Epaper_22-10-05 LHR

Imran’s desIgns to weaken army wIll never materIalIze, says Pm

CHIEF A ‘LIAR & CHEAT’ WHO HAD LEFT NATIONAL ECONOMy IN RUINS

ISLAMABAD staff report

PRIMEMinister Shehbaz Sharif has said that the policies of his predecessor Imran Khan, based on ‘lies and cheat’, have left the country’s economy in ruins.

In an interview with the British daily The guardian, Shehbaz Sharif Sharif spoke of the “damage” that Khan, the former prime minister who ruled Pakistan from 2018, had done to the country in both domestic and foreign affairs.

According to The guardian, as Pakistan’s economic turmoil continued, Sharif called Khan “a liar and a cheat” whose policies had left the economy in ruins.

Sharif accused Khan, who ran on an anti-corruption manifesto, of conducting the country’s affairs to suit his own personal agenda “in a manner which can be only described as the most inexperienced, selfcentred, egotistical, immature politician in the history of this country”.

Khan was found to have violated the Constitution in an attempt to stop the vote

g SAyS IMRAN DAMAgED PAKISTAN’S RELATIONS WITH US FOR NO RHyME OR REASON

“shocked” at the UN general assembly in New york earlier this month when several world leaders, who he refused to name, had personally raised Khan’s conduct.

“Some leaders told me in person about his personality,” said Sharif. “They told me he was rude, he told lies and he is a ‘narcissist’, quote unquote.”

“Khan has damaged Pakistan’s relations with the United States for no rhyme or reason,” he said. Shehbaz Sharif also made it clear he would be reaffirming Pakistan’s close relationship with China, which reportedly suffered under Khan after he stalled the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He vowed to continue with the project, describing China as “one of the most trusted friends of Pakistan”.

“Make no mistake, CPEC is a project which is not only good for Pakistan’s wellbeing but for the whole region,” he said.

PTI chief should not be allowed to ‘attack’ federal capital: Maryam

ISLAMABAD staff report

from going ahead, and he also threatened to impose martial law rather than hand over power to the opposition coalition, the guardian mentioned.

The audio leaks allegedly captured Khan discussing how to fabricate a conspiracy about a foreign threat, with him heard saying they would “play with the cable”.

PM Sharif said the leaked audios were “an irrefutable endorsement that he [Khan] is the biggest liar on the face of the earth. I’m not saying this with a sense of glee but a sense of embarrassment and concern. My country’s image has been damaged hugely by these lies, told out of mean personal interest.”

“Never before was I concerned about our country’s future,” said Sharif. “Imran Khan has injected an infinite amount of poison in this society and made it hugely polarised as never before … he is distorting facts and creating hate.”

The prime minister deliberated upon his efforts to rebuild relations with several of Pakistan’s foreign allies, which were seen to nosedive after 2018.

Shebaz Sharif said he had been

On the involvement of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in his government, he said: “Of course, I consult Nawaz, he is my leader and my older brother,” he said. “But he has given me completely free rein to make decisions.”

Sharif vehemently rebuffed the criticism of Imran Khan against the politics of Maryam Nawaz as ‘dynastic’. “It’s about competence: it’s about public support, it’s about people’s trust,” he said. “It’s not about dynasty.”

IMRAN KHAN’S LIES & CHEAT HAVE LEFT ECONOMY IN RUINS: Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Imran Khan would not be able to succeed with his designs to weaken the institution of armed forces.

“Let me make it clear: His [Imran Khan] design to weaken the prestigious institution will never materalise,” the prime minister said in a tweet.

PM Sharif pointed out that Imran Khan’s campaign against the military aimed at “coercing” them into his lust for power.

“By launching a campaign against our armed forces and its leadership, Imran Niazi wants to coerce them into supporting his lust for power,” he said.

The prime minister said that after the audio leaks, the desperation of the PTI leader had increased.

Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday said the “foreign-funded party” should not be allowed to hold long march on Islamabad, saying PTI should be dealt with iron first. “An example should be made of Imran for conspiring against the country and institutions,” she declared while addressing a press conference here on Tuesday. Maryam said the PTI chief should not be allowed to “attack” the federal capital with his “armed group”. Lashing out Imran Khan, the PML-N VP said that when he was in power, he liked the institutions very well but when was refused to change his “nappies,” he abused the word “neutral.” She said Imran Khan had made a word like neutral an abuse, adding that he also launched a campaign against the victims of the helicopter crash. Maryam also claimed that when the PTI chief failed to get NRO in the secret meeting held in President’s House, he started criticizing “them.”

Highlighting the PTI chief’s hard-hitting statements against the establishment, Maryam said the ousted premier would praise military when he was sitting in the Prime Minister’s Office. “Nawaz Sharif never used abusive language against establishment like Imran.” Her statement came a day after the PTI chief indicated that his party’s much-awaited long march to the federal capital might finally be taking place in the third week of this month. The former prime minister on Monday held a meeting of district presidents and secretaries of his party’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Punjab wings, wherein he issued strict instructions to officials for the upcoming march.

He had directed them to ensure full participation of the people and advised them to consider “real freedom as “jihad”. He added that if they do not get “real freedom” now, they might never get it at all.

Responding to a question about PTI’s narrative of real freedom, Maryam told reporter at the presser that Imran’s entire narrative is based on lies, adding that this is not a narrative rather a fraud.

“Shelf life of Imran Khan’s lies has expired,” she said. Maryam pointed out that Finance Minister Ishaq Dar’s return to country was a slap in the face of PTI’s narrative.

CJP dubs law demanding MPs to be honest ‘draconian’

the facts would remain the same,” remarked CJ Bandial, adding that the ECP has “properly reviewed” the case.

Chief Justice (CJ) of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial said on Tuesday that Article 62(1)(f), which holds ultimate punishment of lifetime disqualification of lawmakers, is a ‘draconian’ constitutional provision.

CJ Umar Ata Bandial made the observation while heading a three-member Supreme Court (SC) bench, hearing a petition filed by former Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) senator Faisal Vawda against his lifelong disqualification by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the subsequent ruling by the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

During the proceedings on Tuesday, CJ Bandial observed that “Article 62(1)(f) is a draconian provision”, added that “this case will be heard with utmost care”.

Counsel for Vawda’s Waseem Sajjad argued in the court that Vawda had contested elections in 2018 and two years later a disqualification petition was filed in the high court for submitting a false affidavit.

However, the court observed that the ECP retained the right to investigate a false affidavit. “Even if the SC declares the lifetime disqualification orders illegal,

“The IHC has clearly stated in its judgment that Faisal Vawda had accepted dual citizenship,” argued the lawyer Farooq Hamid Naek.

“The only question, in this case, is whether or not the ECP can issue orders for lifetime disqualification,” observed CJ Bandial.

Terming Article 62(1)(f) a draconian law, the judge remarked he had to see if ECP can disqualify a Parliamentarian for life or not.

Later, the hearing was adjourned until October 6.

OBSERVERS FEAR WAY BEING PAVED FOR RETURN OF NAWAZ SHARIF IN PARLIAMENT: Article 62 (1)(f) of the Constitution, which sets the precondition for an MP to be “sadiq” and “ameen” (honest and righteous), was termed “draconian” by the chief justice, prompting questions if the courts are paving the way for the return of Nawaz Sharif, former prime minister who was ousted under the same provision and now lives in self-exile in London.

In April 2018, the Supreme Court barred Sharif from holding office for life in the Panama Papers corruption case.

At the time, Umar Ata Bandial, the chief justice who was a judge on the panel which delivered the verdict, ruled that disqualification handed down under the aforementioned provision is “permanent” — for life.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz

(PML-N) is hinting at his return since early August. The smooth return of Ishaq Dar, a Sharif family member and a proclaimed offender in a mega graft case until last week, led many to believe Sharif will follow suit.

His party is also considering an

amendment in Article 62 (1)(f) to ease the process.

ARTICLE 62 AMENDMENT BILL: A day earlier, a bill to amend Article 62 of the Constitution was tabled in the Senate. The bill moved by PPP Senator Palwasha Khan recommends deleting the words Sadiq and Ameen and replacing them with the words Rastgo and Wafa Shaar.

The bill states: “In the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, in Article 62, in clause (1), in sub-clause (f), for the expression ‘honest and ameen’, the expression ‘veracious and devoted’ shall be inserted.”

According to Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution, a person may be qualified or elected as a member of the parliament provided he has adequate knowledge of Islam and is essentially ‘sadiq and ameen’ (honest and righteous).

“In literal terms, Sadiq is a qualitative metaphor used for one who has never spoken a lie. Ameen refers to one who has never breached anyone’s trust. These two words are used in Arabic as laqab for Holy Prophet (PBUH) for his unprecedented truthfulness and honesty which no man can practice and reach the level.”

SC announCeS daily hearing of PTi’S Plea againST amendS To naB law

THESupreme Court (SC) on Tuesday announced it would hold former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s petition against amendments made to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Law on a daily basis.

A three-member Supreme Court (SC) bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Umar Ata Bandial, heard

Imran’s petition on Tuesday. During the hearing, the CJP asked Imran’s counsel Khawaja Haris how much time he required to complete his arguments in the case. “I need two days to do that,” he said. Haris told the CJP that due to changes introduced by the government several cases of corruption had been returned to the NAB. “This does not stop here as several ongoing inquiries have been halted as well,” he informed.

Imran’s lawyer said the reason for making these amendments was to shield stories of corruption involving leaders of

ECP rejects Sindh govt’s plea to postpone LG polls

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Tuesday rejected the Sindh government’s request to postpone the local body polls, directing provincial authorities to ensure law and order are maintained.

A day prior, the Sindh government had requested the ECP to once again postpone the local body polls, citing inadequate police resources to maintain the law and order situation in the province.

In its response, the ECP said that maintaining law and order during the election is the responsibility of the provincial government and the law enforcement agencies.

“Provincial government should ensure deployment of police personnel during elections in Karachi,” the election commission said.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja further added that the election commission should contact the federal interior and defence ministry to ensure the deployment of rangers and army personnel in sensitive constituencies of Karachi.

During the meeting held today undr the chair of CEC, it was learnt that the by-elections in nine constituencies of the National Assembly and three provincial constituencies will be held on October 16, 2022.

The second phase of the local body polls was originally scheduled to take place in July, but unprecedented rains and floods — that killed hundreds — hampered the commission’s plans to hold the election.

In the letter to the ECP, the Sindh government said that the province’s inspector-general provided a summary of police personnel deployed, citing a shortage of men for the election.

“The inspector-general of police has provided a summary of deployment along with shortfall details informing that for the said elections, the police force will have to be arranged from District and Interior Sindh along with auxiliaries to meet the shortfall,” the letter mentioned.

“However, due to recent disastrous floods [these human resources are] engaged in flood relief operations and the maintenance of law and order situation due to damaged infrastructure and highways,” it added.

In view of the shortage of manpower due to flood relief operations and enhanced patrolling in the affected portion of roads, the Sindh Police has expressed inability for the required assistance during the local boy polls in Karachi and Hyderabad divisions, the letter said.

Mentioning that the police has asked for a postponement of three months, the Sindh government urged the election commission to coordinate with relevant authorities.

PM granted permanent exemption from appearance in money laundering case

uz-Zaman heard the money laundering case on Tuesday.

political parties, presently in power at Center. He went on to say that on the last date of the case’s hearing, the federal government had said it would submit reply in the case.

CJP Bandial remarked that the court was still to receive the government’s reply, and the attorney general of Pakistan had not showed up today as well. Haris said even the NAB had not placed on record its version on these changes. “It would be interesting to see whether the anti-corruption watchdog also opposes these amendments,” he added.

The CJP said the court would only try to ascertain whether basic human rights and the constitution were violated.

Over a month ago, on September 1, 2022, admitting for hearing the amended petition filed by counsel for former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan against the changes introduced by the government to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) law, the Supreme Court (SC) had said it would start its hearing in the last week of September.

The court, on the occasion, said that

if the federal government’s lawyer wished he could raise objections over the petition.

Kh Haris, Imran’s lawyer, said that the amendments had made it impossible to prove the crime of having assets beyond known sources of income.

“Previously, anyone failing to defend himself in the case would face action, but not now,” he said, and added, “Following the amendments, action will only be taken if it is proved that the assets were made from the money earned through corruption.”

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Umar Ata Bandial remarked it was true that people did not normally disclose their all assets and income in their tax returns.

Later the government, in its initial reply submitted to the apex court, prayed for throwing out PTI chairman’s petition against the NAB amendments, saying it was inadmissible for the hearing.

Khar calls for climate change ‘survival plans’ for flood-hit population

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar on Tuesday underscored the need for comprehensive plans to equip people in the country to with skills and knowledge to survive floods disaster and cope with impacts of climate change in future.

An accountability court has granted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif a permanent exemption from appearing in the money laundering reference.

However, the court directed Sharif to appoint his representative for an appearance in the court.

On the other hand, the court sought a reply from NAB on Hamza Shehbaz’s petition for permanent exemption from court appearance.

Accountability Court Judge Qamar

The lawyer of PM Shehbaz and Hamza filed petitions seeking their permanent exemption from court appearances. The judge accepted the plea of the prime minister but sought a reply from Hamza on his plea.

However, the judge accepted the application of Hamza allowing him a one-day exemption from the personal appearance.

After that, the court summoned witnesses for the next hearing and adjourned the case till October 25.

Pm lauds eu’s assistance in wake of massive floods

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said that Pakistan greatly valued its relationships with the European Union that were based on shared values and common objectives of peace, prosperity and development. The prime minister appreciated the EU’s assistance in the wake of climate-induced massive floods in Pakistan. The prime minister was talking to European Commissioner for the Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic who called on him, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release. Expressing satisfaction at the high-level engagement between the two sides, the prime minister expressed hope that both sides would continue to work together to further enhance their bilateral trade and investment ties, so as to benefit from the GSP Plus Scheme, post 2023. He also shared the details of the devastation caused by the floods to crops, housing, livestock and critical infrastructure, as well as death of more than sixteen hundred people. The prime minister underlined that Pakistan while being a most negligible contributor to global carbon emissions, was amongst the most vulnerable countries to the impact of climate change.

In her virtual address from Islamabad to the event on an upscale UN Flash Appeal for Pakistan floods held in Geneva, she said it was the collective responsibility of Pakistan and the world to provide assistance to the people affected by the country’s massive flash floods.

Khar said as humans, it was a moral obligation upon all to come together to address the needs of people in distress.

She mentioned the ‘resilience and endurance’ of the people in the flood-hit areas and said that efforts needed to be converged on their rehabilitation.

The flash appeal was jointly launched by

the Government of Pakistan and the United Nations (UN) on the basis of an updated onground needs assessment of the flood situation.

The ministerial-level participation from the Government of Pakistan included Minister for Climate Change Senator Sherry Rehman, attending the event in person in Geneva, and Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Economic Affairs Sardar Ayaz

heC: apply for postgraduate Commonwealth scholarships by 18th

ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has announced October 18 as the last date to apply for the United Kingdom scholarships under Commonwealth Scholarships for Commission (CSC) for Master’s and PhD programmes. The scholarships are for “high-quality graduates” from across Pakistan, including the autonomous regions of Gilgit-Baltitstan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, “who have the potential to undertake worldclass research of a developmental nature and to become influential leaders, teachers, or researchers in their home countries”, according to the organising body. According to the commission, to apply for the scholarship, a candidate must meet HEC and CSC eligibility criteria. Pakistan nationality is a must and dual nationals are barred from applying. For a PhD scholarship, the applicant must hold a first-class degree in relevant post-graduate qualification in the relevant field of study by the closing date of the application portal. The candidate must not have a second or third division in the terminal or last degree. Candidates awaiting results are also ineligible to apply.

Sadiq, and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar who participated virtually from Islamabad.

UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths and Director General World Health Organization Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus represented the UN, along with Resident Coordinator in Pakistan Julien Harneis.

The meeting was attended by UN member states as well as various UN agencies and humanitarian organizations working in the area of disaster relief.

The Foreign Office earlier in a statement said the Floods Response Plan had been prepared in close coordination between the government of Pakistan and the United Nations and focuses on providing necessary assistance to the vulnerable people affected by the unprecedented floods. It complements the government’s overall response to the recent climate-induced floods in Pakistan.

