to win come what may because both believe that it is a case of now or never. both have been blaming each other in rather strong language and it only got worse as the day came closer. by the looks of it, the trend will continue well past the day itself. one silly move, statement or intentional action by any one will be disastrous. it will be much worse than sri lanka where 95 per cent of the population is educated and people behaved even during agitation. They burned the luxury cars and palaces of the corrupt, but no killing or destruction of public property was reported. Even an international cricket match was played according to schedule at the Gale international stadium during the political upheaval. Can we expect such a ‘disciplined’ protest? We may actually see rampant looting and killings in punjab and beyond, i am afraid.

We all saw what happened in sindh after benazir bhutto’s assassination.

PROF SERAJUDDAULA SYED KARACHI

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Monday, 18 July, 2022

08 WORLD VIEW

The World can’T miss a lasT chance on The iran deal IF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION CAN BRING TO MORE FORMAL FRUITION A REGIONAL ISRAELI-ARAB AIR DEFENSE PACT AND RESURRECT THE IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL, THOSE WOULD BE MAJOR FOREIGN-POLICY ACCOMPLISHMENTS. SHOULD ALL THIS COME TOGETHER, POLITICIANS HERE AND IN ISRAEL MUST ACT IN A FURTHER-SIGHTED WAY BostoN GloBe EditoRial boaRd

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hIS is a crucial moment, perhaps even the last chance, to salvage the Iran nuclear deal and to weatherproof it against future political storms.

That’s true despite the news that Iran is planning to provide Russia drones for use against Ukraine, something the Biden administration recently revealed.

If Iran does so, that may well prove an insurmountable political obstacle to reviving the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the formal name for the nuclear pact the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, China, and Russia struck with Iran in 2015. But if, by making public that intelligence and maneuvering behind the scenes, the Biden administration manages to forestall that weapons transfer, there’s still a path forward here — and it’s still worth pursuing.

Given Iran’s conception of its regional and religious interests, it would be nigh unto impossible to strike an agreement curbing all conduct the United States or our Middle east allies find objectionable. But resurrecting the nuclear accord and then attempting to lengthen its timelines would render this rogue actor Iran less dangerous by keeping it from becoming a nuclear-armed nation.

When the nuclear agreement was in place, Iran was honoring its terms, as the International Atomic energy

Agency repeatedly certified. It was providing the agreed-upon access to the IAeA to inspect its nuclear and military facilities, restricting both the level of uranium enrichment and the stockpile of those supplies, and was granting inspection access to the entirety of the uranium mining, milling, conversion, and disposal process. That latter concession, which would endure until 2040, would in and of itself provide valuable clues to any diversion of uranium to illicit purposes.

As part of the concessions offered for sanctions relief, Iran had also altered its heavy-water reactor so it couldn’t produce plutonium, the fuel for the most powerful kind of nuclear bomb.

For months, the prognoses for a return to the deal have oscillated between hopeful and grim. We are now in a grim period, with a recent european Union-mediated negotiation session in Qatar having failed to produce the hoped-for progress. Yet we are also witnessing several diplomatic and intelligence-sharing developments that could help reduce Israel’s skepticism about the agreement and has already done so with Saudi Arabia, two former opponents of the deal.

Both have long histories as US allies in the region, despite the recent strains with Saudi Arabia. Former Israeli prime minister Benjamin netanyahu, a polarizing demagogue, was a vehement opponent of the pact. he urged Donald Trump to abandon the deal and then took credit for Trump’s 2018 action to curry favor at home.

Yet netanyahu’s opposition notwithstanding, in the last six months or so, a number of high-ranking Israeli political, military, and intelligence figures have declared that the Iran deal was an overall positive for Israel.

“Over the last few months, especially as Iran continues to achieve very significant advances in its nuclear capability, more and more of the Israeli security establishment have come to the conclusion that the situation of no JCPOA is much worse than having a JCPOA, even if that was a flawed deal,” Raz Zimmit, a fellow at the Institute for national Security Studies, think tank and a former Iran watcher for the Israeli defense establishment, said in an interview.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Benny Gantz has signaled several times that he would be open to a return to some sort of pact. That comes even as Gantz has confirmed that Israel, in concert with some Arab neighbors, is part of a nascent regional air-defense coalition focused on Iran. That usual Arab-Israeli effort has apparently been catalyzed by the US military, which recently convened talks among Israel, Saudi Arabia, egypt, the UAe, Qatar, Jordan, and Bahrain. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile has also begun Iraq-sponsored talks with Iran aimed at easing tensions between the two archrivals. Add to that a renewed Iranian nuclear deal and the result could markedly lower tensions in the region.

Although it would be in Iran’s overall interest to reenter the deal, Iran negotiators aren’t acting that way,

but instead seem to be erecting new obstacles, noted Dennis Ross, a veteran Middle east diplomat and former ambassador who has served under both Republicans and Democrats.

“They should have an interest in concluding it, but at this point they are not acting as though they do,” Ross said of Iran. “My own sense is that that’s a negotiating tactic, but the odds of it being restored look longer than they did before.”

Iran’s ambivalent posture may be partly because, though reimposed US sanctions have hurt the Iranian public, Iran’s hard-line Revolutionary Guard has seen its influence grow under the sanctions regimen. Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, looks askance at the prospect of better commercial relations with the West, believing more Western investment means more Western values. In Ross’s view, Iran’s incentives to rejoin are mainly to obtain world markets for their oil and fear of military action against their nuclear facilities. Perhaps to heighten such a fear, President Biden just declared that he would, as a last resort, use military force to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Israel, however, is pushing for a commitment to earlier action against Iran’s nuclear program.

The current difficulties underscore what a blunder it was for this country to abandon the deal. “It was a huge mistake,” said Ross. “We left with no plan and we left alone.”

It’s lamentable that a wider recognition of the JCPOA’s value couldn’t have come sooner. But better late than never. european Union envoys are doing what they can to push Iran forward on re-entering the nuclear deal.

If the Biden administration can bring to more formal fruition a regional Israeli-Arab air defense pact and resurrect the Iran nuclear deal, those would be major foreign-policy accomplishments. Should all this come together, politicians here and in Israel must act in a further-sighted way. This is too important for conservative hardliners to upend things again.

Biden draws battle lines in the middle east

New Yorker Robin WRight

W

hen Joe Biden took office, eighteen months ago, he intended to extricate the United States from two decades of messy wars, even if it meant abruptly abandoning allies and leaving thousands of Gold Star families with nothing to show for their losses. But this week, on his first Presidential trip to the Middle east, the President declared that America was willing to use its military might again—this time, against Iran. he also laid the groundwork for a coalition of long-standing rivals—including Israel and key Arab nations—to help. he drew new battle lines.

In Israel on Thursday, Biden and Prime Minister Yair Lapid signed the Jerusalem Declaration, which commits each country to “use all elements of its national power” to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.

Biden vowed to work with Israel and “other partners” to confront the Islamic republic’s aggression and counter the “destabilizing activities” of its regional network of proxies.

“I continue to believe that diplomacy is the best way,” Biden said.

Yet fifteen months of indirect talks with Iran to revive the nuclear deal that was brokered, in 2015, by the world’s six major powers have deadlocked. (President Donald Trump abandoned it, in 2018.) And new flash points have recently emerged. Before the trip, Biden’s national-security adviser, Jake Sullivan, charged that Iran was set to provide hundreds of drones to Russia—and train Russian forces to use them—for the war in Ukraine, at a time when Washington is giving Kyiv billions in arms and aid.

