Epaper_22-07-27 ISB

Wednesday, 27 July, 2022 I 27 Zil Hajj, 1443 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XII No 386 I 12 Pages I Islamabad Edition

SC deClareS Hamza’S eleCtion void, elaHi iS new Cm Punjab ISLAMABAD

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Staff RepoRt

HE Supreme Court on Tuesday declared the deputy speaker ruling on Punjab chief minister election null and void after hearing arguments on petitions related to the recently held election for the coveted post.

A three-member bench comprising Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar announced the reserved verdict after over a three-hour delay.

“The governance of the Province of Punjab in accordance with the Constitution has been subverted whereby the fundamental rights of the people have been seriously infringed. As a result, the Ruling dated 22.07.2022 issued by Respondent No.1, Deputy Speaker, Punjab Assembly is set aside and declared to be void, without lawful authority and of no legal effect,” reads the short SC order.

The court declared the ten votes of PML-Q lawmakers, which were rejected

by Deputy Speaker Dost Mohammad Mazari citing party chief Chaudhry Shu-

jaat’s letter in the CM election, as valid.

The apex court in its short verdict ordered the petitioner, Pervaiz Elahi to take oath of the Punjab CM at 11:30pm tonight and ordered incumbent Punjab CM Hamza Shehbaz to leave the post of the province’s chief execute immediately.

The apex court also nullified all decisions taken by ‘trustee CM’ Hamza after controversial chief minister election

in which Hamza bagged 179 votes against Elahi’s 186 votes.

The three-judge bench also held that the deputy speaker misinterpreted the apex court order on Article-63A related to the defection clause and “subverted the Constitution”.

The president will administer oath of the chief minister to Pervaiz Elahi if the same was not performed by the Punjab

governor, read the verdict. PTI leaders and workers started celebrating the landmark verdict soon after it was announced.

Former premier and PTI Chairman Imran Khan also appreciated the apex court judges for “standing firm and upholding the Constitution and law, against all manner of threats and abuse”.

He thanked Barrister Ali Zafar and his team in a Twitter post. “I want to thank the people of Punjab for coming out in unprecedented numbers in by-elections against rigging,” he added.

Speaking outside the Supreme Court, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi hailed the apex court verdict saying, “I pay tribute to the judges for tolerating unruly behaviour of the government ministers”.

He said the verdict is the victory of the public mandate and Constitution.

“People rejected the imported government and this is a victory of public mandate and Constitution,” he remarked.

Qureshi also lashed out at the Punjab deputy speaker, Dost Mohammad Mazari, who belongs to PTI, saying he played a “shameful role” in the chief minister’s re-election.

“[Prime Minister] Shehbaz Shairf should dissolve assemblies and call early elections which is the only solution now”.

Deputy Speaker Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari, in his ruling, had rejected 10 votes of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid’s (PML-Q) members relying upon the supreme court’s verdict that votes of those lawmakers, who defied the party leadership’s instructions, would not be counted.

The counsel for Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Mohammad Mazari, Irfan Qadir, informed the Supreme Court that his client had instructed him not to participate further in the case proceedings and he would instead file a petition for review of the court’s decision not to constitute a full bench.

PPP counsel Farooq H. Naek also declined to participate in the court proceedings. The development comes as the court resumed hearing PML-Q leader Chaudhry Parvez Elahi’s petition challenging the deputy speaker’s ruling in the recently held re-election for the Punjab chief minister, which led to Hamza Shehbaz’s victory.

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Rupee reaches 233 against US dollar in interbank ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

PML-N denounces top court verdict on Punjab CM poll as ‘murder of justice’ ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said that the Supreme Court’s verdict had hurt the expectations of legal fraternity, petitioners, media and the public for justice.

The prime minister, in a tweet following three-member bench’s verdict striking down the Punjab deputy speaker’s ruling on the chief minister’s election, said that for sake of judiciary’s reputation and justice, the formation of a full court was essential to ensure that justice was not only done rather seemed to be done.

He said the constitution had trusted the state’s powers to parliament, executive and judiciary and had bound all the institutions to perform while observing their limits.

Vowing not to make any compromise on the supremacy of constitution as well as the parliament, the prime minister said that no institution could breach the jurisdiction of others.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz also reacted strongly to the Supreme Court’s verdict declaring Hamza Shehbaz’s re-election as Punjab chief minister null and void with party’s Vice-President Maryam Nawaz terming it a “judicial coup”.

In another tweet, the PML-N leader said that her party won’t accept the “murder of justice” in the case.

Addressing a presser shortly after the verdict, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said that a “self-suiting” interpretation had led to the decision. “We asked the top court continuously to constitute a full court to hear the case,” she added.

The PML-N leader vowed to win the legitimacy of parliament back to the masses. Aurangzeb also announced that today marks the beginning of the second phase of the judiciary’s revival.

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The Pakistani rupee (PKR) on Tuesday depreciated by Rs3.05 against the US dollar in the interbank market, closing at Rs232.92 against the previous day’s closing of Rs229.87.

It is pertinent to note that earlier SBP in its efforts to control the free-fall of rupee against the US dollar had asked commercial banks to manage import payment requests from their own inflows, such as exporter accruals and remittances.

According to the Forex Association of Pakistan (FAP), the buying and selling rates of dollars in the open market were recorded at Rs232 and Rs237 respectively.

Similarly, the price of the euro was increased by Rs3.19 and closed at Rs238.06 against the previous day’s closing of Rs234.87. The Japanese Yen gained 2 paisas to close at Rs1.70, whereas an in-

crease of Rs4.3 was witnessed in the exchange rate of the British Pound, which was traded at Rs280.58 as compared to its last closing of Rs276.28.

The exchange rates of Emirates Dirham and Saudi Riyal increased by 81 paisas each to close at Rs63.41 and Rs61.98, respectively.

Govt increases power tariff by Rs3.50 per unit ISLAMABAD app

Minister for Power Khurram Dastgir on Tuesday announced a hike Rs3.50 rupees per unit in the price of electricity.

Addressing a news conference along with Minister of State for Petroleum Musadik Malik in the federal capital, Dastgir said that this hike will be followed by another increase of Rs3.50 per unit from next month and another increase of 90 paisa per unit in October.

The power minister assured that although the Cabinet has approved the price hike, it will not have an impact on poor consumers who consume less energy.

He said the Cabinet had also decided to provide round the clock, smooth and uninterrupted power supply to dedicated industrial feeders to protect the livelihoods of people. “Similarly, minimum load-management would be carried out on mix-industrial feeders,” he added.

Dastgir acknowledged that consumers are suffering because of the fuel surcharge which is now also reflecting in power prices and said that the next three months will be difficult but prices will start coming down from November onwards as fuel prices are adjusted.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for Petroleum Musadik Malik said that there will be no impact of the electricity price

adjustment on 13 million connections which makes 45 per cent of the population.

Petroleum Minister Musadik Malik also expressed confidence that electricity prices would start coming down from October-November due to effective policies of the government.

“The incumbent government has promised that the fruits of its prudent policies will come to nutrition after almost 4-6 years. For now, there will be a visible gradual reduction in the electricity price, hop in the coming 3-4 months based on the government’s performance and decisions,” he added.

Explaining the elecricity tariff revision, Malik said it was the basic production cost of electricity that includes the fuel rate, losses, and other expenses faced in transmitting power to consumers. “Production and transmission costs are two basic components of the rebasing,” he emphasised.

He said that the revision was a regular process according to the law but the PTI government had stopped doing it after February 2021. “Non-rebasing does not mean that you (consumers) did not pay the price. Rebasing means to just make an announcement, as the current government has done today instead of using the fuel adjustment tool,” he said.

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02-03 NEWS 27 JULY_Layout 1 7/27/2022 1:16 AM Page 1

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Wednesday, 27 July, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

NEWS

PeoPle’S MAndAte reSPected, SAYS ShAh MehMood QureShi on Sc’S verdict LAHORe

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Staff RepoRt

ORMER foreign minister and PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi has hailed the Supreme Court’s (SC) verdict to instate PTI’s candidate Pervaiz Elahi as Punjab chief minister (CM), saying that today the people’s mandate has been respected.

Talking to journalists outside the Supreme Court, the former federal minister said that today, the

Miftah, Bilawal discuss country’s political, economic situation IsLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Miftah Ismail on Tuesday held a meeting with Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari here, during which current political and economic situation of the country was discussed. Various financial issues related to Pakistan’s missions abroad and Ministry of Foreign Affairs also came under discussion during the meeting, a Finance Ministry press release said.

Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Dr Aisha Ghous Pasha, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Commerce and Industry Rana Ihsan Afzal, foreign secretary, Federal Bureau of Revenue chairman, and senior officers of the Finance Division and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were present in the meeting. Miftah Ismail warmly received Bilawal Bhutto on his arrival at the Finance Division. He acknowledged the importance and contribution of foreign missions abroad and assured the foreign minister to address their financial issues through appropriate procedures and directed the relevant authorities to expedite the process in that regard.

Army joins flooding rescue efforts in Sindh, Balochistan QUeTTA/kARACHI Staff RepoRt

The military joined efforts on Tuesday to help people affected by more than five weeks of monsoon rains and flash flooding across Pakistan A weather emergency was declared in Karachi on Monday as heavier-than-usual monsoon rains continue to lash the nation’s biggest city, flooding homes and making streets impassable. Sindh government announced a public holiday Monday in Karachi and Hyderabad in a bid to avert flood chaos, but low-lying areas — already drenched by weeks of heavy rain — were soon the scenes of devastation. Particularly hard-hit was the volatile, impoverished Balochistan where by Saturday 99 people died in rain-related incidents and subsequent flooding. “Pakistan Army emergency response teams are consistently busy in dewatering and supplying basic food necessities and medical care to [the] affected population,” an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement said.

Dewatering teams are carrying out flood relief operations in Jamshoro district, Gharo grid station in Thatta, Karachi (south) including Shahrah-i-Faisal and Nipa Chowrangi, and Lasbela, Turbat and Quetta in Balochistan. Pakistan Army teams established relief camps including medical facilities and distributed necessary food and ration among the local residents, the statement added. “Various standby and response teams are stationed at various locations in Sindh and Balochistan for relief activities and to counter any emergency situation due to flooding,” it added.

Constitution’s rule has been accepted and the Pakistani people’s mandate has been respected.

“On July 17, the people of Pakistan accepted Imran Khan’s narrative wholeheartedly and rejected the imported government,” Shah Mehmood Qureshi added.

Talking about the CM Punjab election, Qureshi said that Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari trampled the Constitution of Pakistan and did not follow the principles.

The PTI leader further said that the judiciary

tolerated the criticism with patience and fulfilled its responsibility. “The coalition government tried to employ delaying tactics to intimidate the judiciary,” he added.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi also said that the decision has proved that Pakistan’s judiciary is independent.

“Judiciary is independent and determined to protect the Constitution,” he said, adding that after this decision, Pakistani politics will take a new direction.

Taking over the presser, PTI’s Senator Faisal Javed termed the decision as Imran Khan’s victory and said

that the decision was according to the law and Constitution, adding that the party wants the general elections to be announced immediately.

Pakistan rejects India’s ‘politicisation’ of CPEC IsLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Pakistan on Tuesday categorically rejected as “baseless and misguided” the remarks made by the official spokesperson of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), calling it an effort to politicize the project.

The Foreign Office spokesperson, in a statement, said CPEC was a transformational project and a harbinger of stability, mutual cooperation and shared development for the region.

“As a flagship of the Belt and Road Initiative and hallmark of the PakistanChina All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership, CPEC provides a vehicle for the people of the region to break from zero-sum approaches,” he remarked.

He said China’s investment in CPEC had helped Pakistan overcome the energy and infrastructural bottlenecks that once constrained growth and development.

“Attempts to cast aspersions over CPEC show India’s insecurity as well as the pursuit of a hegemonic agenda that has held back socio-economic development in South Asia for decades,”

he commented.

While rejecting India’s fallacious assertion that CPEC impinges on its “sovereignty and territorial integrity”, the spokesperson pointed out that it was in fact India that was illegally occupying the state of Jammu and Kashmir for over seven decades while perpetrating gross and widespread human rights violations and effectuating blatant territorial and demographic changes in the occupied territory in complete contravention of international law and relevant UNSC resolutions.

He said India’s attempts to mislead the international community about the

ECP orders all parties to submit asset details until 29th August News Desk The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has ordered all registered political parties to submit details of their assets latest by August 29.

According to the order issued by the ECP, all political parties have to submit the details of their assets for the year 2021-22. The parties have to declare their annual income as well as sources of income, the ECP said.

The parties will have to disclose the economic structure of the party, the order said. All political parties will have to prove that they have not indulged in taking any prohibited funding.

On June 21, PTI’s prohibited funding case hearing

was completed in the election commission after Petitioner Akbar S. Babar’s financial expert concluded his arguments. The ECP reserved its verdict after the conclusion of arguments from both sides of the case.

“The case has concluded, the cases of other parties would also come to an end soon,” CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja said while thanking the parties.

“Seasoned jurists appeared in the case and several sensitive matters came to the surface,” he said.

“Democracy is very important for the country. We are not anxious about what is being said outside, the matter will be decided with justice,” CEC said. The PM, PPP, Maryam Nawaz and PDM parties have demanded to announce the verdict of the PTI prohibited funding case.

Marriyum questions different interpretations of similar letters written by Imran, Shujaat News Desk Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb on Tuesday questioned why there was difference in the interpretation of Imran Khan’s letter as party chief on April 3 and Chaudhry Shujaat’s letter as party chief on July 22.

In a statement, she said the question was why not a full court for hearing the petitions against deputy speaker Punjab Assembly ruling and why two separate verdicts on the

similar letters.

“Why different interpretations on the similar letters of Imran Khan and Chaudhry Shujaat”, she asked.

She said if 25 dissident members of PTI were not allowed to vote on the letter of Imran Khan and they were de-seated and their votes were not counted, why after Chaudhary Shujaat’s letter, his party MPAs should be allowed to vote and why their votes should be counted.

The minister opined that the problem now was not whose

government should be in Punjab, real problem was now of the constitution and justice.

status of Jammu and Kashmir and to hide its atrocities against the Kashmiri people would never succeed. India was cautioned to desist from falsehoods and baseless claims over a territory that it continued to illegally occupy through brute force, he added.

The spokesperson said the Jammu and Kashmir dispute remained an internationally recognized dispute on the United Nations agenda and “its solution lies in exercise of the right of selfdetermination in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people”.

Mushaal urges world’s bodies to save Yasin Malik’s life IsLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Mushaal Hussein Mullick Peace and Culture Organisation Chairperson urged the world’s bodies to force India to release Yasin Malik who was shifted to the medical investigation room due to his fast deteriorating health condition. Mushaal, who is wife of Yasin Malik, in a statement on Tuesday, said that JKLF Chief was on hunger strike in Tihar jail for the last six days against the fascist Indian government’s biased attitude not to provide him opportunity of fair trial, said a press release here Tuesday. She stated that Yasin Malik was being given intravenous fluids and he was battling for life. Mushaal said that Yasin Malik was kept in solitary confinement in a high-risk cell in a false and fabricated cases to defuse the intensity of Kashmir freedom movement. The Chairperson said that her husband informed the court that he had written a letter to the government seeking his transfer to a Jammu jail so that he could physically appear in the case and contest the allegations against him but his request was not entertained.

Therefore, she said that went on an indefinite hunger strike inside the jail in protest against the callous attitude of the authorities. Mushaal feared that Yasin being the most powerful and effective voice of Kashmir liberation movement, hence the fascist government was using all barbaric and unlawful tactics to silence him. The Chairperson lamented the world silence over the criminal and unjust treatment meted out to JKLF Chief. She urged that the United Nations, European Union, human rights organizations and world powers should build pressure on the Hindutva regime to not only save Yasin Malik’s life but to ensure his safe release.

Committee takes up halting Ehsaas Rashan Riayat Program with authorities IsLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Senate Standing Committee on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety in a meeting held here Tuesday recommended to take up the matter of halting the Ehsaas Ration Riayat Program with the provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The meeting was held at the Parliament House under the chairmanship of Senator Naseebullah Bazai.

