Epaper_22-11-18 KHI

govT noT considering ‘major changes’ To army acT: Kh asif

TERMS MEDIA HYPE OVER AMENDMENTS ‘UNCAllED-FOR’

ISLAMABAD staff rePort

dEFENCEMinister Khawaja Muhammad Asif Wednesday said that the government was not considering “major changes” to the Pakistan Army Act (PAA) 1952.

“Media hype over amendments to the Pakistan Army Act is uncalled for,” the defence minister stressed after a local daily reported that major changes would be made to the law.

“Government is not considering any major changes in the said Act. SCP had demanded review of relevant clauses of PAA in its judgment in CP 39/2019, which shall be complied with in due course.”

In a media report, it was alleged that the government seemed to be considering amending the army act to empower the ap-

pointing authority — the prime minister — to retain “any candidate through a simple notification, rather than having to go through a complex, constitutional process”.

The report further mentioned that after some changes, the report will be laid down before the Cabinet Committee for Disposal of legislative Cases (CClC) after the Ministry of Defence’s nod last month. later, it will land before the parliament for legislation.

The reports come as the army is all set to see a change of command, with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa all set to retire next month. The army chief is busy conducting farewell visits nowadays.PMl-N — the major stakeholder in the ruling coalition — has decided that the senior-most military official whose name will be at the top of the list sent to the prime minister would be appointed for the coveted slot.

Red-tapism sees imported oilseeds worth $400mn stuck at port

ministry of climate change.

ISLAMABAD: Imported oilseeds critical to Pakistan’s food security worth hundreds of millions of dollars are currently stuck at Port Qasim in Karachi pending the issuance of a certificate from the ministry of climate change.

OILSEEDS AnD GMOS

Pakistan relies heavily on imported oilseeds to meet its caloric demands. ‘Oilseeds’ are seeds grown primarily for the production of edible oils. In the broader sense, peanuts and soybeans can be considered oilseeds. Other examples include palm, canola, sunflower, and olives. The problem is, Pakistan does not have high quality oilseed plantations that are genetically modified organisms (GMOs). GMOs are resistant to weather andother climate disasters such as floods.

But since Pakistan has a huge demand for edible oil, GMO seeds are imported from foreign countries and sown in Pakistan. According to a report of the central bank, Pakistan’s palm and soybeanrelated imports stood at US$ 4 billion in FY21, rising by 47 percent year-on-year, compared to compound average growth of 12.3 percent in the last 20 years.

This is largely because Pakistan has been unable to develop its own GMO seeds and has to depend on imports. However, with shipments stuck at the port there may be a serious delay in the seeds getting to the market.

THE pROBLEM AT THE pORT

According to a member of All Pakistan Solvent Extractors’ Association (APSEA), two shipments of the vital oilseeds have not been cleared since October 20th this year. A reliable source in the the Plant Protection Department (DPP) of the Ministry of Food Security and Research said the shipment had been stopped over the issuance of a certificate by the

The requirement for a certificate from the climate change ministry had been introduced four years ago, and importers had applied for the certificates back then.

Because GMOs and the introduction of seeds into agriculture falls under environmental protection and is a key element of the country’s biosafety, the ministry of climate change is supposed to have oversight over such imports. However, issuance of the certificates fell prey to bureaucratic red-taping and an arrangement was made on a temporary basis to continue the import of oilseeds until the certificates could be issued. This year, however, it seems the ministry has decided to finally implement the requirement.

The hold up, which has lasted nearly a month at this point, is bound to get worse since more vessels are on their way with similar GMO seeds which will also be stopped at Port Qasim. Currently, the two shipments at Port Qasim are worth $100 million while at least five more vessels with seeds worth $300 million more are on their way. It is worth noting that the seeds have already been paid for, which means the hold-up will not affect the country exporting but will affect the supply of these seeds within Pakistan, and may eventually have an impact on oil prices.

According to both the importers and industry associations, the requirement has never been implemented before, and that the application has been submitted to the ministry for more than four years.

“Stopping the consignment without prior notice or intimation are posting huge losses to the importers. “We are paying thousands of dollars as demurrages for the past 28 days. Neither the consignments are being released nor the certificate is being issued to resolve the issue,” he added.

The acting Director General

of DPP, Allah Ditta Abid, when contacted, claimed that the issuance of GMO was entirely a subject of the Ministry of Climate Change.

The department only ensures fumigation of the consignment if the same is found infested. According to an official source, there was no policy framework for GMO certification by agricultural experts despite having proper rules and regulations to deal with the import of GM seeds.

THE cERTIfIcATIOn

It may be mentioned here that despite having no provision for certification of GMOs in the Seed Act 1976 of Pakistan the multinational companies were being given exemptions for seed import in Pakistan Biosafety Rules 2005. He was critical of the government departments and regulatory authorities, stating that national food security was one of the pillars of sovereignty for any country, but there was no proper risk assessment sector in Pakistan for the purpose except National Biosafety Committee.

In March 2022, the DPP had also ordered re-shipment of soya seeds after, what the department claimed, the consignments being heavily infested. It was reported by Pakistan Today that a vessel ‘MV Yangze 6’ carrying 556,36 metric tons of soybeans worth Rs6 billion from Brazil was stopped at Karachi port after being found as heavily infested. As a result of quarantine inspection by DPP at Karachi’s port, the vessel was found heavily infested with aflatoxins, fungal diseases and live insect pests with bad smell.

Meanwhile it was reported that for congestion at port the average container ship turnaround time (time to unload shipment, reload and leave port) in Pakistan was over 30 days. However, an official spokesman of Karachi Port Trust claimed that the information was not correct as container ships take a maximum 48 hours (two days) to turn around from Pakistan.

LAHORE: Former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan has said the establishment exercises “absolute authority” in Pakistan compared to civilian setups, saying “things went wrong” for him after he Russia visit in February this year. Talking to a group of journalists at his residence, Imran recalled the army chief wanted Pakistan to vote against Russian invasion of Ukraine at UN. News Desk

What is the Toshakhana?

Profit rePort

The way it is talked about, you would think that the Toshakhana was a large vault in the basement of a bank filled with treasures of immeasurable value. That is, at least, what the literal definition of the word Toshakhan is — house of treasure. In the days of yore, the Toshakhana was indeed a physical building where great treasures were stored. Today, it is essentially a government department that works under the cabinet division and keeps tabs on presents given to Pakistani representatives by foreign diplomats and leaders.

Established in 1974, Toshakhana is a department under the administrative control of the Cabinet Division and stores precious gifts given to rulers, parliamentarians, bureaucrats and officials by heads of other governments, states and foreign dignitaries as a goodwill gesture. It has valuables ranging from bulletproof cars, gold-plated souvenirs, expensive paintings to watches, ornaments, rugs and swords.

The existence of the Toshakhana represents a very standard practice in global diplomacy. Whenever the leaders of two countries meet, it is customary to exchange gifts. In most democratic states, however, these gifts are considered the property of the state and received by individuals on behalf of the country. As a result, they are stored in either museums, vaults, state houses, or auctioned off. In Pakistan, the governance of the Toshakhan has historically been a bone of contention. Currently, former prime minister Imran Khan is deeply embroiled in accusations alleging there were irregularities in the Toshakhana during his time in office. The case has also resulted in his disqualification as an MNA by the election commission. He is not the only public office holder to have faced such criticism. Former prime ministers Nawaz Sharif and Yousaf Raza Gillani as well as former president Asif Ali Zardari have also had allegations of irregularities in their handling of the Toshakhana brought forth against them.

How it works: The rules and regulations regarding the Toshakhana are outlined in the government document titled “Tosha Khana (Management and Regulation) Act 2022”. According to this document Tosha Khan is defined as the “repository” or “store” that serves the purpose of “maintaining, preserving and storing” the gifts received by public office holders.

Profit rePort Ghulam abbas

‘Establishment more powerful than civilian setup in Pakistan’

KenyAn rIGhTS Body SAyS ShArIf’S KIllInG wAS PlAnned

ISLAMABAD staff report

THEgrisly murder of Arshad Sharif, the top investigative journalist who was living in selfexile after receiving threats in Pakistan, in Kenya was premeditated, suggested Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), contradicting the previous claims made by the African nation’s police.

Martin Mavenjina, a KHRC member, said Sharif — who was shot dead on the evening of 23 October on the outskirts of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi — had been murdered as part of an elaborate plan, without elaborating further.

“The position of the Kenyan police on the death of Arshad Sharif is also weak,” he believed. “It is also clear from the

Govt expects $12b investment to set up world class refinery: Musadik

ISLAMABAD

saleem Jadoon

Minister of State Ministry of Energy, Petroleum Division Senator Dr Musadik Masood Malik has said that the government is expecting an investment of $12 billion to set up a world-class refinery in the country.

While addressing as keynote speaker at Thought Leaders Forum (TLF), Senator Dr Musadik Masood Malik said that Pakistan is striving hard to announce its refining policy soon. “The government’s vision of the energy sector is to energise the whole sector, Energise the poor and create the infrastructure that allows them upward social mobility,” he added. Dr Malik in his address said that the subsidies have hindered the growth of energy sector infrastructure. Productivity needs to be increased in both the public and private sectors through innovation and technology infusion.

The major problems of the energy sector include availability, affordability, and fiscal sustainability. Therefore, building pipelines especially from Central Asia to Pakistan like TAPI is necessary. Also, it is important to work on indigenising gas exploration in the country to build capacity and focus on renewable sources of energy.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) organized its third TLF on November 17, 2022 under title, “Pakistan’s Energy Vision: A Harbinger for Economic Development.”

Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Director General, ISSI in his welcome remarks highlighted the relevance of the topic chosen for discussion.

Earlier, Dr Talat Shabbir, Director China-Pakistan Study Centre, in his introductory remarks apprised the audience about the significance of TLF. Towards the end, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman, BOG ISSI, presented ISSI’s souvenir to the keynote speaker. The event was received well across the board.

Amid

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has been grappling with problems to meet the current expenditure and complete ongoing projects following “dillydally” of the federal government to release the allocated funds to the province.

The financial situation is expected to deteriorate further in next few months as the provincial government has exhausted all its available resources and even diverted development funds to meet the current expenditure. According to sources in the KP finance department, the federal government had reduced funds allocations for tribal districts by Rs25 billion but even the allocated funds are not being released.

In the first four months of the current financial year

evidence suggests the journalist was the victim of a targeted killing, rather than an accidental shooting, though he said he still needed more information on the incident.

Rana Sanaullah Khan told journalists: “Arshad Sharif’s death is not a case of mistaken identity — I can say, and, on the evidence we have so far, this prima facie is a targeted killing.

“We still need to obtain more [evidence] to confirm all this … and we have asked the Kenyan government for more data.”

A spokesperson for Kenyan police, Bruno Shioso, declined to respond to Khan at the time.

A police report a day after the shooting said police officers hunting car thieves opened fire on the vehicle that Sharif was travelling in as it allegedly drove through their roadblock without stopping.

Gen Bajwa lauds operational preparedness, high morale of troops

RAWALPINDI staff report

General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) on Thursday visited Bahawalpur and Okara as part of farewell visits.

The COAS laid floral wreath at Martyrs’ monument at Bahawalpur and interacted with officers and troops of Formations at Bahawalpur and Okara. The COAS also witnessed Integrated Fire Power Manoeuvre Exercise at Khairpur Tamewali (KPT) where troops of Bahawalpur Corps along with PAF JF-17 thunder aircrafts, Cobra Gunship Helicopters and Mechanized elements displayed coordinated fire power in battlefield conditions. The COAS appreciated the training standards, operational preparedness and high morale of officers and troops. COAS directed troops to keep serving the nation with traditional zeal and passion under all circumstances.

Shahzad Akbar ‘misled’ PTI cabinet over misappropriation of funds: Vawda

ISLAMABAD agencies

“I and Shahzad Akbar had a fight. I told Imran Khan about Shahzad Akbar that he will flee abroad,” Vawda said while talking to media outside the National Accountability Bureau’s Rawalpindi office.

Vawda said that he and former human rights minister Shireen Mazari had raised the issue of misappropriation of funds, adding that Shahzad Akbar had briefed the cabinet on the matter.

– July, August, September and October – the federal government has to provide Rs47.9 billion of which Rs25 billion were for current expenditure, Rs10 billion for development programs of merged districts while Rs12.5 billion were for the rapid development program. However, the federal government has released Rs27.5 billion in these four months, which is Rs20.4 billion less than the allocated fund.

The centre has released Rs22.5 billion for current expenditure, Rs2 billion for integrated district development program and Rs3 billion for rapid development program, which makes a total of Rs27.5 billion which has delayed the development program and now it is difficult for the KP to bear the financial burden of the province. Keeping in view the current financial situation of the country, it seems that the center will not be able to release enough funds to the province.

The cabinet was made to do this wrongful deed for no reason and Pakistan’s exchequer suffered a loss of 190 million pounds as a consequence, he added.

The former PTI leader said that people around Imran Khan are conspiring against him. “Imran Khan trusts his people immensely… at that time even IB also used to report what Shahzad Akbar used to say,” he added.

Criticising the PTI’s ongoing long march to Islamabad, Vawda questioned who will benefit from it. “When your popularity is such that you will win the election with a two-thirds majority, then there is no need for a march.”

Vawda went on to say that his political journey began with the PTI and it will also end with the same party. “I have proved my loyalty.

Whenever Imran Khan wants to ask me questions, I am here.”

State Department: ‘Never been a truth’ to US conspiracy claim

The United States has once again rejected the accusation that Washington orchestrated a conspiracy to oust former prime minister Imran Khan from power, and reiterated its resolve not to let “propaganda, misinformation and disinformation” influence the historic ties between the two nations.

The response from Washington on Wednesday came days after Khan signalled his readiness to mend ties with the US after repeatedly accusing Washington of conspiring to remove him through the contentious vote of no-confidence.

“As far as I’m concerned, it’s over, it’s behind me. The Pakistan I want to lead must have good relationships with everyone, especially the United States,” he said in an interview with the Financial Times.

While Khan expressed a willingness to work with Washington if he is re-elected and

said he wanted a “dignified” relationship with the US, the change in his tone was dubbed a U-turn by his opponents in the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) alliance.

A spokesperson for the Department of State, Vedant Patel, when asked to comment on the interview during a press briefing, said: “As we’ve previously said, there has — there is not and there has never been a truth to these allegations, but I don’t have anything additional to offer.”

During his interview, Khan also criticised Pakistan’s relationship with the US. “Our relationship with the US has been as of a master-servant relationship, or a master-slave relationship, and we’ve been used like a hired gun. But for that I blame my own governments more than the US,” he told the British publication.

However, during the press briefing, Patel emphasised the US viewed a prosperous and democratic Pakistan as critical to Washington’s interests.

“And we don’t have a position on one political candidate of a party versus another. We support the peaceful upholding of democratic, constitutional, and legal principles,” Patel said.

“Ultimately, we will not let propaganda, misinformation, and disinformation get in the way of any bilateral relationship, including our valued bilateral partner with Pakistan,” the Indian-origin spokesperson added.

Also on Wednesday, Khan, in another interview with France24 TV station, said he had never backtracked from his claims of the foreign conspiracy that led to the toppling of his government. In the latest interview, Khan said he had a diplomatic cable in which Donald Lu, assistant secretary of state for south and central Asia, told the Pakistan ambassador in Washington at the time, Asad Majeed Khan, in early March that there would be consequences if he was not ousted through the no-confidence vote — which was yet to be tabled then.

LAHORE: Artistes perform during Winter Family Festival began at Race Course Park on Thursday. photo By zuBair mehfooz

WASHINGTON staff report

“So, that’s exactly what I said. I never backtracked on this. The cipher exists. It was put in front of the cabinet. It was put in front

of

the National

Security [Committee]. It is now with the chief justice where we wanted him to hold an independent inquiry,” Khan said.

investigation that armed men who had fired shots at Arshad Sharif were trained people.”

The suggestion comes less than two weeks after the interior minister said

PESHAWAR aziz Buneri

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) dissident leader Faisal Vawda on Thursday accused ex-prime minister Imran Khan’s adviser for accountability and interior Shahzad Akbar of “misleading” the PTI cabinet over the issue involving misappropriation of funds from the UK.

financial crisis, center fails to release allocated funds to tribal districts

IMf IndICATeS wIllInGneSS To VIew TArGeTed ASSISTAnCe for flood AffeCTeeS

ISLAMABAD shahzad paracha

INTERNATIONALMonetary Fund (IMF) has indicated its willingness to sympathetically view the targeted assistance for poor and vulnerable, especially flood affectees.