SeZs under CPeC to further augment Pakistan’s industrial growth: President

ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi on Tuesday said that Special Economic Zones (SEZs) being developed across the country under the second phase of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would further augment Pakistan’s industrial growth and uplift transport, infrastructure, and energy sectors. The president, addressing the 3rd Roundtable Conference on “Pakistan Paradise for Investment & CPEC-2030: Economic Revolution from Kashgar to Gwadar and Beyond”, held at Aiwan-e-Sadr, said that five SEZs, being developed under the CPEC, would possess state-of-the-art infrastructure. He said the Government of Pakistan would provide all the necessary facilitation in setting up the industry in the SEZs. He urged the local and foreign investors to fully benefit from the improved Ease of Doing Business in the country and utilize the opportunities being offered by the country’s business and investment-friendly policies. Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong and Editor-in-Chief of the Pakistan Observer Faisal Zahid Malik also addressed the conference which was attended by the members of the diplomatic community, media and businessmen. app

LaHoRe: Celebrations of 399th annual Urs of Sufi Saint Hazrat Mian Mir begin at his shrine. Photo by Zubair Mehfooz

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

PaKiSTan CallS ouT india for ‘BruTal’ oPPreSSion of KaShmir

Staff RepoRt

PAKISTANhas termed India’s “brutal” oppression of the people of occupied Kashmir the “worst example” of state-sponsored terrorism which it noted the global counterterrorism measures have failed to address. “Terrorism must be defeated comprehensively, everywhere,” Ambassador Munir Akram, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN, said in the debate of the Sixth Committee of the General Assembly on the secretary general’s report on measures to eliminate international terrorism.

Pakistan strongly condemns terrorism,

including state terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations regardless of the motivation, while highlighting Islamabad’s role in the fight against the scourge, he said.

“The global counter-terrorism policies have failed to address state terrorism,” the envoy noted, adding: “The worst example of state terrorism is the brutal oppression of the people of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir to deny their recognized right to self-determination.”

Ambassador Akram also underscored the need to address not only the symptoms but also the underlying causes of terrorism.

“These include prolonged unresolved conflicts, foreign occupation and denial of the right to self-determination such as in Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine,” he said.

Security forces kill four terrorists in Tank clash: iSPr

RAwALPINDI Staff RepoRt

The security forces on Tuesday killed four terrorists during intense exchange of fire carried out in general area of Tank, South Waziristan District. The clash occurred as security troops observed and engaged terrorists’ movement in general area of Tank, an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) news release said. The security troops also recovered weapons and ammunition from the killed terrorists. The killed terrorists remained actively involved in target killing, kidnapping and extortion in the area, it said.

dar, Qatar ambassador discuss economic ties

ISLAMABAD app

Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar and Saoud bin Abdulrahman, ambassador of Qatar, on Tuesday discussed measures to further deepen the economic ties between Islamabad and Doha. The discussion revolved around strengthening the relations, the Finance Division tweeted. “H.E. Mr. Sheikh Sauod bin Abdulrahman bin Faisal Al-Thani, Ambassador of the State of Qatar called on the Finance Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and discussed measures for further deepening the bilateral economic relations between Pakistan and Qatar,” the ministry tweeted.

KP seeks $3.4m from world Bank to repair flood-hit water channels

PeSHAwAR

aziz BuneRi

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government requested World Bank to provide $3.4 million to repair flood-hit agricultural irrigation water channels in the province. According to the sources, World Bank is already supporting a project for rehabilitation of water channels and other waterrelated initiatives in KP through the provincial Agriculture department. The provincial government has requested for the emergency disbursement of funds under the same project to repair agricultural water channels damaged by the recent floods. According to the sources, the director of the agriculture Water Management Unit has designed a PC-1, requesting $34 million for this purpose. The World Bank has been urged to transfer the fund as soon as possible so that the province start repair and reconstruction of irrigation channels damaged by floods.

India’s state terrorism has intensified since August 5, 2019 when it took unilateral and illegal measures to impose what it calls a “Final Solution” to Jammu and Kashmir dispute, the envoy said, referring to a Nazi plan for the genocide of Jews during World War II. Today, he said, Pakistan is a victim of cross-border attacks by terrorists, including Security Council-listed militant groups, that are financed and organised by “hostile agencies” to disrupt the development of western and southern Pakistan.

“The international counter-terrorism efforts must address terrorism promoted by right-wing extremist groups and extremist ideologies as agreed in the Global CounterTerrorism Strategy last year,” Ambassador

Akram said.

The supremacist Hindutva-inspired and Islamophobic Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), he said, was one of the world’s oldest and largest fascist movements responsible for killing thousands of Muslims in pogroms and targeted killings across India. “The RSS should once again be designated as a terrorist organization as it was once included by the Security Council,” he said.

Akram observed that since the 9/11 attacks in the United States, and despite protestations to the contrary, Islam has been associated with acts of terrorism, an increase was noted in the use of derisive terms like “jihadis”, “Islamists”, and “radical Islam”, leading to the increase in institutionalised

Parliament will complete tenure, PDM to decide on elections: Nawaz aide

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

The incumbent Parliament will complete its five-year time and a decision regarding the conduct of the next general elections will be taken in consultation with the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) parties, said Muhammad Zubair, spokesperson for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif.

Talking to a TV station, Zubair said the government has a

constitutional mandate after the passage of the no-confidence vote against the former prime minister Imran Khan.

“Khan’s agenda is to set the house on fire, while the coalition government has taken over the power to extinguish the flames and protect these institutions, adding, Imran Khan is attacking the state institutions because of his cases and the PTI foreign funding case,” he claimed. Replying to a question, he said Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chair is pursuing a vague agenda by

announcing to hold another long march as their politics would face another defeat and they will not be able to hold any long march.

His politics of chanting hollow slogans has been buried, he said, adding that Khan did nothing for the welfare of the common man and only mislead the public with his lies-based narratives.

To another query, he made it clear that PML-N s popularity was moving up day by day, and claimed that the PML-N was still a dominant party in the country.

WHO concerned about rising Cholera cases in flood-hit cities

GeNeVA ReuteRS

Cholera cases have surged this year, especially in places of poverty and conflict, with outbreaks reported in 26 countries and fatality rates rising sharply, a World Health Organisation (WHO) official said.

In a typical year, fewer than 20 countries report outbreaks of the disease which is spread by the ingestion of contaminated food or water and can cause acute diarrhoea.

“After years of declining numbers, we are seeing a very worrying upsurge of cholera outbreaks around the globe over the past year,” Philippe Barboza, WHO

Team Lead for Cholera, told a press briefing in Geneva. The average fatality rate so far this year has almost tripled compared with the five-year average and is currently around 3 percent in Africa, he added.

While most of those affected will have mild or no symptoms, cholera can kill within hours if untreated.

A cholera outbreak in Syria has already killed at least 33 people, posing a danger across the frontlines of the country’s 11-year-long war and stirring fears in crowded camps for the displaced.

Barboza also expressed concern about outbreaks in the Horn of Africa and parts of Asia, including Pakistan, where some regions are flooded.

He said only a few million doses of vaccines were available for use before the end of this year, citing a shortage of manufacturers among the problems.

WHO maintains an emergency stockpile of cholera vaccines.

“So it’s very clear that we do not have enough vaccine to respond to both acute outbreaks and even less to be able to implement preventive vaccination campaigns that could be a way to reduce the risk for many countries,” he said.

There was no overall estimate of the number of cholera cases across the world because of differences in countries’ surveillance systems, he said.

Murad inaugurates first Int’l moot on higher education for deaf

programs available for deaf scholars.

discrimination and violence against Muslims and the rise of Islamophobic, right-wing, extremist and fascist movements in several countries. “These extremists are responsible for the vast majority of terrorist and violent acts in Western countries.”

Ambassador Akram also indicated that Pakistan was in favour of a consensual definition of terrorism, which established a clear distinction between terrorism and the legitimate struggle for self-determination.

At the same time, he called for the need of reforming the UN’s counter-terrorism architecture to make it more transparent and equitable, including by making appropriate changes in the Security Council’s sanctions regimes and by further strengthening the office and role of the ombudsperson.

Protections of life, honour of common man top priority: igP

LAHORe/KASUR Staff RepoRt

Punjab Inspector General of Police Faisal Shahkar on Tuesday reiterated that protection of life, property of citizens and elimination of crime from society is the first priority, saying no shortcoming or lethargy will be tolerated in this regard. “The media and police would have to work side by side to eliminate crime as media role is of great significance for awareness of people and making public opinion.” Punjab IG Police expressed the views while presiding over a meeting of Sheikhupura region at Chhanga Manga Rest House and talking to media representatives during his visit to Kasur here on Tuesday. He directed to intensify crackdown for elimination of organized crime in Sheikhupura region. The IGP said that the police officers should personally go to the field and evaluate performance of the force and the crime control measures. He directed that strict legal action should be taken under zero tolerance in cases of violence, abduction and rape of children and women and operations should be conducted on a daily basis to bring the accused involved in the heinous crime to justice. Faisala Shahkar said that recruitment process is being accelerated to meet the shortage of personnel in the region. The IG Police said that various steps are being taken to reduce the crime rate, including improving the investigation and making patrolling system more efficient, while priority steps are being taken to improve welfare and efficiency of police personnel. He said that efforts are being made to arrest the accused in Patoki rape case. Earlier, on arrival Faisal Shahkar was extended salutations by armed police contingent in Chunian. RPO Dr Inam Waheed, Kasur DPO Sohaib Ashraf and other officers welcomed the IG Police. The IGP attended the martyrs’ memorial, laid flowers and recited Fatiha for higher ranks of martyrs. He also inaugurated the new building of Police Station City and Saddr Chunian. He met the families of police martyrs at Changa Manga Rest House.

S arabia’s KSrelief distributes over 1,300 food packages in flood-hit Pakistan

Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah inaugurated the First International Conference on Higher Education for the Deaf in Pakistan today at the Ida Rieu Schools for the Blind & Deaf here.

The conference was organized by the Ida Rieu Welfare Association in collaboration with the NED University of Engineering & Technology. Guest speakers from Pakistan and abroad participated in person and online in this conference to express their thoughts on the way forward for facilitating higher education for people with deafness.

Nadira Panjwani, President of Ida Rieu Welfare Association said in her address that there are no reliable statistics about the incidence of deafness in Pakistan, but it is generally believed that there are over one million school going children suffering from some form of hearing impairment. Presently options for their higher education are limited. The HEC mandated fouryear graduate programs do not recognize the existing two-year reduced syllabus for the deaf.

Consequently, they are issued an associate degree instead of a full degree. There are no modified post-graduation

The conference declaration presents its recommendations to address this problem and stresses the importance of inclusion of people with deafness as this is not only their right as endorsed by the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights but also stressed by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The keynote address was delivered by Professor Lampros Stergioulas, UNESCO Chair for AI, The Hague University of Applied Sciences.

Inaugural session of the Conference was attended by government functionaries, diplomats, dignitaries, civil society members and students with hearing and visual challenges.

2022 is the Centennial year of the Ida Rieu Schools & Colleges for the Blind & Deaf making it the premium organization in Pakistan in the field of Special Education. This conference was planned by the school as an important part of its centennial initiatives towards empowerment of people with deafness.

Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah lauded the valuable services of the association and assured support of his government for all initiatives for empowerment of special children. Federal Minister for poverty alleviation Shazia Marri also spoke on the occasion.

ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) continued its relief activities and distributed more than 1,300 food packages in flood-hit areas of Pakistan. Deadly floods, triggered by unusually high monsoon rains, have killed at least 1,696 people, including 630 children and 340 women, and affected more than 33 million in Pakistan since August. The deluges have inundated a third of the country, causing damages up to $30 billion.

KARACHI Staff RepoRt

CPEC EnErgy ProjECts gEnEratEd 46,000 job oPPortunitiEs

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

sOME46,500 Pakistanis have been employed so far in the energy projects (completed and underconstruction) under the umbrella of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Considering the various economic fissures prevailing in Pakistan (i.e, inequitable underdevelopment, low energy access, low human capital, and accompanying low productivity), the CPEC power plants have performed commendably in raising overall direct local employment (46,500) throughout Pakistan, said a report titled “Overview of Pakistan’s Power Sector and its Future Outlook” recently published by China Three Gorges International.

The report said the overall socioeconomic demographic of around 46 thousand families have been raised, while thus skilled work force enjoys on-site training by both local and international professionals that professional work environment far surpasses the sort they would receive while employed with other local projects.

It said all CPEC power plants have been installed under GOP Policy 2002, 2015, and

AEDB Policy 2006 and 2019 as Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and are purely Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). All equity and private debt have been arranged by respective project companies. These plants’ total investment (Equity plus private debt) have been arranged in US dollars and directly transferred by Chinese banks (China EXIM Bank, China Development Bank, etc.) to Pakistan.

The Coal based CPEC projects are based on super-critical coal technology. The prevailing engineering graduate skill-set was insufficient to meet the requirements for technical personnel. As a result, Chinese management began focusing on the employment of graduates from specific universities in Pakistan.

The first batches were completely hired from the NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, and the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) Islamabad. Six hundred young and dynamic engineers were selected and sent to China for a 6-month technical and management training. They returned to the project site after finishing training sessions to take charge of important operation work. The engineering employees, soon after recruitment,

Ensure availability of eatables at fixed rates, Cs tells officers

LAHORE Staff RepoRt

Punjab Chief Secretary Abdullah Khan Sumbal has directed all deputy commissioners to intensify the crackdown on profiteers and hoarders to ensure availability of food items at fixed rates to the common man. The CS was presiding over a high-level meeting held to review prices and availability of eatables, especially vegetables, flour, ghee, and pulses. Abdullah Sumbal reiterated that the Punjab government has been striving to provide relief to the public from inflation and administrative officers must play their role to ensure stability in the prices of essential commodities. He mentioned that the home department has been assigned the responsibility to improve the system of price magistracy. The chief secretary said that sale of commodities at higher than fixed rates would not be tolerated in any case and the performance regarding price control measures would be reviewed regularly. He asked the deputy commissioners to pay visits to fruits and vegetable markets in the districts and keep a check on the prices as well as the supply and demand of the commodities. Secretary Industries Dr Hamid Javed Qazi briefed the participants of the meeting, saying that there are ample stocks of wheat and sugar in the province, adding that the prices of ghee are being monitored on a daily basis. The mee ting was told that concrete steps are being taken to prevent the smuggling of flour and wheat and 19000 tons of wheat was seized in DG Khan during the last one month. The administrative secretaries of agriculture and food departments and officers concerned attended the meeting while all divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners participated through video link.

were sent to China for 6 months for technical training to complete a module program specifically designed for the operational phase of these power plants. Currently, foreign workers are mostly employed in the maintenance department and havean exit window from the Pakistani work force mar-

ket of three years, the report added.

It said as per the vision and direction of the company’s leadership, the share of Pakistani work force will be 80 percent from the current 68 percent within the next five years.

Moreover, plants will be completely (100 percent) operated by the Pakistani workforce

in next decade. It is evident from the survey that the foreign workers employed in this phase will return-back to their country within 5-10 years due to the length of their contracts as well as continuous human resource development as practice on the site itself. Keeping this in mind, an advantageous approach adopted for hiring the workforce in this phase consisted of a policy requiring that all domestic workers are freshly-qualified engineers from numerous engineering universities within Pakistan.

In addition, new advanced technical training institutes are planned to open within the premises to provide technical training free of cost for the domestic workers e.g. collaboration of China Three Gorges South Asia Investment Ltd (CSAIL) with local government for the establishment of Technical Training School for locals.

To cater to the technical manpower requirements of the Karot Hydropower porject, the company selected students from the local area and awarded them for undertaking electrical engineering degrees under a well thought international scholarship program. The students, who have completed their degrees, have been provided jobs at Karot HPP, the report added.

Another Turkish planeload of medical aid for flood victims arrives

KARACHI anadolu agency

Another Turkish plane carrying essential medicines and vaccines for flood victims landed in Karachi late on Monday.

Turkish Consulate General Karachi officials handed over the supplies to local authorities at Jinnah airport.

It includes malaria pills, tetanus vaccines, and other medical supplies as the flood victims are grappling with an outbreak of several waterborne, eye, and skin diseases.

With the latest arrival, a total of 15 aircraft loaded with relief items have landed in Karachi over the past month.

Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) has so far sent 13 “goodness trains” loaded with over 7,000 tons of relief goods, including tents, food items, medicines, kitchen items, vaccines, and other supplies to the flood-hit regions in Pakistan.

The AFAD has also set up two temporary housing cities in the Jamshoro and Dadu districts of Sindh, one of the regions hit hard by recent floods.

The two facilities are accommodating over 1,000 people displaced by floods.The AFAD also plans to set up a third tent city in the Thatta district of Sindh. Moreover, over 30,000 tents have already been distributed by the AFAD in 19 different regions, providing temporary housing to around 200,000 displaced people.