Speaking on the issue, Senator Dr. Sania Nishtar said that Ehsaas Ration Riayat Program targeted 12 million of the poorest people by working day and night who could be provided with subsidies for groceries and fuel.

The National Socio-Economic Registry (NSER) survey was completed by holding day and night

meetings, she said while asking the officials to inform the committee about its progress.

The committee was informed that the work was done on this scheme in the province of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but Khyber Pakhtunkhwa withdrew this scheme due to its name.

The chairman and members of committee expressed their concern and said that such matters that are meant to provide relief to poor should be carried out beyond political affiliation and all political parties should have the same policy and position regarding such matters Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan said that the work done by Dr. Sania Nishtar is praise worthy and this issue should be raised in the upper house meeting.

He recommended that the

chairman committee must take up this issue with the chairman senate and and take forward the matter in consultation with the concerned minister and provincial government.

The chairman committee emphasized that this issue is related to the poor people and steps should be taken to make the lives of poor people easier during the prevailing inflation.

The chairman and the members of the committee expressed their anger over the late delivery of the working paper and directed that the working paper should be provided 48 hours before the next meeting as per the rules so that the members of the committee can review the issues.

Secretary, Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety and Secretary Benazir Income Support

Program briefed the committee about the budget of Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program, the distribution of cash amounts by province and district and the details of the future program.

The first phase of the Emergency Cash Program was conducted from April to September 2020, for which 16.9 million families were identified and a budget of 203 billion rupees was allocated for it. An amount of Rs. 12,000 was provided per family. Rs. 180 billion were disbursed among 15 million families.

The committee was briefed that the assistance was provided to people after biometric verification from NADRA and for this relief operations were implemented in government buildings with the help of provincial governments and district administrations.

02-03 NEWS 27 JULY_Layout 1 7/27/2022 1:16 AM Page 2

Wednesday, 27 July, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

trAderS deMAnd withdrAwAl oF Fixed SAleS tAx on electricitY BillS RAwALPINDI

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Staff RepoRt

RADE bodies of the Rawalpindi city Tuesday demanded the government to withdraw the fixed sales tax proposed in the federal budget 2022-23 on electricity bills.

President Traders Welfare Association,

Punjab, Sharjil Mir, said that the fixed tax measures in the commercial power bills would badly affect the small traders as there was no differentiation between small and large-scale businesses.

He urged the government to review the fixation of sales tax on electricity bills and exempt the small traders from this fixed tax system.

Mir said the frequent increase in power tariffs

and collection of Fuel Price Adjustment (FPA) in power bills had already distressed the poor masses, and collecting more taxes from small business people would increase inflation.

Earlier, in the budget 2022–23, the government had announced collecting the fixed income and sales tax along with electricity bills between Rs3,000 to Rs10,000.

PMD forecasts thunderstorms in Karachi as low-pressure areas to move to Balochistan News Desk Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Tuesday forecast sporadic rainfall with thunderstorm in Karachi as the low-pressure area today likely to move to Baluchistan coastal areas.

Low-pressure area inducing strong monsoon currents persist over central and western Sindh caused widespread extremely heavy rainfall across Sindh. The system likely to move to Baluchistan coastal areas.

Rainfall likely to continue in Karachi division and

Tharparker, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Badin, Thatta, Sujawal, Tando M Khan, Tando Allahyar, Hyderabad, Matiari, Sanghar, Nawabshah, Khairpur, Sukkur, Larkana, Jacobabad, Dadu, Jamshoro, Shikarpur, Qambar-Shahdadkot, Ghotki and Kashmore districts till today or tomorrow.

The Met Office has warned against likely urban flooding or water-logging in low lying areas of Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Sujawal, Badin and other districts during the forecast period.

Persistent heavy spell over Khuzdar, Lasbella, and

KP cM expresses displeasure over slow pace of work on cricket stadium

Hub and along Kirthar Range may put pressure on Hub Dam and Flash Flooding in Dadu and Jamshoro districts and downstream.

All concerned authorities have been advised to remain alert during the forecast period and take necessary actions. It should be noted that more than 200 mm of rain has been recorded in Karachi since yesterday, due to which there is a situation of urban flooding in the entire city. Several feet of water is standing on several roads, while water has also entered in houses in low-lying areas.

CM Balochistan for aerial operation in flood-hit Aurki, Lasbela

PesHAwAR

IsLAMABAD

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Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan has expressed anguish over the slow pace of work on the upgradation of Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium and directed the quarters concerned to immediately suspend the concerned Executive Engineer and Sub Divisional Officer and ordered enquiry against them. He issued these directives while chairing a meeting held here on Tuesday to review progress on mega development projects in various sectors.

Additional Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Amjid Ali Khan, administrative secretaries of concerned departments and other relevant officials attended the meeting. The chief minister also directed stern action against the concerned contractor adding that action may also be initiated against the relevant officials of the sport department as per the report of monitoring and evaluation. The chief minister also expressed dismay over the delay in the implementation of Safe City Project Peshawar and directed to hold a special meeting of relevant higher authorities to this effect.

Briefing the meeting about progress made so far on various developmental projects, it was informed that an administrative approval has been accorded for the acquisition of land for 30KM long Dir Motorway Project whereas Section-IV would be imposed on the proposed land after the alignment of the project is finalized. Similarly, work orders for Patrak – Thall – Kumrat Road Project would also be issued within the next one and half month.

Briefing about the development projects in the health sector, it was informed that establishment of Timergara Medical College had been completed adding that classes would also be commenced from the new academic year.

Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo on Tuesday took notice of flood situation in Aurki area of Lasbela district and issued instructions for carrying out aerial operation to rescue stranded people. The CM also directed the relevant departments to take special measures for delivering food and water to the affected people by boats until the aerial operation, said a news release.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) deployed rescue

teams in the flood hit area to conduct relief and rescue operations.

So far, 50 people including men, women and children have been rescued from Karwan area of Lasbela district. Abdul Quddus Bizenjo expressed satisfaction over the rescue operation and appreciated PDMA for saving precious lives.

The Chief Minister has also issued directives to use all-out resources to provide relief to the people stranded in flood-hit areas.

He said that saving precious human lives and bringing them to safe places was the first priority of the government.

Khurshid Shah for complete restoration of Naleem Jhelum Hydro Project IsLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Federal Minister for Water Resources Syed Khurshid Ahmad Shah said that all other measures including the services of international consultants should be taken immediately for the complete restoration of Neelum Jhelum hydro project to increase the production of electricity.

While giving necessary instructions in this regard, he said that there should be no delay in taking practical steps to restore the project after making TORs and other necessary actions.

Federal Minister for Power Khurram Dastgir and Minister for Law Azam Nazir Tarar and Minister for Water Resources Syed Khurshid Ahmad Shah were given a detailed briefing on the Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project in the National Assembly here on Tuesday, said a press release. The Federal Law Minister said that concrete steps should be taken for the Neelum Jhelum early restoration program.

Federal Minister Khurram Dastgir said that after the agreements with various firms for rehabilitation, the restoration work of Neelum Jhelum project will be completed in minimum time.

Book Review: ‘Feminine Footprint on Pakistani Literature’ by Amir Rizvi IsLAMABAD Syed afSaR Sajid

‘Feminine Foot Print on Pakistani Literature’ comprises a translated version of nineteen (19) Urdu short stories by a mix of old and young female fiction writers from Pakistan, selected and rendered by Amir Rizvi, a seasoned translator and bilingual litterateur.

Amir Rizvi has discreetly selected these female fiction writers of Urdu, both past and present, for inclusion of their short stories rendered by him into English, in this book. It is a Pakistan Academy of Letters sponsored venture with an apt preface by its Chairman Dr. Yousuf Khushk, an erudite foreword by the eminent Pakistani poet of English Ejaz Rahim, and a discursive ‘translator’s note’ by Amir Rizvi himself.

‘The array of writers presented here’, as Dr. Yousuf Khushk views it, ‘represent women specific Pakistani literary scenario’. Ejaz Rahim is of the opinion that ‘Mr. Rizvi happens to be a passionate translator. He is able to convey not only the physical aspects of a creative story but also the spirit of the

work he takes up for translation.

I believe that a translator worth his salt has to acquit himself honorably in facing a double challenge. He must not deviate from the original in terms of substance but he must not be a slavish follower of the text as well. Translations require to transport a whole ethos, culture and spirit of the original. I think the term ‘co-creator’ makes eminent sense for a good translator.’

According to the translator, ‘These stories not only illustrate the diversified cultural and social issues of Pakistani women, but also tell how they perceive the world around them.’ The feministic tone and tenor of the stories tend to enhance their contemporaneous value in the backdrop of the acute sociomoral concern that modern literature in all its forms and formulations evinces for the distaff sensitivities. The purpose underlying the present selection is ‘to convey their (women’s) voice to the foreign world in addition to English speaking segment of our society’. The original writers and their works are listed below: Mumtaz Sheerin (What an

Ignobility, What a Nobility) Bano Qudsia (Impure Hearts); Khadija Mastoor (Bhorey); Hajra Masroor (Oh, Love); Hijab Imtiaz Ali (Late Wife); Zatoon Bano (The Madwoman); Bushra Rehman (Womanliness); Azra Asghar (The Eighteenth Girl); Firdous Haider (How Mona Died); Parveen Malik (Who I Am?); Noor Ul Hoda Shah (The Venom of Life); Massarat Kalanchvi (Sleep); Neelam Bashir (Another River); Farhat Parveen (Sensitive Human Beings);

Tahira Iqbal (His Strange Move); Zahida Raees Raji (Dog); Saba Javed (The Farness); Humaira Sadaf Hassani (Jinx); and Musarrat Laghari (Trifles).

According to Ejaz Rahim, ‘The translator has an amazing vocabulary and a zestful style of expression. All in all, Mr. Rizvi has made a sterling contribution in translating these stories which so aptly sum up the feminine side of human experience in this land, which is equally the human side of feminine experience. One can be proud of the depth and range of the human aspect covered by these contemporary short stories. They have projected life-like situations with great integrity and courage. These constitute Art’s illustrious homage at the temple of human dignity.’

All in all, the book implies a commendable attempt to introduce and expose the Pakistani female fiction writers to a bilingual global world of cross creeds and cultures so as to ‘construct’ a common narrative for sharing and exploring the diverse but intricate formulations of feminism on a diasporic (or cosmopolitan) level.

NEWS

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ecP de-notifies Kashif Mehmood as returned candidate to PP-241 News Desk Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday denotified Kashif Mehmood as a returned candidate from constituency PP-241 Bahawalnagar-V. According to the ECP notification, the commission has withdrawn notification No. F.2(39)/2018-Cord of candidate dated August 7, 2018. It added the order was issued in pursuant to the judgment of Islamabad High Court (IHC) in writ petition 4715 of 2018, titled Abdul Ghaffar Vs. ECP and three other and subsequent order dated November 23, 2021, passed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan in Civil Appeal No. 1271 of 2021 titled Muhammad Kashif Vs Abdul Ghaffar and other, dismissing the appeal.

ctd seeks record of Ku suicide attack suspect from nAdrA News Desk The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) has sought record of an alleged terrorist from NADRA in the Karachi University suicide attack in April. Police had arrested an alleged facilitator of the suicide attack, Dad Bakhsh, while inquiring into the incident, which claimed four lives including three Chinese teachers of the Confucius Institute. Alleged terrorist had got a new identification very easily, according to the probe. “The terror suspect had got himself registered with a new name in another family,” sources said. “A man Abdul Rehman had declared Dad Bakhsh as his brother,” sources said. “Dad Bakhsh got new identification with the name of Shoaib after NADRA registration”. “The law enforcers are collecting details of Abdul Rehman, who had declared Dad Bakhsh as his brother,” sources said. According to sources, Dad Bakhsh had left home in 2015 to join the terrorism network. Police said, the suspect has been Karachi commander of the outlawed outfits the BLA and BLF. “He is the master mind of the suicide attack on Chinese teachers in Karachi University,” police claimed.

“The accused was also facilitating attacks on Chinese nationals in Karachi,” police said. The suicide attack killed at least four people including three Chinese teachers who were working for the Confucius Institute at the University of Karachi.

hub river bridge washed away due to flash floods News Desk The National Highways Authority (NHA) has said that the Hub river bridge has been demolished due to heavy rains and flash floods and the Hub by-pass is being used as an alternative. According to an NHA spokesperson the land connection between Sindh and Balochistan has not been cut as the Hub bypass is being used as an alternative to the demolished Hub flyover. He said that the Hub bypass is 11 km long, and extends from Berout to the national highway.

Officials have started consultations regarding the rebuilding of the Hub flyover, he added. The heavy rains are causing abnormal discharge of water from the Hub dam spillways, which has caused the local government to impose an emergency in the area. The overflow of water from the Hub dam is more than the capacity of the new bridge built near the Murad dam construction site, a media report states.

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Wednesday, 27 July, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

04 NEWS

TImely ChIneSe helP brIngS eASe TO flOOD-hIT PeOPle In bAlOChISTAn ISLAMABAD

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Xinhua

SMILE came to Allaudin Ahmad’s face when he was called outside his makeshift camp in the Qila Saifullah district of Balochistan to receive a relief package from China.

Ahmad’s family was among 800 others who lost their houses and fortune in heavy monsoon rains that have been lashing various parts of the province since last month.

“We got temporarily accommodated in the camp, but there was a serious shortage of food items which was a matter of great con-

cern for us as we needed ration for survival,” Ahmad told Xinhua.

He said China’s help, with food and other items, came right on time to support his family for three to four weeks.

According to the latest available data by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) released on July 20, a total of 282 people had been killed and 211 others injured due to different rain-related accidents in Pakistan since mid-June. Balochistan remained the worst hit by rains, where 88 people were killed and 62 others injured in separate raintriggered accidents, said the NDMA. Bayazeed Kasi, a politician from

President approves Ayaz Sadiq’s appointment as federal minister ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

President Dr Arif Alvi on Tuesday accorded his approval to appointment of Sardar Ayaz Sadiq as the federal minister. The president approved the appointment on the advice of the prime minister under Article 92 (I) of the Constitution.

Sharjeel announces another bus route from July 27

Balochistan who distributed the food packs to the rain-hit people on behalf of the Chinese embassy, said that China has once again shown that it is standing with the people of Pakistan through thick and thin. Kasi, who is also the president of Balochistan-based “Friends of China Forum”, told Xinhua that a large number of people had been affected by the rains in the province this year, many of whom received relief packs from China.

“About 800-1,000 food packs were distributed among the families living in the camps […] not only this, but the Chinese people also provided around 300 pieces of solar panels as the current rains destroyed electric-

ity lines in many areas, leaving people without electricity for days,” Kasi told Xinhua.

Hakim Chandio, living in one of the camps with his family after his house was destroyed by the rain, said that the gesture of the Chinese people has won their hearts and strengthened people-to-people relations.

US donates 16mn doses of Covid-19 vaccines to Pakistan WASHINGTON Staff RepoRt

The United States announced to donate at least 16 million doses of vaccination against Covid-19 to Pakistan.

The announcement was made by the State Department during a health conference between the US and Pakistan in Washington.

The vaccines will be delivered in partnership with Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX). Further, in line with the pledge of global vaccine equity, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will also be funding the vaccination efforts of Islamabad amid its crippling financial crunch.

Washington has already sent 61.5 million of several coronavirus vaccines to Pakistan on top of $4.6 million for four testing labs by the USAID. “These lapses will strengthen Pakistan’s ability to diagnose Covid-19 and other communicable diseases,” a statement issued to this effect said. Washington is also hoping to build upon the Pakistan Field Epidemiology Training Programme to coordinate efforts on disease surveillance and response systems.

The discussions at the dialogue centred on establishing Pakistan’s version of the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Further, the representatives of the two nations also deliberated on childhood immunisations, child and maternity care and other communicable and non-communicable diseases.

