ISLAMABAD staff report t heislamabad high court (ihc) granted former prime minister imran Khan an opportunity to submit a second response after declaring as “disappointing” his original reply in a contempt of court case registered against him following a speech in which he purportedly threatened police officers and a magistrate. a five-judge bench which took up the matter ordered the pakistan tehreek-i-insaf (pti) chair to submit a “well-considered” response within seven days before it adjourned proceedings until september 8. a show-cause notice was served on Khan last week after he threatened to sue Zeba chaudhry, a junior judge, at an islamabad rally on august 20. during his speech, Khan had complained about sedition charges shehbaz gill, his chief of staff, faces for allegedly inciting mutiny in the army. “We will not spare you,” he said in the speech that named the chief of islamabad police and the judge involved in the case against the aide. “We will sue you.” the contempt charge comes on top of charges under an anti-terror law that police filed against Khan over the same televised speech. Meanwhile, islamabad police devised what it called a “special security plan” for the court ahead of the hearing. “only individuals with permission from the ihc will be allowed on the court’s premises and alternative routes have been arranged for residents of the area,” a tweet issued through its official read on tuesday.inhisoriginal, written response to the showcause notice in the case, Khan claimed he was unaware that chaudhry, an additional sessions judge, was a member of the judiciary when he voiced the remarks about her. Khan said his words at the rally “were uttered spontaneously without any previous motive and malice only to emphasize that the rule of law should be strictly followed in the matter of shahbaz gill by the authorities.” however, stopping short of offering any apology, he said he would be willing to “take back” his remarks “if they were inappropriate.” expressing his disappointment at the response, chief Justice athar Minallah chided Khan’s counsel, hamid Khan, saying he did not expect him to submit such a reply. noting that all political parties should believe in upholding the law and the constitution, he said: “the response submitted [by the pti chair] was not of the stature of a political leader like Khan.” stressing he had hoped the former prime minister would boost the court’s confidence through his written response, the justice appeared to rubbish Khan’s offer of “taking back” his words by saying: “Just as time that has passed cannot come back, words uttered through one’s tongue [also] cannot be taken back.”
g Justice Minallah chides Khan’s counsel, saying he did not expect such a reply
Court orders Imran to submIt response‘reConsIdered’InContempt Case Thursday, 1 September, 2022 I 4 Safar, 1444 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XIII No 63 12 Pages I Islamabad Edition
Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO), Saeed Ahmad Nawaz presented details to the committee on the loss and damage of stocked wheat in Sindh and Balochistan, saying that the loss has been estimated to be Rs4 billion. He explained that in Khairpur, 26, 956 metric tons of wheat was damaged, while in Hyderabad, 564 metric tons of wheat was damaged due to flash floods. Out of the stock of 22 lakh and 66,000 metric tons, PASSCO has lost 52,670 metric tons of wheat in SecretarySindh.of the ministry of national food security and research, Zafar Hassan disclosed that the ministry has finalized the minimum support price for wheat for 2022-23, and shared it with the prime minister. The price is fixed after developing consensus with the provinces and stakeholders. He said farmers would get a good price and the government will also try to give farmers additional profit. He said that
KE consumers likely to get some respite in electric bills
NEPRA scrutinizes Rs4.34 per unit hike in power tariff under FCA
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the cost of production of wheat has been estimated to be Rs2495 per maund.Additional Secretary of the ministry of industries and production informed the committee that there is no shortage of fertilizers in the country. A government-togovernment agreement has been signed with Iran to import 3 lakh tons of DAP on a barter basis. Pakistan will supply rice against fertilizer to Iran, he said. The government will also import 2 lakh tons of DAP from China, he explained. MNA Rao Muhammad Ajmal Khan, who chaired the meeting, directed that the prices of fertilizers should be monitored properly by the relevant authorities. Rao Ajmal feared that due to the flood situation, the area under wheat cultivation during the coming rabi season would be reduced by 20 per cent. It will take at least two months to recede the flood water and rehabilitation process, he said.
In a move to encourage more production and avoid imports, the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Commerce on Wednesday proposed that the minimum support price for wheat be at least PKR 3000 per 40 kg for the upcoming wheat crop season. During a meeting of the committee which was chaired by Raza Rabbani Khar, MNA, it was recommended that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of wheat should not be less than PKR 3,000 as an incentive for growers to encourage them to grow the staple crop. The committee decided that the government may announce the MSP in mid-September ahead of the wheat cropEarlier,season.the committee was briefed on the import price of wheat 2022-23 in connection with MSP of wheat crop 2023-24. The Chair expressed displeasure at the absence of the secretary National Food Security & Research and the chief secretaries of the provinces. He directed all the representatives to attend the next meeting with their final recommendations on MSP, as well as the availability of fertilizer and the seed. The representative from the Ministry of National Food Security along with Food Secretaries from all the four provinces briefed the committee on fixing the MSP before cultivation season. The chairman emphasized the minimum support price of wheat should be fixed at maximum level so that minimum wheat can be Meanwhile,imported.during a meeting of NA committee on national food security and research which was also held on Wednesday, it was informed that there will be no shortage of wheat in the country despite loss of stocked wheat in Sindh in the wake of heavy rains and flash floods in the country.Managing Director of Pakistan
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday instructed Power Minister Engineer Khurram Dastgir to immediately visit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and monitor the restoration of power transmission network in the flood-hit areas. The prime minister, chairing an urgent meeting held to discuss rehabilitation of power, road and communications infrastructure, also directed the chief executive officers of the power distribution companies to ensure their presence in their respective cities for resolution of the public complaints. He asked the heads of the distribution companies to publicize their names and contact details to facilitate the people and address their complaints.
ISLAMABAD news desk The Pakistani rupee appreciated against the US dollar on Wednesday and gained Rs1.37 bringing the interbank rate down to Rs219.75. According to the data shared by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the Pakistani rupee closed at Rs219.75 after gaining Rs1.37 against the US dollar, up 0.63 percent. In the open market, the dollar was being sold at Rs219 to Rs221, according to data shared by the Forex Association of Pakistan (FAP).
PM directs to monitor power supply restoration in KP ISLAMABAD GhulAm ABBAs
ISLAMABAD stAff RepoRt
Chief Leghari Tribe Pakistan and former Senator Sardar Jamal Khan Leghari, former MNA Sardar Hafeez Ur Rahman Dareshak, PML-N leader Sardar Ammar Awais Khan Leghari, former MPA Syed Abdul Aleem Shah, and Sania Ashiq also sympathized with the flood hit people on the occasion.
Thursday, 1 September, 2022 ISLAMABAD 02 NEWS
MaRyaM PRoMiSES REbUilding hoMES, coMPEnSaTion foR loSSES To flood vicTiMS Toyota ends year with PKR 15.8b profit
The prime minister summoned the urgent meeting soon after his arrival from the flood-hit areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, to review the work by the Frontier Works Organization and other departments for rehabilitation of infrastructure and other damages. The senior officers of the FWO and relevant ministries attended the meeting wherein the prime minister was apprised of the current flood situation and efforts for rehabilitation.
PKR gains 1.37 rupees against US dollar
RAJANPUR stAff RepoRt P ML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday promised to rebuild homes of the flood hit communities and compensate them against the losses they had suffered in the catastrophic floods triggered by torrential monsoon rains that turned into ferocious hill torrents, hitting Rajanpur and Dera Ghazi Khan districts. During her visit to Fazalpur city, the only urban area of Rajanpur submerged by the floods, the PML-N central leader sympathized with the flood victims including women and children and told them that the federal government would not leave them alone in the extremely difficult times. Maryam said she realized the pain and agony inflicted by floods on the people of Rajanpur and was deeply saddened after witnessing homes destroyed in streets and Mohallahs of Fazaalpur. The PML-N vice president said she was visiting flood hit areas on the instructions of his father, PML-N Supremo Muhammad Nawaz Sharif so that the flood hit people should not feel themselves alone.
“I am here to promise PML-N will leave no stone unturned in serving the people. These are testing times that forced the people to settle in relief camps. But they must not worry. Federal government would not only rebuild your homes but also compensate against losses,” she added. Maryam said, she held in high esteem the unbreakable relationship of love and respect with the people, adding this relationship would stay alive forever. She met with women availing shelter at a relief camp on a road near Daanish School Fazalpur, talked to them and hugged children there.She praised the women for their courage of survival and said that relief operation was in progress while rehabilitation process would also begin soon to restore life on the landscape ravaged by floods. She distributed tents, food items, medicines, blankets, and clothes among the affectedDeputypeople.Speaker Punjab Assembly Sardar Sher Ali Gorchani thanked Maryam Nawaz Sharif for paying visit to the flood hit areas, adding it rekindled hopes among the affected people that they would soon be returning to normal life.
ISLAMABAD stAff RepoRt
LAHORE dAniyAl AhmAd The Toyota Indus Motor Company (IMC) released its financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2022, on Monday, showing that the company ended the year with a PKR 15.8 billion in profit, a 3.3% increase from the previous quarter of January-March 2022. The most notable quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) gain for IMC was its 35% increase in sales revenue. Its fourth quarter revenue from April-June 2022 clocked in at PKR 275.5 billion in comparison to its third quarter revenue, from JanuaryMarch, of PKR 203 billion. This increase in sales revenue is despite a 3% decrease in overall sales. IMC’s fourth quarter sales stood at 17,966 in comparison to its third quarter sales of 18,495 based on figures released by the Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA). The increase in revenue, despite an increase in overall sales, might be attributable to IMC seeing a 31% increase in QoQ sales of its Fortuner and Hilux lineup. The company’s gross profit margin (GPM), however, fell from 8.6% to 6.7% QoQ. This may be attributable to its increased forex exposure. The PKR depreciated 10.96% over the fourth quarter from April to June 2022 whereas the prices of IMC increased on average by 6.44% over the same period. IMC’s other income also rose by 67% from PKR 7.7 billion to PKR 12.9 billion. This increase may be a result of IMC benefitting from the progressive interest rate hikes as some of their investments are in short-term deposits. Finally, IMC’s financials indicate the ramifications of the imposition of the Super Tax with its effective tax rate coming in at 38% in the second quarter in comparison to the first quarter’s 28%.
The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) on Wednesday said that the price of electricity for K-Electric consumers can be reduced under the head fuel charges adjustment (FCA) of July 2022. According to the details, the authority conducted a hearing under its chairman Tauseef H. Farooqi to consider applications submitted by K-Electric (KE) on account of July’s FCA along with quarterly adjustment for the quarter ending June 2022 Multi Year Tariff (MYT) 2017-2023. NEPRA members Engineer Rafique Ahmed Shaikh and Engineer Maqsood Anwar were present on the occasion. It may be recalled that KE had sought a Rs3.48/unit cut, relief worth Rs6.2 billion, for its consumers on account of fuel charges adjustment for the month of July. However, in another application submitted with authority under the head quarterly adjustment for the quarter ending June 2022, MYT 2017-2023, the port city’s power company had sought a Rs14.53/unit hike in the power tariff. According to NEPRA, power prices charged to KE consumers can be reduced between Rs3.63/unit to Rs 4.10/unit in accordance with the initial scrutiny of data submitted by the electric company. However, this cut will be applicable for only one month if approved by the authority. “NEPRA will issue its detailed judgement on FCA of July for KE consumers after detailed scrutiny of the data,” the authority said in its statement during the hearing. It is relevant to note that NEPRA had earlier allowed KE to charge its consumers Rs11.10/unit for a period of one month under FCA of June. KE had earlier submitted an application advocating a negative FCA of Rs3.48 per kilowatt hour (kWh) for July. In this regard, a spokesman of KE said that the negative FCA was because of a 31% reduction in the price of electricity which was purchased from the central power purchasing agency (CPPA) in addition to a 16% decrease in the price of Re-gasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG).
KP’s financial deficit rises to Rs20b
WASHINGTON ReuteRs Oil prices continued to slide on Wednesday on investor worries about the ailing state of the global economy, the prospect of key central bank interest rate hikes, and increased restrictions to curb Covid19 inUSChina.West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down $1.34, or 1.46 per cent, at $90.30 a barrel by 0833 GMT, after sliding $5.37 in the previous session on recession fears. Brent crude futures for October, due to expire on Wednesday, were down $1.79 at $97.52 a barrel following Tuesday’s $5.78 loss. The more active November contract was down $1.40, or 1.43pc, at $96.44 a barrel. The price swings since the Ukraine conflict began six months ago have rattled hedge funds and speculators and thinned trading, which in turn has made the market whipsaw even more, as seen on Tuesday.“The latest signs of stuttering growth are contracting Chinese factory activity in August and the slower-than-expected expansion of the country’s service sector,” Tamas Varga, analyst at PVM Oil Associates, said. “Additionally, both the Fed and the ECB are thought to hike interest rates significantly next month, probably by as much as 0.75pc — and all these make equity investors run for the exit. Oil duly follows, at least for the time being.” China’s factory activity extended declines in August as new Covid infections, the worst heatwaves in decades and an embattled property sector weighed on production, suggesting the economy will struggle to sustain momentum.
“The provincial government is paying the price of confrontation with the center. KP is facing serious difficulties in getting its share under the National Finance Commission (NFC). The provincial government currently doesn’t have the required amount to pay salaries and meet the current expenditure,” he said. According to the finance minister, the provincial government may also face difficulties in carrying out relief activities in flood-hit areas of the province.
Oil prices fall on recession fears Wheat support price proposed to be set at Rs3,000 per 40kg
PESHAWAR Aziz BuneRi Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is in a financial crisis due to an ongoing tussle with the federal government, putting the province in a deficit of Rs20 billion, Profit learnt on Wednesday. According to Provincial Finance Minister Taimur Khan Jhagra, the province’s account is in negative as the federal government has stopped supplying it with funds, adding that KP is also paying interest to the centre due to this reason. Jhagra said that on one hand, the federal government has imposed a cut on the budget of tribal districts whereas the province is facing severe financial problems due to the nonpayment of Rs60 billion in the net profit of electricity.
ISLAMABAD AhmAd AhmAdAni The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) on Wednesday scrutinized Rs4.34 per unit increase in the electricity price under the head Fuel Charges Adjustment (FCA) of July 2022. As per details, NEPRA conducted a hearing to consider the application of Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA), seeking Rs4.69 per unit hike in the power tariff on account of FCA of July. NEPRA’s hearing was held under the NEPRA chairman Tauseef H. Farooqi wherein NEPRA members Rafique Ahmed Shaikh and Maqsood Anwar were in attendance. According to NEPRA, based on initial scrutiny of data FCA of July should be Rs4.34 per unit. On the other hand CPPA on behalf of all power distribution companies (DISCOs) excluding K-Electric had asked to jack up power price by Rs4.69 per unit. NEPRA said that the FCA of July will be applicable for one month and this FCA will not be applicable on the domestic lifeline consumers of DISCOs and consumers of the KElectric.It is relevant to note that the FCA of July is Rs5.55 per unit less than the FCA of June which was earlier fixed at Rs 9.90 per unit by the NEPRA. The CPPA had earlier submitted that the total electricity generated with various fuels in the month of July was recorded at 14,150.91 GWh, at a basket price of Rs10.7093 per unit. The total cost of energy was Rs151.546 billion. The power generation with hydel source was 4,976.93 GWh constituting 35.15% while power production with coal-fired power plants was 1,802.19 GWh which was 12.74% of total generation at a price of Rs20.2176 per unit and power production with high speed diesel (HSD) was recorded at 205.97 GWh which was 1.46% of the total power generation, at a cost of Rs27.8886 per unit in the month of July 2022.
ISLAMABAD stAff RepoRt
adb approves $3m grant for Pakistan’s flood response
“There should be a clear discussion on the global warming hazards that are impacting our people and farmers in the South. In the North mainly Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the River Indus used to embrace inundation but this time floodwater had accumulated in Balochistan and Punjab which is causing problems,” she Sherryadded. mentioned that the monsoon deaths had crossed the number of 1,000 whereas 33 million population was impacted and this number would increase“Thefurther.nextstage is of health management as swarms of mosquitoes are proliferating and water borne diseases to break out in the flood-hit areas of Sindh, Balochistan, and Punjab which will add further problems for the people.”
03NEWS Thursday, 1 September, 2022 | ISLAMABAD
Lives swept away: Rescued tourists recount flood horror
SIALKOT stAff RepoRt
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS STRANDED: Up to 200,000 people are stranded in remote valleys after the unrelenting floods — with helicopters the only way of reaching them. Unprecedented rain in the Swat Valley turned rivers into raging torrents that washed away roads and bridges, cutting off tourists and residents from nearby towns, even as the water receded. Army and government helicopter missions have rescued hundreds of panicked tourists and locals — some urgently needing medical help.