The Turkish Red Crescent is already on the ground in Balochistan, another badly hit province, providing clean water and food to thousands of floodaffected people.

MoIP asks EDB to devise a sustainable solar policy

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Federal Minister of Industries and Production (MoIP) Makhdoom Syed Murtaza Mahmood Tuesday said that the formulation of comprehensive solar policy was the need of the hour in the wake of energy crisis.

He asked the Engineering Development Board (EDB) to form a sustained policy within three months, said a press release issued here.He ensured the traders to sort out their issues on priority bases. Hurdles will be removed for local companies and urged the private sector to be competitive in the international market.

The minister expressed these views while addressing a workshop on “Solar panel and allied equipment manufacturing policy,” here on Tuesday at a local hotel.

The workshop was arranged by the EDB under the supervision of the ministry of Industries and Production (MoIP) in order to consult the shareholders, on the policy, who had attended the event from all over the country. The minister informed that the prime minister had already accorded an approval of a plan to generate 10,000 MW to overcome the crises of energy through solar.

He said that at the national level there has been an assessment that Pakistan’s solar energy demand (off grid and on-grid) was around 4GW during 2022 which was likely to increase to around 6-7 GW in next two years.

“With this demand, there was an urgent need to look for opportunities for promoting and incentivizing local manufacturing of solar panels and allied equipment,” he added.

The minister noted that Pakistan had reserves of basic raw materials for producing solar wafers and could start the process of local production with assembly in the first phase, which could be done by rationalizing duties and taxes on solar panels imports.

Thereafter, he said that a 5-year plan then needed to be put into place to further rationalize tax and tariff regime for providing a level playing field to the local manufacturers.

The minister assured that the gradual approach would attract foreign and domestic investors to set up the solar panel assembly facilities, Solar cell manufacturing and Conversion plants for producing ingots from local poly silicon.

“The same strategy needed to be applied for other indigenous production of allied products like solar inverters and batteries/storage systems,” he added.

of

The Azakhel botanical garden, Nowshera has started losing its significance and biodiversity owing to sheer negligence and mismanagement on the part of relevant organisations. Established on about 83 acres land at village Azakhel on main GT Road in Nowshera district, Azakhel botan-

ical garden, which was setup with a vision of promoting conservation, education, sustainable utilization and capacity building of students in the field of plant biodiversity to serve innocent creatures and humanity, is deteriorating due to poor maintenance and needs immediate attention of the government to prevent it from being deserted.

The garden has almost turned into

The drenching monsoon along with devastating floods inundated a third of Pakistan, aside from killing nearly 1,700 people and injuring tens of thousands since mid-June.

Torrential rains — 10 times heavier than usual — have also damaged nearly 45 percent of the cropland, posing a serious threat to the nation’s food security.

The government has estimated a staggering loss of $28 billion inflicted by the catastrophe on the already tottering economy, mainly in terms of infrastructure and agriculture.

Exports increase helps decreased trade deficit by 21.42pc in Q1

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

The country trade deficit has declined 21.42 percent following a considerable decline in imports and upward trend in exports during the first quarter (Q1) of the current fiscal year as compared to the corresponding period of last year. The exports during July-September (2022-23) were recorded at $7.125 billion against the exports of $6.996 billion in JulySeptember (2021-22), showing a growth of 1.84 percent, according to data released b Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) here Tuesday. On the other hand, the imports into the country decreased by 12.72 percent during the period under review by going down from $18.715 billion last year to $16.334 during the current year. Based on the figures, the trade deficit was recorded at $9.209 billion this year against the deficit of $11.719 billion last year, showing negative growth of 21.42 percent, according to the data. Meanwhile, on year-on-year basis, the exports from the country witnessed a slight decline of 0.91 percent and were recorded at $2.387 billion in September 2022 against the exports of $2.409 billion in September 2021. The imports also decreased to $5.269 billion in September 2022 from $6.563 billion in September 2021, showing negative growth of 19.72 percent. On month-on-month basis, the exports during September 2022 declined by 3.83 percent when compare to the exports of $2.482 billion in August 2022.The imports into the country also declined by 13.21 percent in September 2022 when compared to the imports of $6.071 billion in August 2022, according to the data. On the other hand, the services’ exports went up by 8.25 percent during the first two months (July-August) of the current fiscal year as compared to the same period of last year.

poor management

lake where the standing rains and floods water marred its beauty. “I visited Azakhel botanical garden on every weekend to spend some time in its relaxed environment amid birds chanting on trees and blossom of flowers,” said Riaz Khan, a retired school teacher of Pabbi Tehsil Nowshera while talking to APP.

He said that it was heartbreaking to see the present deterioated condition of

Azakhel botanical garden with no flowers, poor footpaths and urged KP government to restore it in original form.

Official source told APP on Tuesday that University of Peshawar had initiated work on this mega project in April 2004 and later the Higher Education Commission (HEC) provided about Rs 37.861 million for development of Azakhel botanical garden in October 2004.

PESHAWAR Staff RepoRt

corporate corner

UBL and NayaPay partner for fast international remittances to Pakistan

CALL for reMovAL of hUrDLeS to PAk-AfghAN MUtUAL trADe

peSHaWar Staff RepoRt

PRESIDENTSarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Muhammad Ishaq Tuesday held a meeting with Afghan Commercial Attaché in Peshawar Waheedullah Himat and highlighted impediments that were hindering mutual Pak-Afghan bilateral trade and called for bilateral agreement to enhance trade volume between two neighbouring countries.

Transport Attaché, Afghan Consulate Peshawar Ismail Shinwari and Coordinator Dr Hamid were present in the meeting.

The meeting stressed the need of signing a mutual trade agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan and proactive measures for removal of hurdles in the way of mutual trade between two neighbouring countries.

It was also discussed issues pertaining to transport at the border region.

Afghan diplomats apprised the SCCI president about illegal collection of heavy fines and illegal taxes from Torkham border to Punjab, establishment of unregistered and unnecessary check points and harassment of Afghan transporters by Pakistani authorities concerned.

Lucky Cement awarded MAP’s corporate excellence award

Karachi: Lucky Cement Limited (PSX: LUCK) won the Management Association of Pakistan’s Corporate Excellence Award in the Cement Sector category. Atif Kaludi, Chief Financial Officer of Lucky Cement Limited received the award at the 37th MAP Annual Corporate Excellence Award Ceremony held at a local hotel yesterday.

The Corporate Excellence Awards was instituted by MAP in 1982 with the sole aim to recognize and honor companies showing outstanding performance and demonstrating progress and enlightened management practices.

Mr. Muhammad Ali Tabba, CEO of Lucky Cement Limited, remarked, “By winning the award in the Cement Sector category indicates that we are a market leader and it brings much joy to all at Lucky Cement Limited. We accept this award with great pride and are extremely grateful to all our employees and stakeholders for helping us achieve repeated success over the years.”

He further added, “Our team is very competent and they strive hard to help the company scale new heights. By keeping our stakeholders’ needs as our top priority, we endeavor to follow prudent business practices while also keeping the larger objective of continuing our economic growth efforts in Pakistan.”

Lucky Cement Limited received the award based on having the best corporate practices and governance in the cement sector. The primary criteria for this award emanate from the best Corporate and Management practices reflected by Leadership, Corporate Governance, Customer and Market Focus, HR, Strategic Planning and Communication, Social Responsibility, Risk Management, IT Infrastructure, Service Delivery, and Security. pR

Donation of Suzuki Bolan van to Durbeen

The meeting was also attended by the SCCI’s Senior Vice President Shahid Hussain, Vice President Ejaz Khan Afridi, Director Pak-Afghan Joint Chambers of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI), Ziaul Haq Sarhadi, Chairman Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry Standing Committee on Land Route Imtiaz Ali, traders, exporters and importers.

On the occasion, a detailed discussion was held regarding the bilateral trade agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Muhammad Ishaq fully agreed with the recommendations of the participants, saying the improvement in bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan is essential for stabilizing economy of the both countries

King Charles III eager to visit Pakistan soon: Ambassador at Large Zeeshaan Shah

London Staff RepoRt

King Charles-III has expressed his eagerness to visit Pakistan at an earliest possible date. The King expressed his desire to visit Pakistan at a meeting with honorary Ambassador at Large on Investment Mr Zeeshaan Shah here at the first ever public reception hosted by the King in honour of the British South Asian Community.

The exclusive reception was hosted at the Palace of Holyrood House in Edinburgh and was attended by a handful of the most prominent British Asians from across the United Kingdom.

Notable attendees included Pakistan High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Moazzam Ahmed Khan, Lord Zameer Chauhdary, Aneel Mussarat and Lord Jitesh Gadhia amongst others.

Speaking with the King, Ambassador Shah spoke of his role and current initiatives being

under taken to promote trade and investment between Pakistan and the United Kingdom. He further thanked the King for his on going support to Pakistan’s most under privileged through his charity the British Asian Trust in particular the emergency relief support HRH’s trust has been providing for flood affectees.

The SCCI chief noted the mutual trade volume between Pakistan and Afghanistan has dropped exponentially, which isn’t beneficial for the economy of the both countries.

Therefore, he called for taking initiatives at governments’ level, framing of joint roadmap and strategy to remove all those hurdles, hampering mutual trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Shahid Hussain while speaking on the occasion stressed the dire need of hour to promote mutual trade with Afghanistan and regional countries to bring economic prosperity and development in the country.

Therefore, he asked the government to provide facilities and special incentives to traders in order to enhance bilateral trade with Afghanistan and the rest of the Central Asian Republic.

He emphasized that all issues should be resolved under a joint strategy.

Earlier, the meeting decided to organize a joint meeting of Pakistan and Afghanistan traders under the aegis of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

CJP dubs law demanding MPs to be honest ‘draconian’

continued from page 01

It further states that Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution imposes Islamic ethical conditions for eligibility of a candidate for election to the parliament but these are made applicable to both Muslim as well as non-Muslim candidates for parliamentary membership. In this regard, it added, the current code of conduct of the members of United Kingdom can be a good example as the universality of standards of honorable conduct in public life in the contemporary democratic world, irrespective of faith or culture, makes it plausible for all candidates for the parliament including non-Muslim candidates to be eligible. Ironically, the removal of articles 62 and 63 from the Constitution during the drafting of 18th Amendment was opposed by none other than the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) itself.

PTI chief should not be allowed to ‘attack’ federal capital: Maryam

continued from page 01

The PML-N leader said when the Chief Election Commissioner caught Imran Khan’s theft, he became evil and corrupt. She said the officer who asked Imran Khan about the diamond necklaces as a bribe for his wife, turned against him.

Announced filing an application against the case in which her passport was captured but is now provided on the orders of the court.

Maryam raised the question that why her passport was seized when no case was registered with the police and no reference was filed in NAB.

PASSPORT RECEIVED FROM LHC: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice

President Maryam Nawaz on Tuesday received her passport from the Lahore High Court (LHC).

Accompanied by her counsel Amjad Pervaiz Advocate and PML-N leader Pervaiz Rasheed, she reached the high court and received her passport from the deputy registrar judicial after signing the necessary documents for the purpose.

A day earlier, a three-member LHC bench had ordered the court deputy registrar judicial to return the passport of Maryam Nawaz, while allowing a civil miscellaneous application, filed by her for the purpose.

Maryam Nawaz had surrendered her passport to the LHC deputy registrar judicial for securing bail in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case, in 2019.

MPCL green on wheels climate change initiative

Mari Petroleum Company Ltd (MPCL) organized an event to launch its Flagship Green on Wheels Initiative to support CDA in developing Islamabad’s largest Miyawaki Forest. The event held on 04 October 2022 at H-12, Srinagar Highway in Islamabad. The event was attended by senior management of CDA, District Administration and MPCL. The function was also attended by media personnel. Brigadier Asad Raza (Retired) comprehensively briefed the audience about company’s broader CSR commitments and Sustainability goals. The social impact of various CSR initiatives was also apprised wherein MPCL has shown the resolve and commitment towards sustainable development in all of its areas of operation. The determination exhibited by MPCL during its flood relief mission resulted in early restoration of its all business operational sites, while providing immediate humanitarian assistance to communities affected by floods. Mr. Irfan Azeem, DG Environment CDA explained the concept of “Miyawaki” as one of the most effective tree planting methods for creating forest on degraded land in an earlier timeframe. It is effective because it is based on natural reforestation principles, i.e. using trees native to the area and replicating natural forest regeneration processes. It has some significant benefits over more traditional forestry methods when used in smaller afforestation projects.

Accused jailed for 14 years over attempted-rape of minor

iSLamaBad Staff RepoRt

A local court of Islamabad on Tuesday awarded a 14year imprisonment sentence to an accused in a case pertaining attempted-rape of an eight year-old minor girl. Additional District and Sessions Court Hamayun Dilawar announced the verdict after the trial proceedings went on for five months. The court awarded the sentence to the accused namely Sohail Akhter despite the latter managed a settlement with the plaintiff’s family. The Tarnol Police Station Islamabad had registered a first information report (FIR) and arrested security guard Sohail Akhter for the alleged crime. According to the FIR, the accused, who was a security guard, managed to deceive the minor girl as she was asked to bring water from her home and then attempted to rape her in his cabin.

Pakistan’s Ahmad Safeer breaks Guinness World Record of most punches in one minute

ISLAMABAD:

Railways plans buying 25 diesel-electric locomotives

iSLamaBad Staff RepoRt

Pakistan Railways has planned replacement of old and knackered locomotives with new 25 diesel-electric locomotives at a cost of Rs14 billion.

The diesel electric locomotives will be used for various shunting points across the country.

The project for the procurement and manufacturing of 25 shunting locomotives would be implemented in three years at an estimated cost of Rs14 billion, sources in the Ministry of

Railways told APP.

Currently, they said that only 51 locomotives were being operated for this service against 98 shunting points at various railway stations across the country. Additionally, most of the old locomotives would be discarded due to high maintenance costs.

They said the project was aimed at procuring and manufacturing 25 shunting diesel-electric locomotives of 2000-2200 horsepower HP to replace the overage and uneconomical locomotives.

The sources informed these old lo-

comotives consumed excessive fuel and in most cases, high horsepower locomotives were under-utilized during shunting operations.

They said with the addition of the new locomotives would enhance the capacity of Pakistan Railways by removing the bottlenecks during the shunting of heavy load freight trains and the placement of freight loads at departure yards in Karachi, Lahore and other places.

The sources said the role of specially designed shunting locomotives was considered the backbone of train

formation and train rake replacement at the platform as well as the removal of train rakes from the platform to the washing line and sick lines.

They said the locomotives were not directly involved in revenue generation but act as the supporting facilities for the placement, composition and decomposition of rolling stock.

It was pertinent to mention here that the federal government has allocated Rs 2300 million in the current Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) to repair about 100 diesel-electric locomotives.

Karachi:

Pak Suzuki has donated a Suzuki Bolan van to Durbeen NGO in order to cater to the transportation of students & teachers of Government Elementary College of Education, Hussainabad. Mr. Masafumi Harano, MD & CEO Pak Suzuki presented a Symbolic Key & Documents to Ms. Salma A.Alam, CEO Durbeen; the ceremony was held on Friday 23rd September, 2022 at Government Elementary College of Education, Hussainabad.

The winds of change in courts

THE courts have provided relief to leaders of the PML(n), PTI and PML(Q) in the last few days amidst a lot of speculation and nail-biting. The biggest beneficiary was Maryam nawaz as the sentence awarded to her in the Avenfield Apartments reference was set aside giving her a clean chit to hold public office. After another judgment by the LHC, her passport has been restored, enabling her to travel abroad. The contempt of court case against Imran Khan was a serious issue and an adverse judgment could have disqualified him from politics for a number of years. Mr Khan had to do a lot of to-ing and fro-ing to get a reprieve. The IHC maintained this was a contempt of court case but it was being dismissed due to Mr Khan’s conduct. PML(Q) leader Moonis Elahi, facing a money laundering case, was also let go by the LHC, which quashed the FIR against him on legal grounds.

During the last years of nawaz Sharif’s rule, the establishment was bent upon disqualifying the PMLn and bringing in the PTI, using the courts for the purpose, while persecuting dissenting judges who refused to toe the line. After the problems created by Mr Khan’s incompetence combined with egotism, the establishment gradually became clueless. This provided the courts an opportunity to regain their turf as well as credibility.

The high courts, particularly the IHC, have been more receptive to problems faced by citizens due to the high handedness of the government machinery and the agencies. The IHC has got evacuated public land illegally occupied by powerful quarters and worked had to recover those forcibly made to disappear, with mixed results. It has also granted protective bail to anchorpersons under a cloud. It has treated political parties evenhandedly.