Whist the meeting was led by United States Depart-

ment of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Global Affairs Loyce Pace and co-led by USAID Assistant Administrator Atul Gawande. It also included representatives from the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Representing Pakistan was Minister of National Health Services Abdul Qadir Patel, and the delegation also included officials from the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), Federal Directorate of Immunisation, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

KARACHI Staff RepoRt

Sindh Minister for Information and Transport Sharjeel Inam Memon on Tuesday announced another route of Intra-District Peoples Bus Service (PBS) from July 27. The PBS busses will operate between Nazimabad’s 5 Star Chowrangi to Shan Chowrangi area of Korangi district. The 33 kilometre long route 3 passes through KDA Chowrangi, Nazimabad Eid Gah, Liaquatabad 10, Isa Nagri, Civic Centre, National Stadium, Karsaz, Nursery, FTC, Korangi Road and KPT Interchange localities of the metropolis. Under the PBS project buses were already plying on three routes of the metropolis, from Model Colony to Tower, North Karachi to Indus Hospital and Gulshan-eHadeed to Malir Cantt. All the arrangements in this regard were reviewed and finalized in a meeting held here with the provincial minister in chair. Secretary Transport Abdul Halim Sheikh, Project Director NRTC Soheb Shafiq and others were also present in the meeting. The meeting decided to conduct a survey for Route No. 11 that covers areas of Boat Basin, American Consulate, Maripur, Kemari and Lyari.

Sharjeel Memon while addressing the meeting directed the concerned officials to carry out necessary works at the earliest as he wanted progress on the new routes in a couple of days. Pakistan People’s Party was taking practical steps to modernise the public transport system in Karachi and completion of BRTs and People’s Inter-District Bus Service project would help solving long-standing transport problem of the citizens of Karachi, he said.

“I heard in the news that China has lifted its people out of poverty in a very short period. I hope that our government will also learn from China and China will help us through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to change our fate,” Chandio told Xinhua.

Kashmir freedom struggle great example of unyielding courage: envoy ISLAMABAD anadolu agency

The freedom struggle of nine million people of occupied Kashmir against New Delhi is a great example of perseverance and unyielding courage, Pakistan’s ambassador to Turkey said Monday.

Speaking at a panel in the Turkish capital Ankara, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkey, Mohammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi, said “the Kashmiri freedom struggle is a classic example of unprecedented oppression by the world’s second-largest state on one side and unyielding courage, resolve, determination and perseverance by over 9 million innocent people on the other.” The Ankara-based think-tank the Institute of Strategic Thinking (SDE) organized a panel titled “Kashmir with its legal dimension from past to present.”

“Kashmir remains one of the longest lasting situations of foreign occupation, like Palestine, and the longest unresolved issue on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council,” he said. Touching on the roots of the conflict, which has lasted more than seven decades, Qazi said the dispute has its origins in “the partition of British India in 1947 into Pakistan and present-day India.”

The British Raj, which ruled the Indian sub-continent

from 1858 to 1947, came up with the idea of a partition based on faith and territory.

“As per the partition formula, geographically contiguous Muslim majority areas were to form an independent country, Pakistan, and Hindu majority areas to remain with India,” he said. Qazi further said that despite the fact that Kashmir was “overwhelmingly Muslim and shared a much longer boundary with Pakistan than India, the unelected absolute ruler of Kashmir decided to accede to India by concluding an ‘instrument of accession’ of patent illegality and dubious provenance.”

The then rulers decision to accede to India, which was “against the wishes of people,” led to violent protests across Jammu and Kashmir, he said.

UN resolUtioNs oN loNg-lastiNg coNflict: The UN Security Council has adopted several resolutions to resolve the Kashmir dispute peacefully.

While with the first resolution, which was adopted on January 17, 1948, the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP) was established, the second Security Council resolution offered a UN-supervised plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir to let the people determine their fate.

On the matter, Qazi said “sham elections were conducted in Jammu and Kashmir and the Constituent Assembly was established in 1951 to create a constitution for Kashmir.”

Pakistan reports 371 new COVID cases ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Pakistan reported 371 new Covid-19 cases over the past 24 hours, the Ministry of Health said on Tuesday. The new infections were detected after diagnostic testing was performed on 13,439 samples. With the new infections, the overall number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 has risen to 1,551,251 in the country, showed data released by the ministry. A total of 308 people were reported to have recovered from the pandemic over the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of recoveries to 1,513,149, according to the ministry’s statistics. Meanwhile, 30,470 people have died of Covid-19 in Pakistan, with one more death reported over the last 24 hours, said the ministry. Sindh is the worst-hit province with 590,008 infections recorded, followed by Punjab, which has reported 511,958 cases.

Korea appreciates Pakistan’s efforts to combat effects of climate change: Amb Suh Sangpyo ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Mr. Suh Sangpyo, Ambassador of South Korea to Pakistan Tuesday said that the Korean government appreciated the Pakistani government’s efforts to prevent and respond to climate change induced natural disasters.

Addressing a seminar on climate change policy of Korea and Pakistan, he said, “our two countries have contributed a lot to the global efforts to address climate change induced challenges and also have worked together in multi-lateral forums including UN Framework

Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

He said that Pakistan was one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. Recently, a report published by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) estimated Pakistan’s annual losses caused by climate change at 26 billion US dollars under the worst scenario. That cost is equal to 9% of Pakistan’s GDP. This year Pakistan had experienced huge losses and damages all over the country due to the abnormal heavy rainfalls. “In this monsoon season, this kind of natural disaster still haunts us here in Pakistan,” he

said. Pakistan is a member country of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), which was established by the Korean Initiative to support and promote sustainable economic

growth in developing countries.

Korea and Pakistan continue to collaborate closely on all the climate related issues that our planet faces.

Ambassador told that in order to promote renewable energy, Korean Development Agency (KOICA) had established a Solar Panel testing laboratory in Islamabad and also worked on a project to enhance the water quality monitoring system by providing equipment and supporting capacity building.

Moreover, with the Public and Private Partnership (PPP) model, Korean hydropower companies are constructing hydropower plants in northern areas, KP and AJK, he

added. Korea Land and House Cooperation in partnership with UNHABITAT was also working on a project to reduce greenhouse gasses.

Korean Embassy also financially supported tree plantation in Pakistan in 2019 and 2021. Korea and Pakistan also collaborate in achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Ambassador, while explaining bilateral cooperation, told the participants that last year in January Korea and Pakistan held a DG-level consultation meeting on climate change, science, and technology. Since then, some of the meeting results were successfully followed up, so one of

the outcomes was Pakistan’s joining GGGI. He said that Korea will host two expos to promote sustainable development. One is World Smart City Expo which will be held near Seoul city from August 31 to September 2. The other expo is Busan World Expo 2030.

Speaking on the occasion, additional secretary of Climate Change Division said that Pakistan and Korea have had a decent relationship in multiple fields including climate collaboration and climate dialogue.

Pakistan is among the top ten countries in the world as far as vulnerability is concerned, he informed.

He further stated that the cooperation between Pakistan and Korea in climate change should be enhanced to combat climate change.

Wednesday, 27 July, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

NEWS Govt increases power tariff by Rs3.50 per unit contInueD froM pAge 01 Moreover, Khurram Dastgir added that on the industrial end, the government has decided to provide both gas and electricity to five major export sectors on reduced rates on priority basis whereas an announcement to this effect will be made soon. He added that the updated tariff will be close to that of regional countries in order to enhance the country’s exports. Furthermore, the power minister said that the Cabinet was informed about the power shortfall during last month. “However, power generation has significantly jumped owing to increase hydel generation from Tarbela and resumption of 1100 MW from nuclear power plant K-2. Currently, hydel generation from Tarbela stands at 4500 MW,” he added. The minister said the country’s economy had gradually been strengthening and the power supply had also witnessed ups and down.

The prime minister was personally monitoring the entire situation, he added. Replying to a question, he said the incumbent government inherited Rs2467 billion circular debt which had been brought down by Rs214 billion in short term. Steps were also being taken to reduce line losses, he added. Commenting on the previous PTI government, the minister said Imran’s government delayed main power projects including 1320 MW Shanghai Thar Coal, 1200 MW Trimmu RLNG, 1320 MW Jamshroo and 720 MW Karot hydropower to provide benefit to their blue eyed. To another question, the minister said entire tunnel of Neelum Jhelum was being de-watered to assess real issue while Guddu power plant was generating 460 MW.

PML-N denounces top court verdict on Punjab CM poll as ‘murder of justice’ contInueD froM pAge 01 According to the party spokesperson, had a full court been constituted, the verdict in the case would have been different. Speaking on the occasion, PML-N leader Ataullah Tarrar said the decision was against democracy.

Questioning the “double standards of justice”, Tarrar said there can’t be two standards of justice for “Imran Niazi” and the PML-N. Shortly before the verdict, Maryam, daughter of the PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, asked the ruling coalition to “stand firm” and “rise to the occasion”.

Furthermore, senior Pakistan Peoples Party leader Farhatullah Babar had urged the coalition partners to “act decisively” in the face of the situation.

On July 23, Maryam said her party should not be expected to bow down to “unilateral decisions”.

Maulana Azad urges Ulema, Zakireen to discourage objectionable speeches, promote harmony newS DeSk Convener Ittehad-e-Bain-ul-Muslimeen Committee Punjab and Chairman Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Pakistan, Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad Tuesday urged Ulema and Zakireen to discourage objectionable speeches and strengthen adherence of people to the spirit of Ittehad-e-Bain-ul-Muslimeen and Paigham-ePakistan for lasting peace.

Maulana Azad, who is the Khateeb of Badshahi Masjid Lahore and dubbed as ambassador of peace, chaired a divisional peace committee meeting with a view to strengthen the bond of love and unity among Ulema from different schools of thought and its propagation among the people for overall peace particularly during the upcoming holy month of Muharram ul Haram.

Maulana Azad reached Multan leading a delegation of Ulema including Sardar Muhammad Khan Leghari, Maulana Abdul Wahab Ropari, Allama Rasheed Turrabi, Maulana Abdul Sattar Niazi, Maulana Nadeem Qamar, Maulana Masood Qasim Qasmi, Maulana Abdur Rahman, Mufti Imran Anwar, Syed Naubahar Shah, Hussain Mehdi, Allama Sajjad.

MARRiyUM AURANGZeb foR CeLebRAtiNG PAkistAN’s diAMoNd jUbiLee thRoUGh Nsff ISLAMABAD

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staff report

INISTER for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb on Tuesday shared information regarding the National Short Film Festival to ensure

celebration of the country’s 75th anniversary in a befitting way.

“Let’s celebrate Pakistan’s 75th birth anniversary”, the minister tweeted which also included threadbare details of the film festival. According to details, duration for the shot films would be 60 to 90 seconds while the themes for the festival included Sufism, mi-

peSHAwAr Khyber Pakthunkhwa Assembly was informed on Tuesday that the province received Rs 918 billion under net hydel profit during the last five-year however nothing was paid in this regard during the last financial year.

In a written reply to a question of Inayatullah of Jammat-e-Islami (JI), it was said that the provincial government took up the matter in meetings of Council of Common Interest (CCI) and a committee was formed on December 23, 2019 to determine the payment.

The CCI committee held three meetings

norities, education, democracy, history, world peace, film, Pakistani cuisine, tourism, diplomacy, culture, heritage, youth development, interfaith harmony, women empowerment, music, sports.

The content could be developed on many other important topics including Pakistan’s role for the region would be encouraged. Last date for sending

videos for National Short Film Festival would be August 5, 2022.

Videos can be sent via email to ptv.films@ptv.com.pk.

In the festival, a prize of one lakh rupees has been kept for the first position, 75 thousand rupees for the second position and 50 thousand rupees for the third position.

SC declares Hamza’s election void, Elahi is new CM Punjab contInueD froM pAge 01 During the course of proceedings, Additional Attorney General Amir Rehman said he would assist the court in accordance with Article 27 of the Constitution.

The chief justice remarked that the bench had not been provided with even one legal argument in favour of constituting a full bench during yesterday’s hearing. He advised lawyers to remain in the court and watch the proceedings. The legal question had not been answered yet, he added.

He said the question was whether the party head could issue instructions to the parliamentary party.

“According to the law, the parliamentary party makes the decision who to vote for. The party head can send a reference in case of deviation from the party policy.” He said that a full-court bench could not be formed for this question.

The chief justice said lawyers for all sides had been given time to present their arguments. The Supreme Court had dismissed the caretaker cabinet in 1988, he added. He said that the chief executive was the head of the cabinet.

He said that the court wanted to wrap up the matter of Punjab chief minister as soon as possible as it could not be convinced to constitute a full bench. He said that a full bench could not be formed till the second week of September and said the court would now hear arguments on the case’s merit.

There was a crisis in the province because of this case and further delaying tactics would not be tolerated in this case, he added. The chief justice said that 21st Amendment was brought up during the hearing where former SC judge Azmat Saeed had observed regarding the 18th Amendment that vote would be cast in accordance with the party head’s instructions.

He said that the present case was different and the court would need assistance. Article 63-A did not include the question of who would give the instructions, he said and added that the question was only about the consequences of defection at the time of the in-

terpretation.

He said that if someone had comprehended the Constitution incorrectly, the interpretation could be cancelled. He said that misinterpreting the Constitution meant that the Constitution had not been understood correctly. Out of 17 judges, eight had given their opinions on the 21st amendment, he added.

He said that this judgement was not the majority’s decision because a majority of nine judges was required while the full bench had comprised 17 members. He said that he wanted to wind up the case at the earliest because of issues of governance and the crisis in Punjab.

He asked whether the Supreme Court could be bound by the decision of eight of its 17 judges. The majority of the full-court bench did not agree with the party head issuing directions, he added.

He said that those who boycotted court proceedings had shown enough grace to sit and watch them.

Barrister Ali Zafar counsel for Parvez Elahi said that the court had heard detailed arguments yesterday and the matter here did not concern the interpretation of Article 63-A. He said that the court had already interpreted it before. Here, the matter concerned the directions of the party head, he added. He said that as per the 18th Amendment, the party head was given the power to take action against dissident members.

Zafar said that in the judgement regarding the 21st Amendment former SC judge Jawad S Khawaja had declared Article 63-A against the Constitution and was of the opinion that the law stopped members from voting freely.

He said that a parliamentary party and the party leader were two different things. Justice Ijaz said that as per the Constitution, the party head ensured implementation of the parliamentary party’s decision.

The chief justice said that the parliamentary party did not take decision on its own. He asked the counsel what did the law say on whose instruction should the vote be cast?

Barrister Zafar responded that the Constitution

Power shortfall reaches 5,415 megawatts ISLAMABAD inp

The power shortfall in the country has gone up to 5,415 megawatts; the demand is 28,000 megawatts while production lags at 22,585 megawatts.

Sources in the power division said that a total of 7,000 megawatts are being produced using Hydral power, while Independent Power Producers (IPP) are producing 10,750 megawatts. “The shortfall has exceeded 5,000 megawatts,” they added.

According to details, the Thar mill power plants are producing a total of 1,250 megawatts of power while 2,385 megawatts are being produced using nuclear power.

Renewable sources of power such as wind and solar power plants are producing 150 and 950 megawatts of energy, respectively, while another 100 megawatts are being produced via biogas.

It is pertinent to mention here that unannounced load-shedding of over 8 hours is being observed in rural and urban areas of the country.

KP receives Rs 918 billion under net hydel profit in five years: PA told staff report

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and would submit its report to CCI after finalizing it in the light of recommendations of the committee members.

Earlier, Inayatullah asked that what measures did PTI government take for getting electricity arrears when there was PTI in the federation.

Naeema Kishwer and Nighat Orakzai said that the issue should be taken effectively to get the net hydel profit from the federal government.

Responding to the supplementary questions, the Minister for Law Fazl Shakoor said that under AGN Qazi the profit was being paid as per Rs 8.9 per unit and Rs 918 billion were paid as per this rate.

He said that a memorandum of understanding was signed in 2016 between the federal and provincial government for payment of net hydel profit as per Rs 1.1 per unit rate and Rs 20 billion was being paid annually since then.