(Vladimir Putin is due to visit Iran on Tuesday, only his second known trip outside Russia since he invaded Ukraine, in February.)

On Friday, Tehran unveiled armed drones on its warships in the Persian Gulf, where the U.S.’s Fifth Fleet is based. Twenty per cent of the global oil supply passes through the Gulf. Iranian media reported that the drone deployment was a “welcome to Biden.”

On Israeli television, Biden rejected Tehran’s demand for the U.S. to remove the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from its list of terrorist groups, one of the main outstanding issues in the nuclear talks. Trump

BIDEN’S TRIP HAS TAKEN U.S. POLICY AND THE MIDDLE EAST IN A “MUCH MORE DANGEROUS DIRECTION,” RIEDEL TOLD ME LATER. BOTH ARE NOW ON A “SLIPPERY SLOPE.” A WAR WITH IRAN WOULD BE “THREE OR FOUR TIMES BIGGER AND MORE DEADLY THAN A WAR WITH IRAQ,” HE WARNED. “IT WILL MAKE EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE’VE DONE IN THE MIDDLE EAST LOOK LIKE A KINDERGARTEN PARTY “MEANWHILE, MANY OTHER OIL-EXPORTING COUNTRIES CANNOT EVEN RETURN TO THEIR PREVIOUS LEVELS OF PRODUCTION, OWING TO A LACK OF INVESTMENT AND MAINTENANCE SINCE THE PANDEMIC.” AMERICANS AND EUROPEANS SHOULDN’T EXPECT A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN PRICES OR SUPPLY ANY TIME SOON had put the Revolutionary Guard on the list, an act the U.S. has never taken toward another country’s armed forces. his designation was meaningless in practical terms—the Revolutionary Guard and many of its leaders were already heavily sanctioned for missile proliferation, supporting terrorism, and human-rights abuses. none of those sanctions would be lifted if the deal is revived.

But delisting the I.R.G.C. now is politically untenable in Washington. Biden was also pressed on whether he was willing to use military force against Iran. “Yes, as a last resort,” he replied. Iran is “closer to a nuclear weapon now” than ever, he noted. The United nations estimates that Iran may be just days away from enriching enough uranium to fuel a bomb, although other time-consuming steps are required to build a weapon and marry it to a delivery system. “Time has run out” for reviving the nuclear deal, a senior Israeli official said this week. At his press conference with Biden, Lapid warned, “Words will not stop them. Diplomacy will not stop them.

The only thing that will stop Iran is knowing that if they continue to develop their nuclear program that the free world will use force.”

The long-simmering confrontation between Washington and Tehran, dating back to the seizure of the U.S. embassy and dozens of American hostages, in 1979, has evolved again into a tangible crisis. Shortly after the Jerusalem Declaration was released, Bruce Riedel, a former C.I.A., Pentagon, and national Security Council staffer, e-mailed me, “We are committed to war with Iran.”

Iran lashed back quickly. “The great nation of Iran will not accept any insecurity or crisis in the region,” President ebrahim Raisi, a hard-line critic of U.S. policy, said, on Thursday. “Washington and its allies should know that any mistake will be met by a harsh and regrettable response from Iran.”

In a tweet, the Foreign Ministry warned that the Middle east would not experience “peace, stability and calm” as long as Israel remained an American President’s first stop

and its security America’s top priority.

Biden’s trip has taken U.S. policy and the Middle east in a “much more dangerous direction,” Riedel told me later. Both are now on a “slippery slope.” A war with Iran would be “three or four times bigger and more deadly than a war with Iraq,” he warned. “It will make everything else that we’ve done in the Middle east look like a kindergarten party.”

The four-day trip has highlighted Biden’s policy failures in the Middle east, especially after his triumphant european tour, last month, to expand nato and mobilize the West against Putin. The United States, long considered the most viable broker of peace in the Middle east, made little progress resetting relations with the Palestinians, which tanked under Trump. “I do believe that in this moment, when Israel is improving relations with its neighbors throughout the region, we can harness that same momentum to reinvigorate the peace process between the Palestinian people and the Israelis,” Biden said, at a meeting in Bethlehem with President Mahmoud Abbas, on Friday. There was little movement, however, on either the process or substance of peace.

Biden would not even take concrete steps to reopen the U.S. consulate for Palestinians in Jerusalem, which was closed by Trump, in 2019, or the Palestine Liberation Organization’s mission in Washington. The divide was sufficiently deep that Biden and Abbas could not issue a joint statement. The peace process is virtually dead. he did promise a hundred million dollars in aid for Palestinian hospitals in east Jerusalem, subject to congressional approval. A nurse in the pediatric intensive-care unit of one of the hospitals interrupted Biden’s aid announcement.

“Thank you for your support, but we need more justice, more dignity,” she said.

Biden’s motivation for the trip was partly to lobby oil-rich countries to alleviate the global energy crisis and bring down prices. In Jeddah, the President met with leaders of the

six Gulf sheikhdoms and Iraq, which together pump millions of barrels of oil every day, plus Jordan and egypt. In reality, even these megaproducers may not be able to do much. “no gusher is likely to follow, because there does not appear to be a large amount of extra oil in Saudi Arabia (or in the United Arab emirates) that can be produced on short notice,” Daniel Yergin, an energy specialist and author of “The new Map: energy, Climate, and the Clash of nations,” wrote this week. “Meanwhile, many other oil-exporting countries cannot even return to their previous levels of production, owing to a lack of investment and maintenance since the pandemic.” Americans and europeans shouldn’t expect a significant change in prices or supply any time soon.

Biden also sought to deepen budding ties between Israel and the Arab world, which made major headway under the Trump Administration, when the U.A.e, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan established diplomatic relations with Israel. Biden won only small concessions. The Saudis agreed to allow all international carriers flying to and from Israel to use their airspace. (Air Force One set the example, by flying directly from

Jerusalem to Jeddah, on Friday.) The gap— between a predominantly Jewish democracy and an autocratic monarchy that calls itself the guardian of two of Islam’s holiest sites— is still deep. And, to some critics, the links have few benefits. “A new alliance between a Sunni tyrant and Israel is going to increase conflict and encourage reckless behavior, while only increasing Iran’s belief that nuclear weapons are its only security against this new alliance,” Whitson told me.

Biden’s trip has solidified the shifting sands in the Middle east. For more than a half century, the region was singularly defined by the Arab-Israeli dispute. The goals, the alliances, the flash points, and the battle lines have all changed. Foreign policy inevitably evolves. Diplomacy is often overtaken by events on the ground. But Biden’s actions in the region may also have unwanted consequences.

Robin Wright, a contributing writer and columnist, has written for The New Yorker since 1988. She is the author of “Rock the Casbah: Rage and Rebellion Across the Islamic World.”

Monday, 18 July, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

NEWS

corporate corner Md PPl abroad on routine leave as per company rules Over the past few days, baseless news regarding the departure of Managing Director, Pakistan Petroleum Limited Mr. Moin Raza Khan abroad has been circulating in the media. Mr. Khan who is serving as MD since 2019, is abroad on his pre scheduled personal leave which has been obtained as per the rules and regulations of the company. Despite his personal commitments abroad, in view of extra ordinary situation in hand, Mr. Khan is in touch the management to manage it.

Besides this, a baseless position is being adopted in media, regarding the rejection of bail application of Deputy Managing Director PPL Mr. Abid Ashfaque Malick.