Former prime minister nawaz Sharif was disqualified by a five-judge Supreme Court bench on 28 July 2017 for life under Article 62(1f) of the Constitution. Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mr Justice Umar Ata Bandial, on Tuesday remarked that the Article was a “draconian law”. It remains to be seen if Supreme Court has the will to rectify the blunder it committed five years back. In case the court strikes the Article down for being against the spirit of the Constitution or calls on Parliament to do so, it would strengthen democracy.

Playing with fire

With or without you (Netanyahu)

the inclusion of an Arab party. That, however, appears unlikely. Having denounced the current “Change government” for including a conservative Arab party in its coalition (despite having courted them himself), it’s unlikely that netanyahu would include them now. The same holds true for the anti-netanyahu coalition, with one of the major parties in that camp having expressed deep reservations about serving in another coalition government that was dependent on Arab votes.

“Change government” would feel the need to protect its right flank by demonstrating both toughness visa-vis Palestinians and support for the settlement enterprise. At the same time, precisely because it was an anti-netanyahu coalition that included parties from the centre and right and even a conservative Arab party, the “Change government” would be heralded by liberals in the USA who would give it licence to pursue whatever policies it needed to remain in power. This is exactly what happened.

In less than one month, Israel will hold its fifth national elections in four years. The Israeli press is filled with endless commentary, reports of polls showing who’s up and who’s down, early finger-pointing assessing blame, and, through it all, a pervasive sense of gloom acknowledging that whatever the vote tally, the future will be no brighter or more certain than the present.

What’s become crystal clear is that this election, like those that preceded it, is mainly about one big concern: Will Benjamin netanyahu return as the head of government? There are other issues, to be sure, like whether the hardline ultra-religious parties will hold sway over a range of policies that give their sect privileges in the implementation of laws that impact their followers and the rights of Jews who are not ultra-Orthodox, or whether netanyahu will be held accountable in the criminal proceedings against him that have been dragging on in court awaiting the outcome of the election. But for a majority of Israeli voters and, it appears, for US policymakers, the central issue being decided on 1 november 2022, is: “Will the future of Israel be one with or without netanyahu?”

As a result, even if the netanyahu coalition receives 59 seats and the opposition wins just 56 seats and is in a position to win control of government with even the passive support of an Arab party, it’s likely that such a government will be relentlessly hounded by netanyahu as a “minority” (meaning that it was made up of a minority of Jews) government— in the same way that he and Ariel Sharon hounded the government of Yitzhak Rabin in the 1990s.

In the lead-up to the election there was considerable jockeying— splitting and combining— that took place amongst the parties on both the left and right. Once seen as a rising star on the right, Ayelet Shaked formed a new party and immediately plummeted into oblivion.

The “Change government” followed the very same policies as the one that preceded it. In some cases, they were worse. Settlements grew and expanded; land confiscations continued, as did the release of “state lands” for the exclusive use of settlers; repression intensified, including the use of deadly force and mass arrests; provocations by settlers in Jerusalem and the West Bank were largely met with a blind eye; and policies designed to weaken the Palestinian Authority continued to be standard operating procedure.

If anything changed, it was the silence of the USA in response to these “Change government” behaviours. It appears that the guiding principle of US policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian arena has been pathetically reduced to doing nothing that will damage the chances of the antinetanyahu forces staying in power and now winning in november— with Palestinians paying a steep price in life and liberty.

What’s most troubling is that if netanyahu had been the head of government, the US might have been inclined to publicly criticize his actions. But the “Change” crowd received nary a slap on the wrist, except for an occasional expression of US “concern.”

A

public spat between members of the same political party with divergent views on a particularissue is quite normal and such exchanges, if infrequent and impersonal in nature, are good for the democratic development of the party. However, the recent washing of dirty linen by the former and current finance ministerS, by virtue of their respective posts in the PML(n) and the condition of the economy currently, was a discussion best had behind closed doors in the presence of senior leadership. In fact, such exchanges, like the one Miftah Ismail and Ishaq Dar had over dealing with the IMF and the likelihood of the latter possibly going back on the policylevel promises made by the former to the fund, are usually seen taking place between government and opposition politicians over each other’s handling of the economy.

Dr Ismail is bitter, and understandably so. He was made to take all the unpopular decisions to get the IMF program restarted and he took all of that pressure and abuse well. The unceremonious and embarrassing exit from Q-block that followed after the dirty workwas more or less done would leave the most forgiving and seasoned of politicians quite salty. Senator Dar was already very much involved in the running of the economy and it was only a matter of time before he was formally given the top position considering the increasing dislike for Dr Ismail in the London-group, verified by a leaked audio recording of Maryam nawaz, and that he did not possess a Senate or MnA seat.

Senatot Dar has decided to take the bull by the horns and clearly isn’t taking any prisoners. His clear-cut instructions to Dr Ismail to stay out of matters that no longer concern him also indirectly indicates to the IMF that he isn’t necessarily bound by the conditions his predecessor agreed to. Apart from attempting to overvalue the rupee as he did during 2014-17, his recent comments on bringing the discount rate down and meetings with the SBP governor at finance division since his return, would also not go down well with the IMF that got legislation passed by the PTI in January this year to bring sweeping amendments to the SBP Act 1956 to ensure greater autonomy of the central bank.

That IMF’s point person in Islamabad felt compelled to comment yesterday ‘policy commitments made by Pakistan will continue to apply’ shows how Senqator Dar’s statements and actions have not gone unnoticed. It would be best to tread carefully; the economy does not afford another IMF programme suspension.

As the weekly polls demonstrate, the outcome of this election will be as muddy as the last four. The coalition of parties supporting netanyahu may reach the magic number of 61 Knesset seats (a simple majority) or they may secure only 59 or 60 seats bringing paralysis and calls for a sixth election. There are no current polls that give a clear 61 seats to the notnetanyahu crowd.

The only way that either the “with” or “without” bloc could rise comfortably above 61 would be with

Further to the right, the ultra-nationalist, racist Kahanist party (that calls for the exclusion of both Palestinian citizens of Israel and the West Bank) has been catapulted into a dominant role in the netanyahu camp and is now expected to win as many as 12 seats. On the Arab side, splits in the once-unified Joint Arab List that won 15 seats a few years back, will likely reduce the number of seats Arabs will win to around 8— largely because of Arab voters having lost confidence in the Israeli system. It has been especially irritating to read Israeli commentators point to this decline in Arab clout as a reason netanyahu may win the election. A clear example of “blaming the victims.”

In an article I wrote before the last Israeli election, just 19 months ago, I expressed the concern that ousting netanyahu would not only fail to improve Palestinian lives and rights, but also might make them worse for two reasons. In the first place, I feared that because it was based on a fragile coalition, the

A tribute to teachers

never disappoint us.

So here we are a year and a half later, with yet another Israeli election with the same concerns and, most likely, the same outcome. The only big issue, as before, will be whether netanyahu is returned as the head of government. Precisely because it may be the only way to rip off the veneer of “Change” and force the US liberal establishment to confront the horrifying reality of Israeli policies toward Palestinians and act against them, I’m forced to hope for a netanyahu win.

The writer is President, Arab American Institute.

teacher in the shape of a father.

LIvIng in a life where one learns something new a step ahead, living in an environment where one passes through something unique, living in a society where one gains strength to face each judgement , living in a boundary either at school or home one will definitely learn to find relief from the harshest pain , gain from every single fall , joy after each sorrow , recovery of health after having a bed rest of several days, respect for elders , love for the younger ones , strength in unity , faith in fate , religion , god as well as in oneself and most important the ethics of life and on life blesses us with a new guide, a new protector, a new companion and a true teacher. The day when an individual is born he starts learning infinite and unique knowledge through the aid of his or her grandparents, parents, siblings, relatives, companions, and teachers. Although most of the people who teach us everything about life aren’t degree holders, but one way or another they too deserve to be called our respected teachers. The Almighty is our first teacher as he revealed the Holy Quran to guide us. And one of the verses in Surah AlBaqarah says: “Our Lord, and send among them a messenger from themselves who will recite to them Your verses and teach them the Book and wisdom and purify them. Indeed, You are the Exalted in Might, the Wise.” Moreover, our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) says that “Every time truth is forgotten, they(teachers) are the ones who revive it.” And it is well said by Hazrat Ali (RA) that “If a person teaches me one single word, he has made me his servant for a lifetime.” Likewise, one should respect everyone because every individual we meet at any path or track of life will bless us with new lessons and they are truly considered our teachers.

Having a flashback to the day I was born, my mother was the one started teaching me from the very first day though I was a baby, though I had no sense of life and though I had no capability to store memories. From the day when I crawled, to the day when I stood and fell, till the day when I ran, to the day when I was fully grown up, my mother stood as the greatest pillar for me. no matter how busy she remains but she will

She is not only a housewife but my whole life and bestest teacher. As she is the most sensitive, caring and loving woman who can face every life challenge with strength and potential and teach her children to be the proud of family and enlighten everyone’s life. There is no denying that a mother can not only play the role of a father, sibling, or friend but also she deserves the tag of an admirable guide. Sometimes she teaches us chapters of love in order to be a loving sister. At some other times she teaches us to defend just like a brother. At the stage of sadness and with tearful eyes she gave strength and knowledge to live the tough phases of life. When the hope of the soul sinks to the feet a mother’s inspiration and guidance will lead it to its highest peak. Whenever I get demotivated, her consolations and encouragement work as my favourite lecture of the day

In the long run of life, a mother holds tags of different characters. Her emotional guidance for us is infinite. As for me, my mother is the best teacher with a moral character and a noble position. Her words are literally a blessing for me, and so as for all the other children. I have learned a lot from what she suggests. I am grateful to be blessed with a teacher like her.

Along with the mother, the father’s role as teacher cannot be denied. A father is a man who may not express his feelings, thoughts and needs to his children or family but deep down in his heart he carries infinite love, affection, and feelings for each of them and each minute he takes a breath I count as a blessing for me. A father is someone whose silence teaches us the greatest lessons to face the society, nation and the surroundings. He never highlights the hardship and trouble through which he passes, nor ever indicates the darkness in which he suffered for seeking the path towards light but still he provides us the greatest knowledge of every experience of life.

Literally, a father is just like a pillar for the whole family who may fall himself but will never let anyone else go down. We are blessed to have a supportive

Moving forward in life our grandparents have always been a protective shield who love and guide us each moment with justified knowledge. Our grandparents remain noble teachers in shaping our life and moulding it into its best version. They guide us when we are nothing, stand by us when the world stands as our opposition, console us when we are totally broken, assist us when we are helpless and protect us when we are in trouble. It seems like they are the true souls who are known as superheroes to us. not only this but they are the only ones to save us from the evi-lhearted people of the world and bring a change for the good in our life. Hence, we are just empty bodies without their knowledge. Our grandmother and grandfather stand as our greatest source of inspiration and lead us to a successful and a happy life.

We must always be with them and try to gain the knowledge which is ultimately stored in them. They also have stored love, warmth, and an adorable lesson within them. no one can ever replace them. They really enlighten our lives. Through their prayers, guidance and through their good wishes we can succeed in our life and we can progress in achieving our goals. Unfortunately, some of us do not have grandparents and now we know their values as their teachings are always with us.

The contribution of teachers at school in each aspect of life is greater than anything else. As Teachers shape the trained, efficient, able, cheerful, honest, enthusiastic and resourceful part of our life. Therefore, to thank every single teacher of our life and acknowledge the contribution of teachers in the society and in shaping a progressive, cooperative and well mannered environment, we celebrate 5th October as their day. From the day we hold the pencil to the day we used the pen, teachers were the major strength who taught us to rectify mistakes and convert our disability into our greatest ability.

We must thank our teachers for always being there for us, for always showing us the right path, for moulding us into our best version and turning us into what we are today. no matter we just celebrate their day specifically for a day but for me each day of learning and gaining is teachers’ day.

writer is a freelance columnist

New economy czar’s strategy is a mystery

Nizami (Late)

washington watch dr James J Zogby

So here we are a year and a half later, with yet another Israeli election with the same concerns and, most likely, the same outcome. The only big issue, as before, will be whether Netanyahu is returned as the head of government.

We must thank our teachers for always being there for us, for always showing us the right path, for moulding us into our best version and turning us into what we are today.

Non-traditional security threats to Pakistan

Policies and challenges

SOUTHEAST Asia is highly vulnerable to non-traditional and traditional security threats. Pakistan has been confronting many challenges which are deeply entrenched, non-traditional security threats along with the traditional security threats due to nuclear conundrum in this region.

However, the South Asian region always remains a hot topic at international forums due to certain concerns about this region. Pakistan, India and China have existential conflicts regarding territory and are nuclear armed states which is a genuine concern for the world. The South Asian region is deeply divided in the world due to states’ different national interests and foreign policy priorities.

Additionally, Pakistan is currently confronting the natural disaster of flood and its aftermath in the near future. Pakistan is in the top 10 countries most vulnerable to climate change according to the Un Environment report. The current floods are exacerbated by climate change and global warming. The people are in devastated condition, with millions displaced and thousands dead. The estimated loss to the economy is over $20 billion. There are a number of challenges which are non-traditional in nature but can lead to hard traditional threats, from porous borders to water security.

Firstly, Pakistan has promulgated many policies to control population growth, from Ayub Khan’ continuous motivation scheme to the recent population policy launched in July 2022, but has failed in implementation. Pakistan, with a population of 220 million people, is very unsafe for food security and ps still growing with the rate of two percent annually, and is still lagging behind other south Asian countries like Iran and India with only one percenteach annually. In the 2021 global Hunger Index, Pakistan ranks 92nd out of the 116 countries with sufficient data to calculate 2021 gHI scores. With a score of 24.7, Pakistan has a level of hunger that is very serious. Pakistan had confronted religious conservative sentiment and challenges against birth control and faced severe criticism for family planning.

Pakistan has to do away with this challenge wholeheartedly because it ultimately results in unemployment and poverty. Pakistan should have to learn from the more conservative Iranian people how they had coped with the religious challenge to address the population problem. If Pakistan does not take this challenge seriously then it would be an ultimate disaster in the form of malnutrition and hunger crises.

Secondly, Pakistan is confronting a water crisis which has severely damaged the agricultural sector with low production yield which leads to food insecurity. Pakistan had lacked in the construction of dams and water storage capacity. Water has remained a serious tussle between India and Pakistan. Climate change poses a serious challenges to water security.

Additionally, Pakistan lacks infrastructural development due to lack of finances. neighbour-

ing India has a carryover capacity of 170 days, Egypt for 700 days and America 900 days but Pakistan has only 30 days water carryover capacity which needs to be revamped. Moreover, our country is still grappled in provincial and central conflict over water distribution which has posed serious repercussions for the agriculture sector in Sindh. There is a dire need to set up a workable framework for distribution of water and achievable policies to fulfil the national security goals for human security.

Pakistan is also lagging in sustainable development goals for human security in the domains of health, nutrition, water availability and hygiene. The government should have to take note of this and carve out some apprpriate policies for sustainability. Water is a useful tool for energy production to deal with the crisis of energy.

Thirdly, climate change is posing serious threats to humanity which requires practical steps to mitigate the danger. The International community is paying mere lip service to it, recently at COP 26 where they decided to set up s $100 billion fund for high climate risk-facing states for the development of resilient infrastructure and green energy initiatives to curb the use of fossil fuels. But, there are no significant developments to save humanity because global politics is divided in a north and south blame game and no one is ready to comply with the requirements of the time. Therefore, no one is willing to compromise on individual national interest or economic indicators because they are deeply dependent on fossil fuel for their energy requirements and economic stability.

Pakistan is bearing the brunt of climate change in the form of changing weather patterns which lead to flash floods and millions of people displaced and estimated economic loss of $3.8 billion on yearly bases. Despite Pakistan being the lowest greenhouse gases emitter in the South Asian region, it is on the brink of collapse due to losses of natural calamities and other crises.

government has to build a framework for mitigation of threats and strong disaster management techniques with the cooperation of the regional and international community. Since 1947, the percentage of forest-covered areas has reduced dramatically from 33% to just 5% and continues to reduce at the rate of 1-2% every year with the increase in population. Pakistan needs to start a nationwide campaign to save forest and for tree plantation drives with the collaboration of ngOs to do away with this threat.