Minister for Labour Shaukat Yousafzai said that there is a government of 13 parties in the center at the moment and their representatives should raise the issue with the federal government to find a solution to this problem.

He said all the parties have fought for the right of the province during their time, adding that the provincial government would not retreat an inch from its right.

stated directions regarding the vote were issued by the parliamentary party. The chief justice asked whether the parliamentary party was separate from the party head.

The counsel replied that a law was introduced during former President Pervez Musharraf’s tenure that empowered the head of the parliamentary party, instead of the party chief but the law was repealed through the 18th Amendment.

Justice Munib Akhtar asked about the definition of the party chief. Justice Ijaz asked where was the word parliamentary leader used?

Advocate Zafar said that parliamentary party was mentioned in the law concerning political parties in 2002. Justice Ijaz said that the word parliamentary leader instead of parliamentary party was a mere mistake. The chief justice said that Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain’s lawyer had informed the court that a letter was sent to all party MPAs with clear instructions.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Counsel Imtiaz Siddiqui replied that the way voting was done for the re-election before the court as the federal government had utilised all its resources and all party chiefs were present in Lahore at the time.

The chief justice asked Deputy Speaker Mazari and PPP’s counsels to rethink their decision to boycott court proceedings. He said that the court would reach its decision in a “better way” if the counsels for all parties assisted the bench. Barrister Ali Zafar said that the matter of the Chief Minister had been under discussion for three months.

All the PML-Q lawmakers knew which candidate to vote for, he added. He said that the apex court had previously decided that a person who had been disqualified could not be the party head.

The chief justice said that arguments had been made on the important role of a party head. Advocate Zafar said that no one was disputing the importance of the party head. A party head could issue directives to the parliamentary party head but could not dictate him, he added.

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Unintended Consequences of Russia's War on Ukraine

After by-elections, another shock for PML-N Coping with PTI rule

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three member Supreme Court bench presided over by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial has set aside the ruling of the Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker who had declared Hamza Shebaz Punjab Chief Minister. The Punjab cabinet, which had been sworn in soon after has been sent home. A PTI-PML(Q) government with Pervez Elahi as CM has been put in place. While it is a victory for PTI, Imran khan will have to be content with an ally, rather than a totally dependable Usman Buzdar, as his chief minister. In view of the unhappy memories of allies, Mr khan will be looking over his shoulder every now and then If the PTI and PML(N) manage to evolve a modus vivendi in Punjab the three-month long political crisis might come to an end in the province. This is however an uphill task. The PML(N) and the PTI have taken political rivalry in the province to the level of personal enmity. With the Punjab administration under the PTI’s control, Mr khan is likely to use the government resources and party workers to force the PML(N)-led government at the Centre to announce early elections. As things stand the PML(N) is keen to complete the full tenure of the National Assembly. This could add to the existing ill will between the two parties.

The PML(N) still considers Punjab as its fief in spite recent setbacks, particularly during the by elections. Ex-PM Nawaz Sharif was “deeply worried” and “little convinced” by the various explanations given by the senior leaders for the poor showing in the recent Punjab by-polls. He is keen to retrieve the PML(N)’s political turf from the PTI. which he considers an intruder. There are reports that PML(N) Vice-President Maryam Nawaz is to be given a key role in the party leadership in Punjab. Both Nawaz Sharif and Maryam have reportedly concluded that the debacle in Punjab was the result of the absence of effective leadership and the abandonment of Nawaz’s trademark anti-establishment narrative. There is a perception that if the PTI is sidelined by the establishment it might be forced to normalise relations with other mainstream parties. This seems to be a long shot but in case this happens, this would improve relations between the two parties.

washington watch Dr James J Zogby Only naive souls or blind ideologues could have thought that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine would end well. It will not. And the longer it continues, the worse the situation will be for everyone.

Did Vladimir Putin actually believe that the West would roll over and accept his annexation of more Ukrainian territory, giving him an easy victory? Did he really think that Ukrainians would overthrow their own leadership, replacing it with a more pro-Russian government? Did the West, after appearing to dismiss US President Joseph Biden’s early warnings about Russian intentions, believe that their belated outrage and displays of resolve would mobilize the world community forcing Putin to give up?

At this point, the Russians have invested too much of their prestige and resources in this invasion to withdraw. And for the Ukrainians, their national pride is at stake, as is their justifiable fear of Russian intentions.

They will not just surrender and accept defeat.

We have now entered the fifth month of this war and despite frequent reports that the Russian military is nearing exhaustion or that the Ukrainian resistance is flagging, there is no end in sight as the killing of innocent Ukrainians and widespread devastation of Ukraine continues. The reality is that no one can or

Political instability hastens the fall

T

noureen akhtar

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AkISTAN has been a victim of its geography since its independence. It is located in one of the most active geopolitical regions where multiple players have been engaging each other to extend their political influence since the last half century. Unfortunately, most of the geopolitical challenges Pakistan is facing today are not of its own making. Pakistan’s geographic and geostrategic importance in the region is well established now but at the same time, this geography has also ushered lots of foreign policy and national strategy challenges for the state.

Being the gateway for Central Asia and landlocked Afghanistan to the warm waters of the Arabian Sea for global trade could be a big geo-economic advantage, but due to the prevailing geopolitical situation in the region, Pakistan is yet to materialize this potential.

If we look at the ensuing geopolitical great game in the region in the context of percentPakistan’s foreign policy, on one hand there is the added apprehension of the USA and the west towards China, troubled Afghanistan trying to survive after the War on Terror with vested interests of various states, Pakistan-India rivalry due to territorial disputes including India’s illegal occupation of kashmir, water dispute, history of armed conflicts, and mistrust with Iran remain big

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

Yousaf Nizami Umar Aziz

Joint Editor

Joint Editor

Executive Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

The writer is President of the Arab American Institute

launched regionally and internationally to create anxiety, anger and fear against Pakistan. There are innumerable implications of these propaganda campaigns, which not only make a fuss of Pakistan’s image but also stimulate further challenges for Pakistan. In the age of digital politics, fake news, sensitive and emochallenges for the state while on the other side, tional contents are being utilized to mislead and misGwadar, being a deep seaport, at the mouth of the guide the public at national and international level world’s energy corridor makes Pakistan relevant to with very serious consequences for Pakistan in the the future strategy and interests of the world powers. long term. Western and Indian-led propaganda alIf we look into Pakistan internally, it has six major ready against Pakistan has adversely affected its inethnic groups i.e. Punjabi (44 percent), Pashtun (15.4 ternational relations. Once, Pakistan was one of the percent), Sindhi (14.1 percent), Saraiki (8.4 percent), favorite tourist destinations, yet during the last two Muhajir (7.6 percent) and Baloch (3.6 percent). There decades, Pakistan has been projected as one of the are over 60 languages spoken in Pakistan. 96.5 percent most dangerous and insecure places to visit. Foreignsponsored media houses are population is Muslim (Sunni continuously portraying Pak85-90 percent, Shia 10-15 istan's image as a declining percent), and other religious state.

All the positives and minorities include Christian strengths that enand Hindus (3.5 percent).

Not every nation has the spirit to joyed have beenPakistan exploited in Being a young nation one form or another and survive in such a hostile, complex aged75 years, sectarian and transformed as a weakness ethnic triggering by external and fluid environment which is by hostile states in varying forces and foreign funding time frames. mostly triggered externally. have polluted the national Pakistan is antagonizing scene which is being exDespite the fact that Pakistan from national security to inploited by political and relidividual security, not begious segments. remains in a geopolitical cause of its own created Pakistan's social landreasons but from outside. cauldron, it has been still able to scape started to turn worse Pakistan is actually caught after the Russian invasion of carefully manage the interstate between the ‘Devil and the Afghanistan in 1979. The Deep Sea’ resulting from rerelations within the region Afghan jihad encouraged gional and global geopolitrends of militancy in Paktics. Despite all challenges istan and led to the proliferand negatives, Pakistan has ation of some religious shown extreme resilience seminaries. Some of these and potential par excellence.

From producing world religious seminaries were involved in spreading relilevel sportsmen, economic intellects, noble winner gious extremism, sectarianism. scientists, doctors, diplomats, artists, maintaining Whereas, since the beginning, Pakistan has conone of the best armed forces, and war aces to becomtinuously faced an existential threat from India, forcing only Muslim nuclear armed nation is by no ing Pakistan to spend on its security, impacting means feats to be brushed away. national resources and making sometimes unnatural It will not be wrong if we say that being Pakalliances. With three major wars with India and numerous scuffles and armed escalations, and the istan is not easy, and not every nation has the spirit breakup of East Pakistan into Bangladesh as a result to survive in such a hostile, complex and fluid enof Indian conspiracy, proved the initial perception of vironment which is mostly triggered externally. Despite the fact that Pakistan remains in a geopolitical existential threat a harsh reality.

Since 1980, Pakistan has been trapped into the cauldron, it has been still able to carefully manage middle of hybrid warfare as it is clear from its mean- the interstate relations within the region. Yet, there ing; hybrid warfare is not a direct war but an amal- is a need to strategize, strengthen, and synergize its gamation of irregular strategies, media propaganda, policies to counter most of the challenges, no matter fake news and disinformation. There is a deliberate whether balanced foreign policy, economics crisis propaganda campaign against Pakistan at interna- or to counter digital challenges. Pakistan should protional level. There are various propaganda patterns to mote its narrative first. change the global perception about Pakistan.

The writer can be reached @NoureenAkhtar16 Several organized media campaigns have been

Geopolitics has made life difficult for Pakistan

HE Pakistani rupee continues its seemingly inexorable slide down against the dollar. And word on the financial street, II Chundrigar and elsewhere, is that the slide will continue. It is this common knowledge that is feeding into the slide as a negative feedback loop, furthering apprehensions of further slide, as such situations tend to.

The Letters of Credit (LCs) of our importers were first being turned away by local banks (allegedly upon unwritten instructions by the central bank, and now, it would appear that getting foreign banks to agree to them is also getting to be difficult. That situation has led to a piling up of shipping containers that aren’t being offloaded or despatched. That pile is only going to get bigger.

We are an import-led economy. There is an understanding that a slowing down of imports is going to lead to falling standards in lifestyle, yes, but we often forget what all we tend to import. The humble daal, staple of awami eateries and kitchens across the country, is also largely imported. Forget that, even if we had been growing our own pulses, there is no way we can survive without furnace oil. Our fuel import bill is large and we just don’t have the foreign exchange to pay for it.

The need of the hour is, in addition to political stability, a need for the political parties, across the board to get together and figure out a bare minimum consensus in order to deal with situations like these. Talk of a “Charter of Economy” could be idealistic and impractical because the very nature of politics is somewhat adversarial. But politics is also the art of the possible. The political class needs to get together and eke out a way of making sure there is never a situation where political bickering leads to the roof caving in.

M. A. Niazi

and gas is putting critically important climate goals dangerously on hold for the foreseeable future.

Partly because of continued lack of trust in the consistency in US leadership (given the dizzying shifts in US policies over the past two decades) many nations have hesitated or outright refused to join a united front in opposition to Russia. As US and other Western diplomats have continued to apply pressure on Latin American, Arab, and Asian countries to join the West’s campaign to punish and isolate Russia, their efforts have been politely rebuffed. These countries have reminded their Western interlocutors that just as various Western nations have placed their national interests first, even though they do not support the Russian actions in Ukraine, they must now place their own economic and geopolitical interests first.

This has led one analyst to cynically describe the emerging US/NATO coalition as “the West against the rest.”

The longer this conflict continues, the more locked in place some of these emerging economic and political realities become, and the greater the danger that the world will become more deeply divided in a new Cold War. Relations will fray, economies will suffer, antagonisms will fester, and new conflicts will emerge.

It was precisely for situations of this sort that the United Nations was created, and international law and conventions were written. If they had been functioning, the aggrieved parties could have demanded negotiations or arbitration. Because all the world powers have degraded the world body and ignored the rules of law and warfare, we lack the mechanisms to resolve conflict and protect rights.

What we are now left with are the same choices we faced five months ago— either pouring more gasoline on the fire or mobilizing international pressure to forge a negotiated solution. It won’t be easy or even palatable to find a way forward. Sacrifices will most likely be required and neither side will get what they want. But it’s either that or a continued downward spiral that will lead us all to a divided and dystopian new world order— one which we should be seeking to avoid at all costs.

Being Pakistan isn’t easy

Rupee’s slide

Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

will win this war. While the Russians will be ground down in a long conflict that will cost them dearly, the Ukrainians will pay the dearest price in lives, treasure, homes and infrastructure, and security.

There are additional costs to this war, some of which will only become apparent in the years to come. First and foremost is the fate of the millions of Ukrainian refugees who have been forced to flee their country or who have been internally displaced by the fighting. As is the case in every war of these proportions, only the naive assume that when the hostilities end, the refugees will simply return. In the first place, we have no idea when, how, or if this war will end.

What should be certain, however, is that the longer it continues, and the more damage done, the greater the number of refugees who will either be unable or will choose not to go back. In that case, we must ask whether the countries who were initially welcoming of refugees will remain so?

Then there are the unanticipated geopolitical transformations that are slowly beginning to take shape in response to this war. In the immediate aftermath of the invasion, President Biden, taking a rhetorical page from the likes of Winston Churchill, spoke of the world coming together to oppose Russia.

Weapons and aid were sent to Ukraine and NATO countries enacted ever-expanding sanctions on Russia. In speeches we were told that these crippling economic measures would isolate Russia, devastate their economy, and help bring the bear to its knees.

Some of these measures were necessary and others were justifiable. But just as the invasion will have consequences, both intended and unintended, the farreaching economic measures and efforts to impose isolation will as well.

On the one hand, the loss of Russian oil and gas and Russian-blockaded Ukrainian wheat are having a devastating impact on the economies and peoples of both East and West. While not able to immediately transition, Russia has, with some difficulty, been able to recoup some of its losses by selling its vital resources in Asian markets. Because restrictions have been placed on Russia’s ability to trade in dollars, they have demanded payment in rubles, giving their currency a needed boost. Meanwhile, the rising costs of fuel and flour are destabilizing countries, both rich and poor. And the scramble to find new sources of oil

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06-07 Comments - 27th July 2022_Layout 1 7/27/2022 12:39 AM Page 2

Wednesday, 27 July, 2022

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

E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively

Can we tackle heavy rains in Karachi?

THE residents of Defence Housing Authority (DHA) braved similar rains in 2020 and expected better results this time. However, little has changed as far as water accumulation is concerned.

Though the DHA and the Cantonment Board Clifton (CBC) have done some repairs and arranged a number of generator-driven pumps near lowlying areas, the magnitude of rainwater remains beyond their capacity to handle.

I have some observations and suggestions for the DHA and CBC. There are many areas where sewerage is diverted into storm water drains.

The design velocity of sewerage and storm water is different.

Storm water drains have huge cross-sectional areas, while a higher cross-sectional area slows down the velocity of sewerage, which results in the solids settling down in storm water drains. The soil and the sand blown into the storm water drains also settle at the bottom.

All this, in turn, drastically reduces the depth and capacity of the drains. The designed gravity flow alone fails to drain rainwater, and, together with storm water overflows, it moves into houses.

To overcome these issues, the authorities concerned should remove RCC top covers and do thorough cleaning of the sludge that has settled in storm water drains. Sewerage should not be discharged into storm water drains. Huge capacity diesel engine-driven pumps should be installed permanently at the tail end of all storm water drains. These huge pumps will handle water flow during torrential rain and high tide. A monthly dredging out contract should be awarded to keep the drains dry and cleaned. Above all, netting should be installed to prevent plastic bags getting into the drains.

The authorities concerned will do a lot of good by making use of these and other simple suggestions to manage the chaos.

S. Nayyar Iqbal raza KarachI

Relentless downpour

A cloud of constitutional illegitimacy What being a trustee chief minister really means

sarmaD sattar

I

N despotic governments, the governments have usurped, in a similar manner, both the State and the people: hence all arbitrary doctrines and pretensions concerning the supreme, absolute, unbridled and uncontrollable powers of governments. In almost every nation, which has been denominated free, the State has assumed a supercilious pre-eminence above the people who have formed it. Hence, the haughty notions of state independence, state sovereignty, and state supremacy.