Federal Minister for Commerce Syed Naveed Qamar on Wednesday said the government is importing onions and tomatoes from Iran and Afghanistan, which would stabilize prices of these items in the local market. The minister said that the prices of onions and tomatoes had increased after the floods, which increased the prices of other food items.
govt to import onions, tomatoes from iran, afghanistan: Qamar
QUETTA/PESHAWAR/MULTAN AnAdolu AGency a NOTHER36 people were claimed dead in different rain and floodrelated mishaps across the country over the past 24 hours, pushing the overall tally to 1,162, according to the official statistics released late on Tuesday. Of the latest fatalities, 19 were reported from Punjab, whose southern districts have been battered by massive floods caused by torrential rains over the past two weeks. Nine people, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), were killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The remaining deaths were reported from Sindh and Balochistan, the authority said. A total of 3,554 people have been injured in all four provinces, the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region and Azad Jammu and Kashmir since mid-June. Some 33.4 million people in 72 districts across the country have been affected by the ongoing rainfall and floods, the NDMA said. Constant rains and raging floods have already destroyed a large chunk of infrastructure and agricultural lands across the country, including tens of thousands of houses, roads, and bridges, and washed away nearly a million animals.
“I witnessed this all with my own eyes,” she said. “Since then I haven’t slept.” Her husband, dazed from exhaustion, said he ran out of medication for his kidney condition after Kalam was cut off. “When I arrived here it was like being given a new life,” said Muhammad Akram, an official with the Punjab government. Their two adult sons were left behind, with priority given to the sick, women and children. The stunning Swat Valley, known locally as the “Pakistani Switzerland”, is a popular tourist spot because of its majestic mountains, lakes and rivers. The deeply conservative area came to notoriety in the mid-2000s, when it saw the rise of a powerful local chapter of the Pakistani Taliban. In 2012, following a military operation to displace the Taliban, then-schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai — now a Nobel peace laureate — was shot and left for dead by militants in Swat’s main town, Mingora. ‘CHALLENGES ARE IMMENSE’: Junaid Khan, the deputy commissioner of Swat, told AFP that stricken tourists have made up the majority of evacuations. Government officials and doctors have been airlifted into the valleys to identify those most in need of rescue. Locals are willing to stay behind if food and medical supplies are guaranteed, said Khan. Thousands of food aid packages have already been delivered –- some dropped from the back of a helicopter when crowds of people reaching for the aircraft made it impossible to land. “We’ve reached areas that no other organisations and aid groups have been able to,” Khan said at Saidu Sharif’s airfield, where some of the rescue missions are being coordinated.
AJK provides Rs250m assistance for flood-hit people in Balochistan: PM
A Dubai-based flight of an international airline, whose identity was not disclosed, narrowly escaped an accident at the Sialkot airport, it emerged on Wednesday. The flight, a Boeing 777 which was arriving from Dubai, accidentally entered the shoulder of the runway. It also damaged a few lights. A major accident could have occurred due to the pilot’s negligence, a report said citing sources. The report added the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) allowed the aircraft to return without first inspecting it. In case of a freeway landing, the law requires the aviation agency to inspect the aircraft and hold an alcohol test on the pilot. But the PCAA neither inspected the airliner nor conducted the test. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Board (AAIB) has taken notice of the incident and launched an investigation. Airport administration and the PCAA did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
It was midnight when Yasmin and her family were ordered to urgently evacuate their room at the Honeymoon Hotel, perched above the picturesque iceblue waters of the Swat river. They had swapped the sticky Lahore summer for the cooler climes of the northeastern mountains last week when they became embroiled in one of the nation’s worst disasters — one that has left more than 1,100 dead and a third of the country submerged by heavy flooding. In the darkness, they fled their hotel in the remote Kalam valley. Hours later, from the safety of the higher ground, they watched it collapse and crumble into the thundering waters. “There was chaos, everyone was rushing to save their life,” the 53-year-old Yasmin told AFP after she was evacuated to Mingora. “We heard very strong bangs and then I saw the hotel we were staying in submerged in water. The sound of the water was so strong. It was like something had exploded.” In the panic, she witnessed the despair of a mother unable to hold onto her small child.“The child was shouting but his voice was overwhelmed by the gush of the water. His mother was trying to save him but she couldn’t,” Yasmin recalled, choking on her words. The boy was one of at least 21 people in the area lost to the floods, mainly due to collapsed houses.
Explainer: fatal flooding has hallmarks of warming
ISLAMABAD stAff RepoRt Federal Minister for Climate Change Senator Sherry Rehman on Wednesday said almost half of the country was submerged under floodwater that had stagnated in many places, lurking the risk of waterborne disease and a health crisis, which was major challenge to be managed by the government. Addressing a news conference, she flanked by Federal Minister for Commerce Syed Naveed Qamar and Senator Shahadat Awan urged all political parties to show unity and solidarity for service of the nation amid the natural disaster. Sherry said that massive flash floods had inundated various parts of 72 districts out of the total 160 as these areas were also declared calamity hit areas, adding 110 district were affected by the floods making it half of the country.Shesaid it was the ninth week since the onset of Monsoon downpour and the country had no precedent of such torrential rains in its living history.
ISLAMABAD stAff RepoRt The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday approved a $3 million grant to support the Pakistani government’s emergency relief efforts amid widespread floods across the country. The grant, financed from the Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund (APDRF), will help fund the immediate purchase of food supplies, tents, and other relief goods to support flood victims across the country. APDRF is a special fund designed to fast-track grants to ADB developing member countries affected by disasters triggered by natural hazards, according to a press release issued by the ADB. “ADB stands with the people of Pakistan during these difficult times,” said ADB Director General for Central and West Asia Yevgeniy Zhukov. “We are committed to working with the government and other development partners to help Pakistan overcome the devastating impact of this natural disaster and provide immediate relief to affected families.”
airliner escapesnarrowlyaccident at Sialkot airport
“The global scientists also claim that it is environmental degradation as glaciers in Pakistan are melting at a rapid pace but our greenhouse gas emissions are below one percent,” he added. The minister opined that the government would had to make the issue as part of its foreign policy, green diplomacy and global negotiations.
“The communication systems are crippling down. I can understand how tough situation is being faced by the people without food, drinking water, and formula milk for children. 700% and 600% more rainfall are recorded as compared to the average during this monsoon season in Sindh and Balochistan respectively and no monsoon rains have been occurred before with suchThemagnitude.”ministerunderlined that this was not monsoon rather a disaster and it was mainly due to climate change and global warming. She pointed out that the prevalent floods had exceeded the devastation of 2010 massive floods.
The familiar ingredients of a warming world were in place: searing temperatures, hotter air holding more moisture, extreme weather getting wilder, melting glaciers, people living in harm’s way, and poverty. They combined in vulnerable Pakistan to create unrelenting rain and deadly flooding. The flooding has all the hallmarks of a catastrophe juiced by climate change, but it is too early to formally assign blame to global warming, several scientists tell The Associated Press. It occurred in a country that did little to cause the warming, but keeps getting hit, just like the relentless rain. “This year Pakistan has received the highest rainfall in at least three decades. So far this year the rain is running at more than 780 percent above average levels,” said Abid Qaiyum Suleri, executive director of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) and a member of the Climate Change Council. “Extreme weather patterns are turning more frequent in the region and Pakistan is not an exception.” Climate Minister Sherry Rehman said “it’s been a catastrophe of unprecedented proportions.” Pakistan “is considered the eighth most vulnerable country to climate change,” said Moshin Hafeez, a Lahore-based climate scientist at the International Water Management Institute. Its rain, heat and melting glaciers are all climate change factors scientists warned repeatedly about. While scientists point out these classic climate change fingerprints, they have not yet finished intricate calculations that compare what happened in Pakistan to what would happen in a world without warming. That study, expected in a few weeks, will formally determine how much climate change is a factor, if at all.
“Our team is also helping to assess the damage caused by floods to draw up plans to support longer term rehabilitation efforts and strengthen communities’ climate resilience,” ADB Country Director for Pakistan Yong Ye said. Heavy rains across Pakistan have triggered flash floods, landslides, and glacial lake outbursts. In July, the country received more than 60% of average annual monsoon rainfall in just 3 weeks.
Price hike to be checked: deputy commissioner
THOUSANDS STILL STRANDED: All along the Swat river are the remnants of destroyed bridges, upended roads and the remains of hotels clinging to the banks. The water has receded but it could be days before road links are re-established with nearby towns. Junaid Khan, the deputy commissioner of Swat, told AFP that up to 200,000 people were cut off. More than 600 stricken tourists have made up the majority of evacuations — with women,children and the sick prioritised in an effort led by the military and supported by the provincial government’s helicopter.
dEaTh Toll fRoM floodS REachES 1,162
Lurking health crisis amid stagnant floodwater major challenge: Sherry
MULTAN stAff RepoRt As goods and services have risen in price in the wake of the historic floods in the country, Ali Annan Qamar, the deputy commissioner of Muzaffargarh, Wednesday said a team of price control magistrates has been mobilised to enforce government rates and strategic price controls. While presiding over a meeting of the district price control committee, which was attended by representatives of local trader associations, Qamar sought to shun profiteering and sell daily-use items at fixed rates. He was of the view that it was the duty of every price control magistrate to conduct inspections every day and make sure the price list is displayed at a prominent place in shops. He said the provision of quality commodities at affordable rates was a top priority of his administration, adding that no negligence would be tolerated in this regard. Qamar said the availability of vegetables and fruits would be ensured in the market. He said people would be facilitated by checking price hikes and discouraging hoarding. He said price magistrates were being mobilised to enforce government fixed rates and monitor profiteering. He said that wholesale rates would also be monitored and instructions had been issued to the authorities concerned in this regard. He said the rates would be fixed keeping in view the distances at the tehsil level in the RawalpindiMeanwhile,district.Qamar also held a meeting with the representatives of the flour mills’ association. He asked the millers to provide maximum relief in flood-hit areas. At this, the millers assured him they would provide 1,000 flour bags and 100 ration bags to flood victims in Jatoi tehsil and Ali Pur.
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Federal Minister for Commerce Syed Naveed Qamar said this while addressing a press conference here. Naveed said that after the flood situation, the supply chain of essential goods was affected, which will take time to improve. He said that the government is also taking more steps to control food inflation. The minister said that in the current situation, the opposition should not politicize the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program. Anything that harms the IMF program will harm the country’s economy, livelihood and people of Pakistan. At this time, “we must not do politics around the economy and now the government and the opposition parties should be on the same page in implementing the IMF program.” Naveed said that now Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had offered the opposition to work together to get people out of this situation. He said that on this occasion, the opposition should work together with the government to minimize the sufferings of the people instead of doing politics. He said that “we want to strengthen the economy, so that people can get relief.” He said that if the country’s economy is strong, then there will be ease for the coming government also.
“It feels like I have got a second life,” said tourist Yasmin Akram, a diabetic who was airlifted to Saidu Sharif’s airfield from the Kalam valley with her 12-year-old daughter and husband. The traffic police officer watched in despair as the hotel they fled in the middle of the night was swallowed by the Swat river, taking with it a young boy.
MULTAN Afp
The minister appealed the philanthropists to contribute their share in relief accounts and donate it to credible institutions and also PM Relief Fund for reliefSheefforts.mentioned that the National and provincial disaster management authorities (NDMA & PDMAs) were providing reliefs but these were not enough to handle 33 million masses.
PESHAWAR the AssociAted pRess
ISLAMABAD stAff RepoRt Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Sardar Tanveer Ilyas Khan has said that despite financial constraints, the Azad Kashmir government has provided financial assistance to the tune of Rs250 for flood-ravaged people in Balochistan. Talking to media persons here, the AJK premier said torrential rains have caused havoc all across the country and Azad Kashmir too have suffered losses worth billions of rupees. He said that imposing cuts on the region’s budget amply demonstrated the federal government’s stepmotherly attitude towards the Azad Kashmir. Hailing the party chairman for introducing a transparent charity system in the country, the PM said that the PTI chief Imran Khan is the man who introduced a use of charity and transparent funding system in Pakistan. He said that monsoon rains have also caused a lot of damage in Azad Kashmir. Infrastructure worth billions of rupees was destroyed. “Since the government of Azad Kashmir does not have enough resources, but despite that I mobilized the largest NGO of Azad Kashmir and a package of Rs250 million, including Rs100 million in cash and goods worth Rs150 million were dispatched to the affected areas of Balochistan”, the PM said.
islamabad Staff RepoRt
Thursday, 1 september, 2022 IsLAMABAD 04 news
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Religious welfare organizations leading in flood relief, rehabilitation process
Relief operation for flood victims to continue till complete rehab: Malik
Earlier, Special Secretary, Saleha Saeed and Secretary P&SHC South Punjab, Muhammad Iqbal briefed the minister about district govt had established 68 medical relief camps in Rajanpur and 48 in DG Khan. They said that the victims were getting emergency and other medicines in the camps.
RESIDENTDr Arif Alvi on Wednesday visited the Nowshera district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province to review the flood relief operations in affected areas. According to details, the President was given a detailed briefing by Deputy Commissioner Nowshera Mir Raza Ozgan about rescue, relief and rehabilitation operations in the district. The President was informed that about 25,000 flood victims were accommodated in 100 relief camps in Nowshera district. Likewise, about 150,000 people were affected from floods in Nowsehra and the KP government has made assistance amount doubled for flood victims. Speaking on the occasion, President Dr Arif Alvi said the recent flood has made colossal losses to public lives and properties and underlined the need for long-term planning to control devastation of floods in future. Talking to floods victims at relief camp established at government high school Amangarh here, the President said the floods have badly affected Nowshera, Charsadda, Swat, Dir, DI Khan, Tank and others districts of Khyber Pakthunkhwa. He said hotels, roads, bridges, houses, livestock, standing crops and gardens were also affected by the devastating floods in Khyber Pakthunkhwa. The President directed the provincial government to further expedite relief and rehabilitation operations besides accelerating efforts for reconstruction of houses in the flood hit areas. He further said that all government organizations including armed forces of Pakistan were working in coordination to provide relief to the flood victims. While highly appreciating Pakistan’s armed forces’ role in evacuation of flood victims in Khyber Pakthunkhwa and others provinces, the President said that their role in distribution of food and non food items among the affected population was also praised worthy. Dr Arif Alvi said flood victims were looking for our help and assistance in this hour of need and urged the entire nation including philanthropists to come forward and generously contribute for their assistance and help. He expressed satisfaction over the provision of assistance facilities including food and non food items to flood survivors inside the camp and inquired about their problems and demands. The President also expressed sympathies with flood victims.
Farooq Leghari’s close aide Qaswar Saeed Mirza passes away multaN Staff RepoRt Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare (P&SHC) department, Dr Akhtar Malik stated that relief operation for flood-stricken masses would continue till their completeDuringrehabilitation.hisvisitDG Khan to review relief operation here on Wednesday, Dr Akhtar Malik said that Punjab Chief Minister, Chaudhary Pervaiz Elahi, was supervising the relief activities personally in the flood-hit areas of South Punjab.He inspected mobile health unit and fixed relief camp at airport road and took stock of the medical and other activities being carried out. The minister expressed displeasure on absence of female medical office at Dharama mobile unit and directed CEO DHA, Dr Attiq Ur Rehman to ensure presence of doctor round the clock in the unit. He checked medicines and dry ration stock at Rural Health Centre (RHC) Sarwar Wali ware house. Mr Malik ordered P&SHC dept to give access to P&SHC South Punjab to all online dashboards for effective monitoring of medicines and other services in the flooded areas. The minister also checked the meal standard being provided to flood victims and asked from them about other services extended to them.
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Gold worth nearly Rs25m stolen from locker of Karachi bank karachi Staff RepoRteR A citizen on Wednesday claimed that his two kilograms of gold worth nearly Rs25 million has been stolen from the locker of a bank in DHA area of Karachi. The police have launched an investigation into the incident and shared that a citizen claimed to have kept two kilograms of gold in the locker of a bank in Khayaban-eShahbaz area of the DHA. “He kept the gold of his entire family in the locker,” they said, adding that the citizen lodged a complaint that when he checked the locker today, he found out nothing except a black shopping bag. The police said that they have begun a probe and initially the locker will be scrutinized for any fingerprints. “A case will be registered and investigation department will begin a probe into the matter,” they said. This is not the first time that incidents of material kept inside the lockers being stolen are reported and recently, staffers of a bank secretly replaced gold assets of citizens with ‘fake gold’ in the lockers.