According to the Finance ministry, Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar held an

online meeting with Nathan Porter, IMF Mission Chief for Pakistan.

The two sides discussed the progress made with the ongoing IMF program, particularly the impact of floods on macroeconomic framework and targets for the current year. IMF indicated its willingness to sympathetically view the targeted assistance for poor and vulnerable, especially flood affectees.

It was agreed that expenditure estimates

KP IGP says US weapons left in Afghanistan being used in terror activities

PESHAWAR staff report

Inspector General (IG) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Moazzam Jah Ansari on Thursday claimed weapons left by the US in Afghanistan are being used in KP. Addressing a press conference in Peshawar, Moazzam Jah Ansari said weapons left by US after departure from Afghanistan are being used in terror activities in the province. He reiterated the war against terror was not Pakistan’s but we have faced huge losses after it. the IG KP said terrorists attacked jawans in Bajaur yesterday. Ansari vowed to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the province and went on to say that they are ready for ‘losses’.

At least six policemen were martyred in a fierce gun attack in Wanda Shahab Khel area of Lakki Marwat District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Wednesday.

Govt prioritizing green investment to mitigate climate changes’ impacts: Ahsan

Iqbal

ISLAMABAD staff report

Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal on Thursday said that promoting green investment in Pakistan was top priority of the government to tackle with the growing environmental issues.

The minister said the government was taking steps to promote various sources of renewable energy, including solar energy and it would discourage use of fossil fuels for electricity production.

He was speaking in the panel discussion at the launching of “Friends of Greening National Investment Plans in Africa and Developing Countries Initiative” on “Solutions Day” hosted by Minister for Planning and Economic Development Egypt Dr. Hala El-Said on the margins of COP27 Climate Conference in Sharm El-Sheikh.

He informed that the government had initiated a project for production of 10,000 MW electricity through solar panels.

Ahsan Iqbal said the government was also planning to elevate the 20 most backward districts of Pakistan through sustainable development.

He said in Pakistan, it was mandatory for each project to be at par with the environmental standards.

Pakistan, he said, was contributing less than 1% in the global warming but still it was among those top seven countries which were vulnerable to the climate change risks. Climate change is causing record heat, torrential rains and flooding in Pakistan, he said adding that climate change’s impacts are not a fiction but have become reality now.

The minister maintained that climate change issues have directly affected 33 million people in Pakistan. He added the international Monetary system had failed to cope with the agenda of climate change. He also called for establishing a special fund on the international level to develop infrastructure adapt to the climate change risks.

The developed countries must focus their attention on the climate change impacts, as they were not exception to the climate change impacts, Iqbal said.

for flood related humanitarian assistance during the current year will be firmed up along with estimates of priority rehabilitation expenditure. In this regard engagement at the technical level shall be expeditiously concluded for proceeding with the 9th Review.

Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar reiterated GOP’s commitment to successfully completing the IMF program. Earlier, it was reported that the IMF has

asked Pakistan to reverse or compensate with new tax measures the losses of recently introduced measures (agricultural subsidies, exporter subsidies and power sector delays).

Meanwhile, a senior official said that the IMF did not have any issue with the agriculture package and no target for new revenues.

On the visit of the IMF team for ninth review, the official said that the details would be shared on finalization of dates.

Matiari deputy commissioner arrested over Rs1.75b corruption scandal

KARACHI staff report

Deputy commissioner of Matiari district in Sindh, Adnan Rashid, has been arrested by an anticorruption team over alleged corruption in funds reserved for the procurement of land for the M-6 motorway connecting the cities of Sukkur and Hyderabad.

The arrest came after the chief secretary of Sindh initiated an inquiry into the scandal. The team dispatched from Hyderabad to arrest Rashid also searched his official residence and is said to have seized important documents

related to the procurement process.

According to documents, the National Highway Authority (NHA) released Rs4.09 billion to Rashid’s office for the purchase of the land. He, however, withdrew Rs1.82 billion to acquire a 70kilometre long patch. Rashid then wired Rs4 billion to another account and, in the process, embezzled Rs540 million. Mansoor Abbasi, assistant commissioner of New Saeedabad tehsil of Matiari, paid cash, instead of the standard practise of cheques, to the sellers. Apparently, instead of paying the money by cross cheques, the suspects withdrew the money in

their own names, according to an initial inquiry.

According to a notification, Rashid was removed from the post hours before his arrest, and later terminated from service. He is accused of misappropriating at least Rs1.75 billion from the money. Abbasi has also been suspended.

“Rashid has been detained and will be produced in a court later today to secure his physical remand,” people familiar with the development said.

Meanwhile, the deputy commissioner of Nawabshah, Shaharyar Memon, has been given additional charge of the post.

Accountability of corruption necessary for governance: SC

ISLAMABAD staff report

Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Thursday observed that corruption was a disease and accountability of corruption was necessary for constitutional governance, saying corruption also affected economy.

Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial made the observation during hearing former prime minister Imran Khan’s petition challenging amendments to National Accountability (NAB) Ordinance by the government.

The three-member SC bench is comprised of Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah.

During the course of proceedings, Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, discussing the amendments in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) law, said that the error was not in the law but in its misuse.

LAHORE staff report

Minister for Agriculture, Punjab Syed Hussain Jahania Gardezi while giving a speech at a technology demonstration event in Dipalpur, district Okara stated that Adopting integrated strategy to popularize digital, precision agriculture is the need of hour.

Pakistan has a lot of concerns due to climate change and it is very important to popularize modern agricultural technology. Adopting an integrated strategy to popularize digital and precision agriculture in Pakistan is the need of the hour. By promoting modern agricultural technology and digital agriculture, Pakistan can not only be self-sufficient in agricultural production, but the dream of exporting agricultural products can also come true

He further said that the transfer of precision agriculture technology will help to increase the domestic production and reduce the production cost of farmers. Punjab Government is making effort for this technology to bring under the reach of small farmers.

Provincial Minister Agriculture Punjab further said that Pir Meher Ali Shah Barani Agricultural University,Rawalpindi has established a Precision Agriculture Center with the aim of promoting digital and precision agriculture at national level and providing farmers with real-time information. It will create awareness about the needs of our crops.

Today it is matter of great pleasure that this technology has reached at the doorstep of the farmers,he maintained. Provincial Minister further said that by promoting modern agricultural technology and digital agriculture, Pakistan will not only become selfsufficient in agricultural production, but the dream of increasing exporting agricultural products can also be true. He congratulated Vice Chancellor of Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University ,Rawalpindi,for organizing this center and emphasized on updating its data on back end on daily basis. Arid Agricultural University introduced modern digital and precision agriculture for the first time in this country. He said that this year the students of this university are actively participating in the wheat sowing campaign.

Heads of Telcos concerned about industry’s financial health

ISLAMABAD ghulam aBBas

The Chief Executive Officers of telecom companies are concerned about the telecom industry’s financial health, which according to them was severely impacted due to an unprecedented rise in the cost of operations.

The heads of four mobile cellular companies, during a meeting with federal minister for IT Syed Amin Ul Haque, have informed that the cost of doing business for the sector was increasing following rise in fuel, electricity and interest rates.

According to officials Aamir Ibrahim, CEO Jazz, Irfan Wahab Khan, CEO Telenor Pakistan and Hatem Bamatraf President and CEO Ufone had called on the minister on Thursday. The agenda of the meeting was to encourage the telecom sector to pursue the launch of 5G in the country.

During the meeting, as per

sources, the three telcos expressed concerns over the lack of consistent government policies that was making it difficult for the companies to convince their investors regarding the potentials of further investments in Pakistan.

However, the CEOs expressed concerns that the telecom industry’s financial health was severely impacted due to an unprecedented rise in the cost of operations.

The telcos highlighted that the key components that have taken its toll on the cost of doing business was rise in fuel, electricity and interest rates, increased dollar rates while the government has pegged spectrum installments with the ‘green back’.

Expressing concerns over the launch of 5G within 12 months the heads of the telecom companies highlighted that the recent floods have severely damaged critical digital infrastructure.

The minister was even apprised that these conditions even threatened the survival of the

telecom sector in Pakistan.

“To mitigate the ‘digital emergency’ like situation in Pakistan, urgent policy interventions from the government were needed to provide critically needed fiscal space to the telecom sector and support Pakistan’s digital inclusion objectives,” one of the CEOs told the minister.

One head of the telecom company suggested that the government should denominate spectrum payments in rupee terms and extend the payment terms to 10 years instead of 5 years, while there was a need to suspend industry’s annual contribution to the Universal Service Fund and Ignite for 2 years.

However all the three industry players demanded reduction in withholding tax from 15 to 8 percent on essential telecom services.

Whereas a day earlier, Wang Hua, CEO Zong held a separate meeting with the minister and expressed willingness to launch 5G technology in Pakistan in 2023.

He said that the question before the court was where to draw the line that fundamental rights had been affected, saying the fault was not in the NAB law but in its misuse. The Chief Justice said that corruption should be dealt with strictly. He asked if the court reached this conclusion, then what would be its benchmark? Justice Mansoor Ali Shah said that the court on a daily basis took decisions on matters that conflict with fundamental rights and added If a citizen stated that there was no anti-corruption law in Pakistan, then should court ask the parliament to enact the law.

Justice Mansoor Ali Shah said that those citizens would come again and stated that the law against corruption was not strict as people were being exempted, and give instructions to enact a strict law, then the court would give instructions for a stringent law. He said that there was no greater threat to Pakistan than the climate change. More important than the NAB laws was the legislation to deal with climate change, he added.

He said that all of Pakistan was being destroyed as it was facing floods and natural calamities. Justice Mansoor Ali Shah said that in case a citizen came and stated that the law was not strict to deal with climate change, and order the Parliament to this effect. Addressing Imran Khan’s lawyer, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah asked whether it was court’s job to do this task. Kh Haris said that there were judicial precedents to address this question. On which, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah said that he was also waiting for this day.

Adopting integrated strategy to popularize digital, precision agriculture is imperative: Jahania Gardezi

ECP WritES to PUnjaB govt to rEMovE

EvM rEqUirEMEnt for Lg PoLLS

ISLAMABAD staff report

tHEElection Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has asked the Punjab government to amend its election laws and to remove the requirement for using electronic voting machines in the upcoming local government elections.

The move has been endorsed by the provincial local government department and will likely add pressure on the provincial government to make the amendment. In this regard, the ECP wrote to the Punjab chief secretary and the Punjab Local Government and Com-

Bilawal pledges to keep promoting tolerance for social, economic development

ISLAMABAD Monitoring report

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said Pakistan would keep promoting tolerance and peace for social and economic development in the country.

“Growing trends of intolerance not only pose dangerous threats to peace and harmony in society, but also hinder social, political and economic development,” the foreign minister said in his message on the International Day for Tolerance, celebrated worldwide on Wednesday. Zardari said the sane segments of society should play their role in promoting tolerance in the country as well as in the world, adding that his party is committed to building a society of tolerance, where every section of the society is represented and empowered without any discrimination. The foreign minister said the government has been facing multiple internal challenges, highlighting the need for tolerance to promote peace, harmony and cohesion in the country.

PPPP awards ticket to Waqar Mehdi for vacant Senate seat

ISLAMABAD staff report

Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) has awarded its party ticket for the vacant Senate seat from Sindh to Waqar Mehdi. According to a tweet shared on the official Twitter handle of the PPP, Waqar Mehdi was a senior party leader and currently working as General Secretary PPP Sindh Chapter. The Senate seat was vacant after the resignation of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar who quit his Senate membership on the advice of the party’s senior leadership on November 10 (Thursday). Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar was elected on PPP ticket on the general seat from Sindh, in March 2018 Senate elections.

Covid-19 daily report: 57 new cases, one death

ISLAMABAD staff report

Pakistan reported 57 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, the Ministry of National Health Services said on Thursday. The overall tally of infected people increased to 1,574,801 after adding the new cases, according to the data released by the ministry. A total of 30,630 people had died of the infectious disease in Pakistan, with one new death reported in the country during the last 24 hours, according to the ministry. On Wednesday, 8,600 samples were tested for coronavirus throughout Pakistan, and the latest positivity rate stood at 0.66 percent. Currently, there are 53 patients who are in critical condition in the country.

ducting local government elections in the province following a hearing on the matter in the commission.

The commission directed the Punjab government to provide it with demarcation notification of local areas in each district, the number of union councils to be demarcated, notified delimitation rules, authenticated maps of urban areas as per the demarcation and including census block and circles.

Further, the ECP demanded separate authenticated maps of rural areas showing district and tehsil boundaries and notification regarding the number of seats of councillors in metropolitan corporations and district councils.

Modern fruit, vegetable market to be constructed in RUDA

LAHORE staff report

Commissioner Lahore Muhammad Aamir Jan has said that shifting of Punjab’s biggest fruit and vegetable market will help in modernising and growth of business.

The Commissioner presided over a meeting at Ravi Urban Development Authority’s (RUDA) head office on Thursday which discussed planning of shifting the existing vegetable and fruit market with stakeholders.

RUDA Chief Executive Officer Imran Amin, Punjab Agriculture Secretary Ahmad Aziz Tarar and others were also present. He said that existing vegetable and fruit market Badami Bagh was established in 1969 and was covering an area of 2000 kanals. He further said that present market was small to the needs of increasing population, adding that due to many problems

business activities in the market were limited.

He said a new market would be constructed in RUDA on 200 acres of land and it would be near to motorway and ring road. The Commissioner said that new market would be operated as per international standards. In new market centres would be set up to educate farmers about latest research and new markets, he added.

He further said that modern monitoring system of auction would be installed in the market besides ensuring proper cleanliness, security and other facilities. Muhammad Aamir Jan said that there would be dozens of quality cold storage in the market and prices of fruit and vegetables would be stable. Heavy traffic would not enter in Lahore helping to save money which was used for repairing of roads, he added.

Pakistan man among seven executed in Kuwait for murder

KUWAIT reuters

Kuwait executed seven people convicted of murder and other crimes for the first time since 2017, drawing criticism from the European Commission which said that Kuwait’s envoy to the EU in Brussels had been summoned.

Three local men and one woman, a Syrian man, a Pakistani man and an Ethiopian woman were executed at the Gulf Arab state’s Central Prison, the Public Prosecution said in a statement posted on Twitter.

“It is regrettable that despite raising this yesterday and having received assurances to the contrary, Kuwait went ahead with 7

executions today,” Margaritis Schinas, European Commission vice president for promoting the European way of life, said in a statement on Twitter.

Schinas said the European Union strongly opposes the death penalty and that the EU’s diplomatic service has summoned Kuwait’s ambassador to the EU in Brussels. The executions would be raised in discussions on the Commission’s proposal to put Kuwait on the visa-free list, Schinas added.

Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah alSabah, in remarks carried by the state news agency KUNA on Thursday, rejected any interference “from anyone and especially our friends” in Kuwait’s

internal affairs or judicial process.

“The decisions of our judicial apparatus are independent without any interference from inside or outside Kuwait,” KUNA quoted him as saying.

Kuwait’s Public Prosecution said murder warranted the “strongest punishment of execution” which also acts as a “deterrent” to others.

In January 2017, Kuwait hanged a prince in the ruling AlSabah family for premeditated murder alongside six other prisoners, in what appeared to be the first execution of a member of the royal family in the Gulf Arab state.

Those executions had been the first in Kuwait since 2013.

59,797 graduates roll out at 9th convocation of Sargodha University

SARGODHA staff report

The University of Sargodha (UoS) awarded degrees to 59,797 students during its 9th convocation held at cricket ground, main campus here on Thursday. The ceremony was significant as it marked the graduation of 62 percent girl students out of the total student population.

Chinese Consul General in Lahore H.E Zhao Shiren was the guest of honor while Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Qaisar Abbas presided over the ceremony. The ceremony was initiated in a ritualistic manner, with the entrance of the academic procession presided over by the Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Qaisar Abbas and Deans of seven faculties at the convocation venue.