In fact the company is conducting legal consultation after which steps will be taken regarding the bail. pr

BOP, aPPNa explores investment opportunities in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: BOP at APPNA “Investment Opportunities in Pakistan” as part of its commitment to increase home remittance flows to Pakistan, and to increase the use of Roshan Digital Account (RDA) launched by State Bank of Pakistan, The Bank of Punjab is conducting a series of Roadshows in various cities in the United States of America.

These roadshows are being held with the cooperation of the Pakistani embassy in USA, and different consulate offices across the country, and are part of the marketing efforts under the guidance of SBP. The purpose of these Roadshows is to encourage Pakistani diaspora to increase use of formal banking channels for sending remittances to Pakistan. USA is home to a large and important Pakistani community, contributing significantly to both home remittances as well as flows under RDA, and these Roadshows shall play an important role to raise awareness regarding ease and benefits of sending remittances through formal channels, and value proposition of RDA. The first stop of the Roadshow was in Atlantic City, New Jersey, at the 45th Annual APPNA Convention (Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America), where thousands of Pakistani-origin American doctors and physicians were in attendance. The 3-day convention featured an exhibition booth by The Bank of Punjab, live registrations for RDA, interactive information sessions, and giveaways. On 16th July, The Bank of Punjab conducted an exclusive one-hour interactive session on “Investment Opportunities in Pakistan”.

The key speakers at this session included the Pakistani Ambassador to the United States, Masood Khan, Acting Governor SBP Dr. Murtaza Syed, Mr. Nofel Daud, Chief of Staff & Strategy at BOP, Mr. Jalil A. Jilani, BOP’s advisor on diaspora Pakistanis and Ambassador- At- Large on investment Mr. Zeeshan Shah. The event was concluded with a Vote of Thanks delivered by the President & CEO of The Bank of Punjab Mr. Zafar Masud, followed by an interactive Q&A session. This initiative is intended to raise awareness and bolster support for home remittances and RDA, with the additional goal of connecting willing NRP investors with the right investment avenues at the right time. pr

09

KP CM CHairs MEETiNg rEgardiNg ‘NEw PEsHawar VallEy’

a

N important meeting regarding flagship housing project of the province “New Peshawar Valley” was held here the other day with Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan in the chair.

The meeting was given a detailed briefing on the progress so far made and the proposed timelines for completing the ongoing steps under the project. The meeting was informed that intimation letters of the plots for land owners under the land sharing formula were ready. A suitable place for the site office of the project will be finalized within the next couple of days whereas the PC-1 for the construction of the site office has also been prepared. It was informed that the establishment of site office and deployment of police personnel for security will be done simultaneously.

The meeting was further informed that 13898 kanals of land had also been verified by the deputy commissioner.

Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, emphasizing the need to ensure speedy implementation of the project, directed the relevant authorities to immediately arrange a temporary site office for the project and to ensure the deployment

of police personnel for security as well.

However, he directed them to ensure construction of the permanent site office on fast track basis. The Chief Minister further directed that intimation letters should also be issued to the land owners by 25th of this month. He made it clear that the implementation of this important project was among the priorities of the provincial government for which all necessary steps and initiatives need to be completed within the

stipulated timelines.

Later on, the forum also discussed and reviewed some important matters of Peshawar Development Authority with special focus on the proposed action plan related to sanitation, plantation, security and other important issues in Hayatabad phase-5. On the occasion, PDA was directed to identify suitable places for plantation and green belt etc in Hayatabad and University Road as well. On this occasion, proposals re-

garding improving the security of Hayatabad Phase-V were also considered.

The Chief Minister said that Hayatabad Phase-V was also a part of Safe City Project adding that the implementation of the Safe City project will be started from Hayatabad as a pilot project. However, the Chief Minister said that if there was an urgent need for fencing or gates in Hayatabad, a plan should be prepared and presented in this regard.

Mahmood Khan also emphasized on the need for planting trees at empty spaces along the BRT corridor and other places available in Peshawar adding that the such sustainable plants should be selected for the purpose which can become strong trees with the passage of time. This will not only increase the beauty of the city but will also have a positive impact on the overall environment, he added.

Special Assistant to CM for Information Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, Additional Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, Special Secretary Masaud Younas, Commissioner Peshawar, CCPO Peshawa Director General PDA and other officials attended the meeting. news desk

Construction of 500 KV grid station in Chakwal begins

LAHORE pr

National Transmission and Despatch Company Limited (NTDC) has acquired 758 Kanal and 3 Marla land for the construc-

tion of 500 kV grid station Chakwal. The contractor has been mobilized for construction of boundary wall. This project remained at halt for many years due to severe land acquisition issues.

The spokesman said that es-

tablishment of 500 kV grid station in Chakwal district would help in the development of industries. Construction of Two 500 kV transmission lines from Ghazi Brotha - Gatti and Gakkar – Rawat will also be part of this project. Total estimated cost of the project is Rs 8926.39 million including 43.76 million Euro promised by KfW, German bank.

The project will improve power supply position in IESCO and FESCO regions. It will also improve voltage profile in Chakwal, Choa Saidan Shah, Gujjar Khan, Dandot, Pinanwal, Talagang, Padshahan, Chakri and the areas under the jurisdiction of FESCO. The improvement of voltage profile will be beneficial especially for the cement industries in Chakwal. Resultantly, it will help to increase employment and business opportunities in the area.

NTDC Management appreciated the efforts of NTDC engineers who remained in continuous liaison with local administration to complete the land acquisition process.

TECNO Camon 19 Neo Highly Praised by TECH Community TECNO Mobile recently launched Mobile Phone Camon 19 Neo highly praised by TECH community because of its great features and price for consumers in Pakistan. In Official Statement by TECNO Pakistan said that “TECNO with global presence is one of the responsible Mobile Brand because of its product prices, features offered. TECNO Mobile installed their state-of-the-art mobile assembly in Karachi Pakistan benefiting the country economy and livelihood of thousands by creating employments”.

The first state of the art assembly plant of mobile phones in Pakistan setup by Chinese investors and efforts are recognized by Government highly. The second mobile assembly unit installed in Lahore in collaboration with local TECH Company. pr

Revisions in power tariffs & taxes on bills by K-Electric KARACHI pr

In line with the governing laws, rules, and regulations of the Government of Pakistan and NEPRA, various changes have been made to the rates of electricity and tariff structure that will be effective from July and applicable nationwide including on consumers in KE’s service territory. The determination of costs of electricity to be recovered from consumers across Pakistan in their bills comes under jurisdiction of NEPRA and the Government of Pakistan.

These changes include the non-extension of relief for zero-rated industries as well as the relief on peak-hour electricity consumption for industrial consumers. The retailer tax with revised slabs has been introduced for commercial consumers. Non-Time of Use residential consumers will also see a revision in their applicable tariff along with a change in the methodology for their calculation.

Protected and Unprotected Consumers As per SRO 1004 dated 7th July 2022, the tariff rates and slab structure for tariff of

unprotected non-ToU residential consumers (i.e. consumers with sanctioned load below 5kW) has changed.

“Protected” consumers, as per tariff terms proposed by GoP under its Power Subsidy Rationalization Plan and by NEPRA as those non-ToU residential consumers with monthly electricity usage of 200 units or less, consistently for the past 6 months. All other non-ToU residential consumers fall in Unprotected category.

Previously, category of unprotected consumers were provided the benefit of one previous slab in their billing (i.e. their billing was done in two slabs), which has now been removed. Consumers in the unprotected category will now only be charged on one slab in which their units fall. Accordingly, tariff rates have also been adjusted downwards to minimise impact on consumers.

