CONTINUED ON PAGE 03 CONTINUED ON PAGE 05 CONTINUED ON PAGE 03 Wednesday, 17 August, 2022 I 18 Muharram, 1444 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XIII No 48 I 12 Pages I Islamabad Edition
The cabinet took the decision following recommendations of the Interior Ministry. It is to be recalled that on April 17, Shahzad Akbar left for Dubai after his name was removed from the FIA’s ‘stop list’ on the order of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
As many as 28 passengers including women and children died dozens other sustained multiple injuries in two deadly road accidents occurred in Multan and near rohri in Sindh on Tuesday. According to rescue 1122 and police, 20 people were killed when a passenger bus rammed into a fuel truck on the Sukkur-Multan motorway on Tuesday. According to the officials, the accident took place at 2:20am near the city of Jalalpur Pirwala in the Multan district. The bus was carrying 24 passengers and two drivers, and was traveling from Lahore to Karachi.
The federal cabinet on Tuesday approved putting names of 10 individuals including former prime minister Imran Khan’s adviser on accountability and interior Shahzad Akbar on the Exit Control List (ECL).
LAHORE/MULTAN/SWAT staff report
Tahir wattoo, Multan Deputy Commissioner, said early indications were that the bus driver’s negligence had caused the collision. “Three buses were racing. One of them rammed into an oil tanker,” Imran Shaukat, an additional inspector general of police, told reuters, describing the incident. The driver was also killed. The crash triggered a fire that engulfed both the tanker and the bus, he said. The oil tanker was beyond identification to determine what company it belongs to, he added. A spokesman for the National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) said the tanker’s driver fled the scene. The injured were taken to hospital and at least six passengers were reported in critical condition, wattooSomeadded.ofthe bodies were burned beyond recognition and DNA tests will be conducted to identify the remains before the bodies are handed over to the families, wattoo also said. An employee at Daewoo’s Lahore office confirmed to reuters that its bus was involved in the incident, and that the driver was among the dead. Taking notice of the incident, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, the chief minister, has sought a report from Aamir Khattak, commissioner of Multan Division. According to a statement issued by Elahi’s office, all aspects of the incident should be investigated and those responsibleExpressingidentified.griefover the lives lost, Elahi also extended his condolences to the bereaved families and directed authorities to ensure the best possible medical treatment was provided to the injured. Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif offered his condolences in a statement and asked health authorities to provide the best possible treatment to the injured. EIGHT DIE, 38 INJURED: Meanwhile, eight persons died and 38 other including the driver and cleaner sustained multiple injuries when a Karachi-bound passenger coach, on the way from Swat, overturned near rohri on National Highway and plunged into a ditch. g ZArDArI UNHAPPy ON PETrOL PrICES rAISE, vOwS TO SPEAK TO PM SHEHBAZ
The cabinet was given a detailed briefing by the Ministry of Climate Change on the impact of climate change in the Pakistancountry.had been included among the top eight worst climate-affected countries of the world during the last ten years which is a matter of grave concern whereas it had added only just 1 per cent of emissions when compared with the rest of the world’s emissions, aggravating the global warming impacts, it was told. The climate changes had also badly affected the natural resources of Pakistan and the increase in population was one of the main reasons, it added. It was underlined that there was a dire need for immediate implementation of the “Mitigation and Adaptation” mechanism in this regard.
ISLAMABAD staff report
The meeting of the federal cabinet was chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at PM House in Islamabad which discussed the current political situation in the country and other matters of importance, the PM Office said.
f INANCEMinister Miftah Ismail on Tuesday while defending the hike in POL prices said that while he was an “easy target” for criticism, the government has not imposed tax of even a single paisa on petroleum products. Finance Minister, who faced criticism from within his party and other cabinet members for hike in petrol price for the next fortnight, defended the decision stating that the price increase will not affect the supply and demandwhilecycle.addressing a press conference here in the federal capital, he added that the PMLN government has averted default by taking difficult political decisions whereas efforts to put the economy on back on track are in full swing. The finance minister said that he had not given false hopes or promises and that he had been clear about the situation. “I had never said that I will not increase the price of petrol, I had stated that I will not be imposing taxes [on petroleum products] further,” Miftah said. “I stand behind every decision of the government with full responsibility,” the finance minister said, noting that no economic decision was taken without his input. It is pertinent to mention here that Miftah’s comments were closely preceded by PML-N vice President Maryam Nawaz’s tweet claiming that Nawaz Sharif had “strongly opposed the decision to raise the price of petrol.” “He even said that he couldn’t burden the people further; that he was not in favour of the decision, and also left the meeting,” she added.She said her father stressed that he was not on board and that if the government was bound by some constraint, it should go ahead with the increase. It is pertinent to note that under the deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the government has to gradually increase PDL on oil products to a maximum of rs50 to collect rs855 billion during the current fiscal year. It may be recalled that the PML-N was clean sweeped in the recent elections in Punjab whereas the PTI is all geared up for the upcoming elections with the Shehbaz-led government making continuous unpopular decisions. Petrol prices could have been lowered had the government not committed to do the opposite in order to secure a loan from the IMF, however, the government does not have any choice but to fulfill all of the Fund’s demands. On the other hand, PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari also criticised the incumbent government for increasing POL prices despite a massive appreciation in rupee value and a decline in international oil prices. The former president said the PPP is a part of the government and supports it, but there must be consultations on such decisions.
Govt to lasso all culprits involved in trolling against copter crash
The federal government has decided to arrest all those persons involved in propaganda campaign against Lasbela helicopter crash on social media. According to sources and reports, the government has decided to arrest all the people behind the negative propaganda against Lasbela helicopter crash on social media. Sources said that the people who led the campaign will be arrested after investigating the individuals involved in the propaganda. They added that the investigations have shown that Indian accounts were also involved in the social media campaign. They added that a campaign was launched against the Pakistan Army by the workers of a political party and Indian social media accounts actively participated in it. The investigations show that at least 17 Indian accounts were linked to the campaign. Later, the government tasked the FIA with a probe into the malicious social mediaLastcampaign.week,Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cyber Crime wing registered a case and launched an investigation into the malicious social media propaganda following the martyrdom of army officers in the Balochistan helicopter crash. A joint investigation team headed by Additional Director General Cybercrimes Muhammad Jafar is carrying out the Theprobe.investigation team includes Director Operations waqar Chauhan, Additional Director Ayaz, and Assistant Director Imran Haider. The development came after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif characterised the campaign as “horrifying”. “The social media campaign belittling and ridiculing the sacrifices of our martyrs was horrifying,” he wrote in a message on Twitter. The prime minister attributed such vitriol to “self-righteous political narratives”. “They poison the minds of the youth and weaponise hate speech. which way are we headed?” he asked.
THE HElIcoPTER cRASH: A Pakistan Army helicopter had gone missing on August 1 in Balochistan during flood relief efforts and was reported crashed by the ISPr the following day. It was found near Musa Goth in the Lasbela district. Six military personnel were martyred. The military chopper had gone missing as it was en route from Quetta to Karachi at around 5:30pm. The personnel in the chopper were overseeing flood relief efforts in the southwest of the country.
ISLAMABAD staff report
The cabinet also endorsed removing names of 22 individuals from the no-fly list and grant permission to three individuals to go abroad one-time only.
28 perish in two deadly road crashes g NAwAZ SHArIF ‘STrONGLy OPPOSES’ PETrOL PrICE HIKE
ISLAMABAD staff report
According to sources, Akbar departed via Islamabad International Airport for Dubai on an international airline at 3:30am, from where he was expected to depart for the United Kingdom. On April 12, IHC suspended the FIA’s notification of a flight ban on former PM aides Shahbaz Gill and Mirza Shahzad Akbar. The two PTI leaders had approached the court, requesting it to lift the ban. The cabinet also approved listing the name of Ziaul Mustafa Naseem on the ECL. Both names were recommended by NAB to be included in the ECL.
Federal cabinet puts onAkbar,Shahzad10others‘nofly-list’
Miftah defends petrol hike as coalition gets angry
NEwS DESk Former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has decided to hold a power show in Rawalpindi on August 21. The decision was taken during a consultative session of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which was chaired by former premier Imran Khan. The meeting reviewed the important issues including the country’s political situation. The meeting also discussed the federal government’s move to challenge the nomination papers of Imran Khan for nine vacant seats of National Assembly (NA). During the meeting, the former premier has decided to hold power show in Rawalpindi on August 18 as part of the Haqeeqi Azadi campaign. “The people of Pakistan have rejected the imported government,” he said, reiterating his demand for immediate and transparent elections.
Turi compensationdemands for Kurram flood victims
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly has passed a resolution against the ban on ARY News and demanded the restoration of its transmission. According to details, Provincial Minister Shaukat Yousufzai tabled the resolution, seeking the restoration of ARY News transmission. The resolution strongly condemned the cancellation of ARY News’ noobjection certificate (NOC). “The government has not restored the channel’s transmission despite orders from Sindh High Court (SHC),” it stated, demanding immediate restoration.
Minorities urge UN, EU to grill India over killing of 11 pilgrims from Pakistan
IHC adjourns plea against amendments in NAB law
Imran Khan to hold ‘power show’ in Rawalpindi on Aug 21
StAff REpoRt Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis andHuman Resource Development
Additionally, the party would hold a seminar on ‘Freedom of Speech’ which would be addressed by PTI Chief Imran Khan. Journalists, writers and intellectuals would participate and address the seminar. Prominent personalities from print, electronic and social media would be invited to take part in the seminar, the party advisory read.
Sajid Hussain Turi has written to Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif to declare the flood stricken district Kurram in ‘calamity-hit’ and compensate the people for their losses. He said that due to the recent heavy rains and floods, Kurram district should be included in the special aid package for floodaffected areas so the losses of affectees could be addressed. He said that the floods caused by the heavy monsoon rains caused loss of life and property in various villages of the district adding floods have damaged standing crops, roads, bridges, houses and other infrastructure. In his letter to PM, Sajid Turi writes that he is well aware of the fact that you are working day and night to ease the miseries of affected people and have directed the concern to provide necessary relief and assistance. He expressed that the recent flood has also affected his constituency NA-46 specially village Shalozan, Kara Khaila, Kachkina and other villages and the only bridge which link Shalozan with rest of the areas is also damaged. He added that beside this village Pewar, Malana, Teri Mangal, Bugdai, Burki, Lalmai, Kharakhala, Shingak and Nistikot have also suffered great loss. The flood also damaged major areas in lower and central Kurram, he wrote. “In the above-mentioned villages of my constituency i.e NA-46 most of the seasonal corps and fruits are damaged, clay houses are destroyed, livestock are flushed away by floods as recent rains were unprecedented and so it’s devastating effects”, his letter reads. Federal Minister Sajid Hussain Turi has demanded “in the light of above foregoing, I strongly recommend and shall be grateful if you may graciously consider my request for special relief package and direct concerned authorities to take necessary steps for grant of Financial Assistance for affected areas/villages of District Kurram/NA-46 on priority”. Meanwhile, Federal Minister Sajid Hussain Turi met with Federal Minister of Communications Maulana Asad Mahmood in his office and discussed in detail the importance of connecting Kurram district with the motorway and CPEC. Sajid Hussain Turi told the Federal Minister of Communications that Kurram’ Kharlachi and Borki border is the easiest, shortest and safest trade route to reach the countries of Central Asia including Afghanistan.
photo by zubaiR Mehfooz NEwS DESk Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced to hold a ‘Freedom of Speech’ seminar as part of their two-day plan to raise their voice against the crackdown on media and press freedom in Islamabad on August 18. According to details, Central Secretary PTI Asad Umer has issued an advisory to all party officials to prepare for the protest and seminar against the crackdown on media and press freedom by the incumbent government.Theparty, on Wednesday, would stage a protest against the suppression of press freedom by the PML-N-led federal government. The protest in the capitol would be led by Asad Umer.
PTI plans seminar on ‘freedom of speech’ in Islamabad tomorrow
Orange Line Metro is driven by all electric energy to achieve zero pollution and zero emission. It is estimated that the annual fuel emission of gases will be reduced by 30,000 tons.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday decided to set up a “larger bench” to hear a petition moved by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) to annul the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) verdict in the prohibited funding case against the party. Acting IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq heard a petition filed by PTI’s Additional Secretary General Omar Ayyub through his lawyers Anwar Mansoor Khan and Shahkhawar Advocate. At the outset of hearing, Justice Aamer Farooq remarked that it was an important and serious issue and should be constituted a larger bench to take up this case. PTI’s Lawyer Anwar Mansoor prayed the court to stop the electoral body from taking action against his party in following the show-cause notice. The court, however, decided to constitute a larger bench to hear the matter and adjourned further hearing till August 18. During the proceedings, Anwar Mansoor Khan, counsel for PTI, argued the accounts’ information was not included in the watchdog’s verdict. “We told ECP that certain information was not necessary due to some reasons,” he added. He noted that some funds were transferred to provincial leaders from central accounts, urging the high court to stop ECP from taking any action against the party based on that judgement. On August 2, in a highly contentious verdict, the election commission ruled the part of former prime minister Imran Khan accepted millions of dollars in socalled illegal funds from foreign individuals and groups. The commission said it found that the party concealed 16 bank accounts and accepted donations from foreigners or foreign groups based in Australia, Canada, the United Arab Emirates and the Cayman Islands.
IHC to form larger bench to hear PTI plea against ECP verdict in prohibited funding case
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StAff REpoRt The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday adjourned hearing till September 15, on petition of Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHBA) challenging the recent amendments in NAB Ordinance. Acting Chief Justice Aamer Farooq heard the case filed by IHCBA’s President Shoaib Shaheen regarding the matter. At the outsets of hearing, Deputy Attorney General prayed the court to grant four week time for submission of comments on behalf of the federation. However, the petitioner lawyer opposed the request and said that only one-week should be granted for comments. The court, however, granted three week time to the federation in this regard and adjourned further hearing till September 15. Justice Farooq remarked that an identical case was also being heard by the top court.
NEwS DESk T HEfirst urban railway system Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) in Lahore is going to go solarized to save the soaring more than Rs 1.9 billion annual electricity bill being consumed on entire operationalization of MetroPunjabTrain.Mass Transit Authority (PMAT) is operating OLMT since the train was handed over to it by the Chinese contractor CR-NORINCO, a joint venture between China State Railway Group (CR) and China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) in 2020, CEN reported. In an interview, General Manager (operation) of PMAT, Ozair Shah said that electrifying OLMT with solar system is inevitable as the per unit cost of electricity varies between Rs. 18 to Rs. 21 that is not viable to run the entire function of OLMT for longer time.Many conceptual plans are on the cards to materialize solar system for Metro Train weighing up their merits and demerits, he added. “One of the plans is to build up a solar plant with the capacity of 50 MG or 70 MG. The solar plant will activate a mechanism of input to output through WeLink to power up OLMT instead of using traditional electricity apparatus,” he said.After the operationalization of OLMT, its total ridership has exceeded 20 million. It has achieved advanced operating international standards with 90,000 train trips, covering a total distance of 12 million kilometers, with trip efficiency at 99.9% and a punctuality rate at 99.9%.
KP Assembly passes resolution against ban on ARY news StAff REpoRt
Wednesday, 17 August, 2022 ISLAMABAD 02 NEWS
HYDERABAD Staff RepoRt Members of the shocked Hindu community in Pakistan held a protest demonstration outside Hyderabad press club in connection with the killing of 11 pilgrims from Pakistan in Jodhpur, India, on Sunday (Aug 14). According to Kashmir Media Service, the protesting Hindus rejected the unbelievable claim by the Indian authorities that the pilgrims committed mass suicide. The protesters, led by Amarshi Thakur of the Pakistan Minorities Alliance, said that the immigrants were murdered, and appealed to the United Nations, European Union and International Court of Justice (ICJ) to intervene and ensure justice to the bereaved family. The protesters raised slogans against Indian government and the killers.MrThakur said that the victims were members of a single family and originally residents of Sanghar district. They had gone to Jodhpur for pilgrimage a few months back, he added. He said that their relatives in Sindh received information that they had committed joint suicide as claimed by the Jodhpur police. He said their relatives and the Hindu community in Sanghar disbelieved the claim. Mr Thakur said that no medical examination reports of the deceased were shared with the bereaved family. He called for issuance of the medical examination reports and handing over of the bodies to their heirs. The protesters said that it was disturbing to note the silence of human rights organisations in India over the deaths. All these organisations, he said, must exert pressure on Indian government for the handover of the bodies to the heirs. According to a leading Indian newspaper, the 11 persons, who included five children, were found dead on Sunday morning inside the hut they lived in at Lodta village of Dechu area in Jodhpur. It is believed that on refusal to work as agents for Indian spy agencies against Pakistan, these Hindu pilgrims were gunned down by the men in uniform.