A few weeks ago, on June30, a five-member bench of the Lahore High Court, decided the fate of the run-off for the Chief Minister election held on April 14, in light of the exegesis of the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Article 63A of the Constitution. Regardless of whether the Party head proceeds to take punitive action against the defected member, as envisaged under Article 63A(b), the Court ruled that the vote of any member of a Parliamentary party that is cast contrary to directions issued by the Parliamentary head would not be counted and must be disregarded. More so, on recounting if the then Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz loses the required majority, required by Article 130(4) of the Constitution and Rule 20 of the Rules of Procedure of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab, 1997, the Notification of his appointment to the office of the Chief Minister would be deemed to have been quashed, albeit the functions performed and exercised by the then Chief Minister, who awaits indictment in a Rs 16-billion money laundering case booked by the Federal investigation Agency, and his cabinet would be protected under the “de facto doctrine”. Interestingly enough, no de facto regime has discarded the Constitution altogether. But, through this mechanism, the Constitution has survived in name, if not always in practice.

Courts have traditionally shielded the acts of malapportioned or otherwise illegally constituted legislatures from dissolution by em-

ploying the “de facto doctrine,” an ancient common law policy tool with its medieval origin. In its most basic form, the de facto doctrine seeks to safeguard the acts of unlawful but well-intentioned public officials from collateral attack out of concern for third-party reliance and a bald recognition of necessity. The de facto doctrine and its variants have been used as tools of equity for centuries to affirm the validity of acts executed by public officials lacking the authority. In other words, the doctrine may be used to protect reliance on administrative acts, but it may not be employed to harm others.

In fact, the acts of a de facto officer or authority are as binding as those of a de jure officer. The Latin phrases, de facto and de jure, are closely related concepts. De facto means to have a state of affairs that is true in fact, but that is not officially sanctioned. In contrast, de jure means a state of affairs that is in accordance with law. The acts of officers de facto performed by them within the scope of their assumed official authority, in the interest of the public or third persons and not for their own benefit, are generally as valid and binding as if they were the acts of officers de jure.

In substance, the de facto doctrine was introduced into the law as a matter of policy and necessity, to protect the interest of the public and the individual where those interests were involved in the official acts of persons exercising the duties of an office without being lawful officers. The official acts of such persons are recognized as valid under the de facto doctrine, born of necessity and public policy to prevent needless confusion and endless mischief. It is no doubt well settled that the acts of the officers de facto performed by them within the scope of their assumed authority in the interest of the public or the third persons and not for their own benefits, are generally held valid and binding as if they were the acts of the officers de jure.

A reading of the said does not give an omnibus authority to hold that every illegal act or acts performed which smacks of very many illegalities and incongruities should be merely ignored and validated. It has to be kept in mind that even while applying the de facto doctrine whether such acts performed were aimed at the prevention of public and private mischief and for the protection of public and private interest.

The application of the de facto doctrine simply meant that although an office was held illegally, decisions rendered by it before the judgment of the court would hold ground and must have been accepted for all practical purposes. In fact, the doctrine of de facto ensures smooth running of the system and gives validity to the acts performed in the interests of a third party by an officer or authority. However, its application is dependent on three prerequisites: 1. There should be possession of office and performance of duties attached to it; 2. There should be some apparent right to the office and acquiescence in possession thereof by the public; and 3.

The act in question should not be for the usurper’s own interest.

Thus it is seen that the courts of England and of the USA both lay down the rule that in determining whether a man is a usurper, whose official acts are absolutely null and void, or a de facto officer, whose acts have the force of de jure acts in all except direct proceedings, dependence is placed simply upon the sufficiency and extent of powers exercised by him from the title to his office. As Judge Sir Francis Buller puts out in State v. Carroll: "An officer defacto is one whose acts, though not those of a lawful officer, the law upon principles of policy and justice will hold valid so far as they involve the interests of the public and of third persons." Later, the American Courts also accepted and applied the English rule. If the question is answered in the affirmative, he is an officer de facto; if not, he is a mere intruder.

The application of the de facto doctrine simply meant that although an office was held illegally, decisions rendered by it before the judgment of the court would hold ground and must have been accepted for all practical purposes. In fact, the doctrine of de facto ensures smooth running of the system and gives validity to the acts performed in the interests of a third party by an officer or authority

The writer is a lawyer based in Lahore.

kARACHI was teetering on the brink of abysses. In recent days, heavily pouring has made it a scourge of fate worse than death for karachi’s residents. Due to relentless rainfall in karachi, many areas were submerged in water, including DHA which received the highest rainfall of about 120mm.

The situation has become worse owing to clogged drainage lines, as a result, houses around Gujjar and Orangi nullahs are inundated with sewerage and rainfall water.

The question is why does the rainfall always cause chaos and destruction in Pakistan even if it is pale in comparison to other countries, thus Pakistan ranks 145th in WDP which is far less than others. It all happened in the light of negligence and mismanagement by state authorities, most of whom were in complete slumber as always amid this calamity and let it happen.

As repercussions, at least 26 people met a sticky end while thousands were left stuck without shelter, food and drinking water. Now what we should and must do is to find a holistic solution of reconstructing the drainage system along with housing and transport infrastructure after that government should test these projects as capable enough of facing such calamity again. To make this dream come true, we need to come in a coalition, without caring about political controversies, and work together to make karachi prosperous in all dimensions.

TahIr JaMalI, NawabShah.

Poverty I have been living in Canada since 1996 after having lived in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and karachi earlier. The little story that I am about to narrate relates to my last visit to Pakistan that was in 2015. Years have passed by, but I am unable to forget the images that I saw back then; images of a woman protecting her dignity even in extreme poverty.

That evening, we were returning from Sea View when my daughters pointed to the fried fish vendors on University Road close to Hassan Square in Gulshan-i-Iqbal. We stopped there to try it out and enjoyed the stuff. The setup also included a person, who was being addressed by one and all as lala, whose job was to keep the beggars away from destroying the customers’ experience. As we were just getting off after paying, a begging woman broke through the parameter and put her hand on my youngest daughter’s head and asked that we buy food for her children. There was no negotiation. I quietly went to the cashier and ordered some fish for her and left quietly.

When I was seated in the car and we were getting out of the parking area, I saw another woman, who never tried to bug us with her tale of poverty. She was moving towards the table that we had just emptied and which had not been cleaned up yet.

Before I could even say a word, this woman opened her arms and from within the sheet of cloth she had wrapped herself with came out a little girl, perhaps six or seven years old. The woman picked up the leftovers, mostly fish skin, and gave it to the girl and just as quickly put the rest in a plastic bag she was carrying.

Then she moved to our bone plate and made a small roll of smaller fishbones and put them in her mouth. She was clearly trying to fill her stomach with whatever was available. I heard the cashier harshly yell at lala, directing him to chase the woman and her daughter away. Just then I heard someone honking at the back. Instinctively, I turned back to have a look. I would have missed the scene for at best five seconds, but that woman and her daughter had just disappeared from the scene as if they were never there. We tried to locate them, but could not.

That great woman was hungry, her child was starving, but her self-respect and dignity prevented her from begging. She didn’t allow lala to push her away or yell at her using foul words. I could have jumped out of the car, but thought that if I buy food for everyone, I would never leave, or perhaps some street thug would try to harm my family, assuming I had too much money.

Over the years, I have often thought about her, prayed for her and her daughter. I have cried many a time thinking about her. Maybe I cry for myself because I could have made things better for her, but decided to move away from that penny-less starving woman and her young daughter. I chose to be a coward. Despite being poor, starving and eating from other people’s soiled plates, the woman was still in complete control of her situation in that particular moment and had chosen to eat even fish-bones, but not to seek help other than of the Divine variety.

SyEd huSaIN alI albErTa, caNada

08 WORLD VIEW 27th July 22_Layout 1 7/26/2022 11:37 PM Page 1

Wednesday, 27 July, 2022

08 WORLD VIEW

The sOaring Us dOllar raises The prOspecT Of an UnUsUal cUrrency war

Sydney morning herald

T

StePhen BartholomeUSz

HE ugly US inflation numbers will exacerbate the plight of countries confronted by the cross currents of weakening currencies and surging inflation rates of their own, and cause uncomfortable dilemmas for their central banks.

The 9.1 per cent headline inflation print in the US was significantly worse than anticipated and will force the US Federal Reserve Board to consider a drastic response at the next meeting of its Open Market Committee late this month. There’s already speculation of a 100 basis point move.

The rates differential between the US and the other major economies – the euro-

zone, Japan and China – has already caused the greenback to strengthen significantly, weakening the other currencies.

The euro hit parity with the US dollar for the first time since 2002 after the release of the inflation data. It has depreciated about 12 per cent against the dollar since the start of the year. The yen has fallen about 16 per cent against the dollar this year to its lowest exchange rate in nearly quarter of a century while China’s yuan - whose value is managed, albeit pegged to the dollar - has fallen nearly 6 per cent.

There is a different mix of influences at play to explain the currencies’ depreciation, but the common thread is the divergence of monetary policies.

The US is tightening aggressively – it has raised its policy rate 150 basis points in the past three months – while, even though the European Central Bank has signalled that it will start to tighten policy this month as well, monetary conditions in Europe and Japan are loose. China has embarked on fiscal stimulus while keeping its monetary policy settings steady.

CAPITAL FLIGHT TOWARDS THE US: The increasing interest rate differentials are sucking capital from the rest of the world towards the US, a flow exaggerated by the threat of a global recession and the volatility in markets generated by the war in Ukraine.

The US bond market is the world’s traditional safe haven.

Japan usually benefits from a “risk off” environment and has minimal inflation, but its negative policy rate (minus 0.1 per cent) and cap on its 10-year bond rate of “about 0 per cent” seem to have eroded that status.

The most vulnerable economy to what could be further increases in the dollar’s relative strength if the Fed does what most expect it to and continue to force rates higher is the eurozone.

Conventionally a weak currency ought to boost exports, but the impact of Europe’s reliance on Russia for its energy has seen the trade deficits of the major European economies blow out as soaring energy costs have overwhelmed any benefit from the euro’s depreciation in exports. Even Germany, one of the world’s major export economies, is now running a current account deficit.

EUROPE’S LOOMING RECESSION: The European Central Bank is confronted by an inflation rate that is tracking that of the US – it was 8.6 per cent last month. And that’s even as the disparate economies within the eurozone are heading towards a recession that, if coupled with rising interest rates, could create a financial crisis for the overlyindebted southern European economies like Italy and Greece.

The ECB has no choice but to try to get control of the inflation rate by raising interest rates and withdrawing liquidity while scrambling to devise a policy mechanism for

What is this ‘rules-based international order’ that Western elites keep talking about?

AMERICA, AND ITS ALLIES, LOVE TO INVOKE THE CODE WORDS FOR ‘YOU ARE FREE TO DO AS WE TELL YOU’

rT/rachelmarSden.com

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S President Joe Biden has beaten the drum that Americans will have to pay high prices for energy for “as long as it takes” to stick it to Russia in Ukraine. A couple of months ago, when one of Biden’s advisors, Brian Deese, was quizzed about the president’s response to the price hikes on Cnn, he replied: “This is about the future of the liberal world order and we have to stand firm."

In 2016, then Vice-President Joe Biden said to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a visit to Ottawa: “The world is going to spend a lot of time looking to you Mr. Prime Minister as we see more and more challenges to the liberal international order than any time since the end of World War Two.” French President Emmanuel Macron invoked a similar concept of fighting to maintain a certain “world order” during his press conference at the conclusion of the G7 Summit this June in Germany, when he said that the Russia-Ukraine conflict upsets the principles of international rules that have been established since 1945.

Macron didn’t elaborate, but that was the year the United nations was created and France was given a permanent seat on its security council alongside the US, Russia, the UK, and China.

Also in June, when European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited new Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, both leaders issued a joint statement that “reaf-

firmed new Zealand's and the European Union's strong commitment to multilateralism and the rules based international order.”

So, what exactly is this “world order”? Why can’t Western officials stop evoking it? And what does the conflict in Ukraine have to do with it?

In short, it’s a vision of a world that’s Western-led with dominant classic Western values of economic and trade freedom serving as a foothold for spreading political freedom to the ultimate benefit of the average citizen.

At least in theory.

The reality is much more complicated. All too often, the spreading of freedom hasn’t been free — at least for the average person. Military interventions or covert political interference are typically used to upend unwanted systems so that a compliant leadership can be installed that will primarily serve the economic and political interests of Western elites. The concern for the people and their personal economic situation generally ends there, even if they end up worse off than before, as is often the case.

The “world order” has also historically implied an unequal East-West bipolarity, with the West historically seen as dominant. So why are Western elites so worried about the state of all of this now? Well, let’s face it — the sands are shifting. And it has been a long time coming.

More people are starting to question the benefit to the average person of military interventions sold under the guise of spreading of freedom and democracy. Instead, they’re exploiting globalization and economic liberalism by living, working, or selling abroad.

They’re doing so using the technological tools initially funded and created

by Western governments for the purpose of global mercantilism and Big Brother surveillance.

With the growing independence of the average person comes an increased distaste for big government interference. Their independence also allows for a more clear-eyed view of the notso-invisible hand of the state and the mess that it has made in recent years under the control of Western establishment elites who can seem almost comically detached from everyday

priorities and realities.

The conflict in Ukraine risks creating the ultimate nightmare for Western elites: an alternative group of allies over which the West has no control, but which has the capacity to offer citizens of the world economic opportunities that are competitive with what their own governments or countries are offering. Or as former CIA director and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently told a Washington think-tank: “By aiding Ukraine, we undermined the creation of a RussianChinese axis bent on exerting military and economic hegemony in Europe.”

Events in Ukraine and the Western sanctions resulting from it are serving to catalyze the development and implementation of a parallel Eastern or South-Eastern offer with alternative systems and structures. The result is even greater freedom of choice for the average Western citizen who can even further lessen their reliance on their own government. Good luck trying to sell or leverage the conventional “us versus them” concept that underpins the old world order to citizens who are enjoying the benefits of access to “them”.

As Western governments lose control, they’re cracking down on those who advocate in favor of greater sovereignty and independence — two concepts which the elites love to invoke for manipulative purposes but see almost as dirty words when coming from the mouths of actual people seeking to assert their own rights. The rise of populism is also a symptom of the problem that Western governments created for themselves by failing to reverse course on their own systemic corruption and increasingly authoritarian tendencies.

Western elites are doubling down in Ukraine to save the world order that protects their own selfish interests, thinking that it’s the way to prevent a parallel option from emerging. It’s as simple as that. And they don’t care if it’s the average citizen who has to pay the price.

Rachel Marsden is a columnist, political strategist, and host of independently produced talk-shows in French and English.

preventing the yields on Italian and Greek debt—already more than 200 basis points above those of German bunds – from blowing out further and precipitating a crisis and the threat of eurozone fragmentation.

Higher interest rates and Europe’s energy crisis spell deep recession even as the steep fall in the value of the euro helps increase import prices, swell the inflation rate and necessitate a stronger monetary policy response than would be the case if the depreciation were less dramatic.

Japan’s circumstances are different. It doesn’t have an inflation problem. It is, however, experiencing a similar energy and raw materials cost shock; one that has generated its biggest current account deficit in nearly a decade.

The appreciation of the US dollar against most other currencies (the Australian dollar has fallen from more than 75 US cents in April to less than 68 US cents) will also heavily impact developing economies because of their over-exposure to US dollar-denominated debt. Interest costs and principal repayments are rising sharply.

‘REVERSE CURRENCY WAR’: The extent and rate at which the greenback has strengthened will force the central banks in other major economies to respond with higher rates than they would otherwise deploy in economies where conditions are already deteriorating.

That prospect has been described as a

“reverse currency war,” or a series of attempted “competitive revaluations” as central banks try to dampen the effects on imported inflation and reduced living standards of the strong US currency.