IndustrIal Customers BIlls: Industrial consumers were previously being provided a relaxation by Government of Pakistan, allowing them to utilize electricity during peak hours at the same rates as offpeak hours. That relief was allowed until June 2022 and accordingly with no further

extension. Peak rates would now be applicable on industrial consumers as well.

Similarly, zero-rated (or export-oriented) industries were being provided electricity at a fixed rate of USD 9 cents/unit, which was applicable till June 2022, has now been removed. Now, these industries will be charged as per applicable tariff rates to normal industrial consumers.

In addition to the above charges, it must also be noted that routine charges under FCA

will be applicable in July bills within KE’s service territory. retaIler tax for CommerCIal Consumers: Per the Government of Pakistan Finance Act 2022 applicable across the country, retailer tax on unregistered retailers have been revised and effective from 1st July 2022. For consumers on commercial tariff, a minimum fixed tax of PKR 3,000 will be charged for bills between PKR 0 and PKR 30,000. Monthly bills between PKR 30,001 and PKR 50,000 will be taxed PKR 5,000, while those with monthly bills above PKR 50,0001 will be taxed PKR 10,000.

Important to note that inactive income taxpayers will be charged twice the taxable amounts. Further, these taxes will apply even if the consumer’s premises are not in use. fuel Charges adjustments (fCa): Unprecedented hikes in the price of furnace oil and RLNG were translating into higher costs of electricity production for utilities, and higher costs of electricity for consumers as well. Under the tariff mechanism determined by NEPRA, incremental costs of fuel are recovered from consumers in their

bills via Fuel Charges Adjustments (FCA) after the regulator’s scrutiny and approval.

Within the decision for FCA, regulator also states that in which month FCA is to be charged. For example, FCA of March 2022 was charged in the month of June 2022.

Accordingly, in its determination for the month of April 2022, NEPRA has allowed KE to charge PKR 5.2718 per unit for units consumed in April ’22 to be billed in the month of July 2022. Further, NEPRA has allowed the FCA for May ’22 be recovered in two parts with PKR 2.6322 per unit charged in July and the remaining PKR 6.8860 per unit in the bills of August ’22. This means customers will see two entries for FCA in their July bills i.e., FCAs for April and May, respectively.

Speaking about the changes, Spokesperson KE stated “We understand that our consumers may have a number of questions about these revisions. To assist them during this time, we have updated our website with frequently asked questions. To reiterate, these changes are introduced under the governing laws of the Government of Pakistan and the rules of the regulatory authority NEPRA and are applicable across the country.”

Monday, 18 July, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

10 FOREIGN NEWS

Iran SancTIonS 61 more amerIcanS aS nUclear TalkS hIT ImpaSSe DUBAI

I

ReuteRs

RAN has imposed sanctions on 61 more Americans, including former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, for backing an Iranian dissident group, Tehran said as months of talks to revive a 2015 nuclear deal remained at an impasse.

Others blacklisted by Iran’s Foreign Ministry for voicing support for the exiled dissident group Mujahideene-Khalq (MEK) included Republican former President Donald Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani and former White House national security adviser John Bolton, Iranian state media reported.

The sanctions, issued against dozens of Americans in the past on various grounds, let Iranian authorities seize any assets they hold in Iran. The steps, announced as Democratic US

President Joe Biden wrapped up his trip to the Middle East, appear largely symbolic given the likely absence of such assets. Giuliani, Pompeo and Bolton, all Republicans, have been

Tehran accuses US of using ‘Iranophobia’ to create tension during Biden visit

widely reported to have taken part in MEK events and voiced support for the group. Both Pompeo and Bolton served under Trump.

Iran imposed sanctions on 51

Americans in January and another 24 in April. Iran’s indirect talks with the United States on reviving the 2015 nuclear pact began in November in Vienna and continued in Qatar in June.

But the negotiations have faced a months-long impasse. In 2018, Trump abandoned the deal, calling it too soft on Iran, and reimposed harsh US sanctions, spurring Tehran to breach nuclear limits in the pact.

Biden’s administration pledged to support all Americans despite any disagreements over politics or policy.

“The United States will protect and defend its citizens. This includes those serving the United States now and those who formerly served,” a State Department spokesperson said on Saturday. “We are united in our resolve against threats and provocations, and we will work with our allies and partners to deter and respond to any attacks carried out by Iran.”

Ukraine war shows West’s dominance ending as China rises, Blair says LOnDOn ReuteRs

TEHRAn Agencies

Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Sunday refuted a series of claims and accusations against Iran made by U.S. President Joe Biden during his visit to the Middle East. Iran accused the U.S. of using “Iranophobia” to create regional tension.

“The United States has once again sought to create tension and crisis in the region by appealing to the failed policy of Iranophobia,” Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani was quoted by state media as saying in a statement in reaction to Biden’s visit.

During the tour to the Middle East, Biden has accused Iran of destabilizing the region through its activities, and stated that the U.S. will ensure that “Tehran does not obtain a nuclear weapon.”

In the statement, Kanaani said the U.S. president’s statement was groundless and in line with its policy of keeping inciting and creating tensions in the region.

The spokesperson condemned the United States for trying to create tensions and crises in the region through its continuous interference in the internal affairs of regional countries, repeated military occupations and aggression, and massive arms sales.

In the statement, he also condemned America’s “blind and unlimited support” for Israel which has infringed upon the rights of the Palestinian people over the past decades.

When it comes to the nuclear program, Kanaani restated Iran’s strategic policy of peaceful use of nuclear technology within the international legal framework, and said Iran will continue negotiations to lift sanctions.

Iran welcomes dialogue and cooperation with regional neighbours to provide constructive efforts for security, peace, stability and development of the region, according to the statement.

The Ukraine war shows that the West’s dominance is coming to an end as China rises to superpower status in partnership with Russia at one of the most significant inflection points in centuries, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair said.

The world, Blair said, was at a turning point in history comparable with the end of World War Two or the collapse of the Soviet Union: but this time the West is clearly not in the ascendant.

“We are coming to the end of Western political and economic dominance,” Blair said in a lecture entitled “After Ukraine, What Lessons Now for Western Leadership?” according to a text of the speech to a forum supporting the alliance between the United States and Europe at Ditchley Park west of London.

“The world is going to be at least bi-polar and possibly multipolar,” Blair said. “The biggest geopolitical change of this century will come from China, not Russia.”

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has killed thousands and triggered the most serious crisis in relations between Russia and the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, when many people feared the world was on the brink of nuclear war.

President Vladimir Putin says the West has declared economic war by trying to isolate Russia’s economy with sanctions and the Kremlin says Russia will turn to powers such as China and India.

The war in Ukraine, Blair said, had clarified that the West could not rely on China “to be-

have in the way we would consider rational”.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has continued supporting Putin and criticised sanctions “abuse” by the West. Putin has forged what he calls a “strategic partnership” with China.

China in 1979 had an economy that was smaller than Italy’s, but after opening to foreign investment and introducing market reforms it has become the world’s second-largest economy.

Its economy is forecast to overtake the United States within a decade and it leads in some 21st-century technologies such as artificial intelligence, regenerative medicine and conductive polymers.

“China’s place as a superpower is natural and justified. It is not the Soviet Union,” said Blair, who was prime minister from 1997 to 2007. Its allies are likely to be Russia and Iran.

The West should not let China overtake militarily, he said.