ORANge LINe MeTRO TRAIN TO gO SOLAR
Orange Line Metro Railway Project has 26 stations and track spanning over 27 kilometers long. In addition, travel efficiency of the citizens was greatly improved, and journey of the entire route was reduced from 2.5 hours to only 45 minutes. In addition, the operation of the orange line is playing its role in reducing the use of old cars within the city, reduce emission of gases, improve environmental pollution, and promote the green and sustainable development of the city.
Female student abducted, ‘harassed, filmed’ for refusing marriage proposal StAff REpoRt A female student was allegedly abducted, sexually harassed and filmed by men after she refused a marriage proposal in Faisalabad. Police said that a female student in Faisalabad was kidnapped and harassed for refusing a marriage proposal. The accused men forcibly took the girl to their home from the University Town area. The girl was subjected to inhumane torture by the accused who also trimmed her hair and filmed the torture activities. The female student stated in the police complaint that the prime suspect namely Danish had abducted her and her brother Hassan after she refused to marry him. She revealed that Danish had also recorded a video of her being subjected to sexual harassment besides threatening to make the video viral on social media if she did not give her Rs1 million. A case was lodged at the local police station over the complaint of the victim in which six persons were nominated and 10 unidentified accused including two women. Police said that the case was registered under 10 different sections.
ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt
LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Ch Pervaiz Elahi hands over document of 17 vehicles, modern machinery and equipment to Rescue 1122 DG Dr Rizwan Naseer. IGP Faisal Shahkar, CS Kamran Afzal and others are also present..
Balochistan cabinet donates one month salary for flood relief
“We are all here in this government to give relief to the people and that should be our top priority. We are with the govt but such decisions should be taken together as a team,” he said. Responding to the PPP leader’s comments during his press conference, Miftah Ismail said that he respects the PPP leadership and would address their reservations over the decision related to the prices of petroleum products. However, the finance minister reiterated that it is OGRA that fixes a price every fortnight as this is how the system runs,” he reiterated. He also said that the current government has solved all of the country’s pressing issues. The finance minister said that the price of petrol in India is Rs300 per liter while they have foreign exchange reserves of $600 billion and Pakistan have reserves of $10 billion. “Similarly, Bangladesh has $35 billion of foreign exchange while petrol is being sold at Rs308 per liter because of global inflation. Our main criticism of Imran Khan is that he led us to the point where the country could have gone bankrupt. We are proud of that we saved Pakistan from bankruptcy by making political sacrifices,” he added. He added that the government will soon tackle inflation, in which petrol and diesel have a major hand. The finance minister said that Pakistan has a trade deficit of 48.3 billion dollars as the country’s imports totaled $80 billion while exports clocked in at $31.7 billion. “We will have to arrange $48 billion, out of which $30 billion will come as remittance from Pakistanis working abroad but we still need $20 billion. Miftah also criticised the PTI government saying that in the last four years, they took a loan of Rs19,003 billion, which is equal to 79% of the previous 71 years. “PTI did not make any long-term agreements in fuel, diesel besides our agreements with Qatar, Kuwait were still going on,” he added while maintaining that the current issues were a result of the previous government’s actions. Earlier while responding to a tweet by journalist Hamid Mir, the finance minister argued that the price hike was imposed through a proper mechanism while the government did what it could to provide some cover to the masses.
During the course of proceedings, Advocate Khalid Jawed Khan, counsel for the local body representatives who were elected unopposed, said that the delimitation of constituencies could not be done on the basis of mathematical principles. If MQM’s argument was accepted, the constituencies of the provincial and national assemblies of the entire country would be affected, he added. He said that the delimitation of constituencies were held under the same principle in 2015 when a mayor of MQM wasAddressingelected. the counsel, the Chief Justice said that the delimitation of constituencies of the national and provincial assembly were also challenged and pending before the Supreme Court. Advocate Khalid Jawed said that this case was not only of Mominabad or Karachi. The constituencies across the country could be affected by this case, he added. The Chief Justice said that legislation regarding local body elections was the authority of the provincial government but some errors were visible during the implementation of the provincial law. He asked could the Election Commission ignore these errors and hold delimitation of constituencies at its own. The Chief Justice observed that the difference in population of some union committees was more than 100 percent. The court could only point out the error and not change the law, he added. Justice Mansoor said that the power regarding delimitation of constituencies was given to the Election Commission in one clause and to the government in the other clause. The Chief Justice asked could the number of union committees increase during the delimitation of constituencies. Barrister Dr Farogh Naseem, counsel for the MQM, said that the number of the constituencies could be increased or decreased during the delimitation process. Justice Mansoor said that the Sindh government had created the structure of local bodies in the law. He asked could the Election Commission change the structure through delimitation of constituencies?
03NEWS Wednesday, 17 August, 2022 ISLAMABAD StAff REpoRt C HIEFJustice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial on Tuesday said that the provincial government had the authority to legislate laws for the local government elections. The Chief Justice expressed these views while heading a three-member bench along with Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Ayesha A Malik which heard the petition filed by Muttahida Qaumi MovementPakistan’s (MQM-P) Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and others against the Government of Sindh regarding delimitation of constituencies for the election of local bodies.
PROvINCIAL gOvT HAS AuTHORITY TO LegISLATe FOR LOCAL BODY eLeCTIONS: CJP CoNtINUED fRoM pAgE 01
The Chief Justice said that the Election Commission could do as much as it had authority. The Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa (KPK) local government Act laid down the procedure for the number of union committees, he added. Barrister Farogh said that the Sindh government had not clarified any procedure for the number of committees. Advocate Khalid Jawed said that eight people live in a 110-yard house and three people live in a thousand-yard house in Karachi. While forming the union committee, the Election Commission considered not only the population but also the basic facilities in the constituency, he added. He said that everything was not proportionate to the population in Pakistan as the largest province in terms of area had the least population. Karachi needed local government the most, he added. He said, “I have come from Karachi, showing the scene of the cemetery.” Justice Ayesha asked on what basis the Sindh government had made the delimitation of constituencies. If the demarcations were transparent, the delimitation of constituencies would not be controversial, she added.
02-03 NEWS 17 AUGUST_Layout 1 8/17/2022 1:10 AM Page 2
SC accepts bail plea of man accused of hashish smuggling
Miftah defends petrol hike as coalition gets angry Federal cabinet puts Shahzad Akbar, 10 others on eCL
ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt
The Supreme Court on Tuesday accepted bail plea of an accused Adnan Khan allegedly involved in the marijuana smuggling case. A two-member SC bench comprising Justice Qazi Faez Isa and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah heard the case. The ANF had registered a case against accused Adnan Khan in Attock policeDuringstation.the course of proceedings, Advocate Azmat Ali Shah, counsel for the accused said that his client was only sitting on the backseat of the bike which was driving his owner himself. The court expressed annoyance over the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) and asked whether the ANF had any prior information regarding transportation of hashish on bikes? The ANF prosecutor said that on seeing a bike without number plate, it was stopped and hashish was recovered. Upon this, Justice Qazi Faez Isa said that stopping vehicles without number plates was the job of the police, not the ANF. He said that there would be thousands of vehicles without number plates in the city, would ANF search them all? He observed that the ANF had made itself suspect due to its behavior in important cases. The ANF tarnished its reputation for other purposes and questions were being raised as to why the reputation of the ANF was tarnished, he added. He asked what if hashish was taken out of a judge’s car tomorrow? Addressing the Prosecutor, he said that hashish could also be recovered from his vehicle. ANF did not take any action on places where drugs were being sold, he added. He asked how could ANF stop a vehicle without information? Justice Mansoor said that the law was clear, there would be information, then opinions and then actions. Justice Qazi Faez Isa asked could three kilograms of hashish fit under the bikeJusticeseat? Mansoor asked could the ANF stop and search such vehicles without informing the police? Justice Qazi Faez said that ANF people should not be taught law by the Supreme Court and the force at least read its own law. If there was a quarrel with the neighbor, ANF would put drugs on him too, he added.
“The increase or decrease in prices is according to the purchasing by Pakistan State Oil (PSO),” he said. The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) takes the average Platt prices, adds freight and the premium paid by PSO on top of these prices, and multiplies that by the exchange rate, he said. “In addition, it also ‘trues up’ the previous fortnight’s cost by taking into account the rupees paid by PSO at the actual exchange rate, as opposed to the average used to estimate the previous fortnight’s cost.”
App Federal Flood Commission (FFC) Chairman Ahmed Kamal on Tuesday played down the threat of “high flood” in River Ravi as India released 171,000 cusecs floodwater from Ujh Barrage the other“Onday.Tuesday evening, the water flow in River Ravi has been recorded at 63,000 cusecs which does not suggest any potential of high flood in the reservoir,” the chairman told APP in a telephonic conversation. He said the high flood could be expected if the water flow crossed 100,000 cusecs. “At the moment, there is no possible threat of high flood in River Ravi as the released water from India subsided after falling into main tributary,” he said. The chairman said that Ravi and Sutlej rivers remained dry usually and some miscreants established encroachments at the banks of reservoirs. However, a low flood, a term which was used to describe water flow under 50,000 cusecs, could inundate those illegal establishments which might lead the media persons to report it as the high flood, he added. Meanwhile, a report issued by the FFC said that low flood was reported in River Indus at Chashma-Taunsa, Taunsa Guddu, GudduSukkur and Sukkur-Kotri, while there was a medium flood in River Chenab at Khanki Qadirabad and a low flood at Marala (upstream Khanki).Isolated Heavy Falls is expected over Islamabad, Punjab (D.G. Khan, Rawalpindi, Sargodha and Gujranwala Divisions), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Peshawar, Kohat, Bannu and D.I. Khan Divisions), as well as Eastern and Coastal Balochistan including upper catchments of all the major rivers of Indus River System, besides isolated thunderstorm/rain over rest of the country.
QUEttA Staff RepoRt The provincial cabinet of Baluchistan on Tuesday announced to donate their one-month salary for flood relief programs amid heavy rains and floods across the province. According to details, the Baluchistan cabinet announced to donate their one-month salary for flood relief programs, while the government would also deduct one say the salary of government employees and use it for flood relief programs. The cabinet also approved allocating magistrate authority to Secretary Transport and first-class magistrate to Regional Transport Authority. The authorities were allocated under Transport Force. The cabinet also approved a 15% hike in the salaries and pensions of government employees. The announcement of the hike was made in the budget for 2022-23. The hike would be implemented from July 1, 2022, the Baluchistan cabinet decided.
FFC chairman plays down ‘high flood’ threat in River Ravi
“We have not added any new tax or levy to the price. The price of petrol has gone up (and diesel has gone down) because the cost paid by PSO in the previous fortnight was more than the cost estimated by Ogra and also because the premium paid by PSO on petrol increased and [the] premium paid on diesel remained unchanged,” Ismail said.“Again, not one paisa of new taxes or levies was added,” he said. On continuous probing by Mir, the finance minister said that the summary was moved by OGRA and sent to the Finance Division through the Petroleum Division. “We get it only a few hours before prices are set. I am an easy target. Which is fine. But this price change only reflects the change in PSO costs and doesn’t have any new taxes. People are welcome to critique or criticise me. I know I am sincere to my country and have saved it from default and [am] working to the best of my ability,” he added. Earlier on Monday, the rate of petrol and light diesel oil (LDO) was increased by Rs6.72 and 43 paisa per litre, respectively. On the other hand, the prices of high-speed diesel (HSD) and kerosene were cut by 51 paisa and Rs1.67 per litre, respectively. Resultantly, the ex-depot price of petrol was raised to Rs233.91 from Rs227.19, showing an increase of Rs6.72 per litre whereas the price of light diesel oil inched up by an inconsequential 43 paisa per litre to Rs191.75 per litre from Rs191.32 at present.
It was suggested that a documentary highlighting awareness over issues confronted by Pakistan, and the steps taken to reverse climate change effects, and COP27, might be presented at the global fora. It was also emphasised upon the need for adoption of international level and the contemporary latest scientific measures. The cabinet agreed that the duration of the public service messaging on TV channels should be effectively ensured to overcome these issues. Moreover, the issue of climate change and global warming should be included in the syllabus of schools and colleges besides, ensuring strict implementation of climate change policies. The cabinet also stressed upon the planning of rain harvesting on a war footing and a suggestion was considered over the commencement of a pilot project in Islamabad under the same project. It also unanimously approved the constitution of a cabinet committee headed by Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman and comprising ministers of relevant ministries who would present their recommendations over the short, medium and long terms projects. PM Shehbaz said that climate change, water security and food security were three interconnected challenges and to cope with these issues, they would have to take immediate steps to save future generations from their impacts. He said that the government was fully cognizant of these problems and resolution of these issues was among the government’s top priorities. The cabinet, in its meeting, granted its approval to the ministry of finance’s recommendation regarding the fixation of the minimum limit of Diyat amount for the year 2022-23, equal to 30,630 gram silver, which amounted to more than Rs430,000 approximately. The cabinet also unanimously rejected a summary of the ministry of national health services, regulations and coordination regarding increase in MRP of 35 drugs and directed that no change of any kind in the prices of medicines should be made without the approval of the federal cabinet. The cabinet also ratified ECC’s decisions taken in a meeting on August 11, 2022, regarding the issuance of GOP guarantee in favour of the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) for financing facility of US $ 142.0 million (Aviation). It also approved the following decisions taken in the meeting of CCLC on August 15, 2022: Authorisation of Government Married Accommodation to Defence Security Force (DSF) Personnel: Amendment in Army Regulations (Rules)1998 Amendment in Annex‘A’to Rule 11 of Scales of Rations and Supplies (Regulations), 2015. Amendments in nAtionAl skills University Act, 2018: Appointment of Law Officers in Office of the Advocate General, ICT, Islamabad by Amending the President’s Order 1 of 2015 Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council (PVMC) Employees Service Regulations, 2022. The cabinet also approved the inclusion of 10 persons on the ECL, removal of 22 persons from ECL and grant of OTP (one-time permission) to three persons, on the recommendations of the ministry of interior. The prime minister and the federal cabinet, on the occasion, felicitated Minister for Industries and Trade Makhdoom Murtaza Mahmud, secretary cabinet division Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera, secretary ministry of industries and trade Chaudhry Imdadullah Bosal for the conferment of civil awards and appreciated their services. Rain, thundershower expected in various parts of country: PMD NEwS DESk Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast rain-wind/thundershower for Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan during the next 24 hours. Heavy falls are also expected at scattered places in Kashmir, Sindh, east Balochistan, upper/southern Punjab and south Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the period. According to the synoptic situation, strong monsoon currents were penetrating the central and south parts of the country, which were likely to continue during next 02 to 03 days. A westerly wave was also present over upper parts. Flash flooding is expected in local Nullahs of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Shakar Garh, Sialkot, Narowal, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Dir, Karak, Lakki Marwat, Bannu and Kashmir on 16th August. Heavy Rains may generate urban flooding in Karachi, Thatta, Badin, Hyderabad, Dadu, Jamshoro, Sukkur, Larkana, Shaheed Benazir Abad and Mirpurkhas during the next 48 hours.
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UNItED NAtIoNS staff RepoRt t HEUnited Nations and Pakistan expressed sorrow over the death of Nafis Sadik, a Pakistani doctor who championed women’s health and rights and spearheaded the breakthrough action plan adopted by 179 countries at the 1994 United Nations populationSheconference.diedearly Monday, four days before her 93rd birthday, Omar Sadik, her son said. He said his mother died of natural causes at her home in New York. Her funeral took place on Wednesday.
Over 6m people visited ombudsmanPunjabwebsite
LAHoRE staff RepoRt The website of the Office of Punjab Ombudsman was visited by more than six million people from across the country and as well as outside it, the agency said. In a statement, a spokesman for the office said the website provided the necessary information, statistics and guidance to members of the public so the applicants could get the required information and guidance from the comfort of their homes instead of having to visit the office. The office, he said, was fully committed to ensuring that no official or provincial government institution could be negligent in upholding public rights.
Wednesday, 17 August, 2022 ISLAMABAD 04 NEWS
Accusing the police of lodging a sedition case against him on the directives of the federal government, Gill pleaded with the IHC to declare the FIR against him null and void. He maintained that the case registered against him is based on malice, adding that the Islamabad Police registered the case to show its loyalty to the government.
Six Dir residentsLowerdie in Saudi traffic accident
Six dwellers of Jandool area of Dir Lower district dies in Saudi Arabia in a traffic accident a couple of days ago, informed Edhi Welfare Organization. The deceased persons are identified as: Hakeem Khan Mashwani, Hayat Khan Mashwani, Tayyab Mashwani, Zameen Khan Mashwani and Fazal Hayat Mashwani. There funeral prayers were offered at a mosque in Riyadh city, capital of Saudi Arabia and now the dead bodies are on way back to Pakistan for burial at their ancestral graveyard. The funeral of the ill-fated deceased will be offered at Samar Bagh area of Dir Payan on Wednesday (today) at 10:00am.