That’s the opposite of what countries, particularly economies like China and Japan, have historically done. Past currency wars have been ignited by competitive devaluations in pursuit of export competitiveness and trade surpluses.

There have been some calls for a 2022 version of the “Plaza Accord,” the 1985 agreement among the then G-5 (it’s now G7) nations of the US, the UK, France, Germany and Japan to act in concert to weaken the US dollar through their economic policies and interventions in currency markets.

There has been co-operation between the US and Japan on managing exchange rates since then, albeit there haven’t been any major interventions in the market this century, and currencies were a topic of conversation when the US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen met Japanese finance minister Shunichi Suzuki this week.

After the meeting, Yellen made it clear that she wouldn’t support any intervention to weaken the US dollar, saying her government’s view was that the G-7 countries should have market-determined exchange rates. The formal joint statement after the discussions, however, did say the Russian invasion of Ukraine had raised exchange rate volatility and that the participants had pledged to “co-operate as appropriate” on currency issues.

So, there is no bilateral or multilateral intervention planned – yet -- to halt the rise and rise of the US dollar.

Stephen Bartholomeusz is one of Australia’s most respected business journalists.

Public worship is everywhere in India – so how are arrests being made for namaz?

“WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IS ARBITRARY DISCRIMINATION AGAINST ONE RELIGION” Scroll

O

Umang Poddar

n Sunday, the Lucknow Police made its seventh arrest in an incident where eight people were offering namaz at Lulu Mall in Lucknow. The persons have been booked under penal sections relating to promoting enmity between groups and causing public mischief, among other sections. The family of those arrested claim that they had asked for permission to pray. However, the mall’s administration said that it does not allow any religious worship in its premises. The incident at Lulu Mall is not unique. There have been a spate of instances of Muslims being arrested for praying in public.

Legal experts, however, say that praying in public is not a criminal offence. There must be a specific intent to cause disharmony among groups, which is not apparent in these cases. Further, several acts of public worship occur every day and state authorities do not stop them. Therefore, to only target certain religious acts is discriminatory.

PENALISING PRAYER In the past few months, there have been a number of instances of Muslims getting penalised for praying in public. On Saturday, eight people were arrested in Haridwar for offering namaz publicly.

They were granted bail a few hours later. Earlier, on Friday, after a video of people offering namaz at the Prayagraj railway station waiting area circulated, the police started an investigation into the matter. The police have said that they will take action based on the result of the investigation.

The politics of this is not new. In June, a professor in Aligarh was sent on a month’s leave after he read the namaz on the lawns of his college. The college set up an inquiry against the professor and the police also started an investigation. In May, four tourists were arrested for offering namaz in a mosque situated inside the Taj Mahal.

Earlier in January, a Hindutva outfit barged into a waiting room of a railway station in Bengaluru where namaz was being offered. They complained that the prayer was a “threat to national security” and threatened severe protests if the authorities did not stop the namaz. This was despite such prayers being offered for “at least 30 years” and the station housing a temple and a Christian prayer hall.

WHAT LAWS ARE USED TO PENALISE SUCH ACTS? In the Lulu Mall incident, the accused were booked under four sections of the Indian Penal Code. These deal with: promoting enmity between groups (Section 153A), outraging the religious feelings of a group (Section 295A), wrongfully restraining a person (Section 341) and statements causing public mischief (Section 505).

Under some of these sections, the police can arrest a person without a warrant and bail is not given by default.

In Haridwar, the accused were booked under Section 151 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which allows a policeman to arrest someone to pre-

vent a crime from being committed. Further, in Agra, the four arrested were booked under Section 153 of the IPC, which penalises any provocation with the intention of causing a riot.

NOT A CRIME Several legal experts told Scroll.in that arresting people for offering namaz in public was an act not backed by Indian law. “Based on the facts I know, I cannot understand how offering namaz in public can attract criminal liability,” said Delhibased senior advocate nitya Ramakrishnan.

For invoking sections relating to promoting enmity and outraging religious feelings, “there has to be a specific criminal intent in doing acts that can lead to disharmony, which I do not see,” Delhibased senior advocate Sanjay Hegde said. “In case, the Muslim employees want to keep up with their religion and pray five times a day, it should not invite any criminal action.”

Further, an act can be made a crime only if causes harm to someone. “If there is no harm, there cannot be any criminal action,” Delhi-based advocate on record Talha Abdul Rahman said.

WRONG APPLICATION OF LAW There are limited grounds on which praying in public can be forbidden. However, even those are not applicable in the present instance. “The only thing which the law prohibits is constructing places of worship in public places,” Rahman pointed out.

“But praying is like expressing your conscience.

That people can do anywhere.”

The Constitution, under Article 25(1), also guarantees the right to freely “profess, practise and propagate religion”. This right can only be regulated on grounds of public order, morality, health and other provisions in the fundamental rights chapter of the Constitution. “Therefore, say if I am causing a public order situation or impinging upon someone else’s rights, then my right can be curtailed,” said Supreme Court advocate nizam Pasha.

“But this is not the case here.”

Further, lawyers said that establishments could have certain rules forbidding worshipping. “You could have a rule, say, prohibiting prayers at a cinema hall,” Hegde said. “But that can also only attract civil action if breached and not a jail term.”

Thus, he said that even if Lulu Mall prohibits prayers, the action cannot attract criminal liability.

RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION Lawyers also pointed out that prayers regularly happen in public and the state does not, as a rule, act against people worshipping in public places.

“Projection of religiosity is a common occurrence in India,” Ramakrishnan said. There are several religious events on “public roads and parks, like bhajans etc.”, Hegde added.

However, Ramakrishnan pointed out that targeting only certain forms of prayers will “make it a state policy of prejudice”. “What is happening right now is arbitrary discrimination against one religion,” Pasha added. In case it wants to ban praying in public, Hedge asked rhetorically if the state would also prohibit bhajans and similar acts worship.

Wednesday, 27 July, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

NEWS corporate corner Legendary Global Brand Levi’s® Announces Partnership With Jomo.Pk

Jomo Technologies, Pakistan’s leading online fashion platform has announced a strategic partnership with Levi’s®, one of the world's most popular apparel companies and a global leader in denim to support their digital commerce in Pakistan.

Levi’s® has been a symbol of progressive, industrious nations for more than 150 years and blue jeans (the brand’s invention) has become a staple for men and women wardrobes everywhere. We are all forever in search of a pair of jeans that are on trend and have the perfect fit.

To achieve this end, Jomo is introducing its signature ‘TryBefore-You-Buy’ offer on jeans for the first time in Pakistan, and not just any jeans, but an authentic pair of Levi’s®!

Levi’s® addition to Jomo’s western wear collection will reinforce Jomo’s goal to deliver lifestyle solutions to all Pakistanis – conveniently.

On the occasion of the launch, Ali Khan Bajauri CEO of Jomo Technologies stated, ‘Onboarding a brand like Levi’s® is significant because, like us, they value a strong partnership and are committed to working toward a more sustainable fashion future as well as closing the fashion loop. With Levi’s®, we're seeking to reach out to a younger demographic who are looking for an iconic and authentic casual wear brand.’ This partnership is based on collaboration between two complementary entities and shared values; Jomo will champion Levi’s® dedication to sustainability in their denim manufacture, particularly their objective to dramatically reduce water consumption during production. Staff RePoRt

PTCL & U Microfinance Bank announce successful conversion of U Bank’s Rs. 1,000M debt into equity

Islamabad: Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), country’s largest ICT services provider and U Microfinance Bank Ltd. (U Bank), a wholly owned microfinance subsidiary of PTCL announced successful conversion of U Bank’s subordinated debt into equity, signed by both institutions for an amount of PKR 1,000 million during a ceremony held in Islamabad.

President and Group CEO, PTCL & Ufone, Hatem Bamatraf and President & CEO, U Bank, Kabeer Naqvi, signed the document that was witnessed by senior members of management from both organizations. PR

NO KE INfRASTRUCTURE LINKEd TO RECENT REPORTEd INCIdENTS Of SHOCK IN RAIN SPELL KArAchI

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PR

S the city braced itself during another spell of torrential rains throughout the last 2 days, KE confirmed that the utility’s infrastructure was not involved in any of the 08 electrocution cases reported on 24th, 25th, and 26th July 2022. All of these unfortunate incidents were reported from either within private or commercial premises or in the public domain, which involved reasons beyond KE’s infrastructure.

While expressing grief and extending sympathies with the affected families on these incidents, KE spokesperson reiterated the dire need to take precautionary measures especially in storm conditions, which are

crucial to minimizing the probability of such unfortunate incidents in Karachi.

On Sunday, July 24, KE received reports of 03 electrocution cases across the city, including one inside a house in Lyari area in which 35-year-old Shah Hussain, was reportedly shocked by leaking current in a pedestal fan inside his home. Another incident involving 18-year-old Abdul Rahman was reported in Liaquatabad, where electrocution occurred while operating a water motor inside the home during the rains. In Surjani, 22-year-old Waqar also received a fatal shock while working on electrical wiring inside his home as per initial information.

On Monday, July 25, reports of an additional 03 additional cases involving electrocution were received. One was reported near Hassan Square in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, where a citizen iden-

tified as Anzar was shocked while plugging a phone charger with wet hands into a faulty socket inside a makeshift puncture repair shop.

Another involved 60-year-old Salamat Masih who was electrocuted by coming into contact with a streetlight pole with damaged insulation near the Tannery Road area of Lyari. In Bihar Colony, a 35-year-old man and 10-year-old child of the same family also unfortunately died due to electrocution within their home.

On Tuesday, July 26, KE received 02 reports of an alleged electrocution in Qaim Khani Colony in Baldia and Vita Chowrangi in Korangi Industrial Area.

Upon investigation of the first incident, no evidence of leakage in current or any broken wire was found. Furthermore, the available electricity meter had also been previously disconnected. 35-year-

CDA eases property transfer, other procedures ISLAMABAD Staff RePoRt

In order to facilitate the general public, Capital Development Authority has eased property transfer and other related procedures. In this regard, unnecessary requirements have been abolished so that property related matters could be disposed swiftly. In this regard, initially the printing of transfer letters of the sectors dealt in Estate Management-I has been centralized.

According to which, from August 1, the Assistant Director Admitting One-Window Operation Directorate, after admitting the case, shall take print of the transfer letter, sign, stamp and embossing will hand it over to the transferee on the same day. In this regard, instructions have been issued to the Directorate of Information Technology to ensure all arrangements by 1st August. Initially, the process of issuing transfer letters of all sectors dealt with in Estate Management-I has been centralized, after which the process of issuing transfer letters of properties of sectors dealt with in Estate Affectees Section will be centralized.

Similarly, the condition of obtaining NOC from the Building Control Section for the process of transfer of properties to legal heirs under inheritance has also been replaced with an undertaking. In this regard, the legal heirs will now submit an undertaking to the Capital Development Authority that they will be bound to remove any illegal structure after completion of the legal heirship process.

In this regard, the prescribed processing fee of the Building Control Section has to be deposited as per practice. Under this process, Es-

tate Management-I, State Management-II and Estate Affectees Section on receipt of application /legal documentation for legal heirship will forward the case for obtaining reports from Building Control Directorate to ascertain the violation of Building Control Regulations.

In case of violation of Building Control Regulation, the legal heirs shall submit an affidavit to the Capital Development Authority that they will remove the violation within 6 months, but the property transferred to the legal heirs could not be transferred further until the violation of Building Control Regulations 2020 is not eliminated. It should be noted that if a property is falling under the category of non-conferring use, then the non-conferring use must be terminated before the property is transferred to the legal heirs. Similarly, the period for issuance of No Demand Certificate (NDC) issued by Estate Management-I and Estate Management-II has also been reduced to 4 days. In this regard, instructions have been issued to complete the process of issuing NDC within 4 days after submission of application. In this context, in case of any legal complication, the allottee or the applicant will be informed in time as to why the NDC is not being issued on their request.

It should be noted that the present management of CDA has taken several steps for early disposal of property related issues of general public. CDA Facilitation Center has been activated and helpline 1819 has also been established to provide efficient facilities to the citizens using modern technology. These initiatives are aimed at quick resolution of citizens' problems and will also help in making CDA an effective service delivery institution.

PM approves appointment of Chairman Privatization Commission Meeting of Board of Directors NTDC chaired by Mr. Naveed Ismail held at Wapda House Lahore, MD NTDC and other members also participated in the meeting. PR

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Islamabad: Prime Minister has approved the appointment of Chairman Privatization Commission. As per the notification, Federal Minister for Privatization Abid Hussain Bhayo has been entrusted with the charge of Chairman PC. "The Prime Minister has been pleased to appoint Abid Hussain Bhayo as Chairman Privatization Commission in terms of section (7) (1) of PC Ordinance, 2000 as amended vide PC (amendment) act 2021 with immediate effect and until further orders”. Sources said that Chairman PC has financial or administrative powers so that's why the high ups of government forced Former Chairman PC Saleem Ahmad to tender resignation. Staff RePoRt

old Arshad had evidence of head trauma, which was attributed as the cause of death. At Vita Chowrangi, initial investigations revealed that 23year-old Usman passed away outside of a shop in the area, but there was no KE infrastructure located in the immediate vicinity nor were any broken wires or live current detected in the area.

Per Spokesperson KE, “We are deeply saddened by the unfortunate incidents that have taken place across Karachi and urge our valued customers to continue taking all possible safety precautions within and beyond the monsoon season. In case anyone notices an anomaly in KE’s infrastructure, they may report emergency complaints on priority using our call center 118 which is operational 24/7.

We are committed to providing safe and uninterrupted power to Karachi.”

Hub Bridge Collapse: Land Link Continues Between Sindh And Balochistan: NHA ISLAMABAD PR

The Spokesperson of the National Highway Authority has issued a statement which nullifies the news story regarding detaching of connection between Sindh and Balochistan provinces due to the demolition of the Hub Bridge on the Karachi-Quetta National Highway (N-25). It says that the respective news items are not based on reality. The statement clarified that the traffic is plying through the Hub ByPass.

According to the details, the bridge on the Hub River on the National Highway (N-25) connecting Karachi to Balochistan has collapsed as a result of recent heavy rains and resultant floods. However, the traffic continues through the Hub Bypass. The 11 km long Hub Bypass starts near Mouza Beirut (Makki Masjid) and joins the national highway near the customs check post after the bridge over the Hub River.

Now, the Hub Bypass is used as an alternative safe route on which the traffic is flowing smoothly. Furthermore, the National Highway Authority has sought the advice of construction experts for the reconstruction of a new bridge over the Hub River and has expressed its commitment to complete it in the minimum possible time.

IIUI To Hold Admission Expo On July 28 ISLAMABAD Staff RePoRt

International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) shall hold the admission expo 2022 on the theme “opportunities for lifelong learning” on Thursday July 28th, at students’ activity center, new campus of the university. In addition to the details of the offered degree programs, career counseling and guidance about the process of applying in all 10 faculties, the visitor parents and candidates shall be given opportunity to meet the faculty members as well as they will also have the facility to have campus tour on the occasion. All 10 faculties shall set up stalls to provide details of more than 100 degree progress in nearly 50 department of the university. The faculty shall be guiding and answering the queries related to the field and scope of subjects, available facilities, curriculum, eligibility and counseling. The visitors shall be provided shuttle service to pick and drop them from university entry gates to expo venue.

The admission expo is free and open for all, while female students may join it from 10 to till 12 pm, while male students may join from 2pm to 4 pm. In case of any query regarding the expo or admission, male candidates may call on 051-9019567, while female candidates may call on 051-9019319.

Pakistan to organize First Maritime Expo & Conference 2023 ISLAMABAD Staff RePoRt

Soft launch of premier edition of Pakistan International Maritime Expo & Conference (PIMEC) was held at Islamabad. Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif was the Chief Guest at the Launching ceremony of the exhibition.