PRESIdEnT AlvI vISITS nowShERA To REvIEw flood RElIEf oPERATIonS
islamabad Mian abRaR Noted politician, columnist, journalist and former Director General Public Relations (DGPR) Aiwan-e-Sadr Mr Qaswar Saeed Mirza passed away in Lahore after a brief illness on QaswarWednesday.Mirzawas under treatment after suffering from paralytic distortion at his face around a week back. He suddenly suffered brain hamorrhage in the wee hours of Tuesday that left half of his body under paralysis that left 40 per cent of his brain dysfunctional. He was rushed to a hospital where he breathed his last Wednesday evening.Late Qaswar Saeed Mirza was among top political analysts and had exceptional command on Islamic teachings and history. Initially, he worked closely with PPP’s former chairwoman Benazir Bhutto and later joined former President Sardar Farooq Leghari. He had very good communication skills and was well versed with all top politicians and tribal chieftains. He was a close comrade of former Chairman Senate Mohammedmian Soomro, MNA Mian Riaz Pirzada, Punjab Minister Hussain Jehania Gardezi, former Punjab Minister Malik Abdul Qayyum, former chief minister Punjab Mian Afzal Hayat and many others. Born in 1951 in Shujabad, Late Mirza received his early education at his hometown and completed Masters degree in Arts. He worked as DGPR Aiwan-e-Sadr from 1993 to 1997 when Sardar Farooq Ahmad Khan Leghari was the President of Pakistan. Later, he was appointed political secretary of later Farooq Leghari. Namaz-e-Janaza of the departed soul will be held at Janaza Gah high school in Shujabad after Zohr prayers today (Thursday).
Peshawar Staff CoRReSpondent
KP rescuer earns praise for rescuing stranded pet cat in Kohistan floods
Faisalabad Staff RepoRt A torture cell, being run allegedly by two constables to interrogate the accused, was unearthed in tehsil Jarranwala on Wednesday. A police constable was caught red handed torturing an accused, while the other constable run away along with two private persons from the scene. A handcuffed man was recovered from the cell, set up by the policemen in Bilal Ganj area, in the limits of Jarranwala police station. SHO Jarranwala City Police Umar Daraz said the torture cell was set up in the house of a constable, Talha Siddique, which was unearthed on the information provided by a citizen. The police arrested Constable Muhammad Safdar (6644) when he was torturing a citizen Tayyab Hayyat. However, another constable, Talha Siddique (1965), along with two private persons, namely Rana Mansoor Bilal and Jagga Gujjar, managed to flee from the scene. He said that police have registered a case against police personnel and two other persons and started legal action. Meanwhile, CPO Umar Saeed Malik has taken notice of the incident and directed SP Jarranwala Irtaza Kameel to complete the investigation.
The religious-based organizations are taking lead in rescue, relief and rehabilitation of the flood victims besides Pakistan Army and the government machinery across the country.Inan exclusive talk with APP, Faizan Global Relief Foundation (FGRF) Executive Director Muhammad Shahrukh Attari informed that the foundation was providing cooked meal twice a day to 100,000 people in various flood-ravaged areas including Sindh, Balochistan, South Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said they had established two temporary tent cities adjacent to Usta Muhammad and Dera Allah Yar areas of Balochistan for providing immediate shelter to the people as their houses had been destroyed during the torrential rains and catastrophic floods. They were also planning to set up tent cities in other affected areas to provide instant relief to homeless population of the country, he added. He said the foundation had reached a consensus with Pakistan Air Force (PAF) to expand the radius of their welfare services in the devastated areas where they had no access with the flood-hit people via road. Shahrukh said they were going to hand over 60 tones of ration to the PAF on Friday which would be lifted by C130 and distributed among the unattended flood affected people of the district Jacobabad. He said they had distributed Rs 20 million among the deserving people of flood affected areas besides 3,000 ration packs carrying all the basic necessities of life.
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Torture cell run by constables unearthed in Jarranwala
BISE resultannouncesRawalpindiMatric2022
rawalPiNdi Staff RepoRteR Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) Rawalpindi has announced the results of the Matric Annual Examination in a prestigious ceremony held here on Wednesday. According to the Controller of Examinations Prof. Nasir Mahmood Awan, 118,004 candidates have enrolled for matriculation examination in 2022 while 116,824 candidates have appeared for the combined examination. As many as 60,321 male students and 56,503 female students were included in the examination. While, the number of regular candidates was 99,875 and the number of private candidates was 16,949. In the said examination, 83,786 candidates succeeded while 32,871 failed the examination. The success rate was 71.73 percent. The success rate of female students was 80.46 percent while the passing ratio of male students was 63.55 percent. 1,111 candidates were absent from the examination. Secretary Board, Dr. Samina Saleem, Audit Officer, Raja Tariq Mehmood, System Analyst, Afzal Bhatti all branch officers and board officials participated in the ceremony.
The staff member of KP Rescue 1122 Wednesday exhibited inspirational dedication to duty and sacred cause of saving living creatures thereby putting their life in danger by crossing raging river in Lower Kohistan through hanging iron ropes to rescue a stranded pet cat. The rescue operation was carried in Pattan Tehsil of Kohistan district where Rescue 1122 team shifted an eleven member stranded family. For crossing of river, the officials made arrangement of tying iron ropes to cross the raging river and for shifting of stranded family comprising of two women and two children. After completing family rescue, their pet cat also reached on the site and made noises to divert attention of her owners and rescue officials. On seeing innocent soul in trouble and need of help, an official of Rescue 1122 went back to the other side of the river and brought the feline back of safety.During crossing of river, the cat became scared due to ferocity of water tides and jumped from the hands of rescue official who forthwith caught her again and saved her from felling into the river. On reaching to safety, the family members expressed great gratitude to the officials and highly appreciated their courage and dedication to duty which is not only confined to rescuing human beings but also all living creatures.
CEO Habib Oil Mills Moeedul Hasan receiving excellence award from Federal Minister for Information & Technology Ameenul Haq. pr
The Board of Directors of Faysal Bank Limited, in their meeting held on August 25, 2022, approved the financial statements of the Bank for the half year ended June 30, 2022. The Board declared 5% interim cash dividend to the shareholders. Profit before tax for the half year ended June 30, 2022 registered an impressive growth of 32.5% over the first half of 2021. The growth in profitability originated primarily from Bank’s focus on generating core customer deposits leading to 36.3% growth in its net markup income. Owing to broad based growth in fee income, the Bank’s non-markup income increased by 3.5% to PKR 4,424 million despite adverse stock market conditions prevailing throughout the period. Profit after tax increased by 9% to PKR 4,382 million over the corresponding period last year. Taxation, as a result of levy of 10% incremental tax on banking industry, was higher by PKR 867 million.
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05NEWS Thursday, 1 September, 2022 | ISLAMABAD
HBL launches Konnect Islamic account KARACHI: Konnect by HBL has launched Pakistan’s only Branchless Banking Islamic Account, Konnect Islamic Account. This shariah-compliant account follows Konnect’s promise of ease and convenience and can be opened by using a CNIC and mobile number. Konnect Islamic Account offers all Branchless Banking transactions/services such as Fund Transfers, Bill Payments, Corporate Payments and much more. A Konnect Islamic Account holder can also apply for Islamic Debit Card to access nationwide ATMs for cash withdrawal and POS transactions. Konnect’s 45,000 + agents are equipped to open Konnect Islamic accounts. They provide an unprecedented convenience to open a fully shariahcompliant account, especially to those who previously could only be banked via limited Islamic bank branches. The Konnect agents will also be assisting those who are unable to open their accounts via the Konnect App and even those who don’t own a smartphone.
PAF Bases are actively participating in rescue and relief operations being conducted in the flood affected areas of KPK, Sindh, Balochistan and South Punjab. Relief and rehabilitation operations by Pakistan Air Force are also in full swing in Naltar valley. PAF Air Mobility Command has undertaken 89 helicopter and C-130 sorties in which relief goods were flown to flood affected areas which are inaccessible through land routes. As a humanitarian gesture, PAF Emergency Response teams have distributed 795 tents, 42491 Cooked Food Packs, 146726 Ration Packs carrying basic food items, 82806 water bottles amongst the needy families. Moreover, till date 16 tent cities and 41 relief camps have been established where in addition to provision of free shelter and food, 14822 patients were also attended by the medical teams of Pakistan Air Force. Relief operations are still in progress.
LahOrE Daniyal ahmaD T HEToyota Indus Motor Company (IMC) and Millat Tractors Limited (MTL) have separately notified the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) that they will be suspending production till September 16. In the notice sent to PSX on Tuesday, IMC cites the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) increased oversight of the import of completely-knocked-down (CKD) as the primary reason for its halt in production. It cites that the measure has depleted their inventory levels to levels insufficient to maintain production. IMC has consequently decided to halt production from September 1 to September 16. The company had previously suspended production from 1st-13th August 2022 on account of similar reasons. The decision is in line with many other companies in the industry as Pak Suzuki Motor Company (PSMC) has halted productions three times during August from 18th-19th August, 22nd26th August, and from 29th-31st August. On the other hand, MTL has cited the ongoing floods across Pakistan as the reason for halting production. MTL states that the damage to the roads has damaged their deliveries and inventory levels. They have consequently decided to halt production August 31 till September 16. MTL had previously halted production in March of this year on account of the tractor industry’s sales tax refunds being stuck with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for over two years, which in turn led to a liquidity crisis.
HUAWEI Watch GT-3 Pro wins EISA’s Best Smartwatch Product for 2022-2023 Award Metro Pakistan hands over relief goods for flood affectees Karachi pr Metro Pakistan, the leading international wholesale company, steps forward as the first retail business in Pakistan to supply relief and food supplies for the flood IDPs in Karachi. In a simple handing over event Mr. M Thiru, Head of Operations, METRO Pakistan met the Commissioner Karachi, Muhammad Iqbal Memon at his office and handed over relief goods.
pr IESCO power suspension schedule According to Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO)’s spokesman, Maintenance/DevelopmentSystemWork is in process. Therefore power supply of below mentioned feeders/areas will be temporary suspended as per given Onschedule:1stSeptember, From 07:00 AM to 12:00 Noon, Zaraj, Dk Awan, New Rawat, Wanhar, Mial, Akwal, Bilabad, Waheedabad, Burma, Misrial Road, Ameer Hamza, Radioa Pak, Milatabaad,Peshawar road, Range Road Feeders, From 06:00 AM to 02:00 PM, Birut Gala, Darbar Mai Toti, Churahi, Dana Bhal, Charohi Dongi, Surrey, City, Kariala, Jandrot Dabsi, Ditot, Majajan Feeders and surroundings will be closed. IESCO management apologizes to its esteemed customers for the power outage. If the work is completed ahead of time, the power supply can be restored even before the scheduled time.
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Karachi pr Pakistan Navy has further extended its flood relief activities in DI Khan and surrounding areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa besides ongoing operations in rural areas of Sindh.Pakistan Navy personnel including diving teams rescued stranded families in flooded areas by operating boats in challenging circumstances at night and at long distances. Pakistan Navy is also operating helicopters for rapid access to deep areas and immediate reaction to life threatening situations. Thousands of survivors from small villages in Mirpur Khas, Qambar Shahdadkot and Dadu have been evacuated so far by Pakistan Navy. Pakistan Navy Diving Team recovered 4 dead bodies of an unfortunate boat sinking incident near Talti Lake, Sehwan. Furthermore, Pakistan Navy troops are distributing ration bags, cooked food, fresh drinking water, tents and other necessities to affected populace. Medical Camps by Pakistan Navy are also continually working in different flood affected areas. Pakistan Navy, along with civil administration and various philanthropist organizations is providing continuous assistance to the people of flood stricken areas. We have our heartfelt solicitude to the people who suffered with their lives due to recent flood adversity and also extend support and sympathy to the people who still are suffering from this national disaster. SUZUKI Group has decided as a gesture of solidarity to extend support of 10 Million Japanese Yen to help people come back to their normal livesWeagain.wish and pray for the earliest recovery from this disastrous condition.
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Pakistan Navy further extends flood relief activities in different areas We stand with Pakistan in this difficult time with all our support
H.E Hamad Obaid Alzaabi, UAE Ambassador in Islamabad, receives H.E Hatem Bamatraf, President of PTCL. The UAE envoy commended the PTCL chief for Rs1.75b donation for help and relief of those affected by torrential rains and floods in Pakistan. pr
faysal Bank registers 32.5pc growth in profit before tax for the half year ended June 30, 2022
Huawei has been awarded this category for the third consecutive year. The award comes in the wake of several other publication awards for the HUAWEI WATCH GT 3 Pro, which has also won prestigious industry awards from the likes of Android Headlines, Tech Advisor, and InPhoneArena.thejudges’ comments, EISA referred to the HUAWEI WATCH GT 3 Pro as ‘Huawei’s most polished and perfected smartwatch to date,’ praising its ‘classic’ and ‘luxurious design’ which comprises a ‘titanium casing, ceramic back and sapphire glass face’ as well as Huawei’s ‘crisp’ and ‘colourful AMOLED display.’ Its ‘advanced operation system’ and ‘plethora of applications and features’ were also marked out for praise, including its blood oxygen level monitoring, stress testing, water resistance, and ‘exceptional’ battery life. The latest instalment in Huawei’s highly popular HUAWEI WATCH GT Series, the HUAWEI WATCH GT 3 Pro is a flagship smartwatch which aims to marry exquisite craftsmanship with high-end aesthetics, allowing users to take their health and fitness to the next level, or even down to completely uncharted waters thanks to its 5ATM and 30 meters diving waterproof[1]. Sporting a premium, Neo-crystalline look in either the Titanium or Ceramic colourway options, the HUAWEI WATCH GT 3 Pro is the ultimate workout companion which further illustrates the benefits of Huawei’s Seamless AI life and 1+8+NFeaturingstrategy.amore robust battery life, and a 30 percent faster charging time than the last generation, the HUAWEI WATCH GT 3 Pro also offers a host of specialist tracking features which can help users improve their daily lifestyle habits. This ranges from the device’s 100 plus workout modes and its ECG analysis[2] to its Smart Heart Rate Monitoring and HUAWEI TruSleep 2.0 sleep tracker. In line with the Huawei Seamless AI life’s philosophy of connectivity, users can also pair the HUAWEI WATCH GT3 Pro with other smart devices, including additional Huawei products, as well as iOS and Android phones. “All of us at Huawei are extremely honoured to receive the EISA Best Smartwatch 20222023 for the HUAWEI WATCH GT 3 Pro, especially since this marks the third consecutive year a Huawei device has won EISA’s esteemed smartwatch prize,” commented Kevin Ho, Chief Operating Officer of Huawei. Consumer Business Group. “Huawei has long committed to using technology to enhance and streamline our day to day lives, allowing us to achieve both our personal and professional goals in a way that empowers our sense of self. With its plethora of health and fitness tracking features, the HUAWEI WATCH GT 3 Pro is the perfect example of how Huawei’s consumer tech aims to aid us in becoming better and happier version of ourselves.”
Huawei Consumer Business Group (CBG) recently received an award from the Expert Imaging and Sound Association (EISA) for its latest smartwatch device, the HUAWEI WATCH GT 3 Pro. Composed of over 60 of the most respected international specialist consumer electronics magazines, websites, and journalists, EISA named the HUAWEI WATCH GT 3 Pro its ‘Best Smartwatch Product for 2022-2023’, based on the independent technical reviews of its members.
InduS MOTOr COMPany and MILLaT TraCTOrS SuSPEnd PrOduCTIOn
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Pafrelief operations in flood-affected areas of KPK, Sindh, Balochistan and South Punjab
recklessexponentiallybrinkmanshipnuclearhasincreasedinanalreadyfragileregion.Unfortunately,theinternationalcommunityfailedtocondemnIndia’sbehaviour;instead,thereareglobaleffortstomainstreamIndiaintotheglobalnuclearcartel. a Malik
06 Thursday, 1 September, 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
South Asia and Nuclear brinkmanship India must be kept out of the NSG
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I T was perhaps inevitable that the Islamabad high Court reject the reply submitted by former Prime Minister Imran Khan to its contempt notice, for making threats against a subordinate judge at a public rally, but he still should count it a mercy that he was given a second chance, to file another reply. even if he wished to contest the notice upon the terms contained in the reply he filed on Monday, he would still have to make the apology. The only thing preventing him from doing so is perhaps his ego, and a desire to avoid any appearance of weakness. It is perhaps time that Mr Khan realize that it is not the time to play games, that he must take the courts seriously, and meet its requirements. It is not a question of a clash of egos. The IhC clearly does not want to set a precedent by accepting his reply. It is not just the IhC which will be bound by that precedent; so will other high Courts; though it will have only persuasive value before the Supreme Court. The hearing made it apparent that the court probably wanted him to apologize, so that it could dispose of the matter. True, an apology is no guarantee of acquittal, as even a sitting Prime Minister, Yousaf Reza Gilani, can testify. It should do so, and Mr Khan should cooperate with it, because the country has seen, with Mian Nawaz Sharif and the PML(N), the dire consequences the whole country faces when a party leader is removed from politics by judicial fiat. Mr Khan might fear that apologizing to the IhC might create pressure for him to apologize to the election Commission of Pakistan, whose proceedings in its contempt notice to him have not been stayed, though the announcement of a judgment has been. Mr Khan’s legal advisers seem to be leading him on a path of confrontation, which he should be avoiding at this moment. he should change his posture to one of moderation. The IhC has not escaped taunts of being pro-PTI for the relief it has afforded his party. he should not try to push it to the wall, which he is doing at the moment. The IhC, indeed the entire judiciary, should also contemplate whether a law in which the court is a ‘judge in its own cause’ should remain as it is.