Nafis joined the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in 1971, became its assistant executive director in 1977, and was appointed executive director in 1987 by then Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar after the sudden death of its chief, Rafael Salas. She was the first woman to head a major United Nations program that is voluntarilyInfunded.June1990, Perez de Cuellar appointed Nafis to be secretary-general of the fifth UN International Conference on Population and Development in 1994, and she became the architect of its groundbreaking program of action which recognised for the first time that women have the right to control their reproductive and sexual health and to choose whether to become pregnant. The Cairo conference also reached a consensus on a series of goals including universal primary education in all countries by 2015 — a goal that still hasn’t been met — and wider access for women to secondary and higher education. It also set goals to reduce infant and child mortality and maternal mortality and to provide access to reproductive and sexual health services, including familyWhileplanning.theconference broke a taboo on discussing sexuality, it stopped short of recognising that women have the right to control decisions about when they have sex and when they get married. In a statement, released by his spokesman, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recalled: “When Sadik took up her post at UNFPA in 1987, she became the first woman to head one of the UN’s major voluntarily-funded programmes. “She consistently called attention to the importance of addressing the needs of women, and of involving women directly in making and carrying out development policy, which she believed was particularly important for population policies and programmes.“Sadikwill be remembered for her significant contributions to women’s health and rights and population policies and for her tireless efforts to combat HIV/AIDS. “The Secretary-General extends his sincere condolences to her friends and family,” the statement Pakistan’sadded.UN Ambassador Munir Akram said: “I am deeply saddened by the passing of Dr Nafis Sadiq, a proud Pakistani woman, a great leader and a visionary internationalist, who served her country and the international community with a bold vision.”
pESHAWAR staff RepoRt
IHC directs lower court to hear plea for Gill’s physical remand New police inauguratedstationinIslamabad
StAff REpoRt
Father and son linked to murders of Muslims in New Mexico
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Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan remembered on 25th death anniversary
Muhammad Syed, an Afghan refugee, has been charged with killing Afzaal Hussain, who was from Pakistan, and cafe manager Aftab Hussein, 41, who had ties to Afghanistan and Pakistan. A fourth man, supermarket owner Mohammad Ahmadi, 62, was shot dead on November 7, 2021. Police have said they are working with prosecutors on potential charges for the murders of Naeem Hussain and Ahmadi.
Senior Superintendent of Capital Police Nosherwan Ali on Tuesday formally inaugurated a new police station `Phulgran’ in Islamabad to provide maximum relief to the people and resolve their problems on immediate basis. The new police station covers the areas of Athal, Bobri, Phulgran, Chattar, Shakrila, Mera Begwal, Shahpur and PTV colony. All resources including logistics and police strength have been allocated for the proper functioning of the police station with an aim to provide justice to people at their doorsteps. According to details, the federal government has approved three new police stations in the Capital which included Phulgran, Kirpa and Sangjani police stations. SP (City) Nosherwan Ali formally inaugurated Phulgran police station while Station House Officers (SHOs) have been appointed at all polices stations for their proper functioning at earliest. Inspector Shamas ul Akbar has been appointed as SHO Sangjani police station, Sub-Inspector Nasir Mansoor as SHO Phulgran and Sub-Inspector Imran Haider at SHO Kirpa police station. The strength of Phulgran police station is 21 including two SubInspectors and five Assistant Sub-Inspectors while SHO and Muharrar have been appointed there.
“She was a role model for generations of women in Pakistan and across the world. She was also my friend and mentor. I will miss her,” Ambassador Akram added. UNFPA Executive Director Natalia Kanem also praised her leadership qualities. “As secretary-general of the International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo in 1994 and architect of its groundbreaking Programme of Action, Sadik was a trailblaser who made indelible contributions to advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights, women’s leadership and global development.
ALBUQUERQUE ReuteRs Police believe the son of the prime suspect in the killings of four Muslim men may have played a role in the murders, which have shaken the Muslim community in New Mexico’s largest city. Cellphone data shows Shaheen Syed, 21, was in the same “general area” of Albuquerque as his father at the time of the August 5 killing of 25-yearold trucking entrepreneur Naeem Hussain, according to a filing by federal prosecutors for a Monday detention hearing during which Syed was denied bail.Syed’s attorney John Anderson said the allegations were “exceedingly thin and Policespeculative.”lastweek charged Shaheen Syed’s father, Muhammad Syed, 51, with two of the murders and linked the four killings to personal grudges, possibly fueled by intra-Muslim sectarian hatred.Shaheen Syed was arrested last week on federal firearms charges for providing a false address. “Law enforcement officers also have recently discovered evidence that appears to tie the defendant, Shaheen Syed, to these killings,” the filing said. Agents believe Shaheen Syed observed Naeem Hussain leaving an August 5 funeral service for two of the murdered Muslim men, based on FBI analysis of cell tower data. He then followed Hussain to the area of a parking lot where he was shot dead. “Telephone calls between Muhammad Atif Syed and the defendant (Shaheen Syed) would be consistent with quick surveillance calls, both before and after the shooting,” the filing said. Prosecutors did not provide evidence of the other shootings. Imtiaz Hussain said he believed at least two people were involved in the August 1 murder of his brother Muhammad Afzaal Hussain. A pistol and rifle were used to shoot Afzaal Hussain, a city planning director, 15 times in around 15 to 20 seconds, according to police records and Imtiaz. “For one suspect it is difficult to use two weapons in that short an interval,“ said Imtiaz Hussain. The victims Naeem Hussain and Afzaal Hussain were not related.
ISLAMABAD staff RepoRt Music lovers including traditional Qawwali listeners observed the 25th death anniversary of legendary singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan on Tuesday.Knownas the “King of Qawwali”, Khan was born on October 13, 1948, of a 600year-old line of qawwali singers in Faisalabad.Khan was not only popular in Pakistan but also in the rest of the world. He sang predominantly in qawwali. The qawwali is Islamic devotional music designed to bring its performers and audience to a state of rapture and trance-like communion with the divine.His songs are still alive among his fans and also youngsters, and have defined the art form of qawwali for generations to come. Most of his fans are from Pakistan and archrival India where he sang many songs for Bollywood movies and music albums. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Khan holds the world record for the largest recorded output by a qawwali artist — a total of 125 albums as of 2001. With his stunning voice, Khan’s first public performance was as the leader of a qawwali party, at a studio recording broadcast as part of an annual music festival — known as Jashn-i-Baharan, or Spring Festival — organised by Radio Pakistan. His first major hit was the song Haq Ali Ali while he also did joint ventures with renowned international singers. Khan’s performance at the 1985 Womad, an international arts festival, held on Mersea Island in Essex, finds him at the raw prime of his talent. As the first generation of the British Asian community was coming of age and finding its own identity, Khan’s alighting in the nation would have been a cultural lodestone; a bridge to the past of their parents, as well as an acknowledgement of their diasporic present. It not only marked a turning point in attitudes towards global music in the United Kingdom, but among qawwal practitioners themselves.UntilKhan started playing internationally, this music was considered a purely religious expression. The first of his many performances in secular environments helped transform this powerful, devotional form into an emblem of south Asian culture recognised around the world. For many, his voice is quite unlike any other. At turns heavy and hulkingly powerful, yet also nimble and pointedly precise, his vocalisations came to epitomise not only the tradition of the qawwali but the art of singing itself. He passed away on August 16, 1997, at the tender age of 48, having become one of the world’s most outstanding vocalists. Paying rich tributes to Khan’s singing, fans on social networking sites praised him, saying “Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was the greatest singer of the millennium.” “His style, his voice, music everything was unique. It is always difficult to sing his songs in his style, even the professional singers are not able to come close to his style while singing his songs,” a tweet read.
ISLAMABAD INp The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday referred a petition seeking the physical remand of Pakistan Tehreek-iInsaf (PTI) leader Shehbaz Gill in a sedition case to a sessions court for hearing. The judgement was announced hours after the court declared the petition to be admissible. Islamabad Advocate General Jahangir Jadoon, on August 13, had moved the IHC seeking its order to declare the decision taken by the district and sessions court null and void while extending the physical remand of Shahbaz Gill, a close aide of PTI Chairperson Imran Khan. The court had served a notice to Gill on Monday. Acting IHC chief justice, Aamer Farooq, resumed the hearing of the government’s petition today. “It is not the jurisdiction of the high court to see for how long an accused has to be remanded. No matter how serious the offence is, only the magistrate is to look into the matter of remand,” Justice Farooq said. Meanwhile, the court took up Shahbaz Gill’s plea — seeking dismissal of the FIR against him — for hearing together with the government’s plea.
PakIStaN, UN Pay trIbUte tO NafIS SaDIk’S LeaDerShIP Of POPULatION ageNcy
PAF continues relief operation in flood-hit Balochistan ISLAMABAD: Keeping the tradition of serving the nation during natural calamities, Pakistan Air Force came to the succor of flood affected families of Qila Abdullah, East of the provincial capital, Quetta. PAF Bases are actively participating in relief operations on the special instructions of Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force. PAF is reaching out to the needy families whose houses have been damaged in the natural calamity. As a humanitarian gesture, 41 tents and 600 ration packs carrying 12,000Kgs basic food items and commodities were distributed amongst the needy families. Moreover, 410 patients were also attended by the paramedical team of Pakistan Air Force. Staff RepoRt
Provincial Woman Ombudsman Nabila Hakeem Khan Tuesday said that anti-harassment laws had played a vital role in providing a safe environment for women in offices. She said this while participating in a dialogue on “Harassment of Women” at a local hotel. Nabila said that office-based anti-harassment committees must have detailed knowledge of their responsibilities and relevant laws. She informed that a consultation process was underway at the divisional level to implement anti-harassment laws more effectively. A system was being updated to apprise women about their complaints and actions, she said and added that society could not take advantage of women’s potential without a protective environment. Speaking on the occasion, technical specialist UNFPA Tania Durrani said awareness of women’s rights and enforcement of anti-harassment laws had improved significantly in Pakistan. She said that government and private departments had provided a better environment for women. The officials of health, education, population welfare, social welfare departments and commissioner and deputy commissioner offices also participated in the dialogue and forwarded their recommendations. Staff RepoRt Kashmiris, Sikhs highlight Indian HR abuses through protests, digital van in UK President Alvi for effective steps to curb road accidents 28 perish in two deadly road crashes
Anti-harassment laws provide a safe environment for women: Nabila Hakeem
As India celebrated its Independence Day on August 15, the Kashmiri and Sikh communities in the United Kingdom held a number of protest demonstrations across the United Kingdom to respectively highlight human rights abuses by India in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and for seeking Free Khalistan. The Tahreek-e-Kashmir (TeK) UK also arranged a digital van was which displayed the messages of brutalities and human rights violations by Indian forces in the IIOJK.
According to rescue officials, the Karachi-bound coach was coming from Swat and overturned when the driver made a sharp turn, falling into a ditch. Persons in-charge of the Edhi Centre in Sukkur, Mohammad Urs Magsi and Gul Mahar, said that four women and two children were among the dead. They said that rescue officials rushed to the scene soon after receiving information of the accident and shifted the bodies and the injured to Rohri Taluka Hospital where an emergency had been declared. Soon after the incident, police and rescue teams rushed to the site and shifted the injured to district and civil hospitals. Meanwhile, Pakistan Army also reached the spot and were rescuing the passengers trapped in the passenger coach. Syed Shahabuddin from SwatTheadded:bus, bearing no GB5454 of Matta Express with 49 passengers onboard, left Matta Tehsil of Swat for Karachi Monday morning. While taking a turn near Rohri on national Highway, the driver lost control of the steering and as result the bus fell down into a ditch. Matta Express Manager Usman informed that there were 49 people in the vehicle, adding that all the passengers were residents of Kanju, Kabal and Matta Tehsils of Swat. He informed that according to initial reports, eight persons including women and children died and 38 others have been injured. The Manager said after the accident, a large number of relatives arrived from Karachi and shifted the bodies and injured to Karachi after immediate medical assistance, while some bodies and injured have been sent to Swat.Expressing grief over the lives lost, Elahi also extended his condolences to the bereaved families and directed authorities to ensure the best possible medical treatment was provided to the injured.Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif offered his condolences in a statement and asked health authorities to provide the best possible treatment to the injured.
corporate corner Secretary Housing calls on Lord Amer ISLAMABAD: Iftikhar Ali Shallwani, Federal Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Works had a meeting with Lord Aamer Sarfraz of Kensington in his office. The Lord Sarfraz, is a Member of the House of Lords, the upper house of United Kingdom Parliament. Hon Lord Aamer Sarfraz congratulated Iftikhar Ali Shallwani on assumption of office and expressed the hope that the he will play vital role to meet the housing requirements of federal employees and general public. Both sides also discussed issues of mutual interest. Iftikhar Ali Shallwani said that Pakistan attaches high importance to its relation with United Kingdom and is desirous of further enhancing these relations in all fields of mutual interests. Secretary Housing also presented souvenir to the distinguished guest. pR
tional Assembly. In this regard, a consultative meeting was held in Bani Gala under the chairmanship of PTI supremo Imran Khan while the party’s top leadership including Asad Umar, and Fawad Chaudhary participated in the meeting. Sources privy to the development said that the strategy of the election campaign for the by-elections in 9 constituencies was discussed in the meeting, and Babar Awan gave a briefing on the court proceedings related to the Shahbaz Gill case. TurkISh Ice creAM TrIck?: PTI leader Faisal Javed spoke about viral video which suggests that he pulled off a “Turkish ice cream trick” with his party chief Imran Khan during their power show in Lahore. Senator Faisal Javed, while speaking to a private TV, said he did not know about the “Turkish ice cream trick” suggestion at first. He said he saw it on YouTube and after their rally ended. Faisal Javed said he was introducing Imran Khan in his trademark style but could not complete it. He said he had no idea his party’s chairman was standing behind him to take the microphone and start his address. The senator said the party’s chairman would have slapped the person who did it instead of him but is a loving person. He added that he did not do it on purpose.Hesaid they talked about the “interesting” moment, adding he would tell the reaction of Imran Khan later.