PIMEC is scheduled to be held at Karachi Expo Centre from 10-12 February 2023. While addressing at the ceremony, the Defence Minister appreciated Pakistan Navy for taking the initiative to exhibit potential of Pakistan's Maritime Sector through PIMEC. He said that Pakistan offers enormous oppor-

tunities for profitable investments, joint ventures and trade in the maritime sector. He highlighted that oceans bring the nations closer and therefore the need to make them a safer place through collaborative efforts of all stakeholders. Pakistan as a responsible state is committed to play its role for international peace, stability and order.

The Defence Minister dilated upon Pakistan Maritime Potential that can contribute enormously to our national economy. Development of efficient ship-breaking industry, trans-shipment ports, fisheries industry, coastal tourism, water sports and aqua culture are few of the areas which deserve special focus. The Chief Guest emphasized on the integration of

public - private partnership amongst maritime industry to achieve optimum results. He further added that the potential of academic and R&D organizations must be incorporated for enhancing efficiency and productivity of our maritime sector. He assured that Government will continue to create business and investment friendly environment. Towards the end, the Chief Guest hoped that avenues generated through PIMEC will grow and bring Pakistan closer to the cherished goals of realizing regional peace and shared prosperity through collaborative efforts.

Earlier, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi acknowledged the dynamic participation of guests that added great value to the event.

Wednesday, 27 July, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

10 FOREIGN NEWS

China to respond with strongest measures to palosi's taiwan visit BEIJING

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agencies

HINA Tuesday said it’s fully prepared to respond with “strong measures” if U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sticks to her plan to visit Taiwan.

Pelosi will lead a delegation to Taiwan in August, the Financial Times reported last week, citing sources familiar with the matter. The trip would make her the most senior U.S. lawmaker to visit the island since 1997.

“The Chinese side has made clear its firm opposition to the United States about House Speaker Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan on many occasions. We’ve expressed our grave concern and stern position,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said during a regular press briefing on Monday.

Washington’s official exchanges with Taiwan violate the one-China principle, which is guided by provisions in the three China-U.S. joint communiques.

“We are fully prepared. If the U.S. goes its own way, China will certainly take resolute and strong measures to safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the U.S. should assume full responsibility for any consequences,” Zhao said.

If Pelosi visits Taiwan, it will certainly cause extremely serious damage to the relationship between

the two militaries and further intensify tensions across the Taiwan Straits, Tan Kefei, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, said on Tuesday. Tan urged the U.S. side to take practical action

to fulfil its commitment not to support “Taiwan independence” and not to arrange Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, adding the Chinese military will never sit idle if such a plan proceeds.

Congress stages protest in Jammu against Modi regime’s dirty tactics Jammu and Kashmir Congress Committee has staged a protest demonstration against the Modi regime, and its agencies including Enforcement Directorate (ED) for harassing opposition leaders by implicating them in false cases.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the protest was held in Jammu and was led by former minister and Vice President JKPCC Mula Ram. The protesting activists carrying placards raised slogans against the Enforcement Directorate and the Modi regime.

Addressing the gathering Mula Ram said the Modi government is

using its agencies as tools against the opposition party leaders. He said false cases are being framed against Congress Party top leaders and that too without registration of FIR or presence of money transaction records by the Enforcement Directorate.

This is blatant murder of democracy and Congress workers will continue protests till ED, CBI, NIA, etc stop harassing party leaders, he asserted.

Congress youth leader, Uday Chib, said that after failing in governance, BJP was observing the swing of the people towards sup-

porting opposition parties in the elections. It has landed them into utter frustration as a result of which it is resorting to the low tactics.

The people have realized today how the BJP leaders have betrayed the people. He said youth in IIOJK are up in arms against BJP for having failed to fulfill its promises.

In the wake of severe criticism of the Modi-led Indian regime’s campaign to force people in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir to buy Indian flag in connection with India’s Independence Day, the regime has been forced to drag its feet from the drive. agencies

Wang Yi to attend SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Tashkent BEIJING agencies

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will attend the upcoming meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers in Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan, from July 28 to 29, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said on Tuesday.

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and the foreign ministers of other SCO member states have already confirmed their readiness to attend the meeting.

Wang Yi will exchange views with his counterparts of other member states on the international and regional situation and SCO cooperation in various fields and other issues of common concern, so as to make comprehensive preparations for this year’s SCO summit,

Zhao said during his regular briefing.

He said that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the SCO Charter and the 15th anniversary of the signing of Treaty on Long-Term Good Neighborhood, Friendship and Cooperation between the SCO member states.

The SCO has firmly carried forward the Shanghai Spirit, continuously deepened cooperation in various fields, blazed a successful path of a new type of regional organization and made important contributions to the building of a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for mankind.

The spokesperson said that China is willing to work with all parties to strengthen solidarity and mutual trust, deepen high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, implement Global Development Initiatives.

Saudi crown prince touts vertical living in NEOM’s zero-carbon city JEDDAH ReuteRs

The zero-carbon city that Saudi Arabia plans to build at NEOM will vertically layer homes, offices, public parks and schools within a mirrored facade stretching over 170 km (150 miles), the crown prince said on Monday in remarks carried by the state media.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman first unveiled plans for “The Line” in January 2021, the first major construction project for the

$500 billion NEOM business zone aimed at diversifying the economy of the world’s top oil exporter.

The city, 200 metres wide and running on “100 percent renewable energy,” will also include a highspeed rail with an end-to-end transit of 20 minutes. It will eventually accommodate 9 million residents, state news agency SPA cited him as saying.

“The city’s vertically layered communities will challenge the traditional flat, horizontal cities,” the prince said. “The designs of The Line embody how urban communi-

ties will be in the future in an environment free from roads, cars and emissions.”

The prince had said last year that the project’s infrastructure would cost $100 billion to $200 billion. SPA did not provide any updated figures.

The kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, is the cornerstone investor in NEOM, a 26,500-square-km (10,230-square-mile) high-tech development on the Red Sea with several zones.

russia to quit international space station ‘after 2024’ Russia has decided to quit the International Space Station “after 2024”, the newly-appointed chief of Moscow’s space agency told President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday.

The announcement comes as tensions rage between the Kremlin and the West over Moscow’s military intervention in Ukraine and several rounds of unprecedented sanctions against Russia.

Russia and the United States have worked side by side on the ISS, which has been in orbit since 1998.

“Of course, we will fulfil all our obligations to our partners, but the decision to leave this station after 2024 has been made,” Yury Borisov, who was appointed Roscosmos chief in mid-July, told Putin.

“I think that by this time we will start putting together a Russian orbital station,” Borisov added, calling it the space programme’s main “priority”.

“Good,” Putin replied in comments released by the Kremlin. Until now space exploration was one of the few areas where cooperation between Russia and the United States and its allies had not been wrecked by tensions over Ukraine and elsewhere. Borisov said the space industry was in a “difficult situation”. He said he would seek “to raise the bar, and first of all, to provide the Russian economy with the necessary space services”, pointing to navigation, communication, and data transmission, among other things.

Sending the first man into space in 1961 and launching the first satellite four years earlier are among key accomplishments of the Soviet space programme and remain a major source of national pride in Russia.

But experts say the Russian space agency remains a shadow of its former self and has in recent years suffered a series of setbacks including corruption scandals and the loss of a number of satellites and other spacecraft. agencies

11 Sports 27 JULY_Layout 1 7/27/2022 12:02 AM Page 1

Wednesday, 27 July, 2022 | ISLAMABAD

SPORTS 11

KarunaraTne, De SiLVa TaKe Sri LanKa’S LeaD paST 300 in paKiSTan TeST

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NEWS DESk

KIPPER Dimuth Karunaratne battled through back pain to extend Sri Lanka’s secondinnings lead to 323 after key strikes by Pakistan’s bowlers in the second Test on Tuesday.

The hosts reached 176-5 when bad light stopped play early on day three, with stumps called in Galle after more than half an hour’s wait for conditions to improve.

The left-handed Karunaratne, on 27, and Dhananjaya de Silva, on 30, were batting in an unbeaten stand of 59.

Spinner Ramesh Mendis had claimed a five-wicket haul to help

bowl out tourists Pakistan for 231 in the opening session, with the hosts at a lead of 147 going into their second innings.

Sri Lanka were in trouble at 117-5 when Karunaratne, who stayed off the field during Pakistan’s innings, and De Silva got down to the grind.

De Silva took on the opposition bowlers and hit six boundaries with Karunaratne happy to play anchor.

The skipper got help from the physio in between his knock.

Karunaratne rotated the strike and also hit two boundaries including a reverse sweep for four off legspinner Yasir Shah.

Pakistan earlier rattled the Sri Lankan batting with key wickets in-

cluding Angelo Mathews in his 100th Test after the former captain, who made 35, attempted to rebuild the innings with Dinesh Chandimal.

Off-spinner Agha Salman got Mathews out for his maiden Test wicket after Pakistan reviewed the umpire’s call, with ultra-edge technology confirming a spike when the ball passed the bat and into the hands of slip.

The in-form Chandimal, with scores of 206 not out, 76, 94 not out and 80 in his last four innings, looked good on 21 but fell caught behind off fast bowler Naseem Shah soon after tea.

Naseem, who took three wickets in Sri Lanka’s first innings, had struck first with the wicket of

Niroshan Dickwella, who fell for 15 after opening in place of the ailing Karunaratne.

Yasir sent back Oshada Fernando for 19 and fellow spinner Mohammad Nawaz trapped Kusal Mendis lbw for 15.

Pakistan’s innings ended after the tourists resumed the day on 191-7, in reply to Sri Lanka’s first innings of 378.

Off-spinner Ramesh sent back Nauman Ali and then trapped overnight batsman Yasir lbw for 26 to record a third five-wicket haul in his 10th Test to wrap up the innings.

Pakistan lead the two-match series 1-0 and Sri Lanka are looking to draw level on a pitch which has favoured the batsmen but is ex-

pected to turn come day four.

The tourists chased down a

record 342 at the same venue in the opener.

Babar, Shaheen, Rizwan key for Pakistan’s success in World Cup: Ponting Staff REpoRt

Ludwig wins stage 3 of women’s Tour de France, Vos stays in yellow agENcIES Epernay, France: Danish rider Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig outmuscled Marianne Vos to win stage three of the women’s Tour de France on Tuesday but the veteran Dutch rider held on to the yellow jersey. The day after a nightmare stage two for her FDJ-Suez team, marked by the abandonment of title contender Marta Cavalli, Ludwig battled back from a fall to produce a vintage performance in the Champagne region. After two relatively flat rides, the peloton had to face its first climbs as they took on the 133.6km course from Reims to Epernay. Eleven riders slugged it out over the final stages, with Vos working hard to rejoin the leaders after being dropped. The 35-year-old, who took over the yellow jersey with victory in stage two on Monday, kicked hard but it was the younger legs of 26-year-old Ludwig who powered through the line first. “I wanted to help the team, keep my ‘fighting spirit’,” said Luwig who was wearing the jersey of Danish champion. “I knew that if I had the legs, I could play for victory. But from there to do it, to become a winner of stage in the Tour de France and with this jersey… My God, what more could you ask for.” Team Jumbo-Visma’s Vos finished two seconds behind, closely shadowed by South African Ashleigh Moolman, Italians Silvia Persico and Elisa Lono Borghini and Pole Katarzyna Niewiadoma. Vos leads the general classification with a 16-second lead over Valcar-Travel and Service’s Persico and Niewiadoma of Canyon-SRAM Annemiek van Vleuten, one of the pre-race favourites, was dropped on the Mont Bernon climb four kilometres from the finish. The Olympic time-trial champion managed to rejoin the leading group but again fell away in the closing stages and finished 20 seconds after Ludwig. The eight-stage race ends on Sunday.

The 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia is less than three months away and former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has named his favourites for the tournament and Pakistan is not among them.

In the latest episode of the ICC Review, the 47-year-old acknowledged the class of star pacer Shaheen Afridi and the guile of Mohammad Rizwan at the top of the order, he said their batting line-up is too reliant on captain and No.1 ranked batter, Babar Azam.

“If Babar doesn’t have a great tournament, I don’t think they can win,” Ponting said.

“I saw him up close and personal a couple of years ago out here in a Test series against Australia and I said it then, I thought the sky was the limit for this guy as far as Test match batting (was concerned) and, if anything, he’s probably got better and better in the last couple of years.

“Their openers are very important and their new-ball bowlers are very important, but that role of the spin bowler in Australia might be a little bit more difficult with wickets that probably won’t give them assistance.”

Meanwhile, Ponting considered Australia and India the favorites to lift the

title. “I think India and Australia will be the two playing in the final and I will just have to say that Australia will beat them in the final,” Ponting declared.

“The reigning champions have got home conditions and that was one thing that made Australia’s win in the last World Cup, not remarkable, but that little

Olympic javelin champion Chopra out of Commonwealth Games NEW DELHI AFP

India’s Olympic javelin champion Neeraj Chopra has been ruled out of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham with injury, sports authorities said on Tuesday.

“Chopra had called me earlier today from the US to convey his inability to take part in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games owing to fitness concerns,” Indian Olympic Association secretary general Rajeev Mehta said in a statement.

“Following his participation in the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Mr. Chopra had had an MRI scan done on Monday and, based on it, he has been advised a month’s rest by his medical team.” The Commonwealth Games start on Thursday.

Chopra, 24, made history for his country when he won the javelin at last summer’s Tokyo Games, becoming India’s first Olympic athletics gold medallist.

He followed that up with silver at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon at the weekend. Indian media quoted him as complaining

afterwards about “discomfort” in his thigh.

Chopra threw farther than he did in Tokyo and declared himself “satisfied” with second behind Grenada’s Anderson Peters.

“The hunger for gold will continue in me,” Indian media reported Chopra as saying. “But I have to believe we cannot get gold each time.”

bit sweeter for them.

“The fact that a lot of people, me included, thought when they went to UAE, the conditions that they were going to have to face on the back of the IPL, I thought the conditions might have been the thing that might not have allowed them to win it. Ponting also rated England as a real threat to other teams. “I actually think England are an outstanding white-ball team and they have an outstanding white-ball setup,” Ponting said.

“I just think the three teams on paper that look to have most class and the most match-winners are India, Australia and England.” Ponting gives a few other sides an outside chance of riding their luck all the way and at least making it to the title decider at the MCG on November 13.

“I know the game too well and any of New Zealand, Pakistan or West Indies even – we know how they tend to love playing this game and they’re probably most suited to the T20 format.

Galle pitch not easy to bowl on, says Naseem Shah GALLE: Youngster Naseem Shah has claimed that bowling at Galle during the second Test match has not been easy for the bowlers as the pitch does not offer any pace. The 19-year-old pacer took two wickets for Pakistan on Day 3 of the second match against Sri Lanka.

Despite that, while speaking to the reporters, Naseem raised concerns regarding the pitch. “There is no favour for pacers on this pitch. But as professionals, you have to be prepared for it. I tried to bowl on good line and lengths to at least concede fewer runs,” Naseem said.

Pakistan only managed to add 40 runs to their overnight total and were tumbled over for 231 runs. In response, Sri Lanka scored 176/5 at the end of Day 3 and managed to increase their lead to 323 runs. Speaking about chasing down the total, Naseem said that Pakistan have done it already in the series and possesses all the right talent to do it again. “I believe we can do this again. There is not much turn on this pitch so I guess it would be easy to bat on the last day,” the youngster added. Building on his point, Naseem said that Shaun Tait has added value for the Pakistan team as he is currently acting as the bowling coach for the national team. “Shaun gives positive vibes and shares good things with us. StAFF RePoRt

Knee joints of Ex-World Champion Mohib Ullah successfully operated in MMC NEWS DESk The knee joints of former World Champion and elder brother of squash wizard Jansher Khan was successfully operated in MMC General Hospital, Peshawar with a team of orthopedic surgeons headed by Dr. Ghulam Atiq conducted the operation.

“My father is in stable condition and hopefully he will be quickly recovering,” PSB Head Squash Coach Shehzad Mohib told the media soon after the operation. He said knee joints problems with every squash player reported and especially in the old age but thank Allah, the legendary Mohibullah knee-replacement operation successfully conducted under orthopedic surgeon Dr. Ghulam Atiq.