Porous borders with Iran and Afghanistan are a major threat to national security and are a non-traditional security threat with the outflow of refugees, pilgrims and commodities illegally. This issue has to be taken seriously because the recent outbreak of cvid-19 in Pakistan was due to free outflow of pilgrims from Iran to Pakistan which became a really challenging non-traditional security threat in the health sector. Therefore, we need to take serious deliberate measures to curb the illegal exchange of goods and people through borders. Pakistan has had an existential border dispute with Afghanistan which could cause a serious traditional security threat to the country. Terrorism is a biggest threat from Afghanistan due to presence of terrorist organisations there that is f great concern for international community.

The Southeast Asian region is deeply divided on political grounds due to foreign policy and interests in the region. SAARC is the only organisation which is a vehicle for state-to-state cooperation. This organisation is largely ineffectual due to conflicting relations of member states and remains divided on different issues that hamper the meaningful results.

Moreover, political stability in Afghanistan is very important for Pakistan and it can prove in the best interest of Pakistan’s economic development through trade with central Asian states, and many energy-related projects to deal with the energy crises of Pakistan.

Editor’s mail

Leaks galore

THE national political scene is at once interesting, depressing, thrilling, killing, sad and funny. This has always been the case, but in the last few years, marked by this leak or that, the shades have gone darker. It is like people playing you-leak-this-and-I-will-leak-that. It is a game that has no winner, and a lot of losers. But somehow our love for the game is infinite, it seems.

The issue of surveillance of politicians, however, is not new. In 2018, data of hundreds of german politicians was leaked. Those on the target included Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the president, and german chancellor Angela Merkel. Hackers leaked confidential information related to politicians. german politician Katarina Barley described the incident as a ‘serious attack’.

In 2013, American Edward Snowden blew his famed whistle about the national Security Agency’s (nSA) ‘unethical activities’ related to its surveillance practices. Snowden was employed as a computer professional in 2006 by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) where he found out about surveillance of the general public. He started collecting more evidence about the surveillance system. He was still working on it when he was hired by the nSA as lead technologist, and spent about four years (2009-13) there. When he was done with collecting all relevant information about surveillance practices, he went on medical leave, and arranged a meeting with a journalist, revealing information about a project that entailed monitoring phone calls of 35 world leaders.

In our own context, the practice of surveillance was in place as early as in the 1970s. Stanley Wolpert, writing in Zulfi Bhutto of Pakistan narrates that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who had been released after nine months in custody, wanted to meet Zulfikar Ali Bhutto at the presidency. “Mujib had asked the military secretary to ‘leave’ so that they could ‘talk’.” Quoting Bhutto, writes Wolpert: “He grasped me by the hand and made me sit next to him. He started talking about the situation. At this point, thinking the room might be bugged, we walked out to the veranda towards the back of the house and sat in the portico.”

During an interview with a private television channel, Saeed Mehdi, a former deputy commissioner of Rawalpindi, said: “When prime minister Bhutto was spending last days of his life in his death cell, I was sent by martial law authorities to offer him facilities if he filed a mercy petition. Superintendent of jail Yaar Muhammad knew that the death cell was bugged and he was communicating with Bhutto with hand gestures.” Similar stories have been talked about the presidency when Asif Ali Zardari was its occupant. And such stories have never been denied by anyone. The current leaks are nothing but an extension of the same phenomenon.

Reopening of hostels

THE Atta Shad Degree College, Turbat, is the only hope for many a student aspiring to get quality education. The college receives hundreds of students from adjoining towns and cities. Unfortunately, the college hostel has been closed since 2011 and this has been a grave concern for the students. The hostel has 50 rooms that are enough to accommodate all the students who cannot afford to travel on a daily basis. The education department should seriously consider reopening the hostel on a priority basis.

SaKhi GhaNi KEch

Railway Cargo

I always prefer cargo services of Pakistan Railways (PR) for bulk consignments because of its low tariff even though it is not a safe and hassle-free option and minor damages are part of the deal. I booked my consignment of furniture, refrigerator, water dispenser and other household items for Karachi from Rawalpindi on Aug 24.

It was mentioned in receipt that the consignment would be sent through 8-Down Tezgam on Aug 25, but, unfortunately, the railway operations were suspended on the mentioned date due to floods in Sindh. I can understand the nature of delay in dispatching the consignment, but the PR should have informed the customers through text messages or email, which it did not do.

While I received no information about my consignment, there was no landline contact number mentioned on the receipt. I managed to get the contact number of the PR divisional superintendent (DS) in Rawalpindi on Sept 13 from the website. When I made a contact on the said number, an official gave me the landline number of the local cargo office. I called on that number (051-9270894) 15 times for two consecutive days, but the said office did not bother to respond.

The government has paid great attention to this issue and introduced a number of projects and the Climate Change Ministry. The most significant project that has earned international appreciation, namely 100 billion tree tsunami, but the government was still lacking in foreign policy grounds for resilient infrastructure technology transfer and required FDI in green energy projects. They need to influence the international community through diplomacy with the help of the Foreign Office regarding the severe climate crises caused by climate change in Pakistan. The

The Southeast Asian region is deeply divided on political grounds due to foreign policy and interests in the region. SAARC is the only organisation which is a vehicle for state-to-state cooperation. This organisation is largely ineffectual due to conflicting relations of member states and remains divided on different issues that hamper the meaningful results. Moreover, naturally, environmental disasters and pandemics are calamities that could lead to political consequences and instability in the states. These are the serious challenges which can lead from soft to hard security threats. There is a dire need of cooperation to avoid the future implications and avoid nonsecurity threats to the security paradigm. There should be a framework to engage thinkers and states experts to enhance the cooperation between the states and bridge the loopholes using alternative approaches.

Subsequently, I once again called the DS office for filing a complaint about the cargo office. This time another official provided me the telephone number of officer in charge of the cargo office. I called that number (0519270860) many a time, but all in vain as there was no response. I was trying to contact them to get information regarding the safety of my consignment, but I was amazed that no office responded except the DS office. The minister concerned should look into the matter and ensure that public offices respond to the calls being made to them. It will be better if a tracking system for cargo is launched to facilitate the customers.

Wheat crisis

WE have seen devastation across the country owing to heavy rains and subsequent floods. This is becoming a rather routine affair in the country. To control and minimise flood damages to some extent, we should take some preventive measures to avoid a looming wheat crisis.

Stagnant floodwater in Balochistan and Sindh is not receding fast enough. This in effect means that timely sowing of Rabi crop is in danger. It is suggested that services of international drainage consultants should be sought for speedy outflow of the accumulated water, and for the reclamation of the flooded land.

Since prospects of Rabi crop in Sindh and Balochistan are bleak and there is a likely loss of wheat crop, it will be wise to have more extensive sowing of wheat across Panjab where post-flood wheat sowing is being done currently. For this purpose, the provincial government in Punjab may extend allout support to the farmers.

MuhaMMad abid Karachi

SaLar LaTEEF Karachi

JapaN as the third global military poWer

UNDER THE POST-WWII YOSHIDA DOCTRINE, JAPAN RELIED PRIMARILY ON THE US FOR DEFENCE AND ECONOMIC SUPPORT WITH A LIMITED ALLOWANCE TO GROW ITS OWN MILITARY POWER, CAPPING ITS MILITARY SPENDING AT 1% OF GDP

integrated deterrence. “It’s sort of ‘plug-and-play’, being able to integrate other allies into the US-Japan centred alliance system,” says Hughes.

While Japan uses the language of international contribution, essentially it is trying to strengthen its relationship with the United States.

Hughes describes this approach as ‘Bilateralism Plus’, a practice that does not mean seeking a multilateral identity or trying to de-centre from the US but does include networking and building new relationships that reinforce the existing US-Japan security relationship.

army teChnology andrew Salerno-garthwaite

iF Japan fulfils its budget goals in the next five years the nation will go from the fifth or seventh strongest military power – in terms of firepower or defence spending respectively – to third in the world after the US and China.

Japan’s defence expenditure is anticipated to increase from $53.1bn next year to $70.4bn in 2027, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 7.3%, according to GlobalData.

After the Cold War, Japan maintained a ‘dual hedge’, encouraging relationships with both China and the US to preserve its own autonomy. Under the post-WWII Yoshida doctrine, Japan relied primarily on the US for defence and economic support with a limited allowance to grow its own military power, capping its military spending at 1% of GDP.

That state of affairs had been held together by the Cold War balance of western allies against a Eurocentric threat. With the end of the Cold War, Tokyo sought autonomy from the US economically by increasing its trade involvement with China but chided against a deeper relationship with Beijing by tightening its military bonds with the US.

AN END TO JAPAN’S HEDGING: “Japan is not really hedging against dependence on the US anymore,” said Dr. Christopher Hughes, Professor of Japanese Studies and International Politics and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Warwick, in an online moderated discussion with the East-West Center, on 7 September. Japanese policy makers no longer perceive the Yoshida doctrine of economic diplomacy globally and military dependence on the United States as a tenable strategy to respond to the defence and security challenges that Japan faces today.

Yoshida did not intend for Japan to be a non-military power permanently, but prioritised economic development with military power to follow later. In a contemporary, multipolar world with regional threats, Japan’s anti-military tendencies lost support. From 2015, Tokyo’s main strategy turned back to strengthening the US-Japan bilateral alliance.

A new analysis of Japan’s military trajectory, put forward by Hughes in his book Japan as a Global Military Power: New Capabilities, Alliance Integration, Bilateralism-Plus, argues Japan is responding to a challenging external security environment by becoming an “increasingly capable, reliable and – crucially – integrated US ally”.

SDF PROCUREMENT FOR GLOBAL DEPLOYMENT: Japan’s armed services have now moved to a multi-dimensional defence force enterprise by striving for more ability and jointness in operational ability. The modernisation effort is bringing its army, navy and air force closer together as well as venturing into new domains, including cyber operations and space.

The three services have recently made significant procurements in advanced capabilities offering the potential for global deployments. In the air domain alone, Japan introduced the Kawasaki P-1 in 2013, with 33 aircraft now in service and 60 more on order to replace the country’s P3-C fleet. Also in 2013, Japan signed a deal with Lockheed Martin for 42 F-35B aircrafts, then extended the deal in 2019 to acquire a total of 105 F-35A and 42 F-35B variants. As recently as 2020, a deal was signed with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as the lead developer for almost 100 units of the sixth-generation F-X stealth fighter.

In the naval domain Japan is expanding its blue-water capabilities through the conversion of the Izumo-class helicopter carriers into fully-fledged aircraft carriers able to operate the F-35B fighter. Its surface fleet can field more than 40 frigates and destroyers, while subsurface assets include the capable Sōryū-class submarines.

While these represent a formidable fleet for global deployment, Tokyo is devoting many of these capabilities to homeland defence, particularly for its southwestern islands that are at risk from Chinese incursions. The

Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) and US forces are beginning to ‘mirror’ their behaviour in island chain defence – and potentially Taiwan defence – as it becomes integrated into the overall US strategy. “Another important shift is that if necessary, Japan may undertake some global responsibilities,” said Hughes.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS AND COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES: “Many past analyses are sort of still holding on to, I think, rather well outdated views of Japan’s military policy,” said Hughes. Overoptimistic partners who hope for more international cooperation are going to be disappointed if they were hoping Japan would seek greater autonomy from the US through international security cooperation arrangements.

Japan has shifted to accepting greater defensive responsibilities, including to some extent regional defence, acting through the US-Japan alliance and US security system. But while the work Tokyo does with partners, and its expanded regional and global military cooperation is increasing in quantity, the efforts are essentially designed to reinforce the US-centric architecture for homeland defence. “Japan is becoming a global military power,” said Hughes, “but it’s very selective and it’s within these parameters. “Japan will venture out globally. It will do more with other partners. But again, it will only do that in order to service the needs of the US-Japan alliance and to service its own homeland security.”

However tight the sphere of Japan’s concerns, in order to shore up, support and reinvest in the US regional and global security system, it may have to undertake collective self-defence responsibilities. Hughes sees this as a ‘major change’ that has taken effect only since 2015.

BILATERALISM PLUS AND ‘PLUG-AND-PLAY’

ALLIANCES:

“We have seen a shift, I think from the old Yoshida doctrine to this new Abe doctrine and this talk about a proactive contribution to peace.” Japan has built up many lateral security defence relationships with other nations over recent decades, with a range of new bilateral, multilateral or mini lateral relationships. Functionally, these serve as extensions of the US-Japan alliance system, using the alliance as a template to achieve

“Whenever Japan has doubts about US commitment to the region or to Japan’s defence, what it does is double down,” said Hughes, establishing security arrangements with other nations that include the US in their formation, reinvesting and solidifying the original alliance.

As Prime Minister, Shinzō Abe established this as a new doctrine, deepening cooperation with the US and reducing the amount of hedging with other countries. Looking at the revised US-Japan defence guidelines, Hughes is clear that Japan is giving up on many of the hedging gains it has made it made inside and outside the alliance.

POTENTIAL CHECKS ON JAPAN’S BILATERALISM: In review of Hughes’s argument, Dr. Ellis Krauss, Professor Emeritus of the School of Global Policy & Strategy at the University of California San Diego, posits that Japan faces challenges to operating as a global power through the US-Japanese alliance. “Japan’s dependence economically on China may now be one of its greatest limitations, or checks, on bilateralism,” Krauss speculates that Japan’s military dependence on the US, and its capacity to act within that alliance, is kept in check by China through trade relations in the region and a need to keep a degree of good relations.

In remarks at the East-West Center discussion Hughes accepted that Japan’s relationship is complicated by their economic engagement, and that Japan seeks to make itself more ‘indispensable’ to China in key areas, including key technologies and investment. “Japan doesn’t want to decouple the way that some people in the United States talk about.” However, he recognises that in many areas China is Japan’s ‘adversary’, particularly with respect to economic security, key supply chains, key technologies, and rare earth minerals.

Economic concerns must also be taken in context with other priorities, and it these, Hughes argues, that can force ultimately force decisions. Emboldened military posturing in the Indo-Pacific provides the context.

“China is now crossing red lines for Japanese national security, whether it’s Japanese territory, whether it’s Taiwan with its sea lanes. It’s actually undermining potentially the entire US security system, the region. This is pretty existential now for Japan.”

Who attacked the Nord stream pipelines?

damaged pipelines could have a significant impact on climate change. According to initial estimates, a total of 500 million cubic meters of gas was lost, which is the equivalent of 8 million tons of carbon dioxide, or 1/5000 of annual global CO2 emissions.

Western governments have not made a formal finding of responsibility for this week’s sabotage attacks on two Russian underwater pipelines carrying natural gas to Europe. While all of the evidence is being carefully reviewed, it seems reasonable to expect that some of it will soon be declassified. In the meantime, NATO, the European Union, and key figures like International Energy Agency director Fatih Birol are not holding back about the identity of the culprit. “It is very obvious… who was behind this issue,” the latter said on Sept. 29. At the same time, Russian officials are unsurprisingly placing the blame on the West and have convened a United Nations Security Council session to discuss the matter.

There are aspects of this mystery that resemble an Agatha Christie novel, in which nearly everyone involved appears to have a motive or would benefit from the outcome. It’s useful, therefore, even as a thought experiment, to look at what we know (and don’t know) about what happened and the all-important question of who stands to benefit.

Pressure drops were reported at both the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines running underneath the Baltic Sea on Sept. 26. Three separate leaks were recorded off the coasts of Denmark and Sweden, a few dozen kilometers apart. Both lines of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline were impacted, along with one line of Nord Stream 2. Reports from seismologists based in Denmark and Sweden suggest that sizeable explosions on the order of 100 kilograms of TNT occurred in both incidents.

Unlike an oil spill, gas leakage is relatively harmless for the surrounding area. At the same time, some climate experts are warning that the amount of methane — a powerful greenhouse gas — being released from the

In a normal political and business environment, all three damaged sections could probably be repaired within a year by a single repair fleet. It is quite possible that the biggest problem would be not the subsea work itself, but pumping out the water from the three 1,200kilometer stretches of the pipelines. Rock debris would also have to be cleared out lest it damage the inside of the pipelines once the flow is restored. Another concern would be the state of the inside polymer coating, which is not designed to withstand prolonged contact with seawater. The total bill might run into hundreds of millions of dollars, maybe even billions, but it is a small fraction of Gazprom’s annual budget.

The work would require specialized equipment, and here the circumstances for Nord Stream 1 and 2 are quite different. Nоrd Stream AG is formally a Swiss company, not subject to any sanctions, and a member of the Pipeline Subsea and Repair Intervention Pool led by Norway’s Equinor, which provides its members with access to specialist equipment and crews.