“We should increase defence spending and maintain military superiority,” Blair said.

Father of rights activist Afreen Fatima booked under draconian NSA ALLAHABAD, InDIA Agencies

The Allahabad district administration in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh has invoked the draconian National Security Act (NSA) against Javed Mohammad, the father of prominent Muslim student activist Afreen Fatima.

Javed Mohammad, who is currently lodged at

District Jail in the Deoria, was arrested in connection with the 10 June violence that occurred during protests over derogatory remarks against Prophet Mohammed (SAW) by former BJP Spokesperson, Nupur Sharma.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Shailesh Kumar Pandey told the media that the NSA had been invoked against Javed Mohammad. After his arrest, the authorities had demolished Javed’s house.

Wang Yi says lessons should be learnt from Ukraine crisis BEIJInG Agencies

All parties should draw lessons from the Ukraine crisis, said Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday during a phone conversation with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto.

Szijjarto, who requested the call, outlined the current situation in Europe and Hungary, especially the economic and financial challenges faced by Hungary due to the spillover of the Ukraine crisis.

He said Hungary is pleased with the

achievements resulting from cooperation with China in various fields, especially the smooth progress of trade and investment cooperation.

Noting that the crisis in Ukraine has not only had a severe impact on Europe, but also had negative spillover effects around the world, Wang said that China has committed itself to promoting peace negotiations even though the country is not a party to the Ukraine crisis.

On China-Hungary relations, he said that China is ready to work with Hungary to build bilateral relations into a model of

more mature and mutual-trust state-to-state relations, adding that the country will continue to pursue a friendly policy toward Hungary and support Chinese enterprises to invest in Hungary.

He also called on Hungary to work to push the EU to adopt a positive and pragmatic policy towards China. Szijjarto said that China has never been a rival to Europe, but a partner that offers opportunities for cooperation.

Hungary will remain committed to promoting EU-China cooperation based on mutual respect, fairness and mutual benefit, he added.

France’s macron to mark 80th anniversary of WWII round-up of Jews PARIS AFP

French President Emmanuel Macron will on Sunday mark the 80th anniversary of the wartime round-up of Jews in France at a former railway station used to deport them to Auschwitz. With him at Pithiviers station, 100 kilometres (60 miles) south of Paris, will be some of the handful of the survivors of those deported on the eight convoys sent to the Nazi camp. Macron’s speech will express his concern over the enduring threat of anti-semitism, which “still lurks and sometimes in an insidious way”, said an official from his office. He will denounce “historical revisionism” — in particular over the role of France’s war-time leader Philippe Petain, who collaborated with the Nazi regime, the official added. Also at the ceremony will be historian and renowned Nazi hunter Serge Klarsfeld, as well as a survivor of the camps, Ginette Kolinka.

The head of France’s rail network, Jean-Pierre Farandou, will also attend.

Macron is expected at the former station of Pithiviers at around 3:00 pm (1300 GMT).

The building, which has not served passengers since the end of 1960, has been converted into a memorial to the Holocaust which opened earlier this month.

“This station is the place where the French event becomes European genocide,” said Jacques Fredj, the director of the Shoah Memorial, which commemorates the French deportations.

“It is a place of memory unique in France.”

The new 400 meter squared centre is mainly intended for scholars, said Fredj.

“It’s a priority, in the face of the rise in anti-semitism, racism and conspiracy theories.”

Some of the 13,000 Jews arrested in Paris and its suburbs

by French officials on the orders of the Nazi occupiers passed through the station. 4,115 were children.

The incident has become known as the Vel d’Hiv round-ups because the French police took 8,160 of the Jews, including the old and sick, to the Velodrome d’Hiver, a cycle racing track in Paris’s 15th arrondissement.

From there, they were taken to camps at Pithiviers and other locations and onto the Nazi concentration camps. Only a few dozen ever returned.

France ‘not Finished with’ antisemitism: Sunday’s speech will acknowledge that “French society is not finished with anti-semitism”, said Macron’s office.

The comments come just a few months after failed presidential candidate, the far-right journalist and polemicist Eric Zemmour, argued that Petain had in fact saved French Jews during the war years.

The claim is contested by most historians, who point to the wartime leader’s well-documented anti-Semitism.

Macron was himself criticised for saying in 2018 that Petain had been a “great soldier” during World War I, even if he had subsequently made “fatal choices”.

The French president’s speech on Sunday is expected to continue the work of his predecessor Jacques Chirac who in 1995, 50 years after the Vel d’Hiv round-ups, acknowledged France’s responsibility for what had happened.

“France, on that day, committed the irreparable,” said Chirac, in what is now considered a landmark speech.

After Chirac, Francois Hollande went further during his presidency, speaking in a 2012 speech of a crime “committed in France, by France”.

Then in 2017 Macron, newly elected as president, reaffirmed France’s responsibility for the round-up in a speech marking its 75th anniversary and in the presence of then-Israel premier Benjamin Netanyahu.

11 Sports 18 JULY_Layout 1 7/18/2022 12:32 AM Page 1

Monday, 18 July, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

SPORTS 11

StuBBoRn AzAm leAdS PAkiStAn fiGhtBACk in fiRSt SRi lAnkA teSt GALLE, SRI LANKA

S

Agencies

KIPPER Babar Azam made a defiant 119 before Pakistan were bowled out for 218 on day two of the first Test against Sri Lanka on Sunday.

Azam single-handedly took the tourists to just four runs short of Sri Lanka’s 222 as he put on a 70-run tenth-wicket stand with Naseem Shah, who made five not out from 52 balls in Galle.

Left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya claimed his third successive haul of five wickets or more to rattle

the opposition batting, which slumped to 85-7 before lunch and then 148-9 in the second session.

Azam reached his seventh Test century with a four and single off mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana, who finally got the star batsman trapped lbw to end the Pakistan innings in the final session.

Azam got help from the lowerorder batsmen including Yasir Shah (18), Hasan Ali (17) and Naseem, as Pakistan managed 133 runs for the final three wickets.

Azam shielded number 11 Naseem by facing most of the balls in a defiant show of batting.

He hit fast bowler Kasun Rajitha for three straight boundaries and later a six and four off Theekshana and Jayasuriya.

For Sri Lanka, it was a taste of their own medicine after they had fought back from 133-8 on Saturday, when Pakistan left-arm quick Shaheen Shah Afridi took four wickets.

Pakistan resumed the day on 24 for two when play started 30 minutes late because of rain and Azhar Ali could only survive three balls before he was trapped lbw by Jayasuriya.

Debutant Salman Ali Agha’s stay lasted just 15 balls before he was out leg before to another sliding

delivery from Jayasuriya having scored five. Jayasuriya, 30, then struck on successive deliveries to remove Mohammad Nawaz and Shaheen Shah Afridi before Yasir survived the hat-trick ball. s i n G l e - h a n D e D lY steereD his teaM: Pakistan skipper remained unbeaten on 95 to thwart the Sri Lankan spin attack led by Prabath Jayasuriya at tea on day two of the opening Test on Sunday. Azam single-handedly steered the tourists to 194 for nine at tea in an unbeaten tenth-wicket stand of 46 with Naseem Shah, five not out from 42 balls, in Galle. They still

Lewandowski exit leaves Bayern seeking new striker Babar becomes fastest Asian batter to reach 10,000 runs ISLAMABAD news Desk

Pakistani Skipper Babar Azam, has become the fastest Asian batter to score 10,000 runs in international cricket. The 27-year-old reached the landmark during his knock in the first innings of the ongoing first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. The righthanded batter took 228 innings to achieve the feat.