As many as 151 PhD degrees, 1656 MS/ MPhil/ MSc (Hons)/ LLM, 22,774 MA/MSc, 13,692 BS/ BSc (Hons)/ BBA and 21,524 BA/ BSc/ ADP degrees were awarded to the students from faculty of Agriculture, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science and Faculty of Social Sciences. Moreover, 415 students with distinctions were honored with medals. Addressing the ceremony, Zhao Shiren expressed gratitude to the VC for inviting him to visit Sargodha University. He appreciated the university administration for building academic and research linkages with esteemed Chinese institutions.

Mr Shiren vowed to strengthen cooperation with the University in various fields of mutual interest and announced extending support in developing the already established Pakistan Institute of China Studies at University of Sargodha.

In his speech, Prof Dr Qaisar Abbas congratulated the students, their parents and teachers, on their achievement. He said “The ceremony marks the academic zenith and prestige of the University of Sargodha”, adding that the number of degrees being conferred upon the graduates is a testimony to its tremendous achievement in the tertiary education sector of Pakistan.

The Vice Chancellor expressed “The University of Sargodha has earned a niche among the esteemed higher education institutions in the short span of 20 years of its establishment through a steady improvement in its position in the global rankings of the Universities.” He said “I believe that these wonderfully talented graduates shall compete and make their mark in their professional careers at national as well as international domains.”

Dr Abbas vowed to take university to the next level of professional excellence through continued dedication and efforts of our faculty and staff and extended his full support to this great work. “Liaison between industry and academia is a prerequisite for transforming the higher education sector into industry and enabling it to compete at a global level,” said Dr Qaisar Abbas, adding that the university is making a huge difference in the demographic and economic growth of Sargodha city.

After the formal ceremony, students celebrated their achievement with enthusiasm and fun-filled activities.

ATC hands over Wazirabad shooting suspect to police on 12-day physical remand

WAZIRABAD staff report

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Wazirabad has granted the police 12-day physical remand of Naveed, who opened fire on PTI chairman Imran Khan during the party’s long march on Nov 3.

Naveed is prime suspect in an assassination attempt made on former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan during long march rally in Wazirabad. Though Khan survived the attack but was injured as three bullets hit him in his leg as a PTI worker foiled the gun attack as Naveed pulled up a gun to kill Khan.

One person died in the incident, while several members of the PTI chairman’s close circle, including Senator

Faisal Javaid, former Sindh governor Imran Ismail, Ahmad Chattha and Imran Yousaf, were injured, PTI sources said.

According to PTI Secretary General Asad Umar, Imran was hit by a bullet to his leg and was shifted to the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital (SKMCH), Lahore. Doctors at the hospital said that Imran was “stable and talking”.

Officials said that a citizen, who was later identified as Muazzam Nawaz, died in in the armed attack, while 14 others, including some top leaders of the PTI were injured.

According to an official list, the injured are: Imran Khan; Ahmad Nasir Chatha, Faisal Javed; Ali Zaidi; Imran Ismail; SA Hameed; Yousaf Khan; Zahid Khan Muhammad Liaqat Umar Dar; Areeb; Imran Yousaf; Hamza and Umar.

The list showed that besides Imran, Chatha sustained bullet wounds to his both legs; Faisal Javed to his face; Zahid Khan was hit by bullets in right arm and right leg; Liaqat and Areeb had bullet injuries to their abdomens.

SKMCH Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Faisal Sultan said in Lahore that Imran was “stable and talking and his blood pressure and other vitals are normal”, adding that the PTI chief had been given pain control medicines.

Earlier in the day, the police presented Naveed before the court with the plea of a 30-day remand. The police said that they need to investigate the suspect further, recover weapons from his custody and collect scientific evidence.

Subsequently, Judge Rana Zahid Iqbal approved Naveed’s 12-day physi-

cal remand and directed the police to present him in court on Nov 29.

During the hearing today, the court also ordered an inquiry against the investigation officers in the case for presenting the suspect in court 10 days after the registration of a first information report.

“The head of the JIT (joint investigating team) is being instructed to probe and fix responsibility against the delinquents under intimation to this court till next date of hearing, failing which the law shall take its own course,” the judge directed.

munity Development Department secretary from October 26, 2022, came to light on Thursday. In the letter, the ECP referred to con-

CORPORATE CORNER

Role of media, academia underscored to tackle maritime blindness

MOdeL TOwn incidenT: LHc susPends deMOTiOn Of five accused cOPs

LAHORE Staff RepoRt

THELahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday set aside a notification of demotion of five police officials involved in the Model Town incident.

Justice Faisal Zaman Khan passed the orders on a petition, filed by Hassan Ali Awan and four others against their demotion.

represented the petitioners and argued before the court that 126 police officers and officials, including the petitioners, were implicated in the Model Town incident.

He submitted that some senior police officers allegedly involved in the incident, were promoted but the petitioners were demoted after being promoted.

media is pivotal in doing so, said the Guest of Honour Vice Admiral (Retd) Abdul Aleem HI(M) while addressing the webinar titled Raising Maritime Awareness and Launch of Economic Affairs Magazine (Special Edition), organized by National Institute of Maritime Affairs on 15th November. He emphasizedthe various stakeholders to not forsake the sector asthe maritime geopolitical and strategic position of Pakistan, along with the country’s dependence on its maritime trade and resources is critical. Director NIMA Islamabad, Cdre (Retd) Bilal Abdul Nasir SI(M) apprised the audience about the organization’s contributionsin raising maritime awareness as a premier maritime think tank of Pakistan. The Keynote speaker Prof. Dr. Azhar Ahmedunderlined the potential oftraditional and contemporary social media in promoting maritime awareness.Hecommended the initiativeof the Economic Affairs magazine in collaborating with NIMA to highlight pertinent issues such as greener shipping and celebrating World Maritime Day by dedicating a special issue on the subject. Ambassador Mrs.Naghmana Hashmireferred to sea blindness and lack of focus on maritime issues among the public as ‘central cataract’. The need for roadshows for awareness, maritime entrepreneurship, and the role of media was reiterated. She called for increased awareness throughout the nation about pertinent topics such as the IOR and CPEC, in liaison with other seafaring nations. Mr. Adnan Samdani, General Manager, FOTCOapprised about the efforts to make their terminal greener and safer for operations, while conserving the associated marine ecosystems i.e., mangroves. He emphasizedthe country’s vast dependence on imported petroleum and called for the need to provide terminal operators with essential technology and resources to transform their facilities that are in compliance with greener technology and a largervision of UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. Mr. Ismail Mahmud, Chief Executive Officer, EngroVopak&Elengy Terminals Ltd. delved into the necessity of modernizing the current practices and tools with digitalization and automationby presenting their facility as a model for efficient, sustainable, and economically viablemaritime trade. Dr. Muhammad Shahbaz, Correspondent for Economic Affairs magazinereaffirmed the importance of the maritime sector and its significance for Pakistan. He congratulated NIMA and the Economic Affairs magazine for the intellectual collaboration to spread awareness on maritime issues and challenges faced by the country.

Punjab govt decides to change Orange Line Metro Train fares

LAHORE Staff RepoRt

The Punjab government has decided to change fares of the Orange Line Metro Train. The Punjab Cabinet has approved stop-to-stop fare of the Orange Line Metro Train and five brackets have been created in the new fare. In this regard, Provincial Transport Minister Muneeb Sultan Cheema said that the fare of the orange train from Ali Town to Dera Gujran would be Rs 40. The fare from 0 to 4 km would be Rs 20 and the fare for 5 to 8 km would be Rs 25 whereas the train fare for 9 to 12 km had been fixed at Rs 30, he added. The minister said the fare for 13 to 16 km had been fixed at Rs 35. The train fare for 16 to 27 km from the first stop to the last stop will be Rs 40, he added. The minister said the fares would be applicable after the notification.

Advocate Syed Farhad Ali Shah

He submitted that Suleman Ali had been promoted to SSP rank, Aftab Phularwan to SP rank and

Imran Karamat Bukhari to SP rank, whereas inspectors – Atif Meraj and Rizwan Qadir were made DSP. He submitted that Hassan Ali Awan and three other petitioners were promoted to the rank of sub-inspector, but they were demoted later on. He stated that the petitioner, Ghulam Ali, was promoted to the rank of inspector, but he was made a sub-inspector again.

He argued that the promotion of any official could not be stopped due

JICA provides 12,500 wheat seed bags to farmers in flood-affected areas of Balochistan

iSLAmABAd Staff RepoRt

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Pakistan office provided 12,500 certified wheat seed bags to flood-affected farmers of five districts Nasirabad, Jaffarabad, Soubatpur, Jal Magsi and Kacchi in Balochistan Province.

The Japanese assistance enables 2,500 floods affected farmers’ families to cultivate wheat crops on their 12,500 acres of land during this Rabi season which will ultimately ensure food security through the availability of sufficient wheat yield in the next harvesting season, said a news release.

This year intense rainfall in the monsoon season caused severe flooding across Pakistan and impacted a large number of people and households including deaths of people, damage to infrastructure, destruction of agricultural areas and pushing millions of people into poverty and hunger. As per Rapid Need Assessment (RNA) conducted by Government and FAO Pakistan, in Balochistan province, 4,972 km2 of agricultural area (1,228,531 acres, 15 per cent of the total agriculture area in Balochistan) has been inundated and Nasirabad Division is the severely affected districts. Furthermore, Post Disaster Need Assessment (PDNA) report on Pakistan flood 2022 also

emphasized for immediate needs by ensuring preparedness for the incoming Rabi season through land clearance and land preparation, and the distribution of agricultural inputs (seeds and fertilizers) to small and medium agriculture farmers.

At the request of the Government of Balochistan, The Government of Japan and the JICA Pakistan office decided to extend the critical support to ensure food security in flood-affected areas in Balochistan province. Mr. Yasumitsu Kinoshita, JICA Pakistan office and Mr. Abdul Wahab Kakhar, Director General, Directorate of Agriculture Extension, Government of Balochistan signed Minutes of Meeting on the additional assistance for support for livelihood improvement of agriculture farmers affected by flood 2022 in the selected districts of Balochistan province under JICA’s ongoing technical cooperation project “The Project for Capacity Development of Agriculture Extension Services in Balochistan Province”.

JICAhired the service of Taraqee Foundation, local organization in Balochistan for quick assessment of 2,500 affected farmers families from five districts Nasirabad, Jaffarabad, Soubatpur, Jal Magsi and Kacchi which will be provided 5 bags (for 5 acres of land) of certified wheat seeds to each farmer after verification process by the district’s authorities of Government of Balochistan.

Korean govt provides $1.5m humanitarian assistance to three UN agencies

iSLAmABAd Staff RepoRt

The Government of the Republic of Korea in its commitment to alleviate the suffering of the Afghan Refugees in Pakistan donated $1.5 million USD for the year 2023 to three United Nations Agencies on 17th November, 2022.

A ceremony was held in this regards at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Islamabad, where the Korean Ambassador, H.E. Mr. Suh Sangpyo signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Dr. Luay Shabaneh, the Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) Dr. Palitha Mahipala, and the Deputy Representative of the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) Ms. Rathi Palakrishnan. Each of the United Nations Agencies received half a million USD aimed at providing lifesaving food assistance, continued healthcare to Afghan Refugees along with assisting specific Mother and Child, and Gender Based Violence (GBV) projects.

Speaking at the ceremony, the representatives of the UN agencies expressed their gratitude to the Ambassador, Government of Korea and the Korean people for their steadfast support and humanitarian assistance to the plight of the Afghan Refugees.

Chinese firm’s Gwadar oil refinery plan reinvigorates morale of CPEC

agencieS

The East Sea Group – a Chinese firm, has planned building an oil refinery with an annual processing capacity of 8 million tons in Gwadar, the engine room of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), with a huge investment of $4.5 billion. According to details, the development came in the middle of uncertainty brewing about the fate of oil refinery in Gwadar after international players appeared to have been dragging feet over the establishment oil refinery in Gwadar.

The Chinese enterprise’s engagement to build oil refinery in Gwadar Free Zone area phase II has reinvigorated the morale of the CPEC, after the matter remained in limbo,

triggering ominous susceptibility over future of Gwadar development.

East Sea Group CEO Fang Yulong, who is also Senior Vice President of Pakistan-China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI), created a pleasant ripple while breaking the news to launch mega project of building “Gwadar Petroleum Storage and Transportation Trading Centre” during a briefing at Think Tank Session at the PCJCCI secretariat, Global Times reported. East Sea Group has sent a letter of intent to the authorities through China Overseas Ports Holding Company Pakistan Ltd, the operator of Gwadar Free Zone, saying it was ready to invest around $4.5 billion to set up oil refinery in phases.

According to sources privy to the development, the proposal revealed that the refinery

will provide a substantial storage capacity to Pakistan, enabling it to maintain reserves for longer time and save foreign exchange. The multi-billion dollar project, upon implementation, will provide an impetus to further investment in the petrochemical industry in Gwadar.

Moreover, the proposal sought assistance of relevant government departments to facilitate the formation and subsequent implementation of a broad policy framework to materialize the project. In order to greenlight the mega project by the government of Pakistan, the institutions concerned are gearing up to scrutinize detailed business plan and feasibility study for further processing. The move of launching a Chinese oil refinery seems to have encouraged other foreign investments that had stalled due to many reasons in the oil refinery sector during the recent past.

In January 2019, Saudi Arabian officials announced that the Arab nation was planning to set up a $10 billion oil refinery in Pakistan’s deep-water port of Gwadar. Later it was indicated that instead of Gwadar, oil refinery may be established somewhere else in Pakistan.

to involvement in a criminal case. He pleaded with the court to set aside orders for demotion of the petitioners.

However, a provincial law officer opposed the plea, saying that the officials involved in the Model Town incident were demoted in accordance with the law.

The court, after hearing detailed arguments of the parties, set aside the notification of demotion of the petitioners.

what is the Toshakhana?

cOntinuEd fROm pAgE 01

The responsibility rests with the public office holder to report the receipt of the gifts to the Cabinet Division. The document categorically highlights that all gifts irrespective of their prices must be disclosed and submitted to the Cabinet Division. The document also warns of “appropriate action” against individuals found of concealing or failing to disclose any gift. What happens to these gifts then? There is, of course, the chance that a leader might not want to keep or pay to retain gifts that they have received. In this case, the Toshakhan evaluates and puts prices on these gifts. The first right to retain these gifts goes to whoever received them, but if not, depending on the kind of gift they can either be auctioned off or retained for government use. Gifts deposited in the toshakhana that are fit for display must be properly catalogued and then displayed at prominent buildings/ institutions owned by the government or in the official residences of the head of state or the head of government. For example, luxury carpets gifted to the president may be placed at a state reception room in the Presidential Palace. Similarly, paintings or other artwork can be displayed in museums or other appropriate government buildings. Meanwhile, gifts like cars are to be deposited to the central pool of vehicles of the cabinet divisions. Gifts that are not fit for display are then to be auctioned off. The first right of auction goes to civil servants and military officials. For objects that go unsold here as well, an auction is then held for the general public.

BEiJing

Islamabad: There is a dire need to tackle maritime blindness in the country by creating awareness among the masses, and contemporary

The COAS conundrum

The responsibility for the appointment of a new COAS becoming as controversial as it is rests squarely on the shoulders of PTI chief Imran Khan. his Long March on Islamabad has as its objective the holding of fresh elections, and the appointment of the next COAS by the government elected. At the root of this desire is a tacit acknowledgement of the political importance of the COAS. There are historical reasons for this, originating in the four martial laws that have been imposed, as well as behind-the-scenes interventions that led to the Imran government being labeled a ‘hybrid regime’. however, all of this intervention does not seem to have worked, with the result that the country faces a wide range of problems. There is a lesson here that neither direct military rule nor hybrid regimes work may have been learned. Another item of food for thought has been the Army Act amendment apparently aimed to allow the PM to qualify a particular officer, who is anathema to the PTI. Mr Khan’s objections to the amendments seem rooted in this.

Mr Khan has played a dangerous game, as he has pronounced that the PDM government wants a COAS who will wink at the corruption by PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif and PPP Co-Chairman Asif Zardari. he will thus have raised doubts about whoever is appointed. As it is impossible for anyone to reach the rank of lieutenant-general, and become eligible for consideration as COAS, without careful sifting, he has already placed a gratuitous slur on whichever officer is promoted. This appointment has always had political importance, but never before has it been so publically and vociferously debated, even though it has been said that Mian Nawaz Sharif was unlucky with all his appointments, in that all played a role in his being sacked, never werethe appointments he made subjected to the sort of scrutiny and publicity as at present.