The van passed in front of important landmarks in Central London including the British Parliament, 10 Downing Street, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, the Indian High Commission in London, and other important diplomatic missions. islamabad Staff RepoRt President Dr Arif Alvi on Tuesday stressed the implementation of effective steps to control traffic accidents. He called the need for following the traffic rules and adopting precautionary measures to avert the loss of precious lives in road accidents. The president expressed deep sorrow over the death of at least 20 persons in a collision of a bus and oil tanker at the M-5 motorway. He prayed for the departed souls to rest in peace and for grant of patience to the bereaved families. He emphasized the concerned departments to provide the best possible medical treatment to the injured.
islamabad Staff RepoRt P inforsultations(PTI)AKISTANTehreek-e-InsafonTuesdaystartedcon-todeviseastrategytheby-electioncampaign9constituenciesoftheNa-
A special talk on ‘Resilient Pakistan’
ISLAMABAD: Resilient Pakistan - A special talk on Resilient Pakistan was organized by Rotary Club of Islamabad (Metropolitan) in line with celebrations of 75th Anniversary of Independence of Pakistan. Imran Ghaznavi President RCIM welcomed the Guest Speaker Maj General Dr Sumraiz Salik. General Salik served in army for 34 years. High points of his career have been, instructional appointments, rich experience of war on terror, 5 tenures in GHQ and command of a formation in Balochistan. He authored a book on War on Terror and he completed PhD on Strategic Security Management of CPEC in 2021. General highlighted how Pakistan has faced various challenges since it’s independence and resiliently the entire nation over powered them. Courage, contentment, faith and bravery is in our national bloodline. We all need to unite and together can lead Pakistan into the road of Peace and Prosperity remarked Imran Ghaznavi. The talk ended with a vote of thanks by Mian Shaukat Masood. pR
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05neWs Wednesday, 17 August, 2022 | islAmAbAd
ToP BRASS HuddLe diScuSSeS
PTi STRATegy FoR By-PoLLS
The voices are saying that Arabs are people too
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Swat between conflict and peace
T RIUMPhAnT in the face of 2005 disastrous earthquake, and dreadful Talibanization coupled with the 2010 floods’ destruction, Swat is again on the verge of becoming a conflict zone. The Army has been sent to the idyllic valley. news channels are broadcasting the recent emergence of the erstwhile inhumane characters. The scary voices from around the country are portraying Swat as one of the places fallen to the militant group. But amidst these fearful circumstances, the valley and its people are adamant about their commitment to peace and prosperity. Several civil society protests held at different points rejected peace disrupting forces and asked the government to tighten the security of the region. The populace called on the state that any menace to the peace of Swat must be dealt with iron hand before it wreaks havoc on the people as was the case in the past. Protesters held that Swat has been a spot where outsiders played with the lives and property of the natives. Businesses, infrastructure, education, crops, and communication were severely affected by the operations against the militants but this time no room shall be granted to the militants in Swat, and no state policy that may endanger the security and peace of the valley will be tolerated. The resurgent Taliban has held places in the native city of the incumbent chief minister, Matta tehsil of district Swat. The provincial government at first did not respond to the calls of the locals who demanded an operation in the nearby mountainous areas where strangers had been seen by many natives. But the video of a DSP and a few soldiers went viral, who had been abducted and beaten by the Taliban, making the government realize the gravity of the situation. Moreover, after such brutality shown by the militants the law enforcement institutions are still confused about taking action against the TTP members. Almost 200-250 militants are reported to be stay-
06 Wednesday, 17 August, 2022 COMMENT Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965 I Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9 I Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545 I Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk I Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk
ing in the nearby hills but given the talks and a ceasefire truce with the militants in the neighbouring country the law enforcers are confused about whether to take strong action or not. Although the military has been sent to the valley and the olden police checkposts have been revived still the gravity of the situation is not handled completely. The resurgence of the militant group has created a wave of fear and panic in the residents who have already experienced the former saga of Talibanization. Upper Swat which is one of the top tourist spots in the country is also affected in terms of tourism. hotels, restaurants, other tourist resorts, and places have fallen vacant in the wake of the Taliban episode. It too should be noted that the tourists’ spots are in the Upper Swat, which is far from the Matta, where the militants have appeared. The security and peace of the upper region, such as Bahrain and Kalam, are intact but the fears that are created by the top channels’ programmes on the current resurgence of the Taliban have exacerbated the fears of the people.According to media sources, a checkpoint has been made on Balasoor top in the Matta tehsil. The locals claim that there are several checkpoints in the surrounding mountainous areas. The locals in the recent protests also proclaimed that the Swat is not crossing any foreign border and such an influx of the terrorists must have been backed by some state authorities because without state support no terrorist can enter and go deep into the state region. however, the government should acquaint masses regarding the negotiations that the state is saying have entered into the final round. Any deviations from the aspirations of the locals of the KPK will not be accepted, the protestors remarked. The writer is a freelance columnist YousafEditorNizami
I n 2020, I published “Arab Voices: What They Are Saying to Us and Why It Matters.”
The talks and the militant takeover are shrouded in mystery
Listen to Arab voices
T hE terrible accident that took place on the Multan-Sukkur Motorway wasn’t the first of its kind and, unfortunately it won’t be the last. The driver of a passenger bus, investigators have all but concluded, fell asleep at the wheel and crashed, of all places, into an oil tanker. Six dead, twenty injured as this editorial is being written by the toll is expected to rise. This incident yet again brings to attention the terrible working conditions under which long haul commute drivers operate. Terribly sleep-deprived - with only the lucky ones getting to work for a staggering 12 hours a day, and the others, even more - these drivers are a hazard to themselves and all the other vehicles plying the roads. Things are even worse in freight transport. The developed world has fashioned a good mechanism of checks to ensure there is no such sleep deprivation amongst this community. With the network of motorways and national highways being increasingly monitored by digital eyes, there needs to be a system to identification of all such drivers and their hours driven need to be tallied into a central database that could be accessible to all officers of the national highways and Motorways Police. To state the obvious, there also needs to be an end to the unfortunately rampant corruption that exists in the various driving licenses issuing agencies across the country. Though it is bad enough for unqualified individuals plying the roads in personal vehicles, the hazard is multiplied manifold when it is the far more unwieldy multi-axle heavy transport vehicles that are beingAlldiscussed.provincial governments and the federal bodies need to calibrate their efforts and out their shoulders to this task. Our roads are increasingly becoming death traps. We need to do our commuters better. Creeps abound in the republic Shehbaz Sharif and The Economist
Terribleprogressaccident
P RIME MInISTER Shehbaz Sharif and his predecessor Imran Khan are both mesmerised by the myth created about the Ayub era which ended ignominiously amidst countrywide protests caused by rising unemployment, skyrocketing prices and corruption on the part of those close to Ayub Khan. Industrialisation had ended after the 1965 War. Meanwhile Ayub’s strong centrist policies had created grounds for the separation of East Pakistan. The trickledown doctrine led to the accumulation of wealth in the so called 20 super-rich families while leaving millions jobless.
Structural flaws in way of
Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor M. A. Niazi Joint Editor Umar ExecutiveAzizEditorAziz-ud-Din Ahmad Joint Editor
Shehbaz Sharif finds three critical structural flaws that hindered Pakistan from fulfilling its great promise. First, the political environment which has become increasingly polarized. Second, failure to invest enough in the nuts and bolts of development that is, education, health and infrastructure. Third, turning inwards in a way that has prevented us from reaping the benefits of globalisation through the free exchange of people, goods, capital and ideas. According to Sharif our ability to make― and keep― friends on the international stage has significantly weakened over time. Today, we hardly make anything that the world wants and our companies remain very comfortable only operating within our borders, often protected by barriers to competition. It is time we stop covering up our deficiencies by talking about “the complicated neighbourhood we live in.” Despite the neighbourhood, military action in East Pakistan could have been averted and agreement reached hrough political dialogue. The Zia regime and later the Mushrraf government could have avoided getting Pakistan involved in Afghanistan. While military expenses cannot be altogether dispensed with, countries have reduced these considerably through better diplomacy. Pakistan needs to learn this. Political considerations have been allowed to stand in the way of making sound decisions. Pakistan can make little progress in the absence of population control. Both Iran and Bangladesh have made sufficient head way in family planning. Fear of backlash from the clergy however stops political parties in Pakistan from taking bold steps in this regard. Political exigencies stop govts from taking sound economic decisions. While the country badly needs to expand the tax net, powerful financiers or large segments of traditional voters go untaxed. With provincial assemblies dominated by powerful farmers, the agricultural sector remains untaxed. hundreds of thousands of traders brought under the tax net recently had to be exempted because they mostly support the PML(n).
Based on our polling during the first decade of this new century, “Arab Voices” was an effort to lay out the myths that have shaped Western discourse about the Arab World, understand why those myths have taken hold, and what can be done to dispel them. Inseparate chapters, “Arab Voices” presented a number of these myths— e.g., “Arabs are more violent and tend toward extremism,” “Arabs hate the West,” etc.— and then demonstrated through our extensive polling of Arab public opinion how each of them was a misperception of the real Arab World. The book concluded with practical lessons for governments, businesses, educators, and the general public to be able to take corrective measures and work to promote better understanding. What we found pointedly in our polling in the USA and in Europe was that Western perceptions of the Arab world were too often shaped by negative stereotypes and anecdotal evidence used to justify prejudicial views. As a result, our understanding of who Arabs are, and what values and aspirations they have, too often missed the mark. Policymakers and political analysts, alike, often talk about Arabs and at Arabs, but they rarely consider listening to Arabs in order to fully understand their lives, and their needs and hopes for the future. One consequence of this has been the oversimplification of a complex region, which has led to costly policyMoredisasters.thana decade later, not only the myths persist but with them, and because of them, the misguided policies and prejudices that too often have distorted the West’s dealing with this critical region of the world. Recognizing these past failures and yet still hampered by biased attitudes shaped by negative perceptions, some leading voices in the West now argue for disengagement from the region. For that reason, I was pleased that the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change commissioned my polling firm, Zogby Research Services, to undertake an updated poll of opinion in seven Arab countries. Acknowledging that the Arab world sits at the pivot point of three continents in which Western nations have invested so much, and that it is a region of enormous human potential, the Institute made clear its belief that correcting course is the better option than withdrawal. And the path forward, as it proposes, is to replace myths and misconceptions with genuine understanding.Forus,polling opens a window, allowing Arab voices to be heard. I call it “the respectful science” because we record the views of every respondent. When we analyze the results, a portrait emerges that can assist us in dispelling stereotypes and correcting misconceptions. And if we pay attention to what people are telling us, we can better shape our policies to respond, to meet their real needs, not the ones we have assumed they have. What we learn from our 2022 polling is that across the region strong majorities of Arabs: support equal rights for women in hiring and in the workplace; favor equipping young people with technological skills so they can better compete in the economy of the future; are either moderately religious or secular; believe that when religious movements govern, they make countries weaker, and believe that religion as it is taught in their countries needs to be modernized. In “Arab Voices,” I noted the widespread American perception that Arabs hate us, despise our values, and spend too much time listening to preachers and television programmes that reinforce this hatred. Comparing those results with our polling from across the Arab world revealed a profound disconnect. We found that Arabs do in fact respect the USA and its values of freedom, innovation and opportunity. What they don’t like are our policies towards them. Their political priorities are much like ours: secure employment, better educational opportunities and improving their health care. We also learned that mosque-attendance rates were comparable to churchattendance rates. And when Arabs watch television, their favorite programs are films, soap operas, and reality and game shows— in other words, like Americans, Arabs watch TV to be entertained. Giventhat this has been our life’s work, we’re delighted the Institute provided us with the opportunity to conduct new polling exploring the critical issues facing the Arab world today. It has undertaken to look deeply into Arab attitudes and lay out a forwardlooking agenda that responds to Arab aspirations. A final note to policymakers and political pundits: Check your biases at the door and listen to what Arabs are telling us about what they want. As my mother used to tell me: “If you want others to hear you, you must listen to them first.” Thanks to the Tony Blair Institute, Arab voices are speaking to you. Listen to what they’re saying. The writer is President of the Arab American Institute Usman torwali We found that Arabs do in fact respect the USA and its values of freedom, innovation and opportunity. What they don’t like are our policies towards them. Their political priorities are much like ours: secure employment, better educational opportunities and improving their health care. We also learned that mosque-attendance rates were comparable to churchattendance rates. And when Arabs watch television, their favorite programs are films, soap operas, and reality and game shows— in other words, like Americans, Arabs watch TV to be entertained The state should make a prudent move in the current crisis that is looming large amidst the shambled economy and political instability. The residents of Swat and other natives of KPK must be informed about the development that is taking place in the neighboring country with the militant group, as any foul move can directly jeopardize the security of the concerned populace. The people of Swat demand a strong operation against the militants’ hideouts and these natives firmly stand against any group. The recent protests show that the people of Swat are united and committed to the cause of peace. Nothing can stand between the people of Swat and the peace that they have achieved by laying thousands of lives washington watch Dr James J Zogby
SAJID MAHMOODISLAMABADANSARI
Rescue measures in Balochistan PARTS of Balochistan, eastern Sindh and lower Punjab have almost been swept away by the recent rains, causing devastation in major parts of the country. This happened when the majority of the nation and the relevant authorities were busy watching the political circus in Punjab, where the opposition and coalition government were embroiled in a war for the ‘crown of Punjab’. The rains undoubtedly caused havoc and flooded large areas in cities, like Karachi, Lahore, Multan and many more. however, Balochistan, rural Sindh and lower Punjab have seen much greater devastation, with hundreds of deaths in these areas alone, while thousands of houses collapsed, bringing life there to a halt. One of the viral images on social media is of a helpless father clutching the lifeless body of his young daughter, who got drowned in the river. Another image from Balochistan shows a decaying body of a man, washed away, resting on a tree. Even more disturbing is the image of a dead toddler on a floating mat. It is important to remember the victims from Sindh and Punjab, who have lost practically everything, including their loved ones and means of support. Everyone who has been affected should get due care and assistance without any waste of time. It will be infinitely better if all political parties across the divide may focus on rescue missions instead of indulging in political gimmickry in these troubled times.
ALMOST all countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom and countries in the European Union, have relaxed Covid-related restrictions to a great extent for international travel for unvaccinated people in their/other countries. This has been done mainly to give boost to their travel and tourism industry which had been badly affected because of the virus outbreak. But the airlines operating to and from Pakistan go by the last circular of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) issued in May 2020 wherein the authority had put harsh Covid-related restrictions and requirements. It was fine when it was issued, but it still exists in 2022, and that is causing a lot of hassles. Pakistan’s tourism industry has been suffering badly as the airlines are not accepting unvaccinated tourists and Pakistani passengers on their flights. Whereas, on the other hand, now almost all countries have lifted such harsh restrictions on airlines, allowing them to bring in unvaccinated tourists as well in their countries in order to give their tourism industry a boost. The CAA has not issued any such relaxation or updates in this regard since May 2020, although thousands of unvaccinated tourists and overseas Pakistanis from various destinations wish to visit Pakistan. The CAA would be doing something wise if it allows unvaccinated tourists and Pakistanis wishing to return to the country. however, if the authorities are too concerned about the spread of the virus, they can subject all the unvaccinated passengers to PCR tests, including Pakistanis, on arrival, charging them a fee. Those with positive result may be asked to remain quarantined for a specific period at their homes or hotels. The government should take immediate steps on this issue as those working in the hospitality industry have been suffering from immense financial losses since the Covid outbreak and subsequent restrictions. Lifting the ban on unvaccinated incoming passengers will give thousands of Pakistanis abroad an opportunity to return to the country. Besides, it will also assist in efforts to revive international tourism.