Imran’s contempt reply recede…Whenrejectedthefloodwaters
Blaming the Sky
Even now the immediate rescue efforts are praiseworthy but the follow-up support is lacking. Had the people of Pakistan been at the mercy of this non-performing state set-up they would have perished long ago.
The prospect of
YousafEditorNizami 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 T he floods
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Pakistan, unlike Iran, is a Lawaris (disowned) nation. It’s like a huge orphanage whose organizers only rob its resources. Corruption directly hits the common man while the individuals with resources rely on the private facilities being offered in all sectors including education and Severalhealth.
The Jewish state of Israel and Iran are the only democracies in the Middle east while the Arabs have primititive systems of governance . After the Islamic Revolution of 1979, it adopted its own independent foreign policy which Imran Khan calls ‘Haqiqi Azadi’ (‘TrueFreedom’). It has followed this independent path for decades now. Despite sanctions it continues to chart its own course of development. The President of the Iranian Republic of Islam (IRI) has offered to help in the recent flood relief efforts, andit also assisted us in fighting the outof-control forest fires raging on Balochistan.Therepublic has now moved past the blame game and has taken charge of its destiny, and the Arabs are not to be blamed any more despite challenging their centuries of civilization and way of Unfortunatelylife.
committees were formed after the devastating floods of 2010. Recommendations were formulated for implementation by the National Disaster Management Authority( NDMA) and the provincial authorites. I was a member of the housing Committee where we collected useful data. Mud structures were most vulnerable as they were washed away by the raging flood waters. In 2010 the height of water remained around seven feet, so it was recommended to build structures with nine-foot roofs using cement instead of the traditional dirt binders. Some model homes were also built by an NGO. Residents could just take refuge on the rooftop and then wait for evacuation in safety. While the Iranians say Tuf Ae Asman we should say Tuf Ye Nizam. The land of the pure has been in impure hands for the last four decades. The system has been rendered non-functional, loot and plunder has been the order of the day. The royal colonial bureaucracy is the worst link in the state apparatus. Over the years the indulgence of the establishment in selecting and then promoting corrupt and inept political leadership, has not helped either. When calamity hits, the people mobilize and provide relief to their brethren in distress while the administrative machinery sleeps. even now the immediate rescue efforts are praiseworthy but the follow-up support is lacking. had the people of Pakistan been at the mercy of this non-performing state set-up they would have perished long ago. A major Water Management roadmap is required to conserve this gift of nature called fresh water before it falls into the sea to complete its cycle. The NDMA was created after the devastating earthquake of 2005. In 2015, ten years after the destruction, I had the chance to visit Muzaffarabad, and was shocked to see that even the debris of the fallen structures had not been removed by then. The Turks came to help but finally decided to build new buildings themselves as they were afraid of their aid being squandered. I perosonally went to Chattar Klas with our Bosnian brothers who wanted to rebuild a School and health Centre there but all kinds of vested interests came in the way. Finally with the help of NDMA we were able to complete the project. every year before the rains, WASA is tasked to prepare for the increased inflow of water yet the city and its people drown when it pours. For years I personally visited the WASA office to learn the details of their preparatory effort,s but came back only with stories and cover-ups. The rains will come, we need the water, it’s a reality of life. The choices are clear: either endure or prepare for the monsoons. In Punjabi they say “Saday Tay Na Rehna” (Do not rely on us). This is the message loud and clear, “People of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan are on their own. Once the water recedes it will be business as usual. NDMA: National Donothing Management Agency ‘ The writer is ex-Chairman, Pakistan Science Foundation. He can be contacted at: fmaliks@hotmail.com.
The people of Pakistan have been abandoned again
T he floods are not yet over, as the water has not yet gone down. But at least it is no longer rising. Though more rain is expected later in the month, it is not likely to add substantially to what are already horrendous figures: three million people displaced, 1000 people dead, and $10 billion in economic losses.Issues of rebuilding washed-away roads and bridges are there, but probably subordinate to more immediate ones of how to house so many people, and feed them. Providing them replacements for lost housing is also an issue. The government has done well to start raising funds for flood relief, but how is it going to ensure that the money is spent wisely and carefully? There are problems hiding behind the problems. Farmers of flooded lands have not just lost their crops, but cities have lost the food they provided. Already, the prices of such humble vegetables as garlic, onions and tomatoes have begun to go through the roof. With the country in the middle of a foreign exchange crisis, it is difficult to see how these will be paid for. The only food item Pakistan use to import was edible oil. Past mismanagement has added wheat and sugar, and now vegetables will have to be imported. Apart from the foreign exchange implications, the inflationary effects will be horrendous on a population which is already undergoing huge inflation. Keeping the displaced population healthy is another challenge, which the healthcare system is not up to. One of the losses caused by the present floods from which we may never recover is the upsetting of all those local ecosystems because of the death by drowning of vital feral components, both plant and animal. The loss of biodiversity is not being counted, but it is going to affect in untold ways in the future. We also need to remember that these floods are not a one-off. even before the damage caused by these floods is repaired, fresh floods, of nearly the same magnitude, will arrive. That is the blessing that global warming is bringing. After rescuing people from the floods, there is the massive task of rehabilitation Should follow lawyers rather than ego A T last, India, after months of investigations, dismissed three Indian Air Force officers, including a group captain, for accidentally misfiring a BrahMos supersonic cruise missile that landed in Pakistan’s territory. These officers were primarily found responsible for deviating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) which led to the accidental firing of the missile. Instead of providing answers, the dismissal of three officers further raises questions. Indian government needs to explain whether their missile launch SOPs are prone to such negligence or mala-fide acts of rogue elements in India’s command and control structure?It is equally worth asking how India ensures personal reliability in safe operations of its missiles, particularly BrahMos which can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads? India’s late official acknowledgment ofaccidentally firingof a hypersonic cruise missile, BrahMos, not only exposed significant erosion in India’s command and control mechanism but also highlighted the failure of Indian leadership in safe andsecure operations of its weaponsystem. With this unauthorized launch of BrahMos, the odds of a nuclear war in South Asia being instigated by a mistake have grown exponentially. Pakistan’s responsible behaviour saved the whole region from a near-catastrophic cycle of events. however, the incident has dented India’s credibility as a responsible and nuclear-weapon state. however, it is irrational to assume that the threat of accidental nuclear war has gone away. Given India’s belligerent courses of action under PM Modi’s watch, Pakistan has genuine reasons to speculate if India was testing loopholes in Pakistan’s air defence system. Multiple factors strengthen the assertion that it was not inadvertent, but a deliberate attempt by India to test Pakistan’s defence system. First, if it was accidental, why did India keep silent after the incident occurred? India could have activated the ‘hotline’ between the respective Directors Generals of Military Operations in Delhi and Islamabad. The basic purpose of the hotline has failed. It was meant to calm a provocative security situation with advance communication. Secondly, India’s response has been vague and unconvincing. One wonders why the self-destruct feature of the missile wasn’t activated before entering into Pakistan. Can Pakistan be blamed if it assumes that some rogue elements have taken control of India’s command and control system? India’s poor response to these questions raises more questions than answers. In fact, there is a genuine sense in Pakistan that India seems not interested in a serious overview of its command and control mechanism.Inresponse to the ISPR press conference, the Indian Defence Ministry stated, “On 9 March 2022, in the course of a routine maintenance,a technical malfunctionled to the accidental firing of a missile.” But later on ,the court of inquiry indicated the human error behind the incident. The commanding officer of the Indian Air Force BrahMos missile command post has reportedly been found responsible for a grave operational lapse. Some scholars also argue that India changed its initial stance of technical malfunctioning when potential buyers of the BrahMos missile raised their concerns. For instance,the Philippinessought clarification from India after the Defence Ministry admitted to the BrahMos having been accidentally fired due to technical malfunctioning. These contradictory remarks support the assertion that India is hiding the facts. human security of strategic weapons is an essential part of any country’s command and control structure. This command and control system is also treated as an arrangement of human resources that engages in an efficient and infallible mechanised activity guided by clear and defined rules and where everything will function as intended. Unfortunately, with the Modi government in power, far-right hindus having links with terrorist organization likethe RSS, are part of India’s strategic decision-making body. The rogue elements within India’s decision making are prone to experiment with any kind of military misadventure, particularly against Pakistan. In South Asia, the nuclear arch-rivals do not have the luxury of enough time fordecision-making to interceptany kind of incoming missile. Unlike Cold War rivals, Russia and the USA, the South Asian neighbours’ geographical proximity leaves decision makers in a tough position to react within a couple of minutes, and it becomes more complicated if such an incident takes place during peacetime.Theprospect of nuclear brinkmanship has exponentially increased in an already fragile region. Unfortunately, the international community failed to condemn India’s reckless behaviour; instead, there are global efforts to mainstream India into the global nuclear cartel. India’s firing of BrahMos into Pakistani territory should be a wakeup call for the global community. Pakistan has long feared that under the premiership of Modi, extremist elements have taken control over the key decision-making bodies. International community should support Pakistan’s demand for a joint probe because given India’s lack of interest to dig into the matter; the so-called court of inquiry would be just an eyewash. The fragility of the region cannot afford to bear yet another mishap of such a magnitude. The severity of the situation calls for a timely response from great powers. As a starter, the West should give up its support for India’s membership for the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and countries with nuclear cooperation with India must revisit its nuclear cooperation. The writer can be reached at harisakmal487@gmail.com are back. In 2010, I had the opportunity to participate in the relief effort. It was a heart-wrenching experience, there was water all over. The relief efforts were commendable. There were camps on the side of the roads. On the ground the Jamaat-e-Islami’s Al-Khidmat Foundation and teams of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf were very active, while the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) were nowhere to be seen. Most affectees were in good spirits and wanted to go back home as soon as the water receded. They wanted a month’s dry ration and a tent to start rebuilding their lives; their resilience was praiseworthy. On one of the stops we saw a man walking in the shallow water with his shoes in his hands, and out of curiosity we inquired if his house had been saved. his reply surprised us; “had four rooms, three were washed away, thank God one was intact, now will go back and rebuild.” When it comes to fighting calamities we are a great nation despite the lethal anti-people state apparatus. The spirit is undefeatable. But once the water passes, it’s all over, and slumber sets in as if it will never happen again. It is a perfect example of the ostrich approach. The Iranians have a history of ‘blaming the sky’ (tuf ae aasman). every time my late mother narrated a story from famous Persian classics like Gullistan, Bostan’ and Hikayat-e-Saadi she would talk about this centuries old Iranian Dilemma. As a nation they did accept the religon of Islam but not the Arab Influence. They continue to lament the domination of the Arabs who according to them feed on camel milk. Sufism has its origins in Iran which emphasises on the spiritual dimensions of Islam, leaving Arabism behind. Today only 34 percent of the Muslims reside in the Arab lands, the rest are outside with huge populations of the believers in Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Malayasia. Iran decided to pursue its own course.
07 Thursday, 1 September, 2022
YOUSAFLAHOREBABUR
AN academic’s primary responsibility, especially of those serving in universities, is to remain aware of growth and development. There is an utmost need to know, understand and implement how knowledge may be transformed to shape and groom students’ personalities. To accomplish this, a proper understanding of educational psychology is a must. education psychology helps a teacher evaluate whether the purpose of teaching and learning in a classroom has been achieved. It also helps to understand situational factors. These include managing the classroom environment, using modern teaching methods, and maintaining discipline. Moreover, the role of educational psychology is highly significant for developing effective and updated curricula and evaluation techniques. In higher education institutions in Pakistan, one primary criterion for getting a position in the faculty is to have the pre-requisite qualification, a thorough knowledge of the subject, and an excellent research record. No one asks a teacher whether they know how to handle students. University administrations believe that a good researcher is a good teacher and vice versa. however, in many cases, this proves to be wrong. even with excellent skills in delivering lectures and communicating concepts, teachers sometimes find it difficult to handle the classroom.
Flood relief
COMMENT Cheating in exams
The minister concerned has stated that there will be no tax on companies exporting at least 10 per cent of their production. To do this, they need a guaranteed supply of utilities and facilitated payment modes. Furthermore, the export-based margin of profit needs to be seriously higher than what the companies get in the domestic market. Will the government keep its end of the deal? Will the corporate sector be willing to put in the hard miles and indulge in the kind of creative rethinking that is required?
MANY regions across Pakistan received record-breaking monsoon rainfall this year. Flood is running havoc in all four provinces resulting in loss of life and destruction of precious property, infrastructure and crops. Although governments at the federal and provincial levels were slow to respond as they were busy conducting their dirty politics, they have now finally awakened. The PM along with the CMs of all provinces have declared an emergency and established flood relief funds to help the affected populations. The government has also appealed to the public, the rich and affluent, and the international community to contribute in whatever capacity they can. Many leaders are now seen actively visiting flood-affected areas and giving out meager cash or rations that in no way is helpful. The government must work in a more methodical and strategic manner. Temporary fixes are not going to help much. Our experience during natural calamities, and more recently during the Covid-19 pandemic, tells us that such knee-jerk actions are more likely to end up in funds being wasted or embezzled rather than actually making a difference. All parties must set aside their political activities and focus on relief efforts. They should mobilise their followers for volunteer work and spearhead the drive to collect funds for victims. At this time of utter devastation, the people want to see their leaders leading from the front rather than pointing fingers at each other. I am sure that leaders and parties selflessly leading relief efforts will soon get the political benefits they deserve.
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
MAZHAR K KARACHIHUSSAIN
Drowned Balochistan MaHnoor BalocH Helping the flood victims by providing relief and cash is not a permanent solution. The roads and bridges washed away by floods mostly in urban areas connecting the regions with cities must be constructed in a more technically refined way so that minor floods cannot easily swamp them away
While appearing in examination at BISe’s main examination centre at Lawrence Road, I saw one of the invigilators helping some students cheat. This was despite the CCTV camera that had been installed in the hall where the examination was being held. The invigilator felt no shame in assisting a group of students in full public view. Talking to them as if they were his friends, he allowed them to chat and get help from the ones around them, while others were not allowed to even move their neck or to shift their eyes. Watching me fill my answer sheets, the invigilator came to me and bluntly asked me to share my answers with that group of students. I ignored him a few times, but he kept coming back. had it been possible for him, he would have surely forced me to share my answer sheets with his blue-eyed group. This was at the main examination centre in Lahore. I could only imagine what would be the situation like in examination centres around the city. I really doubt the situation was any different there. We just celebrated Pakistan’s 75th anniversary of independence and it saddens me that the state has yet to ensure fair education. The state has miserably failed to provide this fundamental right to the students. how could the state turn a blind eye to one of the most important problems its students face? how would you expect leaders from this lot of youth which could get through an examination for a few thousand rupees while actually it requires months of study and hard work? I do not think I am the only one who had to go through this and thousands of students before me have been through such episodes. But it hurts. It really hurts.