He has now the eleventh batter overall from Pakistan who has crossed 10,000 runs in international cricket. Babar achieved the landmark during his unbeaten knock of 34 off 72 balls in Pakistan’s first innings against Sri Lanka during the first Test at Galle International Stadium. He was now the fastest batter from Asia to get 10,000 runs in international cricket, going past the previous record set by talismanic India batter Virat Kohli in 232 innings. Amongst all Pakistan batters to reach the 10,000 runs mark in international cricket, Babar is the fastest to reach the landmark in 228 innings, surpassing the previous record of 248 innings held by legendary batter Javed Miandad. As per innings taken to reach 10,000 runs in international cricket, Babar is fifth fastest batter to reach the mark in 228 innings after Viv Richards (206 innings), Hashim Amla (217 innings), Brian Lara (220 innings) and Joe Root (222 innings).

“10,000 international runs. Congratulations skipper @babarazam258 on becoming the 11th Pakistan batter to accomplish this major milestone,” tweeted the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). At lunch on day two, Babar now has 10013 runs in 228 innings at 51.08, including 24 centuries and 66 half-centuries.

AFP

A defeat in Spain and draw at home showed how far Bayern currently are from the summit of European football, fuelling Lewandowski’s desire to leave.

As tensions simmered between the player and club, head coach Julian Nagelsmann admitted he wanted the matter resolved to plan for next season.

Lewandowski’s team-mate Leon Goretzka said it was important to “find a good solution for everyone involved”. Yet the prolific poacher will not be easy to replace. His 55 goals in all competitions in 2019/20 were key to Bayern winning the treble, as Lewandowski became the first player to be top-scorer in the Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup competitions in a single season. He has made a career out of stunning goal-scoring feats.

In 2015, he needed just under nine electrifying minutes off the bench to score five goals, leading the charge as Bayern roared back from a goal down against Wolfsburg to dish out a 5-1 thrashing.

Two years earlier, Lewandowski scored four goals for Borussia Dortmund in the 2013 semi-final first leg against Real Madrid, helping his former club into the final, where they were beaten by Bayern at Wembley.

Lewandowski was spotted as a raw 21-year-old playing for Polish club Lech Poznan, where he scored 41 goals in 82 games, and joined Dortmund in 2010.

He made his breakthrough under Juergen Klopp, helping Dortmund win back-to-back Bundesliga titles in 2010/11 and 2011/12.

Lewandowski put himself firmly on Bayern’s radar with a hat-trick against them in the prestigious surroundings of Berlin’s Olympic Stadium as Dortmund romped to a 5-2 win in the 2012 German Cup final.

Two years later, Bayern signed him on a free transfer and, thanks largely to Lewandowski’s ruthlessness in front of goal, the Bavarian giants have since dominated the Bundesliga.

Jesus creates ‘chaos’, says Arteta WASHINGTON Agencies

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said Gabriel Jesus’s ability to create “chaos” is exactly what they need after the Brazilian continued his impressive preseason form in a 2-0 win over Everton in Baltimore on Saturday.

Jesus opened the scoring in the 33rd minute after a corner found him unmarked at the far post, lashing his effort past Jordan Pickford and into the roof of the net, before playing a role in setting up Bukayo Saka for the second minutes later.

The 25-year-old striker, who scored twice in a pre-season friendly against Nuremberg earlier this month, was signed for 45 million pounds ($53.33 million) from Manchester City in the close season.

“He creates chaos, he creates uncertainty and he’s always on your shoulder,” Arteta told reporters after the win.

“He’s a real threat and this is what we need. He’s very versatile, but obviously, the way we would like to develop him, is in that (number nine) position.”

Arsenal will also take on Chelsea and Major League Soccer side Orlando

Jayasuriya puts Pakistan in trouble with latest five-wicket haul GALLE

BERLIN Agencies

The departure of Robert Lewandowski leaves Bayern Munich with the unenviable task of finding a replacement for the Bundesliga’s most prolific contemporary striker after his relationship with the club turned sour.

Following eight glorious years in Munich, winning the Bundesliga each season and lifting the Champions League trophy in 2020, Lewandowski announced in late May that “my story with Bayern comes to an end”.

The forward turns 34 in August, yet Lewandowski is showing no signs of slowing down and now embarks on a fresh challenge to make as much impact on Spain’s La Liga as he did in the Bundesliga. He scored 35 times last season in Germany’s top flight, after breaking the single-season scoring record in the previous campaign with 41 Bundesliga goals, snatching the record from Gerd Mueller who held it for 49 years.

The Polish striker quits Germany’s top flight having scored 312 goals in 383 Bundesliga games for Bayern and former club Dortmund.

Only German legend Mueller, who scored 365 goals for Bayern in 427 Bundesliga games during the 1960s and 1970s, netted more.

But since Lewandowski won FIFA’s best male player award for the second year running in January, his relationship with Bayern has progressively unravelled. With Lewandowski’s contract expiring in 2023, Bayern sports director Hasan Salihamidzic insisted at the start of the year that the star striker was central to their plans.

Yet when a Sky reporter relayed the message in a post-match interview in February, Lewandowski dropped the first hint that communications had broken down. “I’m hearing that for the first time,” he said.

As reports emerged that Barcelona were eager to fulfil the striker’s wish of playing at the Camp Nou, Salihamidzic and Bayern CEO Oliver Kahn could only insist Lewandowski would be held to his contract.

He finished last season banging in goals for Bayern, earning the trophy as the Bundesliga’s top-scorer for the fifth straight year.

Despite winning a 10th straight Bundesliga title last season, there was a lingering air of disappointment after Bayern’s shock Champions League exit to Villarreal in the quarter-finals.

trailed Sri Lanka by 28 runs in their first innings.

Azam reached his 22nd Test fifty before Hasan departed and he then shielded number 11 Naseem by facing most of the balls in a defiant show of batting. He hit fast bowler Kasun Rajitha for three straight boundaries and later a six and four off mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana and Jayasuriya to close in on Sri Lanka’s 222.

Pakistan resumed the day on 24 for two when play started 30 minutes late because of rain and Azhar Ali could only survive three balls before he was trapped lbw by Jayasuriya.

City in the United States before rounding off their pre-season preparations against Sevilla in London on July 30.

GallaGher can be a ‘biG asset’ for chelsea: Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel said Conor

Gallagher could prove to be a “big asset” for the club after the midfielder made his case for a spot in their first-team with a solid performance in a 2-1 pre-season win over Club America in Las Vegas.

Gallagher, who impressed in a loan spell at Crystal Palace last season, played 45 minutes on Saturday as Mason Mount sealed victory for Chelsea in the 83rd minute, after Timo Werner’s opener was cancelled out by a Reece James own goal.

“Conor trains at a really high level, and you can clearly see it was the right decision to let him go on loan,” Tuchel told reporters after the win.

“He made a huge step in his development at Palace and became an England player. It was a very good start and a good match for him. Now it’s important he gets used to our principles of the game, to understand when to move and when not to move, and his work rate is outstanding… He can be a big asset for us.”