COMMENT Problems faced by Karachi fishermen
MAZHAR YOUSUFHYDERABADANSARI
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 Do you know that we touch our mobile phones 2600 times a day? Even during research it was found that Indian Smartphones users’ average screen time spiked by 25 percent to 6.9 hours during the covid-19 pandemic. It means that we fix our eyes for 7 hours daily on our smartphones. Sometimes we scroll on social media or arewatching videos on YouTube, even while watching movies on netflix or doing anything on social media. If you literally waste seven hours a day. It not only impacts your life, study, job, business or hobbies but it also affects your mind for sure. If you snatch someone’s phone, he will be irritated, or start to feel restless or feel stress at times at last. Undoubtedly, it has become an addiction and only a few accept this dark reality. In reality, social media addiction can be compared with cigarettes, alcohol, drugs and gambling addiction. It is very strange that both cocaine and social media are different things but the addiction caused by both of these in the human body can be compared.The human body follows the Dopamine Pattern when thereisaddiction to anything. Actually, Dopamine is a neurotransmitter which is formed into our brain. neurotransmitters’ main duty is to convey messages or signals to the brain. Dopamine is actually directly related to motivation and reward or simply it has the function of anticipation although pleasure booster and pain relieving is connected with endorphins. Dopamine release is a normal process and it is not detrimental. Dopamine plays a very important role in motivation, memory and learning. Its optimum level is very good but it must not be too high or too low. The problem lies where you get your reward and your brain lowers down dopamine transmission. Even it lowers down below the baseline and the same exposure is faced again and again and due to it, a chronic dopamine deficit state is created in the brain when dopamine consistently persists in the lower state. During this, you can not get the same level of pleasure. To get the same level of happiness again, you need more external stimuli. When you get a thing of your pleasure ona permanent basis, your excitementor happiness lowers ultimately. This phenomenon in the world of Psychology is called the hedonic Treadmill. To get more or the same level of happiness, you have to strive to achieve a bigger goal than the previous one. The same thing is applicable not only for achievements in one’s life but also applicable for cigarettes and drugs. When a person consumes drugs for the very first time, even a small dose or quantity of drugs gives him a kick and he gets immense pleasure. But, Gradually, he has to use more drugs to get the same level of kick or happiness. So, initially, he starts to consume drugs in a few grams but then the quantity keeps on increasing and at last, he gets addicted badly. Because his level of happiness keeps on decreasing with the same quantity of drugs so dose of drugs will have to increase, to attain the same kick. Social media addiction also does work in a similar manner. When you see a notification on your mobile, your brain expects the same level of reward, dopamine is released. If someone has liked your photo or even made a good comment on your photo, you actually get bonhomie and an instant reward is gathered by you. Your brain writes it down in a diary entry that this thing gave you happiness and you will do it again. But piecemeal, your happiness comes down by seeing just 100 likes and 20 comments, just 2 messages and 10 friend requests are not enough. You need more and step by step you fall for it. The neurological process is the same. But why don’t we get addicted to other things like earning more money or to get other bigger achievements. Why is it only drugs and social media which cause so much addiction? It has two main reasons. The first is ease of access and second is speedy reward. These are the two risk factors to get addicted to anything. If a person easily gets chocolates daily and in large amounts, he also get addicted because sugar addiction is also a phenomenon. But, in case of clearing highly competitive exams, you don’t get addicted because there is no speedy reward and you have to work hard for years to get the reward. For earning money, if you have an ease of access or quick easy way to earn money with a speedy reward then you can be addicted to earning money like doing corruption and gambling. This is exactly what happens in gambling addiction. When a person gambles his money, he actually has ease of access, he sees that he can earn money in an easy way and even reward is instant and speedy. So, it is easy to get addicted to gambling. however, doing your job and establishing a business is not easy at all and even it is next to impossible. Because there is no speedy reward and easy access now observe these things in the context of social media. Social media and your phone are easy to access. Whether it is Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, you just have to pick up your phone and tap and all three apps will be opened. The second thing is speedy reward, the likes you get on your post and the comments, the messages or the videos you watch on Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram entertain you or become a cause of amusement for you. So, this is the reward. Tiktok got popularity in no time because of its instant reward of entertainment and ease of access, as it is the biggest as compared to other social media platforms. In TikTok, you don’t have to search videos and even it swipes automatically. Videos are comparatively shorter and 15 to 20 seconds is the best time frame for perfect attention. Therefore, it is more addictive. On YouTube sometimes ease of access stops for a while because you have to search videos on your own. Comparing it with other activities, for example, you have to read a book, it needs patience. Until and unless you read a few pages, you won’t get any reward or entertainment. That’s the way you want to play outside, it will require physical exertion. The most dangerous thing is that all these social media apps companies have designed their apps in such a way that these keep you addicted. These companies have studied in detais that to which things people feel attracted psychologically, to which things people get addicted and feel attracted, or how people will use their apps more and how they will spend more time on screen. Thus, these companies manipulated their apps. These companies consider you as a prey and set net smartly to catch you. These companies paid professionals with bigger paychecks to conduct high level psychological analysis and surveys of people’s interests. From colour scheme to layout button in apps were chosen very cautiously. There was a time when scrolling was limited on Facebook but now scrolling is infinite. It is natural that everyone wants to explore places, people and things and it takes time and patience as well. The ease of access and speedy reward you get from your phone is much higher and easier than anything. This type of social media addiction is harmful for life in many ways and due to various reasons. The first reason is wastage of time which is only a superficial thing. It causes a rise In radicalisation. If algorithms will show compliance to your will, your political views lie in an echochamber. If you like right wing posts then only right wing posts will appear for you and vice versa. Secondly, it increases insecurity and depression. If you see someone on social media, in person you find them different due to the filters used by them to look pretty. Teenagers become anxious and depressed, when they get less likes. Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook is such an app that has become the precursor for two introverts to start conversation easily leading to exchanging phone numbers and meeting physically. But Yuval noah hariri asked Mark if Facebook’s role is to connect people or does it try to keep people hooked to Facebook? But in fact you start to connect with your bosom friends only through social media, actually, that ends the warmth of your relations. Anyways, if the use of social media is in moderation, it can be beneficial as well. The problem is its excess. But how addiction can be prevented is a million-dollar question. The answer lies within the same two things which are easy access and speedy reward. If both of these can be lowered then addiction will also be decreased. The foremost step is to delete all social media apps from your phone: remember you don’t have to delete your account. You can use these social media apps in your laptop or in the browser of your phone: simply turn off your notifications. hence, easy access and speedy reward will be lowered. The solution also depends upon the level of addiction. Use these apps in private browser. This will also make the process complicated and eventually, you will try to avoid its use sooner or later. In the end, It means that the harder the action, the less the addiction.A bonus suggestion is to turn off all kinds of sounds on your phone, this way you will not be distracted at all. During a survey, it was found that a person on average unlocks his mobile phone 110 times daily. The easy access factor must be shunned and finished at any cost, and only that way you can eliminate the addiction of social media from your life because mental calmness is the real thing to lead a simple happy and healthy life.
Addiction of Social Media
07 Wednesday, 17 August, 2022
Illogical Covid Restrictions
Dr. Zeeshan Khan is a professional pharmacist, WHO Certified professional with Certification ‘’CCRP” in clinical research from Canada, and a commentator based in Lahore. He can be reached at Twitter: @DrZeeshanKhanA1 Email: dr.zeeshan.alias.ghazikhan@gmail.com
Dr Zeeshan Khan An addiction like any other
ShOULD we celebrate Aug 14 as our Independence Day or the birthday of Pakistan? Pakistan did not exist before Aug 14, 1947. As such, it was never a country ruled by the British, and, consequently, liberated or grantedAlthoughindependence.thename of Pakistan was coined early in 1933 by Chaudhry Rehmat Ali in a pamphlet now or never, Pakistan cropped up as a sovereign state on Aug 14, 1947. It was born a free country from its very inception. It was India that was ruled by the British and given independence by them, not Pakistan. Pakistan was never under the rule of any foreign power. It was created — took its birth — one minute before India was liberated at midnight the same night, but as the date changes after midnight, therefore, India became independent on Aug 15. We should, therefore, celebrate Pakistan’s birthday, and not its Independence Day.
ThE port of Karachi is one of South Asia’s largest and busiest deep-water seaports, handling about 60 per cent of the nation’s cargo. It is located in the Karachi harbour between Keamari and Manora, and close to Karachi Fisheries, the main business district and several industrial areas. There are many large boats in Keamari that sail along Keamari, Manora and the Fisheries. In addition to large boats, there are about 1,000 small boats that are used by villagers who earn their bread and butter by catching fish. Most of the fishermen rely on traditionally-built small boats and cannot fish during high tide due to the poor condition of their boats. The small but scenic coastal village, Salehabad in Manora, has been inhabited by fishermen for centuries. With a population of more than 10,000 people, the village is still without basic amenities of drinking water, electricity and gas. Fishing boats are in a bad shape and cannot be taken to the open sea as several such boats have already gone missing there. Fishermen do not have money to get their broken fishing boats repaired. The government collects taxes worth billions of rupees from the fishing industry, but always ignores the basic problems of fishermen. The government should address the genuine problems of the community. It should launch a package by providing them basic necessities as well as new boats to earn a living on a consistent basis. ASIF YOUSUFKARACHIALI Pakistan’s Birthday
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MUHAMMAD FIRASISLAMABADQURESHI
The Modi administration is unabashed in promoting the hindu faith over others. Modi ritually prostates himself before hindu idols and participates in religious ceremonies on state business—when unveiling national monuments, for example. Under his government, India has become a hindu country whose minorities must accept second-class status without equal rights and protections as citizens. State schools in many BJP-ruled states no longer offer meat to children at lunch out of a mistaken belief that hinduism prohibits eating meat. Other hindu nationalists have been running campaigns on social media singling out films with Muslim actors for boycotts. hindi, a language spoken as their first language by less than half of India’s 1.4 billion people, is increasingly imposed on regions where it is neither spoken nor popular as a second language. Southern Indian states, where the BJP is generally weaker than in the north, often have superior literacy rates, greater female empowerment, and lower birth rates. In cities in southern and western India, such as Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and hyderabad, the BJP vote is boosted by large numbers of job-seeking, hindi-speaking, hard-to-assimilate migrants from BJP-ruled states. “India is like europe,” the actor Mohan Agashe once told me. “A common civilization, but different local cultures.” It is that distinction that bothers the BJP, whose longterm aim is to mold India into a unitary state with a single identity and following a single faith. Former Indian Prime Minister Morarji Desai once told me he considered this vision as ridiculous because, in his view, hinduism is a faith with many interpretations, many gods, and many paths toward spiritual salvation, and not the singular narrative the nationalists are making it out to be. But, for better or worse, that’s the direction the BJP is headed. Like other strongly ideological parties—communists come to mind—the BJP’s aim is not the next election but the next generation. In Modi, India’s hindu nationalists have found a leader who galvanizes the population, even though he was the chief minister of the state of Gujarat when one of the worst massacres in independent India took place in 2002, and his government was severely castigated by human rights groups at the time. Many have forgotten that Modi was banned from entering the United States until he became prime minister in 2014. That the BJP’s vision vastly diminishes India is hardly a concern for its supporters. If it succeeds, India will be reshaped into something very much different from what Nehru described in the 1940s: “[India] was like some ancient palimpsest on which layer upon layer of thought and reverie had been inscribed, and yet no succeeding layer had completely hidden or erased what had been written previously.” Continuing to describe India as “the world’s largest democracy” is increasingly bizarre. Today, India is merely the most populous country to hold elections. It has the form of democracy but has lost the content. Since Modi came to power, India’s ranking in the United Nations Development Program’s human development indicators has stagnated. In its annual review of political freedoms around the world, Freedom house no longer categorizes India as “free.” India is the only nominal democracy among the 10 worst jailers of writers and journalists, according to PeN America; according to Reporters Without Borders, India has become one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists to work. Modi operates like a master performer with a keen eye for exceptional photo-ops. Never mind that many of his policies are whimsical—like the sudden demonetization of the currency in 2016—or woefully inadequate, such as India’s response to the pandemic or to the country’s widening inequality. There are 200 million Indian Muslims—and currently not a single one in Modi’s cabinet. Of course, India remains a hugely important country. During one of my conversations with Lee when I was a reporter in Singapore, he told me his biggest worry was turmoil in China. But have we thought about what might happen if instead of China, it’s India that disintegrates? If poorly educated, hindi-speaking northern India increasingly imposes its retrograde values on a more educated, prosperous south, there will be trouble ahead. Going back to a social order before British rule (if it ever existed at all)—requiring moral codes that restrict women, enforcing religious practices, legislating bizarre vegetarian dietary practices, and requiring everyone to speak a single language, believe in one faith, and support one ideology— then Indian unity, preserved for the past 75 years, could begin to unravel. As any glance at a history book makes clear, that is unlikely to be a pleasant process. An outwardly democratic India may seem like a good counternarrative to an autocratic China. But India has been an unreliable ally of the West and is looking increasingly odious. Look no further than India’s votes at the United Nations abstaining from condemning Russia’s unlawful and brutal invasion of Ukraine. To regain the moral ascendancy India had at independence, the country needs a makeover. India needs to return to its origins—the “idea of India” and the spirit that its sole Nobel laureate in literature, Rabindranath Tagore, celebrated in his poetry. even democratically constituted nations can be gripped by madness, as europe’s bloody 20th century shows. India is a great adventure and fantastic experiment, but its current leadership is turning it into a mere shadow of what Gandhi, Nehru, and Tagore imagined. That failure of imagination is the ultimate tragedy as India now turns 75. Salil Tripathi is a writer based in New York.
08 WORLD VIEW 17th August 22_Layout 1 8/16/2022 10:34 PM Page 1
CONTINUING TO DESCRIBE INDIA AS “THE WORLD’S LARGEST DEMOCRACY” IS INCREASINGLY BIZARRE; IT IS MERELY THE MOST POPULOUS COUNTRY TO HOLD ELECTIONS IN ITS ANNUAL REVIEW OF POLITICAL FREEDOMS AROUND THE WORLD, FREEDOM HOUSE NO LONGER CATEGORIZES INDIA AS “FREE.” INDIA IS THE ONLY NOMINAL DEMOCRACY AMONG THE 10 WORST JAILERS OF WRITERS AND JOURNALISTS, ACCORDING TO PEN AMERICA; ACCORDING TO REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS, INDIA HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACES IN THE WORLD FOR JOURNALISTS TO WORK AS GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, INCLUDING MODI, INCREASINGLY MIX HINDUISM WITH POLITICS, AND AS MINORITIES, PARTICULARLY MUSLIMS, FIND INCREASED RESTRICTIONS AGAINST DISPLAYING THEIR FAITH, INDIA IS FAST BECOMING THE COUNTRY MUHAMMAD ALI JINNAH, PAKISTAN’S FOUNDER, WARNED ABOUT WHEN HE DEMANDED A SEPARATE NATION FOR BRITISH INDIA’S MUSLIMS INDIA HAS CONTINUED TO HOLD DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS, EVEN IF ELECTION CAMPAIGN FINANCE IS OPAQUE. IT HAS A JUDICIARY THAT’S INDEPENDENT IN THEORY BUT RARELY PRONOUNCES VERDICTS THE GOVERNMENT DOESN’T LIKE. THE ARMY HAS NOT INTERVENED IN POLITICS, EVEN THOUGH RETIRED GENERALS FULMINATE IN THE MEDIA. THE INDIAN MEDIA IS FREE TO CRITICIZE—BUT DIRECTS MUCH OF ITS CRITICISM AT THE OPPOSITION WHILE MOSTLY SPARING THE GOVERNMENT
Wednesday, 17 August, 2022 08 WORLD VIEW
A chAnging ‘ideA of indiA’
Foreign Policy Salil TripaThi T he evening before he was sworn in as newly independent India’s first prime minister 75 years ago on Aug. 15, Jawaharlal Nehru addressed the Indian nation. There was immense curiosity around the world. Nehru’s address, which quickly became known as his “tryst with destiny” speech, is remarkable for its eloquence and his awareness of the task that lay ahead for his nation. At the time, the subcontinent was still undergoing a bloody partition, during which millions of people would die and tens of millions of lives would be uprooted. Three-quarters of a century later, under Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the country’s narrative is undergoing its broadest shift since independence. India’s secular, liberal founders such as Nehru are increasingly lost from view—and blamed for the tragedy of Partition. Modi’s government wants to turn India into a more assertive, nationalistic, hindu nation—where minorities exist but are expected to be subservient and grateful. As government officials, including Modi, increasingly mix hinduism with politics, and as minorities, particularly Muslims, find increased restrictions against displaying their faith, India is fast becoming the country Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Pakistan’s founder, warned about when he demanded a separate nation for British India’s Muslims. At the time of independence, there was understandable apprehension in foreign capitals about what India might become. Former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who had never liked the idea of granting his country’s biggest colony its freedom, had ridiculed India as “a geographical term … no more a united nation than the equator.” When the British left India, it was divided into two nations—two wings of Pakistan to the west and east for the subcontinent’s Muslims and a much larger hindu-majority nation that said it would be a secular democracy. India included not only regions directly administered by the British but also more than 500 princely states, large and small, whose rulers believed themselves to be sovereign. Many thought Balkanization was inevitable. India would remain the poster child of poverty, many insisted, particularly after the Nehru government opted for post-independence economic policies that professed socialism, vastly expanded state control of the economy, and did not succeed in promoting economic welfare while announcing plans to do so. Indeed, for many decades, the poor remained poor. Much more recently, Singaporean elder statesman Lee Kuan Yew, too, dismissed India, insisting it is not a real country. “Instead,” he said, “it is 32 separate nations that happen to be arrayed along the British rail line.” Reality, however, looks different: The multiethnic former Yugoslavia has broken up, the Soviet empire has splintered, and Pakistan has split into two. India, however, remains a unitary state, notwithstanding challenges such as the future of Kashmir. India did bring together those princely states, and over three-quarters of a century, it has not only stayed united but emerged stronger, became self-sufficient in food, and turned into a much wealthier economic powerhouse. Crucially, India has continued to hold democratic elections, even if election campaign finance is opaque. It has a judiciary that’s independent in theory but rarely pronounces verdicts the government doesn’t like. The Army has not intervened in politics, even though retired generals fulminate in the media. The Indian media is free to criticize—but directs much of its criticism at the opposition while mostly sparing the government. India has had major internal strife and fought wars. Today, its relations with most neighbors are fragile. Income inequality has widened. But New Delhi no longer needs help from foreign governments when facing emergencies such as natural disasters and no longer seeks concessional aid from rich countries. India’s singular achievement since independence has been to remain a democracy that clings to its liberal, secular ethos. True, there were significant setbacks—most notably, the emergency of 1975-1977, when then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi suspended key civil rights provisions, jailed opposition leaders and workers, and censored the press. But she held elections in 1977. When she lost, she stepped down without disputing the outcome, returning to power legitimately by winning the next elections in early 1980, following the collapse of the government that replaced her. The world was impressed and inspired by Indian democracy and its astounding ability to hold together a vast geographic, ethnic, and religious tapestry. John Kenneth Galbraith, who later U.S. President John F. Kennedy’s ambassador to India, called India a “functioning anarchy” in 1958. Many Indians bristled at the word “anarchy,” but Galbraith’s point was valid: even in what appeared to him as anarchy, India functioned. Anarchies aren’t meant to function. To many outsiders, there seemed to be an Indian genius at work. Because of India’s democratic exterior—and the socialist, nonaligned policies with which many of in the international liberal community sympathized—the world gave India a free pass for many of its flaws. India’s pernicious caste system that defined an entire swath of society as “untouchable” persisted despite laws banning the practice, and India was never subjected to the kind of campaigns that rightly targeted South Africa’s apartheid regime. Frequent outbreaks of sectarian violence killed hundreds and at times thousands, but India did not face sanctions. Its robust democratic norms—politicians challenging one another, newspapers exposing scandals, and the occasional resignations of politicians guilty of corruption or misdemeanors—strengthened India’s image, suggesting that the country was adhering to its remarkably progressive constitution. And that document was progressive indeed: From the moment of independence in 1947, every Indian of a certain age, regardless of sex, religion, caste, language, or social status, had the right to vote. In spite of major crises—several wars, droughts, incompetent leadership, corruption, and internal strife, to say nothing of autarkic economic policies and growing inequality—India continued on its path of remaining a liberal, secular, democratic country. It was an oasis surrounded by authoritarian regimes, where generals took over when they didn’t like the elected civilian government, including Myanmar, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. The comparison to its neighbors further enhanced India’s reputation. how deserved that reputation was is a different question. One problem was the government’s ability to curb freedoms whenever it wanted under esoteric so-called national security laws, which independent India actually tightened, making its citizens’ freedoms more vulnerable than during colonial times. But India’s earlier governments played by known rules. The constitution India had adopted with independence was imbued with a liberal, secular, democratic ethos. Part of the reason India got a free pass for many horrible things was because the international community trusted India to get it right. And unlike other countries in the region, India did not export its problems, not least because its very large Muslim population wasn’t radicalized by the ideologies that were sweeping Islam from the Middle east to Southeast Asia. I recall a private conversation with a U.S. diplomat in what was still called Bombay, now Mumbai, in the late 1980s. By then, eastern europe was restless and in the process of shaking off the Soviet umbrella. One by one, Moscow’s satellite states were freeing themselves. Vaclav havel, a writer I deeply admire, would soon become president of Czechoslovakia—and later the Czech Republic. (Disclosure: I am a jury member for the Vaclav havel Library Foundation’s Disturbing the Peace Award given annually to a courageous writer.) The diplomat at whose home I was having dinner told me, quite frankly: “India’s free ride is going to end soon. Until a few years ago, there were a handful of democracies, and most were in the West. You were the exception. Now, with [protest leader Lech] Walesa in Poland, havel in Czechoslovakia, the world is changing—there are going to be many more democracies. They will write liberal constitutions. Their new leaders have been close to the West. And India’s flaws—the communal riots, caste riots—will be far more visible.” he was right. In 1990, I went to South Africa for the first time. Interviewing politicians across the political spectrum, I learned early on that the constitution they planned to write after the end of apartheid was going to be far more liberal than India’s. South African intellectuals and politicians such as Nadine Gordimer, Zach de Beer, Allister Sparks, Nelson Mandela, F.W. de Klerk, and many others I talked to admired India and its democracy, not least because of Mohandas Gandhi’s years in South Africa. As South Africans often tell Indian visitors, “You gave us Mr. Gandhi, we gave you the Mahatma,” and anyone who has followed Gandhi’s life would agree that South Africa strongly shaped the Indian leader’s views and political talents. The “idea of India,” as political scientist Sunil Khilnani described the ethos of the nation’s early years, was assumed to be what every Indian believed in: democracy, liberalism, secularism, and a concern for the poor. however, since 1925, an organization called the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (abbreviated RSS, meaning “National Voluntary Union”) has sought to write a different narrative. Many of its early leaders have written approvingly or been unabashed admirers of Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini and Nazi leader Adolf hitler, admiring in particular Nazi Germany’s nationalism and ideas of racial purity. During the struggle for independence, the RSS vehemently opposed Gandhi’s and Nehru’s cooperation with Muslims. But for all their admiration of nationalism, no major RSS leader made a notable contribution to India’s struggle for independence. Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, a prominent icon of hindu Mahasabha, another right-wing organization, was charged as co-conspirator in Gandhi’s assassination in 1948, though he was acquitted. Gandhi’s actual assassin, Nathuram Godse, was a member of hindu Mahasabha and had previously been a member of the RSS. India has banned the RSS three times—in 1948, after Gandhi was killed; in 1975, during the emergency; and then again in 1992, after right-wing zealots destroyed a mosque in Ayodhya because they claimed it was built on a site where they believed Rama, the hindu god-king, was born millennia ago. One of the RSS’s allied organizations is today’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which, since its inception in 1980, has steadily expanded its influence. Since the Indian electoral system follows the British firstpast-the-post system, it’s enough for the BJP to get a plurality of votes, most recently 37 percent in 2019. The opposition vote is splintered, and the grand old party of India’s independence movement, the Indian National Congress, is struggling. Thanks to the first-past-the-post system, the BJP—under Modi’s charismatic leadership—has been in power without a majority of votes since 2014. The eight years of BJP rule have changed India’s governing ethos—and what the “idea of India” means today. Instead of being a multi-everything society that celebrates its diversity, it has become a majoritarian entity, fearful of its minorities and keen to subjugate them. hindus have lynched Muslims on the suspicion of possessing meat. The central government has used national security laws to arrest human rights defenders—including Christians and Muslims—who had been working for the poor, in many cases with no charges filed and bail denied. In the populous state of Uttar Pradesh, the BJP-run state government has razed the homes of Muslims who have challenged the government. Indian jails are filled not only with criminals awaiting trials but also with dissident human rights activists, journalists, writers, and others whose voices an older India might have celebrated.