Amid all the discussion, there is every chance of the real consideration for the job being ignored. The COAS should not be chosen because he will not carry out a coup, or be beholden to anyone, but because he will keep the Army prepared for combat in peacetime, and command it suitably if the worst happens in time of war. This is the primary function of the COAS, and not the political aspects of the job, and thus that should remain the main consideration in making the appointment.

Does the choice really matter?

At Penpoint

M A NIAZI

PTI chief Imran Khan has been responsible for bringing Army generals into discourse. Popular leaders, it seems, have the effect of bringing some sacred cow or the other into the public domain.

Two of the classes supposed to have been part of Field Marshal Ayub Khan’s ruling coalition, landowners and industrialists were broken by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. It can be argued that he didn’t really break them, and that they made a comeback under Ziaul haq, but that class obloquy has not been seen since, until the PTI went after the military.

That may seem counterintuitive, because the military belongs to the same urban middle-class from which the PTI draws its support. however, this ignores how, in origin, the military officer class is rural. It could be argued that the Pakistani urban class, not just middle but lower and upper, is overwhelmingly rural in origin. This is consistent with census data, which shows an urbanizing population. That means people from villages moving to cities in large numbers.

It might explain why the PTI has such strong support among the urban intelligentsia, particularly the military and civil salariat, and especially the youth. While people move to urban areas in search of employment, their children are not as fully meshed into the rural social structure as their parents, being born and bred in cities, and going back only for holidays. They lack the sort of rootedness their parents have, and find it in the PTI.

There is also an important political element. Parents may have moved, but their votes are still enrolled back home. That plugs them into the sort of biradri networks that looks after them in the Big Bad City. Their children do not have a deep affiliation with the village, are not be as firmly plugged into the network. however, their vote is still inscribed in the village with their parents’, and they thus provide the PTI votebank throughout the province.

however, one effect of the mass attempt to combat urban anomie is to develop a hyper nationalistic narrative. There is also observable the targeting of whoever seemed powerful, the feudal lord and the industrialist under the first two martial laws. Now the military is seen as being powerful. The PTI, like others earlier, uses the rhetoric of abolition, but needs the same tools to rule. It thus appeals to its base in trying to tear it down.

while there will be an unfair shadow cast on those who didn’t make it.

A retired Indian lieutenant-general once said to this writer that he had reached the highest rank one could on merit; there was only one higher post, and that was a matter of luck. That applies here too. It is not just a matter of the eye of the politician resting on you, but of when you were commissioned, what were the exigencies of service, even who you married.

As a matter of fact, these posts exist the world over, in developed democracies, but are not reported upon because there is no real public interest, except in limited and specialised circles.

In publications catering to them, usually learned journals or limited-circulation specialised magazines. Only these contain any discussion of appointments, and the persons getting them, or of those not. One reason is that these posts are not political in the sense that they could be a prelude to a takeover. They are political, in that the political leadership wants someone it can work with. A US Chief of Naval Operations (as the USN’s top post is designated) once complained that he had no time to command the Navy, because all of his time seemed to go to lobbying Congress for funds Not only does that lobbying included testifying before a Congress Committee, but also holding briefings for small groups of Congressmen and meeting individuals.

ble for the attack on him. earlier, he had named a brigadier, the ISI station commander Islamabad, as responsible along with the DG ‘C’, for the torture in custody of Azam Swati. It is no longer a matter of sacred cows, but of laying bare the personnel of the ISI.

The problem seems to be the danger that the COAS’ true role might be misconstrued. Nothing makes an officer bent towards martial law, nor against it. The PM should remember that the military promotion system makes it likely that any of those making it to lieutenantgeneral will be able to handle the task

Intelligence agencies make it a rule to keep identities secret. So do military organisations. Military theorists, going back to Sun Tzu, the 6th century BC Chinese general, have spoken of the need to understand the enemy commander. This applies to intelligence organisations as well, and much effort and money is expended to find out not just about the structure, but also the personnel of rival organisations. To have the name of the DG’C’ revealed is a freebie for the ISI’s rivals.

Yousaf Nizami Editor

M. A. Niazi Joint Editor Umar Aziz Executive Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad Joint Editor

One result is that there has never been as intense a discussion on the next COAS as before. Looking back only as far as the last time Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa’s tenure was to expire, back in 2019, there was no discussion of those in line to succeed him, GeneralBajwa’s tenure being extended, and a new Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee being promoted. There was nothing like the intense discussion of personalities as at present. As it is, whoever is chosen, he has been labeled as not on merit by Imran,

however, in Pakistan, this has led to a deep interest, perhaps an unhealthy one, is the post of COAS. Somewhere along the line has come the realisation that he obtains most of his political leverage through the two intelligence agencies he controls, Military Intelligence and the Inter-Services Intelligence. MI is purely under the COAS, being headed by a Director General who reports to the Chief of General Staff, who in turn reports to the COAS. The DG ISI reports to the PM, but he is posted after being made available by the COAS from the lieutenant-generals available. In effect, the COAS has as much influence over him as over any other lieutenant-general.

The episode of Lt Gen (retd) Shamsur Rehman Kallu might be remembered. As PM in her first tenure, Benazir Bhutto pulled General Kallu out of retirement and appointed him DG ISI, rejecting the lieutenant-general chosen by the COAS. however, in her next two tenures, she went along with that choice.

Imran has gone below the level of DG ISI, and has named the DG ‘C’, a major general, as responsi-

The US integrated deterrence approach

US courtship of India to counterbalance China is destabilizing South Asia

The centerpiece of the US National Defense Strategy 2022 is ‘Integrated Deterrence’, which was debuted by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. he termed it as a new approach to achieving deterrence. Its purpose was to avoid military confrontation and make use of partners and allies as well as their capabilities in countering adversaries. It incorporates both military and non-military tactics to deter adversaries.

According to Sasha Baker, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, integrated deterrence is to incorporate all tools of national power and its allies and partners in countering the warfighting areas, and other domains of conflict. Dr. Colin Kahl highlighted the major purpose behind “integrated deterrence”, saying it is to “integrate allies and partners that are the actual asymmetric advantage that the United States has over any other competitor or potential adversary”. The alliance system is vital to integrated deterrence, “The US has to engage with its allies and partners so that their rivals realize that they’re taking on a coalition of nations who are dedicated to sustaining a rules-based international order, they’re taking on more than just the United States”.

To achieve this “integrated deterrence”, the USA’s engagement with India is now accelerating. In the 2+2 ministerial dialogue held in April 2022 between the USA and India, they signed a bilateral space situational awareness arrangement. This will facilitate sharing of greater information and cooperation in space. Their informationsharing partnership is expanding across all the war-fighting areas. They show their willingness to launch new supply chain cooperation measures that would allow them to support each other’s priority defense require-

ments. In October 2020, the USA and India signed an agreement named “Basic exchange and Cooperation Agreement” that would give India access to US geospatial intelligence-satellite images and analyses. The US government has shown its willingness to approve sales of drones to India, including armed drones.

Although the USA has been reluctant to supply drones, particularly armed drones. because they were incorporated into the Missile Technology Control Regime by their officials. But now the USA has shifted its policy to consider drones aircraft rather than missiles. Furthermore, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) was created to facilitate relief operations during the 2004 Tsunami in the Indian Ocean. It comprised the USA, India, Australia, and Japan. It was an informal dialogue between the states about naval cooperation. Through this platform, they are now expanding from the Pacific Ocean to the Indo-Pacific Ocean.

To counter China’s growing influence in the South China Sea, the dialogue shifted towards a strategic partnership. The leaders of the QUAD member countries decided to revive the group during the ASeAN summit after that the member countries resumed group naval exercises. The way

India is perceived as an important ally of the USA to counter China’s growing influence via an integrated deterrence strategy. With its hegemonic designs in the South Asian region and its efforts to isolate Pakistan at the international level, it has adopted aggressive policies and a confrontational attitude towards the regional states.

these countries indulged in joint military exercises and naval drills led to the militarization of the Indian Ocean. The Malabar exercises of the USA with QUAD member states were perceived by Australia as a military alliance that is militarizing the Indian Ocean and maritime trade. China even lodges protests against these countries that QUAD has an anti-China approach, which they never admitted. The QUAD Alliance has instilled security dilemmas in South Asian regional states. Moreover, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue was perceived by Beijing as an “Asian NATO” and anti-China. The Chinese officials also highlighted, “China believes that military cooperation between countries should be conducive to regional peace and stability, rather than contrary”.

India’s self-assumed sense of supremacy always remained an obstacle to achieving regional strategic stability.

The US-integrated deterrence revolves around the strategy of empowering India to counter China. This further caused the feelings of supremacy over the regional countries in India. The USIndia agreements ahow that the USA is tilted towards India in regional disputes. Both China and Pakistan claimed that this approach by the West is destabilizing the region, while the USA and India consider it a deterrence against Pakistan and China. The integrated deterrence approach adopted by them is creating a

It is perhaps bad enough that the DG ISI felt obliged to make a public appearance at the press conference that preceded the Long March. That was answered by the repeated naming of the DG ‘C’. Then came the assassination bid, and the attempt to have him involved by being nominated in the FIR. The desire of Ch Pervez elahi to remain on the same page as the establishment can be seen by the Punjab Police’s refusal to nominate him in any FIR, and its ultimately registering an FIR of its own volition, omitting him.

The discussion of the COAS down is because of their political role. The COAS would not be the focus of attention if there had not been four martial laws.

The military seems to have realised that having a political role means getting the sort of scrutiny that politicians have learnt to live with.

The problem seems to be the danger that the COAS’ true role might be misconstrued. Nothing makes an officer bent towards martial law, nor against it. The PM should remember that the military promotion system makes it likely that any of those making it to lieutenant-general will be able to handle the task.

The writer is a member of staff

security dilemma in the region and escalating threats to the strategic stability of the region as the two nuclear states are warmongering in the region.

The nuclear deterrence that exists between Pakistan and India is also threatened by the nuclear expansion designs of India. Nuclear weapons should not be taken as an option as such a war can never be won. India’s aggressive military modernization and attempt at theatre command are creating instability in the region. Moreover, India voted against the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) provisions in the UN General Assembly and demanded permanent membership of the Security Council. They even expressed their willingness to start a nuclear test programme soon. India was also given NSG membership in 2008 which resulted in nuclear escalation. These developments raised concerns about the Indian aggressive approach towards nuclear modernization for arsenal purposes.

Concerns have also been raised about India not signing the CTBT resolution: India’s motive in not supporting the CTBT provisions is due to India wanting to keep the option of nuclear testing, which would badly affect the strategic stability of South Asia. Greater strategic and nuclear stability in the region is in the interest of all the regional states. India’s assumed sense of supremacy is the hurdle in any efforts towards the strategic stability, development, and inclusiveness of the region on any platform like SAARC or ASeAN.

India is perceived as an important key ally of the USA to counter China’s growing influence via an integrated deterrence strategy. With its hegemonic designs in the South Asian region and its efforts to isolate Pakistan at the international level, it has adopted aggressive policies and a confrontational attitude towards the regional states. This approach of India fired back as it would isolate India itself in the region and instigate security dilemmas in neighbouring states.

The writer is Research Officer at Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS), AJK

Never before has the COAS’ appointment made so many waves

SyedA TAhreeM BukhArI

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

The genie cannot be pushed back into the lamp

Editor’s mail

Pakistan.

Reviving streams

ISLAMABAD is blessed with nature’s bounties, and the presence of freshwater streams that flow close to every sector in the capital were, indeed, one of them. Till about a decade ago, these streams used to have artificial waterfalls that were a source of entertainment for the people. Besides, there were deep blue and green natural pools in these streams for those who wanted to try something other than boring swimming pools. Also, these streams were home to marine life, like fish, tortoise, etc.

But over the last decade or so, these beautiful streams have been turned into sewers as one finds sewage flowing in them. This not only makes the water contaminated, but also causes environmental pollution.

People, especially those who live near these nullahs, have to put with unbearable smell as well. These nullahs that have become a liability could be turned into an asset as they have a potential to generate revenue. By spending a little money and a lot of effort, the government may lay a large pipeline to carry the sewage. Through natural process, especially rains, these nullahs would once again be clean before long.

Behind our safe and stable land is the uniform

cope with terrorist networks across the country.

In the war against terror, the nation sacrificed over 86000 lives and lost over $152 billion. but the results were remarkable. During over 1200 operations, over 18,000 terrorists were eliminated, bulk of weapons and equipment were recovered, many training centres, madrassas, marakiz involved in terrorism dismantled, 449 tons of explosive recovered and 46,500 sq km area cleared. The Pakistan Army broke the international terrorist networks during this War on Terror and supported the international community by killing or arresting and repatriating over 1100 Al-Qaeda Terrorists. Intelligence was shared with over 70 countries. Fencing was done on borders and a proper monitoring was carried out to check the flow of terrorists.

ABdul BASIT AlvI

WITh a population of almost 243 million, Pakistan is the world’s fifth populous country and the Muslim world’s second. Pakistan has a 1046km coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the southand land borders of 6,774km in all, 2430with Afghanistan, 523withChina, 2912with India and 909km with Iran. It’s not a joke to safeguard such a long border and the task has been successfully done by our Army. The uniform is behind doing this complex task and transforming the impossible into the possible. The Pakistan Army is the world’s sixth largest military. With around 560,000 active duty personnel, 550,000 reserves, 185,000 National Guards and 6,500 civilian personnel of Pak Army’s ground force, around 35,300 active duty officers and sailors, around 5,000 reserve force; 12,000 marines, 4,000 Maritime Security Agency, 2800 civilian personnel, around 154 ships and 85 aircraft of the Pakistan Navy; 70,000 active personnel, 8,000 reserve, 128 civilian personnel and over 970 aircraft of Pakistan Air Force; the brave sons of our soil are serving day and night to seal our borders and save us from our enemies. These priceless efforts are a slap on those faces who ask “What has the army done for us?”

On 26 October 1947, Kashmir’s Maharaja hari Singh signed an Instrument of Accession, handing over control of defense, external affairs, and communications to the Government of India in return for military aid. Indian troops were immediately airlifted into Srinagar. The Pakistani Army intervened subsequently. The war between the Pakistan and Indian Armies led to the liberation of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and restricting the Indian Army to the other side of the line of control. The uniform was clearly behind the liberation of AJK.

It is behind keeping alive the issue of Occupied Kashmir and has practically shown their dedication and association with Kashmir and Kashmiris. Since 1947, the Pakistan Army has fought three wars on Kashmir and proved a true well wisher of Kashmir. It has lost thousands of lives for Kashmir and is fully committed to the issue.

Internally, terrorism has been a big issue with the country and taken thousands of precious lives over the decades. Between 2002 and 2022, the country suffered over 28,000 civilian and security forces casualties in more than 15,000 incidents. The Pakistan Army conducted successful operations, Zarb e Azab and Radd ul Fasaad, to

The current comparatively peaceful situation in the country is the result of successful war against terror. It clearly shows that the uniform is behind keeping the name.

Devastation in the recent floods took around 1700 lives, injured 13,000 people have been injured, damaged or affected 2 million houses, affected over 33 million and killed over a million livestock. This flood is an example of utmost services of our dedicated military forces, where the Pakistan Army is working for the people from Day One. From relief and rescue to medical treatment and rehabilitation, our Army is fully participating in everything.

The 2005 earthquake was a big disaster where the Pakistani government’s official death toll as of November 2005 stood at 87,350. Approximately 38,000 were injured and over 3.5 million rendered homeless. The earthquake affected more than 500,000 families. In addition, approximately 250,000 farm animals died due to collapse of stone barns, and more than 500,000 large animals required immediate shelter from the harsh winter. Over 780,000 buildings were either destroyed or damaged beyond repair, and many more rendered unusable for extended periods. About 17,000 school buildings and most major hospitals close to the epicenter were destroyed or severely damaged. Infrastructure and roads were badly damaged.

The Pakistan Army was the first authority to reach the affected areas and initiate rescue and relief operations. Their helicopters were continuously engaged in shifting the injured to hospitals. They did an excellent job in infrastructure restoration and bringing life back to normal. excellent efforts and services during these disasters show the Uniform is also behind helping people in need.