Editor’s mail
ASADKHUSHABAZIZ
Heavy floods have also swept away Swat city which is called the Switzerland of Pakistan and high alerts were declared till August 30. The major hotels and restaurants were flushed away, and as a result, nearby communities are in danger. A flood is also expected in Quetta where there has been very heavy and constant rain.
dead bodies of people including children beside and under the soil are a very gloomy and heartwrenching moment. One of the flood victims says “ there is even no waterless place to bury the dead Apartbodies”.fromthe loss of lives, there is much loss in the agricultural sector which was almost destroyed by the floods that left the urban residents much more vulnerable whose life is thoroughly pivoted on agribusiness. The flood weighed down the already plunging economy in the country.According to some reports, downpours have also washed out 712 livestock and 197,930 acres of standing crops cultivated in the affected areas. The actual figure must be muchBesideshigher. that, there is a huge mismanagement. Because of the poor infrastructure structure, thousands of properties and houses were flooded and displaced by the floodwater. houses, buildings, or restaurants are built in the flood ravines and near canals and rivers, which faced the destructive havoc. For example, several houses and hotels were flooded at Mingora by-pass. While the road of the Mingora by-pass was blocked for any kind of traveling as it was inundated with floodwater. The government had failed to construct great dams and rainfall canals in the provinces. Also, some of the poorly constructed water reservoirs in the provinces were washed away as of now. The flood extensively vandalized the roads even more in mountainous areas. Many bridges collapsed, which connected the regions with other cities which rendered accessibility. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said around 600 people in the cities of Quetta and Lasbela were stuck due to the highway closure. There is a great destruction in flooded cities which have to relocate the flood victims who are in amore pathetic condition. People cannot shift from one place to another as the water has surrounded the cities. Flood victims are stuck under open skies without water and food. This scenario is a wake-up call for provincial and federal governments to encounter climate change.Due to climate change, regular monsoon rain turned into catastrophic floods. The poor developing countries are the victims of climate change and cannot encounter such a disastrous crisis. There is a dire need for a comprehensive and wide approach to climate change predicaments. The developed countries should take actions rather than having yearly conferences and dialogues.Both provincial and federal government must take the recent flood as an example to improve the flood warming mechanism and take the recent destruction as a sign to intensify initiatives to make better natural disaster management
06-07 Comments - 1st September 2022_Layout 1 9/1/2022 12:08 AM Page 2
ABRAIZ H LAHORESHAH
25annualgrovesphoonsAsiaPhilippines,arecoastalsurge,tectionfunctionsformthoughforandthroughactivitiesclysmstectorsmountainsgroves,barriers:Besidesresponsethat,naturalforests,man-coralreefs,andarethepro-ofnaturalcata-whilehumandestroythemdeforestationotherwaysneededurbanization.evenmangrovesper-manybeneficialincludingpro-fromstormsealevelrise,andprotection,theynotprotected.Intheacountryinisknownforitsty-whereman-havereducedflooddamagebypercent.InFlorida, roughly 469,000 acres of mangrove forests serve as the ultimate multitaskers. however, the leaders are not less responsible for these ongoing predicaments. If they had shown concentration and had stood for serious measures earlier, it might be today we would not have had a huge loss. Like alerting people before the havoc, taking people out from risky places nearby valleys, and canals. But as usual, the most affected province, Balochistan, was drowning; on the other hand, the media and our leaders were busy with non-endemic political discourses.Currently, it is now an extremely great challenge to recover from the losses from the floods in a large part of the country particularly in Sindh and Balochistan. helping the flood victims by providing relief and cash is not a permanent solution. The roads and bridges washed away by floods mostly in urban areas connecting the regions with cities must be constructed in a more technically refined way so that minor floods cannot easily swamp them away. And the government must build more and more dams. Moreover, it must not authorize the construction of buildings in or beside canals to hinder the water flow which results in flood damage. The flood put the already burdened people into a more chaotic situation. Like in 2010, the underprivileged sector of the country is most affected by the flood that caused a significant loss for them. The areas plotted were already lagging behind in the socioeconomic, educational, and economic sectors. The loss of infrastructure and livelihood throws them further behind. The floods harshly impacted the farmers washing away their crops, and other people most helpless in the country living below the poverty line. Can be reached at @MS_Balouch
The Board of Intermediate and Secondary education (BISe), Lahore, conducts examinations every year and claims to do that in an ‘extremely fair’ and an ‘unbiased’ environment. As someone who sat the recently held intermediate first year examinations, my experience suggests otherwise.
T hROUGhOUT this pathetic situation the country’s leaders are engrossed with endemic political discourses, while the constant torrential rains since early July have shattered a large part of the country primarily, Balochistan that has been hit the hardest by floods. The floods have swapped away the houses of urban areas largely, caused hundreds of casualties, and distracted the metropolitans more greatly by washing away most of the routes connecting the regions to other cities. Additionally, it has ravaged most of the agriculture sector, driving more people to starvation and to the downfall of the already stagnant economy. The role of climate havoc cannot be underestimated; nevertheless, the government is no less responsible for not having natural disaster management defense despite early warnings to tackle the crisis. The flood drove the already underdeveloped province of Pakistan into a more unstable and perilous situation. Most of the areas of the province like Zhob, Khuzdar, Lasbela and Naseerabad Division were swept away by the flood. The flood has disconnected the affected region from the rest of the country. The main bridges and roads were shattered and the telecommunication system was broken down making it more remote. According to the PDMA, this strategic flood in Balochistan will further bring afflictions as more people will die due to the shortage of food, health, and shelter. heavy floods have also swept away Swat city which is called the Switzerland of Pakistan and high alerts were declared till August 30. The major hotels and restaurants were flushed away, and as a result, nearby communities are in danger. A flood is also expected in Quetta where there has been very heavy and constant rain. Additionally, Lasbela, the largest industrial city of Balochistan, is drowning in water. The flood has almost devastated the city’s means of livelihood, farms, and properties.Asper estimates up till now, the flood has affected 30 million people and wreaked havoc across Pakistan killing over 900 bridgeskilometersthemajorsustainedandwerehouseswereBalochistan,people.In70peopleinjured13,535collapsedorpartiallydamaged,morethantendamsminorordamagesduringrains.Similarly,650ofroads,13and2431solarplates were affected. hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced. According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), 166 deaths were caused and 62 people were severely injured. The
The global oil supply has been seriously affected by the Russia-Ukraine war. Iran has vast oil reserves, which can be seen as a potential source to bridge the widening demand-supply gap. however, for that to happen, sanctions imposed on the country need to be lifted. Negotiations to revive the nuclear deal the United States had withdrawn in 2018 are underway, and it is hoped that the outcome will be positive. Besides, the Middle east will stand further destabilised if the ongoing talks break down.
Educational psychology
Exports
QAISERLAHOREELAHI
Politicians are not paying attention to the destruction
Critical talks
Climate chaos in Pakistan: adapt to survive guArdiAn EdiToriAl T he harm and distress caused by floods in Pakistan are difficult – if not impossible – to quantify, as a crisis of vast proportions keeps unfolding. They have killed around 1,000 people so far this summer, with at least 119 losing their lives in one 24-hour period last week. The number of those who have lost their homes, or been evacuated, is in the millions, with 300,000 dwellings destroyed. More than 33 million people are affected –around one in seven of the population. The country’s climate change minister, sherry Rehman, says the floods – caused by torrential monsoon rains and melting glaciers – are the worst in living memory. Around a third of Pakistan is under water. Vitally important agricultural land will take months to drain. hunger, homelessness and the spread of water-borne diseases are among the most immediate problems, and humanitarian aid must be urgently ramped up if further suffering is to be prevented. supplies have begun to arrive from Turkey and the United Arab emirates, but Pakistan’s government is right to expect more – especially from the rich western nations that bear the greatest responsibility for global heating. Pakistan has more glaciers – 7,532 – than anywhere on earth outside the polar regions, and is thus one of the countries most endangered by fossil fuel use and the temperature rises and other extreme weather that it causes. earlier this year, scientists reported their finding that human-made climate change made the deadly heatwave then afflicting Pakistan and india 30 times more likely. (Another study found that the deadly heatwave in 2010 had been made 100 times more likely.) studies seeking to establish and quantify the precise contribution of greenhouse gases to this catastrophic monsoon have yet to appear. The complexity of weather systems means it can never be stated categorically that global heating was the single cause of a given event. What is beyond question is that a humanmade climate emergency is upon us. The floods in Pakistan, like recent heatwaves, droughts and fires, are but a glimpse of the destruction ahead. Pakistan’s government knows this. Rehman described the floods as a “climate catastrophe”. The foreign minister, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, said: “We are devastated by climate disasters such as these time and time again.”
Pakistan as climate bellwether
ChrisTiAn sCienCe moniTor EdiToriAl BoArd T he last time Pakistan faced catastrophic floods, in 2010, the international scientific community wasn’t yet prepared to draw a straight line to climate change. silt deposits record that the indus River menaced earlier civilizations, too. Nor had the world begun to grapple practically with how climate change would recast questions ranging from global cooperation to urban design. All of that has now changed. A third of Pakistan is underwater – the result, scientists agree, of months of record-breaking heat that melted glaciers in the himalayas and intensified the annual monsoon. The humanitarian impact is enormous. More than 1,100 people have died and tens of millions have been displaced. One town measured 67 inches of rain in a single day. Yet amid the destruction, there are signs that humanity may be learning from overlapping crises to reject helplessness for resourcefulness, poor governance for accountability, and division for unity.
Thursday, 1 September, 2022 08 WORLD VIEW
Frank Furedi’s The Road to Ukraine: How the West Lost its Way is published by De Gruyter next month. how the slow death of broadcast Tv hurts Tv writers
Los AngeLes Times ZACK STENTZ
sPiKed FrANK FUrEdi s UDDeNLY, the world seems like a very dangerous place. After decades of apparent stability, great-power rivalries have come to the surface once again. The assumptions of the post-Cold War era are all being questioned. The war between Russia and Ukraine has seamlessly mutated into a conflict between a United states-led coalition of NATO nations and Russia. in the meantime, long-standing economic tensions between China and the United states are coming to the boil, threatening the existing security arrangements in the Pacific. Matters are further complicated by the pandemic-induced disruption of global economic links and supply chains, and by the war in Ukraine and the subsequent energy crisis. Alarmingly, all of these crises seem to have taken the West by surprise. The failure of Western leadership was on full display just over a year ago with the botched withdrawal of Us troops from Afghanistan. since then, it has become painfully apparent that the political establishment of the United states lacks the intellectual resources, clarity and integrity to lead on the world stage. The art of statesmanship seems to have all but disappeared. Take, for example, Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan earlier this month. This unimaginably stupid and reckless act exemplified how even senior Us politicians have lost any and all commitment to diplomacy. The fact that a visit from a high-ranking Us official was always going to enrage China, the very nation that poses the greatest security challenge to the Us, did not seem to count for much. showboating for a domestic audience took priority. Aside from raising tensions with China at a time when America is already involved in a conflict with Russia, Pelosi’s provocative adventure also exposed the impotence of the Us president. Joe Biden publicly acknowledged that the Us military felt that the trip was ‘not a good idea right now’, but he lacked either the will or the clout to prevent Pelosi from fuelling tensions with China. so, what has happened to statesmanship in the Western world? in his recently published book, Leadership: six studies in World strategy, henry Kissinger bemoans the absence of thoughtful statesmanship in the contemporary era. he highlights a lack of strategic purpose and absence of intellectual seriousness among contemporary Western leaders. in part, Kissinger blames universities for producing ‘activists and technicians’ rather than leaders. Kissinger is right to worry about the contemporary cohort of diplomats and foreignaffairs specialists educated in Anglo-American universities. Many of them are imbued with the ideology of globalism. From this perspective, geopolitics is regarded as an old-fashioned and outdated concern that belongs in the bad old days of the interwar era. This outlook is widely communicated to students of international relations in prestigious universities. For instance, according to harold James, a professor of history and international affairs at Princeton University, ‘a little geopolitics is a dangerous thing’. he wrote last year that: ‘The term geopolitics first came into vogue after Germany’s defeat in the First Word War and has since come to be used as a rationalisation for zero-sum conflicts. But insofar as it represents a false notion of geographical determinism, it is utterly inappropriate for a globalised world.’ The idea that, in a globalised world, geopolitics is irrelevant is based on the belief that great-power rivalry will be tempered by economic cooperation. This point was clearly articulated by former Us president Bill Clinton, who claimed that geopolitics had been displaced by geoeconomics. in recent decades, many commentators and foreign-policy experts drew the conclusion that the age of geopolitical rivalry was over and that global economic integration would make wars between nations less likely. Others reflected on how european integration offered a permanent ‘solution to war’. some scholars went so far as to claim that war had become obsolete. For instance, in The Remnants of War, John Mueller argued that developed nations have gone beyond war, with militarised conflict now only a matter for ‘thugs’ and ‘residualForeign-policycombatants’.experts and diplomats who have absorbed these globalist assumptions are woefully unprepared to face the complex geopolitical challenges that now confront them. in part, they are the prisoners of the narrow technocratic outlook they adopted during their university years. however, the Western foreign-policy establishment is not just poorly trained and educated. Along with other members of the ruling elite, foreign-policy elites have also embraced a cosmopolitan outlook that has encouraged them to become detached from their nation. indeed, it is not only geopolitics that has become a dirty word in these circles. Many officials working for the Us state Department or the British Foreign Office regard the very concept of the national interest as outdated and populist. From their standpoint, the nation has become morally irrelevant. These officials are embarrassed by any manifestation of patriotism. They are far more comfortable with, say, combatting human trafficking, fighting global poverty or promoting the human rights of sexual minorities in the Middle east than with upholding the interests of their own nations. As far as they are concerned, ‘global solidarity’, multilateralism and international law are morally superior to what they see as the narrow-minded and selfish goal of pursuing national interests. in effect, the foreign-policy elites of the West no longer even understand the interests of the nations they are supposed to be serving. This has made them geopolitically illiterate. And, as a result, Western foreign policy lacks strategic clarity. it responds to global events rather than trying to shape them. Today, it is difficult for even the most ardent globalist to pretend that geopolitics no longer matters. Unfortunately, the Western foreign-policy establishment appears to be in no hurry to relearn the art of diplomacy. We should expect more blunders and own goals from our leaders and diplomats in the years ahead.
Where have all The leaders gone?
WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO STATESMANSHIP IN THE WESTERN WORLD? HENRY KISSINGER HIGHLIGHTS A LACK OF STRATEGIC PURPOSE AND ABSENCE OF INTELLECTUAL SERIOUSNESS AMONG CONTEMPORARY WESTERN LEADERS. IN PART,HE BLAMES UNIVERSITIES FOR PRODUCING ‘ACTIVISTS AND TECHNICIANS’ RATHER THAN LEADERS
The international Monetary Fund will decide this week whether to release $1.2bn in payments tied to Pakistan’s bailout programme, and surely will not refuse. Rightly, critics including local journalists have pointed to the need for Pakistan’s authorities to update planning rules and policies to reflect current risks. Undoubtedly, the impact of the floods was made worse by a lack of preparedness. One man spoke of having built a house on the understanding that flood defences would soon be in place – only to see it washed away. in Pakistan, as elsewhere, people must adapt to survive. But far from being a get-out clause for western governments and institutions, the necessity of adaptation in these worst-hit parts of the world makes it all the more imperative that they are helped. Climate finance, as this form of support is known, was among the unfinished business of the Cop26 summit last year. The principle underlying it goes beyond disaster relief or aid. instead, the transfer of wealth built up over centuries of fossil fuel extraction is meant to enable a global transition away from carbon and towards a sustainable way of life. Pakistan’s devastation is a grim reminder of what is at stake.