Islamabad: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) organized a tree plantation drive in the vicinity of PTA Headquarters in Islamabad. Chairman PTA, Major General Amir Azeem Bajwa (R) inaugurated the tree plantation drive by planting a sapling along with Member (Compliance & Enforcement) Dr. Khawar Siddique Khokhar and senior officers of PTA. Speaking at the occasion, Chairman PTA encouraged PTA officers & officials to actively take part in the tree plantation activity in their neighborhoods to increase forest cover. pr
09NEWS Wednesday, 17 August, 2022 | ISLAMABAD corporate corner
ISLAMABAD pr Dig Police (Operations) Sohail Zafar Chatha has said that no laxity would be tolerated in the safety and security of the citizens.Hewas chairing a meeting, the other day, to review the crime situation in the capital city. SSP (Operations) islamabad Malik Jameel Zafar all zonal SSPs, SDPOs and SHOs of all the police stations attended the meeting. the meeting reviewed the overall crime situation in the capital. Speaking on the occasion, the Dig Ops warned the officers that no laxity towards safety and security of the citizens would be tolerated and strict disciplinary action would be initiated against them. "We are servants of the citizens and their safety is our prime priority," he added. He further directed all officers to arrest the offenders involved in heinous crimes especially murder cases adding that the ratio of challan of the cases and recoveries should be increased. the Dig Ops asked police officials to accomplish all their responsibilities in a professional manner. He also directed the officials concerned to submit challans in the cases that had been pending since years and also submit a report in this regard to his office. the Dig Ops said that the SSP, SDPOs, SHOs and investigation officers must remain in touch with the complainant and apprise them about progress in the case so that public trust in police could be restored. He strictly directed the officers concerned not to implicate any innocent in the case during snap-checking. He directed to make stronger patrolling in their respective areas and check suspected and without number plates motorbikes.
NEPRA under its initiative “Power with Security” today hosted a webinar on “Cybersecurity Challenges in Critical Infrastructure (Power Sector)” at NEPRA Tower with an aim to create awareness amongst the power sector entities against the global risks of cyberattacks. The webinar was led and addressed by Chairman NEPRA, Mr. Tauseef H. Farooqi followed by Cybersecurity Experts, Dr. Basit Shafiq from LUMS and Mr. Mubarik Mustafa, Consultant M/s ACET Solutions. The webinar was attended by a large number of Power Sector’s Professionals, Trade and Business representatives and NEPRA’s Professionals. The Chairman NEPRA, Mr. Tauseef H. Farooqi in his opening remarks highlighted the importance of effective defense against potential cyberattacks on energy infrastructure which is lifeline of the economy. He further stated that cybersecurity is more challenging in the power sector due to scattered locations of power plants and installations and therefore a comprehensive cybersecurity governance model is needed to deal with this threat and promote security and resilienceby-design culture. Dr. Basit Shafiq and Mr. Mubarak Mustafa also sensitized the participants about the growing sources of cyber risks in critical infrastructure. They further informed the audience of factors that contribute to security vulnerabilities and threats as well as Control & Monitoring Systems used in power networks and cybersecurity protection/tools.
PTA Tree Plantation Drive
Avalon City Islamabad, Pakistan’s first technologically advanced space US Ambassador calls on Air Chief PNS Taimur visits Sri lanka & participate in Naval exercise ‘lion Star’
ISLAMABAD pr U.S. ambassador to Pakistan Mr. Donald blome called on air Chief Marshal Zaheer ahmed baber Sidhu, Chief of the air Staff, Pakistan air Force in his office on tuesday. During the meeting, matters of regional security situation, enhanced bilateral and defence cooperation were discussed. the visiting dignitary lauded the professionalism of PaF personnel and the exceptional progress made by PaF over the years, especially through indigenization. He also appreciated Pakistan's efforts in promoting regional peace and vowed to enhance cooperation in various fields. the air Chief highlighted that both the countries enjoy cordial relations and reiterated his resolve to further enhance the existing bilateral cooperation between the two strategic partners. the CaS further said, "Pakistan values its strong diplomatic, economic and defence relations with United States of america which are based on convergence on all important issues relating to regional peace, security and stability”. both sides agreed to further optimize military to military ties particularly in training and operational domains.
Islamabad: Pakistan Navy Ship TAIMUR visited Colombo, Sri Lanka as part of Goodwill and Flag Showing mission. Upon arrival at port vicinity, Pakistan Navy Ship was welcomed by Sri Lankan Naval units and received by Defence Attaché of Pakistan at Colombo and Officials of Sri Lankan Navy. On this occasion, the military band of Sri Lanka played tunes as part of welcome gesture. During the port visit, Commanding Officer of PNS TAIMUR called-on Commander Western Naval Area (COMWEST). During the interactions, matters of mutual interests were discussed and enhancement of bilateral ties in all spheres was re-affirmed. The Commanding Officer conveyed good wishes of Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi for the people of Sri Lanka. PNS TAIMUR also celebrated Diamond Jubilee of Independence Day of Pakistan at Sri Lanka. Commanding Officer of the ship attended Flag Hoisting ceremony at Pakistani High Commission. Independence Day ceremony was also held onboard ship. The ship was attended by senior officials of Sri Lankan Navy along with a large number of diplomatic corps. PN Officers also visited Sri Lankan Navy Ship SINDURALA as exchange visit. Upon completion of port visit, PNS TAIMUR conducted bilateral naval Exercise Lion Star-IV with Sri Lankan Navy Ship to enhance interoperability in maritime domain. Visit of PNS TAIMUR to Sri Lanka provided an opportunity for both countries to further enhance the existing close diplomatic ties and cordial relations. pr
pr
NEPRA hosts webinar on ‘Cybersecurity Challenges in Critical Infrastructure (Power Sector)’
IMC VOluNTEERS TO COllECT STREwN FlAgS POST INDEPENDENCE DAy CElEBRATIONS
Citizens' safety, our foremost priority, says DIG Ops C elebrating14th august with patriotic fervor is every Pakistani citizen’s privilege and as responsible citizens, upholding the national flag’s sanctity and showing it due respect is our principal duty. indus Motor Company (iMC), organized a drive to salvage national flags strewn around the city of Karachi under the slogan “respect Our nation’s Pride.” the independence Day generates a lot of energy and enthusiasm across the country. every city and neighbourhood decorated with national flags, buntings, balloons etc, is a sight to behold. However, these flags which earlier were fluttering high above ground, are unfortunately found hanging torn, in garbage heaps or strewn on the ground, waiting to be carelessly trampled under-foot, an insult to our national pride. to mitigate the incidence of desecration of this national symbol, iMC for the fifth running year, set out on a drive for collection of national flags and buntings littered around the city on 15th august 2022. iMC employees, under the employee Volunteering Program participated in the activity moving along pre-determined routes spanning the iMC’scity.Chief executive, ali asghar Jamali expressed, “14th august for every Pakistani anywhere around the world, holds a lot of value as does the national flag. the excitement is definitely contagious. However, in all that excitement, it is really sad to see the flags and buntings being so recklessly disrespected. this initiative under our employee Volunteering Program is just a reminder for all of us to be mindful of our responsibility and give the national Flag the respect it deserves.” the activity also generated public interest, who also joined in, considering it a civic duty, and also appreciated iMC’s efforts. pr
75th Independence Day marked in Bucharest
Syed Amin Ul Haque, Federal Minister for IT & Telecommunication, said that he is looking forward to 18th P@SHA ICT Awards as they have tangibly played a catalytic role in the growth of exports in IT & ITeS Services. Mr. Badar Khushnood, Chairman P@SHA, is also seen in the pic. pr
The Diaman Jubilee 75th Independence of Pakistan was celebrated at a graceful ceremony held at Pakistan Embassy in Bucharest, Romania with zeal and fervor. A large number of Pakistanis residing in Bucharest and other parts of Romania along with officers and staff of Pakistan Embassy witnessed the flag-hoisting ceremony to mark the celebrations. On the occasion, messages from the country leadership were read out. Speaking to the audience, Ambassador of Pakistan to Romania His Excellency Dr Zafar Iqbal highlighted the historic significance of the day and paid rich tribute to the founding fathers and heroes of freedom struggle of Pakistan whose sacrifices led to the creation of a separate homeland for the Muslims of sub-continent. “Today we are able to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of the independence just because of the struggle and sacrifices of our forefathers”, he pointed out, adding that there is a dire need to asses successes and failures during the journey so far. “In our75 years of history, we successfully overcame various challenges.” The Ambassador also highlighted numerous challenges faced by the country while expressing confidence in Pakistan's potential in addressing these challenges. He also highlighted the atrocities of Indian Armed Forces in IIOJK and praised the struggle of Kashmiris. Talking about bilateral relations between Pakistan and Romania, the ambassador stated that relations between the two countries are being strengthened in all fields, especially in the area of bilateral trade. He informed the gathering that Pakistan's exports to Romania have increased by over 54 percent during the fiscal year2021-2022. pr OgDClto provide Rs28.248m for upgrading Taaleem Foundation School at Kohlu Islamabad: The dream of seeing a prosperous Pakistan, OGDCL feel that extending a helping hand to those communities lagging behind is crucial for development. OGDCL believes that proving ourselves as responsible, efficient & conscientious operators, we become the partners of choice in the area of Company’s operations and concessions. An agreement was signed yesterday by Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), financial supporter and Taaleem Foundation, Implementing Partner. Taaleem Foundation will implement the project diligently which include upgradation of TF Grammar school by renovation, repair and upgradation of physical, educational and skill related infrastructure at TF Grammar School Kohlu. In this project OGDCL will provide financial assistance to implementing partner, Taaleem Foundation for upgrading Taaleem Foundation Grammar school at Kohlu. The project is aligned with district education plans, goals and conceived to strengthen the educational institution in the area which is well rooted in the communities and supported by the government authorities. This school is being run on Public – Private partnership under the direct control and supervision of the district government. The implementing partner will make the school a model soon after completion and ensure that equitable basic education for all children without any discrimination. pr
ISLAMABAD pr avalon has launched Pakistan’s first technological city, avalon City islamabad for the people who seek economic residencies with environment friendly approach. the project aims to provide the residents with various advanced technological solutions to solve their daily problems and keep them entertained with advanced services, including 3D theatres, virtual theatres, Wi-Fi trees, electric bikes and more tech-based smart living solutions. this will be the future of real estate in the country. the new housing society is situated on the main Chakri road, with an easy accessibility from Chakri Motorway interchange and proposed rawalpindi ring road. this futuristically designed project is available at affordable prices with various plans. the four years payment plan includes eight half-yearly payments or 40 monthly installments. However, 15 percent down payment must be paid at the time of plot reservation.amongst other facilities, avalon City islamabad will support automated traffic control, street lighting, power supply, object and facial recognition technology, virtual hubs, and many other technological features. it will be constructed with sustainable and environment friendly materials to ensure safe and healthy living conditions.
BEIJING Agencies
RUSSiA SAYS CRimeA ARmS DePoT bLASTS ACT of ‘SAboTAge’
LONDON ReuteRs Polio, a deadly disease that used to paralyze tens of thousands of children every year, is spreading in London, New York and Jerusalem for the first time in decades, spurring catch-up vaccination campaigns. DREADED DISEASE: Polio terrified parents around the world for the first half of the 20th century. Affecting mainly children under five, it is often asymptomatic but can also cause symptoms including fever and vomiting. Around one in 200 infections leads to irreversible paralysis, and among those patients, up to 10 percent die. There is no cure, but since a vaccine was found in the 1950s, polio is entirely preventable. Globally, the wild form of the disease has almost disappeared. Afghanistan and Pakistan are now the only countries where the highly infectious disease, spread mainly through contact with faecal matter, remains endemic. But this year, imported cases were also found in Malawi and Mozambique, the first in those countries since the 1990s.