To assist the overwhelmed judicial system, military courts have also been remarkable, with 717 cases received, of which 650 were disposed of a 51 were dropped due to technical reasons, 344 culprits were sentenced to death, with 58 hanged. There were 301 imprisonments, out of which 106 were for life. This shows the uniform is also setting examples for our judicial system.

Military diplomacy helped Pakistan in its foreign relations. Pakistan has been taken out of the FATF Grey List. Pakistan is now better off due to combined efforts and proactive military diplomacy where our current COAS used his personal influence as well to get favours for Pakistan from countries like the USA, the UK, the UAe and Saudi Arabia.

The Pakistan Army helped the civilian governments portray Pakistan as a peace-loving country. It has been active in UN Peacekeeping missions across the world. It has earned respect

and appreciation for itself and for Pakistan by remarkable services during these overseas missions. CPeC has been described as a game-changer for Pakistan. It helped not only in generating revenue but also created job opportunities. Under CPeC several Power projects including 720 MW Karot hydropower Project, 1320 MW China hub Coal Power Project, 660 MW engro Thar Coal Power Project, 100 MW Three Gorges Second and Third Wind Power Project, 1320 MW Coal-fired Power Plant Port Qasim, 1320 MW Sahiwal Coal-fired Power Plant, 100 MW UeP Wind Farm Jhimpir Project, 50 MW hydro China Dawood Wind Farm Gharo Project and 1000 MW Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park Project were successfully completed between 2016-2021. Under CPeC, Gwadar Port’s work was started and a long network of roads laid across the country. Foolproof security was ensured by the Pakistan Army on the demand of the stakeholders. It clearly shows that the Uniform is also behind the smooth continuation of CPeC.

Pakistan lost before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes and an $11 billion penalty was imposed on Pakistan in the Rekodiq case while $1.2 billion fine was imposed in the in Karkey case. With the Pakistan Army’s help, the government reached an out-ofcourt settlement in these cases. This out of court settlement will now see $10 billion dollars invested in Balochistan and $255 million dollars annual revenue generation for Pakistan. Pakistan will also get $65 billion from the 35-year production interest and 8000 new jobs will be created in Balochistan.

The successful fight against covid-19 was another example where the role of uniform was appreciable. The NCOC was operated jointly by civil and military forces and a proper campaign was run to restrict the death tolls. Through the NCOC, the civil and military forces joined hands and worked together in testing, tracing, vaccination and so on. It was impossible to overcome the pandemic without the involvement of the uniform.

Another recent example of the Uniform’s assistance is where the COAS provided very active and effective support to the government in overcoming the economic crisis. he requested the USA to use its influence on the IMF to release a bailout package for Pakistan. he visited many countries to get financial assistance for Pakistan.

For over a decade and during the period of the War on Terror, Pakistan remained a no-go area for foreigners. Unfortunately, after the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in 2009, the doors of international cricket in Pakistan were closed. The situation was so bad that no one was ready to come and play in Pakistan. The armed forces which again came out to help the government. They contacted their counterparts in Sri Lanka and assured them foolproof security. After these assurances from our Army, the Sri Lankan team again visited Pakistan. This tour was then followed by other teams and the doors of international cricket thus reopened, with the uniform again behind it.

These are few examples which highlight the role of the uniform behind peace and stability of Pakistan. This should answer those baseless questions about their role for our homeland. Before dragging the Army into controversies, we should think about their remarkable role for the country. We are breathing in a free, independent and peaceful environment just because of the uniform and we should acknowledge their tangible services for the country.

The

writer is a freelance columnist

Considering the standard operating procedures (SOPs) laid down for nullahs, through comprehensive studies, adjacent to these nullahs the government may select various points to establish small picnic spots and give them on lease. By doing so, Islamabad would become the beautiful city that it used to be, and there will be new employment opportunities.

Z A SUDUZAI ISLAMABAD

Neglecting agriculture

We were taught in schools and were told by our elders as well as by society at large that Pakistan is an agrarian country which utilises its fertile land to produce a variety of crops and provides employment to a large number of people.

having grown up listening to such attributes, I wonder if Pakistan is really an agri-based country. On paper, it might be, but it is hard to rationalise the undeniable fact that we keep facing situations every now and then where we have to import grains and even vegetables. We have recently imported sugar, palm oil, cotton and even wheat and rice. There have also been imports of tomatoes and onions. Are these the indicators of an agri-based economy? A country with fertile fields has been converted into a massive concrete jungle, with residential colonies and factories standing where farmers used to have their crops, but decided to sell the land because their survival was at stake.

The reason behind such abysmal performance of this key sector is not necessarily what we keep hearing every now and then. No, lack of awareness among farmers regarding modern techniques is not the actual cause. Lack of logistics and marketing facilities, poor irrigation system, expensive seeds, quality and availability of fertilisers and pesticides, shortage of farming implements, and heavy duties on farming machinery are behind the poor performance of the agriculture sector.

how apathetic we are towards the sector could be gauged from the fact that after the recent rains, massive swathes of fertile agriculture land have remained inundated. The farm workers have been displaced as their homes have been damaged or simply washed away by the floods. Standing crops have been destroyed by the natural calamity, and things are going to be worse as wheat cultivation has been delayed.

The farmers have not even been provided wheat seed, fertilisers and pesticides at subsidised rates. Whenever the government announces some scheme related to tubewells or fertilisers, the unholy nexus of feudal lords and officials make the most of such opportunities, leaving the poor and small growers to suffer because the requirements of availing the facilities are horrendous and discouraging. If Pakistan is really an agricultural economy, as mentioned in school textbooks, the government needs to take care of the farmers and promote agriculture.

UMAR SHAHZAIB TANDO ALLAHYAR

Evils of fast fashion

A lot of us think our appearance speaks for us, and therefore we focus and spend lavishly on clothing, but little do we acknowledge the horrors our actions do to the earth. I have never been much into fashion, but I never realised what is happening till I came across a video of American comedian-turned-commentator hasan Minhaj on ‘fast fashion’. I have been thinking about that a lot since the recent floods caused massive destruction in Pakistan.

For sure, it is not the only or even a major factor, but I think the surge of fast fashion in Pakistan did play its part in exacerbating the climate change phenomenon, which actually caused excessive rains and the consequent flooding. International brands get their items manufactured in Pakistan and that damages the country so much. From exploiting our workers by paying them drastically low wages to the water consumption, and the hazardous waste disposal, a simple commercial transaction costs the country a great deal. The world of the local brands is not different either.

Apart from the environmental harm, fast fashion is harming us psychologically, too. Most of us have become hoarders, while other fall into the trap because everyone else is doing that. I think it is time we made sustainable fashion choices while caring for the earth and ourselves.

ARJUMAND RABAB ABIDI KARACHI

Cancer detection

BReAST cancer is curable if detected early, but there are several factors that hamper an early diagnosis. Majority of women themselves tend to ignore the need for timely screening, and then there are those with limited access to clinics and hospitals.

even when there are no issues related to affordability, access and willingness, the rather conservative social environment prevents them from sharing their concerns with family members. All these factors combine together to take away lives of more than 40,000 women every year in the country. Last year, the Supreme Court ordered the provision of mammography facilities and the involvement of women doctors in all hospitals run by federal and provincial governments. But such measures can only be effective if women have knowledge about breast self-examination.

HAANI MUSTAFA KARACHI

‘The World Is more In crIsIs Than ever before’

IN AN INTERVIEW, THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE LAUREATE MUHAMMAD YUNUS DEFENDS HIS THEORY OF THE ‘THREE ZEROS’:

IS THAT THIS CIVILIZATION IS A SINKING SHIP. THE SOLUTION IS TO QUICKLY BUILD A NEW SHIP. THAT’S A NEW CIVILIZATION

PaÍs JUan FelIPe RUBIO

Question. How do you see the world today?

Answer: It’s more in crisis than ever before. Before the pandemic, we were saying that we were in crisis, with global warming and everything else. We had no idea that there would be something worse waiting for us. And suddenly the world changes and for two and a half, or two years, people are behind doors, businesses are stopped, people lose their jobs, and many people become poor. And this is not something that happened to the Third World, it’s not just some poor countries that have some problems. It’s the whole world. So that’s a transition that was completely unexpected. Then came the war in Ukraine, that transformed the whole world more than ever before, because you cannot find one single person who has not been negatively impacted. And it is going to get worse and worse.

Q. So you’re pessimistic.

A. Look, this is the direction it’s going. Many countries are preparing or talking about facing a famine. So now you have a pandemic, shortage of food and inflation is everywhere, there is talk about recession and so on… In the midst of it, we are convening COP27, and I ask myself: “Will they discuss global warming right now?” It’s an issue that’s been pushed to the back of the agenda. If you want to address global warming, you have to face the elephant in the room. That’s the war. every day of war is pushing global warming towards the back. You’re undoing everything, you’re opening the door to fossil fuel. And I was just talking to someone in Germany who said that all the money that was allocated for global warming is now

gradually being moved into the defense budget. So the agenda at COP27 must be how to stop the war. Forget about global warming, because unless we do that, that is not going to happen. So this is the direction we are in because we are facing a crisis which the world has never seen before. Global warming is going to destroy us anyway. We keep talking about an existential crisis? It’s true, more so today than ever before.

Q. Do you see a way out?

A. Yes. Because if you have to survive, you have to find a way. There’s no other option. Otherwise, you just surrender. But luckily, human beings are not used to surrendering, they always come up with something in desperate situations. This is the time when they have to do that. One issue that I have discussed many times, and continue to discuss, is that the civilization that we are living in was designed for disaster. It was going to kill us anyway.

Global warming was one expression of destroying it, and this civilization has no way to handle it. We go around, have a chat, discuss it over a cup of tea. That’s not how fires are extinguished. It’s when you roll up your sleeves, forget everything you’re doing, go out and stop the fire. But we’re putting it on the sideline. CeOs are contributing to it a little bit, but [global warming] is not a repair job. My conclusion is that this civilization is a sinking ship. The solution is to quickly build a new ship. That’s a new civilization.

Q. What sort of new civilization?

A. The main problem with the old civilization is it forgot that we are human beings, it designed us into moneymaking robots. The new civilization will be based on human values such as sharing or caring, all the good things we say about human beings. Otherwise, we have no chance. We talk about creating a new civilization of three zeros. One is zero global warming, that will be the identity of the new civilization. Zero, nothing less than that. Another is zero wealth concentration, because we have a machine which feeds the wealth to concentrate wealth among a few people, and

that is not a tenable situation. Number three is the massive amount of unemployment, and we must create a world based on entrepreneurship rather than job seeking. I keep saying that human beings are born entrepreneurs, that we have a creative capacity that can change the world, and we must unleash it. But we forget it, as if we have to go back to slavery and work for somebody else.

Q. And how will this change be brought about?

A. I invite young people to create the three zeros. each club member decides to bring his or her contribution to bringing global warming to zero. So they move from seeing global warming as a global issue to an individual issue. This little demonstration is important to convince others. If you can create three zero clubs and become three zero people, one of 10 of them, then the next step will be creating three zero families, then zero communities… We have more than 500 clubs in 38 countries. We don’t know who they are, where they are, what language they speak, but they join me in saying this is a commitment of yours that we want to follow. This does not mean that we stop building the framework to make it possible, but this is the model I look to create, for companies as well.

Q. And do you think it’s starting to happen? To what degree?

A. It’s happening because that’s what brought me here. That’s the very reason why you are here asking me this question. Otherwise, who cares? We have lots of social businesses that are not in the business to make money, but to change the world. They show that the essence of civilization is not making money, but solving problems. So we are moving forward.

Q. Your idea is empowering. It could help people to face problems as big as global warming.

A. exactly. Our approach is about redesigning the economy, and social business is at the core of that. The social business is a

company that’s 100% focused on solving a social or environmental problem, not like any old business that looks for the problem no to be as bad as it was last year. They are profitable, but that money gets plowed back into the business to solve more of those problems. That’s empowering because you feel you can do something small, concrete. And you can do it and everyone can, because business is something much closer to us, we don’t have to engage with politics. That’s the incredible power of this solution, and that’s what we’re trying to implement around the world.

Q. Why should people get into social business and not traditional business?

A. People ask me: “Why should I get into social business? There’s zero return for me.” The answer, I think, is very simple. You pursue more money to be happier. So I say making money may bring happiness, but making other people happy is a super happiness.

They say: “I don’t know,” and I say: “You

have to try it out, like trying new food. Once you try it, you’ll understand it and love it.”

Q. But is it happening fast enough? Because global warming, famine, war are affecting us now.

A. That’s why I’m here. We were at the presidential palace; although the president [Gustavo Petro] was not there, he very much wanted to have a discussion with me. So he instructed his ministers to do so. There were five ministers, not one, including the ministers of defense and labor. And we didn’t just speak for 15 minutes, we spoke for four hours. What can we do with government? Something, because it’s a new government that is looking for ideas, and they are interested. I didn’t expect the president to invite me. So you don’t change the world overnight, all you do is take a baby step. We don’t have the machinery, we are no government, we’re not a big business to bring the three zeros ideas to everyone.

Western disinformation about Iran is the kind that starts wars

peo, followed suit. “Barbaric, but not surprising,” Pompeo said, reposting the Newsweek article that started the ball rolling on November 8.

“We cannot allow falsehoods and disinformation about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to continue spreading in Canada. That’s why we asked the CRTC to review Russia Today’s presence on Canadian airwaves,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted back in March, as he followed the lead of allies in the eU in censoring Russian media outlets, while failing to cite any actual evidence of fake news to justify the crackdown on freedom of speech and information.

All too often, Western ‘democracies’ evoke ‘disinformation’ as a pretext to deprive the public of information and analysis that could raise doubts about the official establishment narrative. But despite positioning himself as a gatekeeper of truth, Trudeau spread some fake news of his own this week.

“Canada denounces the Iranian regime’s barbaric decision to impose the death penalty on nearly 15,000 protestors,” Trudeau tweeted on November 15 (the tweet has since been deleted). Iranian regime change advocate, former Secretary of State and CIA Director Mike Pom-

US Senator Mitt Romney tweeted that “the tyrannical actions of Iranian leaders in moving to execute detained protesters must be condemned by the global community. Sham trials should be halted and protesters released.” even Hollywood celebs like X-Men actress Sophie Turner and Oscar winner Viola Davis got in on the action of spreading the mantra that Iran was sentencing 15,000 anti-hijab protesters to death.

On November 15, geopolitical analyst and eurasia Group founder Ian Bremmer noted that something was off. “It’s been brought to my attention that a post I shared about capital punishment in Iran for 14,000 protesters is unverifiable & likely untrue,” he admitted, to his credit. It turns out that he was right.

The original Newsweek article referred to an Iranian parliamentary vote to execute protesters. The piece cites a tweet, posted by a murky source on November 8, relaying that “Iran’s parliament voted by a majority (227 out of 290) to execute all protesters.” except that there was no such vote.

Curiously, on November 6 – two days before the Newsweek article and the tweet on which its based was published, Iranian activist Masih Alinejad tweeted, “227 members of the 290-seat parliament in Iran have called on the judiciary to issue death sentences for people arrested

during the ongoing uprising.” Newsweek explicitly cited Alinejad’s Tweet, before later deleting it. The parliamentarians did issue a statement to the judiciary encouraging it to deal with protesters “decisively,” but there was no such parliamentary vote to execute them en masse. It took about a week for Newsweek to amend its article and remove reference to the Iranian parliament voting for death sentences. Iran does have the death penalty as an option in sentencing by courts, just like in the US, but from there, the assumption became that anyone and everyone arrested at protests was going to simply be executed.

No doubt it’s just a coincidence that Alinejad happens to be the lucky recipient of $628,000 in US State Department funding over the past eight years, according to the online US federal contract database. She has also worked as an anchor for the US government’s Voice of America Persian language media service. Back in January 2020, as the Trump administration was ramping up Iranian regime-change rhetoric in the final weeks of Donald Trump’s term after losing to Joe Biden, Washington’s Institute for Responsible Statecraft ran a photo of Alinejad with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and denounced the Western press for platforming Alinejad to promote Iranian regime change without disclosing her State Department funding.