T his month a controlling stake of the CW network was sold to Nexstar Media Group. This followed announcements earlier in the year that many of the network’s superhero and youth-oriented shows were being canceled. The sale provoked plenty of dismay from fans worried about the future of their favorite shows. But as a working television writer for the last 20 years, i was alarmed for a completely different reason. The death of the old CW is merely the latest sign of a television industry pivoting from the world of scripted shows on broadcast networks. The streaming system eliminates the jobs of many currently working writers and erodes the ability to train and mentor the next generation of staffers, leaving many unprepared to run their own shows. By trying to save a few dollars, the industry is, in effect, eating its own seed here’scorn.how the employment math works. A broadcast show with a full 18to-23 episode season order typically has a staff of eight to 12 working writers, from staff writer up to executive producer. Additionally, a show’s assistants and script coordinators often get assigned a freelance script or story, which serves as a sort of audition for a future staff writer job. Working on a broadcast show that runs for multiple seasons can provide these staffers with a measure of financial stability in a notoriously feast and famine industry, and can offer a path to advance in title and responsibility as they gain more experience. As writers climb the ranks on a network show, they are also often set to work with the crew and participating in the pre- and post-production stages of making the show. This is how they can learn to handle production limitations, budgetary issues, actor egos and other critical aspects of creating television. On the CW superhero show “Arrow,” for example, Beth schwartz began as a writer’s assistant and by its seventh season was running the show as executive producer. Many of the most acclaimed writers and showrunners of the “golden age of television” cut their teeth in broadcast TV. One of the early jobs of David Chase, creator of “The sopranos,” was writing on “The Rockford Files,” and before “Lost” and “Watchmen” came about, Damon Lindelof wrote for the Don Johnson cop show “Nash Bridges.” What will happen if popular DC superhero shows migrate from the CW to Warner Bros. Discovery’s own streaming service? For one, a lot of writing jobs will go away. Although shows such as “supergirl” or “The Flash” may employ as many as a dozen writers for their 22 episodes per year, the seasons likely will be shortened on a streamer. Many premium cable and streaming shows with shorter seasons operate with half a dozen or fewer writers on staff, often working under shorter contracts. And the eight episodes in the first season of hBO Max’s “Peacemaker” were all written by the show’s creator. For established writers, jumping between eight-episode streaming shows, sometimes multiple times a year, is a more financially precarious system. And people new to the industry who do get a writing job have fewer opportunities to learn other aspects of the business. in the streaming model, all episodes of a show are typically written ahead of production, with the showrunner often being the only member of a writer’s room to stay on through shooting post-production. This means that writers growing up in the new system are getting senior positions often having written only a handful of episodes — without ever having set foot on a set, talked to actors and directors or dealt with a budget breakdown. Although experience can’t guarantee a good product and there are examples of newcomers who were brilliant showrunners right out of the gate, it’s increasingly common to hear stories of people with no production experience incurring huge cost overruns and delivering unusable episodes. i worry about a future in which these systems are increasingly the norm. in addition to reduced opportunities for new writers, staffing the same people on multiple shows can have a homogenizing effect on what we watch. By cutting season orders and staffs, and severing the connection between writing and production to save on budgets, the people running streamers and entertainment conglomerates may end up destroying the training and advancement infrastructure that made the renaissance in scripted television possible in the first place. Zack Stentz is a film and television writer who has worked on shows including “Fringe,” “The Flash” and “Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous.”
RESPONSES TO THE COUNTRY’S IMMENSE FLOODS COULD PROVIDE MODELS FOR OTHER WEATHER CRISES MELTING GLACIERS AND TORRENTIAL RAINS ARE WRECKING LIVES. WESTERN GOVERNMENTS MUST STEP UP THEIR RESPONSE 08 WORLD VIEW 1st September 22_Layout 1 8/31/2022 10:24 PM Page 1
“People always want cash after a disaster,” said Ayesha siddiqi, a geographer at the University of Cambridge who studied Pakistan’s 2010 flood response, in an interview with Vox. What the state needs to learn, she said, is “how do we rehabilitate people ... so that they are not this vulnerable again?” From Texas to China, places grappling with record floods, fires, or heat waves can follow how Pakistan copes with this disaster. it is on the front lines of both climate change and how governments can respond to it.
“i think what COViD-19 has done is make people realize the importance of global solutions to global risks and that what happens in one country can affect all countries,” argued John scott, head of sustainability risk at Zurich insurance Group, in a recent posting. “We need to harness our existing solutions and all our innovation ... to build climate resilience,” as societies did during the pandemic. The Pakistan floods have begun to deliver a few dividends on these fronts. Longtime rival india has reopened closed trade corridors and may extend disaster aid to its neighbor for the first time since the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party came to power eight years ago. And the often-divisive politics in Pakistan may be on pause. Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, chair of the Pakistan Ulema Council, has called on government leaders, islamic scholars, and philanthropists to create an atmosphere of understanding and harmony. One measure of progress may be better governance. A Gallup Poll found that 57% of Pakistanis supported the ouster in April of then-Prime Minister imran Khan because “his government was unable to sort out inflation.” his successor, shehbaz sharif, faces even more pressure. Besides inflation, Pakistan has acute shortages of fuel, food, and health care supplies. A month before the monsoon came, it defaulted on a foreign loan for the first time. On Monday, the international Monetary Fund approved disbursement of $1.1 billion to Pakistan. To keep the loan, Mr. sharif will have to address problems that have resulted in a cumulative debt burden of $24 billion.
PSW implements e-phytosanitary certificates at Torkham Border
During the last couple of years, the National Bank of Pakistan has pursued a major organizational transformation, product enhancement, digitalization and initiatives for promoting financial inclusion with a focus on commercial and rural segments. Financial analysts believe that in parallel with its business growth initiatives, the Bank has continued to progress via remediation of legacy issues in the area of Core Banking System upgrade, International Franchise, Risk Management, Asset Quality, Operational Effectiveness and HR. Since the taking over of the charge by the new president, Rehmat Ali Hasnie, NBP’s future strategy has focused on enhancing its service quality levels, diversifying its outreach through digitalization, and increasing its range of products and services. Elaborating on his vision, Mr Hasnie, said: “As the Nation’s bank, enhancing access to financial services to all remains a goal of the Bank since its creation in 1949. We had a massive 33% growth and successfully achieved the PKR 5 Trillion milestone in our balance sheet as our assets reached PKR 5,119.8 bn from PKR 3,846.7 bn at the end of 2021.” He further said, “This makes NBP the largest Bank in Pakistan in terms of total assets. While investment increased by 68% to reach PKR 3,251.0 Bn, gross advances recorded 4.8% growth to PKR 1,367.3 Bn. The Bank maintains a strong funding and liquidity profile through a well-diversified fundingWithportfolio.”volumetric growth in average earning assets coupled with positive rate variance, one can see that NBP recorded 66% growth in gross interest income that reached PKR 179.4 Bn as against PKR 108.0 Bn for the same period last year. In the increasing interest rate scenario, cost of funds for the period amounted to PKR 126.3 Bn. Accordingly, net interest income closed at PKR 53.1 Bn, depicting a 12.0% increase YoY. Despite the challenging business environment and lacklustre performance of the stock market the Bank generated total nonfund income amounting to PKR 18.4 Bn which is 2% higher YoY. Equity investment of the Bank generated divided income of PKR 1.9 Bn, 33% higher YoY. Fee & commission income earned through branch banking operations stood at PKR 10.2 Bn i.e. 16% higher YoY and reflective of the Bank’s widespread market outreach. As the Bank provides FX solution to large number of companies, its forex income for the period amounted to PKR 4.3 Bn which is 61% higher YoY. Consequently, total income amounted to PKR 71.5 Bn which is PKR 6.0 Bn or 9.2% higher, YoY. Reflecting the inflationary pressures and investment into its IT systems & infrastructure, operating expenses for the period amounted to PKR 35.8 Bn. NPLs increased marginally by 2.7% to reach PKR 203.3 Bn. As the Bank is pursuing a prudent assets growth strategy, NPL ratio that stood at 15.6% in Jun’21 improved to 14.9% in Jun’22. Positively, provision charge for the period amounted to PKR 1.7 Bn only i.e. PKR 5.0 Bn or 74% lower than PKR 6.8 Bn for H1’21. In line with the SBP guidelines, NBP maintains adequate provisions against NPLs to buttress its capital base. It would be interesting to note that with PKR 187.9 Bn of specific provisions, NPL coverage ratio stood strong at 92.4%. The Bank’s pre-tax profit increased by 21% YoY and amounted to PKR 33.9 Bn as against PKR 28.0 Bn for H1’21. The Finance Act-2022 brought in certain changes in Corporate Tax, which apart from increase in the statutory and super tax rate, also had a retrospective impact with reference to prior year’s earnings attributable to investments in the federal government securities. Consequently, effective tax rate increased from 39% in H1’21 to 64% for H1’22 and tax charge amounted to PKR 21.7 Bn against PKR 11.0 Bn for H1’21. Impact of the higher tax rate is reflected in the Q2’22 as total tax charge amounted to PKR 15.5 Bn against PKR 6.2 Bn for Q1’22. Resultantly, profit after tax for Q2’22 stood at PKR 2.3 Bn as against PKR 9.8 Bn of Q1’22 and profit after-tax for half year amounted to PKR 12.1 Bn. As of June 30, 2022, total deposits amounted to PKR 3,198.6 Bn. The Bank’s efforts towards mobilising low-cost deposits have resulted in 13.5% growth in average non-remunerative current deposits. While CASA ratio stood at 83%, Liquidity Coverage and Net Stable Funding also remained high at 146% and 277%, respectively. Capital Adequacy Ratio improved to 22.04% from 20.39% at the YE’21 depicting strong financial soundness of the Bank. The Bank enjoys highest credit ratings of AAA / A1+ categories for both long term and short term respectively as reaffirmed by both PACRA and VIS Credit Rating Company in June 2022. In addition to many other key initiatives, the Bank under its current leadership has established an account to collect funds for relief and rehabilitation of flood victims. As part of the “Prime Minister’s Flood Relief Fund 2022″ NBP has opened an account for the collection of funds/contributions for the people affected by the recent floods in the country. It would, therefore, be pertinent to mention here that under the current leadership, the bank is moving in the right direction and is poised for further growth and expected to maintain its leadership position in the industry as the nation’s bank.
09NEWS Thursday 1 September, 2022 | ISLAMABAD
KaraChI Javed ansari
Lahore staff report S uINorthern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) has launched a massive relief program in the flood affected areas of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It is pertinent to mention that the recent floods in Pakistan have been termed as one of the deadliest natural disaster in the country’s history which has affected 15% population, killing and injuring thousands of people while leaving hundreds of thousandsFollowingdisplaced.the news of catastrophic floods, Managing Director Sui Northern Gas Ali J. Hamdani, while addressing a corporate briefing session at Pakistan Stock Exchange in Karachi, expressed his deep grief over the loss of lives and properties in the affected areas. He announced that SNGPL will do whatever it can to help and to support the flood affectees, by providing them with all the essentials. On the directions of the Managing Director Ali J. Hamdani, the flood relief operation was launched on war footing. Two tent villages were established in Taunsa and Dera Ghazi Khan to provide shelter to the victim families. The tent village in Taunsa houses 32 families while the one in Dera Ghazi Khan hosts 68 families. In addition to this, a total of 100 tents were distributed in the flood affected area of Rajanpur.Keeping in view the immediate need for food, SNGPL distributed ration packages among the flood affectees of Taunsa. These packages had sufficient food for 3 to 4 days. On the request of district administration, SNGPL provided dinner to 600 flood affected people currently living in flood relief camp at Government Commerce College in Nowshera. Additionally, 180 food packages were also served to kids and feeding mothers at the same relief camp. In the Risalpur flood relief camp, the company is serving three meals every day to around 850 persons. In Rajanpur area of Punjab, SNGPL distributed 200 boxes containing food supplies sufficient for a week. SNGPL has always led by example and this relief operation is a testament to commitment of serving the society in every possible way.
specially teachers should be resolved immediately and priority basis. He thinks that without resolving issues of teachers we cannot achieve targets of quality in technical education. He added that he is well known to the issue of 25 and 15 percent disparity allowance of field staff and he is already working for this and will raise the issue at every forum. He went on to say that he has clear advised from Chief Minister Punjab Pervaiz Elahi that Punjab's youth must be equiped with quality technical and vocationalThetraining.chairperson TEVTA said that technical education play key role in the development of any country. He said that admission in technical education courses is in full swing after matric Weresult.want to convey to the parents through the media that they should focus on technical and vocational education rather than conventional education, this will provide a bright future to their children.
33pc growth in NBP assets recorded to
corporate corner
IsLamabad pr Pakistan Single Window (PSW) in collaboration with the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) has successfully rolled out the electronic processing and issuance of the Phyto-sanitary certificates at the Torkham border crossing with Afghanistan. Exports of all commodities falling under the jurisdiction of the DPP will be processed through the Single Window system on the filing of the Single Declaration and will be subject to the electronic issuance of a phytosanitary certificate by the DPP. The system eliminates the need for physical visits to the DPP offices, completely digitizes the application, processing, and issuance process of the phytosanitary certificate, and seamlessly integrates the land border clearances with the PSW system already offering the same services at the seaports and international air freight units. In a statement released by PSW, the CEO of PSW, Mr. Syed Aftab Haider stated, “Implementation of the electronic Phytosanitary certificate at the Torkham border is an important milestone in the PSW journey for digitization of Pakistan’s cross-border trade and will facilitate the exports of agricultural products and commodities to Afghanistan and Central Asia.”
ISLAMABAD: Flood Relief Cash Assistance through Benazir Income Support Programme is a step toward reducing the sufferings of flood affected people. Benazir Income Support Programme is committed to address the deprivations of flood affected families by providing flood relief cash of Rs. 25,000 to every flood affected family in the country. The data depicts that how speedily the number of families registering through 8171 is increasing day by day as the floods have caused heavy financial and life losses all across the country.
I am fully aware about disparity allowance issue, it will be addressed soon: ChairpersonChairpersonTechnical Education and Vocational Training Authority (Tevta) has said that resolving basic issues of TEVTA employees is his priority. He was talking to the delegation of Grand Alliance of TEVTA unions here on Wednesday at TEVTA secretariat. He said that he took charge of Chairperson TEVTA few days ago and he believed that basic issues of employees and
pr
BiSP disburses over Rs13b to 532,264 families in 5 days
As of Wednesday evening a total of Rs. 13,404,568,542 have been disbursed among 532,264 flood affected families all across Pakistan under the Flood Relief Cash Assistance program. So far, 55,995 affected families of Balochistan have received Rs. 1,421,651,820; 311,092 families have received Rs. 7,825,085,998 in Sindh; 62,709 families of KP have received Rs. 1,577,953,500 and 102,468 flood affected families have received Rs. 2,579,877,224 in Punjab.
ISLAMABAD: In the wake of massive flash floods that wreak havoc in various parts of the country, the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) has continued its flood relief activities and distributed 180 food packages among the flood affectees of Ghotki and Sanghar districts of Sindh. The recent floods and torrential rains had wreaked devastation in different parts of the country. Responding to the calamity, OGDCL immediately mobilized its resources in the flood affected areas to provide all possible relief and facilitation.Being a responsible Corporate, OGDCL under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) responded to the calamity by mobilizing its own resources OGDCL program has distributed food hampers among the affectees of the recent flood in Ghotki and Sanghar districts of Sindh around OGDCL Qadirpur and Rig N-3 near Sinjhoro Gas Field respectively.
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SNGPL LauNcheS MaSSive ReLief PRoGRaM foR fLoodaffecteeS
TEVTA chairperson vows to resolve employees' issues on priority basis
PBM Md seeks public support for flood hit people Pakistan Baitul-Mal (PBM) Managing Director Amir Fida Paracha on Wednesday urged the people from all walks of life to come forward and cooperate with Pakistan Bait ul Mal (PBM) in its campaign to help rehabilitate the people whose livelihoods were destroyed by the recent floods. Amir Fida Paracha said this during a visit to the relief camp set up for the flood victims at the Motorway Toll Plaza.The MD also participated in the campaign to collect donations for flood hit people. Motorway Police also fully supported the donations collecting campaign being continued to help the flood affected families. Initially, he said various steps were being taken to provide immediate assistance to the affected families. In the next phase, Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal would ensure the rehabilitation of flood-affected people, which includes economic rehabilitation of women, education of children, provision of wheelchairs for the injured, and different other measures to provide solace to marooned people. The MD also visited PBM’s another relief camp established at Sangjani Toll Plaza and participated in the donation collection campaign. pr achieve Rs5tr milestone
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oGdcL distributes food packages to flood-affectees in Sindh
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Europe plan for floating gas terminals raises climate fears AfTer her DeATh
“Now I’m sitting at home without a job,” said Oranoos Omerzai, a resident of Kandahar, the de facto power centre of the GovernmentTaliban.spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid insisted “major achievements” had been recorded in the past year.
10 FOREIGN NEWS Thursday, 1 September, 2022 ISLAMABAD
NEW YORK the AssociAted PRess As winter nears, European nations, desperate to replace the natural gas they once bought from Russia, have embraced a short-term fix: A series of roughly 20 floating terminals that would receive liquefied natural gas from other countries and convert it into heating fuel. Yet the plan, with the first floating terminals set to deliver natural gas by year’s end, has raised alarms among scientists who fear the long-term consequences for the environment. They warn that these terminals would perpetuate Europe’s reliance on natural gas, which releases climate-warming methane and carbon dioxide when it’s produced, transported and burned. Some scientists say they worry that the floating terminals will end up becoming a longterm supplier of Europe’s vast energy needs that could last years, if not decades. Such a trend could set back emission-reduction efforts that experts say haven’t moved fast enough to slow the damage being done to the global environment. Much of the liquefied natural gas, or LNG, that Europe hopes to receive is expected to come from the United States. The need arose after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine shattered its ties with Europe and led to a cutoff of most of the natural gas that Moscow had long provided.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday urged a joint global push to uphold true multilateralism and foster an open and sharing services economy to inject vitality into the world’s economic recovery, at a time when the global economy is grappling with a conflux of the still-raging pandemic, geopolitical tensions and rising concern over a global recession.