Nord Stream 2, however, was sanctioned by the United States, and the pipelaying was completed solely by Russian ships. The pipeline was completed last year but never launched: Germany put an end to the project in February, two days before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The repairs would require a work permit from the Danish government, since it would be carried out in their territorial waters. Given the current political environment, it probably would be very difficult to obtain such permission. There are provisions within the existing sanctions for a waiver to be issued if work is needed to prevent damage to the environment or to navigational safety. Nord Stream 2 might apply on those grounds, but it is unlikely to be granted. Most likely, any repairs will have to wait until the end of the war in Ukraine, if not longer.

Given the reports of explosions and the statistical unlikelihood of three accidents occurring on the same day, sabotage seems certain. The charges could have been delivered in several ways: as depth charges dropped from a surface ship or even from a plane, or as explosives with a delayed charge installed by divers or delivered by a submarine, or even from inside the pipeline, the same way that a pipeline inspection gauge (a “pig”) goes through Nord Stream 1 every year to inspect it and remove debris and sludge.

The scale of the operation — the multiple sites and

amount of explosives involved — suggests the involvement of a state. Despite initial speculation that the attack could have been the work of non-state actors, that seems highly unlikely. Given reported drone sightings near oil and gas platforms in the North Sea in recent months, European and U.S. officials and energy companies have every reason to be worried about what Moscow is up to.

Certainly, there will be very close inspection of global flight tracking services and MarineTraffic data by both professionals and amateurs looking for possible culprits. The Baltic Sea is a busy place, of course, but it can be assumed that governments, military units, and companies are already pooling their information.

Some commentators have already leaped to selfserving conclusions that simply raise eyebrows. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, for example, claimed that the attacks occurred in “countries that are completely controlled by the U.S. intelligence services.” Fox News television personality Tucker Carlson also implied a U.S. role in the explosions. “If you are Vladimir Putin, you would have to be a suicidal moron to blow up your own energy pipeline,” Carlson argued. “That’s the one thing you would never do.”

The explosions are clearly rattling Western governments that are already on edge following Putin’s nuclear saber-rattling in a Sept. 21 address to the nation. The current state of energy flows in Europe, however, was not directly impacted, nor is there any immediate economic effect. That is because Nord Stream stopped operating at the beginning of September following gradual supply reductions during the summer, whereas Nord Stream 2, despite containing gas, was never launched. Europe was not counting on the resumption of supplies by this route any time soon, and the pipelines were in any event doomed to lose their value in coming years as Europe moves to procure its gas from anywhere other than Russia. In strictly economic and commercial terms, this case might be the equivalent of the traditional potlatch ceremony held by Native Americans, a spectacular destruction of a dysfunctional piece of infrastructure with little residual value.

The attack may, however, have signaling value. If so, that does change the strategic landscape in the energy war. If perpetrated by Russia, the signaling value toward the West — which would certainly know Russia is behind the explosions — may be a threat to the rest of the marine energy infrastructure. Back in 2021, Putin told a gathering of military leaders: “If our Western colleagues continue the obviously aggressive stance, we will take appropriate retaliatory military-technical measures and react harshly to unfriendly steps. I want to emphasize that we have every right to do so.” Was the Nord

Stream attack a hint that similar mishaps might happen to some or all of the seven major pipelines delivering Norwegian gas to the UK and continental Europe? The explosions coincided with the inauguration of the Baltic Pipe taking Norwegian gas to Poland, so this is hardly an academic hypothesis.

One irony of the attack is that Russia’s Gazprom potentially stands to benefit: it will no longer need to invent excuses not to supply Europe via Nord Stream 1. Now it can claim a force majeure, which will dramatically reduce the risk of compensation claims for non-delivered volumes. This logic, however, does not explain the damage caused to Nord Stream 2. On the other hand, the Nord Stream consortium companies and eventually Gazprom might even hope to collect some insurance for the damaged pipelines. Given that they already looked set to become a stranded asset, that would be far from the worst outcome for the giant company.

The elimination of Nord Stream’s gas supply capacity from the European energy equation also strengthens Ukraine’s hand. Ukraine’s fear ever since 2014 has been that if forced to choose between Russian gas and support for Ukraine, Europe might choose the former and abandon Ukraine, and as long as non-Ukrainian supply routes existed, Ukraine would not be able to stop Russia from supplying Europe. This was one of the reasons why Ukraine opposed the construction of Nord Stream 2.

The explosions have removed some optionality and thus changed the state of the board for some players. Russia has lost the opportunity to offer an easy restoration of gas supplies to Europe in exchange for concessions from the West. For the Europeans, there is no longer the risk that binding contracts to buy more expensive gas will become loss-making if Russia suddenly floods the market with cheap gas following some sort of de-escalation.

In theory, Russia still has the physical capacity to increase gas supplies to Europe. It could accomplish that by relying on another non-commissioned line of Nord Stream 2 that was spared the explosion (though there are reports that this last line might also have been damaged after all), or the Yamal-Europe pipeline. Together they have a capacity of 60 billion cubic meters per annum, or 40% of the pre-war supply volumes. However, with the Yamal-Europe pipeline controlled by Poland, a resolute ally of Ukraine, and Nord Stream 2 having yet to be launched, pulling any of this off would be a lot more difficult than simply switching on Nord Stream 1 again.

Neither Miss Marple nor Hercule Poirot will be turning up to solve the mystery of who was behind the pipeline explosions. But in today’s increasingly transparent world, the truth might not stay buried for long.

Carnegie endowment for international PeaCe Sergey Vakulenko

IIUI’s electric, mechanical, civil engineering programs re-accredited by PEC

The programs of BS Electrical Engineering, BS Mechanical Engineering and BS Civil Engineering of Faculty of Engineering & Technology of International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) have been re-accredited by Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC). The Council granted permission for intake Fall 2018 batches on OBE (Level-II). The decision was taken by PEC in its 107th EAB meeting for engineering programs of International Islamic University Islamabad. IIUI President, H.E. Dr. Hathal Homoud Alotaibi has congratulated the IIUI community on this achievement, while he also hailed the efforts of the team that worked hard for the accreditation process of three Technology programs. The IIUI community has thanked President IIU for his untiring efforts for reaccreditation of the programs. Moreover, PEC has also granted green signal to launch BS Computer Engineering program in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Prof. Dr. Nadeem Ahmed Sheikh, Dean, Faculty of Engineering & Technology has welcomed the pioneering batch of BS Computer Engineering. pr

Ministry of Education signs contract with federal education institutions to promote STEAM education

While transitioning from the exam-centred to learning based approach, the Ministry of Federal Education & Professional Training’s (MoFEPT) STEAM Pakistan program is focused on improving conceptual understanding and analytical skills of school children across the country, with a specific focus on girls’ education. Launched in early 2022, the program has already started its interventions in middle and high schools in the Islamabad Capital Territory. As part of the program, MoFEPT signed a Letter of Understanding (LoU) today with the Federal Government Educational Institutions (FGEI) for a roll-out of STEAM interventions across all of its high schools. FGEI’s Director General, Major General Muhammad Asghar, HI (M), stated that “STEAM Pakistan project will complement the various measures taken by FGEI to attain the objective of quality education and promote the conceptual learning and development of soft skills in youth”. The LoU intends to support FGEI’s efforts on targeting students in middle schools across its network, with MoFEPT providing technical support for systems, teacher training, and STEAM content.

Additional Secretary Waseem Ajmal Chaudhry at the signing ceremony remarked, “It is important that we focus on our children’s learning, and today is a great opportunity for the Ministry of Federal Education to collaborate with another Ministry for this purpose. The Ministry looks forward to providing similar technical support to provinces on STEAM”. FGEI currently manages 190 high schools in 45 districts across all provinces and AJ&K, and a total of 311 schools (including 13 higher secondary schools).

PMC Performance Report for month of September 2022

PAkISTAn nEEDS A CoAlITIon oF ThE WIllIng To hElP DEAl WITh DISASTER CAUSED by FlooDS: ShERRy REhMAn

ISLaMaBaD

FEDERALMinister for Climate Change Senator Sherry Rehman is in Geneva to launch a 2nd Humanitarian Appeal with the UN Office for the victims of the devastating floods in Pakistan.

Speaking at the event, the Federal Minister stated that, “This Second Appeal urgently seeks US$ 816 million to provide prioritized multi-sectoral aid. There are a total of 20.6 million people still in need. This humanitarian appeal targets protection to 9.5 million people with focus on the 34 districts in all four provinces.”

“We are gathered here to reboot your compassion simply because the numbers are too staggering to service for any one country alone. 33 million people affected are 7 million more than the entire population of Australia. Imagine rescuing, feeding, sheltering, resettling an entire country? We have been working around the clock, flat out

through the aftershocks, but just to pick up the pieces. We will literally need a new coalition of the willing. It was done for war and it can be done to save millions of lives.”

“As the magnitude of the tragedy filters in, it is becoming clear to all that this is the meta-climate event of a century, crossing all records for the whole world, not just for Pakistan. In the monster downpour that inundated 1/3rd of the country, approximately

1,700 people have lost their lives and close to 13,000 are injured. 7.9 million are still displaced. Women and children make up nearly 70 percent of the 33 million affected, One-third of all recorded deaths and injuries are children”.

Minister Rehman has implored the international community on the critical nature of the climate crisis, she remarked, “34 districts are crisis affected with 46,000 square kilometers still in

Hyundai Motor Company and Hyundai Nishat Motor donate Rs23m to PM's Flood Relief Fund

Lahore

pr

Hyundai Motor Company (HMC)and Hyundai Nishat Motor (Private) Limited (HNMPL) have joined hands to provide relief to the flood affectees in Pakistan through Prime Minister's Flood Relief Fund.

To provide crucial humanitarian assistance to families affected by the terrible flooding that has wreaked havoc throughout several parts of Pakistan, chairman HNMPL, Mian Muhammad Mansha along with Mr. Hasan Masha, CEO HNMPL, met the Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and donated an amount of Rs 23 Million for Prime Minister’s Flood Relief Fund on behalf of HNMPL and HMC.

"I am deeply concerned with the trail of destruction this catastrophe has left us with, leaving people to suffer the loss of their homes, livelihoods, and lives of their closest. Hyundai Motor and Hyundai Nishat pledges to do what they can to support the flood victims," said Mr. Hasan Mansha CEO of Hyundai Nishat Motor

(Private Limited).

He added that this is a humanitarian crisis on an unprecedented scale and everyone should play their part and come together to support our countrymen in need. "These floods and other weather extremities that we are experiencing around the globe require immediate attention. It's time to give back to this planet before it is too late."

fluid conditions and an estimated 20.6 million people are in need. This number is more than the size of Switzerland and Portugal’s population combined. These are not just statistics. These are real people on the ground, whose eyes are still vacant from shock, who have overnight been turned into poster-children of extreme vulnerability, with futures that are entirely precarious. For women, these are layered with another burden of compounded social fragility and campsite predations.”

Emphasizing on the nature of the climate change-induced disaster, Minister Rehman said, “Despite 16 weeks since the first monsoon rain, we are still in the lifesaving response stage, as this year, the flooding was of all types; flash flooding, hill torrents, and the monster monsoon. They all clustered into one climate disaster to create new records of extreme volumes, volatility and unpredictability. With 11 districts still under water, many still seek aid hubs for food, clean water and medical assistance, and tragically even dry land, to bury their dead.

FrieslandCampina Pakistan and WWF partner to regenerate environment

islamabad: After the appointment of new council of Pakistan Medical Commission from worthy Prime Minister of Pakistan, the council right after assuming the charge started working dedicatedly for doctors, students and relevant stake holders and also took all necessary steps to resolve their genuine and relevant pertaining issues. Under the umbrella of newly appointed council in just merely 30 days more than 7290 renewals and licenceses have been issued followed by issuing of more than 1085 good standing certificates out of received 1801 requests, in addition PMC also successfully made registration of 454 faculty members, registration of 338 post graduate clinical qualification made out of received 485 requests and within just one month time more than 110 foreign graduates have been registered against the received 186 applications. President PMC Dr. Noshad Ahmad Shaikh said that department priority is to facilitate doctors, students and other stakeholders in the larger interest of Pakistan. He also added negligence of any sort will not be tolerated.

English Biscuit Manufacturers (EBM), the leading FMCG Company in Pakistan, has collaborated with Al Maya Group to expand their international business to the United Arab Emirates. This marks one of EBM’s largest expansions in the Middle East and promises to spread the joy of EBM’s brands in the region.

EBM has a prolific international footprint in over 30 countries and a notable presence in the global market including the United States, Canada, the UK, the Middle East, and Africa. The journey of EBM's product to international markets reflects the company's commitment to

R&D and innovation. For over 50 years, EBM has held the largest production capacity in Pakistan and this new endeavor enables the company to remain a leader of the FMCG sector both on a local and global scale.

Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of EBM, Dr Zeelaf Munir expressed her views on the new journey "Over the past years we have provided our customers and consumers, at home and abroad, with innovative highquality products. Our increasing presence in the international market is a testament to our commitment of

providing every consumer with healthy & affordable nutritious brands. By extending our supply chain to the UAE with the largest distribution network, we will be able to introduce our innovative product range to new consumers and provide overseas Pakistanis with a taste of their homeland."

Mr Deepak Pagarani, CEO of Al Maya Group, said "Al Maya has introduced the finest food brands of the world within the Gulf region. It has also assured a seamless supply of brands to retailers and international supermarket chains. We're happy to have English Biscuit Manufacturers on board as we believe that we have what it takes to maintain the essence of the leading FMCG company through our exceptional B2B experience and trusted distribution network at the international level."

EBM envisions to continue providing products that are rich in quality and nutrition, thus making an impact through its purpose of nourishing lives, hearts, and communities.

Karachi: FrieslandCampina is partnering with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Pakistan) on a tree plantation initiative to increase local resilience to the impact of climate change and increase tree cover.

The collaboration will focus on the plantation of indigenous trees to help combat pollution, deforestation, and urban flooding. Under the partnership, FCEPL team planted mangrove saplings at the WWF Wetland Center in Karachi. Additionally, WWF held a training for FCEPL’s employees to educate them on plantation techniques and post-care.

Highlighting the partnership, Sania Sattar Head of Sustainability, FrieslandCampina Pakistan, stated: “Regeneration is a core pillar of FCEPL’s local sustainability strategy. There is a pressing need to address the ongoing effects of climate change, and only through a cohesive, concentrated and collaborative effort can we hope to mitigate them.” Speaking on the occasion, Faisal Razi, Director Marketing at FCEPL said, “We remain committed to nourishing Pakistan sustainably while working in balance with nature. pr

CDA chairman inaugurates biggest Miwaki forest

islamabad: On the special instructions of the Chairman Capital Development Authority Captain (R) Muhammad Usman Yunus, the biggest Miwaki forest is created of the Islamabad city on behalf of the Environment Wing. The forest is built in Sector H-12 of Islamabad. Chairman Capital Development Authority Captain (R) Muhammad Usman Yunus and MD Mari Petroleum inaugurated the Miwaki Forest on Tuesday by planting saplings. Other officers of CDA were also with him on this occasion.

According to the details, this Miwaki Forest has been built on 17 acres of land with the support of the private company Mari Petroleum. Initially, 20,000 large-sized saplings of different species have been planted, while more plantations are on the way to make the forest even bigger. Similarly, a special protective fence has also been installed to protect the plants in this Miwaki Forest.

On this occasion, Chairman Capital Development Authority thanked Mari Petroleum and said that they participated with CDA in creating such a big forest. He further said that Islamabad is already a green city, the addition of 20,000 plants will make the city more green. On this occasion, Chairman CDA further said that in view of the environmental pollution, the amount of saplings to be planted are few, but the CDA administration is trying to plant more plantations. In this regard along with the Cooperation of the other departments will also ensure maximum planting. He further said that this is the biggest Miwaki forest of Islamabad city, so special arrangements will be made to ensure the safety of the plants planted by the CDA administration.

English Biscuit partners with Al Maya Group to distribute products across UAE

Board members and officers of ETPB in a group photo with visiting students at Katas Raj Temple. Staff photo

French-US-AUStrIAn trIo wIn PhySIcS

noBel For qUAntUm mechAnIcS worK

STocKHolm AFP

Atrio of physicists on Tuesday won the Nobel Prize for discoveries in the field of quantum mechanics that have paved the way for quantum computers, networks and secure encrypted communication.

Alain Aspect of France, John Clauser of the United States and Austria’s Anton Zeilinger were honoured for “groundbreaking experiments using entangled quantum states, where two particles behave like a single unit even when they are separated”, the committee said.

Their results “have cleared the way

for new technology based upon quantum information”.

“It has become increasingly clear that a new kind of quantum technology is emerging,” Anders Irback, chair of the Nobel Committee for Physics, said in a statement. Aspect, a professor at the ParisSaclay University, said the international makeup of the group was an important signal in the face of rising nationalism around the world, which he urged the scientific community to stand against.