It wouldn’t be the first time that Iranian regime change was powered by fake news. In 1953, the CIA overthrew the government of Prime Minister Moham-

mad Mosaddegh in the wake of his nationalization of Iranian oil to keep it out of the hands of Western multinationals. The CIA’s Operation Mockingbird, which ran from 1948 to 1976, infiltrated the press to promote disinformation and propaganda that greased the skids for its foreign policy objectives – including in Iran, as declassified documents have since revealed. Surely it’s just happenstance that Joe Biden said at the beginning of November, “Don’t worry, we’re gonna free Iran.”

So now that crusading anti-disinformation gatekeepers like Trudeau and Pompeo have been busted violating their own standards, are they going to ban themselves from media platforms before they can reoffend and do any more damage and dupe more Westerners into cheerleading in favor of yet another war? Where’s the eU to denounce this blatant disinformation peddling and ban the source like they’re so quick to do every time any Russian official or media outlet says something that merely dares to contradicts their own narrative?

Speaking of which, if Trudeau, Pompeo, and others would so easily spread fake news that suited their narrative, how credible are they on anything else? One can only imagine the policy decisions that they’ve adopted based on equally dodgy takes presented to the public as fact.

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

el

ZERO CLIMATE CHANGE, ZERO CONCENTRATION OF WEALTH AND ZERO UNEMPLOYMENT

I WAS JUST TALKING TO SOMEONE IN GERMANY WHO SAID THAT ALL THE MONEY THAT WAS ALLOCATED FOR GLOBAL WARMING IS NOW GRADUALLY BEING MOVED INTO THE DEFENSE BUDGET. SO THE AGENDA AT COP27 MUST BE HOW TO STOP THE WAR. FORGET ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING, BECAUSE UNLESS WE DO THAT, THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN

MY CONCLUSION

rachelmarsden.com

Rachel MaRsden

corporate corner

Sharjeel MeMon orderS procureMent proceSS of Brt Yellow line BuSeS

KaRaCHI StAff report

SINDHMinister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon on Thursday has directed to start the procurement process of buses for the BRT Yellow Line project.

President UMT announcess scholarships worth $1m for Turkish youth

Lahore: In a special meeting with His Excellency Mehmet Paçacı, Ambassador of Republic of Turkey to Pakistan, President ILM Trust/UMTIbrahim HasanMuradannounced an educational scholarship worth $1 million for Turkish youth. During the meeting,President UMT Ibrahim Muradcondemned the recent terror attack in Istanbul, adding that the Pakistani nation expressed solidarity with their Turkish brethren in this hour of tragedy. Mr Muradappreciated the efforts of the Turkish government to put the country on the road to progress. He said the Pakistani and Turkish people are like brothers and Pakistan would always stand by its Turkish brothers despite all odds. In addition to the scholarship announcement for the education and capacity building of Turkish youth,Muradsaid.UMT would always welcome students and faculty from Turkey for higher education and research. His Excellency Mehmet Paçacıappreciated the educational efforts of UMT and thanked President UMT for his generous offer of scholarships.He added that higher education institutions like UMT were playing a key role in nation building.The ambassador also praised the efforts and vision of Ibrahim HasanMurad for the promotion of education. Later, Ibrahim Murad presented a souvenir to the Turkish Ambassador, Mr Mehmet Paçacı. pr

The provincial minister gave these directives while presiding over the important meeting on the BRT Yellow Line project at his office.Secretary Transport Abdul Haleem Sheikh, Managing Director Sindh Mass Transit Authority Capt. (R) Altaf Hussain Sario and Project Director BRT Yellow Line Ameer Fazal attended the meeting.The meeting discussed various options and proposals in detail for further improvement in the Yellow Line project.

While talking Sharjeel Inam Memon said that comprehensive working on different options and proposals of BRT Yellow Line should be com-

pleted, so that it can be presented in the next meeting with the World Bank officials.' Sindh government wants to expand the scope of the project and to add more buses in the fleet of yellow line project,' he added. He said that feeder service of Yellow Line from FTC to Baloch Colony and FTC to hotel Metropole and other adjourning areas should also be included in the proposal.The provincial minister said

that all the processes and formalities of BRT Yellow Line should be completed as soon as possible so that the work on the project can be started.The minister said that world bank funded BRT Yellow Line is an important project of provincial capital city. After the creation of Pakistan, the first major public transport intervention had been done during the tenure of Shaheed Zulifiqar Ali Bhutto in 1977 when Karwchi

PSW launches dedicated helpline for women entrepreneurs

Islamabad pr

for enhancing export competitiveness.”

Transport Company (KTC ) had been launched .The current Sindh government of Pakistan People's Party has made second major intervention to improve the public transport system in the city and started the People's Bus Service, BRT Orange Line, BRT Red Line, Electric Buses and now endeavouring to commence work on BRT Yellow Line project , which would not only transform the public transport infrastructure of the city on modern lines but provide secure, comfortable and affordable travelling service to the citizens.He said that on the directives of Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Sindh government is focusing to develop the public transport on modern lines in major cities of Sindh. He said that People's Bus Service had been started in Karachi and larkana and at the end of current month, it's operations will be started in Hyderabad. He added that route 1 in Hyderabad between Hyder Chowk to Hatri Police Station has been finalized.

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28th Palmolive Sindh Women’s Swimming Championship 2022

Two-day fourth Adab

Festival

2022 to begin on Nov 26

KaraChI: Ameena Saiyid, Founder and Director and Shama Askari, Director, Adab Festival, the Deputy Director, British Council Pakistan and Wasif Rizvi, President, Habib University, announced the programme of the fourth Adab Festival to be held on 26 and 27 November 2022 from 1130 am to 9 pm at Frere Hall, Karachi. Ameena Saiyid thanked Mr Murtaza Wahab, Mr Iqbal Memon, Commissioner, Karachi, British Council, Habib University, Lightstone Publishers, BARD Foundation, Institute of Business Management, Bank of Punjab, General Shipping Agencies Ltd, GETZ Pharma, EDLINKS, Pakistan International Container Terminal, Bilal Sons, Habib Metropolitan Bank, Mr Manzoor of Frere Hall, Starlinks PR and Events, Mr Afzal, Metropolitan Commissioner, DIG SSU Karachi, Deputy Commissioner, District South, Municipal Commissioner, District South, Additional Inspector General Police, Karachi Range, Ms Sara Amjad, Assistant Commissioner (Headquarters) Karachi, Mr Junaidullah, DG Parks, Dr Maqsood Ahmed, DIG SSU, and Sister Elizabeth, Principal of St Joseph’s Convent School Karachi for their support of Adab Festival. Ameena Saiyid said, “The theme of the Adab Festival this year is the climate crisis. pr

Pakistan Single Window (PSW) launched a dedicated women’s helpline 021-111-111-779 to provide guidance and customer support to women traders and entrepreneurs using the PSW system and its allied components for imports, exports, and trade regulatory requirements. The dedicated line will provide female entrepreneursaccelerated access to the PSW Trader Support Centre and help them get information on cross-border trade-related laws, procedures, and requirements, guidance on how to navigate the PSW system and its various modules, report technical glitches or training issues and help troubleshoot problems.

As the leading public sector entity responsible for the digital transformation of cross-border trade and the notified operator of the Pakistan Single Window (PSW) system, PSW is cognizant of the need for, and the importance of, enhancing women’s participation in crossborder trade through gender-responsive trade facilitation measures and is working on various initiatives aimed at maximizing the benefits for women involved in cross-border trade.

A statement released from the office of the CEO PSW, Mr. Syed Aftab Haider, stated “The initiative is part of PSW’s effort to increase its outreach to women entrepreneurs’ and womenledbusinesses who face challenges in connecting to the global economy due to gender-related barriers. Digitization of customs and trade-related procedures offer special opportunities for women-owned businesses to overcome these barriers, get better access to information and business opportunities, and leverage technology

Women across the globe are engaged in cross border trade of goods and services as producers, traders, entrepreneurs, and service providers.Modern research suggests that contrary to popular belief, trade is not gender-neutral. Cross-border trade has a gender-differentiated impact on employment, wages, financial independence, and economic empowerment. Realizing the importance of integrating women and women-owned businesses into the global trade ecosystem for achieving productivity and economic growth, many countries are increasingly introducing and adopting measures that expand the benefits of trade to women. Not only do these measures are envisaged to contribute to women’s empowerment and economic growth but are also recognized as a source of increasing entrepreneurial diversity in a range of economic contexts. PSW also intends to launch the ‘Khadija - Women Entrepreneurship Program’ in December 2022to build on the ongoing efforts by the Government of Pakistan to enhancewomen’s economic empowerment and promote gender equality. The program will be a platform forincreased participation of women in cross-border trade and will provide an effective and sustained mechanism for training and capacity building of women entrepreneurs and traders. Pakistan Single Window is an initiative of the federal government of Pakistan. It automates and integrates cross-border trade-related procedures of Customs and other government agencies (OGAs), making trade faster, easier, and cheaper. Through the Pakistan Single Window, traders can submit customs declarations, permits, and other information required by several government agencies through a single digital portal.

KaraChI: The heat is on as the 28th Palmolive Sindh Women’s Swimming Championship approaches, setting the stage for Pakistan biggest and best female sporting event. Organized annually by the Karachi Women’s Swimming Association (KWSA), the competition garners attention at the national level as an excellent platform that can put Pakistan’s emerging talent on the fast track to international championships. From the inception of this mega event, Colgate Palmolive has been committed to this cause as the principal sponsor. Palmolive takes great pride in its commitment to empowering Pakistani sportswomen with the same opportunities to competeas their male counterparts. pr

Police Khidmat Centre facilitates 1,00,616

Police khidmat markaz of Islamabad capital police have facilitated 1,00,616 citizens with different services relating to issuance of character certificate, foreigners’ registration, registration of tenants and domestic servants, a police public relations officer said. He said that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad Dr Akbar Nasir Khan is taking all possible steps to provide maximum facilities to the citizens of Islamabad adding that several steps have been taken by the police in this regard. He further told that police khidmat markaz has provided several services to the citizens including issuance of 14,510 character certificates,23,356 general police verification reports, 9087 reports of missing documents, registration of 8990 vehicles, 38,117 foreigners registrations and 5911 other services. pr

Hundreds visit Turkish companies’ stalls at IDEAS-2022

would open up new avenues for mutual cooperation in the defense and security sectors.

Hundreds of local and foreign delegates and visitors thronged Turkish companies’ stalls on the second day of a major defense fair being held in Karachi. At least 28 of Türkiye’s top defense manufacturers are showcasing their military hardware at the four-day fair that began on Tuesday.

They include STM (Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik ve Ticaret A.S), Roketson, Meteksan, ASFAD, Makin eve Kimya Endustrisim, Tualcom, and others. Nearly 300 international defense manufacturers from 32 countries, along with over 260 delegates from 64 countries are taking part in the defense exhibition, a leading defense expo in South Asia. The biennial event billed as “IDEAS 2022,” is taking place after a gap of four years as the 2020 fair could not take place due to the coronavirus pandemic.Together with China, Türkiye has the largest representation at the fair. Kamran Tessori, the governor of Sindh, and Maj. Gen. Arif Malik, the director general of the defense exports promotion authority, also paid a visit to the Turkish pavilion.

Tessori, who expressed interest in Turkish defense products during his visit, hoped that Ankara’s “huge” participation in the fair

Mini drones attract visitors Turkish defense companies are displaying a wide range of products, from military

POF showcases new products

hardware to tactical mini-UAV systems to light weaponry to artificial intelligence and cybersecurity solutions. Mini drones (miniUAV systems) at the STM’s pavilion, however, remained the centre of attraction. “We

POF has launched 125 Sejjeel AntiTank Ammunition, 60 mm & 81 mm Air Drop Bombs, and Fuze PD M739P1. POF has indigenously developed these products with own resources for

Forces. 125 Sejjeel Anti-Tank Ammunition has been enhanced to penetrate 620 mm. A high-performance new generation of 125mm APFSDS ammunition fully compatible

Al-Khalid-I, VT-4, T80-UD

all

have never seen (military) drones from such a close range before. They are simply impressive,” Arif Jameel, a retired government official who visited the Turkish pavilion with family, told Anadolu Agency. “And I have

'PAF aircrafts draw crowds

never seen such huge drones before,” his wife, attired in a black gown and matching scarf, said in a lighter tone as an STM official briefed a group of Pakistan Army officers on the technology and operation of drones.

The 11th edition of International Defence Exhibition and Seminar, IDEAS 2022 is in full swing, at Karachi Expo Center. The 3rd day of the event is marked with special interest of visitors in the static displays of 'Pride of Pakistan' JF-17 Thunder and Super Muhshak Trainer Aircraft. Keen interest was shown by the foreign delegates and Military officials in the Aircraft displayed at PAF's pavilion in the event. Whereas, the onlookers, Delegates and Foreign dignitaries were thoroughly briefed about the technical specifications of the aircraft, with a complete overview of their countless adjectives. State of the art aircraft at the display gathered appreciation for their cutting edge design and innovative technical features.The National Aerospace Science and Technology Park, NASTP, being a project of National significance, remained the most appreciated and admired project at the event. pr

ISLAMABAD: Ghazanfar Azzam, President & CEO MMBL signs a Memorandum of Understanding with Kabeer Naqvi, President & CEO U Microfinance Bank Ltd at a ceremony held in Islamabad to provide housing finance solutions to each other’s employees. pr

KaRaCHI

AnAdolu Agency

Pakistan Armed

with

Main Battle Tanks of Pakistan Army including Al-Khalid,

and AlZarrar. 60 mm & 81 mm Air Drop Bomb These ADB’s can be deployed with Drones, and can be lethal in upto 70 meter radius. Their Fuze functions on impact with target and have safeties for transportation & handling during flight. POF is catering defence needs of Pakistan Armed Forces and have been engaged in modernizing and adapting with the modern technological advancements. During IDEAS POF signed MOU with Armour Technologies, Malaysia. Mr. Usman Ali Bhatti, Director Exports POF and Mr. Meor Syahryl Azlan, Executive director of Armour technologies signed the MOU. Memorandum of Understanding is regarding supply and to develop a complete supply chain eco system for Arms & Ammunition for the Royal Malaysian Armed Forces by POF. pr

APEC moot: Xi CAlls for buildiNg AN AsiA-PACifiC CommuNity with A shArEd futurE

ISLAMABAD MiAn AbrAr

CHINESEPresident Xi Jinping on Thursday called for steadfastly advancing Asia-Pacific regional economic integration, breaking new ground in development and building an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future.

Xi made the remarks in a written speech at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit.

Xi advocated higher-level opening-up, higher-standard connectivity and stable and unimpeded industrial and supply chains. He opposed unilateralism, protectionism and the attempt to politicize and weaponize economic and trade relations.

In the speech, Xi said that cooperation within the APEC framework should be deepened, the building of a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific advanced and the Putrajaya Vision implemented in building an open Asia-Pacific economy.

Xi said both “hard and soft connectivity”

should be boosted and personnel exchanged in a “well-ordered way” so as to build “a high-quality Asia-Pacific connectivity network.” He also urged convenient, efficient and secure industrial and supply chains.

Economic development should be “people-centered,” with people’s well-being ensured and the needs of vulnerable groups satisfied, Xi said.

In promoting economic upgrading, Xi said the APEC members need to “embrace the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, accelerate scientific, technological and institutional innovation, foster new economy, new types of business and new business models, and achieve the digital transformation of the Asia-Pacific economy.”

He also said that an “Asia-Pacific security architecture” should be built as the foundation for ensuring economic development and durable peace and stability in the region.

China’S leading role: Given the high stakes of this year’s meeting, the high expectations of the Chinese president’s attendance at the APEC leaders’ meeting and

China’s role in regional economic cooperation are evident beyond the venues at APEC and on the streets of Bangkok.

Amid high temperatures in the Thai capital on Thursday afternoon, many local residents gathered on a street waving Chinese and Thai national flags to welcome Xi to the country and attend the APEC leaders’ meeting.

“Thai society has already been very

much looking forward to this visit. Especially after three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone is expecting President Xi’s visit to promote closer Thailand-China ties in political, economic and other areas,” a Thai citizen of Chinese descent named Ma Yan told the Global Times on Thursday, as she joined others to welcome Xi.