Last Soviet leader Gorbachev, who ended Cold War, dies aged 91 MOSCOW ReuteRs Mikhail Gorbachev, who ended the Cold War without bloodshed but failed to prevent the collapse of the Soviet Union, died on Tuesday at the age of 91, hospital officials in Moscow said. Gorbachev, the last Soviet president, forged arms reduction deals with the United States and partnerships with Western powers to remove the Iron Curtain that had divided Europe since World War Two and bring about the reunification of Germany. But his internal reforms helped weaken the Soviet Union to the point where it fell apart, a moment that President Vladimir Putin has called the “greatest geopolitical catastrophe” of the 20th “Mikhailcentury.Gorbachev passed away tonight after a serious and protracted disease,” said Russia’s Central Clinical Hospital. Putin expressed “his deepest condolences”, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Interfax. “Tomorrow he will send a telegram of condolences to his family and friends,” he said. Putin said in 2018 that he would reverse the Soviet Union’s disintegration if he could, news agencies reported. World leaders were quick to pay tribute. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said Gorbachev, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990, had opened the way for a free Europe. US President Joe Biden said he had believed in “glasnost and perestroika — openness and restructuring — not as mere slogans, but as the path forward for the people of the Soviet Union after so many years of isolation and deprivation.”
Along the US Gulf Coast, export terminals are expanding, and many residents there are alarmed about the rise in drilling for gas and the resulting loss of land as well as extreme weather changes associated with burning fossil fuels.
Joe Little, managing editor at Majesty Magazine, said Diana had influenced her sons, princes William and Harry, to be less formal than traditional royals. “They are much more ‘touchy feely’ than they ever would have been,” he said, pointing to William’s hugs for England’s women footballers after their Euro 2022 victory this month. “William can see there is no need for much of the formality in royal life that existed when his father was of a similarLastage.”week, Harry, who has admitted to mental health struggles because of his mother’s death, said he would “share the spirit of my mum with my family, with my children, who I wished could have met her”.
In a congratulatory letter to the opening of the 2022 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) on Wednesday, Xi said that CIFTIS is an important platform for China to expand opening-up, deepen cooperation and spearhead innovation, making active contributions to the development of global services and services trade. China insists on high-level opening-up to foster high-quality development, continues easing market access to the services sector, improves the openness of cross-border services trade and is striving to build an open system for high-standard services, Xi said. China is willing to work together with all countries to uphold true multilateralism, inclusiveness and tolerance, cooperation and win-win, and join hands to foster an open and sharing services economy to inject vitality into world economic recovery and development, he stressed.
BEIJING Agencies
“We are happy that Allah got rid of the infidels from our country, and the Islamic Emirate has been established,” said Zalmai, a resident of Kabul. The withdrawal of troops at midnight as August 31 began last year ended America’s longest war — a military intervention that began in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York. Some 66,000 Afghan troops and 48,000 civilians were killed in the conflict, but it was the deaths of US service members — 2,461 in total — that became too much for the American public to bear. More than 3,500 troops from other NATO countries were also killed. “The burden of the war in Afghanistan, however, went beyond Americans,” the US military said Tuesday. Two weeks before the end of last year’s withdrawal, the Taliban seized power following a lightning offensive against government forces. Banners celebrating victories against three empires — the former Soviet Union and Britain also lost wars in Afghanistan — were flying in Kabul on Wednesday. Hundreds of white Taliban flags bearing the Islamic proclamation of faith flew from lampposts and government buildings. Late Tuesday, the skies above Kabul were lit up with fireworks and celebratory gunfire from crowds of Taliban fighters. In Massoud Square, near the former US embassy, armed fighters carrying Taliban flags chanted “Death to America”. Others drove across the city honking their horns. Flaunting equipment: Taliban social media accounts posted scores of videos and pictures of newly trained troops — many flaunting the US military equipment left behind in the haste of Washington’s chaotic withdrawal.
“This is how you troll a superpower after humiliating them and forcing them to withdraw from your country,” read the caption of one post on Twitter featuring a photo of a giant Taliban flag now painted on the wall of the former US embassy. Despite the Taliban’s pride in taking over, Afghanistan’s 38 million people now face a desperate humanitarian crisis — aggravated after billions of dollars in assets were frozen and foreign aid dried up. Hardships for ordinary Afghans, especially women, have increased. The Taliban have shut secondary girls’ schools in many provinces and barred women from many government jobs. They have also ordered women to fully cover up in public — ideally with an all-encompassing burqa.
A trickle of well-wishers left flowers, flags and photographs for the selfstyled “queen of people’s hearts” at the gates of Kensington Palace, and at the Place Diana, above the Pont de l’Alma tunnel. At the Spencer family home, Althorp House, where Diana is buried in a lead-lined coffin on a secluded island on the estate, her brother Charles Spencer lowered the Union Jack to half“Shemast.was a global celebrity,” retired camera operator Claude Gautier, 79, who came to pay his respects at the makeshift memorial in Paris, told AFP. “She was classy, sporty, elegant. Everyone’s sad today. My flowers for her are on the inside,” he said, touching the badge of his England football shirt. “The flowers here will wilt but mine will never die.” “It makes the hairs on my skin stand on end to think that she died underneath us,” added German tourist Ulrike Plank, 64, from Munich. “We’re really missing someone like her today. If you look around the world, there’s no one like her.” Diana, who was just 36 when she died, remains widely revered as a fashion icon and for having cut through stuffy royal convention, particularly after her very public divorce. She was also praised for charity work highlighting the scourge of landmines and encouraging a change in attitudes to people with HIV/AIDS. In a sign of the enduring fascination with the royal, last weekend a sporty Ford Escort she once owned was sold for £737,000 ($864,000) at auction. Her marital troubles will also feature in the latest series of the hit Netflix drama “The Crown” later this year.
“Building this immense LNG infrastructure will lock the world into continued reliance on fossil fuels and continued climate damage for decades to come,” said John Sterman, a climate scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Natural gas contributes significantly to climate change — both when it’s burned, becoming carbon dioxide, and through leakages of methane, an even more potent greenhouse gas. Yet European nations, which for years have been leaders in shifting to cleaner energy, have proposed bringing more than 20 floating LNG terminals into their ports to help compensate for the loss of Russia’s natural gas. The terminals, which tower over homes and stretch nearly 1,000 feet (304 meters), can store roughly 6 billion cubic feet (170,000 cubic meters) of LNG and convert it into gas for homes and businesses. They can be built faster and more cheaply than onshore import terminals, though they’re costlier to operate, according to the International Gas Union.
“Every country needs to prepare for a scenario where there may be a cut in Russian supplies,” said Nikoline Bromander, an analyst with Rystad Energy. “If you are dependent, you need to have a backup plan.” Many environmental scientists argue that the money being earmarked for the ships — which cost about $500 million each to build, according to Rystad — would be better spent on rapidly adopting clean-energy or efficiency upgrades that could reduce energy Constructingconsumption.moresolar or wind farms, which takes years, wouldn’t immediately replace Russian gas. But with adequate funding, Sterman suggested, greater energy efficiencies — in homes, buildings and factories, along with the deployment of wind, solar and other technologies — could vastly reduce Europe’s need to replace all the gas it’s lost. Germany, among Europe’s strongest advocates for the floating LNG terminals, is expecting five of the ships and has committed roughly 3 billion euros to the effort, according to Global Energy Monitor. Germany has also approved a law to fast-track the terminals’ development, suspending the requirement for environmental assessments. It’s a move that troubles environmental groups.
prinCeSS DiAnA pAiD GLoWinG TribuTeS 25 yeArS
In a keynote speech at the opening, Vice Premier Han Zheng said that the 2022 CIFTIS, focusing on services cooperation and green innovation, is of vital significance amid varied new challenges confronting global economic recovery and world trade. China implements a more active opening-up strategy, and its services trade has made robust progress, Han said, citing the country’s efforts to ease restrictions on access to the services area and push for the high-level and institutional opening-up of services trade. Additionally, the country has focused on the joint building of the Belt and Road Initiative to advance services trade cooperation, he continued. Last year, the country’s services exports and imports hit an all-time high of over $800 billion, up 21.4 percent year-on-year, official data showed. Currently, more than 200 countries and regions have services trade with China. The country’s services trade has held the second spot globally for eight years in a row. Over the past decade, China’s cumulative services trade imports have topped $4 trillion, per official data. As part of efforts to promote the healthy and sustainable development of the services trade to rev up global economic recovery, according to Han, China stands ready to work with all sides to loosen market access to services and strengthen the matchmaking in standards and rules. Han also pledged to hold onto an innovation-driven approach and nurture new momentum to foster global services trade development amid the rise of digital services. The annual services trade fair runs through September 5 in Beijing. Among this year’s highlights is a newly created metaverse experience hall at Shougang Park, one of the two venues for the gathering. The other venue is the China National Convention Center.
President Xi calls for joint global push for open, sharing services economy
KABUL AFP The Taliban declared Wednesday a national holiday and lit up the capital with coloured lights to celebrate the first anniversary of the withdrawal of US-led troops from Afghanistan after a brutal 20-year war. The country’s new rulers — not formally recognised by any other nation — have reimposed their version of Islamic law on the impoverished country. But despite the restrictions, and a deepening humanitarian crisis, many Afghans say they are glad the foreign force that prompted the Taliban insurgency has gone.
“Afghans are no more being killed in the war, foreign forces have withdrawn, and security has improved,” he told reporters last week.
f LOWERSand other tributes were laid on Wednesday at princess Diana’s former London home and above the Paris road tunnel where she lost her life, to mark the 25th anniversary of her death.Theformer Lady Diana Spencer, whose fairytale marriage to Prince Charles captivated the world until it publicly unravelled with infidelity and divorce, died in a car crash in the French capital on August 31, 1997.
AFP
While Bangladesh and Thailand took the two spots reserved for the last-two placed teams from the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020, the remaining teams have come through the Regional Qualifiers. Scotland (Europe), UAE (Asia), USA (America) and Zimbabwe (Africa) have made it after winning their regional competitions while PNG are here as the highest ranked side as of November 30, 2021 from East Asia Pacific, which could not hold a competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, Ireland qualified as the highest ranked side from the regional competitions not to qualify.
Schedule unveiled for icc Women’S T20 Wc qualifier
ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt Both India and Pakistan have been fined 40 percent of their match fees for maintaining a slow over-rate in their Group A match of the Asia Cup on August 28. Jeff Crowe of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanctions after Rohit Sharma and Babar Azam’s sides were ruled to be two overs short of their respective targets after time allowances were taken into consideration, said a press release. In accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offences, players are fined 20 per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time. Both captains pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formalOn-fieldhearing.umpires Masudur Rahman and Ruchira Pilliyaguruge, third umpire Raveendra Wimalasiri and fourth umpire Gazi Sohel levelled the charges.
StAFF RePoRt Pakistan bodybuilding team has left to participate in the Asian Session Bodybuilding Championship to be held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan from September 2-5, 2022. President Pakistan Federation Tariq Parvez said that 10 best bodybuilders from all over the country are participating in this Championship, including Fida Hussain Baloch (Mr. Pakistan WAPDA), Kamran Mashri (Mr. Pakistan WAPDA), Umeer Iqbal (Army), Faisal Khan (Army).Muhammad Akhtar Bilal (KP Junior Mr. Pakistan), Gul Nawaz Khan (Junior Mr. Pakistan Sindh), Shah Nawaz Khan (Sindh), Muhammad Sabih Tareen (Sindh), Arsalan Malik (Sindh), Mansoor (Sindh) Tariq Zafar Secretary Pakistan Federation and Shakeel Ilyas as officials. Mohammad Iqbal and Aamirullah Khan will participate as judges. On this occasion, Tariq Pervez said that the Pakistan Bodybuilding team consists of 10 players, which is a record as such a good number of players had never been given opportunities before. He said that it is a matter of honor that one of the best players from our province has also been selected. Muhammad Akhtar Bilal’s awards Junior Mr. Pakistan 2019, Mr. KP 2019, Mr. Pakistan Silver Medal 2022, National Championship Silver Medal 2022, and Super Mr. KP 2022. Tariq Parvez said that Muhammad Akhtar Bilal has worked extremely hard for this Championship and millions of rupees. He has also demanded from the Provincial Sports Minister Muhammad Atif Khan and DG Sports Khalid Khan to provide the travel expenses of the players of their province and the registration expenses of the International Federation. Remember that Muhammad Akhtar Bilal in WAPDA was employed but left the job of Wapda for his province and represented his province in Mr. Pakistan 2022 competitions and will win medals for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He also won the title of Junior Mr. Pakistan by representing his province. Tariq Parvez said that we should support our players fully so that they can raise the name of their province and Pakistan.
Thursday, 1 September, 2022 | ISLAMABAD 11SPORTS inter-School fromchampionshipSwimmingtobeginSept13
Emirates Cricket Development Manager Andrew Russell said, “Women’s cricket has never been in better shape both around the world and in the UAE, and it is essential to our Board that we carry forward this momentum.“Iurge everyone to come and support the UAE side and seven other exceptionally talented teams. This is not only an opportunity to watch world-class cricket at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, but it can also help us ignite a passion in a new generation of girls for this incredible sport.”
AFP Emma Raducanu became only the third defending champion to exit the US Open in the first round on Tuesday while four-time winner Rafael Nadal overcame an early scare against a player ranked 198 in the world. Raducanu, 19, slumped to a 6-3, 6-3 defeat to veteran French player Alize Cornet who is competing in a record 63rd consecutive Grand Slam. Nadal saw off Australian wildcard Rinky Hijikata 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 to register his 65th career win in New York. Also going through to a politically-charged clash were three-time runner-up Victoria Azarenka of Belarus and Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine. Raducanu has struggled in the spotlight of being a Grand Slam winner, failing to get beyond the second round of any of the previous three majors in 2022. “In a way I’m happy because it’s a clean slate. The target will be off my back,” said the teenager. World number three Nadal, who is chasing a 23rd Grand Slam title and third of 2022, arrived at the tournament having played just one match since an abdominal injury forced him to forfeit his Wimbledon semi-final. He next faces Fabio Fognini, the Italian who famously defeated him from two sets down in the third round of the US Open in 2015. “I’m very happy to be here. It’s a long time that I played here. I thought that maybe I’d never be back,” said 36-year-old Nadal whose last appearance in New York saw him win the 2019 title. Thursday’s action is likely to be dominated by the clash between former world number one Azarenka and Kostyuk, a vocal critic of the presence of Russian and Belarusian players on tour. Only last week, Azarenka was axed from an exhibition on the eve of the US Open aimed at raising money for Ukraine. Kostyuk, 20, said she turned down the chance to play in protest at the presence of Azarenka and the 33-year-old Belarusian was swiftly dumped from the event. Belarus is a close ally of Russia and has allowed Moscow to use its territory to launch attacks into Ukraine. World number one and French Open champion Iga Swiatek eased past Italy’s Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 6-0 in just 67 minutes. Victory was a relief for the 21-yearold Pole who had suffered early losses at warm-up events in Toronto and Cincinatti “In matches, being a little bit stressed and tight, it can get a little bit worse, but still, I feel like my level is just better,” said Swiatek who next faces 2017 champion SloaneCarlosStephens.Alcaraz, the 19-year-old world number four, was made to sweat by battling Sebastian Baez, winning the first two sets 7-5, 7-5 before the Argentine retired injured 0-2 down in the third. As the temperature soared beyond the 30-degree mark, 42-year-old Venus Williams and Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina were high profile casualties. After seeing Serena Williams stave off impending retirement by reaching the second round on Monday, big sister Venus was eyeing an 80th career win at the tournament. However, Venus, who first played the US Open in 1997, was defeated 6-1, 7-6 (7/5) by Belgium’s Alison van Uytvanck. “Three letters is W-I-N. That’s it. Very simple,” said two-time champion Venus, now ranked 1,504, when asked to explain why she keeps playing. However, she remains without a victory since Wimbledon last year. Rybakina lost 6-4, 6-4 to French qualifier Clara Burel, ranked a lowly 131, on the back of 37 unforced errors. Britain’s Cameron Norrie, the seventh seed, raced past France’s Benoit Paire 6-0, 7-6 (7/1), 6-0. Bizarrely, Paire started packing his bags at 0-5 down in the third set and he was a beaten man after only 98 minutes. “Maybe the heat was getting to him,” said seventh seed Norrie. The result made ugly reading for Paire who dropped the first set in just 18 minutes and the third in 19. Italian 26th seed Lorenzo Musetti defeated Belgium’s David Goffin 3-6, 7-5, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (11/9) in a four-hour 34-minute marathon. Musetti fired 40 winners with Goffin undone by 81 unforced errors. Later Tuesday, Japan’s two-time champion Naomi Osaka faces 19th seed Danielle Collins, this year’s runner-up at the Australian Open.