Looking at Afghanistan as a whole, the opposition is “very weak”, said Vanda Felbab-Brown, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution’s Center for Security, Strategy and Technology. “In fact, it has turned out to be more feeble than many analysts expected.”
Afghan opposition ‘very weak’ despite mounting anger against Taliban
Diehard sanctioned:separatistsindependence’‘Taiwantobemainland
TIEPIE Agencies
Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 in the wake of massive nationwide street demonstrations in Ukraine that led to the ouster of a KremlinfriendlyThosepresident.protests precipitated fighting between the army and Moscowbacked separatists in eastern Ukraine, which laid the groundwork for Moscow’s full-scale assault on February 24 this year. On August 9, Moscow said ammunition had detonated at a military airfield in Crimea, killing one person and wounding several more. It indicated that the airfield was not targeted by Ukrainian forces but experts said satellite imagery pointed to a likely attack, with several Russian warplanesUkrainedestroyed.hasnotclaimed responsibility for any attacks in Crimea but officials have made several comments suggesting its forces could be involved.
AFP KABUL AFP One year after the fall of Kabul, many of the opposition commanders famous for their stand in Panjshir Valley remain exiled in Tajikistan. Analysts paint a picture of a weak armed resistance against the Taliban and an Afghan population that increasingly abhors the Islamic fundamentalist group but is too exhausted to opposeWhenit. Afghanistan captured the world’s attention shortly after the Taliban’s precipitous takeover on August 15, 2021, the media focused on the Panjshir Valley — where late Afghan commander Ahmad Shah Massoud held off both the Soviets in the 1980s and the Taliban in the 1990s. The lionised commander’s son Ahmad Massoud vowed to fight the Taliban from Panjshir onceButagain.by September, Massoud had fled to neighbouring Tajikistan along with other resistance commanders. The apparent plan was to use Tajikistan as a staging ground to take on the Taliban. At the time, analysts lamented that it was a “non-viable prospect”. Since then, the few journalists with access to Panjshir have reported on common resistance attacks on Taliban positions. The Washington Post journalists who visited Panjshir wrote in June that “residents say assaults on Taliban positions are a regular occurrence and dozens of civilians have been killed, with some civilians imprisoned in sweeping arrests”.
DIFFERENT STRAINS: There are two main forms of poliovirus. Alongside the wild-type outlined above, there are also rare cases of what is known as vaccine-derived polio. It is this second form detected in wastewater in the British capital, London, and in New York in the United States, with one case of paralysis reported in New York state. A genetically similar virus has also been found in Jerusalem, Israel, and scientists are working to understand the link, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) said. While vaccine-derived polio is almost unheard of in the above locations, it is a known — albeit rare — threat in other countries, causing outbreaks every year, including 415 cases in Nigeria in 2021. It stems from the use of an oral polio vaccine containing a weakened live virus. After children are vaccinated, they shed virus in their faeces for a few weeks. In under-vaccinated communities, this can then spread and mutate back to a harmful version of the virus.
China’s political party system thrives over past decade
R USSIA’s defence ministry said Tuesday that a fire that set off explosions at a munitions depot in Moscow-annexed Crimea was caused by an act of “sabotage”. “On the morning of August 16, as a result of an act of sabotage, a military storage facility near the village of Dzhankoi was damaged,” the ministry said in a statement carried by Russian news“Damageagencies.was caused to a number of civilian facilities, including power lines, a power plant, a railway track as well as a number of residential buildings. There were no serious injuries,” it added.Inan earlier statement, the ministry said a fire erupted around 6:15 am local time (0315 GMT) at a temporary military storage site near the village of Mayskoye in the Dzhankoi district, causing ammunition to detonate. Images posted on social media showed huge fireballs erupting at the site and clouds of black smoke billowing into the Crimea’sair.Moscow-appointed governor Sergei Aksyonov, who went to the site, said two civilians had been injured but that their lives were not at risk. Local officials told Russian news agencies that some 2,000 people were evacuated from the area as a precaution.
This situation makes a stark contrast to the state of play in Panjshir under Ahmad Shad Massoud — when the valley was the one holdout against the Taliban during their first rule over Afghanistan from 1996 to “It’s2001.substantially different this time around,” said Omar Sadr, formerly an assistant professor of politics at the American University of Afghanistan, now a senior research scholar at the University of Pittsburgh. “Panjshir is occupied,” Sadr went on. “At least Ahmad Shah Massoud could maintain a stronghold from which to resist the Taliban. Now the resistance is in the mountains; they don’t control the villages or the highways. That makes the task much more difficult in terms of the supply chains needed for fighting; it impacts upon the quality of the resistance.”
US media outlets reported that he had been on the island with his then-pregnant girlfriend Rihanna. The entertainment and fashion mogul behind the hits “Diamonds” and “Umbrella” gave birth to a boy on May 13 in Los Angeles. In an interview with GQ magazine published in May 2021, Mayers called Rihanna the “love of my life” and “the One.”
Why has polio been found in London, New York and Jerusalem, and how dangerous is it?
A spokesperson of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee on Tuesday announced sanctions on “Taiwan independence” diehards on a Chinese mainland’s list. In order to safeguard the peaceful development of the cross-strait relations and the immediate interests of the people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, and resolutely punish “Taiwan independence” diehard elements, it is decided that Bi-khim Hsiao, Koo Li-hsiung, Tsai Chi-chang, Ker Chien-ming, Lin Fei-fan, Chen Jiau-hua and Wang Ting-yu are listed as diehard “Taiwan independence” separatists, and punitive measures are imposed on them, as well as Su Tseng-chang, You Si-kun and Jaushieh Joseph Wu, who had already been on the list, said the spokesperson. They and their family members are banned from entering the mainland and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao. Their affiliated institutions are restricted from forging cooperation with relevant organizations and individuals on the mainland. The enterprises related to them, as well as their sponsors, are prohibited from engaging in profitmaking activities on the mainland. Other punitive measures will also be taken. They will be held to lifelong accountability according to law, said the spokesperson. Sanctions are also imposed on the president of the “Taiwan Foundation for Democracy,” and the secretary general of the “International Cooperation and Development Fund.” They are banned from entering the mainland, and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao, said the spokesperson. You Si-kun is the chairman of the “Taiwan Foundation for Democracy.” Jaushieh Joseph Wu is the chairman of the “International Cooperation and Development Fund.” Actions seeking “Taiwan independence” constitute the biggest obstacle to China’s reunification and a grave danger to the national rejuvenation.
New York-born Mayers was previously arrested in Stockholm in 2019 over a street brawl. He was held in Swedish custody for more than a month, in an incident which drew global attention, and was handed a suspended sentence.
10 FOREIGN NEWS Wednesday, 17 August, 2022 ISLAMABAD
PANjShIR SITuATIoN Now DIFFERENT’:‘SubSTANTIAlly
China’s system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation led by the Communist Party of China (CPC) has grown with the times, demonstrating distinctive strengths, a senior official said on Tuesday. The system, a new model of political party system formed in China, has become all the more clear in terms of the top-level design, said Chen Xu, deputy head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, at a press conference taking stock of the changes and accomplishments of the system over the past decade. Adhering to and improving the system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC have been made part of the basic strategy of the Party, according to the official. The framework of the system has been increasingly more sound and extensive with new regulations and policies adopted over the past decade, while the political consensus of the system has become increasingly firm and the system has played a more efficacious role in state governance, Chen said. In addition to the CPC, there are eight other political parties in China’s political party system. Prominent individuals without affiliation to any of the political parties are also included in the system. Following the principles of long-term coexistence, mutual oversight, sincerity, and sharing the rough times and the smooth, the parties have jointly created a multiparty cooperation system in which the CPC exercises state power and the other parties participate fully in the administration of state affairs under the leadership of the CPC. According to Chen, 29 non-CPC figures were serving as vice governors and in other corresponding positions in 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities across the country as of June 2021, and another 380 were members of leadership bodies of prefecture-levelNon-CPCgovernments.partiesandprominent individuals without party affiliations have played positive roles in state governance. They have taken an active part in the country’s carbon emissions peaking and neutrality drive, poverty reduction efforts, and environmental protection along the Yangtze River. The Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) serves as a key mechanism for multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC.Over the past decade, the National Committee of the CPPCC received more than 58,000 proposals and filed more than 47,000 pieces. A great number of them have made it into policies and measures of the country, said Zhang Jing’an, a senior official with the committee, at the same press conference. “A new model grown out of the soil of China, China’s political party system has shown strengths in multiple aspects,” saidZouChen.Jiayi, deputy secretary-general of the CPPCC National Committee, said the CPPCC has made great efforts in building broad consensus and strengthening the great unity of all the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation at home and abroad. China’s political party system is able to extensively and unfailingly represent the fundamental interests of all ethnic groups and social sectors, thus avoiding the defects of the old-fashioned party systems which represent only a selective few or the vested interests. It unites all political parties and non-affiliates towards a common goal, which is the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation at present, thus mitigating the risks of inadequate oversight in one-party rule, and the problems of power rotation and destructive competition among multiple political parties.
US rapper A$AP Rocky charged over shooting WASHINGTON AFP US rapper A$AP Rocky was charged Monday over an alleged shooting in Hollywood last year. The 33-year-old, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, faces two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office said. Mayers is alleged to have pointed the gun at a one-time friend during an argument in November. In a later confrontation between the two, he is said to have drawn the weapon and fired it twice, leaving the former friend with what police described as “a minor injury.” Mayers has been ordered to appear in a Los Angeles court on TheWednesday.“Praisethe Lord (Da Shine)” artist was arrested over the incident at Los Angeles International Airport in April when he arrived on a private plane from Barbados.
stAff REpoRt P AKISTAN’SOlympian javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem arrived here on Tuesday after winning two back-to-back gold medals in Commonwealth Games and Islamic SolidarityPresidentGames.Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) Maj-Gen (retd) Akram Sahi, Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs
Fitness key to rest of season: Murray
ArshAD NADeeM ArriVes hoMe AFter wiNNiNG GoLD MeDALs iN CoMMoNweALth,
First time-ever, MMAP hosts mixed martial art contest in Marden MARDEN Staff RepoRt
Van Dijk says Nunez must ‘control himself’ after Liverpool red card AgENciEs Virgil van Dijk said new Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez must learn to “control himself” after being sent off for a reckless headbutt during Monday’s 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace. The 23-year-old Uruguayan, who signed from Benfica in June, was shown a straight red card in the 57th minute at Anfield for his foul on Joachim Andersen and faces a three-match ban. Colombia’s Luis Diaz scored a brilliant equaliser after Liverpool were reduced to 10 men to cancel out Wilfried Zaha’s first-half opener. But the draw meant more dropped points for Jurgen Klopp’s team, who have just two points after their first two matches of the Premier League season. Klopp is already short of attacking options — Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino were absent from the squad for the Palace game and Nunez will now miss games against Manchester United, Bournemouth and Newcastle. Van Dijk said Nunez had the support of his teammates but must learn to stay calm. “He’s got the backing from us and he knows it should not happen again and hopefully it will be that way,” said the defender. “He has to control himself, definitely.
11 Sports 17 AUGUST_Layout 1 8/16/2022 11:01 PM Page 1
FIFA bans Indian membership; disallows New Delhi to host Under-17 Women’s World Cup First DC GamesParalympicJashan-e-AzadiPeshawarbegins
South Africa skipper Elgar sick of ‘Bazball’ talk ahead of England Tests
For first time in history of Pakistan, under the auspices of Mixed Martial Art Pakistan (MMAP), the first mixed martial art competitions were organized in Mardan. Chairman Pakistan Mixed Martial Art, Shoaib Afzal Malik and President Babar Raja along with KP Sports and Culture Minister Atif Khan participated in the concluding ceremony of the competition as special guests.
LoNDoN agencieS
stAff REpoRt
Speaking on this occasion, Arshad Nadeem thanked Punjab Minister for Sports and DG, SBP for extending every kind of help to him to prepare for international events. “I did my most of training at Sports Board Punjab’s top standard venues and this training played a key role in my success at both Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and Islamic Solidarity Games in Konya, Turkey”. He also appealed to the government to give him international level training facilities for future world athletics events. A large number of athletics enthusiasts were also present at the airport to receive the national hero. They garlanded gold medalist Arshad Nadeem and danced to the beat of drum. isLAMiC soLiDArity GAMes
LoNDoN afp Andy Murray said match fitness will be the key to the remainder of his season after reaching the second round of the ATP/WTA Cincinnati Masters on Monday. The two-time champion at the US Open run-up event reached the second round with a gruelling 7-6 (7/3), 5-7, 7-5 win over fellow veteran Stan Wawrinka. After half a decade of injury problems including a pair of hip surgeries, the Scot knows the remainder of his season, and career, will depend on his physical state. “Physically I felt pretty good for the last few months, but in a lot of the tournaments I’ve lost in the second round,” he said. “I’ve not had that opportunity to have a really good tournament and then maybe take a break and rest. “I hope I can get to that level again where I’m consistently getting to the latter stages of events, and therefore, we will be able to plan and schedule my tournamentsThebetter.”three-time Grand Slam champion was tested to his limit over almost three hours against Wawrinka, like himself still recovering fully from long-term problems (foot,“Thereknee).have been some good moments this year, but it’s not been easy these last few years to stay fit and healthy and play enough tennis to build confidence, get robust enough to compete week in, week out,” Murray said. “It’s positive that I got to play more matches this year. Hopefully, I can continue that through the end of the season.”Murray’s comeback effort this season has included finals at Sydney in January and on the grass in Stuttgart two months ago.
Wednesday, 17 August, 2022 ISLAMABAD 11SPORTS
Opening batsman Elgar is confident the Proteas’ pace attack can cut high-flying England down to size. “With all due respect I am really not going to entertain that (Bazball) anymore,” Elgar said at Lord’s on Tuesday. “We have chatted about it long and hard. I just want to crack on with the cricket. I think the game deserves that respect and mud-slinging is now a thing of the past for me.” Elgar, who has overseen seven wins from nine matches since becoming South Africa’s permanent red-ball skipper, accepts there may be times when the tourists are on the defensive but he believes they have the resources to fight back. “I would like to think from a bowling point of view, our bowlers are big, tall, fast and strong buggers and we have ticked the boxes in regards to the spin department.” Elgar tried to put England’s run-chases into perspective by saying the conditions in those matches were “pretty nice” for batting. But he did not underestimate the scale of the tourists’ task. “It might be hard work for us but this is what we are here to do,” he said. “We are not here to play softnatured cricket. We want it hard and really tough and hopefully the results go our way.” South Africa conceded a mammoth 672 runs during an innings defeat by the second-string England Lions at Canterbury last week but an unconcerned Elgar said he read nothing into the warm-up game. “If they come out playing like that in an official Test match and it goes pear-shaped, that will not look very good for England.” Stokes, who gave his pre-match press conference at Lord’s before Elgar, said he was happy to hear the South Africans talk about England’s new attacking approach. “The opposition seem to be doing a lot of talking about it (Bazball) at the moment — we don’t really speak about it that much,” he said.
According to details, on the occasion of Diamond Jubilee 75th Independence Day of Pakistan, under the auspices of Pakistan Mixed Martial Arts, mixed martial arts competitions were organized for the first time at Mardan Sports Complex, in which Chairman Pakistan Mixed Martial Arts Shoaib Afzal Malik and President Babar Raja along with KP Minister of Sports and Culture Atif Khan participated as a special guest. On the occasion, famous singers and artists also performed their magic with mellifluous voice. More than 30 fighters took part in different categories of the mega event of martial art. The exciting and thrilling fights of the fighters won the hearts of the fans. At the end of MMA Mega Fights event, KP Minister of Sports and Culture Atif Khan along with Chairman PMMA Federation Shoaib Afzal Malik and President Babar Raja distributed prizes to the fighters who took positions.
The first edition of the Deputy Commissioner Peshawar Paralympic Games got underway here in a colourful ceremony with more than 120 Paralympic Athletes participating in 16 different Games here at the historical Tehmas Khan Football Stadium. District Administration and District Sports Officer Peshawar organized the Games with the aim to boost the hidden talent of the Paralympic Athletes, both male and female, who participated with great enthusiasm. Deputy Commissioner Peshawar Shafi Ullah Khan, Additional Deputy Commissioners Relief Imran Khan, Naveed Akbar (Finance), Regional Sports Officer Zakir Ullah Khan, District Sports Officer Miss Gul Rukh, Games Coordinator Zawar Zia Noor, Engr. Irfan, two prominent Paralympic Olympians of the 2004 Athens Olympic Athlete Adeel Khan, Nasrullah, international players Ayaz Khan, Ehsan Danish, Miss Afshan Afridi, Miss Shanaz, other players and a large number of spectators were also present during the colourful ceremony.