Former British Open Champion Qamar Zaman along with Heart Surgeon Dr. Irfan also visited Mohib Ullah and prayed for his

early recovery. Qamar Zaman said that knee injuries are common with every squash player and that was why Mohib Ullah conducted his knee-replacement operation like World Champion Jansher Khan.

Mohib Ullah was one of the game’s leading players in the 1970s — being World No 2 at one stage. He was the runner-up at the inaugural World Open in 1975 and at the British Open in 1976, losing on both occasions to Australia’s Geoff Hunt. Besides coaching Pakistan team comprising Jansher Khan, Jehangir Khan that won World Championship in 1993, Mohib Ullah also trained players like Nasir Iqbal, Farhan Zaman, Bilal Zakir, Sadam, junior player Humam Ahmad, Laiba Ahmad and many more that went through PSB Squash Academy training and coaching.

Mohibullah, said: “Being the mentor of Jansher, remained as coach of present stars

Farhan Mehboob, Aamir Atlas, Nasir Iqbal and lots of other kids, it hurts watching Pakistan is nowhere in top 10 in the PSA rankings and not a single Pakistani player managed to win a major title for the last two decades.”

“I have worked as PSB director squash at Peshawar center for the last nine years and regularly provide the deserving players rackets, kits, shoes, balls and all the related stuff free of cost and also monthly stipends to deserving kids,” he added.

Thanks mainly to all out support of all the PSB DGs and all the concerned staff, who gave me free hand, provided me whatever I had requested for the betterment of the players. Mohib said: “I started training U11, U13, U15 and U17 kids at the PSB academy in 2006 and due to my professional dedication and the players’ hard work and keen interest, I had managed to produce a lot of

players at junior level.”

A number of my pupils are playing at the top level, such as Farhan Mehboob and Aamir Atlas, who reached among top 15 in the PSA world rankings and Mansoor Zaman reached top 11th in the World Ranking but none of them could replace Jansher Khan and Jehangir Khan. “I know the job of producing a world class player is not an easy task, but let me assure all that it is difficult but not impossible,” he added.

“We have talented players and if provided with top level coaching and latest facilities, these players can earn laurels for the country,” he maintained.

“After Jansher, I had put all my knowledge and experience in the Farhan brothers, Atlas brothers, Nasir Iqbal, Maria Toor Pakai and a number of other individuals, who managed to create ripples in squash and took a lot of titles.”

“I could have earned millions of rupees by coaching abroad but I preferred to stay home and work for the country without getting a single penny benefit, just because of sheer love for my country and squash,” he disclosed.

Being former world number 2 and finalist of British Open and World Open in 1976, I always feel it was my responsibility to pay back in the best possible fashion to my country, which gave me so name, fame and identity at world level.

PSF can take advantage of my vast unmatched experience. “If the federation consults me, I am always willing to help Pakistan squash in the best possible manner,” he added.

“I know a lot of things have changed since our time, but with sheer commitment, passion, hard work, nothing is impossible,” Mohib Ullah concluded.

Wednesday, 27 July, 2022

prayer timings

NEWS

Justice isa pens letter against cJp Bandial’s summoning of Jcp meeting ISLAMABAD

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staff report

ENIOR most Judge of the Supreme Court Justice Qazi Faez Isa has written a letter to the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP), seeking postponement of its meeting scheduled on July 28, 2022, for the appointment of Sindh and Lahore high courts judges to the apex court, a matter that “requires utmost care and due deliberation as it is a matter of extreme delicacy”.

The justice has severely criticised Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial for scheduling the meeting at such a time when he (Isa) is not able to physically attend the meeting as he is currently on leave abroad.

He stated in the letter that while on annual leave, he received a WhatsApp message from the Additional Registrar of the Supreme Court that the CJ has called a meeting of the JCP on July 28 to consider appointing five judges to the SC. “No meeting of the JCP was scheduled before I applied for the annual leave but as soon as I left Pakistan the CJ de-

first withdraw it, instead of violating it”.

Moreover, he mentioned that he was referred to 2,347 pages of documents regarding the appointment of judges through WhatsApp. “The CJ wants to rush through a most delicate matter in a very questionable manner. He wants 2,347 pages of documents to be examined in a week.”

He complained that he was unable to view all the pages as he could access and

cided to hold two meetings of the JCP to consider appointments to the Sindh and Lahore High Courts, and now a third unscheduled meeting of the JCP is to be held during the summer vacations of the SC,” Isa wrote.

He said that the summer vacations of the SC were notified by the CJ himself and later gazetted in the Official Gazette.

He said that “if the CJ renders his own notification utterly meaningless then let him

suzuki likely to observe nonproduction days in august LAHORE Daniyal ahmaD

Pak Suzuki Motor Company (PSMC) may observe nonproduction days (NPDs) next month. Profit has been able to confirm this from Shafiq Shaikh, Head of Public Relations at PSMC. “Presently commercial banks are not opening the letters of credit (LCs) and documents against payments (DPs) for automobile CKDs. Unavailability of CKDs and related raw material may result in plant shut down in August 2022”, Shaikh said.

Shaikh says that Suzuki was able to avert NPDs in July, and that it aims to deliver orders booked till June.

However, a continuation of the policy is dependent on normalization of LCs and DPs in their upcoming talks with the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

This comes days after Asghar Ali Jamali, Chief Executive at Toyota Indus Motor Company (IMC) told Profit that IMC will offer customers the option of a refund or an additional three month waiting period. Profit had reported earlier on how the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) extended mandate over letters of credit for ckd imports had created panic amidst the automobile market.

plastic export increases 32.8pc in fY22 ISLAMABAD: The plastic material exports witnessed an increase of 32.76 percent during the twelve months of fiscal year 2021-22 as compare to the corresponding of period of last year. Pakistan exported plastic material worth $428.424 million during July-June (2021-22) as against the export of $322.709 million during July-June (2020-21), showing growth of 32.76 percent, according to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). In term of quantity, the plastic export however decreased by 16.89 percent, from 299,104 metric tons to 248,581 metric tons, the data revealed.

Meanwhile, on year-on-year basis, the export of plastic material also dipped by 17.24 percent during the month of June 2022 as compared to the same month of last year. The plastic material exports in June 2022 were recorded at the US $42.781 million against the export of $51.695 million in June 2021, the PBS data revealed. On month-on-month basis, the exports of plastic decline by 9.08 percent in June 2022 as compared to $47.056 million in May 2022. app

read only 14 out of 2,347 pages. “[…] the documents have still not been couriered to me or sent to the Pakistan Embassy at Madrid for onward transmission to me,” he said.

Addressing the chief justice he said: “CJ please do not ridicule the JCP and your nominees by contravening the Constitution.

The JCP deserves to be treated with respect and consideration by its Chairman.”

“Therefore, I request that the JCP meeting should be postponed. Instead, let us first meet to consider how to proceed further in the matter. And, if Chief Justice and senior puisne judges of the high courts are to be bypassed then to first develop for consideration of the JCP criteria for nominees, since the then senior most judge failed to accomplish the task assigned to him,” Justice Isa wrote.

He also demanded an end to the practice of giving the JCP pre-selected names to consider for the judges’ appointments.

“Restricting the JCP to consider only the CJ’s pre-selected nominees is inappropriate. The JCP deserves to be treated with respect and consideration by its Chairman,” Justice Isa said.

President Alvi says would not object to early appointment of COAS ISLAMABAD agencies

President Dr Arif Alvi Tuesday said that he does not have any objection to an early appointment of the Army Chief, adding that the Presidency can mediate dialogue between the political parties but only when all parties want to sit at the table.

However, hours later, the Presidency clarified that the president has said that he would have no objection if the appointment of army chief takes place through the laid down procedure containing the formal approval of relevant institutions and offices then he would have no objection to it.

The President House on Tuesday clarified that the media report attributed to President Dr Arif Alvi regarding the army’s constitutional role as well as the early appointment of chief of the army staff were “factually incorrect” and reported “out of context.”

In a statement issued by the Presidency, the president clarified that the news item aired by certain electronic media channels saying the statement attributed to him regarding the constitutional role was taken out of context.

He said that “role of the army has been clearly defined under articles 8(3)(a), 39, 243 to 245 and entry No. 1 & 2 of the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution, therefore, said news items have been reported out of context and are factually incorrect,” the president explained.

Moreover, the president also clarified the statement attributed to him regarding the early appointment of the army chief.

“What the President had said was that if the appointment of army chief takes place through the laid down procedure, containing the formal approval of relevant institutions and offices then he would have no objection to it,” he commented.

Total 32 brigadiers promoted to the rank of Major General RAWALPINDI staff report

Promotion board from Brigadier to Major General was held at General Headquarters today. Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Qamar Javed Bajwa presided.

Those promoted include Brigadier Omer Naseem, Brigadier Syed Abbas Ali, Brigadier Muhammad Abbas, Brigadier Muhammad Shahid Abro, Brigadier Luqman Hafeez,

Brigadier Mohammad Yasir Elahi, Brigadier Adeel Haider Minhas, Brigadier Syed Ali Raza, Brigadier Shahid Pervaiz, Brigadier Ahsan Waqas Kayani, Brigadier Azhar Yasin, Brigadier Qaisar Suleman, Brigadier Haroon Ishaq Raja, Brigadier Aamer Amin, Brigadier Haroon Hameed Chaudhary, Brigadier Waseem Iftikhar Cheema, Brigadier Muhammad Hussain, Brigadier Shoaib Bin Akram, Brigadier Kashif Khalil, Brigadier Kashif

Abdullah, Brigadier Amjad Hanif, Brigadier Faisal Naseer, Brigadier Ahmad Kamal and Brigadier Saeed Ur Rehman Sarwar.

Those approved from Army Medical Corps include Brigadier Tufail Ahmad, Brigadier Rizwan Sadiq, Brigadier Ijaz Ahmad, Brigadier Nadeem Fazal, Brigadier Shoaib Ahmed, Brigadier Tahir Masood Ahmad, Brigadier Waseem Ahmad Khan and Brigadier Sohail Sabir.

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Jazz asks employees to gear up for impact ISLAMABAD ahtasam ahmaD

Jazz CEO Aamir Ibrahim on Tuesday communicated his apprehension regarding the economic outlook of the country and its adverse effects on Jazz’s operations through an internal memo, issued earlier this week, to the company’s employees.

The official communication, obtained by Profit, of the Telco Chief, read, “I am elevating the level of this challenge to critical as we embark upon some tough but necessary decisions.” This news adds to the chain of events that emphasizes the bleak position of telecom companies in recent times. The sector is challenged by growing operational costs due to high inflations and surging energy costs. (Read more about it in Profit’s article: Telcos Energy Concerns: Unnecessary Whining or a Genuine Problem?)

Further, the multinational operators in the sector have downgraded their expectation of returns from Pakistani operations due to the high cost of capital and a weakening rupee. The cost of capital is the benchmark rate used to ascertain how much value the cash flows generated in the future would have if compared to the present day. (E.g. A few years back a 250ml juice box was priced at Rs15, today the same thing sells for Rs25. Therefore, the Rs15 today is worth less than what it used to be a few years ago.)

The primary drivers of the Cost of Capital are high rates of interest and risk premium which is a deemed return for undertaking investment in high-risk jurisdictions, and securities. Professor Aswath Damodaran, a renowned economist, recently rated Pakistan’s equity risk premium above 15%, higher than the likes of India, Bangladesh, Egypt, and some African countries. In light of these developments, Telenor ASA, the parent company of Telenor Pakistan has impaired the value of its local operations.

Following this impairment, the recoverable amount of its assets in Pakistan is estimated to be around $600 million down from $850 million. (Read more about it in Profit’s article: Telenor Impairment: Has the group lost hope?) Moreover, PTCL in its financial results for the half year ended 30 June 2022, declared a net loss of Rs 3 billion due to high operational costs as a result of the surge in energy prices and soaring interest rates deriving up its finance costs. Jazz’s CEO also highlighted the aforementioned challenges in the internal memo, “ We all have been personally impacted by the rising cost of goods and services. Jazz is not immune to this adverse economic situation. In fact, we are deeply impacted by the interest rate hike and by the sharp rise in electricity and fuel prices.”

Cellular Mobile Operators (CMO) in Pakistan are desperately searching for a business model that can help them break out of the vicious cycle of low average revenues, rising operating costs, and subsequent thin profit margins.

gas prices for exportoriented sectors increased up to 80pc ISLAMABAD: The incumbent government has increased gas prices for the export industry by up to 80pc. The rate of gas per mmbtu for the exportoriented sector has been increased by Rs530 and has been fixed at Rs1,350 per mmbtu from Rs820. The rate for general industry has been increased from Rs850 per mmbtu and now has been fixed at Rs1,550 per mmbtu. This will mostly apply in Sindh where the current price for export and general industry stands at Rs820 and Rs853 per mmbtu, respectively, showing an increase of almost 65pc and 82pc. Defending the recent increase, spokesperson for the Finance ministry, Rana Ahsan Afzal said increasing prices of electricity and gas for the industrial sector was inevitable. He further said that the government is still providing gas to the export-oriented industries at the concessional rate. The spokesperson said the government has allocated Rs40 billion for the subsidies to the exportoriented industries so that they can compete in the international market. inp

After delay of ten months, 11th JCC of CPEC on cards next month ISLAMABAD ghulam abbas

As the 1th meeting of Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) on China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is likely to meet next month, concerned joint groups have prepared a list of projects to be discussed in the said meeting.

According to officials, during a meeting held at the Ministry of Planning Development and Special Initiatives on Tuesday various projects including three energy projects were finalized to present in the next JCC. During the meeting Power Division highlighted the agenda for the forthcoming 9th joint energy working group meeting scheduled to be held in the 1st week

of August. It was informed that 1124 MW Kohala and 700.7 MW Azad Pattan HPPs as well as 1320 MW Thar Coal power plant project will be taken up with the Chinese side in the next scheduled working group’s meeting.

A joint study for the future development of Thar Coal has also been made part of the agenda. The Minister underlined that measures have been taken to provide sufficient power for Gwadar city, and stressed the need for renewable energy projects for Gwadar city development in the future.

As per the officials, the meeting also discussed projects in the agriculture and socioeconomic sector for the forthcoming 11th JCC meeting. In the agricultural sector, it was underlined that China’s expanding agri-

cultural market provides significant potential for Pakistani exports.

Modernization and mechanization of agriculture in Pakistan should be carried out in the context of CPEC, as well as other measures to enable agricultural development and tap into the Chinese market for the mutual benefit of the two countries. FMD and quarantine issues were explicitly emphasized as important hurdles in meat export to China by a representative from M/o National Food Security, who informed the chair that they are being addressed on priority with the Chinese assistance.

The Ministry of Information Technology & Telecommunications (IC&T) also briefed the meeting on the agenda of the forthcoming 2nd JWG on IT with a focus on ICT in-

frastructure development, policy & regulations, human resource development, and Cyber Security. The Minister for Planning stressed the need for cooperation with China in the IT sector, as China has emerged as the leader in Artificial Intelligence, and cooperation with China in this field has enormous promise for Pakistan.

Foreign Secretary, Sohail Mahmood, gave a detailed briefing on the 3rd International Cooperation & Coordination JWG meeting held virtually on 22nd July 2022. Foreign Secretary was quoted as saying that China appreciated Pakistan’s efforts to provide a safe and smooth business environment and our leadership’s commitment to building CPEC with “Pakistan Speed”.

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

Third-party participation and extension of CPEC to Afghanistan were also discussed.

It was also pointed out that cooperation between thematic think tanks on both sides should be encouraged to further deepen the strategic economic cooperation under CPEC. The Minister was also apprised of the activities that are planned to promote the CPEC narrative at the national & global levels.

The meeting, held to review the progress made in preparation for the 11th JCC meeting expected to be convened next month, was chaired by Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Planning Development and Special Initiatives. The provinces and special regions’ P&D departments, as well as other relevant stakeholders from across the country, also virtually attended the meeting.