“It’s important that scientists keep their international community at a time when … nationalism is taking over in many countries,” Aspect said in a phone interview with the Nobel Foundation published on YouTube.

As Iraq concrete jungle swelters, ancient stone houses stay cool

BAGHDAD

AFP

Biden warns Iran to face ‘costs’ for crackdown on protests

PARIS Agencies

The United States will impose “further costs” on Iran for its lethal crackdown on protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, President Joe Biden announced, drawing accusations of “hypocrisy” from Iran on Tuesday. Amini, 22, was pronounced dead on September 16, days after the morality police detained the Kurdish Iranian for allegedly breaching rules requiring women to wear hijab headscarves and modest clothes. “This week, the United States will be imposing further costs on perpetrators of violence against peaceful protesters,” Biden said in a statement. “We will continue holding Iranian officials accountable and supporting the rights of Iranians to protest freely.” The US president gave no indication of what measures he was considering against Iran, which is already under crippling US economic sanctions largely related to its controversial nuclear programme. Iran accused the US leader of “hypocrisy” in invoking human rights to impose fresh punitive measures. “It would have been better for Mr Joe Biden to think a little about the human rights record of his own country before making humanitarian gestures, although hypocrisy does not need to be thought through,” foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said in an Instagram post, reported by Iranian media. “The US president should be concerned about the numerous sanctions… against the Iranian nation, the sanctions whose imposition against any nation is a clear example of a crime against humanity,” he added. Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had Monday accused arch foes the United States and Israel of fomenting the protests. The riots “were engineered by America and the occupying, false Zionist regime, as well as their paid agents, with the help of some traitorous Iranians abroad”, Khameni said.

As the sun beats down on Iraq, most people swelter in their concrete homes — but not the inhabitants of one mountain town known for its ancient and cool stone houses.

Tracing its roots back 2,700 years, the picturesque Kurdish town of Akre says it is better adapted to the modern-day perils of climate change than other parts of Iraq.

“Stone houses are far more resistant” to the rising temperatures and also preserve the town’s unique character, said Mayor Baland Reda Zubair. “Cement radiates heat, raises temperatures and affects the environment,” said Zubair of the building material that is allowed only in outlying neighbourhoods.

Many of Akre’s narrow alleyways can only be navigated by donkeys and wind through a historic city centre bathed in the pale yellow and brown hues of the locally quarried stone.

Oil-rich Iraq is the world’s fifth-most vulnerable country to the effects of climate change, according to the United Nations.

The Kurdistan region where Akre lies suffers from heat and water scarcity like the rest of the

country.

But while Iraqi authorities have done little to address the challenges, Akre, a city of 100,000 residents about 500 kilometres (311 miles) north of Baghdad, believes sticking with the old ways will help it adapt.

Since 1991, when Kurdistan gained de facto autonomy from Iraq, it has declared concrete off limits for construction and renovation in the old city of Akre. No air-coN: An impressive building welcomes those entering the old city. Dating to 1853, it is a remnant of the Ottoman Empire that once ruled the area.

“It’s an old military barracks,” said Jamil Siddik, a 63-year-old engineer who oversees renovation works in the city.

The limestone used for renovation is sourced from the mountains that surround Akre, he explained. For its residents, “limestone is easy to use. It’s cheap and available,” Siddik said.

It also provides great insulation. “Concrete blocks may only be 20 centimetres (7.9 inches) wide, while the stones are 40 or 60 centimetres wide,” he said.

Bewar Majeed, 37, lives in the old city. By his doorstep, kittens

were playing in the sun, as the temperature reached 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).

But inside the house, the rooms are nice and cool thanks to its limestone walls.

“I don’t need an air conditioner,” he said. “I have a small air cooler, which is enough for me, and it’s less expensive.”

The city’s policy promoting stone over concrete relies on public financing.

For years after 2011, public funds paid for the renovation of 25 old houses and a mosque. In 2014, however, funding was suspended “because of the financial crisis”, said Mayor Zubair.

Now, he added, old city residents may renovate or build with their own money, so long as they avoid concrete, or “eventually cover it with stone”. TourisT draw: On top of the environmental benefits, Akre’s conservation efforts aim to preserve its heritage value and attract tourism.

According to the regional tourism board, 1.7 million visitors came to Iraqi Kurdistan during the first quarter of 2022, the vast majority of them Iraqis.

The autonomous region has cultivated an image of stability, distancing itself from the violence that has engulfed other parts of Iraq in recent years.

Still, Kurdistan hasn’t been entirely spared the sounds of battle.

Neighbouring Turkey regularly carries out military operations there in its fight against the rebel Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has been designated a “terrorist” group by Turkey and its Western allies.

In July, artillery bombardment several dozen kilometres away from Akre killed nine civilians, most of them Iraqi holidaymakers. Baghdad blamed Ankara, which denies the Iraqi claim.

Indonesia probes elite officers over stadium disaster

“If there was a riot, it (the tear gas) should be fired to the pitch, not in the stand,” Danny Agung Prasetyo, supporter group Arema DC’s coordinator told AFP.

Elite Indonesian police officers were under investigation Tuesday over a stadium stampede that killed 125 people including dozens of children in one of the deadliest disasters in football history.

As public anger grew over the tragedy, police moved to punish those responsible for the crush in the city of Malang that witnesses say started when officers fired tear gas into packed stands to quell a pitch invasion.

Arema FC fans set up a makeshift centre in Malang Monday to receive legal complaints, saying they would file a lawsuit against officers for causing what they said were scores of deaths by indiscriminately targeting spectators in confined terraces.

Police described the incident as a riot and said two officers were killed, but survivors accuse them of overreacting.

“Many of the victims were those who were in the stand. They were panicking because of the tear gas.”

The local police chief was replaced Monday, nine officers were suspended and 19 others were put under investigation over the disaster that struck the stadium filled with only hometown Arema FC fans, national police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo said.

The Indonesian government suspended the country’s national league and announced a task force to investigate the tragedy. It said the probe would take two to three weeks to complete.

The terraces of the Kanjuruhan stadium were packed with thousands of young “Aremania”, or Arema FC fans, to watch their team face fierce rivals Persebaya Surabaya.

But after a 3-2 defeat, the first at home for more than two decades to their adversaries from East Java’s biggest city, fans streamed down to the pitch to speak to players and management.

Police responded to the pitch invasion with force by kicking and hitting fans with batons, according to witnesses and video footage, prompting more fans to join the crowd on the pitch.

Calls for an independent investigation have grown since details of the stampede started to emerge over the weekend.

“We will find out what really happened, about the violence and the excessive use of force,” Choirul Anam, a commissioner of the National Commission of Human Rights (Komnas HAM), told a press briefing Monday.

“Why would you kick someone who was just walking on the side of the field?”

Fan anger was displayed at the stadium where a police truck was torched and the

Prisons chief killed in Indian-occupied Kashmir

SRINAGAR The AssociATed Press

The prisons chief in occupied Kashmir has been killed, officials said Tuesday, as India’s powerful home minister arrived in the disputed Himalayan region on a three-day visit.

The body of Director-General of Prisons Hemant Kumar Lohia bore multiple wounds and was found Monday night at his friend’s home in the southern city of Jammu where he was visiting, police said.

An initial probe suggested that Lohia’s household helper was behind the killing, senior police officer Mukesh Singh told reporters. He said the suspect fled the scene and added that the police investigation has not identified any militant link to the killing.

Police on Tuesday apprehended the suspect and began interrogating him.

However, a fighter group, the People’s Anti-Fascist Front, or PAFF, claimed responsibility in a statement on social media.

Pakistan and India both claim the divided territory of Kashmir in its entirety. Pro-freedom groups in the occupied portion of Kashmir have been fighting against New Delhi’s rule since 1947.

The PAFF statement said the killing was a “small gift” to Home Minister Amit Shah, who arrived in the region on Monday.

The group’s statement could not be independently verified.

Security officials have blamed groups like PAFF for many killings of police and civilians, but fighters have not killed a high-profile official such as Lohia in recent years.

“This is just a beginning of such high-profile operations,” the PAFF statement said.

The group emerged after India in 2019 stripped the region of its semi-autonomous status, scrapped its statehood, and undertook a massive security and communications lockdown while taking direct control of the region.

Kashmir has remained on edge ever since as authorities have put in place a slew of new laws which many Kashmiris fear could change the region’s demographics.

India claims the Kashmir movement is Pakistansponsored terrorism. Pakistan denies it, and most Kashmiris consider it a legitimate freedom struggle.

Tens of thousands of civilians, rebels and government forces have been killed in the conflict.

walls were daubed with graffiti that read “Tear gas vs mother’s tears” and “Our friends died here”.

‘Hit directly’

More vigils were planned in Malang on Tuesday after fans and Arema FC players gathered outside the stadium a day before to lay flowers at the scene and pray for the victims.

Among the dead were 32 children, an official at the women’s empowerment and child protection ministry told AFP, adding that the youngest was a toddler aged just three or four. Indonesia’s health ministry said all the victims of the stampede have now been identified.

Of the hundreds injured, 68 were severely wounded and 219 suffered moderate injuries. 26 are still being treated for their wounds, health ministry official Siti Nadia Tarmizi told state news agency Antara.

Football fan violence is an enduring problem in Indonesia, and Persebaya

Surabaya fans had been barred from the game because of it.

But fans said they were not to blame.

Indonesian officials said more tickets had been allocated than should have been, while some of the stadium’s doors appeared to have been shut, according to witnesses.

That left physically stronger supporters to scale large fences in order to escape the mayhem while the most vulnerable were at the mercy of the crush as tear gas rained down.

“The doors were closed, that’s why people were pushing. Some lay down in the corner” by a closed gate to try to escape the crush, a 16-year-old survivor of the chaos told AFP.

“In the stand, there were some people who got hit directly. I saw it myself,” he said.

Everything that could go wrong at a football match, appeared to do so on Saturday night, culminating in a disaster never seen before in an Indonesian stadium.

JAKARTA AFP

BaBar aZam amoNg adam gilchrist’s toP five t20 Players

LAHORE staff RepoRt

WITHthe ICC Men’s T20 World Cup less than two weeks away, Australia legend Adam Gilchrist has chosen the first five players he would pick in a dream World T20I XI. A man who revolutionised the game with his work with both bat and wicket-keeping gloves, Gilchrist enjoyed a legendary white-ball career for Australia, winning three Cricket World Cup titles. In the T20 game, Gilchrist showed his qualities in the format’s infancy, boasting a strike-rate of over 140.

Now a Fox Cricket commentator, Gilchrist has overseen a

wealth of T20 cricket, and named players from five different countries in his quintet.

1. David Warner (Australia) –

ICC T20I Batting Ranking: 49th

“He’s at the top of the order,” Gilchrist said.

“I think just his attacking attitude, the way he kick-starts innings at the top, and the confidence he’ll have from the previous T20 World Cup.”

2. Babar Azam (Pakistan) –

ICC T20I Batting Ranking: 3th

“His versatility across all formats, but also when it’s getting down to T20 cricket, just across all conditions, I think he can play all conditions really well,” Gilchrist noted.

3. Hardik Pandya (India) –ICC T20I All-Rounder Ranking: 4th “Pandya is just an awesome

figure straight across the board,” Gilchrist said.

“His ability to bat, bowl, field and entertain, he’s definitely in there.”

4. Rashid Khan (Afghanistan) – ICC T20I Bowling Ranking: 4th

“He’s just got to be there in any T20 team, doesn’t he?” Gilchrist said. “Cricketer of the year in this format across the world. Over the last decade, Rashid Khan is in there.”

5. Jos Buttler (England) –ICC T20I Batting Ranking: 21st

“It’s a bit batting heavy I know, but Jos Buttler for me,” Gilchrist added.

“He is just dynamic, his power and his courage to take it on. Simply a stroke of brilliance from him and its game over.”

Gilchrist is the most recent star of the game to list his first five players picked in a dream T20I XI, following in the footsteps of Mark Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Shane Watson and Mahela Jayawardena as former greats to have given their view on the difficult task.

Fellow Australian Waugh only listed two players the same as Gilchrist – Rashid Khan and Jos Buttler – while Ponting had four players in common with his former team-mate when speaking with host Sanjana Ganesan on The ICC Review.

Watson had three players in his five that were in common with Gilchrist, while Jayawardena had only two players in common when he was asked to list his five players earlier in the year.

Bairstow to miss all ventures in year 2022 after freak injury

ping on the course.

Pakistan team lands in New Zealand for tri-series

ISLAMABAD staff RepoRt

Pakistan cricket team has landed in New Zealand to feature in the tri-series beginning October 7 at Christchurch. According to details, apart from Pakistan, Bangladesh and hosts New Zealand were participating in the series. All matches of the tri-series would be played in Christchurch. Pakistan squad includes 16 players and 13 sports staff members. The national squad would resume training in Christchurch from Thursday after a day’s rest. Pakistan would play its first match of the tri-series against Bangladesh on October 7. It may be mentioned here that Pakistan recently lost seven-match T20I series, 4-3, against England on home soil. This tri series would a good chance for Pakistan to tuneup their preparations for the T20 World Cup in Australia. Pakistan squad comprise Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Junior, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood and Usman Qadir. Traveling reserves include Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Haris and Shahnawaz Dahani.

moeen closes door on test return

LONDON staff RepoRt

England all-rounder Moeen Ali said he has closed the door on a return to Test cricket after having an “honest” conversation with coach Brendon McCullum. Moeen made his Test debut in 2014 and went on to score 2,914 runs in 64 tests at an average of 28.29, picking up 195 wickets. The 35-year-old announced his retirement from the longest format of the game in September last year but in June said McCullum had sounded him out about a potential red-ball return. England’s Test side next play a three-match series against Pakistan in Rawalpindi, Multan and Karachi in December but Moeen said he would not be with them. “I’ve had an honest chat with Baz (McCullum) and I can’t see myself being stuck in hotels for another month and playing to the best of my ability,” Moeen wrote in his column for the Daily Mail on Monday. “Baz phoned me, we spoke at length and I said, ‘Sorry, I’m done’. He understands, he knows the feeling. Test cricket is hard work. I’m 35 and something’s got to give. “I want to enjoy my cricket and it wouldn’t be fair to reverse my decision and then struggle to give it my all. It’s time to close the door on that side of my career. To play 64 tests for England has been a privilege and a dream fulfilled.” Moeen captained England’s Twenty20 side in their 43 series win over Pakistan in the absence of the injured Jos Buttler, and will be a key player for the team in this month’s T20 World Cup in Australia.

England batsman Jonny Bairstow has confirmed he won’t play again this year after undergoing surgery on a broken leg following a “freak accident” playing golf.

Just hours after being named in England’s T20 World Cup squad, Bairstow was forced to withdraw after suffering a broken leg when he slipped while walking to a tee box.

Bairstow, who turned 33 last week, has already been ruled out of the upcoming World Cup in Australia. He confirmed Monday there was no prospect of him being fit enough for England’s three-Test series in Pakistan in December.

Bairstow revealed he let out “uncontrollable screams” after slip-

“The actual injury was as such… a broken fibula in three places which required a plate, I dislocated my ankle which in turn meant I did my syndesmosis joint and lateral ligament along with a couple more bits,” he posted on Instagram. “All in all I have done a proper job on it!”

He added: “Anyway… on the positive side the operation went well and I am now three weeks post surgery and my staples have been removed…

“One thing is for sure and that is I shall not be partaking in anything more during 2022… however I cannot wait for what 2023 holds!!”

Before the injury, Bairstow had been in superb form for England, scoring 1,061 runs, including six hundreds, at an average of 66.31

during the best year of his Test career.

Bairstow told the Daily Telegraph: “Normally when you slip you fall on your bum, which would have been fine as there’s plenty of cushion in there.

“Except this time I tried to regain my balance, my left ankle turned right, dislocated and my weight went through my left lower leg. I heard it snap straight away. “I took a couple of steps down then slipped. By the time I crumpled into a heap, I was three-quarters of the way down. It’s all a blur, it happened so quickly.

“I yelped. Uncontrollable screams, the sort you hear on a rugby field. The adrenaline kicked in, and I knew I needed an ambulance. The next three hours without painkillers were not too fun.”

Azhar Ali, Tayyab Tahir tons give Central Punjab edge over Balochistan

innings with 64 off 88 (10 fours).

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Ihsanullah (three for 45), Arshadullah (two for 73) and Arshad Iqbal (two for 87) shared seven wickets.