Sri Lanka spinner Prabath Jayasuriya claimed his third successive haul of five or more wickets to put Pakistan in deep trouble on the second day of the opening Test on Sunday. The tourists were reeling at 104 for seven at lunch in response to Sri Lanka’s 222, still trailing by 118 runs in Galle. Skipper Babar Azam, who moved from his overnight one to 34 after a few close calls, and Yasir Shah, on 12, were batting at the break on a pitch helping the spinners. Jayasuriya, who took 12 wickets on debut in a series-levelling Test win over Australia last week at the same venue, six in each innings, bamboozled batsmen again with his left-arm spin. Resuming on 24 for two when play started 30 minutes late because of rain, Azhar Ali could only survive three balls before he was trapped lbw by Jayasuriya. Azam and wicketkeeperbatsman Mohammad Rizwan put on 40 runs for the fourth wicket before off-spinner Ramesh Mendis struck with the score on 64. Rizwan attempted to flick Mendis away down the leg side but an edge found the wicketkeeper’s gloves and he was caught behind for 19. Debutant Salman Ali Agha’s stay lasted just 15 balls before he was trapped lbw by another sliding delivery from Jayasuriya having scored five.

Reavie pushes lead to 6 points in PGA Barracuda Championship

LOS ANGELES AFP

Chez Reavie grabbed five birdies with just one bogey to push his lead in the US PGA Tour’s Barracuda Championship to six points over Scotland’s Martin Laird on Saturday. Reavie, chasing a third US PGA Tour title and his first since 2019, put up a relatively modest total after scoring 19 points on Friday under the Modified Stableford scoring system that awards points for birdies and eagles and subtracts them for bogeys and worse. “I hit the ball really well today for most of the day,” Reavie said. “Didn’t really make many putts, had a lot of good looks and fortunately made a few in the middle. Hit some bad shots coming in and was able to save some pars. “Wasn’t quite all together today, but did everything well at different times.” Laird finished strong on the Old Greenwood course at Tahoe Mountain Club, closing with three straight birdies in a 13-point round. “Love this tournament,” Laird said. “Always like playing at altitude, love being in the mountains. I live in Denver, so it’s not strange for me with how far the ball goes. I kind of know my numbers at this altitude, which is nice.”

Sweden’s Alex Noren and Australian Cam Davis were tied for third on 28, both piling up 12 points. American Brice Garnett and Sweden’s Henrik Norlander were tied on 27 points. Reavie, 40, acknowledged that he would be feeling the tension as he sought to add to his tally of US tour titles. “Definitely going to be some nerves in the morning, but (I’m) just going out and trying to hit good solid shots and give myself good looks, and if I make some putts, I’ll be in a good spot,” he said. “Just looking to hit it in the fairways, knock it on the greens and give myself some looks.”

Monday, 18 July, 2022

prayer timiNgs

NEWS

PM urges PeoPle to reject Politics of divide, hatred with Power of votes ISLAMABAD

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staff report

RIME Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday urged the people to reject the politics of divide, discord and hatred with the power of their votes.

In a series of tweets on his twitter handle on Sunday, the prime minister in veiled reference to Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf chairman Imran Khan said that his ego, way of politics and inability had played havoc with the beautiful fabric of the society.

“Your vote is power. Use this power to reject the politics of anarchy, division & hate. Our beautiful country is much more than what this man has reduced it to. Cast your vote for national development & bright future of your children. I have my faith in your power to choose,” he posted a tweet.

The prime minister took to popular social media platform as the residents of Punjab province were set to vote in the by-election on twenty different constituencies of the province on Sunday.

In another tweet, he said every

speech Imran Niazi delivered showed how unfit he was to hold public office.

Under his direct supervision, the PTI had run a sordid campaign to defame national institutions and thus undermined Pakistan. “He is rewriting Machiavellian principles of politics in his lust for power,” he opined.

In a related tweet, the prime minister asked the voters to think about the corruption of Imran Khan Niazi govern-

rangers, Police remain alert to counter any eventuality LAHORE

ment’s black tenure, economic upheaval, patronage and facilitation of mafias, and the destruction in the name of change while casting their votes.

“As people go to polls in Punjab today, remember what you have been put through in the nearly four years of PTI’s (mis)rule. Imran Khan’s legacy has been one of corruption, incompetence, destruction of the economy & protection of mafias & interest groups,” he posted in

Imran urges courts to ‘act now’ against violation of SC’s orders ISLAMABAD

staff report

staff report

Punjab Rangers personnel assisted the Punjab Police to provide foolproof security during polling for byelections to 20 constituencies in 14 districts of Punjab on Sunday/ Overall the polling held in a peaceful environment except some incidents of violence in different areas, Deputy Director-General Rangers who visited all Lahore constituencies following orders of Rangers DG Maj-Gen Asif Hussain. Deputy DG Shehzad Muneer inspected the security readiness.

According to the spokesperson for Punjab Rangers, the Deputy DG was satisfied with the security situation and said that the overall situation is under control.

He added that Pakistan rangers prepared to counter any law and order situation amid the by-polls. “No one would be allowed to break the law,” the Deputy DG declared. On the other hand, the Punjab Police expressed satisfaction over the conduct of the polling for the by-elections to the 20 Punjab Assembly seats held in 14 districts of the province. According to Punjab IG Police Rao Sardar Ali, as many 52,000 police personnel were deployed at all the 3, 131 polling stations set up across the province. The IGP said that overall the byelections were held in a peacefully manner, adding that the Punjab Police under the directives of the ECP, had taken effective measures for security of the polling stations. He said he constantly monitoring the polling process from the control room set up at Central Police Office and paid tribute to the police forces for best security arrangements on the occasion.

Meanwhile, CCPO Lahore DIG Bilal Siddique Kamyana said more than 10,000 policemen were deployed at sensitive places of four constituencies in the provincial metropolis during by-elections to ensure foolproof security. The CCPO visited various polling stations, camp offices, and police pickets in the provincial capital and reviewed security arrangements. CTO Muntazer Mehdi, SSP, SDPOs and officers concerned accompanied him.

The CCPO also met officials deployed in various points and briefed them to remain alert. CCPO Bilal Kamyana directed officials posted on election duty to remain at their respective points till the completion of all stages of the election process.

a tweet.

“Pakistan was distracted from its destination during the PTI’s tenure, you should express it with your votes,” he urged the voters.

The prime minister, in another tweet in Urdu language, said that during the last four years, Punjab province witnessed bad governance. The residents were deprived of the free medicines and the students were denied scholarships.

Open bargaining was made on the government postings and transfers, he regretted, adding, civic facilities were in worst shape and lawlessness was at its peak in the province.

The prime minister said treatment meted out to Punjab province was no less than disrespecting of the people of province.

“Punjab has seen the worst-ever misgovernance. Citizens were deprived of free medicines & scholarships. Civil & police transfers/postings were on sale.

Quality of municipal services plummeted & lawlessness became rampant.

Manner in which Punjab was treated was an insult to people,” the prime minister said in a tweet.

Former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has urged the courts to ‘open now and act’ against the government’s “brazen violation” of Supreme Court’s orders during Punjab by-elections.

Taking to Twitter, the former premier wrote: “Today Punjab government has brazenly violated SC orders [and] election rules by openly using all government and state machinery to rig Punjab elections through illegal ballot stamping and harassing voters

while arresting PTI leaders”.

The PTI Chairman also alleged that the Election Commission of Pakistan has turned a blind eye to everything, while urging the courts ‘to open now and act’.

In another tweet, the former premier strongly condemned the arrest of PTI leader Shahbaz Gill, saying that Gill’s arrest was an attempt to “rig elections” and “spread fear in people”.

“These fascist tactics will not work and our people will not be deterred from exercising their right to vote,” he tweeted, adding that the “handlers of imported government” should realise the damage that they were doing to the nation.