“The economic ties between ASEAN and China far exceed those with other economies. I hope this APEC meeting and President Xi’s visit can become an opportunity to restart exchanges between countries that have been stagnant due to the epidemic in recent years,” said Ma.

China, which is a major trading partner for many Asia-Pacific economies and a very important part of the regional industrial and supply chains, is widely expected to take a greater leading role in regional economic cooperation, as many regional economies are focused on development instead of geopolitical tensions, business leaders and analysts said.

“China is an important member of APEC. Since joining [APEC] 31 years ago,

Time running out as Malaysia’s Anwar fights for top job

KUALA LUMPUR AFP

Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia’s perennial opposition leader, has often been on the cusp of power but age is catching up with him and Saturday’s election could be his last chance to win the top job.

The 75-year-old, whose political career spans four decades and includes two prison stints, is optimistic his Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) coalition can finally win enough seats to form a government and replace the graft-tainted ruling party.

So long the runner-up of Malaysian politics, Anwar could be running out of time to achieve his long-held but elusive ambition of leading the Southeast Asian nation.

“This is Anwar’s last election. If he fails to get the support to become PM, there will be expectations that he should step aside,” Bridget Welsh of the University of Nottingham Malaysia told AFP.

“If he chooses to stay on, this will only serve to weaken the opposition further and fragment it. There are other leaders ready

to lead.”

Anwar was a firebrand Muslim youth leader when he was recruited in 1982 into the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the main political party that ruled Malaysia for more than 60 years.

His star rose meteorically, with the suave young politician becoming finance minister and then deputy prime minister in the early 1990s under former premier Mahathir Mohamad, a youthful counterbalance to the political veteran.

The pairing, considered one of the most dynamic duos in Southeast Asian politics at the time, soon unravelled.

Tensions came to head during the 1997-1998 Asian financial crisis, when they had a bitter falling out over how to handle the debacle.

Some observers say Anwar had been too impatient to become prime minister, slighting his patron.

Mahathir sacked Anwar, who was also expelled from UMNO and charged with corruption and sodomy, the latter a crime in the largely Islamic nation.

He was sentenced to six years in jail for

corruption in 1999, with an additional nineyear prison term added for the sodomy charge the following year, the two sentences to run consecutively.

As Anwar claimed political persecution, street protests erupted and evolved into a movement calling for democratic reforms.

Photos of Anwar with a black eye, inflicted in prison by Malaysia’s then police chief, were published in newspapers around the world, turning him into a symbol for a

struggle that adopted the battle cry of “Reformasi!”, or reforms. deSpair and hope: The MahathirAnwar tussle has dominated and shaped Malaysian politics over the past four decades, “alternately bringing despair and hope, progress and regress to the country’s polity”, according to Oh Ei Sun of the Pacific Research Center of Malaysia.

The Malaysian Supreme Court overturned Anwar’s sodomy conviction in 2004 and ordered him freed.

After a brief hiatus from politics as an academic, Anwar returned to lead an opposition coalition in the 2013 general election.

His alliance won 50.87 percent of the popular vote but failed to muster the numbers needed for a parliamentary majority.

Controversy continued to hound the married father of six. He was again sentenced to jail for sodomy in 2015, this time for five years, at the age of 70.

He has maintained his innocence and received a full pardon from the Malaysian king three years into his sentence. Anwar returned to parliament months later after winning a by-election.

China has always advocated regional openness, and has always been committed to promoting trade and investment liberalization, facilitation, and economic and technological cooperation. It has played an increasingly important role in multilateral cooperation mechanisms such as APEC,” Gao Lingyun, an expert at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, told the Global Times on Thursday.

US’ relevanCe qUeStioned: In stark contrast, the US has been constantly instigating geopolitical tensions and seeking to create division in the region in order to promote its own geopolitical agenda, while becoming increasingly irrelevant in promoting regional peace and development, analysts noted.

In a clear sign of this trend, US President Joe Biden, who had just attended the G20 leaders’ summit in Bali, Indonesia, decided to skip the APEC leaders’ meeting, as he reportedly returned to the US for his granddaughter’s wedding. The US is sending Vice President Kamala Harris to the meeting instead.

N. Korea fires missile hours after warning of ‘fiercer’ military response

SEOUL AFP

Twitter’s new boss Elon Musk has asked staff to choose by Thursday between being “extremely hardcore” and working intense, long hours, or losing their jobs, according to an internal memo seen by AFP.

The Tesla tycoon has come under fire for radical changes at the social media company, which he bought for $44 billion late last month.

He has fired half of the company’s 7,500 staff, scrapped a work-from-home policy, and imposed long hours, all while his attempts to overhaul Twitter have faced chaos and delays.

“Going forward, to build a breakthrough Twitter 2.0 and succeed in an increasingly competitive world, we will need to be extremely hardcore,” Musk wrote in the internal

memo. “This will mean working long hours at high intensity. Only exceptional performance will constitute a passing grade,” he added. Staff have been asked to follow a link to affirm their commitment to “the new Twitter” by 5:00 pm New York time (2200 GMT) on Thursday.

If they do not do so, they will lose their jobs, receiving three months of severance pay. Twitter did not respond to AFP requests for comment on the new measure.

Since Musk took over Twitter, his stumbling attempts to revamp user verification with a controversial subscription service have led to a slew of fake accounts and pranks, and prompted major advertisers to step away from the platform. On Tuesday, Musk postponed the relaunch of Twitter’s paid subscription service, Blue Verified.

Musk wants users to pay $8 for the coveted blue tick, which has until now been granted free to verified accounts, lending authority to public figures and media using Twitter.

However, the system was suspended as accounts impersonating others — including Musk — proliferated. The relaunch is now set for November 29.

‘Somebody elSe’: Musk on Wednesday said his overhaul of the company’s “organisation structure” would be done this week. After “an initial burst of activity” to reorganise the company, “I expect to reduce my time at Twitter and find somebody else to run Twitter over time,” he said.

Musk was speaking in a court hearing linked to his $50 billion pay package at Tesla, the electric car giant.

A shareholder has accused the South African multi-billionaire of being a part-time CEO for Tesla, saying that the board of directors did not sufficiently scrutinise the compensation.

Musk has warned Twitter’s employees that the company risks bankruptcy if it is not quickly fixed.

North Korea has fired an “unidentified ballistic missile”, Seoul’s military said Thursday, the latest in a record-breaking blitz of launches as Pyongyang warned of a “fiercer” military response to the US and its regional allies. “North Korea fires an unidentified ballistic missile into East Sea,” South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said, referring to the body of water also known as the Sea of Japan. Earlier this week, US President Joe Biden discussed North Korea’s spate of recent missile tests with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Bali, Indonesia on the sidelines of the G20 summit. The US leader pushed China to use its influence to rein in North Korea after the wave of missile launches raised fears the reclusive regime would soon carry out its seventh nuclear test. Biden also held talks with his South Korean counterpart Yoon Suk-yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Sunday to discuss ways to address the threat posed by the North’s “unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs”, the White House said. On Thursday, North Korea’s minister of foreign affairs, Choe Son Hui, slammed these discussions, saying they were “bringing the situation on the Korean peninsula to an unpredictable phase.” “The US ‘bolstered offer of extended deterrence’ and the daily-increasing military activities of the allied forces around the Korean peninsula are foolish acts,” Choe said in a statement carried by state news agency KCNA. The more Washington works to strengthen its security alliance with Tokyo and Seoul, “the fiercer the DPRK’s military counteraction will be”, Choe said, referring to the North by its official name. Experts said the Thursday missile launch was “timed” to coincide with the statement from Pyongyang’s foreign minister.

Republicans won control of the US House on Wednesday, returning the party to power in Washington and giving conservatives leverage to blunt President Joe Biden’s agenda and spur a flurry of investigations.

But a threadbare majority will pose immediate challenges for GOP, or Republican Party, leaders and complicate the party’s ability to govern.

More than a week after Election Day, Republicans secured the 218th seat needed to flip the House from Democratic control. The full scope of the party’s majority may not be clear for several more days — or weeks — as votes in competitive races are still being counted.

But they are on track to cobble together

what could be the party’s narrowest majority of the 21st century, rivaling 2001, when Republicans had just a nine-seat majority, 221212 with two independents. That’s far short of the sweeping victory the GOP predicted going into this year’s midterm elections, when the party hoped to reset the agenda on Capitol Hill by capitalising on economic challenges and Biden’s lagging popularity.

Instead, Democrats showed surprising resilience, holding on to moderate, suburban districts from Virginia to Minnesota and Kansas. The results could complicate House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy’s plans to become speaker as some conservative members have questioned whether to back him or have imposed conditions for their support.

McCarthy, R-Calif. (means they are a Republican from California), celebrated his party having “officially flipped” the House

on Twitter on Wednesday night, writing, “Americans are ready for a new direction, and House Republicans are ready to deliver.”

Current House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, DCalif. (means they are a Democrat from California), released a statement Wednesday night saying, “In the next Congress, House Democrats will continue to play a leading role in supporting President Biden’s agenda — with strong leverage over a scant Republican majority.”

Biden congratulated McCarthy, saying he is “ready to work with House Republicans to deliver results for working families.”

“Last week’s elections demonstrated the strength and resilience of American democracy. There was a strong rejection of election deniers, political violence, and intimidation,” Biden said in a statement. “There was an emphatic statement that, in America, the will of

the people prevails.”

He added, that “the future is too promising to be trapped in political warfare.”

The narrow margins have upended Republican politics and prompted fingerpointing about what went wrong. Some in the GOP have blamed Donald Trump for the worse-than-expected outcome. The former president, who announced his third White House bid Tuesday, lifted candidates during this year’s Republican primaries who often questioned the results of the 2020 election or downplayed the mob attack on the US Capitol last year. Many of those struggled to win during the general election.

Despite the GOP’s underwhelming showing, the party will still have notable power. Republicans will take control of key committees, giving them the ability to shape

legislation and launch probes of Biden, his family and his administration. There’s particular interest in investigating the overseas business dealings of the president’s son Hunter Biden. Some of the most conservative lawmakers have raised the prospect of impeaching Biden, though that will be much harder for the party to accomplish with a tight majority.

Any legislation that emerges from the House could face steep odds in the Senate, where Democrats won the barest of majorities Saturday. Both parties are looking to a December 6 Senate runoff in Georgia as a last chance to pad their ranks.

With such a potentially slim House majority, there’s also potential for legislative chaos. The dynamic essentially gives an individual member enormous sway over shaping what happens in the chamber.

SAN FRANSISCO AFP

WASHINGTON The AssociATed Press

AuSTRAlIA CRuISE To SIx-wICkET wIn ovER EnglAnd In fIRST odI

ADELAIDE, AuStRALIA AgencieS

Asuperb Dawid Malan century was in vain as Australia cruised to a six-wicket win over England in their first one-day international at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday.

Malan hit a stylish 134 as England made 287-9, but it never looked enough on a flat batting track that offered nothing for the bowlers.

Australia were largely untroubled as they reached the target with 3.1 overs remaining. The Australian openers had made light work of the England attack and were in control from the outset as both David Warner and Travis Head launched an all-out assault.

They brought up the century partnership in just 88 balls, with only Olly Stone able to contain the two left-handers.

Neither looked in any danger until Head pulled a short ball from Chris Jordan straight to Phil Salt at deep square leg to fall for 69.

Warner appeared headed for his first century in almost three years until, on 86, he pulled David Willey in the air and was well caught by Sam Billings at deep backward square.

But Smith, who finished not out 80, was untroubled as he guided Australia home de-

spite losing Marnus Labuschagne for four and Alex Carey for 21 along the way.

Australian captain Pat Cummins won the toss and chose to bowl, and England were soon in trouble at 20-2 after four overs before Malan strode to the crease.

When he departed, they were 259-8 with the next highest score Jos Buttler’s 29.

Malan’s 134, his second ODI century after the 125 he scored against the Netherlands in June, came off 128 deliveries, including 12 fours and four sixes.

Cummins, playing his first match as captain following Aaron Finch’s retirement, would have been delighted by Australia’s start to the innings.

They tied down the English opening pair with some tight line and length bowling, then made a double breakthrough.

Cummins had Phil Salt caught at second slip by Steve Smith on the last ball of the fourth over and two balls later Mitchell Starc bowled the recalled Jason Roy with a beautiful delivery that swung back late.

The Australian captain then put his side on top when James Vince edged to wicketkeeper Alex Carey.

At 31-3 England were struggling but Malan stayed calm, starting slowly and then picking up the pace as the shine went off the ball.

Analysis: Has cricket diplomacy lost steam in recent years?

Shahid Afridi urges Babar Azam to step down as T20 Captain

LAHORE StAFF RePoRt

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has urged the all-format captain, Babar Azam, to step down as T20I captain and focus on his batting. Afridi also said that Pakistan has other options in Shadab Khan, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shan Masood, all of whom could lead the T20I team. Speaking to the media, Afridi said, “Babar Azam should quit the T20I captaincy and focus on his batting. We have other players who can lead the T20I team, like Shadab, Rizwan, and even Shan.” After a bad performance in the T20 World Cup 2022, where he scored 124 runs in seven innings with an average of 17.71, the focus has been on Babar Azam’s personal contribution to the team. It’s important to note that Babar Azam led the Men in Green to the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup in 2021, the finals of the Asia Cup in 2022, and the finals of the T20 World Cup in 2022. Babar is als o Pakistan’s most successful T20I team captain, having won 40 of 66 games, or 65.57 percent. Pakistan skipper also moved up to third place in the T20I batting rankings.

developers’ game Jam: gameBird Edition hackathon highlights

KARACHI StAFF RePoRt

Telenor Pakistan's corporate accelerator, Velocity, held the closing ceremony of a month-long hackathon ‘Developer's Game Jam: GameBird Edition’, at its 345 Campus in Islamabad. The hackathon was aimed at enabling an evergrowing community of game designers, developers, artists, and writers to come together on a common platform, to learn new skills and create video games of the future.

Even as the English cricket team recently claimed the title of the T20 format of the cricket world championship in Australia, sports lovers are crossing their fingers over whether they will be able to watch the next big events — the One Day International (ODI) World Cup and the Asia Cup, scheduled to be respectively hosted by India and Pakistan in 2023.

Unlike in the past, when cricket was used by both countries to lower tensions and build contacts, at present, there are apprehensions that both these tournaments may go haywire in 2023, as the cricket boards of Pakistan and India have put themselves on a collision course.

On October 18, Board of Cricket Control of India (BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah indicated that his team may not travel to Pakistan in September 2023 to take part in the Asia Cup.

“We have decided we will not travel to Pakistan. We will play at a neutral venue,” Shah said after the BCCI’s Annual General Meeting (AGM). Incidentally, he said this after being reelected to a second term as secretary to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president.

Jay Shah is the son of Amit Shah, India’s powerful home minister.

Angered by these comments, the

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) threatened to boycott the World Cup scheduled to take place in October-November 2023. Neither country has played any bilateral cricket series for the past 10 years.

Although hockey continues to be the national sport for both Pakistan and India, politicians have used cricket as a tool for diplomacy to help mend fences.

Averted nucleAr wAr: In February 1987, cricket is credited for averting a war, when India launched its largest-ever military exercises, called Operation Brass Tacks, in the deserts of the western state of Rajasthan, a few hundred miles from the borders. In retaliation, Pakistan also moved its armoured divisions to the borders.

While the US stepped in to defuse tension, a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) jet landed at New Delhi airport, with the visitor none other than President Gen. Zia ul-Haq. He had flown to Delhi on the pretext of watching a Test match between Pakistan and India in the western city of Jaipur.

Both countries agreed to withdraw 80,000 troops from each side and decided to continue discussions.

Behramnam, the mononymous advisor to then-Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, said in 2015 that Zia had confided that Pakistan had achieved a credible nuclear deterrent

and would use it if its security was breached.

In May 1998, after tensions escalated between the rivals when they held nuclear tests, then-prime minister Nawaz Sharif approved a proposal from the PCB to allow the cricket team to travel to India. It triggered the visit of Indian prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to Lahore on a bus to revive bilateral relations.

Both countries signed the Lahore Declaration, which among other things included an agreement on nuclear and conventional military confidence-building measures (CBMs).