Pakistan bodybuilding team leaves for Asian Championship India, Pakistan fined for slow over-rate in Asia Cup game Champion Raducanu out of US Open as Nadal survives scare
StAFF RePoRt President Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Swimming Association Muhammad Asif Orakzai on Wednesday announced Inter-School Swimming Championship on September 13-14, 2022. Talking to APP, Muhammad Asif Orakzai said that they have invited schools to participate in the Inter-School Swimming Championship and setup U10, U12 and U14 age group categories. He said the competition is open for all and the children and principals of all the schools of district Peshawar are requested to register their children for the Inter-School Swimming Championship. He said children age group U10, U12, and U14 have been invited for this School Championship. He said a request has also been made to the principals of the Private School Systems and hopefully a good number of children would be part of the competition at the Adil Khan Swimming Pool, Peshawar Sports Complex here. He disclosed that out of the Championship players in all three categories would be selected for the National Inter-School Championship. The children of all schools and their parents are requested to join the ongoing camp setup for training and coaching for the upcoming swimmers on a daily basis. The time for children is 4.00 p.m on a daily basis. Sindh, KP register victories in national T20 cup APP Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa registered victories in the matches of Kingdom Valley National T20 Cup 2022-23 at the Pindi Stadium, Rawalpindi on Wednesday. In the first match, Sindh registered their second consecutive win in the National T20 Cup when they defeated Southern Punjab by 10 runs, thanks to Saim Ayub’s brilliant 92. Saim scored the innings at a staggering strike rate of 177 and smashed seven sixes and six fours to set a demanding 191-run target for Northern. The left-handed opener added 39 and an inningsdefining 85 with Omair Bin Yousuf (18 off 15) and Saud Shakeel (20 off 18) respectively, playing the lead role in both stands, after his opening partner Sharjeel Khan was cleaned up in the first over. Experienced allrounder Sohail Tanvir was Northern’s pick of the bowlers with three for 28. Left-arm pacer Mir Hamza provided Sindh a solid start by removing both Northern openers – Hasan Nawaz and Ali Imran – in back-toback overs. As Nasir Nawaz (39 off 21) and Zeeshan Malik (29 off 31) were on course to stage a recovery, leg-spinner Zahid Mehmoodbowled the former. Young all-rounder Mubasir Khan and Sohail gave Northern fans a glimpse of hope. They added 45 runs at a run rate of 11 but fell in the 18th and 19th overs. Mubasir scored 33 off 25 (four fours and a six) and Sohail made 21 off 14 (two sixes) before he became Hamza’s third wicket. Hamza returned three for 33 and Sohail Khan picked up two wickets for 38.
ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt T HEschedule for ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier has been unveiled with eight teams competing for the final two spots at next year’s T20 World Cup to be played in SouthHostsAfrica.United Arab Emirates (UAE) would play Thailand at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on the opening day of the global qualifier which runs from September 18 to 25 while Zimbabwe would also be in action on day one as they take on Papua New Guinea at the adjacent Tolerance Oval, said a press Bangladesh,release.Ireland, Scotland and the USA complete the line up in the qualifier in the battle to join Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies and hosts South Africa at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup next year. Hosted at Abu Dhabi Cricket and Sports Hub, the matches at the Tolerance Oval would be the first full internationals at the ground since it was given ICC accreditation, while the Zayed Cricket Stadium would be the venue for the final as well as both Bangladeshsemi-finals.andThailand, who played in the highly successful T20 World Cup in Australia in 2020 and qualified for this tournament on that basis, were the two leading teams in the MRF Tyres ICC Women’s T20I Team Rankings and are drawn in different groups. Ireland, Scotland and the USA were pooled along with Bangladesh in Group A while Thailand are in Group B along with Zimbabwe, Papua New Guinea (PNG) and the UAE. The top two teams from each group would make the semi-finals and both finalists will book their places in the T20 WorldICCCup.Head of Events Chris Tetley said, “The level of competitiveness in the women’s game has increased significantly over the last four years and with every ICC region represented in Abu Dhabi it will be a tough fought event.
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“Pakistan Armed Forces shall continue serving our brothers and sisters struck by unprecedented floods,” military’s media wing, the ISPR, said in a statement. In solidarity with the flood affected people of Pakistan, central ceremony at GHQ to commemorate Defence & Martyrs Day on 6 September has been postponed. Pakistan Armed Forces shall continue serving our brothers and sisters struck by unprecedented floods. Torrential rain has triggered flash floods that have crashed down from northern mountains, destroying buildings and bridges, and washing away roads and standing and stored crops. It has submerged a third of Pakistan and killed more than 1,100 people, including 380 children. Staff RepoRt
A day ago, an application was filed with Islamabad police to register a treason case against PTI Chairman Imran Khan, Tarin and incumbent finance ministers of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mohsin Khan Leghari and Taimur Khan Jhagra. The application was submitted by the founder and chairman of Aman Taraqi Party, Mohammad Faiq Shah, at the Kohsar police station. The complainant had requested the police to take legal action against all four suspects.
Two more Chinese planes arrive with relief goods flood victims
ISLAMABAD ahmad ahmadani
Govt to conduct forensic audit of audio leaks attributed to PTI’s Shaukat Tarin: Law Minister ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar on Wednesday said that the federal government has decided to conduct a forensic audit of audio leaks attributed to PTI Senator Shaukat Tarin regarding the crucial International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme. On Monday, two audio clips surfaced via TV channels and social media in which a man said to be Tarin can be heard guiding Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab’s finance ministers to tell the federal government that they would not be able to commit to a provincial budget surplus in light of the recent floods that have wreaked havoc in Pakistan. Last week, KP Finance Minister Taimur Khan Jhagra had written a letter to the Ministry of Finance conveying his administration’s inability to provide a provincial surplus this year. The audios triggered criticism against the PTI as the ruling coalition alleged that they were nothing but a conspiracy to derail the government’s deal with the global Addressinglender.the issue at a press conference in Islamabad today, Tarar said: “Consultation with the interior and law ministries are underway […] we have decided on a forensic audit of the audio conversations and once the consultative process is complete, it will be acted upon and action taken as per the law.”
Govt to decide on import from India in consulting with coalition: Miftah
The law minister said that legal action would be taken against those who “raised their hands against the state or spoke against its interests”. Tarar termed the affair “very painful” and said that the former finance minister’s conversation and direction amounted to “hypocrisy and sedition” against the state and its interests. He said that the government ministers undertook oaths at the time of appointment in which they pledged to only follow the law in discharging their duties instead of listening to anyone else. “After that conversation, it seems the PTI’s KP finance minister (Jhagra) strayed from fulfilling his oath and the former finance minister (Tarin), whom this was not expected of, crossed all limits and prioritised politics over the state.”
rAwALpInDI: The Pakistan Army has postponed the central ceremony at General Headquarters (GHQ) to commemorate Defence and Martyrs Day on September 6 in solidarity with the flood affected people of the country, the military said.
Published by Arif Nizami at # 7, Centre,
PESHAWAR/SWAT Staff RepoRt Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday announced Rs10 billion grant for the flood-hit people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Addressing a gathering of flood victims during a visit to the province, the prime minister said the funding would be spent for the rescue and rehabilitation of the victims across the province. The federal government, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the provincial government of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), through close coordination, would ensure transparency and immediate disbursement in the affected areas. The prime minister observed his government has already announced Rs15 billion for Sindh and Rs10 billion for Balochistan. Sharif opined that it was a collective responsibility of all the governments to work for the provision of relief to the flood-hit public and ensure that the allocated grants should be spent in a transparent manner and upon the deserving people. “I will continue visiting the affected areas till the last affected person is rehabilitated,” he added. He said the government had allocated an amount of Rs28 billion which was being disbursed among the affectees through NDMA and Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). He said every affected family was given a cash amount of Rs25,000 whereas per family was entitled to Rs1 million that had lost a member. The prime minister while expressing his grief and pain over the large-scale tragedy said that more than1,000 lives had been lost, including 300 children. He said the cash support extended by the federal government was no substitute for the loss of lives as the bereaved families would continue to mourn the death of their relatives for a long, but it was the responsibility of the government to provide maximum comfort in this hour of grief. The prime minister said the latest reports were showing further damages caused by widespread flash floods across the country, adding about 5,000 kilometers of roads were damaged. He also appreciated the relevant authorities, provincial governments, NDMA, PDMA and armed forces for their rescue and reliefAllactivities.authorities concerned had been doing whatever was possible, in a coordinated manner, to alleviate the sufferings of the flood-affected people, he added. The prime minister thanked the army and the air chiefs for the provision of air helicopters and assistance in the ongoing operations. He assured them that by Thursday, all the trapped tourists would be evacuated from theseInareas.Sindh, KP, Balochistan and Punjab provinces, colossal damages were reported, he said, adding that over a thousand lives were lost, and standing crops were completely destroyed. About 700,000 animals have been swept away while millions had been living under the open skies. Large-scale damage was caused to the houses and other connectivity infrastructure. The prime minister also expressed his gratitude to friendly countries like Turkiye, UAE, and others for providing relief goods. The UAE was continuously sending relief goods worth $50 million through different flight operations.
ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt P RIMEMinister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday thanked his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi for his condolences over the human and material losses caused by floods in IndianPakistan.premier on Monday offered his “heartfelt condolences” to the victims and their families in a tweet. “Saddened to see the devastation caused by the floods in Pakistan,” Modi wrote. “We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, the injured and all those affected by this natural calamity and hope for an early restoration of normalcy,” Modi had written on his official Twitter handle.“With their characteristic resilience the people of Pakistan shall, InshaAllah, overcome the adverse effects of this natural calamity & rebuild their lives and communities,” PM Shehbaz said in his tweet today. Apart from Modi, several world leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman expressed sorrow over the devastation caused by the recent floods in Pakistan. President Xi, King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed sent their messages of condolences to President Arif Alvi over the loss of lives and injures to scores of others in the recent floods, inundating different regions of Pakistan, to the Media Wing of the Presidency. “In his cable, the King expressed profound sorrow and sincere sympathy to the President of Pakistan, families of the deceased and the friendly people of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, wishing the deceased Allah Almighty’s mercy and forgiveness, their relatives every patience, and the injured a speedy recovery and appealing to Allah Almighty to preserve the President and people of Pakistan against any harm.” in a separate cable, the Saudi Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister expressed his profound sorrow and sincere sympathy with the President of Pakistan and the families of deceased. He also prayed for the deceased and wished speedy recovery for the injured people. President Xi, in a message to President Alvi, observed that severe floods had occurred recently in Pakistan, causing heavy casualties and serious property losses. Xi, on behalf of the Chinese government and people, and in his own name, expressed deep condolences over the victims and sincere sympathy to the bereaved families, the injured and the people in the affected areas. ThankS MoDI for offerInG ConDoLenCeS over fLooDS faTaLITIeS
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ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb on Wednesday said “justice must be seen to be done” in the contempt of court case being heard by the Islamabad High Court against former prime minister Imran Khan. “The region’s most popular leader and three-time prime minister (Nawaz Sharif) was barred from heading the party after his lifetime disqualification on account of not receiving salary from his son with the help of Black’s Law Dictionary, and sent to jail along with his daughter, ” she said in a series of tweets on Wednesday. If justice were to be done on the “basis of popularity” then why it was ignored in the case of Nawaz Sharif, the minister questioned.
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PM Shehbaz
Pakistan looks forward to friendly countries for suffering humanity’s help: PM
pRayeR timingS FAJR SUNRISE ZUHR ASR MAGHRIB ISHA 4:10 5:00 1:30 5:15 7:08 9:15 Thursday, 1 September, 2022 NEWS
Govt jacks up petroleum prices, again
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said Pakistan was looking forward to the friendly countries seeking help for the flood-stricken people. The prime minister, in his response to the message of sympathy from the United Kingdom counterpart Boris Johnson, tweeted that Pakistan was a ground zero for climate-induced catastrophe. He said Pakistan gratefully acknowledged the British prime minister’s message of sympathy and support for the flood affectees. “We look forward to our friends to step up to the plate and help the suffering humanity,” he commented. The British prime minister, in a tweet, said it was heartbreaking to see the continuing devastation wrought by the floods in Pakistan. “My thoughts go to the victims and those helping with an heroic relief effort. The United Kingdom is sending support and continues to stand by the people of Pakistan in their hour of need.”
Staff RepoRt PM Shehbaz announces Rs10b grant for flood-stricken KP
KARACHI Staff RepoRt
ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt Finance Minister in a tweet on Wednesday said that more than one international agency has approached the govt to allow them to bring food items from India and we will take the decision after consulting with coalition partners and key stakeholders. The present government has shown interest in resuming trade with India as it would be more cost-effective. In a previous press conference, Miftah Ismail had said that government could consider importing vegetables and other edible items from India to facilitate the people in the wake of the destruction of standing crops in the country due to recentAccordingfloods. to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), Indian exports to Pakistan stood at $0.0021 million between July and March 202122 against $0.0662 million over the previous year. The Indian exports included all crude minerals, medical and surgical instruments. The Indian imports from Pakistan stood at $281.33 million in July-March 202122 against $237.26 million over the last year. India imports medical and pharmaceutical products and chemical products in bulk from Pakistan. However, there are other products also that India imported in small quantities. It is pertinent to note that Pakistan had announced the suspension of its trade ties with India in August 2019. The decision was made after India revoked article 370 of its constitution which allowed special status to the territory of occupied Kashmir.
Two Chinese planes carrying flood relief items arrived here at Karachi Airport on Wednesday to help Pakistan cope with flood devastation in the country, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) informed. According to a statement issued by a CAA spokesperson, two planes filled with flood-relief items reached the Jinnah International Airport Karachi on Wednesday. The planes carry relief items such as blankets, tents and edibles, they added. The statement read that China would send more planes filled with flood-relief items in the coming days. China, so far, has sent 4 planes carrying flood-relief items, they added. The statement added that the items were received by the Pakistan Army and Foreign Ministry officials. China announced financial assistance of 100 million Yuan for Pakistan, affected by flash floods, which have left thousands marooned since midJune. The financial assistance was announced in a message delivered by Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong to President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. In the message, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang have expressed grief and solidarity with the Pakistani leadership and people over human and financial losses caused by floods in the country. China announced an assistance grant of 100 million Yuan, besides the dispatch of 25,000 tents and other assistance items. The first batch of relief aid containing 300 tents would arrive in Karachi today. The Chinese ambassador would hand over these articles to the Pakistani authorities.
MonItorIng of power SuppLy reStorAtIon: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday instructed Power Minister Engineer Khurram Dastgir to immediately visit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to monitor the restoration of power transmission network in the flood-hit areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The prime minister, chairing an urgent meeting to discuss the rehabilitation of power, road and communications infrastructure, also directed the chief executive officers of the power distribution companies to ensure their presence in their respective cities for resolution of the public complaints. He asked the heads of the distribution companies to publicize their names and contact details to facilitate the people and address their complaints. Staff RepoRt
Defence Day ceremony postponed in solidarity with flood victims
‘Justice must be seen to be done’ in contempt case against Imran: Marriyum
The coalition government has jacked up the prices of petrol by Rs 2.07 per litre and high speed diesel (HSD) by Rs 2.99/litre for the first fifteen days of September 2022. As per details, the government has increased the per litre price of petrol by Rs 2.07/litre, HSD by Rs 2,99/litre, Kerosene oil by Rs 10.92/litre and light diesel oil (LDO) by Rs 9.79/litre for the first half of September. And, after this hike, petrol will now be available at Rs 235.98/litre, diesel at Rs 247.43/litre, Kerosene oil at rs 210.32/litre and LDO at Rs 201.54/litre in the open market of the country for the first fifteen days of September. In the fortnightly review of petroleum products’ prices, the government has considered the recommendations to make partial increase in the prices of petroleum products in line with the change in the international oil prices and fluctuation in the exchange rate, said the Finance Division. It added that petroleum levy has been kept at minimum in order to provide relief to the consumers.Itispertinent to mention that the petrol was previously available at Rs233.91 per litre, diesel at Rs244.44 per litre, kerosene oil at Rs199.40 per litre, and light diesel oil was being sold at Rs191.75 per litre in Pakistan.