Windies dump hetmyer for t20 World cup

MIAMI afp

Superb tons from Azhar Ali and Tayyab Tahir put Central Punjab in a commanding position against Balochistan at the close of second day’s play of round two of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2022-23 at Pindi Stadium Rawalpindi on Tuesday.

Central Punjab, who have already accumulated 10 points from the first two innings were 417 for four after starting the day on 91 for two as Azhar brought up his 44th first-class century and Tayyab stroked his second century on the bounce. They currently lead Balochistan by 232 runs.

Azhar made 107 off 196 with 11 fours and a six and Tayyab was unbeaten on 118 off 205, hitting 10 fours and a six. Tayyab will resume his innings with young all-rounder Qasim Akram, who made 59 not out off 77 (eight fours and a six).

At Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium, Northern were 129 for two in reply to Sindh’s 457 for eight.

Umar Amin top-scored with an unbeaten 60 after he added 92 runs for the second wicket with Mohammad Huraira, who missed half-century by eight runs.

Sindh captain Saud Shakeel, who stroked his 12th hundred at this level on Monday, converted his overnight 112 into 158.

He batted for 319 balls and hit 14 fours and two sixes. Sarfaraz Ahmed scored his second half-century in as many matches with a 70 not out off 136 (eight fours). Sindh were 309 for five at the completion of 100 overs and pocketed three batting points, while Northern got one point.

Umar Siddiq’s 13th first-class century lifted Southern Punjab to 308 at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium after Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had made 240 on Monday.

Southern Punjab began the day at a precarious 48 for three before Umar smashed 19 fours in his 199-ball innings. Salman Ali Agha was the next best batter in the

Batting second, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are four for one and have a trail of 64 to surmount.

Scores in brief: Toss uncontested – Central Punjab bowl first against Balochistan at Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

Balochistan 185 all out, 47.2 overs (Hussain Talat 43, Asad Shafiq 34, Haseebullah 25, Azeem Ghumman 21; Ahmed Daniyal 3-41, Mohammad Ali 3-49, Umaid Asif 2-39)

Central Punjab 417-4, 114.5 overs (Tayyab Tahir 118 not out, Azhar Ali 107, Qasim Akram 59 not out, Mohammad Saad 38, Abdullah Shafique 36, Abid Ali 30; Akif Javed 2-98)

Innings points – Balochistan (one), Central Punjab (10)

Toss uncontested – Southern Punjab elect to bowl against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 240 all out, 69.2 overs (Waqar Ahmed 134 not out, Sahibzada Farhan 44; Mohammad Ilyas 4-76, Ahmed Bashir 3-31, Hasan Ali 242) and 4-1, 1.1 overs

Southern Punjab 308 all out, 91.2 overs (Umar Siddiq 112, Salman Ali Agha 64, Yousuf Babar 23; Ihsanullah 3-45, Arshadullah 2-73, Arshad Iqbal 2-87)

Innings points – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (four), Southern Punjab (eight)

Sindh choose to bat against Northern at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad

Sindh 457-8, 138.5 overs (Saud Shakeel 158, Sarfaraz Ahmed 70 not out, Khurram Manzoor 58, Omair Bin Yousuf 36, Saim Ayub 35, Mohammad Asghar 29 not out, Asif Mehmood 21; Mubasir Khan 4-140)

Northern 129-2, 41 overs (Umar Amin 60 not out, Mohammad Huraira 42; Mohammad Asghar 2-56) Innings points – Sindh (three), Northern (one).

West Indies dropped Shimron Hetmyer from the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia after the batter missed a rescheduled flight, Cricket West Indies announced on Monday. The 25-year-old from Guyana was replaced on the roster by Shamarh Brooks in a decision by the Cricket West Indies (CWI) selection panel after Hetmyer missed his flight to Australia, which had been moved due to family reasons. After a seat was found on a Monday flight to New York, Hetmyer told CWI on Monday morning that he would be unable to get to the Guyana airport in time to make his flight to New York. “This afternoon we informed the CWI board of directors that the selection panel had unanimously decided to replace Shimron Hetmyer with Shamarh Brooks in our T20 World Cup squad,” CWI director of cricket Jimmy Adams said. “Whilst we changed Shimron’s flight from Saturday to Monday due to family reasons, it was made clear to him that if there were any further delays and issues with his travel to Australia then we would have no choice but to replace him in the squad, as we are not prepared to compromise the team’s ability to prepare for this extremely important global event.” Brooks will fly out later this week and miss T20 International matches against Australia on Wednesday at Gold Coast and Friday at Brisbane, instead joining the squad at Melbourne.

“Shamarh has been a part of our recent T20 International squads and delivered strong performances in the latter stages of the recently concluded CPL (Caribbean Premier League),” Adams said. The West Indies is in Group B of the T20 World Cup alongside Scotland, Ireland and Zimbabwe with the top two from the group stage advancing to the Super 12s. West Indies open on October 17 against Scotland.

LONDON staff RepoRt

RAWALPINDI staff RepoRt

ISI, IB DGS IncluDeD In hIGh-level commIttee to proBe pm houSe auDIo leakS

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

tHEgovernment Tuesday announced the formation of a high-powered committee to probe the audio tapes leaked from the Prime Minister’s House. Director-General of the InterServices Intelligence (DG ISI) and Intelligence Bureau (DG IB) have been included in the committee, a notification from the Cabinet Division said.

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah will head the committee, with members including federal ministers Sherry Rehman, Asad Mehmood, Aminul Haque, and Azam Nazeer Tarrar.

Cabinet Division’s secretary, DG ISI or his representative, DG IB, National Telecommunication and Information Security Board’s secretary, and technical experts from Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, Federal Investigation Agency, and ISI will also

be included in the committee.

The committee has been tasked to oversee and review the investigation into the cyber security breach and ensure that it covers all important aspects of the matter. It has also been asked to suggest measures to improve the protocols within seven days.

The group will also revisit the existing e-safety and cyber security procedures; broadly evaluate the existing capacity and vulnerabilities of government departments; reassess the risks associated with various electronic gadgets, and suggest measures to develop the resilience of government offices against cyber-attacks within 15 days, the notification said.

In particular, it has been asked to submit short and medium-term recommendations for securing the sensitive data and information technology environment of important ministries and offices of strategic importance in the next 15 days.

Govt finalizes strategy to deal with ptI’s long march

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

The Federal Government on Tuesday finalized a comprehensive strategy to deal with the long march of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf towards Islamabad.

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan okayed the strategy while chairing an in-camera meeting attended by Interior Secretary Yusuf Naseem Khokhar, Frontier Corps Commandant Salahuddin Mehsud, Chief Commissioner Islamabad Usman Yunus and Inspector General of Police Dr Akbar Nasir, and representatives of law enforcement agencies.

The meeting was told that around 20,000 people were expected to participate in the long march. It was decided to engage the Sindh Police, Rangers and FC to ensure law and order in the Federal Capital during the long march. It was also decided to hand over the security of public buildings and Diplomatic Enclave in the Red Zone to the Pakistan Army, which would be deployed under Article 245 of the Constitution.

The meeting resolved that the long march would not be allowed to enter the Federal Capital at any cost, and authorized the relevant departments for taking action against the individuals and organizations which were providing logistical and financial support to the PTI for their march.

Another decision to impose a complete ban on carrying weapon was also taken during the meeting.

It was also decided that the action would be taken against the federal employees who planned to support the PTI’s long march.

Directives were issued to ensure freedom of movement and functioning of educational institutions during the long march.

malala Yousafzai to visit flood-hit pakistan on 12th

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai will visit Pakistan on October 12 on Tuesday.

According to the report, the Nobel laureate will visit the flood-hit areas in Sindh to catch the eye of the world to help out affectees.

As per the report, officials of the Home Ministry have written a letter to the Sindh government about the proper arrangements for Malala Yousafzai’s visit to flood-hit areas.

“[The committee will] prepare a draft legal framework for developing a robust and secure cyber ecosystem that ensures seamless cyber security of government offices,” the notification said. The committee has been directed to complete the aforementioned tasks in the prescribed time duration, the notification said.

Several audios have been leaked online in a span of eight days — three of the incumbent government and two of PTI.

The first was leaked last Saturday, which allegedly featured PM Shehbaz Sharif and a senior official. It contained a discussion regarding PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz asking for a power plant from India to be imported for her son-in-law.

Later on Sunday, two more audios were leaked on social media. One of them was related to a discussion about the PTI’s resignation and another was about former finance minister Miftah Ismail.

The first audio related to PTI was leaked on September 28, in which former prime minister Imran Khan allegedly told his then-principal secretary Azam Khan to “play” with the US cypher.

The second PTI audio leak came to the fore Friday, which exposed Khan’s conspiracy narrative.

In the latest audio, the then-prime minister Khan, ex-minister Asad Umar, and the then-principle secretary Azam could allegedly be heard discussing the US cypher in a meeting and how to use it in their interest.

Following the back-to-back leaks, the National Security Council (NSC) approved the formation of a high-level committee under the leadership of Sanauallah to investigate the matter of the audio leaks.

In its meeting just a day after, the federal cabinet also endorsed NSC’s decision to conduct a thorough investigation into the issue.

UN launches fresh appeal of over $800m for Pakistan’s flood victims

The United Nations (UN) has launched a fresh appeal of over 800 million dollars for Pakistan flood victims on the basis of updated on-ground assessment of the situation in the country. Ceremonies to this effect were simultaneously held in Islamabad and Geneva on Tuesday.

In his remarks, Minister for Economic Affairs Sardar Ayaz Sadiq emphasized for sustained and long-term support on the part of world community to Pakistan recover from the climateinduced devastating floods.

The minister said at present the relief efforts are going on in the flood-affected areas and when the water recedes, the rehabilitation work will be started which cannot be

finished in months but it will take years. He said if Pakistan is left alone at this time, this will set a wrong precedent as Pakistan is not responsible for this climate catastrophe.

He said the world has to wake up and step up efforts for climate change. The climate change fund has to be utilized in these kinds of catastrophes.

Sardar Ayaz Sadiq thanked those who extended support to Pakistan in this difficult hour; saying more on their part will make it easier for Pakistan to cope with the disaster and save precious lives.

In her remarks, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar said the world must respond to the needs of the people affected by the climate change.

He said it is our job to

make sure that the flood victims in Pakistan are not only equipped to survive this crisis but they also thrive afterwards.

Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths said the people of Pakistan are bearing the brunt of the world’s inaction to face climate change or prepare for its consequences. He said Pakistan has not caused this crisis for which they are undeserving victims. He said we need to deliver shelter and essential household items to over two million families.

Martin Griffiths emphasized for standing with Pakistan at this difficult hour.

Director General of WHO Dr Tedros Adhanom gave an update on the health situation in the flood affected areas.

Swati files reference against Yousaf Gilani for violating toshakhana rules

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Azam Khan Swati said Tuesday that his party had submitted a big reference to the Senate against Yousaf Raza Gilani for violating the rules of Toshakhana while he was a prime minister.

Talking to media in Islamabad, Swati said: “Today, a big reference has been submitted to the Senate. Yousaf Raza Gilani, as prime minister, had violated the laws of Toshakhana. He had given three vehicles to former president

Asif Ali Zardari and one to Nawaz Sharif.”

He added: “This is the violation of Toshakhana Rules 11. We have filed a case under Article 62. The Senate chairman will now send this reference to the election commission.”

He declared: “We will prove in the light of the law that Yousaf Raza Gilani had misused his powers while he was prime minister. He has violated the Constitution; he is no longer a member of the Senate.”

rupee continues winning streak against dollar

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Pakistani rupee continued winning streak on Tuesday against greenback and gained Rs1.65 against US dollar in interbank trading to close at Rs225.63, against Rs227.28 the previous day.

According to Forex Association of Pakistan (FAP), the buying and selling rates of dollar in the open market were recorded at Rs226.5 and Rs 229 respectively.

The price of Euro declined by 27 paisa and closed at Rs 222.86 against the last day’s closing of Rs 223.13.

The Japanese Yen lost one paisa to close at Rs 1.55, whereas an increase of Rs 2.30 was witnessed in the exchange rate of the British Pound, which was traded at Rs 257.05 as compared to its last closing of Rs 254.75.

The exchange rates of Emirates Dirham and Saudi Riyal decreased by 44 paisa and 45 paisa to close at Rs 61.43 and Rs 60.03 respectively.

LPG shortage, overpricing: OGRA submits response to Cabinet Division

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

To curb the menace of overcharging and decanting of LPG ahead of winter season, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has authorised all Deputy Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners to take on the spot action.

Owing to suspension of LPG transportation caused by severe floods and road blockages during last month of September, LPG consumers across the country were found complaining about the overpricing of LPG.

However, following the complaints of shortage, overpricing and decanting of LPG, OGRA has swung into action to curb the menace of overcharging by authorising the Deputy Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners of all the provinces to take action on ground, saying it is taking all possible regulatory measures to respond to the current situation aimed at consumer’s comfort and maintaining balance throughout LPG value chain.

OGRA, in its response on a public petition 4899 to the Cabinet division dated September 3, 2022, has in-

formed that the OGRA has taken numerous regulatory reforms in LPG sector including minimum LPG storage capacity has been fixed at 50MT for all new licensees. Previously some licenses had been granted on the basis of a five (5) MT only. All such small LPG Marketing Companies have also been given time to increase their storage capacity upto a minimum of 50 tons, said OGRA letter.

OGRA also told the cabinet division that the LPG market is a blend of local and imported LPG in a ratio of about 50:50 in summer and 40:60 in winter. The demand guides the market forces for import which is not restricted and any LPG licensee can import LPG in any quantity it can sell while market dynamics determine the supply sources and volumes.

OGRA, in its response to Cabinet Division further said that the plea of complainant is unrealistic, superfluous and attempt to divert the attention from the people involved in overcharging i-e mainly LPG distributor to whom the complainant himself claims to be the chairman, contrary to the facts.

Earlier, Irfan Khokhar, Chairman LPG Industries As-

sociation in a petition submitted before the Senate chairman had pleaded that over pricing by upto Rs 200/kg (Rs 2400 per domestic cylinder & Rs900 per commercial cylinder) is being done in the on-going month of September 2022 and due to this black marketing of approximately Rs8 billion has been done in the country. However, OGRA has now declared that the complainant is not a licensee of OGRA or legitimate stakeholder.

He represents a bogus association with name and title Distributors Association of Pakistan (DAP), which is not registered under the laws of Pakistan, hence he cannot be treated as collective bargaining agent. A few years ago and most recently also, a communication in this regard was also received in OGRA from All Pakistan LPG Distributors Association received from Ministry of Energy, DAP was asked to provide the requisite documentation in the name of DAP showing as registered association as per legal requirement of Ministry of Commerce, but it failed to do so, hence OGRA informed Ministry of Energy vide its letter dated March 12, 2018 that no correspondence from DAP shall be entertained in future.

Farmers call off protest after breakthrough in talks with government

RepoRt

Following nearly a week of protests and sit-in here in the federal capital, representatives of farmers on Tuesday called off their demonstrations after a breakthrough was achieved in negotiations with the government. The Kissan Ittehad, comprising farmers from across Punjab, was demanding the restoration of the previous tubewell electricity tariff of Rs5.3 per unit and the removal of taxes and adjustments among other things.

GOVT TO UNVEIL

Kissan Ittehad Chairman Khalid Butt, at a media talk alongside Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, called off the protest.

Separately, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif also said the government would unveil a historic Kissan package next week for development of the agriculture sector.

Describing agriculture as the backbone of national economy, the PM said it was also

very important for socio-economic development the country.

The prime minister, who held separate meetings with various delegations of farmers, directed the committee of relevant ministers to present actionable recommendations for the redressal of growers’ problems, in consultation with their representatives at the earliest.

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan,

Minister for National Food Security Tariq Bashir Cheema, Member of the Provincial Assembly (Punjab) Rana Mashood Ahmad Khan and senior officials concerned were present in the meetings.

The prime minister expressed his resolve to provide all possible relief for the development of agricultural sector and ensure the welfare of growers in the light of the committee’s recommendations and keeping in view the country’s current economic situation.

In that respect, he also announced to unveil the historic Kissan package during the Kissan

conference to be held next week. The prime minister while referring to the steps he had taken for the development of agriculture sector and for the welfare of Kissan brothers during his stint as Punjab chief minister, reminded how he had always protected the interests of farmers and provided them subsidy for the payment of electricity bills, provision of fertilizers and procurement of agricultural tools.

Sanaullah said that the government had agreed to the farmers’ demands, which included delay and installments in payments of power bills and cancellation of fuel adjustment charges.

ISLAMABAD

NATIONS Staff RepoRt