In 2004, both countries agreed to ease travel restrictions for people coinciding with the Indian team’s tour of Pakistan for the first time in 15 years. A year later, President Pervez Musharraf came to India to watch a cricket match. But in fact, the trip resulted in a summit, where both sides pledged to seize a historic chance to address the dispute of Jammu and Kashmir and nominated interlocutors to explore an out-of-the-box solution.

During the 2011 Cricket World Cup hosted by India, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh used the opportunity to host his Pakistan counterpart, Yousuf Raza Gilani, to watch the match with him in Mohali, in the state of Punjab. This eased the relationship, which had nosedived following the bloody 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Each Pakistani player to receive over Rs10m from ICC

Pakistan men’s cricket team players will receive more than PKR1 crore each after playing the final of the T20 World Cup. The Men in Green faced a fivewicket defeat to England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and as per calculation, the side will get about $1million (more than 220 million Pakistani rupees). The ICC announced that the runners-up team will be given $800,000. The Men in Green will also receive $120,000 ($40,000) each for the three victories in the Super 12 stage. There will be an equal split among all players while one portion will be given to the team management. As Fakhar Zaman also participated in one game, there will be 17 portions, 16 to cricketers and one to remaining member on support. As per estimation, each player will get around PKR1 crore 30 lakh rupees. Mohammad Hasnain and Khushdil Shah will get huge compensation without playing a match. On the other hand, ICC gave each player a daily allowance of 125 Australian dollars (83 US dollars) during the tournament. PCB added 31 US dollars and paid a daily allowance of 114 to players.

Australia confirms Aus Open visa for Djokovic

CANBERRA AFP

Australia’s immigration minister said Thursday he “personally” intervened in a visa decision that opens the door for Novak Djokovic to play in the country’s upcoming Grand Slam tennis tournament.

The former world number one was kicked out of the country in the lead-up to the Australian Open earlier this year after refusing to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

But with a significant easing in pandemic restrictions since, Immigration Minister Andrew Giles said the unvaccinated Serb was now welcome to return.

“Since the cancellation of Mr Djokovic’s visa in January 2022, all Covid-19-related Australian border restrictions […] have been removed, including the requirement to provide evidence of Covid-19 vaccination status to enter Australia,” he said in a statement.

“Mr Djokovic has subsequently been granted a temporary visa to enter Australia.”

Australia’s previous conservative government barred Djokovic — one of the top men’s tennis players of his generation — from returning to Australia until 2025.

Giles said that, as the country’s immigration minister, he was the only person with the power to overturn that ban.

“The power… may only be exercised by the minister personally,” he said.

Djokovic, who has won the Australian Open nine times, first confirmed the visa decision after beating An-

drey Rublev in the ATP Finals in Turin on Wednesday.

“I was very happy to receive the news yesterday. It was a relief,” he told reporters.

“It was a relief obviously knowing what I and the people closest to me in my life have been through this year with what happened in Australia and post-Australia, obviously.” Djokovic arrived in Melbourne in January for the first Grand Slam of the year, claiming he had obtained a medical exemption to enter the country without being vaccinated as he had recently recovered from Covid-19.

But Australian border officials said he did not meet the requirements to be exempted from strict vaccination rules, and his visa was cancelled after the collapse of a protracted legal appeal.

Former conservative Immigration Minister Alex Hawke said at the time that Djokovic was “perceived by some as a talisman” of anti-vaccination sentiment, and his presence in the country could ignite “civil unrest”.

The Djokovic legal saga played out against a background of rolling anti-vaccination protests in major cities across Australia.

Australia has since lifted its requirement for visitors to show proof of vaccination against Covid.

potential of Esports

ISLAMABAD StAFF RePoRt

LAHORE AnAdolu Agency

How woUld inTeResT - fRee bAnKing woRK?

rePorT

oNthe 9th of December, the Finance minister announced that the SBP and the NBP would withdraw their appeals against the Federal Shariat Court’s decision from April 28th. The FSC, on the 28th of April, gave the government of Pakistan a five-year deadline to eliminate Riba (interest) based banking from the country. Following that, the State Bank, National Bank Limited and various other banks had filed an appeal against the decision in the Supreme Court.

The banking industry is one of the biggest sectors of Pakistan. With annual deposits of more than Rs. 22 Trillion, it is one of the most important factions of the private sector. What makes banking a lucrative

business is the concept of interest, whereby the bank accumulates money from those who don’t immediately need it, and gives it out to those who need it, on a premium.

Cash is the main, yet not the only commodity or security that a bank deals in, but central to all of its activities is the concept of interest.

The Islamic word Riba means “to exceed” and refers to unjust or unequal charges of borrowing. As per various interpretations, banking interest falls under Riba. In June 1990, a petition was filed in the Federal Shariat Court, that seeked the abolition of interest-based banking from the country. After a total of 32 years, a number of appeals, deadlines and interpretations, the FSC ruled on the 28th of April.

The verdict gave the government a 5-year deadline to eliminate Riba from the banking system.

But if a bank doesn’t charge in-

terest, how will it stay in business?

Turns out, it can. The concept of Islamic banking is what the FSC’s decision is pegged on and it is something that Pakistan’s financial system has shown acceptance for. Islamic Banking runs on the idea of profit and loss, whereby the idea

that the bank will make additional profits solely off of lending does not fly. This means that when an Islamic Bank loans out money to a business or an individual, it will indulge in equity participation. Meaning that the premium that the bank will receive will depend upon the prof-

NA body seeks implementation status on commercial banks’ dollar manipulation

ProfiT rePorT shahzad Paracha

IsLAmAbAd: The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance met yesterday to express concern over the slow pace of inquiry by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) into the commercial banks’ dollar manipulation and making windfall profits. It has sought the final implementation report to be ready by December 15, 2022 but the SBP has assured the committee that the inquiry will be completed by November 30, 2022.

The committee was chaired by MNA Qaisar Ahmad Sheikh. The bank informed the panel present that action would be taken against the banks allegedly involved in overcharging the importers in the opening of their letters of credit (LCs).

Deputy Governor, SBP Inayat Hussain assured the committee that the process is in the closing stages, and various banks have been charged, and also that written replies have been received from them. Furthermore, the SBP has tightened its monitoring and no further complaints regarding manipulation are coming to them.

Earlier in September, the SBP had issued a show-cause notice to eight banks over currency speculation allegations. It was looking to investigate banks that had opened

letters of credit (LCs) at higher rates than the spot rate. The banks have autonomy over how and when they issue their LCs, but since the SBP regulates them they get to determine the rate of exchange at which these LCs work.

“While banks are not required to run losses, they are regulated by the SBP and have to follow banking regulations. If you’re manipulating the market, action should be taken –even PM Sharif has asked for strong action,” said Miftah Ismail at the time of the show-cause notices. For context, at that point the rupee had shed 60% of its value.

The Committee reiterated that it expects strict punishment and fines will be meted out to accuse Banks.

During June-July 2022, some of the commercial banks that have been identified and had made unjust exorbitant profits exploiting the rupee fluctuation against the dollar and huge spread between the open market and interbank rates. The central bank official, however, said that since August, there has been no such case reported.

As per chapter 2 of the FE Manual issued by the SBP, banks are barred from charging more than a defined margin set by the SBP. In point number 11 of chapter 2, the SBP states the Authorised Rates of Foreign Exchange. If you explore the manual further or have industry experts comment on it, they will tell you that Section 4(2) of the Act states

ATC issues arrest warrants for fugitives in KU attack case

KARACHI sTaff rePorT

In an important development in the case of the suicide attack on Chinese teachers at Karachi University, the anti-terrorism court (ATC) Thursday issued arrest warrants for six fugitive accused. As per details, the court issued arrest warrants for six fugitive suspects including Hebtan Baloch, husband of suicide bomber Shari Baloch, Bashirzeb, Rahman Gul, Khalil. The police said that the spokesman of the banned BLA Mir Safeer is also among the absconding accused in the KU attack case. The police said that an accused Dad Bux has already been arrested in the case, the accused made revelations about targeting Chinese citizens along with his partner Nasir. Earlier, Information Minister Sindh Sharjeel Inaam Memon said that the mastermind of the attack on Chinese citizens in Karachi University (KU) entered Pakistan via a neighbouring country. The KU attack was a collaboration between Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and the Baloch Liberation Front (BLF), Sharjeel said. The suicide attack killed at least four people including three Chinese teachers who were working for the Confucius Institute at the University of Karachi. The blast was carried out by a female suicide bomber of a banned terror organisation.

itability of the enterprise, in which the borrowed money is invested.

How is it different from an investment bank or hedge funds? The Shariah Law does not allow for Usury (Gharar) and speculation(Maysir), something that investment banks largely rely on. Therefore, the futures market, albeit one of the biggest cash cows for bankers, is a no go in the Islamic banking model.

Similarly, adherence of any security or a business that opposes the Islamic principles, is the primary yardstick that is used to make investment decisions. Islamic banks aren’t always risky, In fact they can also still be made risk averse using the back of assets. A lot of traditional banking products already have an Islamic version like lease, insurance(Takaful) and investment funds, but their profitability and risk premium is not always as great as that of a conventional bank.

The Shariah court’s decision also

states that Pakistan would honour its existing financial commitments, even if they are non-Sharia compliant, but will borrow through Sharia compliant modes in the future. This includes all future IMF programs, World Bank loans and Chinese loans etc. Meaning that Pakistan will either have to find itself in a current account and budget surplus within the next 4 years, or find a creditor who could lend that money through a shariah compliant mode.

As of this year 19.4% of Pakistan’s banking assets are shariah compliant. Some of the major banks have set out to launch an Islamic subsidiary and some have launched islamic products. But can Pakistan become the first country in the world to achieve a 100% shariah compliance in Banking, is difficult to say right now. As of now the government has only claimed that it will back the FSC’s decision and will take back the petitions against that decision.

that unless otherwise directed by the SBP, authorised dealers, authorised money changers and exchange companies are free to determine exchange rates for the conversion of Pakistani currency into any foreign currency or vice versa.

The SBP has granted general permission to authorised dealers which enables them to determine their own rates of exchange, both for ready and forward transactions for the public. This, however, is subject to the condition that the margin between the buying and selling rates should not exceed 50 paisas per US dollar or its equivalent in other currencies.

The chairman of the committee stated that banks have been making huge profits due to the spread but everyone is in darkness as to what action the SBP is taking against the banks.

Deputy governor SBP said that the banks were issued show-cause notices saying, “We have asked the banks to give a written reply and then we will hold a final meeting with them.” He also said that customers had given in written complaints in the months of June and July but there have been no complaints from them in the recent month primarily because of ongoing action.

The current account deficit (CAD) is US$2.3 billion which is half compared to last year. The accumulation rate of monthly CAD has been reduced from earlier $1.5 billion to 0.7 billion a month, the banks’ regulator said.

MNA Muhammad Barjees Tahir asked the deputy governor of SBP why there are around 15 rupees spread between the open market and interbank rates of the dollar. He asked what action was taken against those eight banks that had rocked the economy.

The chairman committee said, “today I need dollars, but the banks do not have them. The State Bank governor should come and address these questions of the committee as it is the representative of over 22 million Pakistanis.”

The capital and financial flows have also reduced due to which there are issues of the non-availability of dollars. He said that the regulator would take enforcement action against banks this month after completing the inquiry, an SBP official said. Deputy governor SBP also said that “We have a market-based exchange rate”.

Tahir further said that if this time these banks were not punished, they will do the same unjust practices again to manipulate the market.

MNA Khalid Magsi also said that the economy is not heading in the right direction. In the nearly fouryear tenure, Imran Khan was directionless and now after his ouster, this government too, is without direction. He further said that despite the fact that Ismail was removed from the seat of finance minister and Ishaq Dar was brought in, the situation remains the same.

Toyota increases prices for Corolla, Hilux, Revo

LAHORE: Toyota Indus Motor Company, a joint venture company between Toyota and House of Habib, has announced an increase in the price of select vehicles. It includes an increase of 6.4% or Rs 461,250 on average with some increases as high as Rs 700,000.The new prices will take effect from 17th November, 2022 and are as follows: According to Toyota the increase is due to the rising cost of production owing to depreciation of Rupee against the US Dollar. Notably, all models that witnessed an increase in their prices lie either in the middle or penultimate model in their respective category in terms of pricing. However, Toyota’s decision to increase the prices of only certain models have raised questions.

The new pricing has brought these models closer to their top tier counterparts in the respective category. Therefore one aim Toyota may be pursuing is the use of decoy pricing–redirecting customer spending towards their more premium offerings. Another aim Toyota may seek to achieve is to lay the groundwork by preparing customers for possible even higher relative price increases for the more premium variants of these particular models. Irrespective of the aim Toyota seeks to achieve with this price increase, the reason is likely the same: its Rs 3.3 billion operating loss in Q1FY23. Toyota saw its sales revenue collapse by 76% from Rs5.42 billion in Q1FY22 to Rs1.29 billion in Q1FY23. Had it not been for its Rs 5.16 billion from its other income, Toyota would have ended the quarter with a complete loss altogether.

Approach admin: SC dismisses JUI-F plea against long march

ISLAMABAD sTaff rePorT

The Supreme Court has dismissed a petition, moved by Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), seeking its order to stop the protestors of Pakistan Tehreek-iInsaf (PTI) from entering Islamabad and advised the party, a member of the ruling alliance, to approach the capital administration to address the issue.

While hearing a petition seeking protection of the rights of the people of Islamabad amid the long march, the top court told Kamran Murtaza, a former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and JUI-F member of the Senate, the judiciary could only intervene in “extraordinary circumstances”.

Murtaza had contended that the protest could disrupt daily life in Islamabad and that the rights of the people must be protected. It’s been two weeks since the long march kicked off, and according to Fawad Chaudhry, senior vice president of the party, it will reach Islamabad by this Friday, he told the court.

“Everyday life of people has been disrupted due to the long march. PTI reserves its right to hold a long march, but in no way is it allowed to disturb a commoner’s life,” he contended.

But Justice Athar Minallah, a member of the three-judge bench which took up the petition, wondered “why should the court interfere when the ad-

ministration can control the situation?”

Justice Minallah, however, assured Murtaza that in unusual circumstances, the court could intervene.

“Prima facie, the court’s interference on the issue would be premature […] court will exercise judicial restraint in such political matters,” Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said. The top judge further told the petitioner he had cited the violations of the previous long march, held in May, and asked the court to intervene in the matter. “But the long march is a political issue, there is a political solution to it as well,” he noted.

He told Murtaza that when the judiciary gets involved in political matters, it creates a “difficult situation” for the court. Justice Ayesha Malik inquired whether the government had made any mechanism to regulate the protests. Justice Ayesha Malik inquired that PTI’s long march has been going on for a long time, had he approached the administration? She asked what was haste in the case of long march and what was the negligence of the administration?

Senator Kamran Murtaza said that an entire province had been paralyzed due to the long march.

Justice Athar Minallah said that if someone violated the laws, the executive had wide powers. He asked would not the administration and parliament be weakened by the intervention of the judiciary?

Justice Ayesha Malik asked the petitioner to mobilize the administration to play its role. Every day

there were protests in many places including Parliament in Islamabad, she said and asked had he ever approached the courts against other protests?

She asked why the intervention of the court was required only in the long march of a particular political party. Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said that the petitioner had mentioned past violations in the application. The Long March was a political issue that could be solved politically, he added.

He said that interference in such issues created a strange situation for the court. Addressing the petitioner, the Chief Justice said that he (Kamran) had mentioned an audio in his application which mentioned bringing weapons. Audio was true or false but it could disturb the law and order situation, he added.

He asked did the people in the long march of May 25 had weapons? The right to protest was not unlimited but subject to constitutional limits, he added.

The Chief Justice said that the request for H-9 ground was given for PTI’s May 25 long march.

When the administration refused to give H-9 ground, the Supreme Court intervened, he added. He observed that despite the allocation of the H-9 ground, the crowd went to D-Chowk. Addressing the petitioner, the Chief Justice said that he wanted the Supreme Court to play the role of Deputy Commissioner. Apparently, the court’s intervention in the case of Long March would be premature, he added.

Published by Arif Nizami at Plot No 66-C, 1st Floor, 21st Commercial Street, Phase-II (Extension), DHA Karachi and printed at Ibn-e-Hassan Printing Press, Hockey Stadium, Karachi, for PT Print (Pvt) Limited. Ph: 021-35381208-9. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk

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ProfiT rePorT daniyal ahmad