Malik Taimoor Masood and Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi warmly received the national hero and presented him bouquet on his arrival at the Allama Iqbal International Airport. Director, Admin, SBP Syed Omair Hasan, Assistant Director Zahoor Ahmed, Administrator NPSC Gymnasium Hall Mustafa Shah, Arshad’s family members and other officials were also present on this occasion.Speaking on this occasion, Punjab Minister for Sports said a world class stadium equipped with all modern facilities will be constructed in Arshad Nadeem’s village in Mian Channu. “Arshad Nadeem has made the entire nation proud with his exceptional gold medal winning performance,” he added. Malik Taimoor Masood further said that Arshad’s twin gold medals in Commonwealth Games and Islamic Solidarity Games will prove to be a great inspiration for young athletes of the country. “Sports and Youth Affairs Department Punjab will utilize all resources for the promotion of athletics across the province”. Punjab Sports Minister further said that an impressive ceremony would be arranged in honour of all medal winners of Commonwealth Games and Islamic Solidarity Games. Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi on this occasion said Sports Board Punjab has always provided best facilities to Arshad Nadeem for his preparation and participation in international sports events. “We are quite hopeful that Arshad will maintain his gold medal winning performance in future international javelin throw events,” he anticipated.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government organizes the Paralympic Games every year in which sportspersons from all over Pakistan participate, and are awarded medals, trophies and cash prizes. It will help them to highlight their talent and their sense of belonging will also increase, he said. He said that the district government is working in various sectors, including launching rehabilitation programs for drug addicts. He said the drug addicts are being treated in the centers and are returning to the basics of life. DC Peshawar congratulated District Sports Officer Miss Gul Rukh on the successful organization of Independence Day Paralympic Games. On the occasion of the opening ceremony, the children of the City School presented the national song Dil Dil Pakistan along with welcome songs while the children of Hayatabad Karate Academic also performed beautiful Martial Arts fights.
South Africa captain Dean Elgar said on Tuesday he was fed up with discussing England’s new swashbuckling ‘Bazball’ approach to Test cricket on the eve of their series opener at Lord’s. England have won all four of their Tests under a new leadership pairing of skipper Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum’sMcCullum.nickname is behind a ‘Bazball’ tag that has become shorthand for an aggressive style of playing the five-day game. That 100 percent record includes a 3-0 series sweep over world champions New Zealand, with England hunting down challenging targets on each occasion. Stokes’s men then made light of a seemingly stiff target of 378 in the Coviddelayed fifth Test against India at Edgbaston, romping to victory by seven wickets. But South Africa — top of the World Test Championship table — will be a tough proposition for England in the three-match series starting on Wednesday.
The Jashan-e-Azadi Paralympic Games started with athletes’ March Past, led by two Paralympic Olympians Adeel Khan and Nasrullah. Uzair and Riaz Ullah of the Peshawar Cricket Club of Blinds presented Quran and Naat, followed by the national anthem played by a smart police band. The police band also sang with the national anthem and melodious tones that were largely enjoyed by the spectators. Games for persons with different abilities include games like wheelchair cricket, tug-of-war, tug of war for visually impaired athletes, table tennis athletics, wheelchair races, badminton, archery, kids games for deaf and dumb and other games. Speaking to the media, DC Peshawar Shafi Ullah said that the provincial government had taken some key steps for the promotion of the hidden talent of the persons with different abilities and Paralympic Athletes. He said that this is the first government that has given access free entry to all stadiums for people with different abilities and one is constructed in Mardan, which is fully equipped with all facilities for them.
NEws DEsk India was on Tuesday suspended by world football governing body FIFA thus stripping the country of the opportunity to host the Under-17 Women’s World Cup, scheduled for October, this year. This is the first time the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has been banned by FIFA in its 85-year history. “The Bureau of the FIFA Council has unanimously decided to suspend the All India Football Federation (AIFF) with immediate effect…,” FIFA said in a statement.On18May, the Indian Supreme Court had ousted Praful Patel as AIFF president for not holding elections due in December 2020 and appointed a three-member Committee of Administrators (CoA), headed by former top court judge A.R. Dave, to manage the affairs of the AIFF. “The suspension means that the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2022, scheduled to take place in India on 11-30 October 2022, cannot currently be held in India as planned. FIFA is assessing the next steps with regard to the tournament and will refer the matter to the Bureau of the Council if and when necessary,” it read. On 5 August, FIFA had threatened to suspend the AIFF and strip of its right to host the women’s U-17 World Cup, days after the Supreme Court’s directive to hold elections of the national federation, reads the report.
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
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PSMC’s circular highlighting inventory shortfalls elucidates upon the fact that some, if not many, of the automobiles may not have yet been produced. Furthermore, it cites the SBP’s increased import restrictions as the rationale for the inventory shortfall. If you are short on inventory that has to be imported to produce a final vehicle, and the cost of those imports has fallen, then the price of the final product can only be reduced if it has not been made yet. However, PSMC did not need to do this. It could have sacrificed PR costs in the face of IMCs decision for retaining higher margins. PSMCs decision is likely because, like IMC, it recorded poor performance in the month of July with an overall sales decline of 47%.PSMC may have also been prompted to do so soon after IMC fearing the potential backlash it may receive, alongside the backlash it may have already received following IMCs decision, if another manufacturer after IMC announced a downward revision before they could. The motor company’s decision is indicative of other automotive manufacturers potentially following suit. However, its abstinence from announcing a downward revision in its motorcycle business leaves customers in the two-wheeler segment in the dark about whether or not, they too will benefit from the PKR’s strides against the USD.
As per the data Pakistan’s scrap imports amounted to 164,699 mt in May this year, the lowest since March 2014, decreasing by 47.6 percent compared to April and by 38.2 percent year on year. In the month of June, scrap imports ranged at around 210,000 MT, whereas July scrap imports are tentatively less than 100,000MT range, making it the lowest in the last two decades. Mills have started to shut down and supply chain shocks are only adding fuel to the fire. The Govt set an inflation target at 11.5% for this fiscal year but the SBP has given an inflation range of 18% which is still very high considering falling oil prices, softening of commodities and revaluation of the rupee. “With June and July core inflation clocking in at 11.5 and 12 percent, respectively, the range given by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is absurd. Furthermore, they disastrously fail to comprehend that abnormally high policy rates cannot fix supply chain related issues. It has nothing to do with demand pull inflation so MPC is consciously making a flawed decision, resulting in closure of industries and increase of joblessness,” the PALSP officials said.
gunmen kill two policemen escorting polio workers in kP
how rich is imran really?
PESHAWAR The AssocIATed Press Gunmen riding on motorcycles opened fire on Tuesday on police escorting a team of polio workers in Gomal city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing two policemen, authorities said. None of the polio workers were harmed, said Mohammad Imran, a local police official. The four polio workers and their police escort were all traveling on motorcycles. The assailants fled the scene and no one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack in the town of Gomal, an administrative unit of the Tank district. The attack came on the second day of the nation’s latest anti-polio campaign in the province. Pakistan has registered 14 new polio cases since April, all from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The outbreak has been a blow to the nation’s efforts to eradicate the disease, which can cause severe paralysis in children.
NEWS DESk P rime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has offered Pakistan’s services as a mediator to bring together US and China as it did decades ago. The prime minister in an interview to international media said: “If China and the US so desire, Pakistan would be happy to play a positive role to bridge their differences, as we had done in the past.”
Pakistan willing to bridge Us-China differenCes: PM sharif tells newsweek
ISLAMABAD APP Federal Minter for Finance Miftah Ismail on Tuesday announced that loan disbursements under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) will start by the end of this month as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) board is expected to meet on August 29. Addressing a press conference here, the minister said that Islamabad had received a Letter of Intent (LoI) from the Fund requiring a few edits by State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and Finance Ministry, which were done after holding a meeting. He informed the new LoI was received on Tuesday which he will send back after signing, and added: “We expect the board meeting would be held in August, hopefully the 2th, after which the disbursement will start.”
He said that in the meanwhile, Pakistan will “continue to impress upon the interim Afghan government the importance of taking demonstrable actions on its commitments including those relating to inclusivity, respect for human rights of all Afghans, including girls’ education, and effective counter-terrorism action”. PM Shehbaz also spoke of taking over from his predecessor, Imran Khan, saying that under the current regime, if viewed in terms of the vote cast in the 2018 elections, “the political parties that are part of the coalition government represent 70 percent of the electorate”.
ISLAMABAD GhulAm AbbAs As the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) is likely to announce new monetary policy on August 22, 2022, the steel industry fears more damages for higher policy rates. The steel sector which, like other industries, is fighting for sheer survival fears of more burdens after the expected new policy. According to Secretary General of Pakistan Association of Large Steel Producers (PALSP), Wajid Bukhari, the key rate currently stands at 15%, which is highest since the last two decades last seen in April 1999. The industry believes that the unbearable benchmark interest rate of 15% is unsustainable for the industry. Comparing it with other regional countries, the benchmark interest rate in Malaysia was 2.25pc, Indonesia 3.5pc, China 3.7pc, Bangladesh 4.75pc and India 5.4pc. “The upcoming Monetary Policy Statement will be disastrous and is set to shut down industries of Pakistan and create unemployment if the interest rate is not reduced effectively immediately,” he claimed while talking to the media. According to the association the SBP has raised rates in previous 7 meetings since September 2021, cumulatively increasing the interest rates by 800 basis points and is expected to hike further. PALSP notes that it is impossible for any businesses to plan expansions or working capital with such abrupt“Suchchanges.fasthikes are a perfect recipe to shut down businesses. How can a business sustain if an interest rate doubles in only 8 months, whereas the regional peers are at around 2-5%”, he said. According to the industry representative, the industries are facing problems as banks are not opening LCs for raw materials. Further exacerbating the situation, spare parts and even consumables falling under Chapter 84 and 85 have become impossible to seek approval from SBP, leading to shutdowns imminently. “Our members are complaining that SBP has become defunct and approvals are just not coming, whereas banks are hesitant to open LC’s for raw materials,” he added. The steel industry, which is capital intensive business and due to worsening economic conditions is already facing a severe liquidity crunch, whereas many small to mid-sized mills have already shut down. This will structurally damage the Industry for decades to come.
The minister said that rupee has become performing as best currency of the world following continuous appreciation against dollar for first 15 days of August. The minister said that the imports were recorded at $.80 billion during the fiscal year 2021-22 (FY22) whereas the exports stood $31.7 billion, bringing the trade deficit to $48.3 billion. During the year, the remittances were recorded at $30 billion. Consequently, the current account deficit (CAD), he said, was recorded at $17.5 last year despite the fact had PTI was specially focusing on bringing it down. He pointed out that PTI left a $48 billion trade deficit while providing subsidy on fuel, and giving amnesty to friends that almost brought the country to the point of default.On the other hand, he said, the incumbent government is monitoring imports, exports and remittances adding that so far there had been $3.4 billion outflows and $4.1 billion outflows during the month of August. “So more dollars are coming in than coming out,” he added. Reiterating that the PML-N government has saved the country from bankruptcy at the cost of putting its political capital at stake, he vowed that the government’s will work on controlling inflation next.
PrAyer TImINGs FAJR SUNRISE ZUHR ASR MAGHRIB ISHA 4:00 5:30 12:12 4:57 6:53 8:24 Wednesday, 17 August, 2022 NEWS
IMF loan disbursement to start by claims Miftah announces plant closure and price reduction
FUND'S BOARD MEETING EXPECTED TO BE HELD ON AUG 29TH Suzuki
Steel industry fears upcoming monetary policy will be disastrous
The motor company has neither cited a reason for the price reduction nor commented upon the matter. However, one can surmise that this decision is on the back of the PKR appreciating against the USD. Speculation would be incorrect but given that Pakistani automotive manufacturers operate on a Just in Time (JIT) production process, this is the likely case.
Pakistan’s anti-polio campaigns are regularly marked by violence as attackers often target polio teams and police protecting them, falsely claiming the vaccination campaigns are a conspiracy to sterilise children. Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only countries in the world where polio remains endemic. In 2021, Pakistan reported only one case, raising hopes it was close to eradicating polio.
ISLAMABAD INP
The interview revolved around national, regional and global issues and focused in particular on the role Pakistan could play in “preventing the world from sliding into an ever deeper set of crises”, as put by the publication.PM Shehbaz characterised Pakistan’s foreign policy as one of “friendliness and goodwill towards all the nations of the world”.“Pakistan has traditionally maintained good relations with China and the United States. Historically, it was Pakistan that acted as a bridge in opening up the relationship between the United States and the Peoples’ Republic of China,” he said. The premier said that Pakistan has always underscored the need to avoid a confrontational approach. “Bloc politics and any drift towards cold war will not produce any positive results, and in fact would be counterproductive for growth and stability,” he stressed.“Pakistan strongly believes that interstate relations should be based on mutual respect and peaceful resolution of disputes by upholding the principles of the UN charter and international law,” he added. To a question on what it could mean for Pakistan and the rest of the world, if nations were asked to choose sides, especially given the close ties Pakistan and China enjoy, PM Shehbaz said that while the relationship may be “very special”, Pakistan and the US “have also maintained a longstanding historic bilateral relationship which covers all issues of mutual“Theinterest”.world can ill-afford descent into another era of Cold War or bloc politics. I believe polarisation would have serious consequences for the global economy afflicted by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine crisis,” the premier told Newsweek.Hesaid developing countries, like Pakistan, are “already suffering from external shocks to their socio-economic well-being, and do not desire aggravation of these challenges induced by major power rivalry”. On the subject of relations with the US and their planned trajectory, PM Shehbaz said that Pakistan has instituted dialogues in the areas of health, energy, climate, investment and “Thesetrade.dialogues are playing an important role in strengthening our bilateral ties. Most recently, we held the Health Dialogue with the US, which will help facilitate more bilateral cooperation in the health sector. We also hope for the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Ministerial level meeting this year,” he said. He also spoke of bilateral trade and commercial ties, saying that Pakistan has had high-level visits from the US to explore these ties. “Some of the US companies are doing extremely well in Pakistan, and there are growing trade and commercial ties between the two counties, with a lot more potential to achieve,” he said. He urged US companies to “invest in Pakistan’s lucrative market and enhance commercial ties, particularly in its growing IT sector”.“There is a strong Pakistani diaspora in the US that is acting as a bridge to deepen the ties between our two countries and the people,” he Speakingadded.ofone year of Taliban rule in Afghanistan and what can be done to support the Afghan people amid a precarious humanitarian and economic situation, the premier said: “Our message to the international community would be to remain engaged, continue to assist the interim government in key social and economic areas, and unfreeze Afghanistan’s financial assets to help build a sustainable economy.”
LAHORE dANIyAl AhmAd Pak-Suzuki Motor Company (PSMC) has announced both a temporary shutdown of its car plant and a downward revision of its prices across its entire completely-knockeddown (CKD) portfolio. PSMC has notified the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) that it will be suspending its automobile production from 18th-19th August 2022 on account of its depleted inventory levels. It cites the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) import restrictions on CKD units as the main reason for the inventory shortfall. Its motorcycle plant will, however, remain operational during the aforementioned duration. Within a matter of hours after notifying the PSX, PSMC also announced a downward revision of its prices across its CKD portfolio.Therevised retail prices are inclusive of FED and Sales Tax and exclusive of Advance Income Tax. PSMC’s circular states that the aforementioned prices are subject to change without any prior notice and prices at the time of delivery shall apply. Any government taxes and levies applicable at the time of delivery shall be borne by the customers. They will come into effect on August 16. PSMC’s decision to revise its prices downwards comes a day after Toyota Indus Motor Company (IMC) announced theirs.
Former prime minister Imran Khan declared on Monday assets he and his wife Bushra Maneka owned as he submitted nomination papers to contest the by-elections from NA-108 (Faisalabad-VIII). He provided details of his wealth and belongings to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), showing his assets are worth around Rs304.2 million. Khan also declared two inherited houses and 228-kanal land in the Bhakkar district but mentioned that he possessed no jewellery. Khan also owns an apartment and a commercial plot on Constitution Avenue in Islamabad from which he receives Rs1.4 million in rent. The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman also confirmed ownership of four bank accounts, but also said he has not invested in any business. He showed Rs11.22 million cash in hand. He also owns four goats worth Rs0.2 million. Khan declared that he spent Rs48.66 million on the construction of his ancestral Zaman Park house, and spent Rs4.9 million on additional constructions in Bani Gala. In the nomination papers, Khan did not mention details of his children. According to the nomination papers, Maneka declared ownership of 698-kanal agricultural land in Pakpattan and Okara. She also declared a three-kanal residence in Banigala. Like her husband, Maneka does not own any jewellery.