PTI questions impartiality as ECP denies allegations Lashing out at the Election Commission of Pakistan for alleged errors in voter lists amid the crucial by-polls that are underway on 20 Punjab Assembly constituencies, PTI leader Shahbaz Gill raised questions over the impartiality of the election body.

Sharing a video of a man on his Twitter account, who claimed that the names of two of his family members are missing from the voter list, Shahbaz Gill asked, “Who is responsible for depriving someone of his right to vote?” He suggested lodging a case under Article 6 of the Constitution.

He also shared another video of a woman polling agent who claimed that rigging was being

carried out in the PP-167 constituency. The woman polling agent said that she was forced to leave the polling station after her CNIC was objected to and was not allowed to enter the station for one-and-half hours and in the meantime, the voting process continued. Gill asked, “Is this possible without the involvement of the ECP?” In another tweet, the PTI leader criticised the polling staff at a polling station where he claimed that a woman who came to cast her vote was sent to another constituency because her name wasn’t on the voters’ list.

He asked who is responsible for the data operator’s mistakes.

Reacting to Shahbaz Gill’s allegations, the Punjab election commissioner said that the polling process shouldn’t be made controversial by levelling allegations without confirmation.

He rejected the allegations of expelling polling agents out of polling stations 46 and 47 in Muzaffargarh. The provincial election commissioner further stated that the polling agents verified by political parties are allowed to sit at the polling stations.

Meanwhile, the returning officer said that PTI’s polling agent Amir Bakhsh was present at polling station number 44, but no polling agent of PTI arrived at polling station number 46. News Desk

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ahsan iqbal faces tough questions from overseas Pakistanis in us ISLAMABAD ageNcies

Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal faced difficult questions from Pakistani Americans during a question-and-answer session at the Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America (APPNA) conference.

During the question hour, the minister was struck with hard-hitting questions from overseas Pakistanis, including an individual calling him the “propaganda minister” and claiming that he was “talking to the wrong audience”.

The man maintained that parties such as Iqbal’s – the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) – intentionally perpetuate illiteracy in rural areas of Pakistan to benefit their party and that the conference he was addressing to was of “literate” people.

This elicited discontentment from the dais and the man was urged to ask his question.

The man finally asked: “If you do not give us the right to vote, what right do you have to address us?” He was alluding to the coalition government’s decision to amend the electoral reforms bill and successfully striking off overseas Pakistanis’ right to vote.

A second individual alleged that everyone knew who “the boss” was in the country and that it was the current coalition government that called the former PTI government “selected”, then “how did you [Iqbal] become part of this “selected” lot.”

Following the conference, Ahsan Iqbal, however, took to Twitter claiming that he “had a lively question & answer session in a very democratic & professional manner.” The minister added that he offered APPNA full assistance to set up a modern teaching hospital and medical college in Pakistan.

Last week a short video clip of Iqbal also kicked up a Twitterstorm. The clip showed a family heckling the federal planning minister at a McDonald’s restaurant near Bhera Interchange on Motorway M-2. The family – apparently Imran Khan’s supporters – shouted, “Thief, thief” in Iqbal’s face as staff and customers looked bemused. Later, Iqbal said that the family came to his hometown of Narowal and apologised for their actions. “[The family] expressed remorse and embarrassment. I had already announced that I will not take legal action against them. We all are Pakistanis and we don’t have to turn the right to disagree into hate and maintain mutual respect,” he wrote on his official Twitter handle while sharing a picture of the meeting with the family.

President rejects fBr’s review petition in Pak suzuki Motor refund case LAHORE DaNiyal ahmaD

The President of Pakistan, Dr Arif Alvi has stood with his original decision in the Pakistan Suzuki Motor Company (PSMC) sales tax refund case. The President has done so citing the Federal Ombudsman Institutional Reforms Act, 2013 stating “there is no provision in the Act for filing a review against orders of the President of Pakistan passed on any representation”. The case pertains to 24 customers demanding they be reimbursed by PSMC on account of the change in sales tax on cars below 1000cc in the Finance Act 2021. The Act reduced the sales tax on vehicles below 1000cc from 17% to 12.5%.

Furthermore, the Sales Tax Act (1990) was amended so that the new tax would be levied at the ‘time of delivery’ rather than at the ‘time of sale’.

The 24 customers had booked their cars by paying the full amount before the change came into effect but had been delivered their cars after the change. Their invoices showed the revision but they were not reimbursed, upon which they lodged a complaint. The Federal Tax Ombusdperson (FTO), Asif Jah, filed a recommendation to Alvi on account of the complaint by the aggrieved 24.

Jah suggested the FBR reimburse 4.5% to the customers, to which Alvi agreed in March.

Public votes for PTI: PML-N accepts defeat in Punjab by-polls LAHORE staff report

Though results of the crucial by-elections are pouring in, the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) accepted its defeat in the Punjab bypolls as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) emerged as the leading party in the majority of provincial assembly’s seats on Sunday.

“We accept whole-heartedly that PTI clinched historic victory and the public votes came against us,” PML-N leader Malik Ahmed Khan accepted while talking to a private news channel. Malik Ahmed Khan added, “I have talked to Hamza Shahbaz and it is a difficult situation. There is a coalition

government in the Centre. Hamza Shahbaz has also asked to respect the public opinion.”

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is currently leading on 17 out of 20 seats of the Punjab Assembly in today’s by-elections, whereas, PML-N managed to win only two seats and one seat by an independent candidate, according to the unofficial and unconfirmed results.

According to details, Hamza summoned a party meeting in view of the current situation in which the PML-N leadership will make important decisions regarding its political strategy in Punjab.

He said he accepts that PTI has won and the party wholeheartedly accepts the opinion of

the public. He further added that everybody can get into the debate of how and what happened, but “apparently the situation right now shows that PTI has won the elections; therefore, we congratulate them and accept our defeat.”

Replying to a question regarding PMLN’s strategy for the election for the position of Chief Minister Punjab, scheduled to be held on July 22, Khan said: “I spoke to Hamza Shahbaz and he was of the view that people have expressed their choice, so we need to acknowledge it.”

“Last time the situation was different as there were divisions among the party but this time, it is all about the public and now we will assess where we went wrong,” he said, adding

he considered these by-polls as snap-elections.

Lamenting that the party lost three major seats in Lahore, he said that now there was no reason for the party to stick to their electioneering campaign.

“This is a difficult situation for us [PMLN] as we have lost elections in Punjab, where we’ve always had a stronghold, and our government in federal is a coalition setup with thin numbers,” he maintained.

Replying to a question regarding the chances of early elections, he accepted that the results show PML-N has lost the hold of Punjab, while for the federal government, he refrained from commenting as decisions are taken after consultations from all coalition parties.

Published by Arif Nizami at Plot # 7, Al-Baber Centre, F/8 Markaz, Islamabad, for PT Print (Pvt) Limited. Ph: 051-2204545. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk

Maryam Nawaz also said the PML-N should bow to the public will and opinion.

Taking to her twitter handle, she said: “We accept the public decision against us. We should accept defeat with open heart.” She underscored that the party should pinpoint the shortcomings and mistakes and work for its resolution.

BY-ELECTIONS, PA NUMBER GAME: The by-polls to 20 Punjab Assembly seats, fell vacant after the PTI MPAs voted for Hamza Shahbaz in the Chief Minister (CM) elections. The results of the by-polls would be essential for the CM vote count, ordered by the Supreme Court (SC), in the Punjab Assembly in July 2022.